You often hear of predictions of Climate Change consequences from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and you might even think to yourself that those predictions may not happen in your lifetime, or maybe you don't think an increase of a few millimeters in sea level makes a difference. The truth of the matter is sea level rise is happening now and many islands nations, as well as big cities, are facing the truth as we speak.

Alexandria, Egypt is one of those cities. Frequent floods are not only affecting the lives of the poor, but they are negatively affecting the foundations of some of the oldest buildings and prized archeological sites in the more than 2000-year-old city. 

Listen to the episode to find out more details.

How is your city/town being affected by Climate Change? Share your knowledge about where you live in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Hurricane Dorion is predicted to be a Category 4 Hurricane as it will land in North and Central Florida next week. The location of the landing will make history as a Category 4 Hurricane has never landed in the area. 

During this episode, I discuss why it's important to manage the shoreline and land resources properly as our Hurricanes get worse due to Climate Change.

Links Mentioned During The Episode:

1) List Of Items For Hurricane Prep: https://www.coastalliving.com/lifestyle/preparing-for-hurricane-irene

2) Original Article: https://www.coastalliving.com/lifestyle/the-environment/hurricane-dorian-major-storm-florida-history

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There were two stories that I came across this week that I feel should accompany the last episode on how Climate Change is messing up the planet. Listening to a story on Climate Change could be demoralizing, but there are other stories that could provide hope.

Those stories are about people who inspire us to do better or help us understand how to do things better. 

The first story I discuss is about Greta Thunberg as she arrives in New York after sailing across the Atlantic at the age of 16-17 to participate in UN talks on Climate Change and hopefully inspire people in the US to take more action against Climate Change.

The second story is about a friend and colleague, Dr. Brett Fevaro, who recently took a road trip with his family in their Tesla to show that people COULD go on road trips and find charging stations.

Two Stories I Referred To In This One:

1) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/cheap-driving-electric-vehicle-1.5260631?fbclid=IwAR26oLh56gZNyrl1HIAdGCemSCXOkcJwokoWj_OoxaN58yIxKe0RKsMwSJQ

2) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2019/aug/28/greta-thunberg-sails-into-new-york-waters-after-crossing-atlantic-live-news?page=with%3Ablock-5d66def88f08ea59f447ad9e

Both stories provide hope for me. Share your stories of hope in this Climate Change era in our Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Every second breath of air we take is due to the Ocean. Phytoplankton is responsible for this great breath of fresh air because they use photosynthesis to produce Oxygen while using up CO2 in the process. It is also one of the reasons why Climate Change has not grown out of control; however, Climate Change has affected the development and abundance of phytoplankton over time.

A new study shows diatoms, a species of phytoplankton with a silica cell wall that absorbs CO2 and sinks down to the bottom of the Ocean, where the CO2 is fixed onto the seafloor. The diatoms sink because of their heavy silica wall. Unfortunately, the silica wall in diatoms has been shrinking as the Oceans become more acidic. The silica walls have become smaller and the diatoms are not sinking to the seafloor where the CO2 can be fixed. 

Find out more details by listening to the episode.

Do you think this is a problem that can be fixed? Share your thoughts on the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Cuba is known for its beautiful environment, especially its Oceans. The government has had quite a bit of control in regulating their fisheries as the industry was private; however, 20 years ago, a private fishing industry was created to create more jobs in the country. The result is a decrease of 80% in commercially important species such as grouper and snapper. 

The new policies were set with the purpose of increasing collaboration with the US to use US technology while monitoring the fisheries. 

Find out more details by listening to the episode.

What do you think of the purpose of the policy? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary was established in the early 1990s and a management plan was added in 1997 as things had changed. NOAA has decided to add more protection as things have changed again. Threats such as fishing, climate change, and cruise ship waste are harming corals at an unprecedented rate. 

NOAA is proposing to add 8 more protected areas spanning 5 square miles to help protect the reefs and their species.

Listen to the podcast to find out more details.

Do you think these protections will work? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Carlos Raphael was the kingpin of a fleet of fishing boats that ran the fishing industry in New Bedford, Massachusetts. I said "was" because he was recently convicted on multiple counts of fraud and other crimes for trying to sell his business to two Russian Mobsters (who were really undercover US Agents) by telling them it was a good business in which they could launder money.

More details of this crazy story are in the episode and in this article. 

What do you think of the story? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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I have been discussing how hard it is to shop for daily items such as groceries and household products; however, a new company has started to solve this problem and it's called Loop. Loop sounds like a fantastic way to order items where the containers can be returned, cleaned, and given back to you to use again. 

Find out more details by listening to the episode.

Would you order from Loop? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to be more eco-friendly? Buy certified eco-friendly products from our affiliate partner the Grove Collaborative: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

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The Amazon is burning and the news is making headlines all over the world. Unfortunately, it took 16 days before anyone really knew about it. Many people now wanting to help, there are many calls to donate to support organizations; however, you want to ensure that you are donating to the right organization.

