I’m frequently told that I was born 200 years too late apparently I missed this
years too late apparently I missed this
years too late apparently I missed this great age of exploration now I disagree
great age of exploration now I disagree
great age of exploration now I disagree but with the world’s tallest peaks
but with the world’s tallest peaks
but with the world’s tallest peaks climbed the depths of our ocean reached
climbed the depths of our ocean reached
climbed the depths of our ocean reached and the poles mapped it is a seemingly
and the poles mapped it is a seemingly
and the poles mapped it is a seemingly valid question what is left to explore
valid question what is left to explore
valid question what is left to explore believe it or not even in 2017 we know
believe it or not even in 2017 we know
believe it or not even in 2017 we know far less about our world than you might
far less about our world than you might
far less about our world than you might think we know more about Mars than what
think we know more about Mars than what
think we know more about Mars than what lies beneath our own oceans we recently
lies beneath our own oceans we recently
lies beneath our own oceans we recently discovered an entirely undocumented
discovered an entirely undocumented
discovered an entirely undocumented rainforest in Mozambique and indigenous
rainforest in Mozambique and indigenous
rainforest in Mozambique and indigenous cultures are disappearing before their
cultures are disappearing before their
cultures are disappearing before their knowledge is shared exploration is no
knowledge is shared exploration is no
knowledge is shared exploration is no longer about planting your nations flag
longer about planting your nations flag
longer about planting your nations flag in an uncharted territory or being the
in an uncharted territory or being the
in an uncharted territory or being the first to summit the world’s tallest
first to summit the world’s tallest
first to summit the world’s tallest mountains while these accomplishments
mountains while these accomplishments
mountains while these accomplishments are iconic they’re part of a larger
are iconic they’re part of a larger
are iconic they’re part of a larger fabric of exploration today exploration
fabric of exploration today exploration
fabric of exploration today exploration is about increasing our knowledge and
is about increasing our knowledge and
is about increasing our knowledge and understanding of the world we live in
understanding of the world we live in
understanding of the world we live in which for me often means living with
which for me often means living with
which for me often means living with indigenous communities in experiencing
indigenous communities in experiencing
indigenous communities in experiencing alternative ways of interacting with the
alternative ways of interacting with the
alternative ways of interacting with the earth in my time with these remote
earth in my time with these remote
earth in my time with these remote communities I’ve found we all face the
communities I’ve found we all face the
communities I’ve found we all face the same challenges food water shelter love
same challenges food water shelter love
same challenges food water shelter love yet given these common challenges the
yet given these common challenges the
yet given these common challenges the range of cultural adaptation is
range of cultural adaptation is
range of cultural adaptation is extraordinary let me give you a little
extraordinary let me give you a little
extraordinary let me give you a little bit of background as a young girl I
bit of background as a young girl I
bit of background as a young girl I devoured articles in National Geographic
devoured articles in National Geographic
devoured articles in National Geographic about deforestation and tribes
about deforestation and tribes
about deforestation and tribes disappearing at alarming rates and I
disappearing at alarming rates and I
disappearing at alarming rates and I remember feeling this immense sense of
remember feeling this immense sense of
remember feeling this immense sense of urgency along with the realization that
urgency along with the realization that
urgency along with the realization that I could be a part of one of the last
I could be a part of one of the last
I could be a part of one of the last generations to live in a world where
generations to live in a world where
generations to live in a world where such remote places even exist
such remote places even exist
such remote places even exist I knew pretty early on that if I wanted
I knew pretty early on that if I wanted
I knew pretty early on that if I wanted to see these remote places before they
to see these remote places before they
to see these remote places before they disappeared I was gonna have to act fast
disappeared I was gonna have to act fast
disappeared I was gonna have to act fast so when the opportunity arose to explore
so when the opportunity arose to explore
so when the opportunity arose to explore a potential anthropological anomaly
a potential anthropological anomaly
a potential anthropological anomaly female Chiefs in the Pacific Islands of
female Chiefs in the Pacific Islands of
female Chiefs in the Pacific Islands of Vanuatu I was ecstatic because for over
Vanuatu I was ecstatic because for over
Vanuatu I was ecstatic because for over a hundred years
a hundred years
a hundred years literature declared that there were no
literature declared that there were no
literature declared that there were no female Chiefs in Vanuatu but in 2016 a
female Chiefs in Vanuatu but in 2016 a
female Chiefs in Vanuatu but in 2016 a team and I discovered that there were in
team and I discovered that there were in
team and I discovered that there were in fact female Chiefs
fact female Chiefs
fact female Chiefs in Vanuatu now for me the discovery of
in Vanuatu now for me the discovery of
in Vanuatu now for me the discovery of female Chiefs demonstrated that the
female Chiefs demonstrated that the
female Chiefs demonstrated that the golden age of exploration wasn’t over
golden age of exploration wasn’t over
