What Are You Doing Here ?

We have the deep honor of opening this show with our nature practice guide natasha deganello giraudie, who poetically expresses the theme of this series | Cores, Corridors, Carnivores. Calm your body, clear your mind, open your heart & uplift your soul by deepening your relationship with the Earth. We invite you to explore a nature practice with natasha, too. ⁠Nature Practice Guide⁠ Our featured guest on this episode is Beth Pratt, a lifelong advocate for wildlife, Beth has worked in environmental leadership roles for over twenty-five years, and in two of the country’s largest national parks: Yosemite and Yellowstone. As the California Regional Executive Director for the National Wildlife Federation, she says, “I have the best job in the world—advocating for the state’s remarkable wildlife.” We couldn't agree more! Beth also leads the #SaveLACougars campaign to buildThe Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, the largest wildlife crossing in the world. This wildlife crossing will help save a population of mountain lions from extinction. Beth's innovative conservation work has been featured by The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC World Service, CBS This Morning, the Los Angeles Times, Men’s Journal, NPR and more.  Her upcoming book, "Yosemite Wildlife," will be released by the Yosemite Conservancy in 2023. She has given a TEDx talk about coexisting with wildlife called, “How a Lonely Cougar in Los Angeles Inspired the World,” and is featured in the new documentary, “The Cat that Changed America.”  Join us for this enlightening two part conversation with Beth Pratt, where we travel down some familiars trails and some not so familiar ones ... exploring connectivity, our place in the web of Life, caring for wildlife, our planet and ourselves. Want to have a live peek at the progress of the wildlife crossing ? visit Save LA Cougars ⁠ Music | Ablation Suite by Hayden Folker What Are You Doing Here ? Produced by | Emerging World Project

In the spirit of collaboration and community science we invite you to have a listen to this episode we are sharing from the “Nature Talks” podcast by Erfan Firouzi. Erfan chats it up with Kelsey Prediger about the most trafficked mammal, the elusive beauty known as the Pangolin. Growing up on a lake immersed in nature, Kelsey developed a fiery passion for adventure and wildlife with the dream of one day working in conservation. In 2016 she moved to Namibia to work with carnivores but soon after she learned about the plight of the pangolin. She dedicated her research to learning more about this gentle creature and found her calling and with that she founded the Pangolin Conservation & Research Foundation The Pangolin Conservation & Research Foundation (PCRF) was founded on the belief that without combined outreach, collaboration, scientific research and policy, conservation efforts would continue to fall short. Kelsey is also the Secretariat of the Namibian Pangolin Working Group.  Additionally, she leads the Pangolin Conservation and Research Project, a collaboration between PCRF and the Biodiversity Research Centre- Namibian University of Science and Technology. Her work to expand field research and develop strong policies is ground breaking. Please visit and support their work here | www.pangolincrf.org | on IG @pangolincrf The music for this episode is by Kevin McCloud &natural sounds around the EWP studios.

" It is not enough to rescue these animals from illegal trafficking. They must be given the opportunity to recover properly. They must be given a real chance at survival, not just at a rescue station, but back in the wild, where they can contribute to genetic diversity and the continuation of their species in these areas. Jungle Rescue Reform is committed to aiding in this cause and making a difference for these animals and the species to which they belong."   Joey, founder - Jungle Rescue Reform Our guest is Joey Solimine, she is a veterinary nurse, wildlife conservationist, conservation student, and the founder of Jungle Rescue Reform. Joey studied Animal Science and Pre-Veterinary Medicine at Rutgers University and is currently studying Wildlife Conservation Biology through Unity College of Maine. She travels to wildlife rehabilitation centers across Central and South America, predominantly in the Amazon region, where she helps rehabilitate, medically care for, research and eventually release wildlife victims of illegal pet trade. She has been traveling to and working in the jungle for almost 7 years now, doing research on ethical wildlife rehabilitation practices, controversies, and successful rehabilitation, with a focus on primate behavior and how primate cognitive complexities may complicate the rehabilitation process and what we think we know about it. Her goal is to help build on what we know about rehabilitating wildlife that were once held as pets or used as tourist attractions, especially primates.  Her organization Jungle Rescue Reform also aims to help bring funding and support to wildlife rescue centers operating in remote parts of the world, with a focus on the Amazon rainforest, they also aim to advocate for locals who run these sanctuaries, and to bridge the gaps that exist between the experts and the professionals; the science and the first hand experience of those native to those jungle areas. Visit Jungle Rescue Reform  at www.junglerescuereform.org  and find Joey Solimine on IG @joey.of.the.jungle Music :  Joystick | shiny new kicks John Bartmann | african moon 

