WEBVTT

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Our world has 
many superheroes.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
But they have the worst of
all superpowers: invisibility.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
For example, the Catadores,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
workers who collect recyclable 
materials for a living.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Catadores emerge from social 
inequality, unemployment,


99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and the abundance 
of solid waste


99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
from the deficiency of the
waste collection system.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Catadores provide heavy, 
honest and essential work

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that benefits the entire population.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
But they are not 
acknowledged for it.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Here in Brazil, they collect
90 percent of all the waste

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that's actually recycled.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Most of the Catadores 
work independent ally,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
picking waste on the streets
and selling to junk yards

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
at very low prices.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
They may collect over 300 kilos

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
in their bags, shopping carts,
bicycles and carroças. 


99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Carroças are carts built 
from wood or metal

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and found in several 
streets in Brazil,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
much like graffiti and street art.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And this is how I first found 
these marginalized superheroes .

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I am a graffiti artist and activist

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and my art is social, environmental 
and political in nature.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
In 2007, I took my work beyond walls
and onto the Carroças

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
as a new mode of 
support for my message.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
But at this time, giving
voice to the Catadores.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
By adding art and humor
to the cause,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
it became more appealing,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
which helped call attention
to the Catadores

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and improve their self esteem.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and now they are famous on the street, 
on mass media, in social.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
The thing is, I plunged 
into this universe

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and have not stopped 
working since.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I have painted over 200 Carroças
in many cities

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and have been invited to do
exhibitions and trips worldwide.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And then I realized that Catadores,
in their invisibility,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
are not exclusive to Brazil.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I met them in Argentina, Chile, 
Bolivia South Africa, Turkey

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and even developed countries such as
the United States and Japan.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And this was when I realized

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that I need to have more
people join the cause.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
It's a big challenge.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Then, I created a collaborative movement

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
called Pimp my Carroça,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
a large crowd fund event,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Applause)

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Thank you.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So Pimp my Carroça is a large
crowd fund event

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to help Catadores 
in their Carroças.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Catadores are assisted by
wealthy professionals

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and healthcare-like physicians
dentists, podiatrists,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
stylists, and message therapists
and much more.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
But they also receive safety shirts, 
gloves, rain coats and eye glasses

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to see, in high definition, the city.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Their Carroças are renovated
by our incredible volunteers.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Then receive safety items, too:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
reflective tapes, horns and mirrors.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Then, finally, painted 
by a street artist

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and become part of part of this
huge, amazing bio-art exhibition.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Pimp my Carroças took
the streets

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
of Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro
and Curitiba.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
But to meet the demand
in other cities,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
including outside of Brazil,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
we have created Pimpx

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
inspired by TEDx,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and it's a simplified, do it yourself,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
crowdfund edition of Pimp my Carroça

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
so everybody can join.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
In two years, over 170 Catadores

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
800 volunteers and 200 street artists

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and more than 100 donors

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
have been involved in the 
Pimp my Carroça movement,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
whose actions have even been used

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to teach recycle at a local school.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So, Catadores are leaving 
invisibility behind

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
behind and becoming increasingly
respected and valued.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Because of their pimped carroças,
they are able to fight back prejudice,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
increase their income and 
interaction with society.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So now, I'd like to challenge you

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to start looking at and 
acknowledging the Catadores

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and other invisible superheroes
from your city

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
try to see the world as one

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
without boundaries

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and tiers

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
believe it or not

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
there are over 20 millioncatadores worldwide

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
so, next time you see one

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
recognize them as a vital part

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
of our society

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Thank you

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Applause