may I assume that your homes are off-grid that your homes are powered
off-grid that your homes are powered
off-grid that your homes are powered with solar power and fed with rain
with solar power and fed with rain
with solar power and fed with rain catchment water if not may I at least
catchment water if not may I at least
catchment water if not may I at least assume that you do your part to recycle
assume that you do your part to recycle
assume that you do your part to recycle that you compost your organics and place
that you compost your organics and place
that you compost your organics and place your inorganic waste in the right bin
your inorganic waste in the right bin
your inorganic waste in the right bin always I’m embarrassed to admit that I
always I’m embarrassed to admit that I
always I’m embarrassed to admit that I don’t why is this we know how to recycle
don’t why is this we know how to recycle
don’t why is this we know how to recycle an hour to offset waste we study it in
an hour to offset waste we study it in
an hour to offset waste we study it in school we write academic articles on it
school we write academic articles on it
school we write academic articles on it we call the field of study the circular
we call the field of study the circular
we call the field of study the circular economy but do we really get it the
economy but do we really get it the
economy but do we really get it the evidence is overwhelming that we don’t
evidence is overwhelming that we don’t
evidence is overwhelming that we don’t i’m a young entrepreneur from africa
i’m a young entrepreneur from africa
i’m a young entrepreneur from africa wide being an entrepreneur means i’m
wide being an entrepreneur means i’m
wide being an entrepreneur means i’m building a new future and being from
building a new future and being from
building a new future and being from africa means i’m eminently qualified to
africa means i’m eminently qualified to
africa means i’m eminently qualified to speak about waste as South Africans we
speak about waste as South Africans we
speak about waste as South Africans we produce enough solid waste to rebuild
produce enough solid waste to rebuild
produce enough solid waste to rebuild the Great Pyramid of Giza every four and
the Great Pyramid of Giza every four and
the Great Pyramid of Giza every four and a half days in fact if humanity were to
a half days in fact if humanity were to
a half days in fact if humanity were to power our wasted food into oil tankers
power our wasted food into oil tankers
power our wasted food into oil tankers then we’d fill the entire global fleet
then we’d fill the entire global fleet
then we’d fill the entire global fleet as we waste 1.3 billion tons of food per
as we waste 1.3 billion tons of food per
as we waste 1.3 billion tons of food per year we also waste 450 billion
year we also waste 450 billion
year we also waste 450 billion kiloliters of water which is like
kiloliters of water which is like
kiloliters of water which is like wasting all the water of hurricane javi
wasting all the water of hurricane javi
wasting all the water of hurricane javi every quarter or Hurricane Katrina every
every quarter or Hurricane Katrina every
every quarter or Hurricane Katrina every 20 days we waste 350 exajoules of energy
20 days we waste 350 exajoules of energy
20 days we waste 350 exajoules of energy in heat noise and leaks I could tell you
in heat noise and leaks I could tell you
in heat noise and leaks I could tell you that’s enough energy to melt the
that’s enough energy to melt the
that’s enough energy to melt the Antarctic ice cap in just over ten years
Antarctic ice cap in just over ten years
Antarctic ice cap in just over ten years but who cares 350 exajoules is like
but who cares 350 exajoules is like
but who cares 350 exajoules is like releasing 12 and a half thousand
releasing 12 and a half thousand
releasing 12 and a half thousand Hiroshima bombs per day
Hiroshima bombs per day
Hiroshima bombs per day now numerous NGOs celebrities think
now numerous NGOs celebrities think
now numerous NGOs celebrities think tanks and greenies have used similar
tanks and greenies have used similar
tanks and greenies have used similar shocking statistics to galvanize the
shocking statistics to galvanize the
shocking statistics to galvanize the world into action
world into action
world into action sadly they failed call me cynical but I
sadly they failed call me cynical but I
sadly they failed call me cynical but I believe humanity is inherently selfish
believe humanity is inherently selfish
believe humanity is inherently selfish if I want my three-year-old daughter to
if I want my three-year-old daughter to
if I want my three-year-old daughter to share a toy with her baby brother
share a toy with her baby brother
share a toy with her baby brother then I must bribe her that is human
then I must bribe her that is human
then I must bribe her that is human nature my wife and I we’re still working
nature my wife and I we’re still working
nature my wife and I we’re still working on nature but the same thing can be said
on nature but the same thing can be said
on nature but the same thing can be said for humanity and waste it’s easy to
for humanity and waste it’s easy to
for humanity and waste it’s easy to justify a triple bottom line or the
justify a triple bottom line or the
justify a triple bottom line or the pursuit of the Millennium Development
pursuit of the Millennium Development
pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals when things are going well but
Goals when things are going well but
Goals when things are going well but when hardship strikes then we turn a
when hardship strikes then we turn a
when hardship strikes then we turn a blind eye to the world’s flight with
blind eye to the world’s flight with
blind eye to the world’s flight with scheme we lie and we retreat I’m
scheme we lie and we retreat I’m
scheme we lie and we retreat I’m thinking of Volkswagen and the
thinking of Volkswagen and the
thinking of Volkswagen and the emissions-cheating scandal or the u.s.