Welcome to Earth Day Everyday ...On this episode we have gathered a cultural mosaic community that weaves excerpts from the writings of Thich Naht Hanh's text "Love Letter to the Earth" (Parallax Press, 2013) with reflection, natural and original soundscape; thereby creating the ultimate deep listening experience, honoring global peace activist Thich Naht Hanh and dedicated to our Mother Earth. Seeking to affirm the life spirit in a way that nourishes the depleted contemporary soul, this episode will lead you into a transcultural and transcendent journey which reveals our commonality in diversity, that spark of inter-being we all share. We invite you to let yourself be drawn into meditation and emerge refreshed. We'll see you on the flip side.For a complete list of credits please visit www.EmergingWorldProject.Org

“Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison, by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”  ~ Albert Einstein Wildlife Veterinarian, Sharon Mulindi   joins us from her mobile vet unit position in Northern Kenya. The mobile Vet units tackles some pretty import conservation concerns to assist the regional KWS vet in interventions which include treatments, rescues, disease surveillance and collaring. The mobile vet unit is sponsored by Save The Elephants, Ewaso Lions and Grey's Zebra Trust in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service.  Enjoy our episode with Sharon and hear about some of the wildlife she comes face to face with, how Africa's first community owned and run elephant sanctuary works, and a peek into the important research work being done in conservation. The journey to a being a wildlife vet is quite a journey, and discovering Sharon's passion and commitment is an inspiration to us all as we tackle the challenges we face in our current reality.  For a bit of levity Marley steps in with his rapid fire questions for his segment of "Off the Top." Be sure to see what Ms. Mulindi is up to on her IG @sha.ron_mulindi and the mobile vet teams @savetheelephants, @ewasolions @kenyawildlifeservice  Visit |  Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Africa’s first community owned elephant sanctuary situated in Northern Kenya. We rescue, to release.  www.reteti.org   Opening "Love Letter to the Earth" by Thich Nhat Hanh, read by Natasha Deganello Giraudie Reflections by Erika Tengu and Greta Mae Music by John Bartman & the EWP natural environment.

“ A problem well stated is a problem half-solved.” - Charles Kettering Our culture depends on single use plastic… look around you, right now. what do you see? maybe a plastic bottle, food containers, the infamous six pack rings… the problem is that most plastic waste does not make it to the recycling center or even the landfill. This plastic is carried by rivers, wind and animals and can find its way to the sea. It’s time for us to break up with single - plastic! so go ahead turn on your favorite dance party song and start your break-up !  we encourage to you visit PlasticTides.Org  see what you can do for a ton of inspiration and opportunities. Our featured guest today is Christian Shaw, he is the Founder and Executive Director of Plastic Tides, an organization whose mission is to inspire and catalyze action toward a plastic- free future through adventure, education and youth empowerment. Christian has undertaken a great deal of challenges in his desire to see a plastic-free future, he has lead paddle board expeditions to some of the worlds most polluted bodies of water to aid in the collection of marine plastic pollution research. Now rolling into a decade of experience in the non-profit sector of conservation, he recently completed an expedition up the Mississippi river researching the prevalence of nurdles (the parent material of plastic products. This expedition leads to engaged activism through an online petition supporting opposition to the proposed Formosa Plastics facility in St. James Parish, La. Since 2014, inspiring youth to take action has always been core to Plastic Tides. The Global Youth Mentor Program (GYM) gives motivated Youth Leaders the tools and support to create lasting systemic change in their communities. Youth Leaders are paired with Mentors from all over the world and directed through change-based projects. Now more than ever, youth leadership is vital to the success of the environmental movement. We are grateful that You are here with us for our talk with Christian. Find out more about and get involved the Global Youth Mentor program PlasticTides.Org & follow @plastictides on IG. Thank you to Maryam Faresh and Erfan Firouzi for opening and closing the show with their beautiful readings from “Love Letter to the Earth” by Thich Nhat Hanh, Parallax Press (2013) Further show details can be found over at EmergingWorldProject.Org 

