On October 18, Dr. Sharon Blackie, an award-winning writer and mythologist, explored the transformative power of myths and inner inquiry. She demonstrated how ancient stories can address modern challenges and shift the collective mindset, emphasizing solitude and nature for deepening kinship. Her work reimagines women's stories and connects folk traditions to contemporary issues. Learn more at sharonblackie.net.

Karen Doyle Grossman, Executive Director of the Garrison Institute, has a distinguished career. She advanced social innovations at Mercy Corps and, at the Aspen Institute, founded MicroMentor, the world's largest community for entrepreneurs and mentors. Explore MicroMentor at micromentor.org.

The Global Commitment, launched by the Foundation and UNEP, demonstrates progress against plastic waste, but the world remains significantly off track. Ending plastic pollution requires robust policy action combined with ambitious voluntary efforts.

Learn more in the Global Commitment Five Years In paper: https://links.emf.org/3SlHAvA. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an international charity, promotes a circular economy that eliminates waste, circulates products, and regenerates nature.

Subscribe for insights on our YouTube channel. Find more about our work and connect on our website and Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Physicist Helen Czerski discusses her book, *Blue Machine: How the Ocean Shapes our World*. This deep dive explores the ocean's engine, revealing its profound influence on life, weather, and human history. It's a spectacular story of Earth's dynamic ocean.

Czerski, an Associate Professor at UCL, studies ocean bubbles and is a renowned science communicator. She presents BBC TV documentaries, hosts the Ocean Matters podcast, and writes for the Wall Street Journal. Her other works include *Storm in a Teacup* and *Bubbles*. Matt Bongiovi moderates the discussion.

Get the book: https://goo.gle/3LuCPLP. Learn more about Helen: https://www.helenczerski.net/.

Ever heard of a sea spider? Subscribe to our channel and join our community of Wavemakers to explore fascinating ocean life!

Stay connected with us on social media: Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

How can your digital skills contribute to a better world and tackle the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? We want to hear your ideas for making a positive impact.

Share your thoughts, join the conversation using #SDGdigital, and let's collaborate for a brighter future for all.

Learn more at: https://www.itu.int/sdgdigital/ and https://www.itu.int/hub/tag/sdg-digital/

Decorator crabs achieve camouflage by attaching pieces of their surroundings—algae, sponges, leaves, or even small animals like anemones—to curved, hooked bristles on their shells. These bristles function like Velcro, allowing the crabs to easily change their decorations.

Explore more in our Marine Life Encyclopedia: https://bit.ly/3E0FYie. Subscribe to our channel and join our community of Wavemakers! 🌊

Stay connected with us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This episode of Canopy Connect features Drishdet Caullychurn, CEO and founder of Texpert AI. Drishdet is a participant in our Trust in Sustainability accelerator programme, a collaboration with BSI.

Learn more about Texpert AI and The Canopy on their respective websites: texpert.ai and cisl.cam.ac.uk/canopy.

Horseshoe crabs, ancient creatures vital for endangered migratory shorebirds, faced mass killing for bait. Thanks to 34,000 public comments, an agency decided to spare female crabs in 2024, though future harvests remain a concern. Read more: [Female Horseshoe Crabs Spared](https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/female-horseshoe-crabs-spared-for-another-year-in-delaware-bay-2023-10-19/).

The Center for Biological Diversity is a 501c3 nonprofit. We believe human welfare is deeply linked to nature's diversity, working through science, law, and creative media to protect species and their habitats from extinction. Our goal is a wild world for future generations.

For more information, visit our [website](https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/), or connect via [Twitter](https://twitter.com/CenterForBioDiv), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/CenterforBioDiv/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/centerforbiodiversity/), [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@centerforbiodiv), or [Take Action](https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/action/). Email us at center@biologicaldiversity.org.

Sea otters are threatened and highly vulnerable to extinction due to oil pollution, shifts in the food web, and habitat loss. When doused in oil, an otter’s fur loses its insulating properties, putting the animal at risk of hypothermia.

