A nonviolent defense of the Commons | Massimiliano Ciucci | TEDxLucca
-
0:13 - 0:16Emanuela was waiting for me
outside the airport. -
0:16 - 0:19We loaded the suitcases
on an old grey Fiat Tipo -
0:19 - 0:21and we headed to his house.
-
0:21 - 0:24After 20 endless, dark minutes,
-
0:25 - 0:28the car stopped near a gate.
-
0:29 - 0:31Emanuela, a hundred meters before,
-
0:31 - 0:34began honking to get the attention
-
0:34 - 0:36of someone beyond the fence.
-
0:36 - 0:38We waited a few moments
-
0:38 - 0:41before two strange shadows
usher our way to the house. -
0:42 - 0:47One of them had a ski mask
and a huge torn black sweater. -
0:47 - 0:50The other one was wearing
a baseball hat and a grey bomber. -
0:51 - 0:54They both were wearing
tight and patched trousers. -
0:54 - 0:56They were the night watchmen.
-
0:56 - 0:58They helped me with the suitcases
-
0:58 - 1:01and they sat in front
of my bedroom window. -
1:01 - 1:05They spoke to each other softly
in an unknown language. -
1:05 - 1:08It was a bit like listening to a lullaby.
-
1:08 - 1:11I fell asleep after a few minutes.
-
1:12 - 1:15I had a quick breakfast the morning after
-
1:15 - 1:17and went through that gate again.
-
1:17 - 1:19I ended up in the middle
of a crowded street -
1:19 - 1:21dressed mostly in rags.
-
1:21 - 1:24I saw a swarm of children
with faded aprons. -
1:25 - 1:29The air was unbreathably hot and wet.
-
1:29 - 1:33Old cars sprouted black smoke
from the exhaust pipes -
1:33 - 1:36as they accelerated to overcome
the wooden carts, -
1:36 - 1:40pulled by humped oxen
or pushed by skinny men. -
1:40 - 1:42I slipped into a flea market.
-
1:42 - 1:46The stench of the drains alternated
with the scent of spices. -
1:46 - 1:49Meat hanging down,
wrapped in swarms of flies, -
1:49 - 1:53dried fresh fish, season
vegetables, tropical fruit, -
1:53 - 1:56everything was exposed on wooden stalls
-
1:57 - 2:00and then, there was everything.
-
2:00 - 2:04Buttons, pots, blankets,
bike replacement parts, -
2:04 - 2:07eggs, Chinese radios, total chaos.
-
2:08 - 2:10It was March 1, 2006.
-
2:10 - 2:13I was Finally in Africa, Madagascar.
-
2:14 - 2:16Only two days ago I was in a suit and tie
-
2:16 - 2:18in the bank office I would shortly resign.
-
2:18 - 2:20I had decided to change my life.
-
2:21 - 2:23I created with some friends
the Mangwana association, -
2:23 - 2:25which means “Tomorrow”, “Future”.
-
2:26 - 2:30We had the idea to start
a soccer school for street children. -
2:30 - 2:33So I gave all up
and I left for three months. -
2:33 - 2:36Then I stayed for 12 years.
-
2:37 - 2:40Madagascar, in the collective imagination,
-
2:40 - 2:41is the country of biodiversity:
-
2:41 - 2:45there are untained forests,
heavenly beaches. -
2:45 - 2:47Madagascar is also known
for a famous cartoon -
2:47 - 2:51with cute little animals
like lemurs and fossas. -
2:51 - 2:55I have crossed the whole country,
from its plateau to the shores, -
2:55 - 2:57and I’ve found something very different.
-
2:58 - 3:02I saw women queued for hours
at the gates of the freezones, -
3:02 - 3:04which are textile facilities' sheds,
-
3:05 - 3:07hoping to find a job
-
3:07 - 3:10with no contract, insurance
or social security of any kind. -
3:10 - 3:11to a little more than one euro a day,
-
3:11 - 3:14with only one guarantee:
-
3:14 - 3:16if they didn’t show up once,
-
3:16 - 3:17they would lose the job.
-
3:19 - 3:22I saw children cracking stones
on the street in the dust all day, -
3:22 - 3:25under the sun, without water and food.
