[Music] you
this river became my teacher usually I
this river became my teacher usually I walk in the open air where my thoughts
walk in the open air where my thoughts
walk in the open air where my thoughts can may under and my words can branch
can may under and my words can branch
can may under and my words can branch out so let me imagine let us imagine to
out so let me imagine let us imagine to
out so let me imagine let us imagine to be on this walk today and in our walk I
be on this walk today and in our walk I
be on this walk today and in our walk I will start sharing about my source where
will start sharing about my source where
will start sharing about my source where I come from what teachings I got from
I come from what teachings I got from
I come from what teachings I got from this river and how I see how drinkable
this river and how I see how drinkable
this river and how I see how drinkable rivers could be indicators for healthy
rivers could be indicators for healthy
rivers could be indicators for healthy ways of living my birthplace is seven
ways of living my birthplace is seven
ways of living my birthplace is seven meters below sea level in the lowest
meters below sea level in the lowest
meters below sea level in the lowest point in the Netherlands next to otter
point in the Netherlands next to otter
point in the Netherlands next to otter DOM and next to the river River mass I
DOM and next to the river River mass I
DOM and next to the river River mass I am a confluence of a Dutch mother and a
am a confluence of a Dutch mother and a
am a confluence of a Dutch mother and a Chinese father and in this stretch of
Chinese father and in this stretch of
Chinese father and in this stretch of cultures around the big globe I have
cultures around the big globe I have
cultures around the big globe I have lived 10 years without a house as a
lived 10 years without a house as a
lived 10 years without a house as a nomad and as a university teacher for
nomad and as a university teacher for
nomad and as a university teacher for instance Erasmus University I’ve been
instance Erasmus University I’ve been
instance Erasmus University I’ve been taking students out next to the river
taking students out next to the river
taking students out next to the river mass bicycling and we led the river and
mass bicycling and we led the river and
mass bicycling and we led the river and the salmon fish inform us about polluted
the salmon fish inform us about polluted
the salmon fish inform us about polluted rivers that at some point the salmon
rivers that at some point the salmon
rivers that at some point the salmon river was abundant and at another point
river was abundant and at another point
river was abundant and at another point they were totally gone and that when
they were totally gone and that when
they were totally gone and that when policy changed having the salmon river
policy changed having the salmon river
policy changed having the salmon river as a return as an indicator that after a
as a return as an indicator that after a
as a return as an indicator that after a few years it returns and in my work
few years it returns and in my work
few years it returns and in my work projects I combine walking and I go into
projects I combine walking and I go into
projects I combine walking and I go into the wild and I survived big bonus when I
the wild and I survived big bonus when I
the wild and I survived big bonus when I was 24 I had my first deep wilderness
was 24 I had my first deep wilderness
was 24 I had my first deep wilderness experience here in this
experience here in this
experience here in this River far in a subarctic north of Canada
River far in a subarctic north of Canada
River far in a subarctic north of Canada in Quebec where the Korean the Inuits
in Quebec where the Korean the Inuits
in Quebec where the Korean the Inuits still live for a month I pedaled source
still live for a month I pedaled source
still live for a month I pedaled source to see the Rupert River with a group we
to see the Rupert River with a group we
to see the Rupert River with a group we protested the Deming the potential
protested the Deming the potential
protested the Deming the potential damming and diversion of this river at
damming and diversion of this river at
damming and diversion of this river at the end of my walk no canoe trip this
the end of my walk no canoe trip this
the end of my walk no canoe trip this was a canoe trip at the end when I
was a canoe trip at the end when I
was a canoe trip at the end when I reached washc a Ganesh the little town
reached washc a Ganesh the little town
reached washc a Ganesh the little town that is next to the inner sea of the
that is next to the inner sea of the
that is next to the inner sea of the James Bay I could conclude that this
James Bay I could conclude that this
James Bay I could conclude that this entire River was drinkable and that it
entire River was drinkable and that it
entire River was drinkable and that it was not only drinkable it was vital my
was not only drinkable it was vital my
was not only drinkable it was vital my hair got thicker my eyes got better
hair got thicker my eyes got better
hair got thicker my eyes got better for days I didn t need to use my glasses
for days I didn t need to use my glasses
for days I didn t need to use my glasses anymore or my contact lenses and I what
