I have roots in two countries in Italy and in the United States I have roots on
and in the United States I have roots on
and in the United States I have roots on this planet and I feel deeply connected
this planet and I feel deeply connected
this planet and I feel deeply connected to nature and I love it some might call
to nature and I love it some might call
to nature and I love it some might call me a tree hugger but I don’t really hug
me a tree hugger but I don’t really hug
me a tree hugger but I don’t really hug trees it goes more like this
trees it goes more like this
trees it goes more like this put your hands delicately on a trunk
put your hands delicately on a trunk
put your hands delicately on a trunk feel the temperature feel the texture of
feel the temperature feel the texture of
feel the temperature feel the texture of the bark you might not get much energy
the bark you might not get much energy
the bark you might not get much energy first but if you couple what we know
first but if you couple what we know
first but if you couple what we know trees breathe right and you imagine the
trees breathe right and you imagine the
trees breathe right and you imagine the lymph flowing after a while scepticism
lymph flowing after a while scepticism
lymph flowing after a while scepticism gives way to something quite powerful
gives way to something quite powerful
gives way to something quite powerful and regenerating in fact when we’re in
and regenerating in fact when we’re in
and regenerating in fact when we’re in forests chemicals named Fito cyanides
forests chemicals named Fito cyanides
forests chemicals named Fito cyanides pour upon us they balance our immune
pour upon us they balance our immune
pour upon us they balance our immune systems they balance our entire
systems they balance our entire
systems they balance our entire well-being I’m rooted in the communities
well-being I’m rooted in the communities
well-being I’m rooted in the communities that have shaped me and that continue to
that have shaped me and that continue to
that have shaped me and that continue to forge new relations in fact in our
forge new relations in fact in our
forge new relations in fact in our communities in our places we are tribal
communities in our places we are tribal
communities in our places we are tribal by nature we strive to evolve but when
by nature we strive to evolve but when
by nature we strive to evolve but when we pan out the picture gets messy
we pan out the picture gets messy
we pan out the picture gets messy collectively we forget one we’re one big
collectively we forget one we’re one big
collectively we forget one we’re one big family we forget we share this home but
family we forget we share this home but
family we forget we share this home but we have a tool embedded in us that
we have a tool embedded in us that
we have a tool embedded in us that allows us to feel with others that tool
allows us to feel with others that tool
allows us to feel with others that tool is empathy and while it’s easy to get
is empathy and while it’s easy to get
is empathy and while it’s easy to get lost in what we know for example in the
lost in what we know for example in the
lost in what we know for example in the span of my lifetime the population the
span of my lifetime the population the
span of my lifetime the population the human population is more than doubled
human population is more than doubled
human population is more than doubled and we’ve lost 50,000 species it’s
and we’ve lost 50,000 species it’s
and we’ve lost 50,000 species it’s difficult to ignore how we feel so
difficult to ignore how we feel so
difficult to ignore how we feel so please allow yourself to feel while I
please allow yourself to feel while I
please allow yourself to feel while I ask you to come with me on a journey to
ask you to come with me on a journey to
ask you to come with me on a journey to the Mergui archipelago 800 Islands
the Mergui archipelago 800 Islands
the Mergui archipelago 800 Islands largely unexplored in the Andaman
largely unexplored in the Andaman
largely unexplored in the Andaman see off the southern coast of Myanmar
see off the southern coast of Myanmar
see off the southern coast of Myanmar near Thailand the indigenous people
near Thailand the indigenous people
near Thailand the indigenous people Mogens
Mogens
Mogens are sea gypsies only about 2,000
are sea gypsies only about 2,000
are sea gypsies only about 2,000 individuals survived today their
individuals survived today their
individuals survived today their lifestyle nomadic lifestyle is based on
lifestyle nomadic lifestyle is based on
lifestyle nomadic lifestyle is based on trade and it’s threatened by meager
trade and it’s threatened by meager
trade and it’s threatened by meager catches and by their uncertain legal
catches and by their uncertain legal
catches and by their uncertain legal status so that when they encounter
status so that when they encounter
status so that when they encounter police on the water they can’t prove
police on the water they can’t prove
police on the water they can’t prove where they were born so they’re taken to
where they were born so they’re taken to
where they were born so they’re taken to land they’re given identity cards in
land they’re given identity cards in
land they’re given identity cards in they’re forced to settle which for a
they’re forced to settle which for a