You can follow the rules I mention in this episode to make sure your hard-earned money is going to the right organization.

What strategies did you use to donate to organizations in the past? Share your experience in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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I recently took the family on vacation to Darien Lake. We had a great time staying on the grounds and enjoying the Theme Park; however, there were certain parts of the park where I would like to see improvement when it comes to sustainability. I go through the good and the bad things at the park that could impact the Ocean.

What is your experience of sustainability at Theme Parks? Share your experiences in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Elections Canada has come out with a new rule for this upcoming federal election. The rule is targeted at Environmental Charities in Canada. These charities will not be able to say "Climate Change is real" to influence voters during advertising campaigns because one candidate has denied climate change; therefore, charities who make the statement will be considered partisan and their charitable status could be in jeopardy. 

Utter BS in my opinion and it adds to the battle between the government of Canada and environmental charities. Listen to the episode for more information.

Do you think environmental charities should be able to say things like "Climate Change is Real?" Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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I am pleased to make another exciting announcement today as we are releasing another podcast on the Speak Up For Blue Network called Environmental Studies and Sciences. This podcast is supported by the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences and is also hosted by Dr. Chris Parsons.

Here is the description of the first episode:

"In the first of the Environmental Studies and Sciences podcasts, host Dr Chris Parsons talks to Dr Peter Jacques, the president of the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS) about the shadowy forces behind climate change denial, the importance of interdisciplinary environmental research and about AESS as a community and advocate for interdisciplinary environmental research."

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/environmental-studies-and-sciences/id1475692098

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zn9eZuKiOgyrZs2JluHob

What did you think of the first episode? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to be more eco-friendly? Buy certified eco-friendly products from our affiliate partner the Grove Collaborative: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

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I am pleased to announce that the Speak Up For Blue Network has released a new podcast called Marine Mammal Science. This podcast is sponsored by the Society of Marine Mammalogy and hosted by our very own Dr. Chris Parsons. 

In the first episode, you will hear Chris interview Dr. Asha De Vos on the endangered blue whale species.

Subscribe to Marine Mammal Science:
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marine-mammal-science/id1475692072

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ylqxLTqKoZFGObsOVPfK9

What did you think of the first episode? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to be more eco-friendly? Buy certified eco-friendly products from our affiliate partner the Grove Collaborative: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

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Atlantic Canada, seals, cod, and the fishing industry have had a tumultuous past. The science communication about seal and cod science has not been great when dealing with the fishing industry, especially since so many fishers rely on their catch as a way to support their families. 

The Canadian Government has assembled a Task Team to work with the fishing industry to communicate seal science in a more effective manner than in the past. 

Listen for how this task team was a bit confusing when announced in a group of pro seal people. 

Do you think the task team is a good idea? Share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group

Want to be more eco-friendly? Buy certified eco-friendly products from our affiliate partner the Grove Collaborative: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

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Part 2 of my interview with Dr. David Ebert who tells us about the people that participated in the workshops in East and South Africa. Dave was astonished by the dedication of the participants, especially one gentleman who showed up injured from an incident that occurred the night before, but he didn't want to be late. 

Check out the full story during the interview for more details.

Dave's Work was supported by Save Our Seas.

How important do you think it is to protect Guitarfish and Wedgefish? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Dr. David Ebert joins me on the podcast to discuss his latest trip to East and South Africa to conduct workshops with local fishers to help track and identify Guitarfish and Wedgefish, two sharks in need of protection. 

This is Part 1 of 2 of the Interview I conducted. Stay tuned for Part 2 in the next episode.

Dave's Work was supported by Save Our Seas.

Did you know that the Wedgefish and Guitarfish needed protection? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to be more eco-friendly? Buy certified eco-friendly products from our affiliate partner the Grove Collaborative: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

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A US government that is hellbent on developing Natural Resources on land and in water will stop at nothing to ensure mining and oil/gas companies have very little obstacles in their way. One of the obstacles is the US Endangered Species Act that is responsible for protecting the Polar Bear, Manatee, and Bald Eagle. 

The Trump Administration recently proposed changes to the Act that would put some of the species and any future species at risk of extinction due to human disturbance. 

I talk about the details of the changes proposed during this episode. 

Article Link: 
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/climate/endangered-species-act-changes.html

Do you think the changes will be approved by Congress? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Last episode Suzanne Thurman and I discussed the details of the MERR Institute's Annual Dolphin Count Citizen Science Program. We decided to discuss the MERR Institute's ongoing Citizen Science Programs. 

Listen to the episode for more details. 

Are you thinking of starting a Citizen Science Program? Share your project in our Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Links From The Episode

MERR Institute Website

MERR Institute Twitter

MERR Institue Instagram

MERR Institute Facebook Page

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Suzanne Thurman, founder and Executive Director of the MERR (Marine, Education, Research, and Rehabilitation) Institute, joins me on the podcast today to discuss how she developed an Annual Dolphin Count as a Citizen Science Program along the shores of Deleware. She discusses the logistics, growth, methodology, and results of the program to provide you with an idea of the type of work that goes into running a Citizen Science Program. 

