[Music] [Applause]
wait thank you my name is Milan ting huh
wait thank you my name is Milan ting huh I’m also known better known as the
I’m also known better known as the
I’m also known better known as the plastic soup surfer I’m a biologist I’m
plastic soup surfer I’m a biologist I’m
plastic soup surfer I’m a biologist I’m a visual artist and I’m a surfer and
a visual artist and I’m a surfer and
a visual artist and I’m a surfer and i’ve been surfing since I was about
i’ve been surfing since I was about
i’ve been surfing since I was about eight now my story actually starts a few
eight now my story actually starts a few
eight now my story actually starts a few years ago when the first reports on
years ago when the first reports on
years ago when the first reports on plastic soup started reaching us about
plastic soup started reaching us about
plastic soup started reaching us about these garbage patches on the different
these garbage patches on the different
these garbage patches on the different oceans we were misled then that those
oceans we were misled then that those
oceans we were misled then that those were giants islands of plastic trash
were giants islands of plastic trash
were giants islands of plastic trash it’s actually much worse it’s small
it’s actually much worse it’s small
it’s actually much worse it’s small particles of plastic debris it’s like a
particles of plastic debris it’s like a
particles of plastic debris it’s like a plastic missed a plastic fog but that
plastic missed a plastic fog but that
plastic missed a plastic fog but that alarmed me and I felt I needed to make a
alarmed me and I felt I needed to make a
alarmed me and I felt I needed to make a statement because I was stumbling on
statement because I was stumbling on
statement because I was stumbling on that same plastic on the beaches I was
that same plastic on the beaches I was
that same plastic on the beaches I was surfing at and I decided to make a
surfing at and I decided to make a
surfing at and I decided to make a surfboard from that plastic trash I
surfboard from that plastic trash I
surfboard from that plastic trash I found on the beach and i just used an
found on the beach and i just used an
found on the beach and i just used an iron and a gas torch to melt that
iron and a gas torch to melt that
iron and a gas torch to melt that plastic and push it in the shape of a
plastic and push it in the shape of a
plastic and push it in the shape of a surfboard now that surfboard that
surfboard now that surfboard that
surfboard now that surfboard that statement was 15 kilos very very heavy
statement was 15 kilos very very heavy
statement was 15 kilos very very heavy and I surf that so this is for years ago
and I surf that so this is for years ago
and I surf that so this is for years ago I surfed that from Belgium to Germany
I surfed that from Belgium to Germany
I surfed that from Belgium to Germany along the coast took me three days to
along the coast took me three days to
along the coast took me three days to surf that and I had to get off at a
surf that and I had to get off at a
surf that and I had to get off at a mélange because the board was too heavy
mélange because the board was too heavy
mélange because the board was too heavy and I had a fever and I was injured but
and I had a fever and I was injured but
and I had a fever and I was injured but that did give me that earned me the name
that did give me that earned me the name
that did give me that earned me the name plastic soup surfer and in the video
plastic soup surfer and in the video
plastic soup surfer and in the video that’s about to start now so the last
that’s about to start now so the last
that’s about to start now so the last thing I did last set September I surfed
thing I did last set September I surfed
thing I did last set September I surfed from slave-owning and from the
from slave-owning and from the
from slave-owning and from the Netherlands to England but this time I
Netherlands to England but this time I
Netherlands to England but this time I had a very special focus a very specific
had a very special focus a very specific
had a very special focus a very specific focus I wanted a measure implemented in
focus I wanted a measure implemented in
focus I wanted a measure implemented in the Netherlands which is called a
the Netherlands which is called a
the Netherlands which is called a deposit fee I wanted a deposit fee
deposit fee I wanted a deposit fee
deposit fee I wanted a deposit fee the positive feed on small pet bottles
the positive feed on small pet bottles
the positive feed on small pet bottles to stop that littering of those small
to stop that littering of those small
to stop that littering of those small pet bottles and I started a petition I
pet bottles and I started a petition I
pet bottles and I started a petition I started a petition to ask people if they
started a petition to ask people if they
started a petition to ask people if they wanted that too and that got signed over
wanted that too and that got signed over
wanted that too and that got signed over 56,000 times and I presented that
56,000 times and I presented that
56,000 times and I presented that petition just two days ago the thing
petition just two days ago the thing
petition just two days ago the thing with plastics of course is that it does
with plastics of course is that it does
with plastics of course is that it does not biodegrade it breaks it doesn’t
not biodegrade it breaks it doesn’t
