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Antidote to suburbia | Epiphany Stransham-Ford | TEDxYouth@CapeTown


I’m going to my father’s and with great

I’m going to my father’s and with great difficulty am I got Heather yet now I do

difficulty am I got Heather yet now I do

difficulty am I got Heather yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have

not repent me of all the trouble I have

not repent me of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am my sword I

been at to arrive where I am my sword I

been at to arrive where I am my sword I give to him that Chelsea seed me in my

give to him that Chelsea seed me in my

give to him that Chelsea seed me in my pilgrimage and my courage and skill to

pilgrimage and my courage and skill to

pilgrimage and my courage and skill to him they can get it I recited that quote

him they can get it I recited that quote

him they can get it I recited that quote from John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress at

from John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress at

from John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress at my father’s funeral last year from his

my father’s funeral last year from his

my father’s funeral last year from his deathbed he taught me something profound

deathbed he taught me something profound

deathbed he taught me something profound he taught me to stand with conviction

he taught me to stand with conviction

he taught me to stand with conviction for what you believe in I’m standing

for what you believe in I’m standing

for what you believe in I’m standing here today asking you to join me in

here today asking you to join me in

here today asking you to join me in committing one small act to save our

committing one small act to save our

committing one small act to save our oceans all life on Earth depends upon

oceans all life on Earth depends upon

oceans all life on Earth depends upon healthy oceans oceans regulate earthly

healthy oceans oceans regulate earthly

healthy oceans oceans regulate earthly temperatures and climate produced more

temperatures and climate produced more

temperatures and climate produced more than half of the world’s oxygen and

than half of the world’s oxygen and

than half of the world’s oxygen and recycle large amounts of co2 and most of

recycle large amounts of co2 and most of

recycle large amounts of co2 and most of the world’s water my love for the ocean

the world’s water my love for the ocean

the world’s water my love for the ocean has developed over the past two years

has developed over the past two years

has developed over the past two years when i began diving in the kelp forests

when i began diving in the kelp forests

when i began diving in the kelp forests and exploring along the intertidal zones

and exploring along the intertidal zones

and exploring along the intertidal zones of k point i’ve always had a deep

of k point i’ve always had a deep

of k point i’ve always had a deep connection to nature but I wasn’t so

connection to nature but I wasn’t so

connection to nature but I wasn’t so sure about the creatures that lived

sure about the creatures that lived

sure about the creatures that lived under the sea apart from finding the

under the sea apart from finding the

under the sea apart from finding the ocean freezing cold it was intimidating

ocean freezing cold it was intimidating

ocean freezing cold it was intimidating daunting formidable somewhat like my

daunting formidable somewhat like my

daunting formidable somewhat like my father could sometimes appear to be so

father could sometimes appear to be so

father could sometimes appear to be so when he encouraged me to go diving I was

when he encouraged me to go diving I was

when he encouraged me to go diving I was reluctant nervous even scared however

reluctant nervous even scared however

reluctant nervous even scared however I was soon persuaded and as I cautiously

I was soon persuaded and as I cautiously

I was soon persuaded and as I cautiously peered under the surface of the water I

peered under the surface of the water I

peered under the surface of the water I was met by the googly eyes of an

was met by the googly eyes of an

was met by the googly eyes of an inquisitive clip vez staring straight

inquisitive clip vez staring straight

inquisitive clip vez staring straight back at me that’s when I realized I

back at me that’s when I realized I

back at me that’s when I realized I might not be the only one who was afraid

might not be the only one who was afraid

might not be the only one who was afraid after all I must have looked pretty

