Jetsetting with… David de Rothschild

BY THE sheer sheen of his name, David de Rothschild could easily lead a comfy life. He is one of the legendary Rothschilds – the same storied family of the behemoth Rothschild banking empire in Europe.

Instead the man spends his time sitting shirtless in the North Pole, and more recently sailed across the treacherous waters of the Pacific from San Francisco to Sydney in a boat he calls Plastiki – made of approximately 12,000 recycled plastic bottles.

No, he’s not nuts. The 32-year-old is simply seeking to spice up the green movement with his actions and Adventure Ecology website. 

How did you become such an eco-adventurer?

I don’t remember ever wanting to be anything like an accountant or a lawyer. It really evolved from my interest in health and natural medicine. I did some organic farming and it made me feel more connected to the environment. In 2004, I was invited for an expedition to Antarctica and that experience was very powerful for me. I think it’s important we create eco-adventure stories to encourage more people to realise saving the environment can be exciting, creative and powerful.

You’re the youngest Briton to reach both geographical poles. What’s left in the world for you to see?

The accolades are flattering but I’m not after the old-school idea of adventure or the recognition of planting a flag in the poles. What I may be doing is just the beginning – we haven’t even started fully exploring and understanding nature. Our projects are our way of giving nature a voice. This year is the International Year Of The Forest, so I’m embarking on a jungle project.

What lessons has your recent Plastiki expedition taught you?

That the ocean is an incredible system but no one is taking responsibility for taking care of it. Humanity now has the resources, technology and opportunities to do something about it and countries need to protect the ocean together. My message-in-the-bottle is reuse, reduce, recycle and rethink the way we do things.

What are some ways travellers can be more adventurous and green at the same time?

Hike, walk, go to the parks to truly absorb nature, take public transport when you commute and always ask questions: Is it necessary? Will it have a negative impact on the environment? Can I give back to the community with this purchase? Be really conscious about what you buy and the tour operators you use. Don’t be fooled by carbon credits, too. Making a donation of, say, S$15 can’t really save the environment.

You have travelled under some of the most extreme conditions. What do you take along with you for these trips?

The most important things are a pair of good walking shoes, my water bottle, some photographs of family and friends, and a big chocolate bar. That’s important because it gives you energy, eating it makes you happier, and you can always offer it to others to make them feel better especially if they’re in a bad mood.

Celebrate Earth Day by catching the adventures of David in Plastiki: The 12,000 Bottle Boat. The two-part documentary airs on Nat Geo (StarHub Channel 411) on April 22 at 4.10pm.

Source

Here’s the video from The New Yorker last year before they set sail

You can stream his show, Eco Trip: The Real Cost of Living, on Netflix