[Coral-List] Approaching game over/Audition to give a TED talk

Wed Mar 21 13:47:34 EDT 2012

Sarah and listers,

I applaud your speaking out, and call to action. While Mel is correct,
"crisis" messages tend to build walls rather than bridges, I also
believe there is immense value in your passionate plea for action on the
part of scientists, particularly in this venue.

As an "environmentalist" who is just beginning her academic career,
solely for the purpose of educating people about how climate change, I
am heartened to hear that there are respected scientists who are
becoming more vocal about the situation. Jim Hansen does an impeccable
job of walking the line while being vocally active.
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/lang///id/1380

I hope, Sarah, with all my heart that your prescient 2016 13th ICRS does
not become a reality. Be assured that I am active, constantly speaking
with groups about oceans and climate change, and I plan on auditioning
to be a 2013 TED speaker to bring this message to a global audience. I
have passion, but not credentials, however. Therefore, those of you that
do, should apply too! TED talks will be auditioning unknown speakers for
2013. In fact, HALF of the speakers are going to be chosen through
auditions.

http://conferences.ted.com/TED2013/auditions/index.php

I would encourage coral reef listers to apply and frame messages in such
ways that are empowering, solution-oriented and encourage healthy
dialoge.

Peace,
Jess Reese
Zoology Graduate Student
Miami University of Ohio

Best Fishes, <))))><

Jess Reese

Interpretive Programs Coordinator

Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo

3300 Golf Rd. 

Brookfield, IL 60513

Direct Phone (708) 688-8861

-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
[mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Sarah
Frias-Torres
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 11:18 AM
To: mel at briscoe.com; coral list
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Approaching game over

Mel,thank you for your comments.
I don't expect to be called to testify.
That gives me the freedom to say things the way they are.

Sarah Frias-Torres, Ph.D. Schmidt Ocean Institute Postdoctoral
FellowOcean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) 1420 Seaway
Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida 34949 USA Tel (772)
467-1600http://www.teamorca.orghttp://independent.academia.edu/SarahFria
sTorres

> From: Mel at briscoe.com
> To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:55:16 -0400
> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Approaching game over
> 
> "Once the Keystone pipeline is operational, it will be game over for
Earth's
> climate and for the coral reefs."
> 
> I doubt that the extreme hyperbole is a good way to communicate your
> concerns to decision makers.
> They simply do not listen to Chicken Little.
> 
> "initiate a conversation with someone who still has a working brain in
> there"
> 
> A truely wonderful way to get someone to listen to you.
> Sarah, your emails are now in the (permanent) public record. 
> 
> Given your stated attitude, I doubt that you will be called to
testify! This
> squanders your knowledge and passion.
> 
> Sorry.
> 
> - Mel
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> [mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Sarah
> Frias-Torres
> Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 10:22 AM
> To: coral list
> Subject: [Coral-List] Approaching game over
> 
> 
> Dear Coral-ListersI think we are approaching game over. 
> President Obama will announce tomorrow the permit approval for the
southern
> portion of the Keystone XL
>
pipelinehttp://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2012/03/21/exp-early-m
yb-k
> eystone.cnn
> This is a pipeline operated by TransCanada, that will connect the oil
sands
> in Canada with U.S.  oil refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. While the
> approval is still pending for the portions of the pipeline that go
through
> the U.S. heartland (and one of the most valuable aquifers in the
country),
> approval of the southern portion of the pipeline means that, unless
> something dramatic happens, the pipeline will become a reality.
> Once the Keystone pipeline is operational, it will be game over for
Earth's
> climate and for the coral reefs.
> When you follow the debate about this project, it's interesting to see
that
> scientists are almost non existent. Reporters talk about
"environmentalists"
> and use the words "believe" to frame the consequences of using the
Canadian
> oil sands and the pipeline. As if environmentalists are running around
in
> some mystical trance, playing with crystals, singing kumba-ya, and
using
> their believes to "stop the progress of America". Whereas the
statements
> from the oil companies are framed as facts. They even go to the extend
of
> saying "Canadian oil sand use will diversify the country's energy
> resources".
> Where are the climate scientists, the marine scientists, the coral
reef
> scientists in this debate? Are any of the top scientists on those
research
> areas talking to government officials, warning them against using the
oil
> sands?I don't know if Canadian scientists have approached the Canadian
> government asking to reconsider the use of oil sands. If they had, it
didn't
> work.
> Considering the U.S. is the largest fossil fuel consumer in the world,
you
> would expect top scientists have approached the government and
demonstrated
> this madness has to stop. I'm not aware of a commission of top
scientists
> speaking up... the Union of Concerned Scientists seems missing in
action.
> What can we do?  
> July brings the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium. I wonder if
this
> will be the last ICRS held while there are still living coral reefs
out
> there. Besides the many activities during the Symposium, those
attending
> should think about the 13th ICRS, in 2016. If nothing changes, the
Keystone
> pipeline will be operational, the Canadian oil sands will have had 4
more
> years to burn, and so all the other fossil fuel burning all around the
> world.Maybe the 13th ICRS will be renamed as the "International Coral
Reefs
> We Used to Have Symposium"
> Perhaps the world renowned scientists attending the upcoming ICRS
could
> draft a letter to both the U.S. and Canadian governments, explaining
the
> major environmental damage of oil sand usage, for land and marine
> ecosystems, willing to provide their scientific expertise to answer
whatever
> questions politicians might have... maybe it can be signed up by those
> attending the Symposium. 
> Or perhaps, some of you in this list can get into the power circles in
> either government (or knows someone who can), and initiate a
conversation
> with someone who still has a working brain in there.
> Or maybe someone in this list has a better idea on how to deliver the
> message.
> Think about it. Imagine if scientists could really change the world.
> Sarah Frias-Torres, Ph.D. Schmidt Ocean Institute Postdoctoral
FellowOcean
> Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) 1420 Seaway Drive, Fort
Pierce,
> Florida 34949 USA Tel (772)
>
467-1600http://www.teamorca.orghttp://independent.academia.edu/SarahFria
sTor
> res
>  		 	   		  
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