Sunday, April 24, 2011

Interview on CHBC

Check out my latest interview!!
http://www.chbcnews.ca/video/index.html?releasePID=oj243dbK24QWuLj345ujIOD7nlRBa9DG

Thursday, April 7, 2011

My journey is not over.

As I was sitting on the airplane on the way back to Honolulu from Midway I was reminded of the trip there. I took a look at each of the seven team member's faces and thought that just two weeks ago these guys were strangers. All I knew about them was their name and title; cinematographer, producer or director, I had no idea how connected we would become.



As a team we had the privilege of witnessing something that hardly anyone else in the world would get a chance to. We saw the beauty and peace of Midway Atoll, but we also saw the disgusting reality of the destruction of our planet. As our two weeks together proceeded personal jokes arose, tears were shed and an unspoken bond was formed between these 8 strangers.

Photo: Kris Krug


As a teenager I haven't had the experience of witnessing a group of adults working together to reach a common goal but here I had that chance. It has been a beautiful experience. Each one of our team members are so different but I saw these adults use their strengths to help each other overcome their weaknesses. I was humbled to see them talk so openly with each other and wholeheartedly share their feelings and beliefs. I have never seen adults talk like this with each other and I aspire to be confident enough in myself to be able to do this.

I have found traits within each of these adults that I so highly admire and will try to foster within myself. It has been so hard to say goodbye to my new 'ohana' but I hope they understand that they have forever changed me and impacted my life and for that I thank them.



On another note, my journey is not over! I know that being this actively involved in a cause while so young will not be easy. I have already faced many hard times that made me consider stopping everything I do but I now better understand that this is way too important to me and the world. I'm in this forever. I promise you all that! So as I go continue on my journey please keep checking back on my blog. I'm going to have some very interesting stories about travelling elsewhere to speak about plastic pollution! 


Big thank you to everyone!! 
Love,
Emily

Sunday, April 3, 2011

There is always a choice...

Today is our last full day here on Midway Atoll and after a few days of no sun, it decided to make an appearance. Tomorrow is going to be a very hard day. I have fallen so in love with these albatross and they trust us more than I have ever seen another wild animal trust a human being. The more that I think about that the more absurd that becomes. They have no reason to trust us like that. We are killing so many of them.



It really only hit me two days ago that I am here on Midway Atoll. It was then that I realized my dream had actually come true, but it proved my worst nightmare to be true as well... plastic pollution is getting way out of hand. As I was riding my bike beside a big field of birds and I thought about all the plastic products I've used in my life time.



 I couldn't possibly think of them all because plastic has become second nature to society. I thought about the shampoo I've used..

Photo: Kris Krug


 the numerous toothbrushes I've gone through..



or water bottles I've drank from.



That's when it really hit me, all of my plastic could be inside one of these birds. I imagined my toothbrush poking and stretching a baby albatross's stomach and I was brought to tears. I am responsible for an innocent being's suffering. Just because I needed that plastic spoon to stir my coffee a year ago, something suffered for it's whole life. This was an absolutely heartbreaking thought.

The North Pacific Gyre is impossible to clean out, but we can make a difference by choosing not to contribute to this problem anymore. There is always a choice. Are you responsible enough to make the right one?

-Emily

Friday, April 1, 2011

3 Days Left :(

As days go by, my time here on Midway becomes less and less. I have become so connected with this place and leaving here in three days will be heartbreaking.  I am going to miss being so close to nature and spending time with animals that aren't afraid of me. My favourite thing to do here is sit in the middle of a big field with thousands of birds around me!

Photo: Ian Hinkle


They are so cute and aren't scared of you one bit! Yesterday, I sat beside a little chick and we played tug-o-war with my sweater. Just like a dog would, they shake their head in attempt to win the battle, so adorable! Occasionally, an adult or juvenile wanders up to me and nibbles at my shoe or camera but they're gentle..most of the time.


When I sit there I feel like I could stay forever, but then who would tell this story? Who would share the horrors of this beautiful place? Who would tell the world about this colossal problem of plastic pollution?  So I realize I can't stay here forever. I need to go home and share my stories and experiences from Midway Atoll every chance I get!

-Emily