golden age of exploration wasn’t over exploration is now more important than
exploration is now more important than
exploration is now more important than ever because there is a time pressure
ever because there is a time pressure
ever because there is a time pressure that did not exist for explorers 200
that did not exist for explorers 200
that did not exist for explorers 200 years ago as a result of globalization
years ago as a result of globalization
years ago as a result of globalization and climate change practices fundamental
and climate change practices fundamental
and climate change practices fundamental to indigenous cultures such as sand
to indigenous cultures such as sand
to indigenous cultures such as sand drawing and water music are disappearing
drawing and water music are disappearing
drawing and water music are disappearing at alarming rates and with every single
at alarming rates and with every single
at alarming rates and with every single one of these worldviews that fades we’re
one of these worldviews that fades we’re
one of these worldviews that fades we’re left with the diminished capacity to the
left with the diminished capacity to the
left with the diminished capacity to the common challenges that face us all the
common challenges that face us all the
common challenges that face us all the people of Vanuatu are famous for their
people of Vanuatu are famous for their
people of Vanuatu are famous for their tradition of sand Rolly now sand Rolly
tradition of sand Rolly now sand Rolly
tradition of sand Rolly now sand Rolly developed is this method of
developed is this method of
developed is this method of communication between tribes in a
communication between tribes in a
communication between tribes in a country of over a hundred and fifteen
country of over a hundred and fifteen
country of over a hundred and fifteen different language groups sand drawings
different language groups sand drawings
different language groups sand drawings are made in the ground when the Jala
are made in the ground when the Jala
are made in the ground when the Jala uses one finger to trace this continuous
uses one finger to trace this continuous
uses one finger to trace this continuous line which ends up creating a beautiful
line which ends up creating a beautiful
line which ends up creating a beautiful design but these designs are more than
design but these designs are more than
design but these designs are more than art they transmit rituals mythology
art they transmit rituals mythology
art they transmit rituals mythology everyday songs and events but now they
everyday songs and events but now they
everyday songs and events but now they can also be used like a text message or
can also be used like a text message or
can also be used like a text message or a note say you went to visit your
a note say you went to visit your
a note say you went to visit your neighbor and they weren’t home you could
neighbor and they weren’t home you could
neighbor and they weren’t home you could crank out a little sand drawing by their
crank out a little sand drawing by their
crank out a little sand drawing by their front Hut entry to say hey Bob stop by
front Hut entry to say hey Bob stop by
front Hut entry to say hey Bob stop by to say hi hope all’s well with you and
to say hi hope all’s well with you and
to say hi hope all’s well with you and the family but globalization is now
the family but globalization is now
the family but globalization is now affecting even these most remote remote
affecting even these most remote remote
affecting even these most remote remote corners of the earth continually
corners of the earth continually
corners of the earth continually expanding telephone networks in Vanuatu
expanding telephone networks in Vanuatu
expanding telephone networks in Vanuatu have meant that most youngsters are more
have meant that most youngsters are more
have meant that most youngsters are more interested in learning to text in the
interested in learning to text in the
interested in learning to text in the national language of beach llama then
national language of beach llama then
national language of beach llama then learning the sand rawlings in their
learning the sand rawlings in their
learning the sand rawlings in their island language seems we aren’t the only
island language seems we aren’t the only
island language seems we aren’t the only ones concerned about our youngsters
ones concerned about our youngsters
ones concerned about our youngsters becoming glued to technology but
becoming glued to technology but
becoming glued to technology but globalization is not the only factor
globalization is not the only factor
globalization is not the only factor deserting the time pressure on modern
deserting the time pressure on modern
deserting the time pressure on modern exploration climate change poses a
exploration climate change poses a
exploration climate change poses a threat to our global diversity of
threat to our global diversity of
threat to our global diversity of culture and the village of neuro Varro
culture and the village of neuro Varro
culture and the village of neuro Varro access to clean drinking water used to
access to clean drinking water used to
access to clean drinking water used to be found in a spring I’m here five
be found in a spring I’m here five
be found in a spring I’m here five minute walk from the village women would
minute walk from the village women would
minute walk from the village women would go to the spring to collect drinking
go to the spring to collect drinking
go to the spring to collect drinking water and engage in the practice of
water and engage in the practice of
water and engage in the practice of water music a mesmerizing tradition that
water music a mesmerizing tradition that
water music a mesmerizing tradition that involves standing waist-deep in the
involves standing waist-deep in the
involves standing waist-deep in the water and and rhythmically slapping the
water and and rhythmically slapping the
water and and rhythmically slapping the water’s surface to create this aquatic
water’s surface to create this aquatic
water’s surface to create this aquatic symphony now that spring I mention that