after all I must have looked pretty

after all I must have looked pretty scary myself in my monster goggles I

scary myself in my monster goggles I

scary myself in my monster goggles I fell in love with that little fish and

fell in love with that little fish and

fell in love with that little fish and so began my adventure into an alien

so began my adventure into an alien

so began my adventure into an alien world beneath the waves I discovered

world beneath the waves I discovered

world beneath the waves I discovered that the kelp forests created a

that the kelp forests created a

that the kelp forests created a protected safe haven that I could

protected safe haven that I could

protected safe haven that I could explore and at the sea magnificent and

explore and at the sea magnificent and

explore and at the sea magnificent and powerful could be calm beneath the waves

powerful could be calm beneath the waves

powerful could be calm beneath the waves somewhat like my formidable father who

somewhat like my formidable father who

somewhat like my formidable father who is kind-hearted and generous benitez

is kind-hearted and generous benitez

is kind-hearted and generous benitez crusty outer shell as I began to learn

crusty outer shell as I began to learn

crusty outer shell as I began to learn more about the biology of the marine

more about the biology of the marine

more about the biology of the marine environment it became more interesting

environment it became more interesting

environment it became more interesting and engaging first I learned the names

and engaging first I learned the names

and engaging first I learned the names of the different types of limpets these

of the different types of limpets these

of the different types of limpets these pair limpets grow red algae gardens and

pair limpets grow red algae gardens and

pair limpets grow red algae gardens and defecate which is the fancy word for poo

defecate which is the fancy word for poo

defecate which is the fancy word for poo at low tide to fertilize their gardens

at low tide to fertilize their gardens

at low tide to fertilize their gardens who would have believed that such a

who would have believed that such a

who would have believed that such a simple looking creature was evolved

simple looking creature was evolved

simple looking creature was evolved enough to be a gardener the many ants

enough to be a gardener the many ants

enough to be a gardener the many ants starfish have recently become quite

starfish have recently become quite

starfish have recently become quite abundant in false Bay most starfish are

abundant in false Bay most starfish are

abundant in false Bay most starfish are known for their ability to lose limbs to

known for their ability to lose limbs to

known for their ability to lose limbs to predators and easily grow back more

predators and easily grow back more

predators and easily grow back more however this particular species of

however this particular species of

however this particular species of starfish splits in order to replicate it

starfish splits in order to replicate it

starfish splits in order to replicate it actually divides in half and then grows

actually divides in half and then grows

actually divides in half and then grows an additional body and additional arms

an additional body and additional arms

an additional body and additional arms so this is a crazy form of reproduction

so this is a crazy form of reproduction

so this is a crazy form of reproduction one of my favorite and what I believe to

one of my favorite and what I believe to

one of my favorite and what I believe to be by far the wackiest creatures I’ve

be by far the wackiest creatures I’ve

be by far the wackiest creatures I’ve encountered other sea has she has

encountered other sea has she has

encountered other sea has she has release a thick dark ink into the water

release a thick dark ink into the water

release a thick dark ink into the water when they feel threatened so as to allow

when they feel threatened so as to allow

when they feel threatened so as to allow them time to escape from

them time to escape from

them time to escape from predators as I was exploring this

predators as I was exploring this

predators as I was exploring this foreign new world my father was ailing

foreign new world my father was ailing

foreign new world my father was ailing he had been diagnosed with stage 4

he had been diagnosed with stage 4

he had been diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer and had come home to die

