0:00:09.287,0:00:12.749 Reka Artner: So welcome to Vienna.[br]Is it your first time here? 0:00:12.749,0:00:14.703 Joshua Beckford: Yes, it's my first time. 0:00:14.873,0:00:16.923 RA: Are you excited[br]about this conference? 0:00:16.923,0:00:20.065 JB: Yeah, it's my biggest event so far. 0:00:20.065,0:00:23.224 RA: Biggest event. (Chuckles) 0:00:23.224,0:00:25.270 (Applause) 0:00:28.693,0:00:29.704 Now, Joshua, 0:00:29.704,0:00:33.012 as Vlad already mentioned,[br]you have a very bright mind, 0:00:33.012,0:00:36.072 and you love to study, [br]you love to get new information. 0:00:36.072,0:00:37.389 Why is that? 0:00:37.399,0:00:41.571 JB: Well, because studying is my passion 0:00:41.571,0:00:45.924 because studying is fun, 0:00:45.924,0:00:48.073 and it helps you to learn, 0:00:48.073,0:00:51.304 and it helps you[br]to experience your journey, 0:00:51.714,0:00:54.673 your journey along your life, 0:00:55.113,0:00:59.118 and, you know, it's fun,[br]and you learn new stuff. 0:00:59.858,0:01:01.895 RA: We all agree it's fun. 0:01:02.555,0:01:05.003 That means that you love to go to school. 0:01:05.003,0:01:07.452 You enjoy going to school, right?[br]JB: Mm-hmm. 0:01:07.452,0:01:09.666 RA: Wow, most kids[br]don't like it that much, 0:01:09.666,0:01:10.921 but you do love it. 0:01:10.921,0:01:12.696 What are your favorite subjects? 0:01:12.696,0:01:16.397 JB: My favorite subject is science. 0:01:16.807,0:01:20.070 RA: Science, science, and why science? 0:01:20.070,0:01:23.980 JB: Well, because science[br]can practically do anything, 0:01:24.400,0:01:29.633 as in, like, you know ... 0:01:30.923,0:01:33.064 RA: Like, for example,[br]what we heard before, 0:01:33.064,0:01:34.469 of going into space? 0:01:34.469,0:01:37.295 JB: Like space, yeah. 0:01:37.295,0:01:38.975 RA: Cool, very nice! 0:01:40.045,0:01:44.634 So, actually, now you're going to school,[br]but you're only 11 years old, 0:01:44.634,0:01:48.246 and you've already been studying[br]at the University of Oxford. 0:01:48.246,0:01:51.707 For most of us, a dream come true,[br]and you've already done that. 0:01:51.707,0:01:52.951 How was it? 0:01:52.951,0:01:58.907 JB: It was great, it was pretty hard,[br]but I got through it. 0:01:58.907,0:02:00.601 (Laughter) 0:02:02.711,0:02:04.662 RA: What kind of subject did you study? 0:02:04.662,0:02:05.875 JB: Philosophy. 0:02:05.875,0:02:07.853 RA: Philosophy, okay. 0:02:07.853,0:02:11.616 And what did you have to do[br]in that class and that subject? 0:02:11.966,0:02:16.502 JB: I had to do five tests, 0:02:17.212,0:02:20.198 and they had lots of questions in them 0:02:20.198,0:02:24.559 about your own opinion[br]of what you think about philosophy. 0:02:24.559,0:02:25.935 RA: Mm-hmm. 0:02:25.935,0:02:28.412 And how did you do on the test? 0:02:29.432,0:02:33.237 JB: In every one of the tests,[br]I got five distinctions. 0:02:33.597,0:02:36.228 RA: Crazy, I think[br]that's a big round of applause. 0:02:36.228,0:02:37.328 Awesome! 0:02:37.328,0:02:39.311 (Applause) 0:02:43.135,0:02:47.060 So you love to study,[br]you love to get to learn new things, 0:02:47.060,0:02:50.266 and you also really like[br]to learn languages. 0:02:50.266,0:02:52.470 How many languages do you speak, Joshua? 0:02:53.430,0:02:56.647 JB: Oh, I speak Japanese.[br]RA: Japanese. 0:02:56.647,0:02:58.888 JB: A bit of Chinese.[br]RA: Chinese. 