OH WAKE | Issue 2: The Answers Are Written In Nature

OH-WAKE MAGAZINE LAND-BASED SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUE NO. 2 FALL/WINTER

Ocean Heroes fl ip the conservationist script by focusing on solutions for climate action; they don’t blame or shame, they include and support.

Anchored by its central themes of empathy and understanding equity, OH-WAKE #2 centers landbased solutions to the climate crisis through the lived experiences of our Ocean Heroes editors, and other stories from around the world.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? JOIN OCEAN HEROES!

www.oceanheroes.blue

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS: Illustrator Writer Illustrator Illustrator Artist Illustrator Photographer Photographer Columnist

Maliha Abidi Leilani Ching, WeCycle Sol Cotti Aurélia Durand Amber Ebanks Jess Ebsworth Rachael Warriner Emily Hlavac Green, WeCycle Finlay Pringle

Special thanks to the 52HZ editorial team for their contributions to this issue.

OH-WAKE is produced with support from HP and is printed with HP printers on SFI ® certified paper.

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OH EDITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Diego Arreola Fernández, Mexico City (19) Heather Brockbank, The Bahamas (17) Chanté Davis, Spring, TX (17) Dejea Lyons, Grand Cayman (18) Oluwaseyi Moejoh, Nigeria (20) Hannah Testa, Atlanta, GA (18)

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LETTER FROM AN OCEAN EDITOR

There is an ancient African word which is sometimes translated to mean: I am because we are. It is ubuntu.

Interpretations of the

concept of ubuntu are as

diverse as the many nations

of Southern Africa, but the

mostrecentdefinitionfrom

the Africa Journal of Social

Work (AJSW) states that

ubuntu is the idea that “an

authentic individual human beingispartofalargerandmoresignificantrelational, communal, societal, environmental and spiritual world.”

The philosophy of ubuntu reminds us that we are all connected. Humans survive on Earth because of the ecosystems that surround us in the air, water and land.

Ubuntu also reminds us about the power of our actions and choices and the kind of impact it may have on others and the planet.

The oxygen that fills up our lungs originates from the trees fixed to the Earth and ocean plants. What happens to us in a world where trees no longer exist but have been replaced by buildings? What happens after the glowing corals are all bleached and dead due to climate change?

Over the years, industrialization and capitalization have made humans forget how connected we are to nature; too many of us have forgotten the concept of ubuntu. We have grown with mindsets that do not prioritize the needs and preservation of the environment, or of each other. We have grown up with ideologies that undermine our oceans and world leaders negotiate for profit over the planet. It is time we make a u-turn and rethink our actions and our choices, starting from the moment we open our eyes each morning until we lay our heads down to sleep at night. It is time we demand restoration to protect our future.

Our planet is in crisis. In early July 2021, a video of the ocean surfaceonre fi intheGulfofMexicowentviral;anunderwater

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THE SOLUTION UNDER OUR FEET

The ancient African philosophy of ubuntu reminds us of our connections to each other, and the Earth. pipeline was leaking gas that caught flame.

Record heat waves in Canada that same summer killed hundreds of people and burnt tens of thousands of seashore animals across the Pacific Coast. Wildfires erupt at different corners of the world due to climate change every year.

With each passing day, we are reminded about the need to leave fossil fuels in the ground and the need to finance renewable energy instead of drilling oil rigs. We are reminded about the need to protect nature, the fact that we all need to do something about it, no matter who or where we are.

It is time we lived out the ethos of #GenerationRestoration to revive our dying planet.

CONTENTS LAND-BASED SOLUTIONS

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The Solution Under Our Feet

In this issue of OH-WAKE, my co-editors and I celebrate the Earth and land-based solutions to climate change. We hope our readers, Ocean Heroes and adult allies alike, will feel inspired and empowered to give their best for the protection of nature through creating and demanding change. Let us embrace the spirit of ubuntu together with the knowledge that solutions to the climate crisis exist right under our feet.

BY OLUWASEYI MOEJOH

Can’t Face the Heat Without Peat What is peat and why is it important?

Finlay Pringle

Letter from an Ocean Hero: the ancient African philosophy of ubuntu reminds us of our connections to each other and the Earth

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Oluwaseyi Moejoh

Our Home A poem about the Earth we all love and the power of nature-based solutions Dejea Lyons

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We Need Land-Based Solutions Because…

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Meet the Ocean Editors

10

Everyone Can Be An Ocean Hero!

Ocean Hero thoughts

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#PSA: Landfills are the Worst 4 ways landfills are the worst, 4 ways we can make a difference

Get to know our Contributing Editors

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A Moment For Compost Why compost is good for the Earth WECYCLE

5 steps you can take to begin activating the change you want to see in the world

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Ocean Hero Spotlight

37

A brother-sister duo from the UK fight plastic pollution with

What do you want leaders at COP26 to do?

Calls to action for global leaders from our Ocean Heroes editors

the power of creativity

15

Solution Spotlight

17

We’re Not the Main Character

19

We Can All Be Climate Activists

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Editor’s Insights: What inspires you?

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Sea Signs

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Knowledge is Power

52

Your Voice Counts!

