Wow hi I want to talk to you about a local project that I’m part of I want to
local project that I’m part of I want to
local project that I’m part of I want to tell you how you can become part of it
tell you how you can become part of it
tell you how you can become part of it and what we all can learn from it but
and what we all can learn from it but
and what we all can learn from it but let me start with a personal story I was
let me start with a personal story I was
let me start with a personal story I was born in West Berlin not far from here
born in West Berlin not far from here
born in West Berlin not far from here two parents who took me to the ocean
two parents who took me to the ocean
two parents who took me to the ocean every summer I spent my nights summers
every summer I spent my nights summers
every summer I spent my nights summers on the water and my mom called me a
on the water and my mom called me a
on the water and my mom called me a water at Vasa utter and I told her when
water at Vasa utter and I told her when
water at Vasa utter and I told her when I grow up I’m gonna live by the ocean
I grow up I’m gonna live by the ocean
I grow up I’m gonna live by the ocean turns out I’m fairly grown up now and I
turns out I’m fairly grown up now and I
turns out I’m fairly grown up now and I don’t live by the ocean I live here in
don’t live by the ocean I live here in
don’t live by the ocean I live here in Berlin how come I live here because
Berlin how come I live here because
Berlin how come I live here because other things became more important I
other things became more important I
other things became more important I started to enjoy doing things with other
started to enjoy doing things with other
started to enjoy doing things with other people in my free time using free
people in my free time using free
people in my free time using free resources and free Reese spaces
resources and free Reese spaces
resources and free Reese spaces available around me and Berlin is a
available around me and Berlin is a
available around me and Berlin is a great city to do so but it took me quite
great city to do so but it took me quite
great city to do so but it took me quite some time to realize that there is a
some time to realize that there is a
some time to realize that there is a large unused free space in the heart of
large unused free space in the heart of
large unused free space in the heart of the city and that’s the water it’s a
the city and that’s the water it’s a
the city and that’s the water it’s a constantly changing surface of our
constantly changing surface of our
constantly changing surface of our canals and the river spree is a large
canals and the river spree is a large
canals and the river spree is a large not privatized but mostly inaccessible
not privatized but mostly inaccessible
not privatized but mostly inaccessible free space unless you own a yacht are
free space unless you own a yacht are
free space unless you own a yacht are you gonna go on those white big tourist
you gonna go on those white big tourist
you gonna go on those white big tourist boats you’ll never be able to be on the
boats you’ll never be able to be on the
boats you’ll never be able to be on the water and use it so one day I was
water and use it so one day I was
water and use it so one day I was daydreaming of being collectively able
daydreaming of being collectively able
daydreaming of being collectively able to claim that space but I had no idea
to claim that space but I had no idea
to claim that space but I had no idea how so I started to talk to others about
how so I started to talk to others about
how so I started to talk to others about my fascination of that huge potential in
my fascination of that huge potential in
my fascination of that huge potential in the city I tried to get them excited
the city I tried to get them excited
the city I tried to get them excited about my idea of building a platform on
about my idea of building a platform on
about my idea of building a platform on it I wanted to build a collective boat
it I wanted to build a collective boat
it I wanted to build a collective boat and I had to talk to a lot of people to
and I had to talk to a lot of people to
and I had to talk to a lot of people to make them as fascinated by that idea to
make them as fascinated by that idea to
make them as fascinated by that idea to quite literally get some of them onboard
quite literally get some of them onboard
quite literally get some of them onboard on a cold weekend in February 2015
on a cold weekend in February 2015
on a cold weekend in February 2015 had invited a small group of eight
had invited a small group of eight
had invited a small group of eight people around me to join and dream
people around me to join and dream
people around me to join and dream together about what we would do if we
together about what we would do if we
together about what we would do if we were able to use the water what we did
were able to use the water what we did
were able to use the water what we did was simple and powerful we locked us up
was simple and powerful we locked us up
was simple and powerful we locked us up in a room turn on the heating had some
in a room turn on the heating had some
in a room turn on the heating had some tea and we said in a circle and we
tea and we said in a circle and we
tea and we said in a circle and we shared dreams ideas and visions we had
shared dreams ideas and visions we had
shared dreams ideas and visions we had no clue what that would lead to and how
no clue what that would lead to and how
no clue what that would lead to and how the result would look like because we
the result would look like because we
the result would look like because we didn’t talk about swimming bodies
didn’t talk about swimming bodies
didn’t talk about swimming bodies material aesthetics we just talked about
material aesthetics we just talked about
material aesthetics we just talked about dreams and that felt like a hippie
dreams and that felt like a hippie
dreams and that felt like a hippie circle of dreamers sitting around and
circle of dreamers sitting around and