they’re forced to settle which for a nomad equals prison we were told during
nomad equals prison we were told during
nomad equals prison we were told during a trip which was a sailing expedition it
a trip which was a sailing expedition it
a trip which was a sailing expedition it was unlikely that we would encounter
was unlikely that we would encounter
was unlikely that we would encounter these people so when we saw this
these people so when we saw this
these people so when we saw this flotilla we were very happy the next day
flotilla we were very happy the next day
flotilla we were very happy the next day we approached this island and while we
we approached this island and while we
we approached this island and while we were drawn by the houses on stilts we
were drawn by the houses on stilts we
were drawn by the houses on stilts we rather questioned that large cement
rather questioned that large cement
rather questioned that large cement structure but there was not enough time
structure but there was not enough time
structure but there was not enough time to dwell because these children were
to dwell because these children were
to dwell because these children were rowing towards us on their little cabins
rowing towards us on their little cabins
rowing towards us on their little cabins their traditional log boats Moke and
their traditional log boats Moke and
their traditional log boats Moke and children learn to swim before they walk
children learn to swim before they walk
children learn to swim before they walk in fact the name of these people means
in fact the name of these people means
in fact the name of these people means immersed in water and in their natural
immersed in water and in their natural
immersed in water and in their natural element under water they have
element under water they have
element under water they have exceptional eyesight ana lund from the
exceptional eyesight ana lund from the
exceptional eyesight ana lund from the University and a Ghislaine from the
University and a Ghislaine from the
University and a Ghislaine from the University of London Sweden studied this
University of London Sweden studied this
University of London Sweden studied this remarkable trade and she found that in
remarkable trade and she found that in
remarkable trade and she found that in their natural element they see twice as
their natural element they see twice as
their natural element they see twice as well as Western children because they
well as Western children because they
well as Western children because they can shrink their pupils more than any
can shrink their pupils more than any
can shrink their pupils more than any other known human ethnicity and shape
other known human ethnicity and shape
other known human ethnicity and shape the lens in a way similar to seals and
the lens in a way similar to seals and
the lens in a way similar to seals and dolphins so they are basically the
dolphins so they are basically the
dolphins so they are basically the Mogens people who live most intimately
Mogens people who live most intimately
Mogens people who live most intimately with the oceans and you might have heard
with the oceans and you might have heard
with the oceans and you might have heard about them because in December 2004 they
about them because in December 2004 they
about them because in December 2004 they escaped the tsunami they predicted it
escaped the tsunami they predicted it
escaped the tsunami they predicted it the wave that devastated coastal
the wave that devastated coastal
the wave that devastated coastal communities in 12 countries and took an
communities in 12 countries and took an
communities in 12 countries and took an estimated 230,000 lives because
estimated 230,000 lives because
estimated 230,000 lives because generation after generation for
generation after generation for
generation after generation for centuries they kept a story going about
centuries they kept a story going about
centuries they kept a story going about the seventh wave or Laboon according to
the seventh wave or Laboon according to
the seventh wave or Laboon according to the legend a wave that would sweep away
the legend a wave that would sweep away
the legend a wave that would sweep away all evil and make room for new life
all evil and make room for new life
all evil and make room for new life along with the prophecy came the
along with the prophecy came the
along with the prophecy came the knowledge how to detect signs of the
knowledge how to detect signs of the
knowledge how to detect signs of the lagoon through wave patterns and how to
lagoon through wave patterns and how to
lagoon through wave patterns and how to seek Harbor by escaping to the mountains
seek Harbor by escaping to the mountains
seek Harbor by escaping to the mountains or deep in water so when young boys saw
or deep in water so when young boys saw
or deep in water so when young boys saw the tide pull away all of a sudden they
the tide pull away all of a sudden they
the tide pull away all of a sudden they ran to tell the elders only their
ran to tell the elders only their
ran to tell the elders only their villages were destroyed the population
villages were destroyed the population
villages were destroyed the population survived and their story went around the
survived and their story went around the
survived and their story went around the world what I didn’t know at the time was