emissions-cheating scandal or the u.s.
emissions-cheating scandal or the u.s. withdrawing from the Paris climate
withdrawing from the Paris climate
withdrawing from the Paris climate Accord if these are the actions of the
Accord if these are the actions of the
Accord if these are the actions of the wealthy respectable companies and
wealthy respectable companies and
wealthy respectable companies and countries what do you think the little
countries what do you think the little
countries what do you think the little guys are doing we created a world where
guys are doing we created a world where
guys are doing we created a world where 10% consumes half 10% doesn’t have any
10% consumes half 10% doesn’t have any
10% consumes half 10% doesn’t have any and 80% believe that trying won’t make a
and 80% believe that trying won’t make a
and 80% believe that trying won’t make a difference
difference
difference we must monetize waste else will forever
we must monetize waste else will forever
we must monetize waste else will forever be fighting short-term greed at the
be fighting short-term greed at the
be fighting short-term greed at the expense of long-term gain let us
expense of long-term gain let us
expense of long-term gain let us consider the circular economy anew the
consider the circular economy anew the
consider the circular economy anew the first word circular stems from natural
first word circular stems from natural
first word circular stems from natural systems and Mufasa gave the best
systems and Mufasa gave the best
systems and Mufasa gave the best explanation of the circle of life to
explanation of the circle of life to
explanation of the circle of life to Simba in the movie The Lion King mm-hmm
Simba in the movie The Lion King mm-hmm
Simba in the movie The Lion King mm-hmm Simba when we die our bodies become the
Simba when we die our bodies become the
Simba when we die our bodies become the grass and the Antelope eat the grass and
grass and the Antelope eat the grass and
grass and the Antelope eat the grass and so we’re all connected in the great
so we’re all connected in the great
so we’re all connected in the great circle of life
circle of life
circle of life the second word economy stems from Greek
the second word economy stems from Greek
the second word economy stems from Greek and means two things household and
and means two things household and
and means two things household and managed
managed
managed so participating in the circular economy
so participating in the circular economy
so participating in the circular economy means our households are managed so that
means our households are managed so that
means our households are managed so that we convert what we use into something of
we convert what we use into something of
we convert what we use into something of equal or greater value our households
equal or greater value our households
equal or greater value our households extend beyond their homes to include our
extend beyond their homes to include our
extend beyond their homes to include our businesses our communities and our
businesses our communities and our
businesses our communities and our environment when we manage something it
environment when we manage something it
environment when we manage something it is a considered effort we analyze we
is a considered effort we analyze we
is a considered effort we analyze we prioritize we optimize when we convert
prioritize we optimize when we convert
prioritize we optimize when we convert something to increase its value well
something to increase its value well
something to increase its value well then we’re talking about making money
then we’re talking about making money
then we’re talking about making money let me tell you of the Zabaleen of Cairo
let me tell you of the Zabaleen of Cairo
let me tell you of the Zabaleen of Cairo the Zabaleen had nothing going for them
the Zabaleen had nothing going for them
the Zabaleen had nothing going for them as for subsistence farmers they moved to
as for subsistence farmers they moved to
as for subsistence farmers they moved to Cairo in the 1940s they were religiously
Cairo in the 1940s they were religiously
Cairo in the 1940s they were religiously marginalized and often persecuted things
marginalized and often persecuted things
marginalized and often persecuted things were so rough that they started to
were so rough that they started to
were so rough that they started to collect household waste for free just to
collect household waste for free just to
collect household waste for free just to feed their pigs what was in it for them
feed their pigs what was in it for them
feed their pigs what was in it for them the inherent value of the waste they
the inherent value of the waste they
the inherent value of the waste they managed their waste
managed their waste
managed their waste they studied recycling methods and
they studied recycling methods and
they studied recycling methods and formed micro recycling enterprises they
formed micro recycling enterprises they
formed micro recycling enterprises they invested in tools they started making
invested in tools they started making
invested in tools they started making crafts they are selling fabrics in New
crafts they are selling fabrics in New
crafts they are selling fabrics in New York by the early 2000s the Zabaleen
York by the early 2000s the Zabaleen
York by the early 2000s the Zabaleen were managing about a third of Cairo’s
were managing about a third of Cairo’s
were managing about a third of Cairo’s waste without costing the populace a
waste without costing the populace a
waste without costing the populace a cent they mastered resource efficiency