circle of dreamers sitting around and sometimes it also felt like a strategic
sometimes it also felt like a strategic
sometimes it also felt like a strategic meeting of a bunch of nerds but most of
meeting of a bunch of nerds but most of
meeting of a bunch of nerds but most of all it had really really good because we
all it had really really good because we
all it had really really good because we started from my collective dream over my
started from my collective dream over my
started from my collective dream over my dream of a collective boat but everybody
dream of a collective boat but everybody
dream of a collective boat but everybody added in their own ways one dream was
added in their own ways one dream was
added in their own ways one dream was that we would be able to see the sunset
that we would be able to see the sunset
that we would be able to see the sunset over the water because that’s something
over the water because that’s something
over the water because that’s something we never do in the city only during
we never do in the city only during
we never do in the city only during Beach vacation and one dream was that we
Beach vacation and one dream was that we
Beach vacation and one dream was that we would build something with the community
would build something with the community
would build something with the community around us something welcoming for others
around us something welcoming for others
around us something welcoming for others to join in one dream was that we would
to join in one dream was that we would
to join in one dream was that we would use only resources that were already
use only resources that were already
use only resources that were already available to us to build something in a
available to us to build something in a
available to us to build something in a sustainable way
sustainable way
sustainable way one dream was that while being on the
one dream was that while being on the
one dream was that while being on the water we would actually make it cleaner
water we would actually make it cleaner
water we would actually make it cleaner instead of polluting it more one dream
instead of polluting it more one dream
instead of polluting it more one dream was that in our project the realization
was that in our project the realization
was that in our project the realization of dreams was a core principle and we
of dreams was a core principle and we
of dreams was a core principle and we had some silly dreams true I for example
had some silly dreams true I for example
had some silly dreams true I for example came up with the dream that one day we
came up with the dream that one day we
came up with the dream that one day we would be shown on one of those TV
would be shown on one of those TV
would be shown on one of those TV screens in the Berlin metro after this
screens in the Berlin metro after this
screens in the Berlin metro after this weekend I was so excited I could not
weekend I was so excited I could not
weekend I was so excited I could not sleep
sleep
sleep I was excited and worried I was worried
I was excited and worried I was worried
I was excited and worried I was worried we would not make it I was worried about
we would not make it I was worried about
we would not make it I was worried about logistics and bureaucracy about money
logistics and bureaucracy about money
logistics and bureaucracy about money and about time but in the end we all did
and about time but in the end we all did
and about time but in the end we all did make it but the group was clear about
make it but the group was clear about
make it but the group was clear about one thing first we needed was cool
one thing first we needed was cool
one thing first we needed was cool for our cool project and that was almost
for our cool project and that was almost
for our cool project and that was almost the end of the story because we had some
the end of the story because we had some
the end of the story because we had some horrible ideas before we came up before
horrible ideas before we came up before
horrible ideas before we came up before we came up old Sara it takes a while
we came up old Sara it takes a while
we came up old Sara it takes a while before you came up with the name Panther
before you came up with the name Panther
before you came up with the name Panther away which is our version of the old
away which is our version of the old
away which is our version of the old quick Panther ale and that means
quick Panther ale and that means
quick Panther ale and that means everything flows everything is in
everything flows everything is in
everything flows everything is in constant change and afterwards
constant change and afterwards
constant change and afterwards everything was flowing next thing we
everything was flowing next thing we
everything was flowing next thing we needed was money so we decided to launch
needed was money so we decided to launch
needed was money so we decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign to make people
a crowdfunding campaign to make people
a crowdfunding campaign to make people buy into our dream that became life and
buy into our dream that became life and
buy into our dream that became life and rival and within a couple of weeks we
rival and within a couple of weeks we
rival and within a couple of weeks we convinced close to two hundred and fifty
convinced close to two hundred and fifty
convinced close to two hundred and fifty people to give us more than ten thousand
people to give us more than ten thousand
people to give us more than ten thousand euros to build a boat and in exchange we
euros to build a boat and in exchange we
euros to build a boat and in exchange we promised them that they would be the
promised them that they would be the
promised them that they would be the first with us on board so all of a
first with us on board so all of a
first with us on board so all of a sudden that dream had become independent
sudden that dream had become independent
sudden that dream had become independent and we had this huge crew waiting up for
and we had this huge crew waiting up for
and we had this huge crew waiting up for us to be ready watching us and
us to be ready watching us and
us to be ready watching us and crowdfunding was a great tool both to
crowdfunding was a great tool both to
crowdfunding was a great tool both to get the money but also to make sure we
get the money but also to make sure we
get the money but also to make sure we weren’t building for us or for nobody
weren’t building for us or for nobody
weren’t building for us or for nobody but we were building for a crowd of
but we were building for a crowd of
but we were building for a crowd of people next thing we needed was material
people next thing we needed was material
people next thing we needed was material and as I said we wanted to use use
and as I said we wanted to use use
and as I said we wanted to use use material we wanted to recycle so we said
material we wanted to recycle so we said
material we wanted to recycle so we said let’s try to go straight to the source
let’s try to go straight to the source
let’s try to go straight to the source of it and we called all the Berlin
of it and we called all the Berlin
of it and we called all the Berlin recycling companies and asked them hey
recycling companies and asked them hey
recycling companies and asked them hey can we use your trash to build a boat
can we use your trash to build a boat
can we use your trash to build a boat and you’re actually not allowed to do
and you’re actually not allowed to do
and you’re actually not allowed to do that it’s it’s quite difficult you’re
that it’s it’s quite difficult you’re
that it’s it’s quite difficult you’re not allowed to use trash once it’s in
not allowed to use trash once it’s in
not allowed to use trash once it’s in the recycling system but eventually we
the recycling system but eventually we
the recycling system but eventually we had convinced one of them and they gave
had convinced one of them and they gave
had convinced one of them and they gave us access to their sites and this is how
us access to their sites and this is how
us access to their sites and this is how it looks like so at this point we were
it looks like so at this point we were
it looks like so at this point we were literally digging in Berlin trash for
literally digging in Berlin trash for
literally digging in Berlin trash for both building treasures we saw dream
both building treasures we saw dream
both building treasures we saw dream potential among that waste we started
potential among that waste we started
potential among that waste we started seeing a swing where there was an old
seeing a swing where there was an old
seeing a swing where there was an old shopping tray all we started seeing our
shopping tray all we started seeing our
shopping tray all we started seeing our future captain’s seat where there was an
future captain’s seat where there was an
future captain’s seat where there was an old horse saddle and we picked all of
old horse saddle and we picked all of
old horse saddle and we picked all of that material together
that material together
that material together collected it and started to plan the
collected it and started to plan the
collected it and started to plan the boat from what we had and found next
boat from what we had and found next
boat from what we had and found next thing we needed was people we did it
thing we needed was people we did it
thing we needed was people we did it skills and time people helped us so
skills and time people helped us so
skills and time people helped us so again we said let’s spread the idea
again we said let’s spread the idea
again we said let’s spread the idea through media contacts and in our
through media contacts and in our
through media contacts and in our networks and we were overwhelmed by how
networks and we were overwhelmed by how
networks and we were overwhelmed by how many people came
many people came
many people came dozens of people volunteered their time
dozens of people volunteered their time
dozens of people volunteered their time to help us build our dream they had
to help us build our dream they had
to help us build our dream they had heard of us on the radio and they came
heard of us on the radio and they came
heard of us on the radio and they came with tools and techniques and skills
with tools and techniques and skills
with tools and techniques and skills that we hadn’t even heard of they came
that we hadn’t even heard of they came
that we hadn’t even heard of they came because they had a similar idea or a
because they had a similar idea or a
because they had a similar idea or a similar dream and they were just happy
similar dream and they were just happy
similar dream and they were just happy that that small group was crazy enough
that that small group was crazy enough
that that small group was crazy enough to start it so this is how it looks if a
to start it so this is how it looks if a
to start it so this is how it looks if a bunch of amateurs built a boat we
bunch of amateurs built a boat we
bunch of amateurs built a boat we welcomed everybody who got to our
welcomed everybody who got to our
welcomed everybody who got to our building site made our version of
building site made our version of
building site made our version of onboarding so we got together doing
onboarding so we got together doing
onboarding so we got together doing breakfast lunch and dinner dinner we
breakfast lunch and dinner dinner we
breakfast lunch and dinner dinner we paid for food and drinks which helped
paid for food and drinks which helped
paid for food and drinks which helped and we made sure everybody felt invited
and we made sure everybody felt invited
and we made sure everybody felt invited and welcomed so within a lengthy six
and welcomed so within a lengthy six
and welcomed so within a lengthy six weeks process we got to build a boat and
weeks process we got to build a boat and
weeks process we got to build a boat and today it’s called Panther ray and that’s
today it’s called Panther ray and that’s
today it’s called Panther ray and that’s the result it’s 9 by 4 meters wide it’s
the result it’s 9 by 4 meters wide it’s
the result it’s 9 by 4 meters wide it’s it’s thanks
it’s thanks