Change-makers in the stars

A photo essay by Diego Arreola Fernández Recommended reads

“My experience as a climate activist has taught me not to regardless of my situation.“ Heather Brockbank

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Ocean Hero thoughts

Building a forest positive future with HP

limit myself and not to put limitations on my capabilities

The beautiful fact is that solutions to the climate crisis can be found in nature. WWF defines nature-based solutions as solutions for climate which “harness the power of nature to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also help us adapt to the impacts of climate change.” Ubuntu reminds us that we are nature too and also part of the solution. With our hands, we can plant seeds to help forests grow. We can protect the savannahs and the wetlands; we can restore keystone species to their native habitats and return biodiversity to the wild.

We can switch to renewable energy sources like the sun and the wind.

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Send a postcard to your local government and become an Ocean Hero

Activism Activated!

WE’VE GOT GAME

How Ocean Heroes Bootcamp Changed My Activism Chanté Davis

25

Food for Thought The connection between animal agriculture and the climate crisis Hannah Testa

45

Land-Based Solutions Quiz Connect the land-based solution to the right illustration!

47

This or That Quiz

49

Color me! Pollinators

51

Crossword

54

Search

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05

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A love for the environment is free without discrimination or fear.

Dejea Lyons,18

Diego Arreola Fernández, 19

Dejea Lyons (18) was born and

Diego Arreola Fernández (19) is

Oluwaseyi Moejoh (20) is the

raised in the beautiful Cayman

an Ocean Hero and environmental

Executive Director of U-recycle

Islands. Growing up on an island

activist from Mexico City. Diego is

- Heather Brockbank

Oluwaseyi Moejoh, 20

Initiative Africa and also a law

fostered her deep love for the ocean

the founder of Green Speaking, a

and the water, as well as a deep

nonprofitorganizationthataimsto

student. She has been recognized as a National Geographic Young

concernfortheocean’shealth.She

educate every kid and young person

Explorer, a High Seas Alliance Youth

is the vice-president of Protect Our

from around the world on both

Ambassador, and a 2021 Three Dot

Future, a youth-led organization in

intersectional environmentalism and

Dash Global Teen Leader.

the Cayman Islands.

effective communication strategies.

Ocean Heroes Bootcamp changed the way I saw Chanté Davis, 17

myself as an

Hannah Testa, 18

Heather Brockbank, 17

Hannah Testa (18) is a sustainability

Heather Brockbank (17) is a youth

storyteller from New Orleans,

advocate, international speaker,

leader and activist from The Baha-

Louisiana. As an Ocean Hero,

author, TEDx speaker, politico, and

mas. Heather is the UNICEF HEY

Chanté Davis (17) is a climate

Chanté strives to make the movement equitable and inclusive to the historically oppressed through her One Oysean campaign.

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activist.

- Chanté Davis

founder of Hannah4Change, a non-

Campaign Ambassador for The Ba-

profitdedicatedtoghting fi issues

hamas and 2021 BESS scholar with

that impact the planet.

the Bahamas Reef Environmental Education Foundation (BREEF).

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Stand Up, Speak Out, Spark Change.

Amplifying the Next Generation of Environmental Activists

How would you solve an environmental problem in your community if you had the right resources?

Launching via MIT Solv[ED] on International Day of the Girl (Oct 11, 2021) HP’s Girls Save the World is a challenge that invites young female activists ages 13-18 to share their ideas on how to solve a local environmental problem. Select participants will have a chance to tap into $200,000

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worth of awards and be part of a virtual camp where they workshop their solutions alongside leading environmental and conservation activists from Lonely Whale, Girl Rising, Female Quotient, HP and MIT Solve.

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YOUNG OCEAN HEROES SPOTLIGHT Zara (12) and Ashton (10) Hawkins from the United Kingdom are co-founders of the HIDDEN PLASTIC organisation fighting microplastic pollution from the United Kingdom through their campaign #plasticbreakdown. Zara and Ashton are brother and sister. They are also Ocean Heroes, artivists and video producers who combine their creativity with their love of the ocean to raise awareness about the plastic crisis. Zara and Ashton work with their mom, Diahann, to brainstorm and write the scripts for their videos. In post-production, Ashton is sound designer, video editor and website builder.

In 2019, Zara founded Eco-wrap in an effort to eliminate wrapping paper and plastic-coated paper from gifts. Zara designs and sells reusable fabric made by the fair-trade artisans of Purkal Stree Shakti in India. This gift wrap is 100% cotton and sells out every year! Fabric bunting will be available for purchase from the Hidden Plastic shop this holiday season.

LEARN MORE AT HIDDENPLASTIC.ORG AND ECO-WRAP.ORG 11

A brother & sister duo fight microplastics through artivism in the UK Where do you get the ideas for your videos?

Facts and current problems. Knowing what we want to do in the future with our campaign and also filling in the gaps that we want to raise awareness on.

What are your favorite ocean animals?

Zara: Manta Rays Ashton: Sea Turtle What are your career goals?

Zara wants to be a marine biologist.

Ashton wants to become a digital artist, musician and filmmaker.

What are you most grateful for?

Our mum, because she fully supports us and helps us with our campaigns and videos.

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SPONSOR

SOLUTIONS SPOTLIGHT

HP and WWF have been working together to create a forest positive future for printing. Not only does this partnership aim to protect natural resources that humans rely on, but it also seeks to preserve all the benefits forests offer.

