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Our world has many superheroes.

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But they have the worst of
all superpowers: invisibility.

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For example, the Catadores,

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workers who collect recyclable 
materials for a living.

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Catadores emerge from 
social inequality, unemployment,

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and the abundance of solid waste

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from the deficiency of the 
waste collection system.

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Catadores provide a heavy, 
honest and essential work

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that benefits the entire population.
But they are not acknowledged for it.

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Here in Brazil, they collect 90 percent
of all the waste that's actually recycled.

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Most of the Catadores work independently,

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picking waste from the streets and selling 
to junk yards at very low prices.

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at very low prices.

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They may collect over 300 kilos in their bags, 
shopping carts, bicycles and carroças.

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Carroças are carts
built from wood or metal

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and found in several streets in Brazil,

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much like graffiti and street art.

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And this is how I first met these 
marginalized superheroes.

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I am a graffiti artist and activist

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and my art is social, environmental 
and political in nature.

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In 2007, I took my work beyond walls
and onto the Carroças,

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as a new word of support for my message.

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But at this time, 
giving voice to the Catadores.

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By adding art and humor to the cause,
it became more appealing,

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which helped call attention
to the Catadores

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and improve their self-esteem.

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And also, they are famous now on the streets, 
on mass media, in social.

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So, the thing is,

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I plunged into this universe 
and have not stopped working since.

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I have painted over 200 Carroças 
in many cities

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and have been invited to do exhibitions 
and trips worldwide.

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And then I realized that Catadores,
in their invisibility,

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are not exclusive to Brazil.

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I met them in Argentina, Chile, 
Bolivia, South Africa, Turkey

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and even in developed countries such
as the United States and Japan.

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And this was when I realized that I needed
to have more people join the cause

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because it's a big challenge.

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And then, I created a collaborative 
movement called Pimp my Carroça,

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which is a large crowdfunded event,

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Thank you.

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(Applause).

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So Pimp my Carroça is a large 
crowdfunded event

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to help Catadores in their Carroças.

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Catadores are assisted by well-being 
professionals and healthcare like


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physicians, dentists, podiatrists, 
hair stylists, massage therapists

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and much more.

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But also, they also receive safety shirts,
gloves, rain coats and eye glasses


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to see in high-definition, the city,

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while their Carroças are renovated
by our incredible volunteers.

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And then they receive safety items, too:

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reflective tapes, horns and mirrors.

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Then, finally, painted by a street artist

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and become part of part of this huge, 
amazing mobile art exhibition.

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Pimp my Carroças took the streets
of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Curitiba.

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But to meet the demand in other cities,
including outside of Brazil,

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we have created Pimpx,
which is inspired by TEDx,

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and it's a simplified, do-it-yourself,
crowdfund edition of Pimp my Carroça.

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So now everybody can join.

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In two years, over 170 Catadores,
800 volunteers and 200 street artists

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and more than 1000 donors

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have been involved in the 
Pimp my Carroça movement,

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whose actions have even been used
in teaching recycling at a local school.

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So Catadores are leaving 
invisibility behind

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and becoming increasingly
respected and valued.

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Because of their pimped carroças,
they are able to fight back prejudice,

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increase their income and 
their interaction with society.

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So now,

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I'd like to challenge you to start 
looking at and acknowledging

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the Catadores and other 
invisible superheroes from your city.

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Try to see the world as one, 
without boundaries or frontiers.

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Believe it or not,

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there are over 20 million 
Catadores worldwide.

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So next time you see one,

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recognize them as a vital part
of our society.

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Muito orbigado, thank you.

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(Applause).