Rebel Girls Climate Warriors: 25 Tales of Women Who Protect the Earth

Rebel Girls Climate Warriors: 25 Tales of Women Who Protect the Earth — page 3
4 FOREWORD Dear Rebels Growing up in Morelos Mexico just south of Mexico City I couldn't always get to the sea But I was fascinated by it I loved to flip through my brother's copy of a book by legendary explorer and photographer Jacques Cousteau The undersea pictures were amazing I wanted to dive into them and glide through the water with a pod of dolphins I wanted to see towering forests of kelp or enormous blue whales with my own eyes I didn't have words for it at the time but I felt it deeply those photos had power I got a degree in marine science and for my first adult job I cataloged wildlife in a beach town called Akumal At night I watched sea turtles scoot out of the sea and lay their eggs in shallow little nests on the beach But in the morning seagulls and raccoons would come along and eat the eggs I was incredibly sad for the sea turtles They are so important for our ecosystem So I did what I could I moved the eggs at night to keep them safe Years later I became a photographer for National Geographic magazine and then struck out on my own eventually forming the International League of Conservation Photographers SeaLegacy and Only One For many years now I've used my camera to tell stories about the oceans and the animals and plants that live underwater If I can capture people's attention then they can learn that the oceans hold the secrets to healing the planet I know images can help persuade people about the urgent need to protect wild places That's why Paul Nicklen and I founded SeaLegacy an organization that brings together the world's top photographers filmmakers conservationists and scientists to use visual storytelling to excite and engage people in ocean conservation Today I am the cofounder and president of SeaLegacy and Only One But you don't need to be a scientist or the president of an organization to help You can use your talents as a writer singer or storyteller to spread the word and join the fight against human-made pollution and climate change