not biodegrade it breaks it doesn’t break down it breaks up into smaller
break down it breaks up into smaller
break down it breaks up into smaller pieces ever smaller pieces which are
pieces ever smaller pieces which are
pieces ever smaller pieces which are still plastic with toxic properties
still plastic with toxic properties
still plastic with toxic properties because of the plasticizers and
because of the plasticizers and
because of the plasticizers and stabilizers which are in there and those
stabilizers which are in there and those
stabilizers which are in there and those are then taken up by fish by birds by
are then taken up by fish by birds by
are then taken up by fish by birds by all types of organisms and by now it has
all types of organisms and by now it has
all types of organisms and by now it has penetrated every level of our food chain
penetrated every level of our food chain
penetrated every level of our food chain and we are seeing it come back to our
and we are seeing it come back to our
and we are seeing it come back to our own dinner plates through supermarket
own dinner plates through supermarket
own dinner plates through supermarket fish and plastics haven’t been around
fish and plastics haven’t been around
fish and plastics haven’t been around that long your grandmother didn’t have
that long your grandmother didn’t have
that long your grandmother didn’t have that much plastic around it’s only since
that much plastic around it’s only since
that much plastic around it’s only since the single-use culture that has really
the single-use culture that has really
the single-use culture that has really exploded the produce of plastics a
exploded the produce of plastics a
exploded the produce of plastics a 20-fold in 50 years if we go on like
20-fold in 50 years if we go on like
20-fold in 50 years if we go on like this there’ll be just as much plastic in
this there’ll be just as much plastic in
this there’ll be just as much plastic in our oceans as there are fish in 2050 by
our oceans as there are fish in 2050 by
our oceans as there are fish in 2050 by weight the thing is a percentage of this
weight the thing is a percentage of this
weight the thing is a percentage of this plastic spills into our seas eight
plastic spills into our seas eight
plastic spills into our seas eight billion eight billion kilos each year
billion eight billion kilos each year
billion eight billion kilos each year this is a 2010 calculation just to
this is a 2010 calculation just to
this is a 2010 calculation just to envision just two to visualize how much
envision just two to visualize how much
envision just two to visualize how much that is because that’s an incredible
that is because that’s an incredible
that is because that’s an incredible amount eight billion how much is that
amount eight billion how much is that
amount eight billion how much is that that’s 15 grocery bags 15 grocery bags
that’s 15 grocery bags 15 grocery bags
that’s 15 grocery bags 15 grocery bags every metre of coastline around the
every metre of coastline around the
every metre of coastline around the whole world that means anywhere in the
whole world that means anywhere in the
whole world that means anywhere in the world you’d want to go for a swim in the
world you’d want to go for a swim in the
world you’d want to go for a swim in the sea you’d first have to step over 15
sea you’d first have to step over 15
sea you’d first have to step over 15 grocery
grocery
grocery just to get into the sea for the ocean
just to get into the sea for the ocean
just to get into the sea for the ocean but of course that’s not only 2015 there
but of course that’s not only 2015 there
but of course that’s not only 2015 there that’s 2014 2013 2,000 pound way back
that’s 2014 2013 2,000 pound way back
that’s 2014 2013 2,000 pound way back the thing is it all accumulates most of
the thing is it all accumulates most of
the thing is it all accumulates most of it actually sinks and there’s maybe five
it actually sinks and there’s maybe five
it actually sinks and there’s maybe five six countries which are responsible for
six countries which are responsible for
six countries which are responsible for fifty percent of this problem but also
fifty percent of this problem but also
fifty percent of this problem but also in our North Sea we thus North Sea
in our North Sea we thus North Sea
in our North Sea we thus North Sea receives up to 20 million kilos each
receives up to 20 million kilos each
receives up to 20 million kilos each year from the surrounding countries and
year from the surrounding countries and
year from the surrounding countries and I’ve sailed to 2015 I sailed for five
I’ve sailed to 2015 I sailed for five
I’ve sailed to 2015 I sailed for five months collecting plastic garbage
months collecting plastic garbage
months collecting plastic garbage plastic trash from the beaches of Norway
plastic trash from the beaches of Norway
plastic trash from the beaches of Norway Sweden all the way up to Helsinki for
Sweden all the way up to Helsinki for
Sweden all the way up to Helsinki for five months and I did I had a trawling
five months and I did I had a trawling
five months and I did I had a trawling net with me a net to make samples of the
net with me a net to make samples of the
net with me a net to make samples of the of the surface water and also there we
of the surface water and also there we
of the surface water and also there we found those small micro plastic
found those small micro plastic
found those small micro plastic particles and after four or five month
particles and after four or five month
particles and after four or five month of cleaning up beaches everywhere I came
of cleaning up beaches everywhere I came
of cleaning up beaches everywhere I came in Sweden in Norway in Finland in in
in Sweden in Norway in Finland in in
in Sweden in Norway in Finland in in Poland everywhere we came five months I
Poland everywhere we came five months I
Poland everywhere we came five months I became very dispirited I became I
became very dispirited I became I
became very dispirited I became I thought what how can I use my energy
thought what how can I use my energy
thought what how can I use my energy effectively it was like there’s a Dutch
effectively it was like there’s a Dutch
effectively it was like there’s a Dutch saying that goes mopping the floor when
saying that goes mopping the floor when
saying that goes mopping the floor when the tap still open emptying the ocean
the tap still open emptying the ocean
the tap still open emptying the ocean with a thimble I thought we need
with a thimble I thought we need
with a thimble I thought we need prevention if I want to use my energy
prevention if I want to use my energy
prevention if I want to use my energy effectively we should focus I should
effectively we should focus I should
effectively we should focus I should focus on prevention so once I got back I
focus on prevention so once I got back I
focus on prevention so once I got back I immediately I immediately started with
immediately I immediately started with
immediately I immediately started with by the project I was telling you about
by the project I was telling you about
by the project I was telling you about the crossing of the North Sea a record
the crossing of the North Sea a record
the crossing of the North Sea a record crossing on a board made from small pet
crossing on a board made from small pet
crossing on a board made from small pet bottles thing is in the Netherlands 50
bottles thing is in the Netherlands 50
bottles thing is in the Netherlands 50 million 50 million
million 50 million
million 50 million small pet bottles are littered each year
small pet bottles are littered each year
small pet bottles are littered each year 50 million each year and there is a very
50 million each year and there is a very
50 million each year and there is a very effective measure to present that up to
effective measure to present that up to
effective measure to present that up to ninety percent and that is used up to 40
ninety percent and that is used up to 40
ninety percent and that is used up to 40 states and countries around the world
states and countries around the world
states and countries around the world and it’s called a deposit fee very
and it’s called a deposit fee very
and it’s called a deposit fee very effective so it seemed very logical to
effective so it seemed very logical to
effective so it seemed very logical to ask for that in dunellen since we only
ask for that in dunellen since we only
ask for that in dunellen since we only have a deposit fee on big pet bottles
have a deposit fee on big pet bottles
have a deposit fee on big pet bottles and not on the small ones but how come
and not on the small ones but how come
and not on the small ones but how come how come in the Netherlands how come the
how come in the Netherlands how come the
how come in the Netherlands how come the Netherlands is the only country in the
Netherlands is the only country in the
Netherlands is the only country in the world that only has a deposit fee on the
world that only has a deposit fee on the
world that only has a deposit fee on the big ones and out on small ones when it’s
big ones and out on small ones when it’s
big ones and out on small ones when it’s the small ones which are most litter
the small ones which are most litter
the small ones which are most litter sensitive it’s because of coca-cola and
sensitive it’s because of coca-cola and
sensitive it’s because of coca-cola and aval they have they were given
aval they have they were given
aval they have they were given responsibility for recycling and
responsibility for recycling and
responsibility for recycling and literally 15 years ago and since then
literally 15 years ago and since then
literally 15 years ago and since then they have misused their power to try to
they have misused their power to try to
they have misused their power to try to to prevent the modernization of our
to prevent the modernization of our
to prevent the modernization of our deposit scheme they have even tried to
deposit scheme they have even tried to
deposit scheme they have even tried to abolish the deposit scheme altogether
abolish the deposit scheme altogether
abolish the deposit scheme altogether that’s their goal now this means that in
that’s their goal now this means that in
that’s their goal now this means that in the Netherlands we have an outdated an
the Netherlands we have an outdated an
the Netherlands we have an outdated an ancient system of a deposit deposit
ancient system of a deposit deposit
ancient system of a deposit deposit return scheme which dates back from the
return scheme which dates back from the
return scheme which dates back from the 80s of the last century so by little did
80s of the last century so by little did
80s of the last century so by little did I know that by starting by calling for a
I know that by starting by calling for a