-
3:26 - 3:29I saw some Little boys in mica mines
-
3:29 - 3:31or others ones looking
for precious stones. -
3:32 - 3:35Hills were eroded by landslides
due to massive deforestation, -
3:35 - 3:38vast territories are becoming deserts,
-
3:38 - 3:43once virgin beaches are now crowded
with tourist facilities. -
3:45 - 3:46I'm always been a sailor.
-
3:46 - 3:51I had a boat moored in Viareggio
on the Burlamacca canal -
3:51 - 3:53and in those years I was also a skipper.
-
3:53 - 3:56I went to Madagascar also
-
3:56 - 3:59because I have always been fascinated
by the stories of pirates. -
3:59 - 4:04On the island of Nosibora, better known
by its French name of Saint Marie. -
4:04 - 4:06By following a map
you can reach a cemetery -
4:06 - 4:08where corsairs and buccaneers are buried,
-
4:08 - 4:10including the infamous William Kidd.
-
4:11 - 4:14I was in front of the headstones
in this lost corner of the world, -
4:14 - 4:17when I realized that pirates still exist
-
4:17 - 4:19and are looting Madagascar.
-
4:20 - 4:24They are the foreigners, multinationals,
corrupt governments. -
4:24 - 4:27They no longer use galleons,
sabres and cannons, -
4:27 - 4:29but much more sophisticated
and devastating systems -
4:29 - 4:30that have catchy names
-
4:30 - 4:34like “Land Grabbing”
and “Biodiversity Offsetting”. -
4:34 - 4:38Land grabbing mans, literally,
the hoarding of the land. -
4:38 - 4:43It’s the acquisition of land
by private individuals or states, -
4:43 - 4:45usually for monoculture,
-
4:45 - 4:48in order to meet your country's food needs
-
4:48 - 4:51or produce bio fuels.
-
4:51 - 4:53Often these acquisitions do not consider
-
4:53 - 4:56the sovereignty and rights
of those who live there. -
4:57 - 5:02Biodiversity Offsetting
is a biodiversity compensation. -
5:03 - 5:04Basically, a multinational company
-
5:04 - 5:08can plunder and devastate
an entire ecosystem -
5:08 - 5:12after promising to recreate a similar one
in a different place. -
5:13 - 5:17It’s like devastating an entire area
-
5:17 - 5:21with the promise to reforest
somewhere else. -
5:21 - 5:23Both practices are allowed
-
5:23 - 5:26by the World Bank
and the European Community. -
5:27 - 5:29The result is that Madagascar
-
5:29 - 5:31is one of the world's
five poorest countries. -
5:31 - 5:3490% of its forests have disappeared.
-
5:34 - 5:36Half of the population is undernourished
-
5:36 - 5:38and has no access to drinking water.
-
5:38 - 5:42Fundamental rights
are constantly violated. -
5:43 - 5:47I immediately got how dramatic
the situation in Madagascar was -
5:47 - 5:49and I dropped the idea
of the football school. -
5:49 - 5:52Together with the association,
we created a water network -
5:52 - 5:55that piped drinking water
to three villages, about 1000 residents. -
5:57 - 5:59But I have seen many projects like that:
-
5:59 - 6:02wells, hospitals, schools and markets.
-
6:03 - 6:07A good part of them turned out to be
real "cathedrals in the desert", -
6:07 - 6:09with the loss of millions
and millions of Euros. -
6:09 - 6:14Some projects did not always meet
the real beneficiaries’ needs, -
6:14 - 6:16because they were planned
-
6:16 - 6:19and then dropped from above.
-
6:20 - 6:23I could came back to Italy
to tell all the story, -
6:24 - 6:26to report everything.
-
6:26 - 6:28I knew that I wouldn’t do anything good,
-
6:28 - 6:30just the ones that came before me.
-
6:30 - 6:34I had to stay. I really wanted to stay,
-
6:34 - 6:36but I didn’t know what to do.