0:03:00.928,0:03:03.608 JB: A little bit of German.[br]RA: A little bit of German. 0:03:03.608,0:03:05.476 JB: And some French. 0:03:05.476,0:03:06.781 RA: Wow! 0:03:06.781,0:03:09.641 Yeah, that's all of them.[br]RA: And let's not forget English. 0:03:09.641,0:03:12.221 JB: English, yeah, of course.[br](Laughter) 0:03:12.221,0:03:14.606 RA: Do you want to count[br]till 10 in Japanese? 0:03:14.606,0:03:18.302 Because I've never heard[br]somebody count in Japanese. 0:03:18.972,0:03:20.072 JB: OK. 0:03:20.682,0:03:26.733 Ichi, ni, san, yon, go, 0:03:26.733,0:03:33.419 roku, nana, hachi, ku, juu. 0:03:33.419,0:03:36.106 RA: Wow. Cool! (Laughs) 0:03:36.106,0:03:37.282 (Applause) 0:03:37.282,0:03:38.702 That's so cool! 0:03:40.422,0:03:41.785 That is very cool! 0:03:41.785,0:03:45.822 And I heard that you gather information[br]from the Internet a lot, 0:03:45.822,0:03:48.021 but you also love to read books. 0:03:48.021,0:03:50.350 And how many books have you read so far? 0:03:51.430,0:03:54.830 JB: I'm not sure,[br]but it's probably quite a lot. 0:03:54.830,0:03:57.585 RA: (Laughs) Quite a lot. 0:03:57.585,0:04:00.245 [So] many that you said[br]you want to write your own book. 0:04:00.245,0:04:01.245 Is that correct? 0:04:01.245,0:04:03.232 You're about to write your own book? 0:04:03.232,0:04:06.070 JB: Yeah, well, I'm progressing on it. 0:04:06.940,0:04:10.907 I'm writing a book on ancient Egypt. 0:04:10.907,0:04:15.191 RA: On ancient Egypt, okay.[br]And where do you get the information from? 0:04:15.191,0:04:17.896 JB: I get the information from Google 0:04:17.896,0:04:24.848 and lots of books that I read[br]about the history of Egypt. 0:04:25.458,0:04:28.290 RA: Mm-hmm. Cool.[br]Have you been there? 0:04:28.290,0:04:30.559 JB: Yes, I've -[br]RA: You've been to Egypt? 0:04:30.559,0:04:33.829 JB: I went to Egypt[br]when I was 10 years old. 0:04:33.829,0:04:36.782 RA: Oh, wow! So you actually did[br]some research on the ground? 0:04:36.782,0:04:40.356 JB: Mm-hmm.[br]RA: (Laughs) Perfect, very cool. 0:04:40.946,0:04:44.411 Now, next to all that studying [br]and all that learning, 0:04:44.411,0:04:46.885 you also try to keep fit,[br]and you love to do sports. 0:04:46.885,0:04:48.517 What kind of sports do you do? 0:04:48.517,0:04:55.267 JB: Well, I'm good at football,[br]basketball, cricket, 0:04:58.367,0:05:01.485 rugby, tennis, 0:05:01.485,0:05:05.279 badminton, swimming ... 0:05:05.279,0:05:07.674 (Laughter) 0:05:07.674,0:05:08.836 yoga ... 0:05:08.836,0:05:10.256 (Laughter) 0:05:10.256,0:05:12.316 tai chi ... 0:05:12.316,0:05:13.690 RA: Awesome! 0:05:14.390,0:05:16.304 JB: Golf.[br]RA: Golf! 0:05:16.304,0:05:20.455 (Laughter) (Applause) 0:05:24.205,0:05:27.258 Are you not too small[br]for rugby and football, by the way? 0:05:28.098,0:05:29.541 JB: No, I'm not too small. 0:05:29.541,0:05:30.671 (Laughter) 0:05:30.671,0:05:32.508 I can tackle a lot of people. 0:05:32.508,0:05:34.215 (Laughter) 0:05:34.215,0:05:36.679 RA: Also the grown-ups, the adults? 0:05:37.659,0:05:39.882 JB: Yeah, I tackle them in football. 0:05:39.882,0:05:41.508 RA: (Laughs) Okay, cool. 0:05:41.508,0:05:43.081 Joshua, do you have a preference, 0:05:43.081,0:05:46.096 that you say you'd rather talk[br]to grown-ups and adults, 0:05:46.096,0:05:47.141 or kids? 0:05:47.141,0:05:48.616 Do you have a preference there? 