Symbolically adopt a sea otter today: https://bit.ly/3KJ0J5V

Stay connected with us. Follow Oceana on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Katherine Martínez Medina, 21, grew up on Vieques, Puerto Rico, an island contaminated by decades of US Navy bomb testing. This toxic environment, coupled with high food costs and import reliance, spurred her early environmental activism.

In 2020, Medina joined La Colmena Cimarrona, a women-led agriculture initiative formed post-Hurricane Maria. It seeks food sovereignty, a solidarity economy, and fights displacement in Vieques. As a link between organizations, Medina helps shape the farm's efforts, building hope.

Drone Footage Vieques:
https://www.youtube.com/@thetravelingdrone
https://www.youtube.com/@OneManWolfPack

Additional footage:
https://www.youtube.com/@aljazeeraenglish
https://www.youtube.com/@AssociatedPress

Maanit Goel, 17, from Washington State, learned about the critically endangered Southern Resident orcas. Only 75 remain in the Salish Sea, threatened by declining Chinook salmon, their primary food source, in the Snake River-Columbia River system.

In 2021, Goel founded the Washington Youth Ocean & River Conservation Alliance (WYORCA) to mobilize youth. WYORCA advocates removing four lower Snake River dams, impeding salmon migration and harming orcas. Goel argues renewable energy shouldn't sacrifice a keystone species. With 30 volunteers, WYORCA educated over 6,000 students, held 20+ congressional meetings, and coordinated events. The group earned Congressional recognition and an EPA award; Goel also spoke at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15).

After Hurricane Irma flooded Miami in 2017, Will Charouhis founded We Are Forces of Nature, a youth-led climate group. It focuses on providing climate adaptation and mitigation strategies for coastal areas, particularly through mangrove conservation.

The group launched A Million Mangroves, an initiative that cleans, plants, and researches mangroves to improve restoration success. Charouhis, 17, also pioneers research at Miami's Seaquarium on mangrove species resilience to ocean acidification and warming.

He has shared his findings at UN climate conferences, aiming to increase global restoration efforts. His organization has educated 2,500 youth in 16 countries and is involved in collaborative mangrove restoration in Central Africa.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, 16-year-old Riya Chandra discovered a passion for hiking but noticed a lack of girls of color in outdoor spaces. Research revealed historical non-inclusivity and systemic barriers preventing families of color from accessing nature, validating her own experiences.

To address this, Chandra founded HYPE: GIRLS (Hiking Youth Program for Equity: Girls) in 2021. The program organizes hikes, nature walks, and lectures for teenage girls of color in New York's Westchester and Yonkers areas. HYPE: GIRLS fosters a safe, inclusive community, promoting nature interaction for coping and self-discovery. It aims to inspire young people to protect our environment and become role models for future generations.

The 24th annual Brower Youth Awards ceremony, a flagship event of the New Leaders Initiative presented by Earth Island Institute, was held on October 17, 2023, in Berkeley, California. The evening celebrated six outstanding youth leaders for their accomplishments in the environmental movement, featuring special videos and speeches from the awardees.

This year's theme, "Moving Forward Together," underscored the power of teamwork and diverse contributions, inspired by the proverb: "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." The awards, which have recognized environmental youth leaders since 2000, highlight how young leaders are redefining traditional leadership roles. For more information, visit broweryouthawards.org.

Angelina Xu delivered a compelling speech at the annual Brower Youth Awards ceremony. This prestigious event celebrates young environmental leaders and their impactful contributions.

The ceremony took place on October 17, 2023, at the Freight & Salvage, a renowned venue located in Berkeley, California.

Muskan Walia delivered a notable speech at the Brower Youth Awards ceremony. This prestigious event recognizes young environmental leaders.

The ceremony took place on October 17, 2023, at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, California.

Katherine Martínez Medina delivered a notable speech at the Brower Youth Awards ceremony.

The event took place on October 17, 2023, at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, California.

Maanit Goel delivered a speech at the prestigious Brower Youth Awards ceremony.

The event took place on October 17, 2023, at the Freight & Salvage venue in Berkeley, California.

Will Charouhis' speech at the Brower Youth Awards ceremony, held October 17, 2023, at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, California.

Riya Chandra delivered a speech at the Brower Youth Awards ceremony.

The event was held on October 17, 2023, at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, California.