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.
June 21, 2018, Summer Solstice Malibu, California, USA
I know I’m not alone when I say I love the ocean! I think there is value in organizing people to focus around the action in a day like “World Oceans Day,” (which was June 8th) or “Earth Day” or even one’s “Birthday”!
The love for the ocean is something most of us have in common. It’s when summer comes, (or when we go to another part of the world), that is when most people begin to build ocean consciousness. Ocean consciousness is usually around going to the beach. So how do we show appreciation, and celebrate the way the ocean gives to the planet, and interacts with life beyond country, all over the world?
It was an honor to participate in the United Nations Solutions Panel as a speaker. Also, I covered the conference as a journalist. With a death in the family simultaneous at the events’ climax, I learned that it was too many roles to play at the same time. Here are some past tweets, a Facebook post, and a newsletter to give you the feel of the diversity of experiences:
Suzanne met with and interviewed Peter Thomson, Fijian diplomat and President of the General Assembly of the United…
This year, Oceans Day was celebrated at the ocean itself: being with the ocean and holding conversations locally at the beach with people about the ocean’s meaning and importance related to islands and a myriad of solutions to plastics and individual choices. Most people at the ocean had no idea about World Oceans Day or the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal #SDG14, so this work took on a different value, and tone.
This experience brought up the question: Is the love we carry for our common home, nature, and the ocean prioritized in our daily lives now, even if we don’t live near the ocean? I thought I had prioritized the ocean until I lived on the ocean in Fiji, literally for a total of six months working on our World Team project. I lived in a villa actually out on the ocean.
From the back porch of the villa, I could dive into the ocean. From my bedroom, I looked out on its vast, ever-changing horizon mirroring some of the most beautiful sunrises ever. From the opposite side of the bedroom, each sunset was better than the last. The living room was actually a “living room,” with large glass circles as the floor, a window to watch the wildlife in the ocean: colorful fish swimming below my feet at high tides, and the pink and aqua blue neon florescent crabs in the sand at low tide.
I realized the ocean breathes too –inhaling and exhaling, as waves go in and out and with the high and low tides – breathing a way to organize life in and around Oceania. The two category 3 hurricanes that came through while I was there caused a great loss for people and island life. It is significant that when we consider the big picture, in the past few years, the extreme weather and tropical storms have increased globally. Do we all realize that the choices we make here in the developed region of the world dramatically affect what happens in other parts of the world with Climate Change?
Yet the stewardship of the ocean in the Pacific Island region’s culture is considerable, and there is a lot for the developed world to learn from how the native islanders interact with the ocean. Passed on from generation to generation are ways to not just look to the stars for navigation, but to the ocean for understanding life.
“Chimneys” Photo Courtesy of “Dive 4 Life” Fiji
Prominent is the biodiversity of species and preservation; fish as a considerable food source, and coral reefs as life-sustaining. The ocean is central in the Pacific Island Region of Oceania, and people have learned to listen and watch the ocean and its tides and species for how life can be better organized and prioritized. By nature, the respect and love of the ocean is core to the culture and village communities I spent time within Fiji.
Next to the villa along the shore of Koro Sun Resort in Savusavu was “Dive 4 Life” where they teach and lead ocean journeys scuba diving (PADI Certification & Instruction), snorkeling, and fishing adventures. We will share more about Dive 4 Life coming up. Nearly every day in Fiji, one can experience a way to become more intimate with the ocean.
I wonder how it can be that when I arrived on one of the most pristine, untouched outer islands left in the world, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with virgin sand from human footprints- there was plastic garbage from other regions of the world washing up on shore. Plastic waste, the shipping industry, nuclear hazardous and toxic wastes, ocean acidification, climate change, overfishing have all challenged the ocean we love. We all now have heard that if we keep going at this rate with plastics, by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. On the outer Fiji island, where our nonprofit, World Team Now, has been working, local villagers reported recently that right where sea turtles usually come up on the beach to lay their eggs, instead, there was a giant sea turtle strangled by plastic. Time for action: Here are 20 ways to plastic proof your routine.
