Happy Summer!
BLUE VISION SUMMIT
I was fortunate to represent EarthEcho at the Blue Vision Summit in Washington D.C. this past May. I served on a panel along with Nora Abdiruham (National Aquarium), Kimberly Correia (Plastic Free Mermaids), Seth Weinfield (Heirs to Our Oceans), Steve Culbertson (Youth Service America), and Bill Street (SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment). Sean Russell from Youth Ocean Conservation Summit was our moderator. We discussed the importance of engaging youth leaders in the field of ocean conservation and strategies for reaching and mobilizing young audiences in a time of increasing threats. I enjoyed speaking with like-minded inspirational youth leaders.
The second day of the conference was Healthy Ocean Hill Day. Participants broke into groups by state to lobby officials on the Hill. I realized the importance of making our voices heard. Without legislation and support from Washington to protect our oceans, there is only so much we can do. Whether your voice is heard at the local, state, or federal level, it is important and makes a difference. Now more than ever, we need people of all ages to speak up and share their concerns with their elected officials.
TIJUANA SEWAGE DOCUMENTARY
Most people from San Diego have heard about the ongoing and worsening sewage issue in Tijuana, Mexico, but others may not have. When a pipe broke in March releasing 256 million gallons of raw sewage into the Tijuana River, people on both sides of the border were outraged. Coronado Middle School’s broadcast program created the documentary, The Awful Truth, to provide background on the issue and underscore the devastating impact on San Diego beach communities. I was pleased to contribute footage from my time in Washington, DC, to this important documentary. Please watch this 16-minute video and share it to help spread the word about what is happening on our beaches. This is a bi-national issue requiring Washington's action.
UCSD SCRIPPS MARINE LAB
This summer I am interning at the UCSD Scripps Marine Lab as a part of the Marine Physical Laboratory Internship program. Working at Scripps has been eye opening to see all the different research projects in the individual labs.
BE AN OCEAN STEWARD
I am seeing a lot of trash on our beaches and in the ocean this summer. Let’s pick it up! Please pick up three pieces of trash every day and ask your friends to do the same. Every little bit helps! Stay tuned for updates on social media. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Please encourage your friends to visit the website and subscribe. Thank you for being an Ocean Steward!
~ D'amy Steward
The Ocean Steward