E9: Atlanta Cook - How to be an effective Ocean Activist
Release Date: 09/11/2019
Zac Edwards - Can there be sustainable fishing?
Clare Talks Rubbish Podcast
We discuss sustainable fishing, whether there is such a thing, and what you can do to get a career in marine protection and conservation. The realities of field work and how to get internships in projects you love.
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E14: Wayne and Koda: Walking the coast of Britain, nature connection & overcoming eco-anxiety
Clare Talks Rubbish Podcast
If you are ever in any doubt about what it is possible to achieve in life then this is the inspirational story for you!
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E13: Oceans 8 Brighton New Years Resolution 2020 Eco-Tips
Clare Talks Rubbish Podcast
The expertise of 6 of the 8 @oceans8brighton team in one podcast!
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E12: The Modern Milkman: Can technology save the planet?
Clare Talks Rubbish Podcast
After watching the Blue Planet 2 episode with the sperm whale baby eating the plastic bucket, Paul White and three of his friends decided that they needed to be a part of the solution.
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E11: Turning Your Passion into a Sustainable Business with Rob Thompson
Clare Talks Rubbish Podcast
Rob Thompson got creative with ocean waste and turned it into kayaks amount other things.
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E10: How to inspire the next generation of Ocean Superheroes by Treading Lighter
Clare Talks Rubbish Podcast
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
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E9: Atlanta Cook - How to be an effective Ocean Activist
Clare Talks Rubbish Podcast
How to be an effective ocean activist - a question on many people's mind at the moment.
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E8: What is the true cost of Con-Venience? Explored with artist Louise McCurdy
Clare Talks Rubbish Podcast
Louise is a fellow Oceans 8 Brighton consultant and has been creating informative art from waste plastic since 2006.
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E7: Setting up the country's first community recycling hub & stories about 'stuff'
Clare Talks Rubbish Podcast
This episode is a bit longer but Melanie is just too interesting and inspiring so I didn't want to cut much out!
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E6: How to be a zero waste mum with Claire Sumners aka Zero Waste Maman.
Clare Talks Rubbish Podcast
The Ocean has a tummy ache!
info_outlineHow to be an effective ocean activist - a question on many people's mind at the moment.
Atlanta Cook has been campaigning for the ocean for a very long time and has not only set up several grass roots projects herself, she was also there at the start of Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) and is the only Honorary Life Member of SAS.
Atlanta is a surfer, a boogie boarder and has some very beautiful things to say about the ocean. We talk about how its majesty and power get under your skin and bring tears to your eyes when you befriend it as much as surfers do.
Atlanta first came under my radar when Incredible Oceans Event Manager, Grace Walker and I two handedly pulled off a huge outdoor event with mermaids, sea shanties and a giant inflatable Orca. Atlanta is a regular at the same Brighton Annual March of the Mermaids, usually accompanied by her daughter. I’m sure Atlanta is part mermaid for real!
Atlanta has worked on ocean issues at a global level with the Seas At Risk Federation and was able to give Surfers Against Sewage a voice on an international stage. But it all started with raves at the Zap in Brighton and boogie boarding with world class boogie boarder Jago Eliot who has now sadly passed away.
Back in the early 90s while surfing in Cornwall, Atlanta became aware of the water quality issues and joined forces with SAS bringing their first outpost to Brighton in 1991. Spurred on by the death of 8 year old Heather Preen they successfully campaigned to improve water quality and prevent as much raw effluent being discharged into our seas. The Safer Seas programme is the legacy of that campaign.
Not happy with that, Atlanta took over a local community centre and campaigned to prevent a local nature reserve from becoming a commercial enterprise and has now secured a chunk of funding to turn that into a community classroom that will enable her team and others to run workshops for school groups, working alongside Living Coasts.
I learnt so much from this conversation, about so many different environmental issues that I only knew about from a surface level.. If you want to know more about how to campaign effectively using simple messaging then you will love listening to Atlanta’s story. Her determination is totally awe inspiring.
Learn More:
Atlanta Cook Marine Environment Consultancy Website
Support the Beacon Hub Crowd Fund
Photo by Mi Elverson for Ruby Moon Swimwear
As ever this podcast has been edited by the wonderful Chloe Aust.
The next episode will be out on 10th October as I am in Costa Rica searching for creatures and swimming with sharks until then! The previous episodes are all equally inspiring. Please do comment, review and share as it helps more people find the podcast.
Thank you for your support!