Category: World Team Now (Page 2 of 10)

An Ocean of Thanks, Giving to Islands

Thank you! Yes, YOU! An ocean of thanks with your kind thoughts, willingness to listen and share over the years with our World Team project, especially with our 501 c3 nonprofit World Team Now.  We appreciate all who volunteer as we embark on the ocean,  atmosphere nexus and giving to islands.   The seeds planted the past decades have  landed in fertile ground, are watered,  and we’ve started to see the change embraced with growth.

Photo shot in Central Park, an example of a Heat Island, temperatures are warmer and the leaves are on trees. in late November now.

I am not only referring only to Climate Change, but the severity of the situation with social and environmental tension climaxing.  May these crises ultimately build greater health  for our world.  There is evidence that humanity is finally considering nature to be a greater priority, and it is about time.

At this “giving” time we are in a flood— yes of Noah’s time’s proportion— of not only information and data, but also incredible organizations all vying for resources.  We are encouraging the prioritization of your own well- being first and to consider where you can make a small change to live more intimately with nature, and plant more seeds of change.

We at World Team Now prioritized small islands in the Global South, as they seemed to have the “least,” in terms of development and yet  are “most’ vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. We have realized that when it comes to nature we have much to learn from natural based solutions, to live intimately with the ocean, and in better balance collectively.   Now with the ocean, we all can support resiliency as a priority and together share the resources needed to meet the crises with opportunities.

The ocean reaches us all, and we found ourselves starting at home first these past two years.  If you have resources to give, know they will go to one of our campaigns: our ocean experiential educational curricula, barrier islands, nature-based and renewable systems solutions, our alternative energy and transportation projects, planting seeds, net zero buildings, heat islands programs and biodiversity, beginning with the ocean, and with what floats ( like the mangrove seed). The cheerleader in us says, “give us a T. E.A.M.” T.ime, E.nergy, A.ction or Money, it takes TEAMwork for the clichéd dream to work. We appreciate it if you are able to participate.

Islands also include the “Heat island” phenomena that we are experiencing in large cities, like in New York City. As temperatures rise the quality of life, on the island of Manhattan related to nature; water, air and food, and the amount of pollution and waste to combat, is considerable.  We are a long way from  sustainable development, the SDGs and reaching  global goals. ‘Islanding” can also be caused by power outages, fires, mudslides, floods like we experienced in California and this includes barrier islands too, where we have also been based.  We feel obligated to give back especially knowing the history and the legacy of how land, and many forms of “ownership”  has played out through “civil society”  in his-story, and we all realize it is time for a new story, our story– each story,  us all together.

Purple Phalaenopsis, by Suzanne Maxx

We are still gathering the larger scale resources to use media to tell-a-vision, and we are so thankful to experience the myriad  of options to connect us virtually.   The format of media with advertising, that is used in social media, is what we have to work with now. We are eager for the change and using social media at the request of others. For this campaign we chose a modest amount, in proportion to building World Team to scale. We will be reaching out here more going forward.

More people  are prioritizing these collective challenges, just take a look at the youth moving into action, and indigenous people.

Embracing this conscious change for systems change moves us closer to both the personal and collective transformation needed for the future we want. Yet it will take the whole world to be together as a team to play to transform our selves, and the world.

Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed, fulfilling, and peaceful Thanksgiving.

 

 

 

Retreat to Spring Forward

by Suzanne Maxx ©

December 15th, 2019 I went on a Writer’s Retreat, after years of the World Team journey it was time to get still and go within, and better listen before I could speak. Shortly thereafter the world would do more than, “retreat” but lockdown. Now the World Team® project’s goal is beginning to be achieved, we are just beginning to use media to tell-a-vision and bring people together virtually for social and environmental transformation. We still have a long way to go with focused action but thank you in advance for your patience.   I may not be responsive in the coming months, to complete what was set out to do pre-COVID19 with the writing for the World Team vision.

While spring has sprung in the northern hemisphere, it’s not just a “March” it is becoming a sprint, springing into hyper-warp speed not only for “recovery,” but also for transformation.