We invite you to celebrate with us! this episode was played and enjoyed far and wide more than any episode in our podcast history...  we feel an encore for new friends is in order. We are nourished by this collaboration with friends and our mother earth, and we thank you. Be sure to enjoy this undisturbed outdoors and under a tree... if possible. What you will hear is a natural soundscape, uplifting contemplative original music and the reading of excerpts by some of our favorite people from Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh's "Love Letter to The Earth" Parallax press (2013) Please enjoy and send us your love letter to the earth ... IG:emergingworld_project  | email: podcast@emergingworldproject.org Collaborators are listed on our website www.EmergingWorldProject.Org

The themes in Nick Brandt’s photographic series always relate to the destructive impact that humankind is having on both the natural world and now humans themselves too. Nearly twenty years ago Nick Brandt started photographing the wild animals of Africa as an elegy to a dis-appearing world. After some years, seeing the escalating environmental destruction, he felt an urgent need to move away from that kind of work and address the destruction in a much more direct way. This led to the series, Inherit the Dust (2016) and This Empty World (2019). These were mainly about habitat loss and biodiversity loss, significantly as a result of human ex-pansion and development. Nick established a style of portrait photography of animals in the wild similar to that of the photography of humans in studio setting, shot on medium format film, attempting to portray animals as sentient creatures not so different from us.  Nick’s The Day May Break (2021) series is the first part of a global series portraying people & animals impacted by environmental destruction. Photographed in Zimbabwe and Kenya, the people in the photos have all been badly affected by climate change - displaced by cyclones that destroyed their homes, displaced & impoverished after years-long severe droughts. The photos were taken at 5 sanctuaries/ conservancies. The animals are almost all long-term rescues, due to everything from poaching of their parents to habitat destruction & poisoning. These animals can never be released back into the wild. Now habituated, it was therefore safe for strangers to be photographed close to the animals in the same frame. Nick has had solo gallery and museum shows around the world, including New York, London, Berlin, Stockholm, Paris and Los Angeles. All of the series are published in book form. In descending order, Nick says the images are best viewed in a gallery, in the book or online full screen on your computer at the very least on your phone. You can discovery his work on his website www.nickbrandt.com Nick is also the co-founder of Big Life Foundation, a non-profit in Kenya/ Tanzania, established 2010. They employ more than 300 local rangers protecting 1.6 million acres of the Amboseli / Kilimanjaro ecosystem.  We caught up with Nick at his home in California and if you want to know what word he would add to the dictionary... it rhymes with "schmuck"  followed by wit.  The music on this episode are natural original sounds of Earth herself and the beautiful music of apoxode and Daniel Birch  Excerpt from "Love Letter to the Earth " Parallax Press (2013) by Thich Nhat Hanh was read by Greta

Some of us come into the world ready to do what we are called to do, knowing and finding it early on. Our conversation with Isaiah illuminates this quite clearly. Isaiah is 18yrs old, he shares with us how early on in his already young life he was entranced by all things nature, leading to a beautiful body of art work consisting of bird paintings and natural history illustrations, a fellowship and the study of ornithology at Cornell University. As we continue to honor the writing of the beloved Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, we hope you enjoy this conversation with Isaiah whose own deep relationship with nature and the aspiration to preserve it for future generations is a living- breathing love letter to the earth. Isaiah Emmanuel Scott, was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, he is an avid birder, natural history illustrator, and an outdoor brand ambassador. He is also a student at Cornell university, majoring in Environment and sustainability, with a focus on ornithology. He is the recipient of the Eckleberry Fellowship for 2021, which endows nature artists with the goal of enhancing the impact of their work. His plan is to illustrate and create a book that depicts the relationship of birds and African culture in continental Africa, as well as the diaspora. You can support Isaiah’s 40 acre nature preserve project and more by visiting the link in BIO on his IG account @ikesbirdinghikes and his website www.theisaiahescott  break music ; Blonde by Nctrnm

Align with Lunar time. The moon has always marked the passage of time, waxing and waning with a steady rhythm Awareness of the the lunar phases brings us into relationship with the radiance of the sun, the receptivity of the moon and the constant movement of the cycles of the earth. As we continue our series exploring and deepening our relationship with the Earth; nurturing a global peace community and reflecting on the writings of peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, we offer you this wonderful conversation with April McMurtry. April is the founder of THE MOON IS MY CALENDAR and creatress of the New Moon Calendar Journal. She is also a visual artist, mother, and creative lunar guide. Her work reflects her passion for nature-based cycles, wellness, and creative expression. With a background in Youth Leadership, Girls’ Education, Intuitive Art, and Meditation - April has more than twenty years experience working in education as a classroom teacher, workshop facilitator and program coordinator at home and abroad. April’s guidance supports people on the path to growth and transformation through meditation, creative process, and awakening cyclical wisdom. She is interested in how healing work is connected to our relationship with Earth. Both of April’s grandmothers are first generation born in the United States from England and Ireland. She is a mother of two children and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with four generations of her family.  Learn more about " The Moon is my Calendar" with April at www.themoonismycalendar.com and enjoy this lunar language on IG @themoonismycalendar Visit EmergingWorldProject.Org for details about this series.