BUILDING A FOREST POSITIVE FUTURE WITH HP We all use paper in our daily lives, from the printing of a homework assignment to the packaging that keeps our food fresh. What is important is making sure that paper comes from well-managed forests that help keep ecosystems intact and healthy. HP Inc. has made it a goal to make sure that every page printed with HP is sourced responsibly and contributes to the protection, restoration and responsible management of forests.

For the past decade, HP and WWF have been working together to create a forest positive future for printing. Not only does this partnership aim to protect natural resources that humans rely on, but it also seeks to preserve all the benefitsforestsoffer.Hometothree-quar tersoftheworld’slifeonland,forests provide clean air and water, protect

against erosion and landslides, and help to regulate the climate by removing carbon from the atmosphere. Simply put, forests are one of the best nature-based solutions to address climate change and environmental destruction.

Most recently, HP and WWF have focused on conserving 200,000 acres of forest in Brazil and China, an area equivalent to the size of New York City.

WWF and HP are working with local communities and governments to

Simply put, forests are one of the best nature-based solutions to address climate change and environmental destruction.

practices. Through this partnership with WWF, HP is also supporting the establishment of science-based targets and tools that can help companies estimate the climate, water and biodiversity benefitsassociatedwithvariousconserva tion efforts. It is in working together that we can all make a difference. expand areas under better forest management, protect critical ecosystems and biodiversity hot spots, and restore deforested and poorly impacted areas.

For example, in Brazil, the partnership helps to conserve areas where the woolly spider monkey lives. In China, restoration efforts include elephant habitat in the Yunnan province.

Beyond its operations, HP wants to encourage others to adopt sustainable

PHOTOS PROVIDE BY THE WWF 16

Photos taken by Diego Arreola Fernández in Oaxaca, Mexico 17

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l l A n a C We ate

m i l C e B s t s i v i t c A

By: Heather Brockbank

Growing up as a little girl in The Bahamas, I was convinced that only men could study science. I thought I was not good enough to be on the frontline of climate activism. As I grew up, I experienced climate change first hand through intensifying storm events. I knew I had to act to protect the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean.

The climate activists most of us know best or might think of first are the environmental politicians and scientists in countries of the Global North with power, resources and large platforms to help them make an impact. The truth is that anyone can be a climate activist with the passion and drive for change. My experience as a climate activist has taught me not to limit myself and not to put limitations on my capabilities regardless of my situation.

A love for the environment is free without discrimination or fear.

My friend Ranako Bailey is an Ocean Hero and climate activist from Barbados who does not let anything dampen his fire for youth/ climate action. Ranako says that he got into activism to speak up for himself, and that it grew from there.

19 Illustration Sketches By Jess Ebsworth

“I realized that there are more people like myself in my community whose voices aren’t heard,” says Ranako, “and I wanted to be an active agent of change for them.”

Ranako was my co-squad squad leader for Ocean Heroes Caribbean Regional Bootcamp in 2020, and is currently a student at the University of the West Indies. He is the co-founder of WeTalkingBois, an organization focused on providing a safe space for young men and amplifying their voices. He is currently serving as the youth network research director for the unicef HEY Campaign.

Every new climate activist starts at their own pace. Ranako shares that as a young person, people often take your word for granted. He says: “I think sometimes people see youthfulness, and assume that you don’t know what it’s all about because you’re young.”

Becoming a climate activist doesn't always come with the glitz and glamour of public speaking and activism. Being on stage and

presenting your change exposes you to opposed forces. Climate activism can also be lonely. This is part of why it is important to include others in the process and encourage your friends and loved ones to be a part of the solution as well. Engaging your community in your journey is an integral stepping stone to a long career as a climate activist because it can help keep you motivated and might inspire them to start their own climate journey. Too often we limit ourselves because we don't fit the cookie cutter mold of “scientist” or “climate activist,” because of our age and being told we are too young to understand the complex relations of adult affairs, or because of our gender, or because of our race, or because of where we live. For Ranako, being from a developing country like Barbados means that it is especially important to make his voice heard.

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ACTIVISM ACTIVATED! How Ocean Heroes Bootcamp Changed My Activism By: Chanté Davis

Our classrooms were spacious, accompanied

by built-in treehouses down each hall that we used sometimes if our teacher wanted to change our scenery.

TheA/Cunitwaspoweredbyageothermalwellfield under our parking lot and playgrounds. The building was rimmed with large glass windows; natural light floodedourclassrooms,andwerarelytouchedthe manual switch for the electric lights. Outside there were three playgrounds made from recycled plastic. In the backfield,pastthegreenmonkeybars,stoodawind turbine that a group of fourth graders, learning about the different sources of renewable energy, inspected to later create their own wind turbine model.

