We have found ourselves increasingly distanced from the wild embrace of the sea; bound by concrete, fettered by wealth, and hindered by our fears and inhibitions. Today more than ever, in the space age, we are looking away from Earth and neglecting the very essence that sustains us: the womb of our existence. Yet, just as a small change on the ocean's surface can trigger profound transformations for creatures in its depths, the tireless efforts of individuals over the years have sparked a new wave of blue thinking.
This movement is permeating society, giving rise to a new generation of forward-thinking ocean advocates who might turn the tide for our exploited ocean. The marine environment faces unprecedented threats, and so this blue generation has been borne both of profound wonder and grim necessity. A sense of unity has taken hold in the world of marine conservation, as more people are inspired to rebel against the status quo. In this volume, we follow individuals who galvanize others with innovative initiatives and dreams of a better world—a better ocean.
We reached out to activists and individuals driving innovative change across continents. We wanted to tell their stories and understand what drove their conviction. From the establishment of a Blue School in the Namibian desert to the formation of a women’s surfing group in the chill waters of Scotland, a tapestry of hope began to emerge. We bore witness not only to the activism of our authors but also to the lives they've inspired, individuals who live and work with the ocean to demonstrate that environmental and social change are inseparable.
Rachel Carson’s words, written in 1951, ring truer than ever as we continue our cursed march towards the tipping point: ‘‘It is a curious situation that the sea, from which life first arose, should now be threatened by the activities of one form of that life. But the sea, though changed in a sinister way, will continue to exist: the threat is rather to life itself.” [1]
In the face of this adversity, the temerity of a blue generation rises, defiant against persistent adversaries polluting not only our environment but also our minds. Industries pump sewage into our waterways, governments endorse unsustainable environmental nightmares, politicians sow division with fear and hate, and even the unassuming consumer drives the demand and then throws litter from their car window. In this inimical atmosphere hope still grows, surging forward, unstoppable, like a wave continues to crash onto the shore. The message of this volume is resoundingly clear: though one soul may spark a flame, it is the collective endeavour of many that will breach the walls of apathy – a rising tide of change; generation sea.
In the face of this adversity, the temerity of a blue generation rises, defiant against persistent adversaries polluting not only our environment but also our minds. Industries pump sewage into our waterways, governments endorse unsustainable environmental nightmares, politicians sow division with fear and hate, and even the unassuming consumer drives the demand and then throws litter from their car window. In this inimical atmosphere hope still grows, surging forward, unstoppable, like a wave continues to crash onto the shore. The message of this volume is resoundingly clear: though one soul may spark a flame, it is the collective endeavour of many that will breach the walls of apathy – a rising tide of change; generation sea.
Our Gen Sea authors hope to educate, empower and inspire, encouraging us to work together to protect our blue spaces. In this volume, we pay homage to the trailblazers and visionaries of the oceanic frontier—stewards of change who understand that transformation lies not in the hands of one, but in the collective awakening of a generation.
[1] Carson, Rachel. The Sea Around Us. New York: Oxford University Press, 1951.
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