CALL TO ARMS David Mayer de Rothschild is on a mission to inspire the next generation of eco warriors
T
he Rothschild dynasty needs no introduction. One of the world’s richest banking families, the Rothschilds possess a portfolio so strong and diversified it’s almost impossible to quantify; the name itself conjures a vision of wealth, power, and suited and booted businesspeople. However, there’s one family member who cannot be pigeonholed into this stereotype. David de Rothschild was educated at Harrow like his financier father Sir Evelyn, and seemed primed for a career in banking. But upon graduation, he veered away from the financial road his family had set out in favour of a course in environmentalism and a lifelong passion for adventure. Now 41, British ecologist Rothschild boasts a world record for the fastest crossing on the Greenland ice cap and is the youngest person to reach both geographical poles. In 2010, inspired by his trips to the Antarctic, he combined the enterprising Rothschild spirit with his expertise of the natural world, expedition experience and global contacts base to become what is best described as an “eco-adventurer”. His most famous project was sailing from California to Sydney in 2010 in a boat called Plastiki – made from 12,500 reclaimed plastic bottles – to raise awareness of plastic pollution. More recently, Rothschild has joined fellow adventurers Inge Solheim and Bertrand Picard on Breitling’s Explorer Squad – and it was at the fine watchmaker’s Bond Street boutique that we meet Rothschild. The night before, he’d unveiled Breitling’s new Superocean Heritage Ocean Conservancy, a limited-edition timepiece with an environmentally-conscious strap made of ECONYL yarn – created from recycled fishing nets – a piece he seemed genuinely fascinated by. After very little small talk (it’s not his style), we launch into conversation about his biggest passion – the environment – and how he hopes to inspire the next generation of eco warriors. »
CHANGE ONLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU BECOME CURIOUS, AND THAT ONLY BEGINS WHEN YOU
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