Most of our lessons were environment-focused,

and we followed a project-based curriculum. During one of my favorite projects, my class and I learned about the Zika virus and the relationship between birds and mosquitos. Texas had high rates of reported Zika cases

Becoming an Ocean Hero in 2019 changed the

I attended a “green” elementary school from

way that I think about activism forever, and helped me

secondgradetofifth.MarshallElementarywasunique;

realize the power I have to create the change I want

itwascompletelyinnovativeandthefirstofitskindin

to see in the world. I have since led a 400-mile climate

mydistrict.ItwasherethatIfirstlearnedcompassion

march across the Gulf South from my hometown of New

for the environment. Marshall was a large, two-story

Orleans, Louisiana to Houston, Texas. I have founded

school with an eco-pond near its entrance, where tiny

my own campaign: One Oysean, to center, uplift, and

fishandred-earsliderturtleswouldbreachthewater’s

support young BIPOC activists in the environmental

surface, catching the eyes of students passing by. In

movement. I have organized protests at my local politi-

the science garden we conducted soil tests and learned

-

cian’sofficeandpressuredhimabouthisclimateinac

about how important bees were to the balance of the

tion. If you told me a few years ago I would be doing

ecosystem. We learned about water conservation stand-

these things today, I would have never believed you.

ing around a water trough, supplied by a large metal cistern. Inside the building, right before the central stair-

In my seventeen years of living, I have expe-

case, there was a tall yellow slide that students could use on special occasions such as birthdays or award

riencedfirsthandclimatedestruction.Atagetwo,my familyandIfledmyhometownofNewOrleans,Lou

-

isiana, in fear of the destructive waters of Hurricane Katrina. We moved to Houston, Texas, where I was later affected by Hurricane Harvey and Winter Storm Uri, aka the “Texas Freeze,” in the winter of 2021. Every year the weather becomes more unpredictable, and natural disasters are in danger of being normalized. I felt the climate crisis knocking at my door and I knew I needed to take action now. Before I could ever dream of being the activist I am today, I needed a vision. A vision where youth could change the world.

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ceremonies.

"I felt the climate crisis knocking at my door and I knew I needed to take action now."

at the time. I remember learning about the life cycle of mosquitoes, and how the Zika virus was transmitted to people through mosquito bites. We talked about how rainy Texas weather was on average and that mosquito eggs need water to hatch. Our teacher explained that tofightagainsttheZikavirus,weneededtoattractbirds to eat the mosquitoes.

We worked in teams of four to build birdhous-

es,decoratethemwithbrightpaintandfillthemwith bird seeds to attract more birds to our playground. By the end of the year, the amount of students reporting mosquito bites compared to the beginning of our project decreased considerably. Our entire school and its sustainable elements were teaching tools that inspired us to care about our environment. Marshall showed me

Photos Supplied By Chanté Davis

education could include real world environmental issues and that age was no restriction to creating solutions.

This passion later led me to join Ocean Heroes Bootcamp. During the summer of 2019, I found myself in a room with 300 other youth from all over the world. As we settled into the giant lecture hall at the University ofBritishColumbiainVancouver,Icouldn’thelpbut -

wonderhowI’dgottenthisfar.LittledidIknow,thisex

perience, becoming an Ocean Hero, would change my life as an activist. Through the Ocean Heroes Network, I learned how to effectively implement the campaign skills and resources I needed to accomplish my goals.

I learned about the different types of campaigns we -

couldcreate.Isawfirst-handtheeffectsofplasticpollu

tion while dissecting and sorting the microplastics lining the stomach of an albatross. I discussed social media strategies with Danni Washington and the Big Blue & You crew and later that day, practiced my elevator pitch with Sunny Angela, director of Plastic Paradise. I met so many kindred spirits in my fellow Ocean Heroes. I also met important adult allies from Captain Planet Foundation and from Lonely Whale, who made me feel uplifted as a young person. From the Netherlands to Hawaii to Vancouver to Texas, together, we imagined a world with cleanseasandconstructedtangiblesolutionstofight climate change.

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With support from the Ocean Heroes Network,

I built a platform to speak my truth when it came to environmental justice. As I told my climate story to large audiences, they began to look at the climate crisis as an urgent emergency. As a result, I created my One OyseancampaigntoprovidethesameplatformI’dbeen given to uplift and support other BIPOC who had similar stories to tell. Because of Ocean Heroes, I was able to organize a 400-mile climate march with the Sunrise Movement, even though I knew it would be far from easy. I walked through heavy rain, blistering heat, and everything in between for forty days.

Photo By Rachael Warriner

Ocean Heroes Bootcamp changed the way I

saw myself as an activist by opening up the bounds of my imagination. The powerful passionate energy I felt in that lecture hall back in 2019, I kept it with me. I used it to reimagine what the world could look like and stretch the bounds of what I thought was possible. I moved past being the person who attended beach clean-ups and started to organize them myself. I stopped wishing things would change and joined my friends around the globetotakeclimateaction.That’swhatmakesmyex

-

perience as an Ocean Hero so magical: standing with other youth from all over the world who are ready and willing to make a change in a world that tries to tell us wecan’t,andknowingthatwecan.

"Ocean Heroes Bootcamp changed the way I saw myself as an activist by opening up the bounds of my imagination."

WANT TO BECOME AN OCEAN HERO? JOIN NOW! www.oceanheroes.blue 23

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

gallons of methane per day. NO2 and methane are more potent, therefore more harmful, than CO2, rapidly increasing our global temperature. We then have to account for refrigeration, packaging, processing, and transportation of all animal products across the globe that comes afterwards.

There is no way to farm without releasing some greenhouse gases, but it is important to reduce our impact where we can. Researchers at the University of Oxford found that cutting meat and dairy products from your diet can cut an individual's carbon footprint from food

By Hannah Testa

by up to 73 percent. Plant-based foods have a much lower carbon footprint than animal products.

