Photographer Phil Borges estimates that of the 6,000 languages spoken on the planet today, 3,000 are not known by children. In other words, as those who know them die, humanity will lose all the wealth that comes from the legacy of that language in extinction, its philosophy, its knowledge and vision of life and death. This is the summary of his presentation at TedTalks:
Phil Borges displays his stunning portraits, documenting the world’s disappearing cultures, from persecuted monks in Tibet to embattled tribes in the Ecuadorian Amazon. He also shares inspiring results from his digital-storytelling workshops, which give indigenous teenagers tools for cultural preservation and self-expression. A former dentist, Phil Borges rediscovered his passion for photography, and spent the last 25 years documenting indigenous cultures around the world. His work collected in several books, including Tibetan Portrait and Enduring Spirit. In 2001, he founded Bridges to Understanding, an organization that works with teenagers worldwide, promoting cultural preservation and exchange through digital storytelling.
Here, his presentation: