The Coral Reefs
In May of 2019, I was stoked to visit Kauai for the first time with my family. The island astonished us with its beauty from the second we sighted land from the plane. We couldn't do enough exploring: climbing through the canyons, snorkeling over the reefs, hunting down poke. This island is an extraordinary place, and it seemed to be flawless.
The wake-up call came one day when we headed to the north side of the island to snorkel at Anini Beach. Beneath the surface of the water, we drifted over yards and yards of empty, algae-covered coral skeletons. The destruction was astonishing, stark, corpse-like; so different from the vibrant coral reef I'd expected to see. I later came to learn that Anini was one of the many reefs affected by a massive coral bleaching event in 2015, and it was still recovering from the effects.
That one day at Anini completely changed my perspective on my role in the world. After coming home from Kauai, I knew I had to change my way of being. I switched to a mainly plant-based diet, became more aggressive in eliminating plastic in my daily life, and changed my purchasing habits. My experience at Anini also led me to write here at Post Industry - to help encourage all of us to live in more realistic, more sustainable ways.
This month's 'Take Action' is close to my heart - and is at the root of our collective health. I encourage you to approach it with a broad, courageous, and determined mind.
Take a deep breath. Deeper.
In my yoga training, we devote a lot of time to studying and developing the breath. More than water, more than food, your breath is the power of life. Without it, you will survive just a few minutes. Being able to take healthy, oxygen-rich air into our lungs seems so commonplace that we rarely think about where our next breath will come from. But that will not always be the case.
Over half of the oxygen you breathe comes from the ocean. Covering 71% of the Earth's surface and containing 97% of its water, it is the the global ocean that provides this vital foundation for all life on earth. In addition, the oceans provide climate control, generates important ingredients for medical use, and serve as a primary food source for over 3.5 billion people. But because through overuse and abuse, the oceans and their various ecosystems are suffering.
Pesticide use, over-fishing, plastic pollution, and (most of all) climate change are altering our oceans in tremendous and possibly irreversible ways. If we hope to live more sustainable lives, and preserve the natural functioning of our planet, it's clear that ocean health has to be the first of our priorities. One of the most vivid indicators of the ocean's health are the coral reef ecosystems, a diverse environment that serves as the foundation for over a quarter of ocean life. Right now, the coral reefs are sending a very clear sign that the ocean is not healthy.
As an introduction to this issue, watch this short film, '50 Minutes to Save The World':
If we hope to live more sustainable lives, and preserve the natural functioning of our planet, it's clear that ocean health has to be the first of our priorities.
Take Action on Ocean and Coral Reef Health
1. Travel less, and travel smart. One of the primary drivers of ocean acidification is the high concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, a result of burning fossil fuels. Ocean acidification directly and powerfully impacts reefs and sea life by inhibiting growth of shells and calcified coral structures, which affect the entire food chain of the oceans. As NOAA bluntly puts it: "Estimates of future carbon dioxide levels, based on business as usual emission scenarios, indicate that by the end of this century the surface waters of the ocean could be nearly 150% more acidic, resulting in a pH that the oceans haven’t experienced for more than 20 million years." I don't think I need to tell you about the kind of catastrophic damage that will result if we continue to allow emissions to go unchecked.
To lower your carbon footprint, decrease the number of flights you take each year, and the distances you drive. Opt for walking or riding your bike for more errands, or take public transportation. Eat less meat and fewer animal products, as these have high associated levels of carbon emissions.
An Important Note: Another way you can help collectively reduce carbon emissions is by voting. Specifically, don't support politicians who prioritize short-term gains over long-term pragmatism and health (for example, see the Trump administration's recent rollback of auto emissions standards: this initiative is aimed at protecting business and profits, not consumers and their interests). Your vote helps impact how businesses and society evolve - exercise that voice!
2. Reduce your use of chemicals. What we use on land eventually finds its way into the oceans. As a result, it's extremely important that we pay attention to the chemicals we use in our households, in our work, and as part of our purchasing habits.
What You Wear: clothing production has huge environmental impacts, one of which is chemical run-off. Make a change here by purchasing fewer items of clothing - and when you do purchase, ensure that it's from an ethical, sustainable supplier (like these).
What You Use in Your House: household detergents and cleaning products also contribute to ocean pollution. Swap out damaging chemicals for more environmentally healthy options.
What You Put on Your Skin: Sunscreen, ya'll. Sunscreen. As a fair-skinned person, I understand the struggle to find a good one. But just as important as the safety of my skin is the safety of the ocean I'm swimming in. Sunscreen chemicals like oxybenzone and benzophenone-2 are highly toxic to coral reefs, and as a result undermine the entire reef ecosystem. Try ocean-safe options from Raw Elements, Manda, or Amavara.
3. Reduce your plastic use. Guys. If I've said it once, I've said it a million times (see here, here, and here for more info).
4. Choose better seafood - or cut it altogether. Over-fishing is taking a toll on our oceans. Explore how to make better seafood choices. Or even better, explore how to reduce your animal product consumption altogether - your positive impact on the planet will be that much greater!
5. Educate yourself and others. Making long-lasting changes requires some education, and its helpful to discover your own reason for making these changes. Expand your knowledge of ocean health and how your choices affect it by doing your own research. Read up on the latest headlines, look more deeply at the ingredients list on your food, or the tags on your clothing. Watch Chasing Coral, Blue Planet, Blue Planet II, or End of the Line. Start asking "why".
6. Support organizations that are helping protect the oceans. If it's an option for you, consider supporting the professionals who devote their careers to protecting and preserving the oceans' health. From ocean conservancy to wildlife protection, from local to global, there are many organizations that are working hard on ocean health (some great organizations include Oceana, Surfrider, and the Environmental Defense Fund). Do your research and find an organization that's doing great work that resonates with you!
How are your actions and choices affecting the ocean? How do you plan on changing your habits?
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