Plants absorb CO2 through photosynthesis. Some even store more carbon than they emit for food production.

Going vegan was the path I chose. If you cannot fully

I was told not to touch the pigs because they connected

While conducting research online during my vegan

human touch with pain.

transition, I learned how the animal agriculture industry

It was 2018. I was attending the Animal Rights National Conference – the largest animal rights conference in the U.S. While there, I learned about a pig vigil, where you stand outside of a slaughterhouse and give young pigs comfortintheirfinalmoments.Ihadneverheardofone before. Some friends from the conference and I joined

contributes to biodiversity loss, water and air pollution, and climate change. I was in disbelief to learn that animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than all transportation exhaust. I knew that becoming vegan was great for animals, but for our planet? I had never thought about it before.

500 other activists on the street in Los Angeles, CA.

As our population continues to grow, so does the de-

We stayed from 11p.m. to 3 a.m., watching trucks enter

mand for food products. The animal agriculture industry

the slaughterhouse. We gave the pigs water and love

has become so massive that humans are outnumbered

before they went in.

by livestock. We slaughter billions of animals each year

Likemostkids,Ihadanaffinityforanimalsatayoung age. I remember one day at dinner asking my parents

transition to a plant-based diet, try to reduce the amount

Chocolate Avocado Pancakes Recipe from Halle Burns

of animal products you eat wherever possible. Partic-

1 half avocado

ipating in Meatless Mondays or Veganuary – going

1 cup of flour

vegan for the month of January – are great ways to

¼ cup cocoa powder

explorethelifestyleandfindoutifitisrightforyou.

1 tsp baking powder

Over the years, my grandmother has started cooking

2-3 tbsp of sweetener (ex: maple syrup or agave)

more vegetarian and vegan recipes as she learns along-

Pinch of salt

side me. Food has an immense impact on our planet, and we can all make a difference every time we sit down to eat.

¾ cup of plant milk Any toppings Mash your avocado In a medium-sized bowl bowl, add all

to sustain our current eating habits. By shifting our diets

ingredients and mix together until

we can tackle the climate crisis from many aspects.

liquidy batter forms

ifthechickenonmyplatewasactuallychicken.Ididn’t

A large amount of food is required to feed livestock,

want to eat my friends. Nothing could have prepared

which requires a large amount of land for growing feed

7-year-old me for the answer I was given. I knew from

and grazing for animals. This is an enormous contribu-

batter onto pan approx. ¼ cup for each pancake

thatmomentonwardIwouldn’teatanotherpieceof

tion to deforestation. Studies recently published in the

Flip when golden

meat. Meat and seafood are a big part of my Mauritian

scientificjournal,“Nature”showedthatportionsofthe

culture, since Mauritius is an island country, and my

Amazon rainforest are now emitting more CO2 than

Add toppings and enjoy.

grandmother heavily disapproved of my choice. I was

they absorb. Cutting and burning for animal agriculture

still determined then to become a vegetarian.

iswhatcausedthedevastatingAmazonRainforestfire

Years later, at the pig vigil, I watched the last truck

Heat a greased pan over medium heat. Pour

[Note from Hannah:] Writing an article about veganism, I knew I had to include

in 2019.

of the night roll toward the slaughterhouse. One pig

Livestock also emit greenhouse gasses: carbon dioxide

screamed the whole way into the gates. That was the

(CO2), nitrous oxide (NO2), and methane. The amount

moment I knew I would never eat animal products

of animals raised through factory farming is a climate

again.

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issue. Cows alone produce approximately 150 billion

a plant-based recipe! Yes -- you read the titles correctly.

There is avocado hidden in this pancake recipe. The avocado makes the pancakes moist and creamy without tasting any avocado in the pancakes. This recipe is a great way to start your day or even enjoy it as a snack. I am Illustrations By Sol Cotti

guilty of eating these pancakes throughout the day.

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Can't Face the Heat Without Peat What is peat and why is it important?

By: Finlay Pringle

When people talk about land-based solutions

the frogs and dragonflies that live in the

to climate change you might think of plant-

bog. Marsh Harrier numbers are increasing,

ing more trees, but I want to talk to you

but as peat bogs are destroyed, the Marsh

about a lesser known and important carbon

Harrier is losing its habitat. If we lose

store: peat bogs, wetland ecosystems that

the peat, we lose the Marsh Harriers.

also happen to be the most powerful landbased carbon sinks on Earth. What is peat?

Peat is formed from a type of moss, specifically sphagnum moss. Over many years as the moss grows, it layers on top of itself and decomposes gradually into peat soil. A peat bog can be up to 8 meters deep and more than

"Peat bogs can lock in carbon forever if left undisturbed."