Coming through an OCEAN of awareness, with collective voice rising for justice, through the tide of the; #ClimateCrises,  #COVID19Pandemic, #EconomicCrisis, #BlackLivesMatter, #Elections, #SacredPeopleSacredEarth,  #InternationalWomensDay. Coming into this week with #FridaysfortheFuture, #Equinox,#WorldWaterDay #InternationalHappinessDay, #InternationalForestsDay,#BioDiversity&Forrest, and now we are in the midst of #MonacoOceanWeek… building to more news on “EarthDay!  Blinded by the transformation tide, perhaps past the #DecadeoftheOcean or the SDGs, reaching for the UN’s #GlobalGoals on “time” #30×30 by year #2030.

We, humans, are meaning-making machines,  trying to fix concepts that could go from being one “day,” to every day –week or month to do more than “build back,” but to renew.  And the focused energy of our collective intent in time is key.

Atlantic Ocean USA

For the love of the Ocean and all above let’s make these more than a day, week, month, let’s make it our priority.  A priority that breathes through, and into the fabric of society beyond time, and into our world’s systems.  Perhaps after this Health crisis, and the myriad of crises we together have realized more about well-being, freedom, and nature, to be better motivated for both personal and collective action…

The love for nature grows. I have experienced reciprocity with the interactions I’ve had with some wild friends. These wild friends have kept me inspired to learn more about biodiversity, their species, from their repeated visits together, while here on this island, writing.

The Great Blue Heron I named, “Beauty”

If you would like to travel virtually to and for the ocean now, join in for Monaco’s Ocean week; https://fondationsanctadevota.mc/projets/monaco-projet-scolaire/ We appreciate the work that Team World Corps/World Team Now’s first Honorary President, HRH Prince Albert II is doing and has done with The Prince Albert II Foundation and the team of entities that are focused on the future of the Ocean. Another special shout out to the proposed game-changing global approach to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), from the Varda Group, who have worked tirelessly on the “Because the Ocean,” and “The Future We Want” campaigns. They have supported World Team Now’s efforts at Rio+20 and proven over time that team works. Their consulting knowledge of Fisheries, Law of the Sea, and dedication to the ocean proves to be significant. Altogether, with each one of us, it can happen beyond one vision.

 

Thanks for holding the vision that we together can be like a true #WorldTeamNow, as we prepare.

Oceans’ Biodiversity: Dolphins to Sea Turtles

By Suzanne Maxx ©

Living on a developed barrier island, Ponce Inlet Florida, USA, and floating in the ocean daily has built an even more intimate relationship with nature.  What a contrast from the island of Manhattan, New York City to this island, and thinking back on the years being on the Small Island States, such as  Fiji and Samoa.  The opportunity to learn from biodiversity and interact with nature is immeasurable and teaches so much about how each species is organically wired to survive.

When I moved into a home on the beach during recovery to regain my health, floating with the dolphins led me to an ocean curriculum.  Then two mama sea turtles chose to make their nests on the shore of the beach where I live. We have learned so much about being able to witness the life cycles of sea turtles during this time and these precious endangered species we are called to team-up with others here to help protect.

The mother lays her eggs onshore and goes back to the sea.  Months later,  the sea turtle hatchlings’ journey to the ocean for the first time by themselves. Watch this little leader:

The learning that is unfolding is immeasurable and inspires the sharing of the love for biodiversity with new experiences in the wild with birds, fish, crabs, whales, dolphins, and sea turtles grows from being in the ocean.

Being immersed in the ocean and island, life breath by breath strengthens that interconnection to all species.  But the key is how to not merely survive, but to thrive, with interdependency on one another beyond siloed life systems, using both science, consciousness, and life’s ultimate mystery to discover how to better protect nature. Urgent action on both local and global levels to approach this change is needed, but it begins with becoming aware of the challenges and opportunities.

When we are immersed in nature, each one of us can come into a more balanced relationship, not just to the ocean, flora, and fauna, but one another. This island has a team that supports marine life, with wild species education, rehabilitation, all in the effort to support, conserve and preserve sea turtles, and more!

 

Actions on Biodiversity World Team Now is taking include:

From a global view, biodiversity worldwide is rapidly decreasing. Urgent action is needed as witnessed in the United Nations’ just published 5th edition its Global Diversity Outlook.

There was to be a UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon Portugal in 2020 but that is moved to 2021, date TBD.

Leading to COP26 in Glasgow Scottland 1-12 November 2021.

Observing nature, and organically discovering natural-based solutions from the ocean, is leading to new pathways forward for our common future.

