- cross-posted to:
- tidalpunk@slrpnk.net
- cross-posted to:
- tidalpunk@slrpnk.net
Heat-resistant strains of giant kelp are being planted around the Tasman Peninsula in a bid to restore the once great marine forests devastated by climate change.
Baron, who has been diving in these waters for more than 40 years, says the disappearance of the kelp has led to a wider scale collapse of the ecosystem.
With the backing of fashion-designer-turned-climate-entrepreneur Sam Elsom’s Sea Forest Foundation, an initiative that hopes to help tackle the climate crisis by protecting and restoring kelp and seaweed, they began the process of planting giant kelp across more than half a hectare.
The water is surprisingly clear, and cold, and as we descend we pass over beds of golden kelp and crayweed, their honey-coloured leaves shifting in the light from above.
“We’re facing the loss of kelp forests in Australia within a decade or two. That could still happen, even with what we’re trying to do. But if we do nothing, you can guarantee they’ll be gone. So I don’t think we have the luxury of not trying.”
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Climate-entrepreneur? As if it wasn’t capitalism that was responsible for this whole fucked up situation. I digress…
The kelp is coming! The kelp is coming!
Are you getting out there and volunteering instead of working?
It’s a bit hard to work outside of the system that’s in place.
Aww c’mon, I was only having a go at that turn of phrase. No slight on the folks involved in this project or you. I already do work for a lefty NFP.
I didn’t take it as a slight. I’m just wondering how we encourage people to work outside of the capitalistic system. I do volunteer work too and I don’t see many people there, particularly of an employable age (most people are geriatric as they have the time).
Perhaps a UBI could get more people put there.
I don’t know about a UBI in a country like Australia where we have existing and complex welfare systems in place, regardless of how many those systems have been de-funded, neglected, corporatised, privatised, dismantled etc. A UBI could be used to further weaken those systems and disadvantage more people.
We could certainly shorten the working day and the working week, introduce domestic labour income schemes, encourage more WFH (less travel from the burbs to the CBD) and so on. Basically anything that gives working people across all sectors more time to participate in fixing shit. I reckon most folks want to do more but they ain’t got no time or energy after all that’s required of them just to do all the work and family stuff they already do.
Edit: Forgot to mention, I think we could do with something like an ‘Eco corp’ but I dunno how that’d work and how it would be useful other than bringing folks together to work on fixing shit.
If the welfare system had a living wage that allowed you to redirect into charity, conservation, social work, education, etc, then sure, this complex system can stay. The argument for a UBI (or similar) is that the complex system needs replacement because it wastes money and is not fit for the purpose we need.
Personally, I shortened my working week by choice and took the financial hit, I then redirect that spare time into environmental work. I ask people to jump in and help while I supply everything and they don’t because they aren’t getting paid. They have the time to help but only if they get money. People definitely have the time, there is a perverse incentive to do the right thing. I’m not sure how the welfare system can help with that as it stands.
That was an interesting read, thankyou.
I’ve dived in kelp, it’s an alien landscape, probably as close to feeling like I was on another planet as I’ll ever get in my life. I hope people in the future can have this experience.
Very interesting. The closest I have gotten to a kelp forest is probably in Subnautica. :p
