04. FROM INACTION TO THE WHOLE

Develop capacities within people, communities and networks that promote solutions is, in itself, a good solution. It is sustainable.

Diagnose problems, prescribe treatments to minimize symptoms and invest in a cure, or better, in the prevention of the damage that we can avoid, transforms us into health agents of the future, creating real miracles in the present. 

SPEAKERS

  • ADRIANA
    GRYNER

    This communications expert and business-owner decided to upgrade the idea that trash can be more than trash by creating high quality products through reutilizing materials, generating opportunities and income. Canvases and banners used for shows, parties and events are transformed into purses and wallets, among other items. And the majority of the people who produce the products are inmates of prisons in Rio de Janeiro through the NGO TemQuemQueira, founded and presided over by Adriana Gryner.

    There are many ways to tell a tale with a happy ending. But the narrative of the publicist and social entrepreneur, Adriana Gryner, founder of the NGO Tem quem queira (“there are those who want”) was incomparable at TEDxRio+20: she transformed all of the characters into protagonists of their own stories. By reusing the banners produced by her agency, transforming them into bags and accessories, Adriana tells how she ended up transforming lives. With this opportunity, the detainees at the Ferreira prison and at the Oscar Stevenson prison generate income and show improbable talents. And what was just a statistic gains shape, names and a new start. Once upon a time Flávia, Mr. Luis, Jaqueline, Taís, Gustavo and Gabriel…

  • FABIEN
    COUSTEAU

    Passion for the oceans is written into Fabien Cousteau's DNA. Son of Jean-Michel Cousteau and grandson of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, one of the aquatic filmmaker's most famous inventions is a submarine in the shape of a shark.

    The third generation of the family of Oceanographer Jaques Cousteu and diver since the age of four, Fabien Cousteu follows the currents and swims in favor of future generations. With a degree in Environmental Economy from Boston University, he turned the aquatic backyard of his childhood into the scenario for various projects to dive more into the depths of life under the sea. Sure that humans are able to defend what they love, he created the Plant a Fish foundation to care for marine environments, recuperating, for example, mangroves and coral that have been degraded by human actions. “We are treating the world like a trash can, but we are capable of making miracles happen,” he says.

  • ILLAC
    DIAZ

    The Filipino Illac Diaz carries with him the “green” side of his corporate executive past. Among his projects are the Pier One Seafarer’s Dormitory, a self-sustaining shelter, the MyShelter Foundation that works with sustainable solutions for the construction of clinics and classrooms in rural areas and the Liter of Light that provided energy at zero carbon cost and zero electricity to one million houses in 2012 alone. Working with five components, its possible to illuminate dark areas during the day using a solar light bulb with around 55 watts of power.

    “Never turn your back on the things that bother you in this world.” With this prophetic philosophy, the Filipino Illac Diaz, ex-student from Harvard and MIT Tech gave light to a brilliant idea. With a reused plastic bottle and a little less than 2 liters of water, his invention called the Liter of Light has brought light to a million people, illuminated those places that are doomed to darkness even in the light of day. The lamp has a potential equal to 55 watts, zero electricity cost and lasts for 5 years. Genius simplicity that made Diaz recognized as a global leader by the World Economic Forum.

  • LAURENCE
    KEMBALL-COOK

    Laurence Kemball-Cook is a young engineer who developed a sustainable technology that is going to be a pioneering form of renewable energy at the Olympic games in London, called Pavegen. The invention, a flooring tile that is capable of converting energy from the footsteps of those who pass over it into electricity has already gained global press and won awards. But the entrepreneur expects more, “Imagine if your walk to work in the morning could power the lights during your walk home in the evening” emphasizes Kemball-Cook.

    As with all engineers, Laurence Kemball-Cook, 26 years old, is passionate about solving problems. Thinking about what he could do to make cities more sustainable, he saw that an alternative source more constant than the most common alternative energy sources today would be important, his solution? People. “There is an enormous human potential right below our feet! When we consider that a person takes, on average, 150 million steps during their lifetime,” says Laurence, who created the Pavegen System, a block of pavement capable of converting the energy of moving over it into electrical energy. Thank you, Laurence! And so humanity walks on.

  • SARGENTO
    PIMENTA

    Sargento Pimenta came to be in 2010 when a group of nine friends, Beatles and carnival fanatics, decided to found their own bloco (carnival street band). The troupe grew and today has more than 70 components that join songs of the greatest English band of all times with Brazilian rhythms. In their short trajectory, not only have they played at Carnival, but they also played for New Years Eve on Copacabana beach and at the reception party for Prince Harry at the Morro da Urca. One of the dreams of these artists is to open a show for the ex-Beatle, Paul McCartney. Hey, anything’s possible, right?

    A group of friends were sure that they had had a genius idea for Carnival 2010: create a street band that would play only Battles songs. And what could have been only a crazy fun idea without much future became a contagious reality with a foot in with social media: Sargento Pimenta was elected the best street band in 2011 in Rio de Janeiro. After filling the Aterro do Flemengo during their second year of Carnival this year, Sargento Pimenta showed what they are really worth speaking at TEDxRio+20 about the incredible power of humans to believe and achieve, before embarking on their next adventure: to play at the Olympics in London. Liverpool boys, make way!