So many of us enjoy what the ocean gives us: seafood to eat, waves to wide, sunsets to reflect upon – we think about the ocean related to fishing, surfing, swimming, sailing/boating, snorkeling, wave energy, and tidal energy – what we can get out of the ocean. I wonder how many people are truly aware that not only is the ocean beautiful, and evokes wonder, but that it actually helps us breathe and is critical for the balance of earth systems. Oceans actually breathe in for us by the plankton absorbing carbon dioxide, as much as 50% of what we humans are polluting into the air since the beginning of the industrial age. The challenge is that the change in the temperature of the ocean influences the ability of plankton to ingest the carbon dioxide. Plankton forms the base of the food web on the ocean. The temperature of the ocean and the atmosphere are coupled as a cause and effect; mirroring. Thus we face a dire positive feedback condition of warming, causing more CO2 to remain in the atmosphere. It’s time to think about how to give back to the ocean. Our World Team project is so eager to begin to show some of these solutions in real time, on an island and we are gearing up for action now. We plan to have many of you join us at least virtually next year.
Just the same way we created this mess with plastic and other wastes, we can altogether work to clean it up. There are innovative solutions now. In Fiji, I learned how to re-plant the ever important mangroves. We can replant coral. We can repopulate and protect fish. We can create monitoring systems to address illegal fishing and protect endangered species, we can choose alternative renewable forms of transportation, and all of these systems are indeed connected.
Every morning I awoke to the sound of the ocean breathing in and out its waves as water splashes up against the villa and nearby shore. To be put to bed by the soothing sound of the oceans gentle waves is a grace to grow living with the ocean.
Do you wonder what the world would look like if we focused our attention, to giving respect and appreciation of the ocean in each breath? Let’s consider organizing our effort by each breath, thought, word and action. Maybe then we could make Oceans Day, Surf Day, and Earth Day be every day. What if their principles and elements at the core of these singular days happen every day? Are you willing to consider the power of choice to aggregate the collective consciousness to take action for the ocean every day? Could we make a world of difference?
Here is an excerpt of the lyrics of World Team’s rap song first performed at the United Nations Earth Summit/Global Forum 1992.
What’s the solution for the pollution of our ocean?
May we remember the ocean is all of the time, ever-changing, yet consistent in gifts? On this day of Summer Solstice in the Western Hemisphere, may we see the light of perspective for oceans value; every day.
Fiji Pacific Island Region, Oceania Photo by Suzanne Maxx
In Fiji living close to nature, in and with the ocean – Earth Day is truly every day. Living in wonder with each breath, I am perpetually amazed at witnessing the natural systems and experiencing island life, as we begin to build the World Team project. Under the ocean is a majestic world that amazes and captivates with each breath. Floating on the surface, a meditative ritual, that allows contemplation of the sea life teeming below the surface. To remember we have one common home – this Planet Earth and make our own conscious choices of how to use our resources of T.ime, E.nergy A.ction and M.oney (TEAM).
Dive4Life Pool Padi Scuba Diving Instruction Koro Sun Savusavu, Fiji
Even in “paradise”, I am reminded when I see plastic along the shore on an uninhabited island that each person’s choice, wherever we are in the world, matters. Each action counts. Are you willing to get involved? We are building a TEAM, it is growing but we need you, and that special something you only have. We will show how each person’s gifts are unique and as we build the framework of TEAM, remember each of our lives can touch and move others, as the Earth moves us all. As the environmental community gathers for Earth Day in the USA and EarthX Texas, we all would like to be in several places at once, but virtually, we can be. Happy Earth Day!
Savasi Island Fiji Photo by Suzanne Maxx
We applaud the 15 U.N.
members that have signed and
ratified the Paris Agreement
Inside the United Nations looking out- Photo Credit World Team Now/Suzanne Maxx
New York, New York USAToday at the United Nations 175 Countries signed the Paris Climate Agreement on opening day, Earth Day! Our World Team project is especially grateful for the leadership on the first 15 United Nations members that both signed and Ratified the Paris Agreement by Earth Day. This is a critical step to have the legal governmental framework for the revolutionary work to move towards our “100% Renewable Energy” global vision.
The most vulnerable Small Island Developing States (SIDS) know the reality of Climate Change, ironically they have to bare the most severe effects of the most developed regions actions. Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon’s request for “All hands on deck,” from all U.N. members, comes to relevance especially in places like Fiji.
Fiji’s Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama
Video: UN Web TV footage
Just recovering from Tropical Cyclone Winston, with another threat coming at them now, Fiji’s Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama was front and center, contributing and bringing the gravel down to close the day’s session. Republic of Palau’s President, Tommy Esang Remengesau Jr. captured the spirit of this time proclaiming, “On days like this you feel like you are part of a team”.