0:05:48.616,0:05:51.727 JB: Well, I like to talk to adults a lot, 0:05:51.727,0:05:56.898 and I like to talk to children as well. 0:05:56.898,0:05:59.528 But, you know, adults ... 0:06:00.278,0:06:03.797 RA: Why do you like talking to adults?[br]What makes them so fascinating? 0:06:03.797,0:06:08.268 JB: Because adults mostly[br]have a lot of information 0:06:08.268,0:06:09.502 that I can learn from, 0:06:09.502,0:06:15.787 and, you know, it's fun[br]to get information from them. 0:06:18.107,0:06:19.109 Like I said earlier, 0:06:19.109,0:06:25.401 that will add on[br]a little experience as well. 0:06:25.401,0:06:28.797 RA: Beautiful. Well,[br]there are a lot of adults here today. 0:06:28.797,0:06:30.936 So in the break,[br]you can totally talk to them. 0:06:30.936,0:06:32.876 I think they will love to talk to you. 0:06:33.236,0:06:37.185 And now, Joshua, when you grow up,[br]what do you want to become? 0:06:37.185,0:06:38.750 What do you want to be? 0:06:39.330,0:06:42.646 JB: I want to be[br]a neurosurgeon when I grow up. 0:06:42.646,0:06:44.097 RA: And why is that? 0:06:44.437,0:06:48.412 JB: Well, because since I was four ... 0:06:48.412,0:06:51.902 I decided to be a neurosurgeon[br]when I was four 0:06:51.902,0:06:54.756 because on my dad's laptop, 0:06:57.606,0:07:00.431 I have a surgery simulator, 0:07:00.431,0:07:05.736 and I have to pull out organs 0:07:05.736,0:07:07.841 and put them back in. 0:07:08.691,0:07:10.359 It's really gross. 0:07:10.359,0:07:12.211 (Laughter) 0:07:12.211,0:07:13.643 If you're not into that stuff, 0:07:13.643,0:07:14.646 don't try it. 0:07:14.646,0:07:16.116 RA: (Laughs) Don't try it! 0:07:16.476,0:07:19.486 Host: And you're actually[br]also doing that in the lab. 0:07:19.486,0:07:22.614 You're already learning[br]how to use the scalpel 0:07:22.614,0:07:25.894 and doing that on animal organs, right? 0:07:26.644,0:07:29.412 And how is that experience?[br]Is that not gross? 0:07:29.412,0:07:32.947 JB: Well, not to me, at least.[br]RA: Not to you? (Laughs) 0:07:32.947,0:07:33.962 Cool. 0:07:33.962,0:07:38.411 And, so you are really fascinated about,[br]as you said before, 0:07:38.411,0:07:40.727 you want to grow up[br]and become a neurosurgeon, 0:07:40.727,0:07:44.074 and you told me that you want to do that[br]in order to help people. 0:07:44.074,0:07:45.775 Is that correct?[br]JB: Yeah! 0:07:45.775,0:07:48.013 RA: What other things[br]are you passionate about 0:07:48.013,0:07:49.837 and advocating for? 0:07:49.837,0:07:54.106 JB: Well, I want to save the Earth. 0:07:54.596,0:07:59.570 RA: You want to say the Earth? Really?[br]And how do you want to do that? 0:07:59.970,0:08:04.163 JB: Well, sending out tips to everyone, 0:08:05.223,0:08:09.472 and, you know, trying to change the world 0:08:09.472,0:08:14.431 and change people into doing[br]the right things for Earth. 0:08:16.211,0:08:18.904 (Applause) 0:08:24.294,0:08:26.059 RA: That is very impressive. 0:08:26.059,0:08:29.181 And we actually have[br]a live audience right here, 0:08:29.181,0:08:31.900 plus all the people[br]looking at the livestream. 0:08:31.900,0:08:34.426 Do you want to give us some tips [br]on what we can do? 0:08:36.596,0:08:42.988 JB: Well, you could turn[br]your devices off in the nighttime 0:08:42.988,0:08:44.905 when you're not using them. 0:08:45.855,0:08:50.906 You could also pick up[br]rubbish from the floor 0:08:52.746,0:08:55.596 and also not throw rubbish on the floor. 