terminal cancer and had come home to die

terminal cancer and had come home to die he didn’t want to die in hospital he

he didn’t want to die in hospital he

he didn’t want to die in hospital he wanted to die at home surrounded by

wanted to die at home surrounded by

wanted to die at home surrounded by those he loved and cherished so he

those he loved and cherished so he

those he loved and cherished so he nursed and took care of him in the last

nursed and took care of him in the last

nursed and took care of him in the last month’s of his life my father did not

month’s of his life my father did not

month’s of his life my father did not want to deteriorate slowly losing all

want to deteriorate slowly losing all

want to deteriorate slowly losing all his faculties and becoming weaker and

his faculties and becoming weaker and

his faculties and becoming weaker and more dependent he did not want to die

more dependent he did not want to die

more dependent he did not want to die the death of a thousand cuts he wanted

the death of a thousand cuts he wanted

the death of a thousand cuts he wanted to die with dignity so he brought an

to die with dignity so he brought an

to die with dignity so he brought an application to court to allow him an

application to court to allow him an

application to court to allow him an assisted suicide my father wanted to

assisted suicide my father wanted to

assisted suicide my father wanted to relieve end of life suffering not just

relieve end of life suffering not just

relieve end of life suffering not just his own but that of all terminal

his own but that of all terminal

his own but that of all terminal patients so frail and weak and in pain

patients so frail and weak and in pain

patients so frail and weak and in pain he fought to change the law in this

he fought to change the law in this

he fought to change the law in this country while my father was confined to

country while my father was confined to

country while my father was confined to bed I received a call telling me that

bed I received a call telling me that

bed I received a call telling me that there were large sevengill cow sharks in

there were large sevengill cow sharks in

there were large sevengill cow sharks in relatively shallow waters these sharks

relatively shallow waters these sharks

relatively shallow waters these sharks grow to 2 to 3 meters in length and they

grow to 2 to 3 meters in length and they

grow to 2 to 3 meters in length and they hunt seals and dolphins and being the

hunt seals and dolphins and being the

hunt seals and dolphins and being the size of a rather large seal naturally I

size of a rather large seal naturally I

size of a rather large seal naturally I was a bit afraid with butterflies in my

was a bit afraid with butterflies in my

was a bit afraid with butterflies in my tummy I dawned on my goggles and fins

tummy I dawned on my goggles and fins

tummy I dawned on my goggles and fins and full of apprehension at the start I

and full of apprehension at the start I

and full of apprehension at the start I relaxed as soon as I was in the water

relaxed as soon as I was in the water

relaxed as soon as I was in the water sheltered by the kelp I watched in awe

sheltered by the kelp I watched in awe

sheltered by the kelp I watched in awe as these magnificent serene creatures

as these magnificent serene creatures

as these magnificent serene creatures glided by as I recalled Mike dive with

glided by as I recalled Mike dive with

glided by as I recalled Mike dive with the cow sharks it struck me that sharks

the cow sharks it struck me that sharks

the cow sharks it struck me that sharks are the guardians of death in the oceans

are the guardians of death in the oceans

are the guardians of death in the oceans you see sharks take out the weak sick

you see sharks take out the weak sick

you see sharks take out the weak sick and injured so they don’t endure a long

and injured so they don’t endure a long

and injured so they don’t endure a long protracted painful death

protracted painful death

protracted painful death sharks mercifully put an end to

sharks mercifully put an end to

sharks mercifully put an end to suffering and I began to draw an analogy

suffering and I began to draw an analogy

suffering and I began to draw an analogy between the Sharks role in the ocean and

between the Sharks role in the ocean and

between the Sharks role in the ocean and my father’s cause and yet a hundred

my father’s cause and yet a hundred

my father’s cause and yet a hundred million of these magnificent creatures

million of these magnificent creatures

million of these magnificent creatures are killed every year a hundred million

are killed every year a hundred million

are killed every year a hundred million it’s hard to even imagine such a huge

it’s hard to even imagine such a huge

it’s hard to even imagine such a huge number many sharks are killed merely for

number many sharks are killed merely for

number many sharks are killed merely for their fins for shark fin soup once

their fins for shark fin soup once

their fins for shark fin soup once defend in the ultimate act of human

defend in the ultimate act of human

defend in the ultimate act of human cruelty these sharks are thrown back

cruelty these sharks are thrown back

cruelty these sharks are thrown back into the sea finless we’re

into the sea finless we’re

into the sea finless we’re heartbreakingly they sink and drown this

heartbreakingly they sink and drown this

heartbreakingly they sink and drown this is just one of the many horrific acts of