10,000 years old. It absorbs carbon like a

When sphagnum moss dies the carbon created

tree but, unlike a tree, which releases its

during its lifetime is trapped by the moss

carbon when it dies, peat bogs can lock in

on top of it. Not only do peat bogs store

carbon forever if left undisturbed.

carbon forever (unless the bog is damaged), but they store more carbon than trees. For

Peat bogs make up 3% of our earth's land

example: in the UK our peat bogs store

area. The area of natural peatland that

double the carbon than all of our existing

remains (>3 million km2) stores more than

forests, but peat bogs are formed over

550 gigatonnes of carbon, repre­ senting

thousands years and are fragile, vulnerable

almost half of all soil carbon. Peat bogs

to human activity, because of it. In

store more carbon than all other vegetation

Scotland at a place called Strathy Point in

types, including the world's forests. Peat

2019 there was a peat fire that took a week

bogs are rare habitats that attract species

to put out. During the time the fire was

of insects and birds found nowhere else,

burning it DOUBLED the whole of Scotland's

such as the Marsh Harrier. These birds hunt

carbon emissions.

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Scotland's peat bogs are up to 10,000 years

plants and crops. We can demand alternatives

old, created after the last ice-age, but

to peat based compost from our garden cen-

this globally important habitat and incred-

tres. It is now possible to grow greenhouse

ible carbon store is under threat from hu-

crops without using soil at all. How amazing

man activity. Peat is a common material in

is that?

compost and as peat is extracted from bogs,

campaign for peat. We need everyone to con-

carbon is released instead of stored. Peat

tact their MP’s and political leaders, tell-

forms very slowly, growing at a rate of only

ing them why peat is so important and why

1mm per year, which means it would take a

it needs protection. Ask them to ban peat

1000 years to make 1m of peat that can be

in compost for both commercial and domestic

removed in only 30 minutes.

use. Not in 10 or 20 years time, but now.

"We need to better hold our leaders to account. We need to have legislation that requires action in much shorter time periods."

Let’s see if we can't hold them accountable

We can all raise awareness and

and see if we can't get some real change.

Finlay

The UK did commit to ban peat sales in compost by 2020. That legislation was decided in 2011, which you would think is some good news in the fight to prevent climate change.

Unfortunately, just recently, politicians delayed taking action and now they have kicked the can down the road to 2024. This is very typical behaviour from governments, delaying tough decisions. Doubtless, in 2024 they will delay taking action again. I think we need to better hold our leaders to account. We need to have legislation that requires action in much shorter time periods, within 5 years say, so that they can be made to take responsibility for their decisions before the next election.

What can we do to save our peat bogs? Well, we can all stop using peat based compost in our homes and ask the big commercial growers to use the available alternatives to grow 28

Our Home

By: Dejea Lyons

This land is our home From the smallest spec of soil Containing millions of microorganisms (grow) into the largest trees Creating shadows that comfort us The sun awakens just to kiss the sky good morning To sunset when the brightest pinks of sunlight hops and skips across the land From the flock of birds that roam the sky Articulating melodious tunes that penetrate the human ear This is our home A beacon of beauty However, with beauty comes greed With greed we have deceived the land with our bare hands It is now we feel the wrath of our own decisions As extreme weather conditions elevate Us and animals alike have begun to migrate We fracture the population of life’s backbone without even thinking twice The thick black smoke suffocates our atmosphere

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While we are blindfolded on how this air quality will affect us and future generations to come.

Yet, there is hope.

There are so many solutions to save our planet Creating green spaces in places that may be unconventional Controlling our greenhouse gas emissions While explaining your opposition to the government on not prioritizing this issue.

Or simply stepping up and educating your community And creating a drought in the ignorance surrounding this profound global issue While creating a flood of information And providing the community an opportunity to see what they cannot unsee No matter what your strategy may be, It is your choice to use your voice It is our duty to protect Because this is our home.

Artwork from Amber Ebanks.

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#PSA: LandFILLS ARE THE WORST

4 WAYS LANDFILLS ARE THE WORST 1. Landfills are a source of climate change. Landfills produce greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide, two of the gases responsible for global warming.

2. Landfills are toxic. Many of the different products and materials that pile up in landfills contain toxins like arsenic, mercury and lead, which leak into the environment, and can contaminate drinking water.

3. Landfills are a fire hazard. Methane gas is HIGHLY combustible, which means that fires in landfills are not uncommon.

4. Landfills will still be here in a million years. Some of the materials in landfills take more than a million years to break down, and their impact on the environment will be felt for much longer than that.

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4 WAYS WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE 1. Compost. Composting organic waste like food helps soil regenerate and reduces landfill methane emissions.

2. Zero-waste lifestyle. The less waste we throw out at home, the less waste we send to landfills, the healthier our Earth will be.

3. Reuse creatively. Upcycle old packaging into works of art for the world to see. Tag us on insta: @oceanheroeshq.

4. Donate. Instead of sending our t-shirts and other textiles to the landfill when we outgrow them, we can donate them to local nonprofit organizations or humanitarian organizations like the American Red Cross.

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“By saving food scraps from landfills and turning this material into compost, you're directly helping to build healthy soil, sequester carbon, create green jobs, shape a stronger food system, and so much more!”

- Leilani Ching, Co-founder & Head of Brand, Wecycle Today

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Photographed By: Emily Hlavac Green for Wecycle Today

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Hannah Testa Atlanta, Georgia Chanté Davis Houston, Texas Invite more youth from diverse backgrounds and experiences to hold leadership positions.

Implementation: not just talking about solutions, but executing them now (not set far into the future).

Diego Arreola Fernández Mexico City, Mexico I want them to truly listen to our concerns, to build upon them and create immediate change, take immediateactiontofight climate change, and use their power for good once and for all.