world what I didn’t know at the time was
world what I didn’t know at the time was that after the tragedy many Mogens were
that after the tragedy many Mogens were
that after the tragedy many Mogens were forced to settle away from the water
forced to settle away from the water
forced to settle away from the water inland they were joined in large
inland they were joined in large
inland they were joined in large communities without ever having shared
communities without ever having shared
communities without ever having shared living grounds before their home was the
living grounds before their home was the
living grounds before their home was the ocean they were given modern facilities
ocean they were given modern facilities
ocean they were given modern facilities such as running water sewage systems
such as running water sewage systems
such as running water sewage systems electricity that they didn’t know how to
electricity that they didn’t know how to
electricity that they didn’t know how to manage while we know everything about
manage while we know everything about
manage while we know everything about what foods are good for us we eat seeds
what foods are good for us we eat seeds
what foods are good for us we eat seeds and wild berries which we call
and wild berries which we call
and wild berries which we call superfoods they were put on fast food as
superfoods they were put on fast food as
superfoods they were put on fast food as their diets shifted to saturated sugars
their diets shifted to saturated sugars
their diets shifted to saturated sugars and fats they developed diseases they
and fats they developed diseases they
and fats they developed diseases they knew nothing about so with the purpose
knew nothing about so with the purpose
knew nothing about so with the purpose of protecting them centuries of
of protecting them centuries of
of protecting them centuries of traditions were erased in a matter of
traditions were erased in a matter of
traditions were erased in a matter of months building techniques and daily
months building techniques and daily
months building techniques and daily rituals how to harvest for food so is
rituals how to harvest for food so is
rituals how to harvest for food so is this progress well let’s go and see
this progress well let’s go and see
this progress well let’s go and see together these children greeting us are
together these children greeting us are
together these children greeting us are graceful and beautiful these are the
graceful and beautiful these are the
graceful and beautiful these are the kids that see like dolphins
we approach the island treading softly
we approach the island treading softly entering the protected sanctuary and
entering the protected sanctuary and
entering the protected sanctuary and there’s no Westerners in sight we’re in
there’s no Westerners in sight we’re in
there’s no Westerners in sight we’re in a prime travellers experience and this
a prime travellers experience and this
a prime travellers experience and this is what we see now what does a Mogan
is what we see now what does a Mogan
is what we see now what does a Mogan village look like from the inside it
village look like from the inside it
village look like from the inside it looks like that how long does it take
looks like that how long does it take
looks like that how long does it take you to see the plastic can you count it
you to see the plastic can you count it
you to see the plastic can you count it because our brains don’t want to go
because our brains don’t want to go
because our brains don’t want to go there we move on to the island and we’re
there we move on to the island and we’re
there we move on to the island and we’re attracted by a rainbow of colors in the
attracted by a rainbow of colors in the
attracted by a rainbow of colors in the Little Shop and we approach it full of
Little Shop and we approach it full of
Little Shop and we approach it full of expectations handicrafts made of cedar
expectations handicrafts made of cedar
expectations handicrafts made of cedar bark but when we pop our heads in this
bark but when we pop our heads in this
bark but when we pop our heads in this is what we see the Cascade of colors is
is what we see the Cascade of colors is
is what we see the Cascade of colors is all made of plastic mono doses of candy
all made of plastic mono doses of candy
all made of plastic mono doses of candy toys joy gives way to a million
toys joy gives way to a million
toys joy gives way to a million questions about the consequences the hut
questions about the consequences the hut
questions about the consequences the hut is quiet children which you can see
is quiet children which you can see
is quiet children which you can see there are staring up at a muted TV set
there are staring up at a muted TV set
there are staring up at a muted TV set the candy in their shop is advertised on
the candy in their shop is advertised on
the candy in their shop is advertised on television all they have to do is reach
television all they have to do is reach
television all they have to do is reach up and grab it and those crunchy
up and grab it and those crunchy
up and grab it and those crunchy colorful wrappers slip out of their
colorful wrappers slip out of their
colorful wrappers slip out of their hands as they unveil sweet saturated
hands as they unveil sweet saturated