World Team has been on a long journey and search for a location that is eager to make that renewable energy transition. The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) need all the support we can give, and they hold the most promise for World Team project’s public work. SIDS are the most impacted and have the least. When we realize that over 62,000 people are displaced daily from climate or weather related events, it is stunning. Climate change refugees are growing. The funding coming from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) will help, but that support needs to have been there yesterday.
For the Paris Agreement to come into force, 55% of the UN’s members must sign and ratify it, and this must account for at least 55% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. All members have a year, until Earth Day 2017- but obviously, the sooner the better.
Each country created their own Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) for the Paris Agreement, their status is here. Next we need all the INDC to become Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). These contributions are required to be ambitious and progressive, to be updated, increased, and submitted to the U.N. every five years.
The fundamental step of putting the governmental framework into place is happening; the nations are coming up with determined commitments for our species and our planet to help tackle the climate change challenge. Although what was started in Paris in 2015 is growing with efforts like the Renewable Energy Innovation Plan for Africa; the 70 Initiatives to find a broader solutions; Mission Innovation for Green Technology, and the Carbon Pricing Leadership. We all realize that this cannot be done by nations alone.
It will take many sectors to build to the change that is sustainable. The action of the signing sends signals to all markets. Some illuminating information was announced and shared over the course of the day. “Taking climate action to the next level: Realizing the vision of the Paris Agreement” was the title for the afternoon.
Key financial and business pledges are being made by entities teaming up to further the global goals of the Paris Agreement. Anne Stausboll, representing CalPERS, the largest U.S. public pension fund with almost 300 billion dollars in assets gave the update; watch here. She shared that Ceres, a nonprofit organization leading adoption of sustainable business practices, has joined forces with the CalPERS pension fund, the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment, and the Global Investor Coalition on Climate Change. To mobilize the Paris Agreement, 400 investors with 24 trillion dollars in assets have been enrolled. “To achieve the goals of the Agreement, we know the world must invest at least one trillion dollars a year in clean energy for several decades,” she explained, “The Agreement has unleashed an unprecedented opportunity for institutional investors worldwide – a powerful global green light to shape tomorrow’s low-carbon economy.”
The Green Climate Fund which came out of the Paris Agreement is targeted to 100 billion a year in aid to developing countries. President Obama has pledged $3 billion to the GCF over four years. The first $500 million of that pledged amount was transferred. Countries are all together rising to action. The efforts of the two biggest emitters USA/China is supported by their agreement to one another.
Canada addresses the Opening Ceremony of the High-Level Event for the Signature of the Paris Agreement Credit: UN Photo
Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, explained his country is committed to helping developing countries, “Since they should not be punished for a problem they did not create.” Canada’s $2.56 Billion (USD) pledge is good kindling to ignite a fire of support to assist developing countries to grow to be cleaner, and more sustainable.
Hoesung Lee from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shared about how they have accepted the task to integrate science into implementation phase and submit mission reports on “Climate Change and Land Use,” plus reports on “Ocean and Ice”. In two years they will turn in a report that studies whether emissions targets of 1.5 degrees is the magic number that could halt the growing catastrophic effects of climate change, to see if that is indeed enough action. Private, public, businesses, NGOs financial sectors, and all citizens are all needed to team up, as people come to realize prompt action needs to begin now.
CEO of Unilever Paul Polman highlighted how the business and financial sector are lining up to address climate change:
At the Business and Climate Summit held May 2015, trade associations that represent 6.5 million businesses committed to addressing climate change.
At the World Bank last week, the Carbon Pricing Leadership meeting, thousands of companies pleaded for a price on carbon.
A report by the New Climate Economy stated 90 trillion will be going to be made over the next 15 years in addressing urbanization and population growth issues and 13.5 trillion is already pledged for clean energy investments, which he said is a “good direction”.
The business and financial sector is making progress with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Unilever’s CEO emphasized that climate change is key to 13 of the 17 SDGs. Now to “level” (pun intended) the playing field with energy sectors. Positive price signals are needed and a subsidy is a negative price signal. We love that the sentiment from Unilever’s leader who said, “That is a negative price on carbon when we need a positive price.” That statement was echoed throughout Earth Day from many speakers. The message to cut fossil fuel subsides, and create a carbon market was clear, and consistently delivered throughout all sectors on Earth Day.