Every Breath We Take

 

Sunrise with the “Blue and Green” Photo by Suzanne Maxx

By Suzanne Maxx ©

Wishing you and your loved ones to be able to breathe in the abundant love that is here for us right now!   Then exhale all fears doubts, and surrender our mind’s idea of life in the past or time. Every breath we take in, can we give back out to the world loving compassion, in a spirit of contribution?

During this pandemic period, we have realized the key is to go within and notice the “pause” between each breath metaphorically— where we each are in our lives here now.

World Team Now continues to find our truth in nature.  The photo also represents our campaigns beginning with: the blue (ocean and sky), and the green (of nature), and the biodiversity in between. Nature and the highest part of our own human nature need to breathe. How do we take greater consideration in our “global economies” for our future?    Learning to better listen to, not only, our own voices within, but also the rising “collective consciousness” is a task for us all.  To live in consideration of the bigger picture that we are interconnected, and each of our choices matter, as everything changes.

World Team Now has focused on demonstrating solutions, but we have been a small handful of people that planted the seeds around the world: a possible “vision” for the future that might have more in balance with nature.  Our public electric vehicle chargers in California, and solar net meters in New York, were a small start. But the vision has been for a literal “World Team,” and the winning of the human race is to truly realize the potential of our species as human “beings”.

Organizing and acting for things we experience as “wrong” prescribes a judgment, that something is “right” when it is meant to merely raise awareness or move us to choose our truth for action or stillness.  The patterns in movement, of humanity, are changing along with the climate. We propose to rise even above what we “own” whether that be a possession, our own creed, which has carried us through this life journey.  We are being asked to remember or envision what indeed is the inspiration for a deep breath.

World Team Now’s stand is to demonstrate solutions that are nature-based, and we are quite enthusiastic about what has grown during this public health pandemic in relation to what we have organic encounters with now; the Ocean (an educational curriculum emerged) and more campaigns on the blue, the green and the biodiversity in between with dolphins; turtles, mangroves, and islands. Emerging is even a greater perspective of the journey’s story about what happened with people around the world when we tried to actually “tell-a-vision” — for a World Team.

We are enthusiastic about our SOS-IS partnership, even though it is at the beginning of coming together.  Our goals are beyond the construct of time, but ideally in the now we can act for future generations.

This week has many events to consider organized around the UN General Assembly.  A kickoff event on Sunday, September 20th is the New York People Climate Movement’s March for Climate Justice Through Racial Justice. World Team Now fundamentality agrees with the group’s statement and letter, call for justice, but has concerns related to naming-names and prescribing actions related to specific people in political power, and the time frame of these actions with consideration of the collective state of most people.

Statue of Liberty & Lighthouse Ponce Inlet Fl Photos by Suzanne Maxx

To shine the light of awareness now, we can only prescribe to be conscious of our choice, and be grateful. We cannot endorse, prescribe action, what to do, or how this moment will “benefit the public” yet.  We can share some awareness of what had motivated us in the past, now, and for the future we want.  This information is meant to just be shared, again we do not endorse the prescribed approaches or judgments to force law enforcement. Here is what we understand to being organized for the public in New York City locally and virtually:

World Team Now, a public beneficiary nonprofit, had to try to decide what is best for the public at large. Given where we are now geopolitically, this seems to be an impossible choice. That just reminds us that we are all in process of realizing what “I’m possible” means.

We encourage conscious choice.  We have been challenged to know what could truly be of public benefit to you all now, and confess we don’t know.  In the past, it has worked to act on a local level, and now it will take each of us within ourselves to just shine that special something only you can give.

Globally it does start with where we are now.  These above are not legal actions please note that if you choose to go.  The march falls on High Holy Days for many people, but it is your choice.

It’s the United Nations 75th Anniversary, and we do support the concept of having Global Goals aka Sustainable Development Goals!  But the “by when” and “how we will realize the SDGs” is up to us all.   We support the idea of the government’s private sector, corporations, civil society, and each of us coming together for something new.

The question of belief, ideology, and what is justice, comes back to “Just” Us,” each of us.

While our goal is to unite: the divisions can only be bridged through each person’s own truth. While there is a “March” tomorrow we had agreed to support in theory, but it is your choice to engage or not. We can just share the information of what is happening and do not endorse the prescribed approach to go up against the law, or law enforcement.  The consideration as New Yorkers to choose to engage or not, given the public safety, and lack of legal permitting, and prescribed measures, has to be one’s own. Your choice is your gift; the “present” of this moment’s possibility.

