Testing Environmental Awareness in Bi-coastal areas

Students from Hawaii and New York City both speak out on their background and knowledge on present environmental issues. Switching from topics like coral bleaching, students talk about the action they take, or do not take.

Eighteen-year-old Ocean Bouey speaks about the recent coral bleaching in Australia. “I know it’s already happened before, but that does not mean we should leave it alone and let it happen again.”

Bouey takes regular action by disposing all trash within sight, and recycling. “I do what I can and I know my effort will count.”

Eighteen-year-old Carolina Peña talks about trash strewn about in the city. “The trash is an issue that hurts not only the people who live in NYC, but the animals and the quality of life here too. I don’t enjoy walking outside to see bottles and papers sprawled all over the streets.”

Upon showing her the recent graphs and data pertaining to the recent coral bleaching in Australia, Peña speaks.

“I understand how bad this must affect Australia, but we must remember how bad we are here first as a city before trying to give our efforts over to different areas that also need help. I know that sounds selfish, but the city is trashed. It could use some love.”

The ocean has been heating up and coral is stressing out. Rising temperatures are leading to massive bleaching all over the world, including Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The progressively rising threat of climate change and the impact of El Nino in the recent years has been heating up the sea surface across a large scale.

Bouey speaks about the bleaching. “Although it may not be our country, the whole world should put in an effort in their own way to help. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the entire world, what could that mean for the rest of our smaller reefs, like in the other islands?”

Bouey takes a regular tab in nature and conservatory news and advocates for environmental friendliness in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Coral bleaching, however, is not a new occurrence. Bleaching happens when stressed coral expels algae called zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae gives coral its color, and provides over 90% of the energy corals need through photosynthesis. Although corals can survive bleaching, they will die in conditions like this.

“I care a lot for Australia, I do.” Peña states, “I want to be able to physically care for New York also though, and we have a ton of issues.”

Australia aims to provide assistance to its spread of monochrome reefs, but claims to not be able to take action without further emphasize on climate change efforts on a world scale.

“It’s all about how much an individual cares about the world.” Bouey states, “People should believe that their effort will stand for bettering this world.”