In this final episode of season three, we speak with Shuhei Tashiro, co-founder of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance Japan Hub, and Kokoro Watanabe, an integral member of the Hub with the title of Investigator. Shuhei is a masters student studying Anthropology at Heidelberg University in Germany, whilst Kokoro is a Biotechnology in Japan with a strong interest in marine biology, but they both have a deep passion for all things ocean! Together we talk about their journey in founding and working for the SOA Japan Hub, and reflect on the joys and challenges of spreading ocean awareness. Closing off the season in a meaningful way, Shuhei and Kokoro remind us of the love for our environment that we all experience in our own way.
https://linktr.ee/PTApod
Find out more about Shuhei and Kokoro, and their work:
This week we speak with Catarina Abril, an MSc Marine Biology and Conservation graduate from Portugal with studies focused on sharks and rays. Her passion for ocean literacy shines through as we discuss her role as Science and Conservation Manager of the Ocean Hub Portugal. In 2020 the Hub was given two microgrants. The first grant went towards a series of courses teaching ocean literacy and entrepreneurial skills for implementing ocean solutions and the second grant went towards support for SOA's #Defendthedeep campaign against deep-sea mining. Beyond these achievements, Catarina and her team have developed their own podcast! We were very inspired by their story and hope you are too!
https://linktr.ee/PTApod
Find out more about Catarina and her work:
This week we speak with Iryna Ponedelnik, a master’s student in Science Communication and founder of the Youth for Sustainable Development in Belarus. The initiative promotes SDGs and tries to encourage young people to actively participate in SDG implementation in Belarus. With the help of an SOA microgrant, Iryna is rolling out a youth engagement program for ocean literacy. We chat with Iryna about her upcoming program and what it's like to be an ocean activist in a landlocked country. Iryna's challenging and rewarding experience opens our eyes to why we should all care about ocean issues.
https://linktr.ee/PTApod
Find out more about Iryna and her work:
In this weeks episode, we speak with Komal Narayan, the Pacific Island Representative for the Sustainable Ocean Alliance. Komal was integral to the founding of the SOA Pacific Hub based in Fiji, and with the help of an SOA grant, she organised the Youth Ocean Leadership Conference. The two-day conference centred around 4 areas of ocean health - coral restoration and conservation, plastics in the ocean, activism through art and seabed mining. Diving briefly into each of these issues, we have a lovely discussion with Komal that reminds each of us how connected we are to our environment.
https://linktr.ee/PTApod
Find out more about Komal and her work:
This week we speak with Fabio Cresto, a climate scientist focused on elaborating climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, with a particular focus on Nature-based Solutions. We speak with the help of SOA and in collaboration with his partners Ana Giró from Healthy Reefs and Ángela Mojica from Pixan'ja, Fabio is studying the impact of extreme weather events on a newly discovered reef off the coast of Guatemala - The Cayman Crown. Fabio's knowledge and passion shine through in our discussion, and he reminds us how much we all rely on our ecosystems for a happy, healthy life.
https://linktr.ee/PTApod
Find out more about Fabio and his work:
Fabio's article on "Smart Coasts"
This week we speak to Innandya Irawan, Chief Growth Officer and Co-founder at Carbon Ethics. Carbon Ethics is a not-for-profit organization that aims to decelerate the climate crisis through climate education and blue carbon ecosystem conservation. Innandya tells us her personal story of starting and growing her organisation and inspires us with the entrepreneurial work ethic she applies to everything she does. Innandya and her team received an SOA Microgrant to support the work of Carbon Ethics in their newest project - Project Tumbuh.
https://linktr.ee/PTApod
Find out more about Innandya and her work:
For our first episode of this special edition season, we are featuring Brandon Levy, Chief Program Officer of Sustainable Ocean Alliance. Brandon is a community builder, systems thinker, and mission-driven professional with experience working with leading sustainable enterprises. He is passionate about equipping young leaders with frameworks for strategic thinking and conscious leadership, which he believes are the necessary skill sets to achieve maximum social impact and personal fulfilment. Together we dive deep into Brandon's personal aspirations and he shares some of his brilliant thinking to help us all recognise our own potential.
https://linktr.ee/PTApod
Find out more about Brandon and his work:
Sources:
This week for our final episode of season 2 we chat with Desmond Alugnoa about the Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO). Co-founded by Desmond in 2014, GAYO is leading a Sustainable Community Project employing women in low-income communities to collect and process domestic waste for profit. In a country facing severe issues with public waste dumping and mismanagement, Desmond's organisation is leading the way to a sustainable future. Tune in for some inspiration and to hear Desmond's call to action!