is just one of the many horrific acts of

is just one of the many horrific acts of humanity that are systematically

humanity that are systematically

humanity that are systematically destroying our oceans yes there is a

destroying our oceans yes there is a

destroying our oceans yes there is a pervasive cancer that is killing our

pervasive cancer that is killing our

pervasive cancer that is killing our marine life and we humans are the source

marine life and we humans are the source

marine life and we humans are the source of that cancer we’re polluting our

of that cancer we’re polluting our

of that cancer we’re polluting our oceans at a terrifying rate in fact it’s

oceans at a terrifying rate in fact it’s

oceans at a terrifying rate in fact it’s estimated that by 2050 they’ll be more

estimated that by 2050 they’ll be more

estimated that by 2050 they’ll be more plastic in the ocean than fish borough

plastic in the ocean than fish borough

plastic in the ocean than fish borough of fishing we fished out ninety percent

of fishing we fished out ninety percent

of fishing we fished out ninety percent of the big fish in our ocean that’s

of the big fish in our ocean that’s

of the big fish in our ocean that’s right only ten percent remain when I

right only ten percent remain when I

right only ten percent remain when I learned this I decided I must do

learned this I decided I must do

learned this I decided I must do something one small act so I decided to

something one small act so I decided to

something one small act so I decided to stop eating fish and then persuaded my

stop eating fish and then persuaded my

stop eating fish and then persuaded my mum to do the same which proved quite a

mum to do the same which proved quite a

mum to do the same which proved quite a challenge as she loves sushi I’m not

challenge as she loves sushi I’m not

challenge as she loves sushi I’m not saying that everyone must stop eating

saying that everyone must stop eating

saying that everyone must stop eating fish but if you do eat fish twice a week

fish but if you do eat fish twice a week

fish but if you do eat fish twice a week cut back to say once a week one small

cut back to say once a week one small

cut back to say once a week one small act but collectively powerful we all

act but collectively powerful we all

act but collectively powerful we all need to realize

need to realize

need to realize that all life on earth is dependent upon

that all life on earth is dependent upon

that all life on earth is dependent upon healthy oceans as our oceans produce

healthy oceans as our oceans produce

healthy oceans as our oceans produce more than half of the world’s oxygen and

more than half of the world’s oxygen and

more than half of the world’s oxygen and recycle most of our water with every

recycle most of our water with every

recycle most of our water with every breath you take with every drop of water

breath you take with every drop of water

breath you take with every drop of water you drink you are connected to the ocean

you drink you are connected to the ocean

you drink you are connected to the ocean no matter where on earth you live the

no matter where on earth you live the

no matter where on earth you live the court granted my father the right to die

however he didn’t benefit from this

however he didn’t benefit from this victory as he died only hours before the

victory as he died only hours before the

victory as he died only hours before the ruling this wouldn’t have mattered to my

ruling this wouldn’t have mattered to my

ruling this wouldn’t have mattered to my dad as this has set a new precedent from

dad as this has set a new precedent from

dad as this has set a new precedent from which all terminally ill patients will

which all terminally ill patients will

which all terminally ill patients will now benefit my father taught me that the

now benefit my father taught me that the

now benefit my father taught me that the acts of one person can make a difference

acts of one person can make a difference

acts of one person can make a difference can change the law I’m going to my

can change the law I’m going to my

can change the law I’m going to my father’s and with great difficulty oh my

father’s and with great difficulty oh my

father’s and with great difficulty oh my god Heather yet now I do not repent me

god Heather yet now I do not repent me

god Heather yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have been at to

of all the trouble I have been at to

of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am my sword I give to him

arrive where I am my sword I give to him

arrive where I am my sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage

that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage

that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage and my courage and skill to him they can

and my courage and skill to him they can

and my courage and skill to him they can get it it was too late for my dad but

get it it was too late for my dad but

get it it was too late for my dad but it’s not too late for our oceans thank

it’s not too late for our oceans thank

it’s not too late for our oceans thank [Applause]

”

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