cent they mastered resource efficiency
cent they mastered resource efficiency and recycled about 80 percent of what
and recycled about 80 percent of what
and recycled about 80 percent of what they collected let me put this into
they collected let me put this into
they collected let me put this into perspective 15 years ago a poor
perspective 15 years ago a poor
perspective 15 years ago a poor persecuted community were doing waste
persecuted community were doing waste
persecuted community were doing waste management as effectively as San
management as effectively as San
management as effectively as San Francisco one of the greenest cities in
Francisco one of the greenest cities in
Francisco one of the greenest cities in the world is doing today they are making
the world is doing today they are making
the world is doing today they are making money one of the trickiest sways to
money one of the trickiest sways to
money one of the trickiest sways to handle is micro particles which are
handle is micro particles which are
handle is micro particles which are particles that which are particles
particles that which are particles
particles that which are particles that’s defined as being less than 10
that’s defined as being less than 10
that’s defined as being less than 10 microns in diameter most of the time
microns in diameter most of the time
microns in diameter most of the time Johannesburg in South Africa is covered
Johannesburg in South Africa is covered
Johannesburg in South Africa is covered in a faint dust haze because a full
in a faint dust haze because a full
in a faint dust haze because a full of dumped mining slimes are smaller than
of dumped mining slimes are smaller than
of dumped mining slimes are smaller than 10 microns our company developed a
10 microns our company developed a
10 microns our company developed a process whereby we mix these mining
process whereby we mix these mining
process whereby we mix these mining slimes with a recycled plastic we add to
slimes with a recycled plastic we add to
slimes with a recycled plastic we add to this a little bit of magic and then we
this a little bit of magic and then we
this a little bit of magic and then we compression mold green roof tiles our
compression mold green roof tiles our
compression mold green roof tiles our tiles weigh a quarter of normal concrete
tiles weigh a quarter of normal concrete
tiles weigh a quarter of normal concrete tiles if they are twice as strong and
tiles if they are twice as strong and
tiles if they are twice as strong and not brittle we don’t go around selling
not brittle we don’t go around selling
not brittle we don’t go around selling the fact that we can recycle mining
the fact that we can recycle mining
the fact that we can recycle mining slaves by the truckload no people won’t
slaves by the truckload no people won’t
slaves by the truckload no people won’t buy that they also won’t buy the 1.9
buy that they also won’t buy the 1.9
buy that they also won’t buy the 1.9 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions
kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions
kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions that we can offset per tile what makes
that we can offset per tile what makes
that we can offset per tile what makes our tiles worth buying is the fact that
our tiles worth buying is the fact that
our tiles worth buying is the fact that they save a developer on breakage roof
they save a developer on breakage roof
they save a developer on breakage roof trusses construction time and transport
trusses construction time and transport
trusses construction time and transport overall a savior builds roof comes in 10
overall a savior builds roof comes in 10
overall a savior builds roof comes in 10 percent cheaper than a roof built with a
percent cheaper than a roof built with a
percent cheaper than a roof built with a bottom range economy tile after we done
bottom range economy tile after we done
bottom range economy tile after we done with our certification will be taking
with our certification will be taking
with our certification will be taking mining slimes with no value creating
mining slimes with no value creating
mining slimes with no value creating roof tiles with real value that is
roof tiles with real value that is
roof tiles with real value that is making money but now let’s really
making money but now let’s really
making money but now let’s really stretch our minds how about empty space
stretch our minds how about empty space
stretch our minds how about empty space in 2017 the Lagos State Government
in 2017 the Lagos State Government
in 2017 the Lagos State Government disclosed that there are over 60
disclosed that there are over 60
disclosed that there are over 60 abandoned government buildings on Lagos
abandoned government buildings on Lagos
abandoned government buildings on Lagos Island how on earth can this be Lagos is
Island how on earth can this be Lagos is
Island how on earth can this be Lagos is a city with 14 million people they have
a city with 14 million people they have
a city with 14 million people they have an access problem it takes six hours of
an access problem it takes six hours of
an access problem it takes six hours of daily commuting simply to work from
daily commuting simply to work from
daily commuting simply to work from those nor can those buildings be
those nor can those buildings be
those nor can those buildings be converted into homes because the people
converted into homes because the people
converted into homes because the people in downtown Lagos are too poor to pay
in downtown Lagos are too poor to pay
