[CALM MUSIC]
Everyone feels something about the ocean.
For me, it's like this.
But it could also be like this.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
This is Art by the Sea, a celebration of everything
about our amazing ocean--
how it feeds us, heals us, and inspires us,
and how everyone should benefit from it
and be free of risk from it equally.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
Put another way, it's helping make
the case for climate justice.
[CALM MUSIC]
Climate change is having an impact on our oceans.
And that affects everyone, but a changing ocean
won't affect everyone the same way.
For example, we probably all know that the warming climate
is causing sea levels to rise.
Here in the US, average sea level
is expected to rise between 10 to 12 inches,
or 25 to 30 centimeters above today's levels by 2050.
And it makes sense that people along the coast
are more at risk from sea level rise,
but some coastal communities are more at risk
than others, like those whose geography causes higher tides,
and even more so, low-lying places.
Low coastal places are examples of frontline communities--
those who are experiencing the first and worst consequences
of climate change.
[TENSE MUSIC]
But it's not just where you are that makes
a frontline community.
It could also be who you are.
Florida is particularly vulnerable to climate change
because we're such a low-lying state.
And just a little bit of sea level rise
can cause a huge impact in terms of the water inundating
where we live.
But also, there are groups that are
more vulnerable because of their social characteristics.
So for example, in areas of extreme poverty
or in areas where folks have jobs
that are dependent upon the health
of the natural resources, they're
much more vulnerable to the impacts of storms.
In fact, many groups are especially at risk--
rural populations, senior citizens,
non-native English speakers, unhoused people,
people with low incomes, single parent households,
youth, and people of color.
People who experience oppression because of their race, income,
gender, or sexual orientation are
more likely to have less protections and resources
in society in general, and be even less able to adapt
to a changing climate.
But there's also some amazing groups working around the world
to make change, educate their communities,
and build collective awareness.
They're also working to build climate justice.
We'll call them ocean heroes.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
As we tackle the huge challenge of protecting our ocean,
one way to make sure frontline communities are represented
is ensuring that we have diverse voices.
One group of ocean heroes is working
to ensure that we have diversity and scientists because this
creates diversity of thought, which leads to innovation.
Minorities in Shark Sciences, or MISS,
works to promote diversity and inclusion
in the study of sharks and encourages women of color
to push through barriers and contribute
to knowledge in marine science.
Pick it up just a little higher.
Sharks are a really important part of the ecosystem.
They're a really good entry point for young people
to get interested in oceans.
A lot of people are aware that there
is a lack of representation in the STEM fields--
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
About 24% of people that receive STEM degrees
are Black, Indigenous people of color.
But if you go specifically to marine science,
that number actually drops to 12%.
[CHATTER]
So we do K through 12 programming
through Gill Guardians.
We also train educators to be able to bring it
into their classrooms.
And we have Science by the Sea, which
is a hands-on program where we actually bring students
into the local county park in the coastal ecosystem learning
about watersheds, how they affect
things that live in the ocean.
And then we have what we call our workshops,
where it's a three-day experience where
they can get some hands on technical training
that you would need to be a successful marine ecologist.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
If everyone is the same and everyone's
coming from the same place, they're
thinking with the same frame of mind.
But if you have people from Indigenous communities,
if you have people from the Global South,
from different socioeconomic backgrounds,
then you have all of the parts that you
need to successfully make conservation decisions.
[CHATTER]
Now let's stop for a second.
Do you remember what I said about how
the ocean makes you feel?
[REWINDING SOUND]
(DISTORTED) Everyone feels something about the ocean.
Yeah.
That's important, too.
Because sometimes, getting excited about the ocean
is the first step to making things better.
That's a big part of the mission for some other ocean
heroes at Big Blue & You.
The programs at Big Blue & You are
focused on giving children from frontline communities
the opportunity to connect with the ocean
and with nature using art and science.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
We want to give access and opportunity
to those who are from marginalized and underserved
communities, who don't have an opportunity
to access the ocean, or to experience nature
in all of its beauty.
[CHATTER]
It was fun.
It was squishy.
And I didn't--
And we work with artists and scientists in tandem
to teach more information about how wonderful this world is.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
Art has always been the tip of the spear
when it comes to social change.
Art transcends borders, languages, and ideas,
and inspires people.
And I think it art is also a very powerful tool
when it comes to working with young people
and giving them an opportunity to express themselves,
and to share what they know with the world as well.
Lot of times, we see young people who don't feel hopeful.
They don't feel like they can contribute to their future
because they don't know what else is out there.
Art is for everyone.
And we can all use it as a tool for change.
(SINGING) You got me singing.
I think it's very important that young people experience really
special opportunities in person so they
can feel connected to it.
