With one crisis after another, it is easy to lose sight of the imminent threats we face at a global level. Time is running out to protect the High Seas (almost half our planet!) from deep-sea mining. A reckless emerging industry that we know will cause irreversible damage to ocean life, risks disturbing locked away carbon, and which will have unknown consequences to the very systems that sustain life as we know it. We must stop this industry from starting.
Here's what my colleagues and I have to say about the processes in play around deep-sea mining. Join us! - Farah Obaidullah https://grist.org/climate/deep-sea-mining-could-begin-next-year-heres-why-ocean-experts-are-calling-for-a-moratorium/ #stayengaged #defendthedeep #circulareconomy #women4oceans #together4oceans #oceandecade #SDG14
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It’s International Women’s Day today. This picture was taken many many moons ago (2005) and appeared on my feed as a memory.
The fight to protect our planet continues. Human dignity, well-being, peace, justice and equality are all linked to a healthy planet. The ocean makes up most of our planet (over 70%), so protecting the planet that sustains us means protecting the ocean. If you’re feeling powerless today because of everything happening around the world: war, ongoing pandemic, climate crisis, humanitarian crises (in so many places), non-human suffering, and so on, you’re not alone. But there is always something you can do. Support an organization whose mission you support (whether on helping victims of war or safeguarding nature and the ocean), organize in your community (collect clothes, food, money, signatures for a cause you believe in), talk to people, your friends, family and strangers. Feel connected to people around you. Spend time in nature, actively keep your community clean by picking up trash, find ways to reduce your consumption that make you feel good, listen to people. By just listening, you are supporting someone. Limit your daily news intake and screen time. Spend that extra time doing any of the above. Today, and every day, whoever you are, embrace your femininity (we all have a feminine side). Strength, resilience, compassion, nurturance and collectivism are all hallmarks of the feminine. Stand in your power! The world needs you. - Farah Obaidullah #internationalwomensday #women4oceans #together4oceans #peace #nowar #bethechange #stayengaged #giveback #ocean #oneoceanoneplanet Women4Oceans Photo: Greenpeace Quote: Laurel Thatcher Ulrich Very proud to share our new film -a first of its kind- on deep-sea mining, what it is, what the threats are, and how companies are increasingly rejecting the need for minerals from the deep ocean. Thanks to everyone who provided materials, interviews and support for this film project. A particular thanks to Maarten van Rouveroy for producing this film! Watch, share widely & help stop this reckless industry from starting! - Farah Obaidullah #defendthedeep #deepseamining #oceans #circulareconomy #SDG14 FARAH OBAIDULLAH SPEAKS IN GLASGOW DURING COP26. COP26 may be behind us but the fight to avoid ecological catastrophe is far from over. We can't mine our way out of the climate crisis. In case you missed it, here's what I presented at the Extreme Hangout, One Young World event in Glasgow during the COP together with Maureen penjueli and Vasser Seydel. Find out what's at stake with deep-sea mining, why we don't need it and why it's not worth the risk! - Farah Obaidullah #climatecrisis #defendthedeep #cop26 #cop26glasgow #women4oceans #together4oceans #oneyoungworld #extremehangoutcop26 This week ‘Stop Ecocide Nederland’ delivered a manifesto to Dutch Parliament members calling on the Netherlands - and all countries - to declare ecocide a crime, including at the international criminal court.
Women4Oceans is a proud signatory to this manifesto. Thank you to the organizers for giving me the space to talk about the emerging threat of deep-sea mining. Deep-sea mining fits all the criteria of Ecocide. Those that allow it to go ahead, know that you will be criminals in the eyes of future generations and the law. Stop deep-sea mining! Join us at www.defendthedeep.org Help make ecocide a crime at: www.stopecocide.earth - Farah Obaidullah #women4oceans #together4oceans #DefendTheDeep #StopEcocide #ecocide Women4Oceans has partnered with DAN (Divers Alert Network) Europe for their European Sustainable Tour.
As part of the tour we are raising awareness on the threats to the #ocean, including the emerging threat of deep sea mining! Deep Sea Mining will irreversibly destroy life in the deep ocean. Time to stop short term financial gains from standing in the way of creating the clean future we so desperately need! The good news is that we can stop this industry before it starts! Find out more about deep sea mining in this blog by W4O founder Farah Obaidullah: A NEW THREAT LOOMS FOR THE OCEAN The deep sea makes up most of the world’s ocean. Science is only just beginning to discover the marvels and diversity of life in the deep. The living beings that reside there are the stuff of fantasy. Sharks can live for hundreds of years and octopuses are so translucent, they could be lifted straight out of a sci-fi movie. The mystery and innate value of this unexplored realm is reason enough to protect the deep, but there are many reasons why protecting the farthest depths of the ocean is so crucial. Undiscovered life forms mean an untapped reservoir of new genetic material with immense value for medical innovation- for example the COVID-19 test was derived from a microbe found in a deep-sea hydrothermal vent. Importantly, we are only just beginning to understand the role the deep ocean plays in planetary systems, including in regulating the climate through carbon capture and storage. Click here to read more. #defendthedeep #women4coeans #together4oceans Women4Oceans condemns racism in all its ugly forms and acknowledges the fight for racial justice that is unique to African Americans.
#Women4Oceans #Together4Oceans #OnePeopleOnePlanet #StopRacism #NoJusticeNoPeace With yet another failed Conference of the Parties on climate change behind us, here is what Farah Obaidullah to say about it! "Today’s leaders, with the exception of a few, are failing the people, failing the planet and failing the future. However, to despair is not an option. We must push our governments and businesses to do better! The EU’s pledge to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 is a welcome announcement but not enough. Countries must pledge to less than 1.5 degrees celsius. At 2 degrees we lose Pacific Islands and coral reefs. Moreover, social justice and environmental justice must be addressed alongside emissions. The EU must ensure that the ambitions of the rest of the world are lifted quickly as they work to deliver on their own pledge. Addressing the climate crisis means addressing the crisis unfolding in the ocean. The ocean makes up 70% of our planet, stabilises our climate and provides us with over half the oxygen we breathe. But rising greenhouse gas emissions, overfishing and pollution are killing the ocean’s ability to support life on earth, including ours. We can restore the ocean by ensuring that the United Nations agrees to a strong global treaty for life on the high seas in 2020, establishing a network of marine protected areas that follows the science and covers at least 30% of the ocean, and finally, ending overfishing." – Farah Obaidullah, Founder W4O
As the international climate talks (#COP25) close for another year and leaders continue to dither on taking real & meaningful #climate action, people around the world are more aware than ever of the dangers of the #climatecrisis!
Stabilising the climate requires restoring #ocean health. Monica Verbeek of Seas at Risk & Rebecca Hubbard of Our Fish put together a formidable panel of experts made the case that ending overfishing is climate action! One of the experts is Angela Martin who is currently doing her PhD in Norway, studying the role of fish in the carbon cycle. Angela is also an advisor to and member of the Women4Oceans community. Angela's expertise was made visible through the W4O platform. You can watch her talk below. Women4Oceans strives to insert diversity and equal representation in the ocean space in order to accelerate positive outcomes for the ocean. We need all our perspectives to be heard. Please consider supporting our mission.
With your help we can make our voices heard for strong and effective protection for life in the High Seas at the next round of talks at the United Nations! Watch this one-minute video to learn more about the High Seas, what is at stake and what Women4Oceans plans to do!
We are aiming to raise at least 2500 Euro by the end of August 2019 and whatever we raise will go towards our goal. Donate Today! Thank you for any contribution you can make! For the Ocean, Farah Obaidullah |