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 Carroças took
the streets

of Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro
and Curitiba.

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,

crowdfund edition of Pimp my Carroça

so everybody can join.

In two years, over 170 Catadores

800 volunteers and 200 street artists

and more than 100 donors

have been involved in the
Pimp my Carroça movement,

whose actions have even been used

to teach recycle at a local school.

So, Catadores are leaving
invisibility behind

behind and becoming increasingly
respected and valued.

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

increase their income and
interaction with society.

So now, I'd 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 million
Catadores worldwide.

So next time you see one,

recognize them as a vital part
of our society.

Mucho orbigado, thank you.

(Applause).