TEDxSJU - Olivia Bouler - Saving the Gulf
The speaker, an author and illustrator whose passion stems from family connection and ornithology, argues that environmental change requires immediate, collective action, using bird conservation as evidence that small individual efforts accumulate into massive global impact. She draws inspiration from the devastation of oil spills and emphasizes that biodiversity loss necessitates adopting sustainable practices like renewable energy. She closes with the empowering message, *"we are the change makers we make the change that we want to see in the world."* ## Speakers & Context - Author and illustrator of *Olivia's Birds*. - Has received donations and support after the devastating oil spill. - The speaker's passion for the environment was nurtured by her grandparents, who taught her to love birds, and her parents' environmental compassion. - The speaker plans to become an ornithologist and a falconer. - The speaker is 12 years old. ## Theses & Positions - Environmental concern is a growing issue that will not resolve itself unless people actively change their behavior. - Global issues like biodiversity loss require personal, localized efforts, as institutional bodies like the EPA cannot act without public support. - Biodiversity is likened to a "big Lego building" where removing species removes critical structural pieces, leading to potential collapse. - Small, individual actions—like recycling or supporting the eco-economy—can accumulate to create significant ecological and economic movement. - Humanity acts as temporary custodians on Earth, requiring the species to clean up their waste because they possess the necessary tools (hands, heads). ## Concepts & Definitions - **Ornithologist:** A scientist who specializes in birds. - **Falconer:** A person who handles and trains Birds of Prey or crippled birds for rehabilitation and release into the wild. - **Biodiversity:** Described as the "building blocks of our entire world," compared to a large Lego structure. - **Eco-economy:** An emerging economic model relying on renewable energy. ## Mechanisms & Processes - **Fundraising for oil recovery:** The speaker raised over $150,000 and donated over 500 illustrations to the Audubon Society following an oil spill. - **Education outreach:** Donating copies of *Olivia's Birds* to school children and conducting activities at the Academy of Sciences. - **Habitat preservation:** Costa Rica employs methods like paying landowners to maintain natural habitats instead of clear-cutting rainforests. - **Energy transition:** Moving away from fossil fuels, exemplified by the speaker's father designing Zero Energy houses. ## Named Entities - **Audubon Society:** Organization to which the speaker donated time and artwork for oil recovery efforts. - **Olivia's Birds:** The speaker's illustrated book. - **Pablo Alando:** Costa Rican ornithologist who joined the speaker on a trip to Costa Rica. - **Costa Rica:** Location highlighted for its investment in environmental preservation. - **White-throated Magpie, Orange-fronted Parring, Kingfishers:** Specific bird species observed in Costa Rica. ## Numbers & Data - Total amount raised for Audubon: **over $150,000**. - Number of illustrations donated: **over 500**. - Bird species loss rate: **24 species are lost every hour** globally. - Speaker's age: **12**. ## Examples & Cases - **The inspiration:** The oil spill was "so devastating... that I had to help." - **Personal connection:** Speaker's early life artistic influence from her mom, who was an inspiration in the artist sense. - **Scientific Visit:** The speaker visited the Academy of Sciences and learned about biodiversity firsthand. - **Field Trip:** Trip to Costa Rica where they observed species including white-throated magpies and kingfishers. - **Father's work:** Father designs Zero Energy houses. - **International Inspiration:** The speaker was able to give the children copies of her book, causing "pure Bliss." ## Tools, Tech & Products - **Saxophone:** Instrument the speaker enjoys jamming on. - **iPhone:** Example of modern technology that can be used as a tool for change. ## References Cited - **Kurt Vonnegut:** Quoted with the line: *"we live as if there's no no tomorrow so there will be none."* - **Rachel Carson:** Mentioned in relation to environmental concerns, with a reference to a prior work from about **50 years ago**. ## Trade-offs & Alternatives - **Fossil Fuels vs. Clean Energy:** The understanding that humanity cannot rely on oil forever, making renewable energy adoption necessary. - **Conservation funding:** Financial mechanisms like donations to the Audubon Society versus personal contributions. ## Methodology - Observation of local ecosystems, particularly in Costa Rica's rainforests. - Educational outreach involving direct gifting of art and stories to local schoolchildren. ## Conclusions & Recommendations - People must "step up to the platform and change it" because government bodies are insufficient alone. - Individuals should "do the little things" to contribute to the global ecological and economic movement. - The overarching call is for proactive stewardship: *"we are the change makers we make the change that we want to see in the world."* ## Implications & Consequences - The continuation of environmental degradation implies the potential collapse of the global system, symbolized by the falling "Lego building" of biodiversity. - Failure to act means the continuous loss of species, reducing humanity's operational capacity on the planet. ## Verbatim Moments - *"I'm the author and illustrator of Olivia's Birds."* - *"how can a bird fly if it doesn't have two turbojet engines tap to its sides"* - *"I was inspired to write my book by the awful oils fill this past April"* - *"we can all show our presence that we have been gifted because we are on this Earth and we are house guests"* - *"the little flutters of a wing can lead up to a whole worldwide flight of economical and ecological movement"* - *"we are the change makers we make the change that we want to see in the world"*