On this episode we take a deep dive into how we can live in right relationship with our mother Earth and why that feels so essential for humans right now. We begin with a conversation with Natasha, this conversation, friendship and guidance with deepening my own relationship with the natural world has been a bit of a lifeline for me, and I sense it can be for you too. You will find some bits of laughter, guidance and an invitation to Sing to the Earth. This episode is a prelude to our next season where we explore the Love Letter to the Earth by Thich Naht Hanh; through out this season we will also explore finding novelty in nature, art in our lives and simply helping out.   Our guest Natasha Deganello Giraudie is a mother, a filmmaker and a teacher of nature practice. She helped to pioneer the micro-documentary genre for humanitarian movements, filming in more than 30 countries and reaching expansive audiences with her work. Her film, One Word Sawalmem, was selected by Robert Redford and the Redford Center as a powerful voice at the intersection of youth, indigenous wisdom and environmental change.Her experiential nature meditation film, Inmanencia, was selected to be screened in festivals around the world from Boulder to Buenos Aires to Bhutan, where it won the Audience Choice Award.  As a child, Natasha learned some of her most valuable lessons outside the classroom – from indigenous people living deep in the wilderness of her native Venezuela. She has studied nature-inspired compassion with the Dalai Lama for more than 20 years and also attended nature-based retreats with Thich Naht Hanh at Plum Village. As a teacher of nature-based wellbeing, Natasha has taught groups of young professionals from the United Nations, Google and Airbnb as well as medical practitioners, politicians, nonprofit leaders and fellow documentary filmmakers in the US, Latin America and Asia. Connect with Natasha and begin your nature practice today https://www.rosaguayaba.earth/  You will also discover much wisdom and beauty on Natasha's IG @rosa.guayaba 

Thich Nhat Hanh, passed away peacefully at the age of 95 on January 22, he was a spiritual revolutionary who brought Buddhism out of Vietnam and introduced it to the wider world. He is the author of more than 100 books, and wrote extensively about the principles and everyday applications of engaged Buddhism. In the wake of his death, we are reminded of his teachings on mindfulness – a nonjudgemental awareness of all that is happening inside and around us. If we can reconnect with our bodies, we connect with the Earth. We also open ourselves to the joy that is possible in even the most mundane of moments: In order to work towards a more sustainable future, Thay as he is called, which means teacher in Vietnamese, encourages us to reconnect with our Mother Earth. The Arctic or the rainforests can feel rather abstract, and therefore separate. But at a molecular level, we are the Earth. – and it’s possible to realize this more deeply: over the course of this special season in reverence to Thich Nhat Hanh, a stunning array of voices from across the globe will be reading from Thay’s book “Love Letter to the Earth” coupled with essays, interviews, music and art. It is in invitation to walk, learn and live the deeper conversation with our Mother Earth.  Thich Nhat Hanh " Love Letter to the Earth " is graciously permitted by Parallax Press. Parallax Press is a nonprofit publisher founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. They publish books and media on the art of mindful living and Engaged Buddhism. And are committed to offering teachings that help transform suffering and injustice. Their aspiration is to contribute to collective insight and awakening, bringing about a more joyful, healthy, and compassionate society. www.parallax.org We also wish to express our deepest gratitude to Plum Village Monastery for their love and dedication in continuing the work of Thich Nhat Hanh.  You can help further Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings by donating to the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation  https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ways-to-give To enjoy the entirety of this upcoming presentation please visit EmergingWorldProject.Org | podcast