0:08:56.096,0:08:58.929 RA: It makes sense,[br]in the first place, yes, absolutely. 0:08:59.169,0:09:01.313 Is there something else that we can do? 0:09:02.213,0:09:04.772 JB: When you cut down trees to get wood, 0:09:05.152,0:09:08.332 plant them back more often. 0:09:08.332,0:09:09.382 RA: Mm-hmm. 0:09:09.382,0:09:15.913 JB: And you also[br]shouldn't start forest fires. 0:09:16.333,0:09:19.626 RA: (Laughs) Did you hear that,[br]guys? No forest fires. 0:09:19.626,0:09:23.427 Okay. So you're advocating[br]for saving Mother Earth, 0:09:23.427,0:09:26.512 and there's also another cause[br]that you're advocating for. 0:09:26.512,0:09:28.275 You told me that you're also involved 0:09:28.275,0:09:32.526 in advocating for a new understanding[br]of autism, is that correct? 0:09:32.936,0:09:33.938 JB: Mm-hmm. 0:09:33.938,0:09:36.695 RA: And you're involved[br]in other charities doing that. 0:09:36.695,0:09:39.089 Do you want to tell us a bit about that? 0:09:40.019,0:09:44.308 JB: Well, I am an ambassador for charities 0:09:44.978,0:09:50.178 on children in Africa and children in need 0:09:50.178,0:09:53.103 and children that need the money too. 0:09:53.103,0:09:56.567 So when people come to events 0:09:56.567,0:10:01.611 to hear me making a presentation, 0:10:02.151,0:10:03.150 they pay money, 0:10:03.150,0:10:07.921 and since I'm an ambassador,[br]that money goes to charity 0:10:07.921,0:10:11.772 to help all the kids and adults 0:10:13.992,0:10:18.201 to buy more stuff[br]and to buy food and clothes 0:10:19.021,0:10:21.133 and all the stuff that they need. 0:10:21.133,0:10:23.710 RA: That's very honorable,[br]that's very nice. 0:10:23.710,0:10:28.700 Is there something that you want[br]the audience to know of autism? 0:10:31.740,0:10:34.318 JB: Well, if you don't know[br]what autism is, 0:10:34.318,0:10:40.092 autism is a kind of way[br]of thinking differently. 0:10:42.232,0:10:45.862 It's like your brain thinks another way. 0:10:48.392,0:10:52.021 And there's a high side[br]and there's a low side. 0:10:53.041,0:10:56.098 The high side is where, like ... 0:10:59.238,0:11:03.844 you're born with lots[br]of gifts and good stuff 0:11:04.774,0:11:07.601 that people dream of. 0:11:09.831,0:11:12.379 There is, unfortunately, a low side, 0:11:12.379,0:11:16.472 and it's more common to be[br]on the low side of autism, 0:11:17.962,0:11:19.742 unfortunately. 0:11:21.307,0:11:26.264 And the low side is[br]where sometimes you can't speak 0:11:27.614,0:11:32.941 and you have trouble speaking,[br]maybe learning difficulties. 0:11:33.461,0:11:34.901 It's really sad. 0:11:35.351,0:11:37.640 RA: But I think[br]you don't have troubles at all. 0:11:37.640,0:11:40.262 Seriously, you're sitting[br]in front of this big audience. 0:11:40.262,0:11:41.804 A lot of, I think, grown-ups 0:11:41.804,0:11:44.794 would be very scared to do that[br]and would be super nervous, 0:11:44.794,0:11:46.181 and you're doing a great job. 0:11:46.181,0:11:47.447 Isn't he? 0:11:47.447,0:11:50.367 (Applause) 0:11:57.847,0:11:59.579 Now, Joshua, since you mentioned 0:11:59.579,0:12:02.472 that you are advocating[br]for saving Mother Earth, 0:12:02.472,0:12:04.492 would you like to share your poem here? 0:12:04.492,0:12:06.906 He actually wrote a little poem about it. 0:12:07.456,0:12:10.445 So I will go off stage,[br]and the stage is all yours. 