Global X recently interviewed Louise Arbour, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

A former lawyer and judge in her home country of Canada, then chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, she believes “in the law and the legal process.”

She told Global X about this woman who had lost her husband and two sons in the war, and who was still able to see beyond revenge: “She knew there was another way to settle grievances.”

She is optimistic for the long term, but quite realistic over the immediate future: “We don’t do a very good job at conflict resolution.” She adds, “We need to address the huge disparities in distribution of wealth, both between and within states.”

Global X asked Louise Arbour a surprise question: any advice to Social Edge members? “Don’t walk away because you think you can’t make a difference. Pick a cause! Be a citizen! Vote! Tell your governments what you want them to do and what you will not tolerate that they do on your behalf!”