-
6:37 - 6:40Then it dawned on me,
-
6:40 - 6:43in order to create
something alternative and durable, -
6:43 - 6:45I had to learn their mothertongue
-
6:45 - 6:49and find someone who could
really knew this country, -
6:49 - 6:52In other words, I needed a guide,
and I did find one. -
6:53 - 6:57Randriamarofara Jean Delphin,
a fantastic man. -
6:57 - 7:00One of 11 brothers,
raised on a peasant family, -
7:00 - 7:02he spent most of his life abroad
-
7:02 - 7:04and he came back to his country
-
7:05 - 7:10to transmit and share
both his knowledge and his experience. -
7:10 - 7:12I still remember the first meeting:
-
7:12 - 7:14we were sitting face to face
-
7:14 - 7:17and this white and red fabric
on his shoulders, -
7:17 - 7:19with the image of Madagascar.
-
7:20 - 7:23He put a document on the table,
-
7:23 - 7:25it was a thick book.
-
7:26 - 7:28And he said to me,
this is the "Wanna" project. -
7:28 - 7:31"Vanuna" means both “integrity”
and “responsible man”. -
7:31 - 7:32I wrote it,
-
7:32 - 7:34and I’ll make it real
whether you help me or not. -
7:35 - 7:37It was a long conversation,
and he closed it with a warning: -
7:38 - 7:41if you really want to do
something for Madagascar -
7:41 - 7:44you must be ready to die for this country.
-
7:44 - 7:46Once I came back to Italy,
I shared it with my father -
7:46 - 7:48and he also warned me:
-
7:48 - 7:51”Watch out Massimiliano,
this is the plan of a new state - -
7:51 - 7:53in other words, a revolution."
-
7:54 - 7:57On March 17, 2009, a coup took place.
-
7:57 - 7:58I was there those months,
-
7:59 - 8:00and I directly witnessed
-
8:00 - 8:03violence, riots, reprisals,
demonstrations, deaths. -
8:05 - 8:06The triggering reason
-
8:06 - 8:11was the agreement between their president
and a South Korean corporation -
8:11 - 8:13that provided for the granting
-
8:13 - 8:17of 1.3 millions of hectares of arable land
-
8:17 - 8:19to produce wheat and palm oil.
-
8:19 - 8:24In practice, more than half
of Madagascar arable land. -
8:24 - 8:26It was an example of Land Grabbing.
-
8:26 - 8:28That agreement failed,
-
8:28 - 8:32but many others didn’t.
-
8:33 - 8:36In other words, new governments,
still bad old habits. -
8:37 - 8:44It's important to note that in Madagascar
land is inherited from ancestors. -
8:44 - 8:47It passes down,
generation after generation. -
8:47 - 8:49So it’s difficult to find
any official register, -
8:50 - 8:53and land grabbers
meet no formal obstacles. -
8:53 - 8:56Once they have signed
the agreement with the government, -
8:57 - 9:01the population will only have
two possibilities: -
9:01 - 9:05you can either leave,
or stay and work in your own land -
9:05 - 9:08as an underpaid employee
-
9:08 - 9:10or even in slavery.
-
9:11 - 9:14Actually, you can also rebel.
-
9:14 - 9:16But there's a high chance to die.
-
9:18 - 9:20So what can communities do
-
9:20 - 9:23in order to protect their own lands,
rights and houses ? -
9:23 - 9:26A solution might be microcredit.
-
9:26 - 9:30Me and Delphin, we took paper and pen
-
9:31 - 9:33and repackaged agricultural micro-credit.
-
9:33 - 9:36I basically found myself in Madagascar,
working as a banker again. -
9:37 - 9:41But there is a difference:
we removed all the money. -
9:41 - 9:45We don’t borrow money,
we borrow a bag full of seeds. -
9:45 - 9:47We give it to Razeeta, who grows them
-
9:47 - 9:50and at the time of harvest
he gets three bags of rice. -
9:51 - 9:53He uses the first bag
-
9:53 - 9:55to feed his family.
-
9:55 - 9:58The second bag goes in a community bard,
-
9:58 - 10:00and then he sells the third one.
-
10:00 - 10:03He uses the proceeds to buy
the things he need the most -
10:03 - 10:05and two more bags of seeds.
-
10:06 - 10:08He uses one of them
for a second yearly harvest, -
10:09 - 10:11and he gives the second one back.
-
10:11 - 10:16We give this one to Dada.
-
10:16 - 10:19Another family, another cycle.