anymore or my contact lenses and I what
anymore or my contact lenses and I what I learned from this river is that when
I learned from this river is that when
I learned from this river is that when all the relationships are healthy the
all the relationships are healthy the
all the relationships are healthy the bedding of the river the bank the entire
bedding of the river the bank the entire
bedding of the river the bank the entire watershed then qualities like
watershed then qualities like
watershed then qualities like drinkability and vitality emerge and I
drinkability and vitality emerge and I
drinkability and vitality emerge and I also learned that like the river the
also learned that like the river the
also learned that like the river the land flows an either side land or river
land flows an either side land or river
land flows an either side land or river everything matters and that this flow
everything matters and that this flow
everything matters and that this flow can not be broken three years later
can not be broken three years later
can not be broken three years later though only three years later I returned
though only three years later I returned
though only three years later I returned to this river the rock bedding where I
to this river the rock bedding where I
to this river the rock bedding where I had been picnicking three years before
had been picnicking three years before
had been picnicking three years before had been exploded by dynamite the
had been exploded by dynamite the
had been exploded by dynamite the preparations for the damming of the
preparations for the damming of the
preparations for the damming of the river had started fish got poisoned
river had started fish got poisoned
river had started fish got poisoned mercury was found in water the local
mercury was found in water the local
mercury was found in water the local people who have been for thousands of
people who have been for thousands of
people who have been for thousands of years been eating this fish got ill
years been eating this fish got ill
years been eating this fish got ill eating the fish and drinking the water
eating the fish and drinking the water
eating the fish and drinking the water how is it possible
how is it possible
how is it possible that these decisions are being made that
that these decisions are being made that
that these decisions are being made that a once millions of years of drinkable
a once millions of years of drinkable
a once millions of years of drinkable river and a living landscape of healthy
river and a living landscape of healthy
river and a living landscape of healthy relationship of an entire food chain
relationship of an entire food chain
relationship of an entire food chain that is coherent that it gets lost how
that is coherent that it gets lost how
that is coherent that it gets lost how can we make these decisions so our
can we make these decisions so our
can we make these decisions so our societal norms one of which is now
societal norms one of which is now
societal norms one of which is now private property that there’s no such
private property that there’s no such
private property that there’s no such thing almost anymore as the comments
thing almost anymore as the comments
thing almost anymore as the comments that we take care of together is lost
that we take care of together is lost
that we take care of together is lost and another is that these indicators of
and another is that these indicators of
and another is that these indicators of our economic thinking are dominated by
our economic thinking are dominated by
our economic thinking are dominated by the amount of euros or dollars put into
the amount of euros or dollars put into
the amount of euros or dollars put into a project and are generated from a
a project and are generated from a
a project and are generated from a project the amount of jobs created the
project the amount of jobs created the
project the amount of jobs created the GDP the gross domestic product the
GDP the gross domestic product the
GDP the gross domestic product the amount of goods and services going
amount of goods and services going
amount of goods and services going around in the system nationally all
around in the system nationally all
around in the system nationally all these indicators go up but locally a
these indicators go up but locally a
these indicators go up but locally a whole life line of healthy relationships
whole life line of healthy relationships
whole life line of healthy relationships of a living landscape gets broken at
of a living landscape gets broken at
of a living landscape gets broken at lost and not only here locally this is
lost and not only here locally this is
lost and not only here locally this is locally worldwide so what we see what
locally worldwide so what we see what
locally worldwide so what we see what the symptoms are of this behavior is
the symptoms are of this behavior is
the symptoms are of this behavior is that 2/3 of our fish are now gone both
that 2/3 of our fish are now gone both
that 2/3 of our fish are now gone both in rivers and in oceans we have
in rivers and in oceans we have
in rivers and in oceans we have destroyed the habitats and we’ve been
destroyed the habitats and we’ve been
destroyed the habitats and we’ve been overfishing and we don’t it is not only
overfishing and we don’t it is not only
