I'm going to tell you a story.

I know. The poster said lecture, but I'm going to let you in a little secret.

I hate lectures. I hate the word lecture. You can't inspire a person and tell them what to do at the same time. As an academic, lecture should be my bread and butter. But there are great many things I should do that I do not. And vice versa, even more. Oh, bothered? If you can get the door, please.

Now, close your eyes, if you like, and let's begin.

Fifteen years ago, the guests, visitors, and yes, the staff of the Transcontinental Hotel, vanished into thin air.

But you already know that, don't you? And if you don't, I mean goodness, where have you been?

But in all seriousness, I'm not here to talk about that night.

I'm not in the business of telling you things you already know.

But imagine that time, if you will, because this story takes place those same 15 years ago,

on a night much like that one, in the last days of the Transcontinental Hotel.

Got your attention, didn't I?

Now, I was young then. I'm not going to tell you how young, and my budding sense of injustice had only just begun to take root to something deeper.

So when I tell you that the Transcontinental Hotel, the same Transcontinental Hotel that built its roots deep into the local reef,

that spill its pollution and waste into the waters that served the fruit of its

kills in their fancy kitchens, when I tell you that same hotel was hosting a charity gala for the

environment, I don't think you have to imagine very hard to understand the rage I felt.

So I made a choice I'm not entirely proud of.

I forged an invitation, and I went to the transcontinental

hotel that night with the intention of trashing the place. I did mention that I was young, right?

Turned out, I didn't even need to forge the invitation. Maybe I looked like I belonged,

or maybe they didn't care. But either way, they let me right in. It was a simpler time.

Everyone was so beautiful and so rich. Maybe it never crossed their minds that anyone could hurt them.

...