-
10:19 - 10:22An unstoppable multiplying effect
is going to happen. -
10:22 - 10:26Microcredit is supported
by community fields, -
10:26 - 10:30in order to grant access to land
to people who can’t afford it. -
10:31 - 10:34As I told you before,
community barns support microcredit. -
10:34 - 10:37This is a powerful financial tool.
-
10:37 - 10:39Its strength is simplicity.
-
10:39 - 10:42I dare you to find an investment
-
10:42 - 10:44which both ensures you equities
-
10:44 - 10:47and doubles or even triples
their value in 8 months. -
10:47 - 10:48There aren't.
-
10:48 - 10:49The barn is real.
-
10:50 - 10:55In April's harvest, 100 kilos of rice
are sold for 35 euro. -
10:55 - 10:59In December's rainy season,
the value doubles, sometimes triples. -
10:59 - 11:00Year after year.
-
11:01 - 11:04These actions guarantee these families
-
11:04 - 11:07better life conditions, children’s
-
11:07 - 11:10education
-
11:10 - 11:13and healthcare,
-
11:14 - 11:17forest’s protection and development
-
11:18 - 11:20and also food sovereignty.
-
11:21 - 11:24We still talk about food safety
-
11:25 - 11:30as a solution both
to fight against world hunger -
11:30 - 11:33and to ensure enough food to everyone.
-
11:33 - 11:37But at what cost? Land grabbing, maybe?
-
11:38 - 11:41Now it’s time to talk
about food sovereignty. -
11:41 - 11:44Razama must be free
-
11:44 - 11:47to farm his own land
in harmony with nature. -
11:47 - 11:50He as to be able both to eat quality food
-
11:50 - 11:54and to pass his knowledge
down to his descendants. -
11:55 - 11:57That would be food sovereignity.
-
11:58 - 12:01Microcredit is only one
-
12:01 - 12:04of Delphin Project’s actions.
-
12:04 - 12:07That’s a real silent,
non violent revolution. -
12:08 - 12:13When I accepted the risks I was taking
in joining the project, -
12:14 - 12:16I thought I was sharing a utopia
-
12:16 - 12:21but the results came
and the dream became reality. -
12:22 - 12:25Women in Madagascar
-
12:25 - 12:28have very few rights
before being grandmothers. -
12:29 - 12:30Olga is 42 years old.
-
12:30 - 12:34She is the president
of a 1500 people movement. -
12:35 - 12:3811 of the 20 members
of the General Assembly -
12:38 - 12:41are kids I've been working with
with for 10 years. -
12:41 - 12:44I know them since they were babies.
-
12:44 - 12:48Here are some of their names:
Dago, Justin, Tain, Fatim, Michelle. -
12:48 - 12:51They have gained a consciousness
about their rights -
12:51 - 12:53that no one could ever
take away from them. -
12:54 - 12:58The Vanuna association, together
with its educational and training centre, -
12:58 - 13:02have already finished
their first autonomous sustainable year. -
13:03 - 13:07In the field of associations
there are lots of examples -
13:07 - 13:09that deserve both
-
13:09 - 13:13to be supported and enhanced.
-
13:13 - 13:16It’s important for us
both to make the right choice -
13:16 - 13:19and get good information
to choose correctly our battles. -
13:20 - 13:23Our lifestyle is more important too.
-
13:23 - 13:26Climate changing and inequities
-
13:26 - 13:28are constantly under our eyes.
-
13:28 - 13:31We're running out of time,
we can't ignore them anymore. -
13:32 - 13:36All together
-
13:36 - 13:39we must lead a change
that could save our planet. -
13:39 - 13:42And we must do it now,
or it'll be too late. -
13:44 - 13:50I could spend hours
making a list of all the actions -
13:51 - 13:55which could either preserve the planet
or defend our rights. -
13:55 - 13:58Unfortunately, my time is over also.
-
13:58 - 14:01I’m telling you the most important thing.
-
14:02 - 14:07I invite you, I urge you
to start making the right questions. -
14:07 - 14:12You must also only pick the real answers,
steering away from the convenient ones. -
14:14 - 14:16Are bicycles and trains less polluting
than cars and airplanes? -
14:16 - 14:19Obviously yes.
-
14:20 - 14:23By entering a beautiful building,
-
14:24 - 14:27filled with lights and showcases,
-
14:27 - 14:30and there's a dress I can buy
for just 9.99 euro, -
14:30 - 14:33Is it cheap because of women
and children exploitation? -
14:34 - 14:37Yes, it is, and the answer
is on the label. -
14:37 - 14:41You are likely to know
a certain product’s supply chain. -
14:41 - 14:46You are likely to know
where, who and when -
14:46 - 14:51a certain cosmetic, toothpaste, phone,
or dress has been made. -
14:52 - 14:56Everytime they offer
to come to Africa and help, -
14:56 - 14:58I suggest to stay in Italy.
-
14:58 - 15:02The more conscious and responsible we are,
-
15:02 - 15:07the more useful we can be. Day after day.
-
15:09 - 15:11One year ago I understood
-
15:11 - 15:14that my mission in Madagascar
was accomplished, it was finished. -
15:14 - 15:16I didn’t need to work there anymore.
-
15:16 - 15:20They didn’t need me anymore, they now have
both their life and their autonomy. -
15:20 - 15:22And that's ok.
-
15:23 - 15:27I considered doing something else,
-
15:27 - 15:29Sometimes it happens in life.
-
15:29 - 15:34I thought myself: “It’s now time to think
both about myself and my family, -
15:34 - 15:36I need a decent salary.
-
15:36 - 15:39”But then I decided to go on.
-
15:40 - 15:41So much work to be done.
-
15:41 - 15:44I want a better future
for my children, who are here. -
15:44 - 15:48So I decided to go on.
-
15:49 - 15:53I thought I would replicate
everything I did in Madagascar, -
15:53 - 15:55in Senegal too.
-
15:56 - 15:58I'll talk about this
in another TEDx speech. -
15:58 - 16:00Last February
-
16:00 - 16:05I was in the Fianarantsoa
Educational Centre’s balcony, -
16:05 - 16:08I was watching the children
playing in the backyard. -
16:08 - 16:10At one point Olga came to me,
-
16:10 - 16:12and she said:
-
16:13 - 16:17“You know Massimo,
I’m more then 40 years old, -
16:17 - 16:19and I’d really like to become a mother.
-
16:20 - 16:21I want it with my body and soul.
-
16:22 - 16:25It always will be
an unfulfilled desire, thought. -
16:25 - 16:26You know, If I had a baby
-
16:27 - 16:30I'd give him all my love
and all the attentions he needs; -
16:30 - 16:33I would raise him the best I could.”
-
16:34 - 16:37Then she sighed a bit and she said,
-
16:37 - 16:42as she was watching tenderly
that backyard: -
16:42 - 16:46“If I had a baby, who would raise
all these other children?" -
16:48 - 16:51Delphin and Olga represent
both integrity and strength. -
16:51 - 16:53I'm inspired by this kind of people.
-
16:53 - 16:55Thanks.
-
16:55 - 16:58(Applause)
- Title:
- A nonviolent defense of the Commons | Massimiliano Ciucci | TEDxLucca
- Description:
-
A highly inspiring talk about an adventure that lasted 12 years in Madagascar. Massimiliano touches lightly upon disasters and horrors that unfold in Madagascar, and has no intention of denouncing them: to the contrary, he tells us what he and other great people put in place to avoid further harm.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- Video Language:
- Italian
- Team:
- closed TED
- Project:
- TEDxTalks
- Duration:
- 17:07
Muriel de Meo approved English subtitles for La difesa non violenta dei beni comuni | Massimiliano Ciucci | TEDxLucca | ||
Muriel de Meo edited English subtitles for La difesa non violenta dei beni comuni | Massimiliano Ciucci | TEDxLucca | ||
Michele Gianella accepted English subtitles for La difesa non violenta dei beni comuni | Massimiliano Ciucci | TEDxLucca | ||
Michele Gianella edited English subtitles for La difesa non violenta dei beni comuni | Massimiliano Ciucci | TEDxLucca | ||
Alessio Politi edited English subtitles for La difesa non violenta dei beni comuni | Massimiliano Ciucci | TEDxLucca | ||
Alessio Politi edited English subtitles for La difesa non violenta dei beni comuni | Massimiliano Ciucci | TEDxLucca |