hands as they unveil sweet saturated flavors the garbage is everywhere it’s
flavors the garbage is everywhere it’s
flavors the garbage is everywhere it’s on the path it’s in the water
on the path it’s in the water
on the path it’s in the water nobody told these people that plastic
nobody told these people that plastic
nobody told these people that plastic doesn’t go away nobody told them that
doesn’t go away nobody told them that
doesn’t go away nobody told them that it’s one of nature’s biggest enemies so
it’s one of nature’s biggest enemies so
it’s one of nature’s biggest enemies so is this progress
we can think no and we’re doomed or we
we can think no and we’re doomed or we can think this isn’t progress but I know
can think this isn’t progress but I know
can think this isn’t progress but I know what progress is we see it every day
what progress is we see it every day
what progress is we see it every day we’re exploring space deeper and deeper
we’re exploring space deeper and deeper
we’re exploring space deeper and deeper we’re editing DNA were designing
we’re editing DNA were designing
we’re editing DNA were designing artificial leaves so how can we deal
artificial leaves so how can we deal
artificial leaves so how can we deal with this if we look at it collectively
with this if we look at it collectively
with this if we look at it collectively we think there’s just no way out but
we think there’s just no way out but
we think there’s just no way out but let’s shift perspective for a moment
let’s shift perspective for a moment
let’s shift perspective for a moment let’s break things down and bring them
let’s break things down and bring them
let’s break things down and bring them to a human level and let’s stick to
to a human level and let’s stick to
to a human level and let’s stick to plastic for a moment there are many
plastic for a moment there are many
plastic for a moment there are many people who are taking plastic too big
people who are taking plastic too big
people who are taking plastic too big concern we just heard a wonderful story
concern we just heard a wonderful story
concern we just heard a wonderful story earlier or what about Boyan slat a 19
earlier or what about Boyan slat a 19
earlier or what about Boyan slat a 19 year old at the time who thought let’s
year old at the time who thought let’s
year old at the time who thought let’s design nets to collect plastic from the
design nets to collect plastic from the
design nets to collect plastic from the oceans
oceans
oceans well his idea and his organization ocean
well his idea and his organization ocean
well his idea and his organization ocean cleanup is making way quite well in
cleanup is making way quite well in
cleanup is making way quite well in quite rapidly of course that can only be
quite rapidly of course that can only be
quite rapidly of course that can only be one piece of the puzzle or what about
one piece of the puzzle or what about
one piece of the puzzle or what about the biggest online platform for
the biggest online platform for
the biggest online platform for petitions called ava’s a community forty
petitions called ava’s a community forty
petitions called ava’s a community forty four million people strong they have
four million people strong they have
four million people strong they have just put out a new campaign to push
just put out a new campaign to push
just put out a new campaign to push countries to ban mono use plastics
countries to ban mono use plastics
countries to ban mono use plastics because a hundred million bottles of
because a hundred million bottles of
because a hundred million bottles of plastic are thrown away every day it’s a
plastic are thrown away every day it’s a
plastic are thrown away every day it’s a big number more than we can fathom more
big number more than we can fathom more
big number more than we can fathom more than all the recycling centers in the
than all the recycling centers in the
than all the recycling centers in the world could deal with so that could be
world could deal with so that could be
world could deal with so that could be another piece of the puzzle what about
another piece of the puzzle what about
another piece of the puzzle what about Federica Berto kini the Italian
Federica Berto kini the Italian
Federica Berto kini the Italian researcher who made headlines all over
researcher who made headlines all over
researcher who made headlines all over the world with her serendipitous
the world with her serendipitous
the world with her serendipitous discovery of plastic eating worms a worm
discovery of plastic eating worms a worm
discovery of plastic eating worms a worm that by the way we used as long as we
that by the way we used as long as we
that by the way we used as long as we know as bait to fish all of a sudden
know as bait to fish all of a sudden
know as bait to fish all of a sudden we’re discovering that it has an enzyme
we’re discovering that it has an enzyme
we’re discovering that it has an enzyme that can digest polyethylene that is
that can digest polyethylene that is
that can digest polyethylene that is huge what a revolution for that creature
huge what a revolution for that creature
huge what a revolution for that creature to pull a 360 like that so we need to
to pull a 360 like that so we need to
to pull a 360 like that so we need to string together many solutions to our
string together many solutions to our