0:12:10.445,0:12:13.020 And you can share that with us.[br]Yeah? Awesome. 0:12:13.020,0:12:14.673 I'll see you backstage. 0:12:15.493,0:12:19.671 JB: So my poem is about Mother Earth. 0:12:22.241,0:12:23.739 I hope you guys like it. 0:12:25.389,0:12:27.710 Mother Earth, Mother Earth, 0:12:27.710,0:12:29.274 she's getting hurt. 0:12:30.494,0:12:33.266 Why do people keep spitting on the ground? 0:12:33.266,0:12:36.107 Why do people keep throwing[br]litter all around? 0:12:36.107,0:12:38.363 I don't like it, not even a bit. 0:12:39.253,0:12:41.472 And you probably don't like it. 0:12:42.022,0:12:44.423 Each day, she's getting more alert, 0:12:44.423,0:12:46.734 while we are only getting hurt. 0:12:47.824,0:12:50.959 Why do people keep doing[br]the wrong things in life 0:12:50.959,0:12:53.227 which will cause them lots of strife? 0:12:54.337,0:12:57.025 I care about our Mother Earth. 0:12:57.025,0:12:59.028 I don't want to see her hurt. 0:12:59.778,0:13:02.720 If people continue to do the wrong things, 0:13:03.180,0:13:06.898 we will reap the punishment[br]that nature brings. 0:13:07.668,0:13:09.935 The Earth is the only home we know. 0:13:10.515,0:13:13.862 If we destroy it, we will have[br]nowhere else to go. 0:13:14.942,0:13:16.698 Mother Earth is alive. 0:13:17.328,0:13:20.170 We should do everything[br]to make her thrive. 0:13:21.100,0:13:23.345 If we cause her lots of pain, 0:13:23.345,0:13:25.432 we have nothing much to gain. 0:13:26.842,0:13:29.012 When Mother Earth makes a tsunami, 0:13:29.012,0:13:31.354 she's weeping oceans of tears, 0:13:32.234,0:13:35.222 the waves of which[br]will just increase our fears. 0:13:36.132,0:13:38.114 When we mine what's in the Earth, 0:13:38.114,0:13:41.059 she shakes us with big earthquakes 0:13:41.499,0:13:44.698 to tell us of our big mistakes. 0:13:44.698,0:13:48.786 When we cut down the trees, [br]Mother Earth gets naked, 0:13:48.786,0:13:51.726 and soon we'll have[br]nothing left that's sacred. 0:13:52.126,0:13:57.139 If we poison the air[br]with fumes from cars and planes, 0:13:57.139,0:14:00.546 the forest will go up in lots of flames. 0:14:00.546,0:14:03.134 Soon, we will have no atmosphere, 0:14:03.134,0:14:07.374 and, one day, we might just[br]no longer be here. 0:14:08.374,0:14:13.164 Maybe the cure for all disease[br]is not to do just as we please. 0:14:13.164,0:14:15.291 Just being nice to one another 0:14:15.291,0:14:18.917 might just be the key[br]to getting on with each other. 0:14:20.407,0:14:22.596 Please help take care of Mother Earth 0:14:22.596,0:14:24.582 as she will take good care of you. 0:14:24.582,0:14:26.964 The planet belongs to me and you. 0:14:26.964,0:14:33.221 We abuse our bodies day and night[br]with much fault to how's our plight. 0:14:33.221,0:14:36.121 I wish that we would all take stock 0:14:36.781,0:14:39.409 before nature takes us back. 0:14:39.879,0:14:43.719 If we fail to take care[br]of that marvelous machine, 0:14:43.719,0:14:48.415 Mother Nature will charge us[br]with a mortal sin. 0:14:48.975,0:14:51.481 I hope that you will listen to my plea 0:14:51.481,0:14:54.674 as nature will be watching you and me. 0:14:55.114,0:14:57.242 If we don't save our planet, 0:14:57.242,0:15:00.432 nothing else that we do is important. 0:15:00.432,0:15:01.774 Thank you for listening. 0:15:01.774,0:15:04.412 (Applause)