Born out of a desire to stay connected during lockdowns, the Open Ocean Circles quickly became bi-weekly “media clubs” hosted by Oceanic Global’s NYC Hub, where ocean enthusiasts gathered to dive deep into films, podcasts, and books, sparking lively discussions and shared passion for ocean conservation.
To kick off the series, the group watched My Octopus Teacher, available on Netflix and discussed the awe & wonder of the ocean as well as the many mysteries she holds.
The group discussed: Are other marine animals as intelligent as the octopus featured in this film? If that is true, how do they feel about the current state of our ocean? What marine creature do we most identify with and how do we share a sense of empathy and drive towards ocean action?
For Week 2, we discussed Chasing Coral, available on Netflix. The group dove into the magical world of coral reefs with us and learned about the tragedy they face if we don’t take action.
There are many reasons to feel optimistic and we will share the work currently ongoing to change the destructive trajectory we are on!
Special guest Jeff Orlowski, the Director of Chasing Coral, joined us for a Q&A for the first 30 minutes of the gathering.
For Week 3, we listened to an episode of the How to Save a Planet podcast hosted by our very own scientific advisor, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, alongside Alex Blumberg, hosted on Gimlet Media. Episode ( 2/4/21): The Tribe that’s Moving Earth (and Water) to Solve the Climate Crisis.
There are many reasons to feel optimistic and we will share the work currently ongoing to change the destructive trajectory we are on!
Special guest Jeff Orlowski, the Director of Chasing Coral, joined us for a Q&A for the first 30 minutes of the gathering.
During the 4th Week, we read the poem The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman, who blew us all away at the presidential inauguration in 2021. In the past, Gorman was an environmental writer & poet. In 2020, she released the poem, Ode to the Ocean in honor of World Oceans Day.
For Week 5, we read sections of Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver by Jill Heinerth. Written by one of the world’s most renowned cave divers, this book delivers a firsthand account of explorations into the earth’s final frontier: the hidden depths of our oceans and the sunken caves inside our planet.
In honor of Earth Week, we discussed the film Kiss the Ground which is available on Netflix. Our LA Hub also hosted a film screening and panel discussion. Narrated and featuring Woody Harrelson, Kiss the Ground is an inspiring and groundbreaking film that reveals the first viable solution to our climate crisis. Kiss the Ground reveals that, by regenerating the world’s soils, we can completely and rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Using compelling graphics and visuals, along with striking NASA and NOAA footage, the film artfully illustrates how, by drawing down atmospheric carbon, soil is the missing piece of the climate puzzle.
FROM SEA TO RISING SEA is a 360/Virtual Reality film project about ocean solutions to the climate crisis. This creative call to action follows a flock of synchronized swimmers and a marine biologist as they educate, inform and normalize the conversation about climate with a young woman eager to lower her carbon emissions. The project was made in partnership with Oceanic Global, youth group Zero Hour, choreographer and filmmaker, Mary John Frank and more. Week 9 of the Open Ocean Circle featured a discussion between Frank and the film’s co-director, Sigin Ojulu. They dove deep into conversation about their adventures, while also sharing about their Virtual Reality film, which premiered during World Ocean’s Week.
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