in downtown Lagos are too poor to pay the rent so what to do how about we
the rent so what to do how about we
the rent so what to do how about we start a hydroponic farming agribusiness
start a hydroponic farming agribusiness
start a hydroponic farming agribusiness hydroponic farming yields are about four
hydroponic farming yields are about four
hydroponic farming yields are about four times that of swell equivalent because
times that of swell equivalent because
times that of swell equivalent because the growing season lasts the entire year
the growing season lasts the entire year
the growing season lasts the entire year and the constant provision of the
and the constant provision of the
and the constant provision of the correct nutrients optimize the growth of
correct nutrients optimize the growth of
correct nutrients optimize the growth of every crop
every crop
every crop a building like that can you’ll do 29
a building like that can you’ll do 29
a building like that can you’ll do 29 tons of Swiss chard straight to the city
tons of Swiss chard straight to the city
tons of Swiss chard straight to the city center washed and cleaned at a discount
center washed and cleaned at a discount
center washed and cleaned at a discount at the 10% discount to supermarket rates
at the 10% discount to supermarket rates
at the 10% discount to supermarket rates that an estimated monthly revenue of 60
that an estimated monthly revenue of 60
that an estimated monthly revenue of 60 to 70 thousand euros rent in that
to 70 thousand euros rent in that
to 70 thousand euros rent in that building would have earned you about
building would have earned you about
building would have earned you about 40,000 euros all these answers are many
40,000 euros all these answers are many
40,000 euros all these answers are many answers the prevailing poverty in Africa
answers the prevailing poverty in Africa
answers the prevailing poverty in Africa is hiding the innovation of our
is hiding the innovation of our
is hiding the innovation of our entrepreneurs we’re converting the waste
entrepreneurs we’re converting the waste
entrepreneurs we’re converting the waste we’re creating wealth we creating
we’re creating wealth we creating
we’re creating wealth we creating employment we promote in human dignity
employment we promote in human dignity
employment we promote in human dignity these are the principles of building
these are the principles of building
these are the principles of building sustainable cities to us 80% that
sustainable cities to us 80% that
sustainable cities to us 80% that believe trying won’t make a difference I
believe trying won’t make a difference I
believe trying won’t make a difference I ask what are we so afraid of that we’ve
ask what are we so afraid of that we’ve
ask what are we so afraid of that we’ve become wasted human potential I can hear
become wasted human potential I can hear
become wasted human potential I can hear the excuses echo across the room but I
the excuses echo across the room but I
the excuses echo across the room but I don’t have money but I’m not given an
don’t have money but I’m not given an
don’t have money but I’m not given an opportunity but I cannot see the value
opportunity but I cannot see the value
opportunity but I cannot see the value it’s up to us to create the value our
it’s up to us to create the value our
it’s up to us to create the value our ancestors were unskilled entrepreneurs
ancestors were unskilled entrepreneurs
ancestors were unskilled entrepreneurs simple traders and farmers that new risk
simple traders and farmers that new risk
simple traders and farmers that new risk worked hard and jumped when they saw an
worked hard and jumped when they saw an
worked hard and jumped when they saw an opportunity in watching this talk
opportunity in watching this talk
opportunity in watching this talk you’re already privileged you have
you’re already privileged you have
you’re already privileged you have access to the Internet and its resources
access to the Internet and its resources
access to the Internet and its resources that makes you global it makes you
that makes you global it makes you
that makes you global it makes you connected it makes you somebody whom the
connected it makes you somebody whom the
connected it makes you somebody whom the world can’t afford to label as waste so
world can’t afford to label as waste so
world can’t afford to label as waste so I’m asking you join me in seeing waste
I’m asking you join me in seeing waste
I’m asking you join me in seeing waste for what it’s worth a valuable resource
for what it’s worth a valuable resource
for what it’s worth a valuable resource an opportunity to start a business I’m
an opportunity to start a business I’m
an opportunity to start a business I’m not asking you to change the world no
not asking you to change the world no
not asking you to change the world no I’m asking you to convert some waste and
I’m asking you to convert some waste and
I’m asking you to convert some waste and make yourself some money you see we must
make yourself some money you see we must
make yourself some money you see we must monetize waste so that we can leapfrog
monetize waste so that we can leapfrog
monetize waste so that we can leapfrog shorten greed and achieve long-term gain
shorten greed and achieve long-term gain
shorten greed and achieve long-term gain in the process we may just deal with all
in the process we may just deal with all
in the process we may just deal with all the waste
the waste
the waste finally thank you very much
finally thank you very much
finally thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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