Where the theory or the ideology lives into the future world we want, how it meets the present with action with respect of the law is the challenge now—  both the crises and the opportunity.  In the effort to share the information we realize that freedom, equality, and conscious breath matters.  May we each trust in the love that breathes through us, and realize we are in the midst of a painful birthing of a new paradigm and way to be with one another and in the world.

Breathing into a New Paradigm
by Suzanne Maxx

 

As We, The People of the World Rise, for Better Balance!

Although many of us have held the vision for many years to play to transform the world, and we carry forward legacies from past generations, at this moment we each have a choice.  How to use each moment to live in better balance with nature?  Can we learn from the past, take action in the present, and move towards living into a powerful vision for our future?

Get ready, ACTION!  And the action is becoming more coordinated now, and streams of events and activities role out publicly around the world, will you join in? The activities are vast, and actually, give us all a chance to take action and there are big things happening with the global climate movement. Your gift to choose to do what you can, whatever that is for you, where you are, thinking of us all, like a great big “World Team,” is key.  A World Team that is focused on the goals, the global goals for transformation with 2020 vision beyond, 2030.

Do you want to give of T.ime, E.nergy, A.ction or M.oney for future generations? Will you give a present of your presence, or consciously choose how to give in your life now? 

 There are events taking place with and for people to gather at a village, community, town, city, state government, and beyond national levels. We probably can agree that change needs to happen at all levels, in a myriad of ways,  every voice matters, and each step of action counts.  You can get involved with these daily, weekly as we begin the season for change with these events;

Thursday, September  6 Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice: Now is the Time for Action!!
https://actionnetwork.org/events/climate-jobs-and-justice-now-is-the-time-for-action

Saturday, September 8th Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice
https://peoplesclimate.org/ &
September 8th  Rise for Climate
https://riseforclimate.org

September 8th 10 AM Rise for Climate, Jobs & Justice in San Francisco
Four Embarcadero Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94105
https://ca.riseforclimate.org/

September 8-14th Solidarity to Solutions Week
Climate Justice Alliance
https://climatejusticealliance.org/solidarity-to-solutions-week/
http://ittakesroots.org/sol2sol/rsvp/

Sunday 9th 9:00 am: Intertribal Prayer, Teach-In and Direct Action Training
The event will be followed by a non-violent direct action training. Directions and details here.

Sunday 9th 12:00 noon: Expansion and Resistance: The Fossil Fuel Industry in the Bay Area
Soil not Oil panel featuring Amazon Watch campaigner Zoë Cina-Sklar and other local activists discussing the impacts of oil refineries and other fossil fuel infrastructure in the Bay Area. Tickets available here.

 Sunday 9th  4:30 pm: Aerial Mandala for Climate Justice
Join Dancing without Borders and Spectral Q at Crissy Field to co-create a visual message in support of climate justice. This iconic image will be captured from the sky and will send a message to world leaders about the need to join with us in creating a more just and equitable future. RSVP here.

Monday-Tuesday September  10 & 11: Ocean Hack
Salesforce headquarters, 415 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 San Francisco
As part of the build-up to Global Climate Action Summit and in pursuit of Global Goals 14, Life Below Water, Sustainable Ocean Alliance has partnered with One Ocean Collab and Salesforce to host a 48-hour pop-up innovation lab for the ocean.
http://globalclimateactionsummit.org/events/ocean-hack/
https://www.cognitoforms.com/SustainableOceanAlliance1/OceanHack

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH 8:00 am: Rise Against Climate Capitalism
You are invited to join us in a non-violent action that will include prayer, a teach-in, painting a street mural and direct action at one of the places where climate profiteers will be meeting prior to the Global Climate Action Summit. Details here.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH 12:55 pm: Keep it in the Ground: Building Movements for Climate Justice
Soil not Oil panel featuring Amazon Watch Executive Director Leila Salazar-López, a leader from Sarayaku, and and other organizers about inspirational campaigns to keep fossil fuels in the ground. Tickets available here.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH 10:00 am to 8:00 pm: Solutions to Solidarity Summit
This day-long assembly will highlight frontline communities’ solutions that address the interlinked crises of climate, economic, and racial injustice through interactive workshops, art, and music. More info here.