https://linktr.ee/PTApod
Find out more about Desmond and his work:
Green Africa Youth Organisation
Sources:
This week we speak with Diane Bahati a member of the Rwanda Youth Alliance for Climate Action (RYACA). Her organisation raises awareness of environmental and social issues within Rwanda by organising community events and campaigns around issues like renewable energy, reforestation and infrastructure development. Diane and RYACA specifically target young people of all background to collaborate in activities aligned with the SDGs. We really enjoy Diane's insight into the state of environmental activism in Rwanda, and take some lessons from the conversation that reminds us to give our own time to volunteer organisations.
https://linktr.ee/PTApod
Find out more about Diane and her work:
Rwanda Youth Alliance for Climate Action
Sources:
This week we speak with Ahmed Moumine, an environmental science student in Cameroon and the founder of Think Green. Ahmed’s organisation gathers hundreds of young people to collect and repurpose plastic waste from communities without a reliable waste management system. Ahmed describes Think Green as more than just an organisation, but as an ideology pushing for a paradigm shift across Cameroon.
https://linktr.ee/PTApod
Find out more about Ahmed and his work:
Sources:
This week we speak with Benjamin Von Wong, a viral creative focused on telling epic stories through photography and videography experiences. Benjamin builds beautiful, hyper-real installations showcasing major environmental issues and captures the moment using his photography skills. Starting from the meaning behind his work, we dive deep into a chat with our guest about the framework for positive impact and success that he has developed through his own experiences as an artist and an activist.
https://linktr.ee/PTApod
Find out more about Benjamin and his work:
https://www.vonwong.com/
Sources:
In this episode, we chat with Marie about her journey to becoming the leader of the global youth constituency for the UN - YOUNGO. Starting from her personal story as a Swiss youth climate advocate, all the way to her international recognition as a leading climate champion, Marie inspires us with her advice for any young people out there wanting to make a difference. Our down-to-earth discussion leaves quite an impression.
https://linktr.ee/PTApod
Find out more about Marie and her work:
Sources:
In this weeks episode, we speak with Juanjo Martinb, co-founder and President of Cverde - a Chilean NGO that professionalises environmental activism through community-based projects and leadership training for young activists. Juanjo speaks with us in detail about Operaciones Cverde, a project close to his heart that also won the National Environmental Award of Chile. Our chat takes us from on-the-ground projects to Juanjo's role in negotiating the environmental policy of Chile at COP25, and his current campaign to take part in rewriting Chile's constitution.
https://linktr.ee/PTApod
Find out more about Juanjo and his work:
www.instagram.com/juanjo.martinb/
www.twitter.com/JuanjoMartinb
https://linktr.ee/cverde
Sources:
https://earth.org/global_sustain/chile-ranked-27th-in-the-global-sustainability-index/
https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/chile-takes-action-air-pollution
This week we chat with Silvia Cantu, an activist who uses wildlife and underwater photography to raise awareness about environmental issues. Silvia tells us about her experience sailing the world aboard the Peace Boat and she shares her knowledge of Mexico's coastal environment. Drawing on her vast experience in interdisciplinary academic research, cross-cultural communication, and inclusive youth teaching, Silvia inspires us to take action for environmental conservation.
https://linktr.ee/PTApod
Find out more about Silvia and her work:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/silviacantub/
Instagram: @silviacantub
This week we speak with Jeff Rotmeyer, the Founder and CEO of two charities based in Hong Kong. Love 21 empowers the Down syndrome and autistic community to reach their full potential through sport and nutrition programmes, whilst Impact HK seeks to provide a stepping stone for homeless individuals that is filled with love, kindness and opportunity. We speak with Jeff primarily about Impact HK and the work his team does to rehabilitate and support homeless people through counselling, financial advice, mentorship, nutritional advice, physical activity, language learning and job opportunities. Chatting about Jeff's personal journey, we come to understand the situation in Hong Kong, and take his call to action to heart.
People Taking Action
Find out more about Jeff and his work:
https://www.facebook.com/impacthkcharity
Kasha Slavner is inspiring action by sharing real stories of young peace and climate changemakers. The Sunrise Storyteller, her award-winning documentary, highlights stories of resilience in the face of adversity around the world. In our chat with Kasha, we dig into the journey that made it all possible and we ask about her next big project - 1.5 Degrees of Peace. Join us for an uplifting discussion about all the inspiring stories there are out there, and what Kasha is doing to document the people living them.
Kimberly Worsham is the founder of FLUSH, a consulting and edutainment organisation based in New York that works with businesses and the public alike to not only teach best-practice principles for sanitation and hygiene but also raise awareness around a topic that is so often stigmatised. Kim chats with us about the deep-seated issues facing the WASH sector and how she is creating change for the better. Our down-to-earth and detailed discussion is sure to inspire you, and maybe even think about toilets in a way you never have before!
peopletakingaction.org
Find out more about Kim and her work: