Kickstart your summer with the latest research summaries and sustainability tips!
JUNE 5: RESEARCH SUMMARY - OCEAN FOCUS
World Oceans Week is so important - it shines a spotlight on the ocean and places the voices of ocean advocates front and center on national and global stages. Advocacy, as defined by the American Fisheries Society, is arguing for a cause or position, often on behalf of others. In the case of World Oceans Day, many are advocating on behalf of the ocean, future generations, or disproportionately affected communities, to name a few.
The article we researched for today’s post says that advocacy for the ocean is deeply important in order to build public support for the ocean and ensure that policies created are done so with the latest science in mind. In our next post, we are going to share the guidelines for advocacy this article lays out, detailing how you can be involved!
JUNE 7: SUSTAINABILITY TIP - OCEAN ADVOCATE
For World Oceans Day, what better way to celebrate than using your voice to advocate for more sustainable, just, and lasting action for the ocean? The article “Embracing Advocacy in Science” lays out nine guidelines for advocacy for scientists, so we listed the ones below that we believe apply to anyone who wants to support ocean efforts.
Guidelines for advocating for ocean science and sustainability:
Join an organization that already plays a role in advocacy.
Engage in dialogue with decision-makers.
Build and use your network.
Vote.
Be proactive in communicating ocean science and ocean issues.
JUNE 15: RESEARCH SUMMARY - ART FOR OCEANS
Art in ocean conservation and the important role it can play is becoming a big conversation, even being prominently featured in a previous UN World Oceans Week. Art provides a different way of understanding information about ocean conservation issues by appealing to emotions and more fully engaging the senses. It also aids in nuancing discussions about what is important to conserve because art can easily tap into the cultural importance of ocean spaces that make them so valuable to so many people, beyond what economic benefits they can give. Importantly, it can also help to make unfamiliar worldviews more accessible and understandable. Incorporating art into ocean conservation efforts can therefore make communication of important ocean conservation issues more effective.
JUNE 19: SUSTAINABILITY TIP - CREATIVE CONSERVATION
Getting new people interested and invested in ocean conservation can be challenging, to put it mildly. Art centering these issues can provide a different way for people to think about and interact with them, which may make talking about tough issues easier. If you are the creative kind, consider putting your skills into service for the conservation issues you care about in your community! If picking up a brush isn’t your style, see if you can find any artists whose work speaks to issues you care about, then share their art with someone you want to know more about the issue. The next time you talk to them, you can talk about the art. Maybe it will make those tough conversations a little easier :)
JUNE 21: RESEARCH SUMMARY - NEGATING NOISE
When installing piles underwater, construction usually includes using an impact hammer to do so. Impact hammers are LOUD; the amount of underwater noise they create can harm marine animals, reaching up to and sometimes over 210 decibels! This study looked at reducing noise from underwater construction through the use of vibratory hammers; instead of hitting the pile over and over into the sea floor, vibratory hammers literally vibrate the pile into the sea floor. Vibratory hammers can be up to 40 decibels quieter than impact hammers, making them a much safer tool for underwater construction and lessening the threat to marine animals.
JULY 2: SUSTAINABILITY TIP - VOCAL POWER
Looking to make an impact? (Get it, like an impact hammer?) Your voice has power! Sometimes the easiest thing you can do is sign a petition. Whether it’s to stop pile driving, lower emissions, or save a forest, your voice can make a difference!
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