it’s thanks [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] 94 meters it fits 25 people to be on
94 meters it fits 25 people to be on
94 meters it fits 25 people to be on boards and it can realize their ideas
boards and it can realize their ideas
boards and it can realize their ideas and dreams because we have solar panels
and dreams because we have solar panels
and dreams because we have solar panels for light and music we have a community
for light and music we have a community
for light and music we have a community garden to grant to plant plants we have
garden to grant to plant plants we have
garden to grant to plant plants we have a compost toilet in the back for
a compost toilet in the back for
a compost toilet in the back for immediate needs we have that swing made
immediate needs we have that swing made
immediate needs we have that swing made of out of an old shopping tray and in
of out of an old shopping tray and in
of out of an old shopping tray and in the front we have a shovel that collects
the front we have a shovel that collects
the front we have a shovel that collects floating trash while we’re on the water
floating trash while we’re on the water
floating trash while we’re on the water so you actually can make it a bit
so you actually can make it a bit
so you actually can make it a bit cleaner but what’s most important it can
cleaner but what’s most important it can
cleaner but what’s most important it can be anywhere in the city where there’s
be anywhere in the city where there’s
be anywhere in the city where there’s water because it has an engine to be
water because it has an engine to be
water because it has an engine to be transported within the first two seasons
transported within the first two seasons
transported within the first two seasons we had more than 2000 people on board
we had more than 2000 people on board
we had more than 2000 people on board who saw their city from a new
who saw their city from a new
who saw their city from a new perspective they were able to enjoy an
perspective they were able to enjoy an
perspective they were able to enjoy an intimate discussion away from the crowd
intimate discussion away from the crowd
intimate discussion away from the crowd they were able to watch the sunset over
they were able to watch the sunset over
they were able to watch the sunset over the water or just have a barbecue and
the water or just have a barbecue and
the water or just have a barbecue and some drinks but what we mostly use it
some drinks but what we mostly use it
some drinks but what we mostly use it for is public events because we
for is public events because we
for is public events because we understand that it’s a common platform
understand that it’s a common platform
understand that it’s a common platform and we offer it to local artists to
and we offer it to local artists to
and we offer it to local artists to musicians poets theatre companies and
musicians poets theatre companies and
musicians poets theatre companies and everybody who wants to perform so that
everybody who wants to perform so that
everybody who wants to perform so that on a cold sunny day or on a warm summer
on a cold sunny day or on a warm summer
on a cold sunny day or on a warm summer night you might be sitting by the canal
night you might be sitting by the canal
night you might be sitting by the canal and there’s a free concert floating by
but we also use it for political
but we also use it for political activism we use it to speak out on the
activism we use it to speak out on the
activism we use it to speak out on the water like we used to do on the streets
water like we used to do on the streets
water like we used to do on the streets about issues that we care of and we
about issues that we care of and we
about issues that we care of and we participate in regular clean up
participate in regular clean up
participate in regular clean up activities to raise awareness for my
activities to raise awareness for my
activities to raise awareness for my environmental pollution around us if you
environmental pollution around us if you
environmental pollution around us if you have an idea that’s artistic that’s
have an idea that’s artistic that’s
have an idea that’s artistic that’s political oh that’s just fun and you
political oh that’s just fun and you
political oh that’s just fun and you want to bring it to the public you can
want to bring it to the public you can
want to bring it to the public you can use this platform you can come talk to
use this platform you can come talk to
use this platform you can come talk to us and we can bring you on the water in
us and we can bring you on the water in
us and we can bring you on the water in Berlin but that is not the only reason
Berlin but that is not the only reason
Berlin but that is not the only reason I’m sharing the story oh wait
I’m sharing the story oh wait
I’m sharing the story oh wait all of the dreams came true even the one
all of the dreams came true even the one
all of the dreams came true even the one being shown and the TV screens in the
being shown and the TV screens in the
being shown and the TV screens in the metro eventually became reality out of
metro eventually became reality out of
metro eventually became reality out of the coincidence
[Applause]
[Applause] so as I said if you have an idea come
so as I said if you have an idea come
so as I said if you have an idea come talk to us but that is not the only
talk to us but that is not the only
talk to us but that is not the only reason I’m telling the story I think I
reason I’m telling the story I think I
reason I’m telling the story I think I learned at least three important lessons
learned at least three important lessons
learned at least three important lessons for my life from the Panther a project
for my life from the Panther a project
for my life from the Panther a project that can be applied to your people your
that can be applied to your people your
that can be applied to your people your spaces your dreams the first lesson is
spaces your dreams the first lesson is
spaces your dreams the first lesson is about the freedom of space I don’t think
about the freedom of space I don’t think