And that's what we do at the Big Blue & You.
We open those doors.
We provide the platform and uplift young leaders
to be the change-makers that they hope to be.
These students from another Big Blue and You initiative
might be one of the coolest examples.
[FAST-PACED MUSIC]
OK, I'm Taylor.
And we are live at historic Virginia Key Beach Park.
We are with four of the members of Big Blue Crew.
Hello.
We are with Karen, Jesus--
Hello.
--Thomas--
How are you?
--and me, Taylor.
And for those who don't know, the Big Blue Crew, a few of us,
participated in the Shores Forward Partnership
with Miami Beach.
We went to hotels and various different restaurants
along Miami Beach, and we tried to convince
them to end their single use plastic consumption.
We convinced 13 businesses to sign up for plastic-free MB.
And that helped prevent tons of plastic
from entering our ocean.
That is so cool.
Congratulations, guys.
I know that was a lot of work.
Can you tell me a little bit about getting people
on board with your message?
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
You really have to believe in the cause.
So when you go up to someone who really doesn't
know about the effects the plastic is having, each time
we went to a business, we brought alternatives
to like plastic utensils.
And there was canned water.
And that's what people don't understand
is that there is alternatives to this.
Yeah, we are high school students.
And even though we do deal with adults every day,
it's completely different coming into--
you need to be part of this.
You need to have some sort of initiative to make a change.
So for them to cut down on it, it really
shows that our little talks, our little effort can go so long.
Huge impact.
Yeah.
Huge impact.
And it helps you sleep at night knowing that what you're doing
is--
No, for sure.
It's helping.
Yeah.
You feel good inside doing it.
I feel really excited and super proud
of the success of these students because they were a small team,
but they made a big impact.
It's a real testament to the fact
that young leaders really do have the power to change.
[CHATTER]
All right.
What are we doing here today?
We are decorating postcards.
Why are we decorating postcards?
So basically, these postcards are
in support of the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act.
And we are all from an art school.
So you might be able to tell.
We're just decorating them, trying
to add a more personal touch.
Here is a narwhal.
And then we have a seahorse.
Jellyfish.
Incredible.
A shark.
OK.
Whales.
Beautiful.
And then the Earth because we're trying to protect
the Earth with this act.
And so the whole point is that lawmakers,
when they receive postcards-- they have to recognize
that they've seen them.
And they have to actually document it.
So when you get a massive flood of cards
supporting the same legislation, then lawmakers--
they're getting all this exposure.
Yeah.
People who are maybe interested in getting
into the same work in their own communities--
should we all be sending postcards?
What should we do?
I think if you find a piece of legislation
that you really resonate with, and that you think
is really important to your beliefs,
I think you should definitely try to postcard.
It doesn't have to be artistic.
[LAUGHTER]
It is.
You're just drawing whales and putting mermaid stickers
on cards.
But then when you send them to lawmakers and senators,
they have to look at these cards and see these different acts
that we're promoting that we're trying
to get them to recognize.
But that's just an example of larger change,
but enacting all these different things in your own life
is really important, too.
So just like how the businesses will
stop using single use plastic, we
need to do that in our own lives.
I think it's important that every person is their own role
model because yes, you can go into this business.
And you can go to Miami Beach, and you
can see a bunch of businesses are enacting these things.
If you see that yourself as a role model,
other people are going to look up to you.
And I think that causes a lot of change.
[THOUGHTFUL MUSIC]
I would love to talk a little bit about the power of art
to get people excited about a message.
Can you tell me a little bit about how art can be
a helpful tool in this fight?
Art is a medium that anyone can understand.
It is a universal medium.
Anyone can understand a picture, interpret it differently.
It's something really powerful-- more than,
I feel, words can really say, right?
Yeah.
[THOUGHTFUL MUSIC]
We've come to understand that these communities are
the ones who are going to feel the impacts of climate change
first.
And I think it's absolutely critical
that we give these communities the tools and the resources
they need to fight against these challenges.
[CHATTER]
As we've seen, everyone can be an ocean hero--
even you.
Are you willing to stand up for climate justice,
frontline communities, and all of us?
Here are some things you can do.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
Avoid single use plastic, which often ends up in our oceans
regardless of recycling efforts.
Use refillable water bottles and bring your own reusable
containers and bags when grocery shopping.
And most importantly, use your voice,
whether that means speaking up, or making
something that lets you express yourself a different way.
The art that you create could start a conversation
with your family and friends, or inspire
those who make important decisions to take action.
Our ocean faces many challenges ahead,
and it'll take many of us coming together to keep it healthy,
but if we all become ocean heroes,
we can make a difference for it, our communities, and ourselves.
[AUDIO LOGO]