WEBVTT

00:00:01.277 --> 00:00:05.044
Our world has 
many superheroes.

00:00:05.044 --> 00:00:10.212
But they have the worst of
all superpowers: invisibility.

00:00:10.212 --> 00:00:12.809
For example, the Catadores,

00:00:12.809 --> 00:00:16.802
workers who collect recyclable 
materials for a living.

00:00:16.802 --> 00:00:21.619
Catadores emerge from social 
inequality, unemployment,

00:00:21.619 --> 00:00:24.233
and the abundance 
of solid waste

00:00:24.233 --> 00:00:29.194
from the deficiency of the
waste collection system.

00:00:29.194 --> 00:00:34.880
Catadores provide a heavy, 
honest and essential work

00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:37.701
that benefits the
entire population.

00:00:37.701 --> 00:00:39.717
But they are not 
acknowledged for it.

00:00:39.717 --> 00:00:44.963
Here in Brazil, they collect
90 percent of all the waste

00:00:44.963 --> 00:00:47.632
that's actually recycled.

NOTE Paragraph

00:00:47.632 --> 00:00:50.684
Most of the Catadores 
work independently,

00:00:50.684 --> 00:00:53.905
picking waste on the streets
and selling to junk yards

00:00:53.905 --> 00:00:55.901
at very low prices.

00:00:55.901 --> 00:00:59.208
They may collect over 300 kilos

00:00:59.208 --> 00:01:04.948
in their bags, shopping carts,
bicycles and carroças.

00:01:04.948 --> 00:01:07.941
Carroças are carts built 
from wood or metal

00:01:07.941 --> 00:01:10.669
and found in several 
streets in Brazil,

00:01:10.669 --> 00:01:13.472
much like graffiti and
street art.

00:01:13.472 --> 00:01:18.023
And this is how I first met these 
marginalized superheroes.

NOTE Paragraph

00:01:18.023 --> 00:01:20.313
I am a graffiti artist and activist

00:01:20.313 --> 00:01:26.698
and my art is social, environmental 
and political in nature.

00:01:26.698 --> 00:01:31.740
In 2007, I took my work beyond walls
and onto the Carroças

00:01:31.740 --> 00:01:34.454
as a new word of 
support for my message.

00:01:34.454 --> 00:01:38.621
But at this time, giving
voice to the Catadores.

00:01:38.621 --> 00:01:41.972
By adding art and humor
to the cause,

00:01:41.972 --> 00:01:43.844
it became more appealing,

00:01:43.844 --> 00:01:46.420
which helped call attention
to the Catadores

00:01:46.420 --> 00:01:48.205
and improve their self-esteem.

00:01:48.205 --> 00:01:53.576
And also, they are famous now 
on the street, on mass media, in social.

NOTE Paragraph

00:01:53.576 --> 00:01:58.035
So, the thing is, I plunged
into this universe

00:01:58.035 --> 00:02:00.622
and have not stopped 
working since.

00:02:00.622 --> 00:02:03.856
I have painted over 200 Carroças
in many cities

00:02:03.856 --> 00:02:06.851
and have been invited to do
exhibitions and trips worldwide.

00:02:06.851 --> 00:02:12.483
And then I realized that Catadores,
in their invisibility,

00:02:12.483 --> 00:02:14.391
are not exclusive to Brazil.

00:02:14.391 --> 00:02:23.182
I met them in Argentina, Chile, 
Bolivia, South Africa, Turkey

00:02:23.182 --> 00:02:28.354
and even in developed countries such
as the United States and Japan.

00:02:28.354 --> 00:02:29.690
And this was when I realized

00:02:29.690 --> 00:02:33.223
that I need to have more
people join the cause

00:02:33.223 --> 00:02:34.943
because it's a big challenge.

00:02:34.943 --> 00:02:40.460
And then, I created a collaborative 
movement called Pimp my Carroça.

00:02:40.460 --> 00:02:44.422
which is a large
crowdfund event,

00:02:44.422 --> 00:02:45.169
Thank you.

00:02:45.169 --> 00:02:49.288
(Applause).

00:02:49.288 --> 00:02:53.110
So Pimp my Carroça is a large
crowdfund event

00:02:53.110 --> 00:02:55.756
to help Catadores 
in their Carroças.

00:02:55.756 --> 00:02:59.195
Catadores are assisted by
well-being professionals

00:02:59.195 --> 00:03:03.833
and healthcare-like physicians,
dentists, podiatrists,

00:03:03.833 --> 00:03:07.768
hair stylists, and message 
therapists and much more.

00:03:07.768 --> 00:03:12.967
But also, they also receive safety shirts, 
gloves, rain coats and eye glasses

00:03:12.967 --> 00:03:15.132
to see, in high definition, the city,

00:03:15.132 --> 00:03:20.230
while their Carroças are renovated
by our incredible volunteers.

00:03:20.230 --> 00:03:22.189
And then they receive
safety items, too:

00:03:22.189 --> 00:03:24.804
reflective tapes, horns 
and mirrors.

00:03:24.804 --> 00:03:27.899
Then, finally, painted 
by a street artist

00:03:27.899 --> 00:03:32.550
and become part of part of this
huge, amazing mobile art exhibition.

NOTE Paragraph

00:03:32.550 --> 00:03:34.388
Pimp my Carroças took
the streets

00:03:34.388 --> 00:03:38.618
of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro
and Curitiba.

00:03:38.618 --> 00:03:41.437
But to meet the demand
in other cities,

00:03:41.437 --> 00:03:43.447
including outside of Brazil,

00:03:43.447 --> 00:03:45.402
we have created Pimpx,

00:03:45.402 --> 00:03:48.921
which is inspired by TEDx,

00:03:48.921 --> 00:03:52.167
and it's a simplified, do it yourself,

00:03:52.167 --> 00:03:54.236
crowdfund edition of 
Pimp my Carroça.

00:03:54.236 --> 00:03:57.286
So now everybody can join.

NOTE Paragraph

00:03:57.286 --> 00:04:01.681
In two years, over 170 Catadores,

00:04:01.681 --> 00:04:05.510
800 volunteers and 200 street artists

00:04:05.510 --> 00:04:07.386
and more than 100 donors

00:04:07.386 --> 00:04:10.251
have been involved in the 
Pimp my Carroça movement,

00:04:10.251 --> 00:04:12.343
whose actions have 
even been used

00:04:12.343 --> 00:04:16.355
in teaching recycle at a local school.

NOTE Paragraph

00:04:16.355 --> 00:04:20.488
So Catadores are leaving 
invisibility behind

00:04:20.488 --> 00:04:24.062
and becoming increasingly
respected and valued.

00:04:24.062 --> 00:04:28.219
Because of their pimped carroças,
they are able to fight back prejudice,

00:04:28.219 --> 00:04:32.539
increase their income and 
their interaction with society.

NOTE Paragraph

00:04:32.539 --> 00:04:35.061
So now, I'd like to challenge you

00:04:35.061 --> 00:04:38.375
to start looking at and 
acknowledging the Catadores

00:04:38.375 --> 00:04:41.583
and other invisible superheroes
from your city.

00:04:41.583 --> 00:04:46.604
Try to see the world as one, 
without boundaries or frontiers.

00:04:46.604 --> 00:04:48.114
Believe it or not,

00:04:48.114 --> 00:04:54.085
there are over 20 million 
Catadores worldwide.

00:04:54.085 --> 00:04:56.945
So next time you see one,

00:04:56.945 --> 00:05:01.066
recognize them as a vital part
of our society.

00:05:01.066 --> 00:05:03.710
Muito orbigado, thank you.

00:05:03.710 --> 00:05:09.468
(Applause).