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and renowned campaigner of human rights and climate justice. It was lovely to see most speakers wearing the pin with the logo of the colorful SDGs. Picture: Captured from UN Web TV footage
Mary Robinson declared, “The world must target for 1.5 degrees or below rise and that requires carbon neutrality at, or before 2050. She was empathetic on pointing out that with the Paris Agreement, developing countries now have more responsibility in addressing climate change as each nation has to evaluate their NDCs— the annex 1 or annex 2 countries distinction made in the past is no longer …
Opening ceremony of Paris Agreement signingCredit: UN Photo
This year’s Earth Day had many events leading up to the big focus of 24 hours of U.N. festivities in New York. Once again, there were powerful contributions from many of the people instrumental through the World Team journey— champions of the environmental movement over the many years coming together: especially California Gov. Jerry Brown, former US Vice President Al Gore, and even our friend Bertrand Piccard via live web stream from the cockpit of SolarImpulse2 in flight to San Francisco-the next leg of the around the world flight in the solar airplane! Bertrand said, “More than protecting the environment, it’s the clean technology revolution, the solar airplane is like a smart grid with distributed energy”. He encouraged leaders saying in the webstream, “Be pioneers for solutions, don’t let resistance take over…”
Andre and Bertrand, pilots of Solar Impulse, with World Team Now’s Suzanne Maxx.
Actor, Activist and U.N. Messenger of Peace, Leonardo Di Caprio reminded leaders of their power in choice quoting President Lincoln, “Our case is new, so we must think a new, and act anew.” He drew the parallel analogy of the defining issue of our time, between being free of fossil fuel, to the past, in being free from slavery. He explained, “Everyone knew it had to end, but no one had the political will to stop it.” In regards to bold Climate action he exclaimed, “You will either be lauded by future generations, or vilified by them…”
Leonardo Di Caprio inspires leaders to create power for just action. Video: UN Web TV footage
In addition to U.N. member states, states like California are taking significant action on their own. Once again, World Team Now based in New York and California was excited to hear from our Gov. Jerry Brown who spoke about some of the key steps that California has taken and will take— including their own cap and trade program that is also connected with Quebec and Ontario. Al Gore, in comments he made after the afternoon panel Jerry was on, pointed out that California’s leadership under Jerry is from a position of influence— he explained, “If California was a country it would be the 5th largest economy in the world.”
Governor Jerry Brown of California speaks at the Paris Agreement at signing at the United Nations on Earth Day April 22nd. Video: UN Web TV footage
Some of the highlights from New York Mayor de Blasio’s speech shared the commitment to having every new car in New York’s City’s fleet being an electric with the goal of an electric fleet by the year 2025. Retrofits are required in both public and now private buildings and new buildings will have to be 60-80% more efficient than existing buildings.
In India, every light bulb is required to be LED, with the program launched by the government they have driven the cost down for the bulbs by economic demand, and now they are cheaper than other kinds of light bulbs, now priced about 80 cents and about 100 million have been installed Germany plans to be fossil fuel free by 2050.
President Barack Obama welcomed the signing of the climate agreement and said it will allow all of “our children to inherit a cleaner, healthier, and safer planet.” He said in a statement on Earth Day, “As the world’s second-largest source of climate pollution, America has a responsibility to act. The stakes are enormous — our planet, our children, our future.
John Kerry Signs Paris Agreement With Granddaughter on Lap High-Level Event for the Signature of the Paris Agreement Credit: UN Photo
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, signed the historical agreement, ensuring it be witnessed by future generations by having his 2-year-old granddaughter Isabelle on his lap. Kerry followed up on President Obama’s Announcement which proclaims that the United States “looks forward to formally joining this agreement this year.”
It has been many years of attending these United Nations Climate events (COPs) dreaming that we could come to an agreement, sign it, and move into action. That day has come, it is here. World Team has been active with Earth Day for decades, but this was the first Earth Day that the distant dream for the global action by world leaders is being realized.