about the freedom of space I don’t think I realized how much free space there was
I realized how much free space there was
I realized how much free space there was in Berlin until I look at the water from
in Berlin until I look at the water from
in Berlin until I look at the water from a different perspective now I have a
a different perspective now I have a
a different perspective now I have a boat I see a stage I see room for
boat I see a stage I see room for
boat I see a stage I see room for performance and when I walk by the
performance and when I walk by the
performance and when I walk by the riverbanks I look out where could an
riverbanks I look out where could an
riverbanks I look out where could an audience it where could I host an event
audience it where could I host an event
audience it where could I host an event to hack that space and claim it and
to hack that space and claim it and
to hack that space and claim it and there is other people and then cities in
there is other people and then cities in
there is other people and then cities in the world
the world
the world who have used spaces and creative ways
who have used spaces and creative ways
who have used spaces and creative ways they’ve turned rooftops into community
they’ve turned rooftops into community
they’ve turned rooftops into community gardens they’ve turned parking lots into
gardens they’ve turned parking lots into
gardens they’ve turned parking lots into playgrounds and they’ve turned parks
playgrounds and they’ve turned parks
playgrounds and they’ve turned parks into public wave event locations think
into public wave event locations think
into public wave event locations think of a space around you that might be free
of a space around you that might be free
of a space around you that might be free and start using it start making it yours
and start using it start making it yours
and start using it start making it yours the second lesson I learned was about
the second lesson I learned was about
the second lesson I learned was about collective action this project was 100%
collective action this project was 100%
collective action this project was 100% collective I might be the only person
collective I might be the only person
collective I might be the only person standing here tonight holding to talk to
standing here tonight holding to talk to
standing here tonight holding to talk to you and I might have been the first
you and I might have been the first
you and I might have been the first person to talk about her dream but
person to talk about her dream but
person to talk about her dream but without a dedicated group of people to
without a dedicated group of people to
without a dedicated group of people to join in and make it as much their dream
join in and make it as much their dream
join in and make it as much their dream as it was mine this woulda stayed a
as it was mine this woulda stayed a
as it was mine this woulda stayed a dream and it wouldn’t have become
dream and it wouldn’t have become
dream and it wouldn’t have become reality sometimes we need to share our
reality sometimes we need to share our
reality sometimes we need to share our dreams and sometimes we also need to get
dreams and sometimes we also need to get
dreams and sometimes we also need to get going
going
going it’s about collectiveness and about
it’s about collectiveness and about
it’s about collectiveness and about action we need to start do things and
action we need to start do things and
action we need to start do things and stop being worried because if we hold to
stop being worried because if we hold to
stop being worried because if we hold to ourselves and a – worried and – concerns
ourselves and a – worried and – concerns
ourselves and a – worried and – concerns our dreams will not come true and the
our dreams will not come true and the
our dreams will not come true and the third and most important lesson I
third and most important lesson I
third and most important lesson I learned was a lesson about dreams
learned was a lesson about dreams
learned was a lesson about dreams because dreams are truly powerful I
because dreams are truly powerful I
because dreams are truly powerful I don’t think that any of the project
don’t think that any of the project
don’t think that any of the project management tools I use in my day job in
management tools I use in my day job in
management tools I use in my day job in my office
my office
my office work would have ever been as powerful as
work would have ever been as powerful as
work would have ever been as powerful as sitting together in a dreamer circle of
sitting together in a dreamer circle of
sitting together in a dreamer circle of course at some point we needed to do
course at some point we needed to do
course at some point we needed to do lists and management and get things done
lists and management and get things done
lists and management and get things done mode but it was fundamental to the
mode but it was fundamental to the
mode but it was fundamental to the project that in the very beginning we
project that in the very beginning we
project that in the very beginning we had taken enough time to make sure we
had taken enough time to make sure we
had taken enough time to make sure we really really wanted what we did and
really really wanted what we did and
really really wanted what we did and that’s the story of the panther array
that’s the story of the panther array
that’s the story of the panther array that you see here but it ends on ends on
that you see here but it ends on ends on
that you see here but it ends on ends on a personal note because I don’t need to
a personal note because I don’t need to
a personal note because I don’t need to live by the ocean anymore I can be on
live by the ocean anymore I can be on
live by the ocean anymore I can be on the water here every day and I can share
the water here every day and I can share
the water here every day and I can share it with a wonderful community around me
it with a wonderful community around me
it with a wonderful community around me thank you
”
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