SHE’S TRYING SO HARD: REFLECTIONS ON AN EPIC JOURNEY
She nurtured Earth’s beginnings. She is our collective pumping heart. She is the Ocean. It was an expedition with Mission Blue and partners, a trip in February 2023 to Antarctic seas to witness, document, and collaborate on climate action. Many of the group are exceptional photographers, scientists, and leaders in their fields. Some of us are new to this, some seasoned adventurists. For me, it was a trip of a lifetime to reap insight to boost my environmental advocacy and especially youth empowerment work. We were all fortunate to participate.
What I’d like to share now is personal. Scientific facts should be revealed by skilled scientists who educate us on the climate crisis, which is in fact facing us right now, whether we see it or not. What is worthy to highlight, however, is that the Ocean regulates Earth’s climate, and we rely on her for our very survival. https://missionblue.org/expeditions/
Our voyage on the ship the Sylvia Earle touched the north tip of the Antarctic Peninsula and its islands, yet it seemed that we were traversing a vast, endless wilderness. The stark beauty of Antarctica is something I cannot put into words. It’s the scale that is mind-boggling; it is a testimony to our planet’s past, of which we humans are only a word in one chapter. It is also exhibiting signs of dramatic change, warming at unprecedented speed. We saw spectacular ice in many forms, and wildlife: seals, birds, whales, penguins (they “fly” underwater!), all of which dazzled us to no end --- we were struck like rock-star fans at a live concert, and we were in the front row.
It was during one zodiac outing that I felt the deepest meaning of this magical place. The weather was bright, water calm and clear, and we were quiet in the boat, taking in the dimensions of life and time surrounding us. At one point we stopped next to a small turquoise iceberg. As I leaned over to gaze down into the crystal water, I happened to see a few krill swimming around in their signature shrimp-like sporadic way. I had never seen krill before! Each is no bigger than my finger and can live up to six years by some estimates. These crustaceans, coupled with their diet of plankton, comprise the very foundation of the Ocean food chain, and are thus essential to our planet’s life systems. Many creatures rely on krill for survival, yet krill populations are suffering, from fishing and climate change among many other threats. I was mesmerized. Then I glanced up at the immense ancient glacial scape surrounding us, and looked back to the krill --- two words came to mind: time and scale. Geologic time and such enormous scale, yet here these tiny creatures are doing their best to survive right now, today. It was a moment to cherish.
Nearing the end of the voyage as I contemplated the Ocean, a great melancholy fell over me: our great Ocean, so vast and magnificent, is trying so hard to keep the balance, the health, the equilibrium, for us all to survive and thrive. She is trying so very hard, and she is struggling, becoming weaker. She can only take so much. She is suffering to such an extent that we can measure her maladies, from acidification to warming to wildlife collapse to ecological breakdown in some places. Yet she still circulates our life forces in her currents and brings us joy and hope. She can regain her vitality if we simply leave her alone as in REAL Marine Protected Areas. We need her more than we can fathom.
At the trip’s end, we all were exhausted, overwhelmed, hopeful, and forever changed. During the process, the group worked on climate solutions “Resolutions” we could take into our respective networks to ramp-up action. To that end, where does that leave us, and me?
My grassroots work focuses on both youth empowerment and how our food systems, from production through consumption, must transform urgently to retain a livable world. According to the United Nations, food systems make up a third of total greenhouse gas emissions. Yet many people do not realize nor act on this very sobering fact. Agriculture, specifically industrial animal agriculture’s grazing, monocrops for feed, and production are the biggest drivers, largely from land abused. Industrial fishing and fish farming are also alarmingly impactful. Industrially caught wild fish are manufactured into fishmeal/oil for carnivorous farmed fish (i.e., salmon), pigs, and chickens in factory farms; fertilizers; cosmetics; and other products too numerable to list. But even environmental leaders do not always act on this inconvenient truth about food, which leaves me disillusioned. Dr. Sylvia Earle, the founder of Mission Blue says, “ask where your food is coming from”. That is simple yet not evident when we look the other way while shopping or eating. We, the privileged who CAN choose what we eat, should reflect and act on that one quote more often. The global majority did not contribute largely to these crises and sometimes have little choice of food or lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong, individuals are not responsible for this mess ---- corporations and governments must take on robust reform, now. But we all have a role to play.
We are all imperfect, even our heroes and leaders. We may fight for a common vision, yet we do not always act cohesively. I believe that those of us who can act, should. Many causes warrant urgency, yet this is THE ONE facing virtually everyone. We need a united and fervent energy because the finish line in this race to survive is quickly approaching. Big ideas and daring actions, and especially the radical collaboration of many, can drive transformative Theory of Change social movements, for future generations. And we must act without judging others who are on the same mission in their own imperfect way.
So, what will I do? We were asked to step up as an outcome of this expedition. I will continue to do my part by empowering youth and advocating food systems transformation, and I’ll be more passionate from this experience. We need to reach past our environmental bubble, to the public. What can you do for the Earth tomorrow, the next day? Talk to people. Share your personal stories of anguish and hope and ignite motivation. Find an area that resonates with you and dive in. If we all do a bit more, imperfectly, we can transform our way of living. Let’s make a united effort to help the Ocean save us: she is trying so hard, and she desperately needs everyone. Right now, we need all hands on deck.