string together many solutions to our big problems unlike last century where
big problems unlike last century where
big problems unlike last century where we had one big solution for many many
we had one big solution for many many
we had one big solution for many many things which was oil we can no longer
things which was oil we can no longer
things which was oil we can no longer seek one solution for each problem and
seek one solution for each problem and
seek one solution for each problem and we need to fuel our hope and these great
we need to fuel our hope and these great
we need to fuel our hope and these great ideas I don’t know about you but they
ideas I don’t know about you but they
ideas I don’t know about you but they give me a lot of hope my seed of hope on
give me a lot of hope my seed of hope on
give me a lot of hope my seed of hope on this journey was when we visited this
this journey was when we visited this
this journey was when we visited this mangrove pristine and pure nothing
mangrove pristine and pure nothing
mangrove pristine and pure nothing man-made in sight we were told that it
man-made in sight we were told that it
man-made in sight we were told that it was protected by an Italian organization
was protected by an Italian organization
was protected by an Italian organization Yukos dedicated to protecting natural
Yukos dedicated to protecting natural
Yukos dedicated to protecting natural environments and promoting sustainable
environments and promoting sustainable
environments and promoting sustainable development thank you very much
development thank you very much
development thank you very much and when I got home I found
and when I got home I found
and when I got home I found organizations who have taken the Mogens
organizations who have taken the Mogens
organizations who have taken the Mogens to heart so maybe there is hope that
to heart so maybe there is hope that
to heart so maybe there is hope that their heritage might survive it’s
their heritage might survive it’s
their heritage might survive it’s complicated but unlike them oaken’s we
complicated but unlike them oaken’s we
complicated but unlike them oaken’s we can choose we can buy local food sourced
can choose we can buy local food sourced
can choose we can buy local food sourced by community systems we can buy clothes
by community systems we can buy clothes
by community systems we can buy clothes from responsible chains we can recycle
from responsible chains we can recycle
from responsible chains we can recycle everything and use our imagination and
everything and use our imagination and
everything and use our imagination and make new things we can filter our water
make new things we can filter our water
make new things we can filter our water and free ourselves from plastic we have
and free ourselves from plastic we have
and free ourselves from plastic we have an infinite host of solutions of course
an infinite host of solutions of course
an infinite host of solutions of course again that we need to combine and why
again that we need to combine and why
again that we need to combine and why would you say it’s relevant to scale
would you say it’s relevant to scale
would you say it’s relevant to scale this well wouldn’t we rather export
this well wouldn’t we rather export
this well wouldn’t we rather export models of progress that we’re proud of
models of progress that we’re proud of
models of progress that we’re proud of unlike what we did to the poor Mogens
unlike what we did to the poor Mogens
unlike what we did to the poor Mogens where we sent them a model of progress
where we sent them a model of progress
where we sent them a model of progress that’s half a century outdated when
that’s half a century outdated when
that’s half a century outdated when disposable goods and fast food were the
disposable goods and fast food were the
disposable goods and fast food were the big new thing or isn’t it important to
big new thing or isn’t it important to
big new thing or isn’t it important to scale best practices from one city to
scale best practices from one city to
scale best practices from one city to the other in my home in Milan we recycle
the other in my home in Milan we recycle
the other in my home in Milan we recycle everything 53% of the
everything 53% of the
everything 53% of the household waste becomes something new
household waste becomes something new
household waste becomes something new its regenerated my other home New York
its regenerated my other home New York
its regenerated my other home New York one of the most advanced cities in the
one of the most advanced cities in the
one of the most advanced cities in the world ships out every day 12,000 tons of
world ships out every day 12,000 tons of
world ships out every day 12,000 tons of waste of garbage and only 17% gets
waste of garbage and only 17% gets
waste of garbage and only 17% gets recycled so where do we go from here we
recycled so where do we go from here we
recycled so where do we go from here we don’t like being told what to do or how
don’t like being told what to do or how
don’t like being told what to do or how to do things though I rather enjoy it
to do things though I rather enjoy it
to do things though I rather enjoy it and I have to watch myself because I
and I have to watch myself because I
and I have to watch myself because I sometimes turn lights off in people’s
sometimes turn lights off in people’s