This interview is separated into two episodes. This episode focuses on the Annual Dolphin Count. The next episode focuses on the ongoing Citizen Science Program at the MERR Institute. 

Are you thinking of starting a Citizen Science Program? Share your project in our Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Links From The Episode

MERR Institute Website

MERR Institute Twitter

MERR Institue Instagram

MERR Institute Facebook Page

Want to be more eco-friendly? Buy certified eco-friendly products from our affiliate partner the Grove Collaborative: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

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The Trump administration made some changes to the planned testimony before Congrees of a State Department Analyst on the threat of Climate Change to Florida Reefs that questioned the scientific merit.

There could be some repercussions from this type of thought process on climate change in a swing state like Florida. Many Floridians are very aware of many environmental issues (water quality and coral reefs) that have hit Florida since the last election. 

Take a listen to the episode for more information.

Do you think Floridians will vote for the Environment in the 2020 Presidential Election? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to be more eco-friendly? Buy certified eco-friendly products from our affiliate partner the Grove Collaborative: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

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Freshwater species often get overlooked when we speak about the conservation of species that are in the water. The focus tends to remain on Ocean species; however, the loss of focus on Freshwater species seems to have resulted in an 88% decline of large vertebrate Freshwater species according to a new report. 

Freshwater conservation can happen if we all become more eco-friendly and ensure our governments create policies to protect freshwater habitats in addition to marine habitats. 

Take a listen to the episode to find out more.

Are you interested in Freshwater species? Share your love for your favorite freshwater species in our Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Canada has announced the implementation of two new protected areas in the Arctic that will put their coastal ocean protection percentage up to 14%, which is above the 10% promised by the government by 2020.

One protected area will be a Marine Protected Area (320,000 square kilometers), which will protect the area from any industrial activity and the other protected area will be a Marine Conservation Area (108,000 square kilometers), which will allow little activity in the area.  

Take a listen to the episode for more information on what the Protected Areas will keep safe. 

Do you think these Arctic Protected Areas are worth it? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group

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Microplastics in the Ocean are a HUGE concern in the Ocean because they are difficult to detect, they are more toxic in micro form, and they are being ingested by many species in the Ocean. So how can we stop microplastics from getting in the Ocean? 

Microplastics get into the Ocean through our use of plastics via our clothes, cosmetics, etc. When we wash our clothes or discard our materials with microplastics, they often end up in our waterways (creeks, streams, lakes, oceans) as they tend to move past the filters in the sewage treatment plants and end up polluting the environment. 

Fionn Ferreira, an 18-year-old from Ireland, has devised a method of extracting microplastics from water. The method still needs to be tested and Fionn will be the first to admit that the major way to stop plastic from entering the Oceans is to stop using plastic; however, the method does seem promising. 

Listen to the episode for more details.

What are your thoughts in the Microplastic extraction method? Share them in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Science Communication is a tricky business at times. A Science Communicator has to balance data and emotions when they create their messages. There are times when the messages have humor and other times when the messages have sadness. These messages can contain data, but the balance may be difficult...And as you will see in this episode, people can turn on you quickly if your message is not well-timed.

Do you think Neil Degrasse Tyson was out of line with the timing of his content? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Greta Thunberg is a 16-year-old Climate Change Activist who has participated in international discussions on Climate Change, where she called out leaders from the United Nations to act on Climate Change instead of just talking about action.

Now Greta is traveling across the Atlantic Ocean on a sailboat to attend more international talks in New York, then Chile. Many people are calling her a hero, while some right-winged media are calling her names I don't want to write down. 

Find out why this bullying makes me angry and how Greta responded to the attacks by listening to this episode.

Do you think a 16-year-old teenager should be attacked by the media this way? Share your opinions in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to be more eco-friendly? Buy certified eco-friendly products from our affiliate partner the Grove Collaborative: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

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Marine Conservation studies are plagued by the "I could do so much more if I had more...Money...People...etc." 

Citizen Science can help with that program as it provides more people to do more things for your Marine Conservation project.

Take a listen to the episode for more details.

Here is an episode where I discuss a seagrass citizen science program in Australia: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/5817654.

Are you currently running a Citizen Science Program? Share your project and experience in our Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to be more eco-friendly? Buy certified eco-friendly products from our affiliate partner the Grove Collaborative: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

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I've seen many articles on melting sea ice discussing how the melting is a sign of climate change; however, I don't feel that the articles discuss how melting sea ice could have an impact on the human population.

I decided to let you know those consequences in this episode. 

How would you deal with sea level rise? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to be more eco-friendly? Buy certified eco-friendly products from our affiliate partner the Grove Collaborative: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

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