overfishing and we don’t it is not only with the fish this is with the reptiles
with the fish this is with the reptiles
with the fish this is with the reptiles the amphibians the birds the butterflies
the amphibians the birds the butterflies
the amphibians the birds the butterflies our minerals in the soil so also our
our minerals in the soil so also our
our minerals in the soil so also our food 2/3 less and even more over flying
food 2/3 less and even more over flying
food 2/3 less and even more over flying insect which recently learned
insect which recently learned
insect which recently learned three-quarters over flying insects are
three-quarters over flying insects are
three-quarters over flying insects are gone gone and not only biodiversity 80%
gone gone and not only biodiversity 80%
gone gone and not only biodiversity 80% of the worldwide human population is
of the worldwide human population is
of the worldwide human population is faced with a threat to see
faced with a threat to see
faced with a threat to see purity of water issues either too much
purity of water issues either too much
purity of water issues either too much too little or too polluted one example
too little or too polluted one example
too little or too polluted one example was a place where there was a lack of
was a place where there was a lack of
was a place where there was a lack of water the poor desperate it was earlier
water the poor desperate it was earlier
water the poor desperate it was earlier this year in Kenya people were killing
this year in Kenya people were killing
this year in Kenya people were killing animals each other because since June
animals each other because since June
animals each other because since June the year before so almost a year
the year before so almost a year
the year before so almost a year there was no water there no drop of
there was no water there no drop of
there was no water there no drop of water had fallen and this as a result
water had fallen and this as a result
water had fallen and this as a result pest realism that is disgracing with all
pest realism that is disgracing with all
pest realism that is disgracing with all the goats and sheep they didn’t have any
the goats and sheep they didn’t have any
the goats and sheep they didn’t have any any more vegetation but still they
any more vegetation but still they
any more vegetation but still they continued theirs their masses of them
continued theirs their masses of them
continued theirs their masses of them and being desperate no water
and being desperate no water
and being desperate no water they’ve been plundering farms nature
they’ve been plundering farms nature
they’ve been plundering farms nature reserves it was a shock to see that
reserves it was a shock to see that
reserves it was a shock to see that people and farms were destroyed right
people and farms were destroyed right
people and farms were destroyed right where I was in this desperate element of
where I was in this desperate element of
where I was in this desperate element of water and on top of this we spent now
water and on top of this we spent now
water and on top of this we spent now they have estimated that the past ten
they have estimated that the past ten
they have estimated that the past ten years and coming 15 years overs a time
years and coming 15 years overs a time
years and coming 15 years overs a time of 25 years that we spend 20 trillion
of 25 years that we spend 20 trillion
of 25 years that we spend 20 trillion that’s 12 zeros of creating this
that’s 12 zeros of creating this
that’s 12 zeros of creating this infrastructure of repairing and
infrastructure of repairing and
infrastructure of repairing and maintaining and of purifying water so
maintaining and of purifying water so
maintaining and of purifying water so it’s a whole industry there’s a lot of
it’s a whole industry there’s a lot of
it’s a whole industry there’s a lot of stakes and it this 23 and yeah what what
stakes and it this 23 and yeah what what
stakes and it this 23 and yeah what what does that mean that is like the total US
does that mean that is like the total US
does that mean that is like the total US debt or 17 times the EU budget annually
debt or 17 times the EU budget annually
debt or 17 times the EU budget annually this year so we have been treating a
this year so we have been treating a
this year so we have been treating a rivers like a sewage system like a waste
rivers like a sewage system like a waste
rivers like a sewage system like a waste dump
dump
dump rather than acknowledging it’s a
rather than acknowledging it’s a
rather than acknowledging it’s a lifeline an artery pumping the heart of
lifeline an artery pumping the heart of
lifeline an artery pumping the heart of our living systems so what can we do so
our living systems so what can we do so
our living systems so what can we do so I think that if we change those
I think that if we change those
I think that if we change those indicators that are navigating
indicators that are navigating
indicators that are navigating Arsen right now in this direction of
Arsen right now in this direction of
Arsen right now in this direction of these 2/3 of loss of life and sign of
these 2/3 of loss of life and sign of
these 2/3 of loss of life and sign of unhealthy relationship if we change it
unhealthy relationship if we change it
unhealthy relationship if we change it to simple and engaging indicators like