What an action packed period of time, this time has been, with record breaking action from countries around the world, and it’s about time. The pace is set we need for climate action, and the global renewable energy revolution, and it is happening, and it can’t happen quick enough. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are all interrelated and helpful to have delineated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp3LQrbh-Wo
Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki Moons called for all hands on deck to: "Turn Aspiration Into Action" - Countries Sign Paris Climate Agreement. Video: UN Web TV footage
It was lovely to see most speakers wearing the pin with the logo of the colorful SDGs. We are enthusiastic about the platform World Team will offer for all people as tool for engagement. We can see this renewable energy revolution is happening, but it will take a team, all of us. We have much to celebrate, yet much to do for humanity to live in balance with our resources and one another here on earth.
United Nations - "Protecting our Planet and Combatting Climate Change" is part of a UN short film series "The Story You are Shaping" produced by HUMAN, which premiered at the UN Sustainable Development Summit 2015. Video: UN Web TV footage
Photo highlights of of the UN High-Level Signature Ceremony for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change can be found here and a text highlights of the ceremony can be found here. Below are some selected UN videos of the Ceremony:
The movement for global transformation, is building around the world. Everyone is needed— as it’s our common future, in our one common home, so we all are being called to take action.
Join an aerial art piece in Washington DC 4:00-6:00 AM, meeting at 7th and Jefferson. This human font Aerial Art masterpiece will be created by artist John Quigley of Spectral Q and is sponsored by the Franciscan Action Network, with Earth Day on the Mall— as Pope Francis addresses the US Congress at 10:00 AM you can watch the speech with a transcript here. A schedule of the pope’s visit to the US is here.
We’ll be in New York to “Light the Way”, “Under One Sky” in the evening across the street from the United Nations at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza 47th and 1st Avenue 4:30-5:30 a multi-faith Festival of Prayer and Music. You can participate wherever you are in the world tomorrow check to see if there is an event near you here.
Wherever you are you can watch New York’s leading conference, Reforming the Energy Vision, live. Tune in Thursday September 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. Click here to see the live panel presentations.World Team Now’s renewable energy microgrid continues, but that is for another blog. Here is a valuable article Power to the People.
Tomorrow, the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), has the Sustainability Summit through September 25th, you can watch it all on UN.TV here live. We are optimistic that all world leaders will sign on to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals. The deadline if adopted will be 2030, and although we need it to happen sooner, the first step is to tell everybody about the goals—spread the word to 7 billion in 7 days is the 1st goal.
Global transformation does take everyone… So we need you. The Global Goals are something we all can get behind as a critical “to do list” to sustain our future. What is your favorite goal?
It certainly helps that a team of individuals each with a big following are taking action, augmenting the efforts of the United Nations. Bill McGibben leader of the divest from fossil fuel movement and invest in renewable energy has specific measurable results to date over 2.6 trillion dollars of victory. Leonardo Di Caprio made the news when he divested his organizations funds yesterday celebrity power in the movement helps, but what will change the game is all of us together. Although creative master minds like Richard Curtis can orchestrate global game changing efforts on many fronts.
What we are creating is a global conversation through a multi-media platform that connects people, projects and the world. What we’re building a consciousness about change. And we can do that by showcasing socially and environmentally responsible projects that demonstrate how people can work together and play to transform the world.
UN takes on “Climate Neutrality” check out what you can do right now in your home or business to offset; Check out this resourceful website Climate Neutral Now. For more read the Press Release
IRENA puts out Global Atlas for renewable energy in your pocket, real time planning for solar, wind, geothermal, tidal and more! We are so eager to test this one out with World Team. They have launched a contest;
Participation is easy.
Download the Global Atlas pocket app (from Google play, Blackberry world, ITunes, Windows Phone stores)
Open the app, navigate to the Main Menu search
Add a layer of a renewable energy technology of your choice
Share the map on Twitter
Hashtag your country or region, the energy source, and add to the existing text in the share window. (Example: Mapping renewable energy potential around the world through @IRENA’s #GlobalAtlas #solar #mycountry
Here are some great articles, campaigns, events and related links we aggregated:
If you are wondering about the seriousness of the climate situation, and the timing of action– here is another article Why Waterworld Will Exist
On the Defense: One way to change up the game; Youth under the age of 21 sue the state and federal governments for not taking action on Climate Change read more here;
For John Lennon’s Birthday in October; Yoko Ono is hosting one of the largest aerial art pieces in history.”Imagine Peace: GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® attempt Largest human peace sign”. See you there? RSVP
Floating on the surface, a meditative ritual, that allows contemplation of the sea life teeming below the surface. To remember we have one common home – this Planet Earth and make our own conscious choices of how to use our resources of 