symphony now that spring I mention that
symphony now that spring I mention that was a five minute walk from the village
was a five minute walk from the village
was a five minute walk from the village its scents dried up after years of
its scents dried up after years of
its scents dried up after years of unprecedented drought now the women must
unprecedented drought now the women must
unprecedented drought now the women must walk 30 minutes each way to collect
walk 30 minutes each way to collect
walk 30 minutes each way to collect drinking water
drinking water
drinking water it’s a strenuous walk deep in the jungle
it’s a strenuous walk deep in the jungle
it’s a strenuous walk deep in the jungle and by the time they get to the new
and by the time they get to the new
and by the time they get to the new natural spring they’re tired and tight
natural spring they’re tired and tight
natural spring they’re tired and tight on time which has resulted in a decline
on time which has resulted in a decline
on time which has resulted in a decline in the amount of water music being
in the amount of water music being
in the amount of water music being practiced and while it may not seem like
practiced and while it may not seem like
practiced and while it may not seem like a big deal to you and me that these
a big deal to you and me that these
a big deal to you and me that these women on a tiny island or practicing
women on a tiny island or practicing
women on a tiny island or practicing water music less it is a threat to our
water music less it is a threat to our
water music less it is a threat to our ethnosphere and cultural survival
ethnosphere and cultural survival
ethnosphere and cultural survival besides how boring would it be if we
besides how boring would it be if we
besides how boring would it be if we were all one homogeneous culture glued
were all one homogeneous culture glued
were all one homogeneous culture glued to our smartphones
to our smartphones
to our smartphones unfortunately these cultural effects of
unfortunately these cultural effects of
unfortunately these cultural effects of climate change are not limited to this
climate change are not limited to this
climate change are not limited to this tiny cluster of islands it’s a worldwide
tiny cluster of islands it’s a worldwide
tiny cluster of islands it’s a worldwide phenomenon that I’ve observed with San
phenomenon that I’ve observed with San
phenomenon that I’ve observed with San Bushmen in Namibia
Bushmen in Namibia
Bushmen in Namibia off the coast of Panama with the Kuna
off the coast of Panama with the Kuna
off the coast of Panama with the Kuna and when not being chased by crocodiles
and when not being chased by crocodiles
and when not being chased by crocodiles on the banks of the Ola High River in
on the banks of the Ola High River in
on the banks of the Ola High River in Madagascar so in my time exploring and I
Madagascar so in my time exploring and I
Madagascar so in my time exploring and I often find myself alone alone in places
often find myself alone alone in places
often find myself alone alone in places with concerning histories of cannibalism
with concerning histories of cannibalism
with concerning histories of cannibalism violence against women and most tropical
violence against women and most tropical
violence against women and most tropical neglected diseases found under the Sun
neglected diseases found under the Sun
neglected diseases found under the Sun it can be both exhilarating and
it can be both exhilarating and
it can be both exhilarating and cosmically terrifying but if we stay in
cosmically terrifying but if we stay in
cosmically terrifying but if we stay in the comforts of our own community within
the comforts of our own community within
the comforts of our own community within these confines of our own ideologies we
these confines of our own ideologies we
these confines of our own ideologies we stand to lose so much so nerves be
stand to lose so much so nerves be
stand to lose so much so nerves be damned I persist and after all I mean
damned I persist and after all I mean
damned I persist and after all I mean isn’t that part of what exploration is
isn’t that part of what exploration is
isn’t that part of what exploration is all about the act of exploring and
all about the act of exploring and
all about the act of exploring and discovering something about the young
discovering something about the young
discovering something about the young even if it means being exposed to risk
even if it means being exposed to risk
even if it means being exposed to risk my time exploring has encouraged me to
my time exploring has encouraged me to
my time exploring has encouraged me to embrace responsible risk-taking and
embrace responsible risk-taking and
embrace responsible risk-taking and discover belief systems profoundly
discover belief systems profoundly
discover belief systems profoundly different from my own while some of
different from my own while some of
different from my own while some of these belief systems may seem a little
these belief systems may seem a little
these belief systems may seem a little peculiar it’s important that we sort of
peculiar it’s important that we sort of
peculiar it’s important that we sort of set our culture aside to listen and
set our culture aside to listen and
set our culture aside to listen and learn from these unique voices before
learn from these unique voices before
learn from these unique voices before they disappear one practice that I
they disappear one practice that I
they disappear one practice that I initially found a little peculiar was a
initially found a little peculiar was a
initially found a little peculiar was a traditional banking system Vanuatu is
traditional banking system Vanuatu is
traditional banking system Vanuatu is heavily reliant on farming which is why
heavily reliant on farming which is why
heavily reliant on farming which is why many communities maintain a barter
many communities maintain a barter
many communities maintain a barter economy supplemented with traditional
economy supplemented with traditional
economy supplemented with traditional money such as strings of seashells red