to simple and engaging indicators like
to simple and engaging indicators like drinkable rivers drinkable rivers could
drinkable rivers drinkable rivers could
drinkable rivers drinkable rivers could be this guide leading us to this healthy
be this guide leading us to this healthy
be this guide leading us to this healthy relationship then we might get there and
relationship then we might get there and
relationship then we might get there and this is simple any child could protest
this is simple any child could protest
this is simple any child could protest are we on the track towards drinkable
are we on the track towards drinkable
are we on the track towards drinkable water is it drinkable this is River mass
water is it drinkable this is River mass
water is it drinkable this is River mass water or is it not yet drinkable or are
water or is it not yet drinkable or are
water or is it not yet drinkable or are we even going polluting it more a child
we even going polluting it more a child
we even going polluting it more a child can measure it and I’ll engage children
can measure it and I’ll engage children
can measure it and I’ll engage children in my walks to indicate it and it’s
in my walks to indicate it and it’s
in my walks to indicate it and it’s engaging because we are water seventy
engaging because we are water seventy
engaging because we are water seventy percent of forty five kilos of
percent of forty five kilos of
percent of forty five kilos of approximately of bottles of water
approximately of bottles of water
approximately of bottles of water standing here as well
standing here as well
standing here as well eighty percent is our head is water so
eighty percent is our head is water so
eighty percent is our head is water so we are it so also the quality of what we
we are it so also the quality of what we
we are it so also the quality of what we are drinking we become and we need it
are drinking we become and we need it
are drinking we become and we need it every day one time I was walking from
every day one time I was walking from
every day one time I was walking from Mexico to Canada and I went in Indians I
Mexico to Canada and I went in Indians I
Mexico to Canada and I went in Indians I go Borrego forest for the desert for
go Borrego forest for the desert for
go Borrego forest for the desert for about a month and I started very feeling
about a month and I started very feeling
about a month and I started very feeling very rich with nine kilos of drinking
very rich with nine kilos of drinking
very rich with nine kilos of drinking water with me but soon it goes down to
water with me but soon it goes down to
water with me but soon it goes down to only one and a half or half even and
only one and a half or half even and
only one and a half or half even and then you have to make a decision do I
then you have to make a decision do I
then you have to make a decision do I use it to hydrate my dehydrated food and
use it to hydrate my dehydrated food and
use it to hydrate my dehydrated food and you’re very hungry when you walk like a
you’re very hungry when you walk like a
you’re very hungry when you walk like a marathon a day and are you going to use
marathon a day and are you going to use
marathon a day and are you going to use for water or for hygiene of course you
for water or for hygiene of course you
for water or for hygiene of course you use it for water but to have that
use it for water but to have that
use it for water but to have that feeling of the emotion of needing it you
feeling of the emotion of needing it you
feeling of the emotion of needing it you understand then the desperation that I
understand then the desperation that I
understand then the desperation that I saw in Kenya so these delicate
saw in Kenya so these delicate
saw in Kenya so these delicate interdependencies of creatives taking
interdependencies of creatives taking
interdependencies of creatives taking care of this lifeline on the one hand
care of this lifeline on the one hand
care of this lifeline on the one hand and the vulnerability and the necessity
and the vulnerability and the necessity
and the vulnerability and the necessity on the other hand
on the other hand
on the other hand and the simplicity of checking it on a
and the simplicity of checking it on a
and the simplicity of checking it on a daily basis I think drinkable rivers
daily basis I think drinkable rivers
daily basis I think drinkable rivers could be this indicator for healthy ways
could be this indicator for healthy ways
could be this indicator for healthy ways of living so how can we care well I will
of living so how can we care well I will
of living so how can we care well I will start to walk source-to-sea rivers and
start to walk source-to-sea rivers and
start to walk source-to-sea rivers and I’ll start with the river mass that is
I’ll start with the river mass that is
I’ll start with the river mass that is burning right here
burning right here
burning right here remember our imaginary walk so we can
remember our imaginary walk so we can
remember our imaginary walk so we can see to the side we can see the river
see to the side we can see the river
see to the side we can see the river mass that’s why this is simple and so
mass that’s why this is simple and so
mass that’s why this is simple and so I’ll start in France and finish it by
I’ll start in France and finish it by
