When I think about my childhood there are few things that really strike me, if only the really positive things. Born frail and rather small in stature (a situation that unfortunately will remain constant and lasting for the rest of my life), I did not have an easy life at school nor was I allowed to go out and meet my friends on the street. My parents, mindful of the mess my older brother made, decided to go the other way with me. And so, apart from the tragicomic summer holidays in the company of my father, at the time a lifeguard at a Salesian summer colony, my primary source of information and discovery were the dozens (and I mean dozens!) of volumes of encyclopedias by whose house of mine was full.
My parents seemed to have accumulated all that knowledge just for the sake of occupying space inside the shelves of a huge "cantarano" (forgive me for Sicilianism, but it was a bit due) and left them waiting for someone, in this case, the present here, devoured the thousands of pages, scrutinizing every photo, widening his eyes on figures, photographs, graphics and so on and so forth! So I discovered natural sciences, biology, chemistry, history (the latter interested me less but I couldn't say no to knowledge ...), and then there was this series of dark looking books, with covers in a dark and decidedly disturbing blue with simple photos in a round or square frame on the cover, heavy and well bound, as was the custom at the time.
The first edition, dated 1973 can still be purchased at the following address https://bookstore.antrodiulisse.eu/Thus it was that I became aware of the wonders of the oceans, of what was inside them, of the multitude of living species so different and all so important, alive, enclosed in that infinite container closed to the sight of many and that, slowly slowly, he was showing himself to the world. It matters little that, at the time of my reading, that encyclopedia was already twenty years old and totally outdated in every scientific aspect. Twenty years in scientific terms is enormous, the progress and advancement of man both towards space and towards the ocean depths have been truly incredible, but for that eight-year-old boy who, yes, he found his eyes widening in front of every page.
It was his whole world. And in that world of his made of discoveries and revelations, few were the heroes who guided him. At a time when other kids looked to cartoons as a source of inspiration for their own fantasy adventures, I found myself dreaming of exciting voyages inside the Calypso, the ship of my great hero, Jacques Cousteau.
For more helpful product videos and expert advice on scuba diving, visit http://www.youtube.com/user/SimplyScubaNo, I am not interested in doing a survey on his life and on his numerous inventions (for that, just consult Wikipedia or open Youtube), how much to take up a theme that is very dear to me and, unfortunately, increasingly forgotten.
The pleasure of discovery, that sense of progress and projection towards the future that was so strong and heartfelt in the last century, the trust and support for science and science communicators.
Yesterday we looked at scientists as hope for progress, a source for development not only in the medical field but primarily in the social and cultural fields.
Each new discovery was thought of as an opportunity, a new path that would surely bring benefits.
We worked all over the world to eradicate diseases that reaped hundreds of thousands of deaths a month, we tried to miniaturize electronic components to expand our ability to store our knowledge, we went to the Moon not because it was fashionable but to prove that you can do it, that you can also explore that part of the universe.
A man by definition is an explorer, he is born curious, ready to discover every single aspect of that world that surrounds him and that asks endless questions.
He is not afraid of progress, but he embraces every change that life places on him with greater emphasis and courage.
But what happens when the man is afraid of change?
What happens when the man loses the desire to discover, to explore, to be happy to be part of that wonderful evolutionary history that is humanity?
Returning to my hero, Jacques Cousteau, he was not afraid of progress. Indeed, he himself was the promoter of the evolution of scientific thought which in the following years led to radical changes in the perception of the scientists.
That's because he was there in the middle of the sea, with that funny red hat of his and his hooked nose. He was there watching the ocean from the deck of his boat, patting the divers on the back who would soon dive. He was there at sunset listening to the first recordings of whale songs.
And I was by his side and like me, hundreds, no what I'm saying! Millions of children, grown up with faith in tomorrow and in human progress.
A few thousand frightened human beings will not be enough to stop the history of humanity.
The Silent World (French: Le Monde du silence) is a 1956 French documentary film co-directed by Jacques Cousteau and Louis Malle. The Silent World was one of the first films to use underwater cinematography to show the ocean depths in color. (Wikipedia)
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