I know that by starting by calling for a deposit fee I was actually taking it on
deposit fee I was actually taking it on
deposit fee I was actually taking it on against a million-dollar company like
against a million-dollar company like
against a million-dollar company like coca-cola and I hold I didn’t know that
coca-cola and I hold I didn’t know that
coca-cola and I hold I didn’t know that when I started I surfed a cross and I
when I started I surfed a cross and I
when I started I surfed a cross and I there was a lot of attention for that
there was a lot of attention for that
there was a lot of attention for that and and a lot of attention for deposit
and and a lot of attention for deposit
and and a lot of attention for deposit fee I there were 56 thousand people that
fee I there were 56 thousand people that
fee I there were 56 thousand people that signed my petition and just two days ago
signed my petition and just two days ago
signed my petition and just two days ago I went to Dutch parliament to present my
I went to Dutch parliament to present my
I went to Dutch parliament to present my petition but not only my petition I took
petition but not only my petition I took
petition but not only my petition I took a resolution with me as well and the
a resolution with me as well and the
a resolution with me as well and the resolution read now I want ninety
resolution read now I want ninety
resolution read now I want ninety percent less plastic bottles in my
percent less plastic bottles in my
percent less plastic bottles in my environment in our environment within
environment in our environment within
environment in our environment within three years ninety percent less within
three years ninety percent less within
three years ninety percent less within three years and all the parties present
three years and all the parties present
three years and all the parties present signed my resolution which was a great
signed my resolution which was a great
signed my resolution which was a great success which was incredible three hours
success which was incredible three hours
success which was incredible three hours ago to make it even more incredible
ago to make it even more incredible
ago to make it even more incredible three hours ago I’ve just come from The
three hours ago I’ve just come from The
three hours ago I’ve just come from The Hague from the Parliament from the
Hague from the Parliament from the
Hague from the Parliament from the government and the cabinet has just has
government and the cabinet has just has
government and the cabinet has just has just three hours ago adopted this
just three hours ago adopted this
just three hours ago adopted this resolution so and the significance the
resolution so and the significance the
resolution so and the significance the significance of this we have crossed out
significance of this we have crossed out
significance of this we have crossed out with this project we have crossed out
with this project we have crossed out
with this project we have crossed out the way to abolition the coca-cola way
the way to abolition the coca-cola way
the way to abolition the coca-cola way we have crossed out the coca-cola way
we have crossed out the coca-cola way
we have crossed out the coca-cola way and we have opened there’s only one way
and we have opened there’s only one way
and we have opened there’s only one way forward which is to which it to a
forward which is to which it to a
forward which is to which it to a modernization of our system and to an
modernization of our system and to an
modernization of our system and to an expansion or to expand the the deposit
expansion or to expand the the deposit
expansion or to expand the the deposit fee through the small pet bottles now
fee through the small pet bottles now
fee through the small pet bottles now you should imagine that just one year
you should imagine that just one year
you should imagine that just one year ago I was calling up people to convince
ago I was calling up people to convince
ago I was calling up people to convince them to help me to help me cross the
them to help me to help me cross the
them to help me to help me cross the North Sea on a bottle on a board made
North Sea on a bottle on a board made
North Sea on a bottle on a board made from pet bottles I was calling them
from pet bottles I was calling them
from pet bottles I was calling them please help me because this is one set
please help me because this is one set
please help me because this is one set what I want to do so if there’s one
what I want to do so if there’s one
what I want to do so if there’s one thing I hope this story tells you i hope
thing I hope this story tells you i hope
thing I hope this story tells you i hope this story inspires you to take action
this story inspires you to take action
this story inspires you to take action within your own surroundings and that if
within your own surroundings and that if
within your own surroundings and that if you see you pop something you want
you see you pop something you want
you see you pop something you want changed that you hold on to it that you
changed that you hold on to it that you
changed that you hold on to it that you go for it with tenacity and that
go for it with tenacity and that
go for it with tenacity and that together we can make a change and it can
together we can make a change and it can
together we can make a change and it can start with you thank you
you
you [Music]
”
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