 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH 1:00 pm to 8:30 pm: Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice
Join the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International for “Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice: Women Leading Solutions on the Frontlines of Climate Change” – a gathering of extraordinary women leaders from across the United States and around the world joined in solidarity to speak out against environmental and social injustice, draw attention to root causes of the climate crisis, and present the diverse array of visions and strategies with which they are working to shape a healthy and equitable world. Amazon Watch and indigenous leaders will speak at the following panels:

  • 1:30 pm: Women Speak from the Frontlines of Climate Change: Nina Gualinga, Kichwa from Sarayaku and co-founder of Hakhu Amazon Design
  • 5:55 pm: Keynote address by Mirian Cisneros, President of the Kichwa people of Sarayaku and Leila Salazar-López, Executive Director of Amazon Watch

More info here.

 

Tuesday SEP 11 6:30-11PM Ocean Solutions Gala
California Academy of Sciences 55 Music Concourse Drive San Francisco, CA 94118
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-ocean-solutions-gala-tickets-48003146704

Wednesday-Friday Sept 12-14 Global Climate Action Summit
https://globalclimateactionsummit.org/
http://globalclimateactionsummit.org/program/

September 12, 2018 San Francisco City Hall Cities4Climate: The Future is Us 1PM-4:35PM
Co-hosted by C40 Cities, The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, and the City of San Francisco https://www.c40.org/events/cities4climate-the-future-is-us

Wednesday, September 12TH 4:00 pm: Grassroots Climate Leadership 
From California residents working to create a just transition off fossil fuels by solarizing their neighborhoods to Indigenous peoples protecting their territories from oil extraction in the Amazon, many of the most innovative solutions to climate change come from those most impacted by climate change and fossil fuel extraction. Come hear an Indigenous leader from Ecuadorian Amazon, a community organizer from California, and a First Nations activist from Canada speak to their experiences defending their lands from fossil fuel development and finding innovative ways to accelerate a just transition to renewable energy. RSVP here.

Wednesday, September 12TH 5:00 pm: Following the Money: Holding Big Banks Accountable for Financing the Climate Crisis
Join a panel grassroots climate leaders to learn about the growing international movement holding financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase accountable for their central role in perpetuating the global climate crisis by financing big oil and gas. RSVP here.

Thursday, September 13TH  7:00 am: Stand with Communities, Not Corporations
Jerry Brown’s promotion of continued fossil fuel production, carbon trading markets and other incentives to oil, gas and other polluting corporations, perpetuates climate change and decimates Indigenous communities, communities of color and other working class peoples throughout California and around the world. Join us for a family-friendly direct action to demand that the Governor and other politicians stand with people not polluters. More info here.

Thursday, September 13TH 7:30 pm: The Eagle and the Condor (Closing Night of the San Francisco Green Film Festival)
Four Indigenous leaders embark on an extraordinary trans-continental adventure from the Canadian plains to deep into the heart of the Amazonian jungle to unite the peoples of North and South America and deepen the meaning of “Climate Justice”. This film documents the stories of these four well-known Native environmental spokespeople who are at the forefront of a perspective shift in the identity of their people, from forgotten voices to strong shared communities with the power to bring change to the entire world. Their path through the jungle takes them on an unexpectedly challenging and liberating journey, which will forever change their attachment to the Earth and one another. RSVP here.

 Friday, September 14TH 1:30 pm: Primary Forests: Key to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Primary forests, particularly intact tropical forests, serve a critical role in regulating global weather patterns and sequestering carbon dioxide, house about half of the world’s biodiversity and are home to hundreds of indigenous peoples and traditional communities. These peoples have been stewards of their lands for millennia, but their forest territories face increasing pressure from industrial development and agribusiness. Tune in to our live stream: of a panel featuring indigenous leaders, journalists, and advocates discussing these issues and their work to protect forests. More info here.

Friday, September 14TH 3:00 pm: The Tortoise and the Tapir

Haunted by images of empty water reservoirs in the Brazilian southwest, filmmaker Eliza Capai tries to understand the gigantic constructions being built in the middle of the Amazon forest, including the imposing Belo Monte dam. Upstream, she finds spirited victory against hydro dam: projects in neighboring Peru led by Goldman Environmental Prize Winner Ruth Buendia. Tickets available here for this screening, part of the San Francisco Green Film Festival.

This just the beginning stay tuned for much more to come.

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