One World Breath

‘Our Solution Starts with a Single Breath: 80 percent of global biodiversity, including much of what produces the very oxygen we all need to breathe, is under the stewardship of Indigenous People. These place-based natural assets are under threat from far-away anthropogenic threats (i.e. climate change and ocean warming). One World Breath hopes to catalyze change of this alarming trend, by creating pathways for young people to connect with the source of life – breath – and share the story of Indigenous stewards that protect the marine ecosystems which provide every half breath that we take.

One World Breath (OWB) aims to educate, connect and empower young people to take ocean-climate action and be a part of the solution. This is accomplished by meeting young people where they are – through music and digital media (a short film) – and through helping them to reconnect to themselves, their communities, and our planet through something as simple as taking a breath and learning the origins or source of that breath of life – plant life from our ocean, for every half breath. This will help to kick-start the greatest of life skills, basic knowledge of their life, learning from Indigenous wisdom and specifically, SeaForests, and kelp forest stewardship practices.

We will amplify the stories of young Indigenous knowledge keepers that protect SeaForests (and other critical aquatic plant ecosystems). We plan to amplify the stories of their historical and cultural human-ocean-environment ties; stories they share about the power of breath and its source from nature, in order to bridge the gap between western ocean-climate action and Indigenous nature connection. In doing so, we will spark a movement that will raise understanding on the inextricable interrelationship between ocean health and human health. Our short film and creative music album – EarthRise – taps into place-based knowledge and their successful conservation. This universal story is about reconnecting youth to the source of all life.

This project has been created in commemoration of the lives of all the victims of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, including two Ocean Bridge ambassadors, Danielle Moore and Micah Messent. We aspire to carry on their legacy and commitment to making the world a better place by creating long-lasting impacts with a firm commitment to driving positive change for the environment and our ocean. We will never forget the light that Danielle and Micah brought to the world and will continue to keep them in our hearts. To learn more about these two amazing people, please visit: Honouring Danielle and Micah  – Ocean Wise. This work is partially funded by the Commemoration Fund for Victims of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 Tragedy.