Wed, 19 April 2023
I tell a true story about the events that led the Canadian government to replace an entire environmental science sector in 2015 after changing a crucial environmental protection law to speed up the construction of a pipeline. The story reinforces the need to vote for politicians that want to protect the environment including the ocean. Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue:
Direct download: HTPTO_E1445_HowAGovernmentCanRuinTheirEnvironment.mp3
Category:Policy -- posted at: 12:00am EDT |
Mon, 16 January 2023
![]() When a government tells its people that it is opening up its coasts to oil and gas leasing like the Trump Administration did from 2016-2020, there are quite a few things that happen behind the scenes that we don't realize until it is too late and it is difficult to fix the changes (or they get ignored). For example, The Trump administration opened up a swath of habitat along the shelf break on the Northern Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas development. The same swath is the habitat of a critically endangered whale called the Gulf of Mexico whale (Rice's whale). You would think that the Biden administration would take the area away from the oil and gas industry; however, the National Marine Fisheries Service did not do anything to change the rule. This example proves that the laws and regulations are very difficult to change for the better Link to article: https://bit.ly/3iuomV3 Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: |
Wed, 26 October 2022
The ocean is in trouble and policy can help solve many of those problems, but there are many challenges to overcome to create or change policy. It is difficult for one organization to create policy no matter how big, therefore, coalitions are necessary to change and/or create the policies that will help save the ocean. I am speaking with Jenna Valente, who is the Director of Advocacy at Healthy Ocean Coalition and a fellow podcaster, to get more information on how her organization helps others in changing policy and advocating for the ocean. Connect With Healthy Ocean Coalition: Website: https://www.healthyoceancoalition.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/healthyoceanco Connect with Jenna: Twitter: https://twitter.com/yennabenna Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: |
Wed, 29 June 2022
As long as I can remember protecting the ocean has always been my number one priority Ocean conservation and the action takes time and work from many different fields and it requires the dedication of many men and women from around the world; however, it is very difficult to focus on conserving the ocean when other human rights are being taken away and need more focus. In this episode of the Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast, I am going to discuss how recent news/events/decisions around the world and in the US (even in my home country of Canada) can affect the people's focus on the ocean. Sign up to find out about the audio Ocean Conservation Careers members group: Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue:
Direct download: SUFB_S1325_SpeakingUpforTheOceanIsHardWhenHumanRightsAreAtStake.mp3
Category:Policy -- posted at: 12:00am EDT |
Mon, 16 November 2020
I saw a recent change to a regulation in my home province of Ontario recently that got me very frustrated because the decision was so short-sighted. The Government of Ontario will be taking away some of the powers of the Conservation Authorities to make decisions on whether developers can build on flood plains. The change will allow developers to appeal decisions made by the Conservation Authorities that they are not allowed to build on a particular piece of land (generally in a flood plain or a protected area). The appeal will go directly to the Minister of Natural Resources, which generally is an economist or lawyer (not a scientist or engineer!). The change will no doubt allow developers to build more on flood plains then in the past. Conservation Authorities (CAs) were created in the 1950s in Ontario after the government realized deforestation and the elimination of floodplains were occurring at a rapid rate. CAs were in charge of making the decisions of who could build where and when. Each CA is in charge of a Watershed in Ontario. Over the past 5 years, the coastal areas of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawerence River have been flooded due to climate change impacts and historically building residents on floodplain areas. The Federal Government told the Regions and Municipalities that they were not going to bail them out because of mismanagement in the future. So how will new developments that are built on floodplains be managed when the area gets flooded? How do you suggest we stop this from happening? Link To Article: Register for the Mindful Conservation Conference: Want To Talk Oceans? Join the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group. Speak Up For Blue Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakupforblue/ Speak Up For Blue Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpeakUpforBlue Check out the Shows on the Speak Up For Blue Network: Marine Conservation Happy Hour Madame Curiosity ConCiencia Azul: Dugongs & Seadragons: Environmental Studies & Sciences Marine Mammal Science: Projects For Wildlife Podcast: Ocean Science Radio The Guide To Mindful Conservation: Dancing In Pink Hiking Boots:
Direct download: SUFB_S1082_WhenGovernmentsMakeShortSightedDecisionsThatAffectPeopleAndTheEnvironment.mp3
Category:Policy -- posted at: 12:00am EDT |
Mon, 9 November 2020
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have won the US 2020 election as it was made official on Saturday that the electoral college will elect them as the 46th President and the First Woman Vice President in US History. And with the election comes Environmental Change...as promised. Joe Biden made it clear during his victory speech that he will make Climate Change a priority after the US officially pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement on the day of the election. Not only will Biden re-enter the US in the Paris Accord, but he said he will make sure the US abides by the agreement. This is a staunch change from the Trump administration's strategy to ignore climate change by calling it a hoax. Environmental Change should come in the form of rebuilding the EPA and allowing NOAA to do what it does best: protecting the environment through research, conservation, and policies. Talk is cheap; however, and all of the election promises will have to be put into action. This is where YOU come in. We need people to ensure that this new administration will come through on its election promises. What will you do to make sure they do? Link to Article: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/02/15-ways-trump-administration-impacted-environment/ Register for the Mindful Conservation Conference: Want To Talk Oceans? Join the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group. Speak Up For Blue Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakupforblue/ Speak Up For Blue Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpeakUpforBlue Check out the Shows on the Speak Up For Blue Network: Marine Conservation Happy Hour Madame Curiosity ConCiencia Azul: Dugongs & Seadragons: Environmental Studies & Sciences Marine Mammal Science: Projects For Wildlife Podcast: Ocean Science Radio The Guide To Mindful Conservation: Dancing In Pink Hiking Boots:
Direct download: SUFB_S1079_ANewUSAdministrationMeansEnvironmentalChangeIsComing.mp3
Category:Policy -- posted at: 12:00am EDT |