D(r)iving the Change for Oceans with Alana Alvarez & Manuel Bustelo

03/15/23 • 28 min

The Divers Alert Network Europe, otherwise known as DAN Europe, was created 40 years ago to protect divers. However, it started to realize that the divers' playground, the ocean, also needed protection. To that end, they created the Sustainability Tour, led by Alana Alvarez and Manuel Bustelo. The two of them are traveling across Europe and its surrounding areas in an electric Hyundai Kona, creating awareness as they go about the perils that the ocean is facing.

This year's focus is on climate change's evil twin, ocean acidification. This threat acts like an osteoporosis of the sea and Alana and Manuel are, quite literally, driving for a change.

We talk about how easy it is to drive across Europe on only renewable energy, what carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has to do with the acidity of the ocean, and what are the effects of this acidification that we need to be aware of.

Resources

Sustainable Tour Website

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Healthy Seas is a marine conservation organization whose mission is to tackle the ghost fishing phenomenon and turn this waste into an opportunity for a more circular economy. They do this through clean-ups, prevention, education, and working with partners who recycle and repurpose this material. The podcast is hosted by Crystal DiMiceli.

This year's focus is on climate change's evil twin, ocean acidification. This threat acts like an osteoporosis of the sea and Alana and Manuel are, quite literally, driving for a change.

Resources

Sustainable Tour Website

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Previous Episode

Making Packaging Disappear: A chat with Earthshot winner, Notpla

Touted as the "Nobel Prize for environmentalism", the Earthshot Prize aims to find new solutions to the world’s biggest environmental problems by 2030. It is divided into five categories, one being "Build a Waste-Free World." Last year, Notpla had the honor of winning the prize in this category. Their mission is to replace single-use plastic packaging through their innovative invention based on seaweed. Samara Croci is the Senior Brand Partnership Manager with Notpla and she tells us about how this naturally biodegradable product works, how it is different than bioplastics, and the impact they are looking to achieve with the prize money. Also, with the growth potential of this product, we talk about how they are working on avoiding the potential negative consequences that come with scaled-up seaweed farming.

Healthy Seas is proud to be an Official Nominator of the Earthshot Prize. If you have a solution to help repair our planet that is inspiring, inclusive, and impactful, please get in touch with us for further discussion.

Resources

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Next Episode

Changing the Perception About Sharks with Cristina Zenato

Sharks have survived five global mass extinctions yet, now, many of their species are endangered due to human activities and myths. Cristina Zenato works to reverse this. She is an ocean and cave explorer, shark behaviorist and expert, dive instructor, speaker, writer, and conservationist. She has helped to change the perception of sharks through the close encounters she has with these animals. They often allow her to pet them and even remove hooks from their mouths! Cristina was a vital player in helping to declare the Bahamas as a shark sanctuary when external fisheries were looking to come in and take them from Bahamian waters. She also works all over the world advocating for these often maligned creatures and for the conservation of the waters they live in.

We talk about what it's like to, literally, have a shark in your lap, how it's crucial that we know that not all sharks are the same, the dangers sharks are facing, and what would happen to us if they are removed from the ecosystem.

Resources