money such as strings of seashells red
money such as strings of seashells red mats and pig tusks much like here in
mats and pig tusks much like here in
mats and pig tusks much like here in Australia where you might go to the bank
Australia where you might go to the bank
Australia where you might go to the bank to deposit a cheque in certain
to deposit a cheque in certain
to deposit a cheque in certain communities in Vanuatu you would go to
communities in Vanuatu you would go to
communities in Vanuatu you would go to the bank to deposit your string of
the bank to deposit your string of
the bank to deposit your string of seashells or your pig tusks such as the
seashells or your pig tusks such as the
seashells or your pig tusks such as the one I am wearing now this practice may
one I am wearing now this practice may
one I am wearing now this practice may seem a little outdated or even archaic
seem a little outdated or even archaic
seem a little outdated or even archaic in our billion dollar cash economy but
in our billion dollar cash economy but
in our billion dollar cash economy but is it let’s consider what happened in
is it let’s consider what happened in
is it let’s consider what happened in the global financial crisis in Greece
the global financial crisis in Greece
the global financial crisis in Greece essentially a lack of trust in banks led
essentially a lack of trust in banks led
essentially a lack of trust in banks led people to try and withdraw their money
people to try and withdraw their money
people to try and withdraw their money only to find that their money wasn’t
only to find that their money wasn’t
only to find that their money wasn’t there
there
there perhaps our banks can learn a thing or
perhaps our banks can learn a thing or
perhaps our banks can learn a thing or two from this not so archaic system we
two from this not so archaic system we
two from this not so archaic system we can also learn a lot about effective
can also learn a lot about effective
can also learn a lot about effective stewardship policy on mile island elders
stewardship policy on mile island elders
stewardship policy on mile island elders noticed a decline in their island’s fish
noticed a decline in their island’s fish
noticed a decline in their island’s fish catch so in an effort to ensure future
catch so in an effort to ensure future
catch so in an effort to ensure future access to the islands main protein
access to the islands main protein
access to the islands main protein source elders placed an unequivocal
source elders placed an unequivocal
source elders placed an unequivocal temporary ban on fishing with
temporary ban on fishing with
temporary ban on fishing with punishments for non-compliers as severe
punishments for non-compliers as severe
punishments for non-compliers as severe and ironic as being fed to the Sharks so
and ironic as being fed to the Sharks so
and ironic as being fed to the Sharks so this all of these indigenous knowledge
this all of these indigenous knowledge
this all of these indigenous knowledge and wisdom brought to light through
and wisdom brought to light through
and wisdom brought to light through exploration can challenge our Western
exploration can challenge our Western
exploration can challenge our Western wisdom limitations and contribute to our
wisdom limitations and contribute to our
wisdom limitations and contribute to our collective well-being so yes
collective well-being so yes
collective well-being so yes gone are the days where explorers are
gone are the days where explorers are
gone are the days where explorers are rewriting terra incognita
rewriting terra incognita
rewriting terra incognita but that does not mean that exploration
but that does not mean that exploration
but that does not mean that exploration is in conflict with modernity today
is in conflict with modernity today
is in conflict with modernity today exploration is about increasing our
exploration is about increasing our
exploration is about increasing our knowledge and understanding of the world
knowledge and understanding of the world
knowledge and understanding of the world we live in
we live in
we live in while the opportunities for modern
while the opportunities for modern
while the opportunities for modern exploration are endless there is a time
exploration are endless there is a time
exploration are endless there is a time pressure indigenous voices are
pressure indigenous voices are
pressure indigenous voices are increasingly being silenced amid a
increasingly being silenced amid a
increasingly being silenced amid a whirlwind of conflict and globalization
whirlwind of conflict and globalization
whirlwind of conflict and globalization and with every one of these worldviews
and with every one of these worldviews
and with every one of these worldviews that fades every culture that disappears
that fades every culture that disappears
that fades every culture that disappears no matter how seemingly remote or
no matter how seemingly remote or
no matter how seemingly remote or extraneous so too does our repertoire of
extraneous so too does our repertoire of
extraneous so too does our repertoire of wisdom to the common challenges that
wisdom to the common challenges that
wisdom to the common challenges that face us all the cure for cancer could be
face us all the cure for cancer could be
face us all the cure for cancer could be found in some little-known plant
found in some little-known plant
found in some little-known plant endangered by deforestation who knows
endangered by deforestation who knows
endangered by deforestation who knows what secrets lie in our ocean steps and
what secrets lie in our ocean steps and
what secrets lie in our ocean steps and don’t even get me started on space the
don’t even get me started on space the
don’t even get me started on space the next great age of exploration is just
next great age of exploration is just
next great age of exploration is just beginning and I hope you all will join
beginning and I hope you all will join
beginning and I hope you all will join me thank you
me thank you
me thank you [Applause]
”
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