Toespraak Prins Constantijn bij uitreiking Prins Claus Prijs 2014

Toespraak | 10-12-2014

PCF operates in a world of change and is poised to change with it.

We are supporting agents of change as well as people and organisations fighting to preserve values and valuables that are key to societies and civilisations. These seem to be opposite interests: change vs tradition.

Thinkers have been pre-occupied by change since ancient history. Heraclites: the only thing that is constant is change. Andy Warhol added: They always say time changes things but you actually have to change them yourself. Eric Hoffer: in times of profound change the learners inherit the earth while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.

Any quote about change sounds good…and we always agree; even if we often shun change. Also - as you undoubtedly noted - there are some subtle contradictions in these quotes; and they might not even be relevant to my speech.

In fact change and tradition are not opposites. They feed each other. We just like to label things, to make things simple where they are not. Hope and aspiration can reside with belonging and identity. The same goes for local vs global.
The two are inherently linked. What matters is how to ensure human dignity, and the wellbeing of people and their societies.

Writers, artists and activists articulate the dynamics between local and global interests, between traditions and the forces of change (I hesitate to call it progress). Our laureates - here with us today - reflect these tensions. Working often under challenging conditions fighting resistance and oppression...and sometimes a race against time and always a lack of resources.

It is your passion, drive and commitment to improving the human condition for which we celebrate you. The PCF's role is to help amplify your voices and increase your impact and recognition.

But I would also like to think that these prizes do more than honour extraordinary activities of extraordinary people. I'd wish that these open all our eyes to the importance and beauty of human valour, creativity, originality and the determination to do good in this world.

What is happening in Chile, Philippines, Brazil or India isn't only relevant for the local context but also helps us here in the Netherlands to better understand and appreciate cultural differences globally and at home.

Take this beautifully pompous hall. It is relevant that this event takes place in this monument of Amsterdam's 17 ^th century colonial power. This was a time of rapid European expansion; exporting its values and vices, as well as massively exploiting people and resources globally. The effects of which are still a central theme in the work of many of PCF laureates and in particular Abel Rodriguez ...and in more than one way.

As Johan Maurits occupied the north coast of Brazil, around Recife, he also brought along botanists, cartographers and artists: like Zacharias Wagner, Frans Post and Albert Eckhout. They painted and recorded Brazilian nature, landscapes and people in all their detail; for which they are more famous in Brazil than in their country of origin.

The parallels are too obvious to be missed at an occasion like this. In different ways you continue in the tradition of Post and Eckhout; in their botanical work, fascination for nature and loving pictorial representation of it. Like them you refuse to be boxed in to one discipline and allow art and science; culture and nature to go hand in hand.

Prince Claus Awards rarely go to environmental activists. But indigenous culture and knowledge systems are disappearing all around the world and the preservation of biodiversity is of great importance. Our hope is that this award will have a positive impact in a world where indigenous culture is undervalued and indigenous people are struggling for resources, sovereignty, land rights, respect for their traditional ways and ecologically sustainable development.

As we loose connection with nature, with the origin of the foods we eat and the customs we adopt, you hold up a mirror for us to reflect. This is not about who is right or wrong, good or bad, West or South; but about reconnecting with what is essential: in the Brazilian Jungle as well as in the exploding urban centres of the world.

In seeing a video of a previous award ceremony you remarked about the Royal family; 'they look just like us'… and so it is. I take it as a big compliment.

As we turn to a film in your honour, I'd like to end with one of your reflections: "I am very calm with everything. I never worry, I don't rush. I don't feel defeated by life." I am sure many of us would love to be able to say this.