Heather Brockbank Freeport, Grand Bahama I want the leaders to address climate change issues everywhere, but especially in developing countries where people may not have access to proper means of repatriation in instances of climate disasters they did not cause, but which costs them their livelihoods and eventually their lives.

Oluwaseyi Moejoh Lagos, Nigeria

WHAT IS COP26?

The 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties will take place in Glasgow (UK). World Leaders from governments around the world will meet to discuss climate action and the future of our shared Earth.

Dejea Lyons Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands I hope they target deforestation. I personally feel like trees are the backbone of life and by getting rid of trees we get rid of potential oxygen and habitats.

I want the leaders at COP26 to also prioritize the intersection between plastic pollution and climate change and make an agreement or treaty to discontinue the production of unnecessary problematic single-use plastics. I believe this will go a long way to combat plastic pollution and climate change.

What Do YOU Want Leaders To Do?

DATES: October 31 - November 12 2021 37

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EDITOR'S INSIGHTS:

Diego Arreola Fernandez Hannah Testa Working with other inspired young people.

h Oluwaseyi Moejo the work I do I am inspired to do concerned about because I am really ts of the plastic the devastating effec change crises pollution and climate generations. ure on present and fut to Fromflashfloodstowildfires landslides from heatwaves to deadly n;people, io landfillstoairpollut net are pla r biodiversity and ou ects of eff us rio dying from the va stic pla d climate change an in developing pollution, especially all choose countries. And if we , this issue tch to sit back and wa terrible re mo will dwindle into pired ins circumstances. I am yond be d to do all, within an ss dre my capacity to ad from these issues; starting d an el the grassroots lev . up working my way

My fellow Ocean Heroes, all the environmental activists around the world, and the people doing good things and promoting positive change!

Heather Brockbank Inspirationisafluidconcept, but IaminspiredmostwhenIfind persons who care about the environment as much as I do; people interested in holdin g active conversations about environ mental justice and marine science sets offrew fi orksinmybrain.The opportunity to work with per sons driven in marine research and restoration drives me to con tinue my advocacy for the environme nt I so dearly love.

Chanté Davis

Dejea Lyons Heroes My fellow Ocean ible initiatives and their incred . around the world

Fellow youth and their beautiful passion to combat the climate crisis!

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Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Aries environmental and political activist Wangari Maathai (1940 - 2011) wasthefirstAfricanwomantowinthe Nobel Prize, founder of the Green Belt Movement (GBM), and recipient of the Right Livelihood Award for “converting the Kenyan ecological debate into mass action for reforestation.” Thanks toWangari’sincredibleleadership, the GBM has planted over 51 million trees in Kenya and empowered women throughout Kenya to work together to revitalize their communities and local ecology.

Sir David Attenborough is a Taurus who might just have the most recognizable voice in conservation, and with good reason — he has worked in British broadcasting and been teaching us all about the natural history of our shared world since before 1954. Since that time, as the narrator of BBC nature documentaries like Blue Planet, Blue Planet IIand,thenewest,Netflix’sALifeOn Our Planet, this Taurus power-house has risen to the forefront of the environmental movement.

The sun was in Gemini on May 28th 2020; the day (Green Girl) Leah Thomas called on the environmentalist community to “stand in solidarity with the black lives matter movement and with Black, Indigenous + POC communities impacted daily by both social and environmental injustice.” This day marked the beginning of Intersectional Environmentalist, a platform dedicated to dismantling systems of oppression in the environmental movement.

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Artist, activist and Cancer Wyn Wiley, creator of drag queen Pattie Gonia, demonstratesCancer’sinnateability to inspire others. Wyn and Pattie are intersectional environmentalists both celebrating and advocating for diversity and LGBQTIA+ in the outdoors.

Through Pattie, Wyn challenges patriarchal assumptions about the people we should expect to see on the trail — by proving that nature is for everyone.

Superstar Chris Hemsworth, a Leo, doesn’tjustplayfictionalheroesin Hollywood—he’saherointhereal world too. In true Leo form, Chris stood up for the little guy in October 2020 when he teamed up with conservationist Tim Faulkner, Aussie Ark, Wild Ark and Re:wild to reintroduce the Tasmanian Devil to mainland Australia, where they have been extinct for 3,000 years— until now.

Virgo Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, brilliant conservation strategist and an expert on policy. Like you, Virgo, Dr. Johnson is tireless in her climate action. In 2020, she and Dr. Katherine Wilkinson published an all-women anthology titled All We Can Save as a reminder to stay positive and committed as we work for climate justice.

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Libra Canadian Indigenous activist Autumn Peltier addressed the world from United Nations Headquarters in 2019 about the sacred teachings of water, the reasons that we need to work together to protect it, and the concerns she has for Indigenous communities in Canada (and communities around the world) where water is not safe to drink. Like Anishinaabe-kew water protector Autumn Peltier, a fellow Libra, you have a powerful voice for defending human rights and speaking up against injustice.

Capricorn Capricorn Martin Luther King, Jr. changed the United States forever with the power of his words and his incredible leadership. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, TN, a few days after he arrived to attend a rally supporting Black striking sanitation workers, who were protesting the death of their colleagues at the Memphis Sanitation Department and the unsafe working conditions there.

Scorpio

Sagittarius

SZA, a Scorpio, made waves in 2018 when she teased a sustainable clothing line on Instagram. She also pledged to #HydrateLike a popstar in 2020, refusing single-use plastic water bottles and rallying her audience to join the movement. She is a vocal advocate for change, harnessing the power and charisma of her sign to breathe fresh air into the environmental movement.

In true Sagittarius form, activist Melati Wijsen takes action when she sees a problem. She co-founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags with her sister when she was just 12 years old and has since become a world-renowned activist, successfully passing legislation to ban single-use plastic bags in Bali, Indonesia.

Aquarius

Pisces

Aquarius Bob Marley changed the world with his music. The legacy of his voice persists today, 40 years after his passing, to inspire the hearts and minds of new generations. Marley sang about life, and about resistance and oppression, about love, suffering, and hope.

The messages Marley shared with the world through his songs rocketed him into stardom and in turn, furthered his quest for social justice.

On top of participating in the 2017 Women’sMarch,andrefusingtoper form at the 2020 Super Bowl in support of Colin Kaepernick, Pisces Rihanna is encouraging sustainability through Fenty Beauty, her cosmetics brand. Fenty Beauty is on a mission to become more earth-conscious,withrefillablesystems and by making it easier for their customers to recycle by providing instructions on how to dismantle component parts.

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KNOWLEDGE IS POWER A Kids Book About Climate Change by Zanagee Artis & Olivia Greenspan Youth to Power: Your Voice and How to Use It by Jamie Margolin Jamie started protesting when she was just 14 and her march on Washington DC inspired Greta's #FridaysForFutureMovement.

This is her guidebook to activism for GenZ.

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The title says it all. A Kids Book About Climate Change is a powerful tool for helping anyone —youth and adults alike— understand the state of our planet and the future we areallfightingfor.

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss Change Sings by Amanda Gorman, illustrations

by Loren Long An anthem to remind every child they have the power to create the change they want to see in the world.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not.” Need we say more? An inspirational read for all ages.

Bold Women in Science: 15 Women in History You Should Know

by Danni Washington A collection of biographies of inspiring women who overcame huge challenges to change science and the world.

Roving Robbie from Marvel’s Hero Project Ocean Hero Robbie Bond gets the Marvel superhero treatment in this beautifully illustrated comic book celebrating the preservation of U.S national parks.

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Quiz time!

Land-Based Solutions

REFORESTATION

Can you connect these land based solutions with their names?

4.

1.

PLANT-BASED DIET

fo

llo

w

t he

exa

mple

RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

5.

2.

BIODIVERSITY SOIL REGENERATION

3.

6.

ZERO-WASTE LIFESTYLE

KEY: 1. Biodiversity 2. Reforestation 3. Renewable Energy Sources 4. Zero-Waste Lifestyle 5. Plant-Based Diet 6. Soil Regeneration

45 Illustrations By Sol Cotti

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This is a space just for YOU. You can do anything you want with these pages, but here are some ideas to help you get started: • • • • •

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Write a letter to your favorite tree Share your thoughts and feelings Create a gratitude journal! What are you thankful for?

Tell us what inspires you Draw your favorite outside space

Color Me! Pollinators

"Your voice counts! Now's your chance to become an Ocean Hero.

Use this postcard to send a message to your local government about why we need land-based solutions to climate change."

4 4 3

4

1

3

5 4

1 2 4

2

4 4

1

4

1

1

4

2

5 2 2 5 2

1

4

2

2 2 2

1

5

4 4

2

2 2 2 2

COLOR BY NUMBER:

Do sleeping bees dream of wildflowers?

1: BUMBLE BEE YELLOW 2: WARM BLACK 3: GREYISH BLUE 4. LAVENDER PINK 5. RUBINE RED

HOW TO USE: CUT OUT USING DOTTED LINE, COLOR/WRITE, AND YOU'RE READY TO TAKE ACTION INTO YOUR OWN HANDS!

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POSTAGE STAMP

"Your voice counts! Now's your chance to become an Ocean Hero.

Use this postcard to send a message to your local government about why we need land-based solutions to climate change."

HOW TO USE: CUT OUT USING DOTTED LINE, COLOR/WRITE, AND YOU'RE READY TO TAKE ACTION INTO YOUR OWN HANDS!

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WE waNt TO sHarE YoUr aRt WItH tHE woRlD ARe yOu A WriTEr? a PhOTogRApHer? AN ilLUsTraTOr? ThIS is YOur ChANce TO seE YoUr WorK pUBliShED in OH-waKE SUbMit YOur POemS, yOuR IlLusTrATiOnS, yOuR sONg LyRIcS, YOur PhOTogRApHs, YOur ARtiClES, aNd ShORt StORiEs TO hello@ohwake.orG

55 Illustration by Liam Neupert

This is a space just for YOU. You can do anything you want with these pages, but here are some ideas to help you get started: • • • • •

Write a letter to your favorite tree Share your thoughts and feelings Create a gratitude journal! What are you thankful for?

Tell us what inspires you Draw your favorite outside space

SUBSCRIBE TO OH-WAKE TO GIVE A COPY TO AN OCEAN HERO!

W W O H CE W. E A .B RO N E L S U E

subscribe to oh-wake to give a copy to an ocean hero!

This issue of OH-Wake was made possible with generous support from:

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