Fieldwork

Our environmental partner organizations in Hawaii are doing important work that is making a direct impact on coastal ecosystems that have become overwhelmed with pollution. Access the resources below from Hawai'i Wildlife Fund to find out more about some of the coastal ecosystems that are suffering from the influx of pollutants, and the long-term implications of marine debris. Waiohinu Coastal Strand Brochure NOAA Marine Debris in Hawai'i Brochure The article below discusses the work of our collaborator Jaya Dupuis, and her restoration efforts in the lowland rainforest of Keau‘ohana. Keau‘ohana Forest Restoration One of the sites our artists will be visiting is Kamilo Point. This location has been deemed "one of the dirtiest places in the world" for the massive amounts of plastic that float in from neighboring countries creating a "graveyard for the world's junk". Click below to find out more. The Islands Of Hawaii Hold One Of The Dirtiest Places In The World

June 8 - 11 Moving with and for our water: Dance/Movement Class series taught by Core Artists at Volcano Art Center Visit the Volcano Art Center Website to Register Friday, June 11th Core Dance with Hawai'i Environmental Restoration *this event is not open to the public Rainforest restoration project & Global Water Dances movement offering Saturday, June 12th Core Dance with Hawai'i Wildlife Fund at Kamilo point *this event is not open to the public Sunday, June 13th Global Water Dances with Core Dance at Volcano Art Center: 11am HST/4pm CST/5pm EST Sunday, June 20th: Summer Solstice Livestream of Global Water Dances 2021 with Sue Schroeder, Core Dance Artistic Director, Vannia Ibarguen, GWD Artistic Director, and Natasha Alhadeff-Jones, Sunkhronos Institute Artistic Director: 11am HST/4PM CST/5pm EST

Each year, trade winds and ocean currents deposit an estimated 15-20 tons of fishing nets, tires, and plastic debris onto the southeastern shore of Hawaii Island. This debris can injure or kill seals, whales, seabirds and other native wildlife. Each ton of trash costs $700 to remove, not including the time and effort donated by the team of dedicated volunteers who give countless hours of manual labor. The EPA estimates that we as humans produce about 4.9 lbs. of waste per day, accumulating to almost 1800 lbs. annually. The impact of this trash, much of which makes its way to Hawaii's coastlines, is devastating to the once vibrant native vegetation and animal life present there. We are calling upon you, our communities near and far, to help raise enough funds to remove one ton of trash from some of the most polluted areas in the world, which have found their way to treasured coasts of Hawaii. Join us in taking responsibility for the impact we have on our shared environment, and honoring our duty to protect the only planet we have, Earth. Information will be released shortly about how to make a financial contribution to this fundraising effort. All proceeds Core Dance receives will be split evenly and sent directly to our partner organizations, Hawai'i Wildlife Fund and Hawai'i Environmental Restoration.

In the words of our collaborator Megan Lamson, “There are ways that we all can be a little bit more mindful and pay attention that there is only one planet Earth.” Reference the list below from Hawai'i Wildlife Fund, about the many ways you can make a direct impact on the environment in your local community and around the world. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and refuse single-use plastics! Properly dispose of all trash and recycling so that streets, sidewalks, parking lots, etc. remain free of trash. Use reusable shopping bags and be mindful that “less is more” when it comes to product packaging. Use water filters, water coolers, and refillable metal and glass bottles instead of purchasing bottled water. Buy soft drinks in aluminum cans or glass. If you have to purchase something in plastic, select types that are recyclable locally. Encourage restaurants to use biodegradable products or bring your own utensils and to-go ware! Avoid over-packaged merchandise, disposable lighters, razors, cameras, Styrofoam cups and clamshell containers, and other throw-away items. Make your own bath products to avoid products that contain tiny plastic "micro-scrubbers" that wash down the drain into our oceans. Serve as an example to others by taking all of these actions and encouraging others to join you! Click to view the entire resource list.

Your voice is just as important as the physical actions you take. Use yours to demand action and call for advocacy on important environmental issues facing our communities throughout the world. View a detailed list of current opporuntities below. Amazon Watch - Pledge to Protect the Amazon Rainforest (introduced by Leila Salazar-Lopez) Mission: "Amazon Watch is a nonprofit organization founded in 1996 to protect the rainforest and advance the rights of indigenous peoples in the Amazon Basin. We partner with indigenous and environmental organizations in campaigns for human rights, corporate accountability and the preservation of the Amazon's ecological systems." introduced by A Global Deal for Nature - Petition (introduced by Carly Vynne, PhD) Mission: "Sign the petition calling on world leaders to support a Global Deal for Nature that protects and restores half of the Earth’s lands and oceans." Drawdown Learn Mission: "Drawdown Learn is a broad initiative to encourage education and learning about climate solutions based on Project Drawdown’s research, analysis, and insights. Through our programs and partnerships, we are helping educators and students of all ages to understand the solutions available to address the climate crisis and create new ways of teaching and learning about Drawdown solutions." Cooperation Jackson (introduced by Brandon King) Mission: "The broad mission of Cooperation Jackson is to advance the development of economic democracy in Jackson, Mississippi by building a solidarity economy anchored by a network of cooperatives and other types of worker-owned and democratically self-managed enterprises." New Consensus (introduced by Demond Drummer) Mission: "We are a global, distributed network of academics, creators, activists, leaders and entrepreneurs working to make the new consensus the standard operating system for national economies around the world." Youth Vs. Apocalypse (introduced by Isha Clarke) Mission: "Youth Vs. Apocalypse is a diverse group of young climate justice activists working together to lift the voices of youth, in particular youth of color, and fight for a livable climate and an equitable, sustainable, and just world." Schumacher Center for a New Economics (introduced by Greg Watson) Mission: "To envision a just and sustainable global economy; apply the concepts locally; then share the results for broad replication." Democracy Collaborative (introduced by Ted Howard) Mission: "Through our cutting edge research and our many diverse programs, The Democracy Collaborative works to carry out a vision of a new economic system where shared ownership and control creates more equitable and inclusive outcomes, fosters ecological sustainability, and promotes flourishing democratic and community life." Seed Sovereignty (introduced by Christine Nobiss) Mission: "Seed Sovereignty reclaims seeds and Biodiversity as commons and public good. The farmer's rights to breed and exchange diverse Open Source Seeds which can be saved and which are not patented, genetically modified, owned or controlled by emerging seed giants." Coral Reef Alliance (introduced by Madhavi Colton) Mission: "We work collaboratively with communities to reduce direct threats to reefs in ways that provide long-term benefits to people and wildlife."