sometimes turn lights off in people’s homes or close the faucet when it’s
homes or close the faucet when it’s
homes or close the faucet when it’s running too much fortunately my friends
running too much fortunately my friends
running too much fortunately my friends and family don’t think I’m a freak at
and family don’t think I’m a freak at
and family don’t think I’m a freak at least not too much and they forgive me
least not too much and they forgive me
least not too much and they forgive me but collectively we don’t like being
but collectively we don’t like being
but collectively we don’t like being told what to do so remember empathy that
told what to do so remember empathy that
told what to do so remember empathy that tool that we have our brains are wired
tool that we have our brains are wired
tool that we have our brains are wired that way well it’s what you feel for
that way well it’s what you feel for
that way well it’s what you feel for example when you see Oh sign bolt
example when you see Oh sign bolt
example when you see Oh sign bolt reaching the finish line that surge of
reaching the finish line that surge of
reaching the finish line that surge of emotions where you’re taking part of his
emotions where you’re taking part of his
emotions where you’re taking part of his victory well let’s practice a moment of
victory well let’s practice a moment of
victory well let’s practice a moment of empathy together would you love diving
empathy together would you love diving
empathy together would you love diving in that fresh clear blue water right now
in that fresh clear blue water right now
in that fresh clear blue water right now feel it just rise feel that pleasure
feel it just rise feel that pleasure
feel it just rise feel that pleasure take you over and hold on to that
take you over and hold on to that
take you over and hold on to that pleasure for a moment while I ask you to
pleasure for a moment while I ask you to
pleasure for a moment while I ask you to come with me on another journey let’s
come with me on another journey let’s
come with me on another journey let’s imagine going back to that Moken village
imagine going back to that Moken village
imagine going back to that Moken village together in this sense of belonging who
together in this sense of belonging who
together in this sense of belonging who would you like to take with you who
would you like to take with you who
would you like to take with you who would you like to help the Moken people
would you like to help the Moken people
would you like to help the Moken people clean up and understand what trashes
clean up and understand what trashes
clean up and understand what trashes researchers or anthropologists who would
researchers or anthropologists who would
researchers or anthropologists who would like to learn from the Mogens how to
like to learn from the Mogens how to
like to learn from the Mogens how to seek refuge how to escape a tsunami or
seek refuge how to escape a tsunami or
seek refuge how to escape a tsunami or inspired corporations who would like to
inspired corporations who would like to
inspired corporations who would like to ship nutritious foods in biodegradable
ship nutritious foods in biodegradable
ship nutritious foods in biodegradable packages there feel the power of this
packages there feel the power of this
packages there feel the power of this human Tecna
human Tecna
human Tecna at work which we still have not learned
at work which we still have not learned
at work which we still have not learned to use at its full potential coupling
to use at its full potential coupling
to use at its full potential coupling information imagination heart a lot of
information imagination heart a lot of
information imagination heart a lot of heart
heart
heart creativity imagine putting all the
creativity imagine putting all the
creativity imagine putting all the intelligence at work in our ecosystems
intelligence at work in our ecosystems
intelligence at work in our ecosystems which again we don’t know enough about
which again we don’t know enough about
which again we don’t know enough about thank you stefano Mancuso for finally
thank you stefano Mancuso for finally
thank you stefano Mancuso for finally saying that plants are intelligent and
saying that plants are intelligent and
saying that plants are intelligent and please go and seek contact with trees so
please go and seek contact with trees so
please go and seek contact with trees so could we conclude that progress is
could we conclude that progress is
could we conclude that progress is keeping an eye to where we come from
keeping an eye to where we come from
keeping an eye to where we come from honoring our home while looking forward
honoring our home while looking forward
honoring our home while looking forward because if we don’t keep this double
because if we don’t keep this double
because if we don’t keep this double perspective we risk getting so enamored
perspective we risk getting so enamored
perspective we risk getting so enamored with all these technologies that we’re
with all these technologies that we’re
with all these technologies that we’re inventing so fast that we might forget
inventing so fast that we might forget
inventing so fast that we might forget who we are thank you
who we are thank you
who we are thank you [Applause]
”
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