Trash cart superheroes

Our world has
many superheroes.

But they have the worst of
all superpowers: invisibility.

For example, the Catadores,

workers who collect recyclable
materials for a living.

Catadores emerge from social
inequality, unemployment,

and the abundance
of solid waste

from the deficiency of the
waste collection system.

Catadores provide heavy,
honest and essential work

that benefits the entire population.

But they are not
acknowledged for it.

Here in Brazil, they collect
90 percent of all the waste

that's actually recycled.

Most of the Catadores
work independent ally,

picking waste on the streets
and selling to junk yards

at very low prices.

They may collect over 300 kilos

in their bags, shopping carts,
bicycles and carroças.

Carroças are carts built
from wood or metal

and found in several
streets in Brazil,

much like graffiti and street art.

And this is how I first found
these marginalized superheroes .

I am a graffiti artist and activist

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

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

as a new mode of
support for my message.

But at this time, giving
voice to the Catadores.

By adding art and humor
to the cause,

it became more appealing,

which helped call attention
to the Catadores

and improve their self esteem.

and now they are famous on the street,
on mass media, in social.

The thing is, I plunged
into this universe

and have not stopped
working since.

I have painted over 200 Carroças
in many cities

and have been invited to do
exhibitions and trips worldwide.

And then I realized that Catadores,
in their invisibility,

are not exclusive to Brazil.

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

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

And this was when I realized

that I need to have more
people join the cause.

It's a big challenge.

Then, I created a collaborative movement

called Pimp my Carroça,

a large crowd fund event,

(Applause)

Thank you.

So Pimp my Carroça is a large
crowd fund event

to help Catadores
in their Carroças.

Catadores are assisted by
wealthy professionals

and healthcare-like physicians
dentists, podiatrists,

stylists, and message therapists
and much more.

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

to see, in high definition, the city.

Their Carroças are renovated
by our incredible volunteers.

Then receive safety items, too:

reflective tapes, horns and mirrors.

then, finally, painted by a street artist

and become part of part of this huge amazing

bio-art exhibition

pimp my carjosa took the streets

of sao paolo, rio de jinero

and curichipa

but, to meet the demand in other cities,

including outside of brazil

we have created Pimpx

inspired by TEDx,

and it's a simplified, do it yourself,

crowd fund edition of pimp my carjosa

so everybody can join

in two years, over 170 catadores

800 volunteers and 200 street artists

and more than 100 donators

have been involved in the Pimp my Carjosa movement

who actions have even been used

to teach recycle at a local school

so, cat adores are leaving invisibility

behind and becoming increasingly

respected and valued

because of their pimped carjosas,

they are able to fight back

prejudice, increase their income

and their interaction with society

so now, id like to challenge you

to start looking at and acknowledging the catadores

and other invisible superheroes from your city

try to see the world as one

without boundaries

and tiers

believe it or not

there are over 20 millioncatadores worldwide

so, next time you see one

recognize them as a vital part

of our society

Thank you

Applause