I’ll start in France and finish it by birthplace in the North Sea in Rotterdam
birthplace in the North Sea in Rotterdam
birthplace in the North Sea in Rotterdam and I will engage any of you local
and I will engage any of you local
and I will engage any of you local people and organisations for instance an
people and organisations for instance an
people and organisations for instance an organization that I invited over that
organization that I invited over that
organization that I invited over that we’ve been walking with his being
we’ve been walking with his being
we’ve been walking with his being treeless Bank and his bank saw the
treeless Bank and his bank saw the
treeless Bank and his bank saw the opportunity that they have for adopting
opportunity that they have for adopting
opportunity that they have for adopting this idea and is walking culminated in
this idea and is walking culminated in
this idea and is walking culminated in that now there is a proposal sent to the
that now there is a proposal sent to the
that now there is a proposal sent to the Dutch central bank with the title
Dutch central bank with the title
Dutch central bank with the title drinkable rivers as indicator for
drinkable rivers as indicator for
drinkable rivers as indicator for healthy economy
so it’s very exciting so I’m gonna soon
so it’s very exciting so I’m gonna soon sit with more the indicator and metrics
sit with more the indicator and metrics
sit with more the indicator and metrics geeks to see how can we make the
geeks to see how can we make the
geeks to see how can we make the translation and it the walks with the
translation and it the walks with the
translation and it the walks with the local people and with you will inform
local people and with you will inform
local people and with you will inform how do we do that how do we translate
how do we do that how do we translate
how do we do that how do we translate from drinkable rivers as a vision to
from drinkable rivers as a vision to
from drinkable rivers as a vision to making it real and what can you do ask
making it real and what can you do ask
making it real and what can you do ask yourself what do you deeply care about
what is who is your River next to you
what is who is your River next to you and where is your drinking water come
and where is your drinking water come
and where is your drinking water come from what makes your heart sing this is
from what makes your heart sing this is
from what makes your heart sing this is a bundle of questions but it leads you
a bundle of questions but it leads you
a bundle of questions but it leads you to the same kind of enthusiasm because
to the same kind of enthusiasm because
to the same kind of enthusiasm because this was my teachings I got from the
this was my teachings I got from the
this was my teachings I got from the river Thank You Rupert River and I now
river Thank You Rupert River and I now
river Thank You Rupert River and I now invite you to visit your River close to
invite you to visit your River close to
invite you to visit your River close to you and see and share what teachings you
you and see and share what teachings you
you and see and share what teachings you got from that River because wouldn’t it
got from that River because wouldn’t it
got from that River because wouldn’t it be magical if we can all drink from
be magical if we can all drink from
be magical if we can all drink from rivers anywhere in the world like this
rivers anywhere in the world like this
rivers anywhere in the world like this knowing that this is a spin-off for
knowing that this is a spin-off for
knowing that this is a spin-off for biodiversity soil build up climate
biodiversity soil build up climate
biodiversity soil build up climate stabilization that rivers are happy that
stabilization that rivers are happy that
stabilization that rivers are happy that you are healthy for now and for future
you are healthy for now and for future
you are healthy for now and for future generations thank you
generations thank you
generations thank you [Applause]
join the spot Thank You yen thank you so
join the spot Thank You yen thank you so much for that now you’ve really
much for that now you’ve really
much for that now you’ve really literally taken me by the shoulders and
literally taken me by the shoulders and
literally taken me by the shoulders and you’ve literally like a doctor almost
you’ve literally like a doctor almost
you’ve literally like a doctor almost take me and shaken me and said your
take me and shaken me and said your
take me and shaken me and said your arteries are clogged and not only are
arteries are clogged and not only are
arteries are clogged and not only are there clogs they filled with poison if
there clogs they filled with poison if
there clogs they filled with poison if you can summarize in one sentence that
you can summarize in one sentence that
you can summarize in one sentence that urgent call what would you tell the
urgent call what would you tell the
urgent call what would you tell the people in the audience today thank water
people in the audience today thank water
people in the audience today thank water before you use it ladies and gentlemen
before you use it ladies and gentlemen
before you use it ladies and gentlemen good
good
good [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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