The heating planet is our commons. It holds us all. To address and reverse warming requires connection and reciprocity. It calls for moving out of our comfort zones to find a depth of courage we may have never known. It calls for action that is bold and fearless. our guest today is David, one such person with a depth of courage that left us after out talk in deep reflection about our own continued and deepened call to end the climate crisis in one generation, and most importantly transitioning to a plant - based food system. David shares with us the horrors of the animal agriculture industry from his own direct experience as a (former) federal slaughterhouse inspector.  David Pereira has worked in the Animal Agriculture industry for 15 years. He has witnessed many horrible things during his time as a slaughterhouse inspector. After some self-reflection, learning that we don’t need to eat a cows, chickens, pigs or fish to live he became vegan. Now, David is working to grow is his influence and share his story in the hopes that he may inspire others to follow their intuition, go vegan, and become activists. As an Animal Rights Activist, he’s helped to create and organize many campaigns workin with many other activists with the goal of recruitment in mind. He enjoys street outreach speaking to the public directly. He has a platform on youtube, tiktok, facebook and instagram. His work is focused on helping to build a better life and world for the most vulnerable. You can support David’s goal of becoming a full time activist for change or help with other campaigns by visiting David's platforms  https://linktr.ee/The40yearoldVegan   YouTube |  https://youtube.com/c/The40yearoldVegan IG | @the_40_yearoldvegan  “I love speaking with the public directly, you see the change right before your eyes” ~ david pereira ... match your passion with helping to regenerate life on Earth by delving in at regeneration.org The world’s largest, most complete listing and network of solutions to the climate crisis. And how to do them! ™ music | apoxode Emerging World Project studios are located on Tongva Land

Dr (Hon) Wong Siew Te, D.J.N. 准拿督黃修德荣誉博士 Dr. Wong Siew Te is a Malaysian wildlife biologist and tropical forest ecologist. He did his Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate degrees in Wildlife Biology at the University of Montana, USA, and has an honorary doctorate from the University of Sunshine Coast in Australia. He is the CEO and founder of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, which he founded in 2008. Having done his Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate degrees in Wildlife Biology at the University of Montana, USA, and has an honorary doctorate from the University of Sunshine Coast in Australia. Dr. Wong has been recognized with numerous awards for his work on sun bear conservation and is a worldwide authority on this rare bear species.  Come along for this fascinating and informative chat about this rare bear species and grab a little inspiration for following your passion to help out in the efforts to regenerate our magnificent planet. Now is the time to bring our practices, products, agriculture and all else into alignment with the living world and help end the climate crisis. Show your support and learn more at The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center http://www.bsbcc.org.my/

First up, our friend and nature practice guide Natasha Deganello Giraudie sets the tone for us with a beautiful Land Blessing. Together we can deepen our relationship to the more -than- human world at this critical time. We encourage you to take it slow ... find a tree to sit under and relax into this important conversation. On this episode we catch up with Jennifer Brent the Executive Director for California Wildlife Center. California Wildlife Center takes responsibility for the protection of native wildlife through rehabilitation, education, and conservation.  It is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of native California species, who otherwise would be left to suffer from the effects of human encroachment, habitat destruction and environmental damage. Jennifer has been working with animals for over 13 years most recently as the Executive Director of California Wildlife Center.  She has a passion for the preservation of native species and the environment and has been at the helm to help over 82,000 wild California animals.   She was previously at the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, the Found Animals Foundation and served on the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services’ Commission. California Wildlife Center offers all of their programs at zero cost to the finder. They help over 4,300 animals each year and answer over 30,000 phone calls. This work is funded by individual donations as they receive no sustaining government money. Your kind offerings are greatly appreciated. Learn more by visiting www.cawildlife.org    This show is produced by | Emerging World Project whose studios are located on Tongva Land s2.7 Music | axletree

There is nothing more inspiring than a human steeped in their passion, in this case passion for humans and the return to the well - being of Earth and her richly diverse inhabitants, Erfan Firouzi is a joy and you are not going to want to miss this conversation! Erfan Firouzi is 17 years old, he lives in Dubai, UAE. He is currently studying at the Westminster School, Dubai.  Erfan has always loved the natural world, and so started researching scientifically on animals and plants within the past 7 years or so. He was at first inspired by Sir David Attenborough and still till this day, Sir David serves as his role model. As David Attenborough says: “An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.” Erfan Firouzi believes that until people understand how the natural works, they won’t pay time or care about it. "We need to understand, to care and care, to save." Erfan has also learned that the natural world is dramatically fragile, yet if given the chance and care it can recover beyond our imagination, and since then he has been working extra hard, by creating documentaries, organizing online classes which teach young people about the natural world and “Nature Talks”  where he talks with scientists and biologist regarding saving our beautiful planet.His website is a testament to his lifelong commitment to spreading awareness to younger generations by getting them closer to the natural world with the help of his preserved zoology and botany specimens. Erfan was recently the recipient of the "WeNaturalists" www.wenaturalists.com "storyteller with purpose" award. We congratulate him and hope you learn and enjoy this conversation as much as we did. “Our living planet is truly a very unique place, it provides us with our daily needs and support during hard times. It is now the time that we support our planet and its unique biodiversity." ~ Erfan Firouzi.  Help re-wild the planet with Erfan at www.thewildlifefocus.com  Emerging World Project Studios are located on Tongva Land   s2.6 | music | axletree

According to the Urban dictionary "save the fish"  when saying goodbye is a way to remind people to be aware of preserving the Earth. Well,  first we'd like you to say hello to Mia from Oahu, Hawaii. Mia is 13 years old and runs Youth Climate Save Hawaii. She is Vegan and insists she is not brainwashed or anything.  Stop by and be inspired by this conversation with Mia where we talk about some of her favorite causes like the plant based treaty, what to look for in "green washing" Harry Potter (yep) how she's learning to paddle board to get in the ocean and help her with her fear of fish and how becoming vegan is a great thing to do to help save the environment. Mia says " I’m just trying to help save this Earth! and endorsing the Plant Based Treaty will help loads and I hope I can help change this world for the better one day!”  Find Youth Climate Save Hawaii on IG and please join Mia to "save the fish." www.plantbasedtreaty.org

It’s not much of a leap to say that creative innovative youth hold the key to the solutions for the planetary emergencies we are faced with at this time. We certainly need young people with all of their available brain neurons firing to help solve these problems. Wildlife reserves, parks and greenbelts and the beings and plants that live within also depend on an alert and caring human population of informed people - for their continued survival. We are talking today to a young person leading the change… a person whose kindness and positivity is just the dose of heart warming medicine we could all use at the moment. Nikhita Kalluri is part of the Youth Climate Save Movement, she is an intersectional climate and environmental activist whose work emphasizes internal healing and holistic action. She is 19 years old and a student at UC Santa Cruz in northern California. Please join me in your heart in welcoming our guest Nikhita.  You can learn more about the work of the Youth Climate Save Movement on IG @youthclimatesave and @youthclimatesave_sanjose Emerging World Project Studios are located on Tongva Land Music by : Apoxode

Are you ready to weave yourself into nature?  If you are able... take a walk or hang out under a tree while listening this episode. Friends of Emerging World Project and our community have contributed to the mosaic of voices, natural earth sounds and music that you will hear throughout our brilliant conversation with our guest, Grace Kimaru. 21 year old Grace Kimaru is an environmentalist from Nyeri, Kenya. She is an urban and regional planner focusing on the environment, climate change and human rights advocacy. Her passion runs deep when it comes to mobilizing and leading other young people to be ambassadors of Mother Nature.  She is also the founder of Foster Green Association. A project that strives for environmental conservation through tree planting, cleanups, environmental education and programs on organic farming for the younger generation. You can also find the Foster Green Association spreading awareness about wildlife and environmental conservation on various social media platforms. Grace believes that fighting the climate crisis is not a one-man responsibility, it calls for teamwork and the commitment of the whole world. Consequently, she is a firm believer of the immense potential of African youth to transform the continent through innovation, hard work and solidarity. Jump in and support Grace and the Foster Green Association, in any way you can... as they pave a greener future; on IG @fostergreenassociation and @gracekimuru  EWP thanks these friends for their offerings to this soundscape. Music | Apoxode | Tongva Land Land Blessing | Natasha Deganello Giraudie  Intro | Terri Jude Davis Outro | Mark Adair Rios 

Sit back and relax, perhaps outside somewhere...with the birds and enjoy this episode.  We have woven in a little poetry and invigorating music to help you weave yourself back into nature as we converse with Sebastian. People to People. People to Nature. Nature to Everything.   Sebastian Moreno is an Environmental Conservation PhD candidate at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. His research focuses are in ornithology, urban ecology, and social science. Sebastian's dissertation works on improving the citizen science experience by making it more inclusive and accessible to underserved communities. Outside of academia, he is a Pathways Biological Intern for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Program Coordinator for Latino Outdoors Western Massachusetts. He is also a licensed falconer and works with his American Kestrel (falco sparverius), Captain. Ask Sebastian anything @urbanbirdeco on IG. You can help us spread the word about “what are you doing here” by sharing this episode or leaving a review in your favorite podcast app. Reviews help potential new listeners see that our show is worth their time, and every single one makes a difference.