The voyage tales of a landlocked retired biochemist scuba diver who loves the Ocean.
This long narrative was created for one purpose, to inspire students , I do frequent school “Ocean Career Talks” students keep asking the same question. “How did I get involved working with UN SDG14, and Ocean legends like Syliva Earl and Fabien Cousteau?” I assure you it was never the retirement plan but I find myself so humbled to have been tapped to help the SDG14 movement. Luck or destiny has landed me in this 3rd career in life. “Giving Back”, is my conquest as a volunteer, assisting the UNESCO SDG14 team with the “Call to Action” for the 2020-2030 Global Decade Ocean Science. This quest evolved into a mission to engage and catalyze a marine corp of like-minded science divers. The Decade of Ocean is a science diver’s bucket list dreamworld opportunity. Artists or scientists this is the ultimate tribute to Darwin. Darwin was only at sea because Captain Fitzroy liked Darwin. who was a good storyteller, who would make for a better long voyage, plus the King’s demand the expedition included a science journalist? UNESCO is seeking SDG14 scientists and artists to be the SDG14 Darwin’s. Our future of that of many species urgently needs passionate dedicated people with
or without diving skills for the Decade Ocean project. Everyone can help, a wide diversity of talents will be required for SDG14 projects. We need artists, photographers, filmmakers, grant writers, cultural experts, policymakers, creatives, robotics, engineers, XR-AR all geeks, social media gurus, storytellers,
webmasters, animators, accountants, lawyers, educators, drone and ROV pilots, translators, boat captains or perhaps you have needed team products, services, or resources that can be donated or discounted. Donations of restaurant meals, hotel rooms, rental cars, dive boats, dive gear, dive certification classes, or science equipment, everyone can help time, talents, or treasures. We are looking for those individuals who believe in OPEN SOURCE collaboration to solve problems, people
who will pledge to live by the bylaws of a blockchain trust. Passionate souls are willing to donate their vacation or retired time, talents, and treasures; eager to do whatever they can for the achievement of SDG14 targets somewhere on the planet. Volunteers won’t be out to sea tagging whale sharks or take a sub to the bottom of the ocean; those are unique marine science skills. However, everyone has an equal stake in the Ocean Health Index. Over the last 4 years, 100s of SDG17 partnership handshakes agreements have been made.
● We agree to focus on youth-centric STEAM and SDG14 certification training programs that lead to fair wage sustainable SDG5 Blue Economy careers.
Another KEY agreement for SDG14 achievement will be the establishment of the Ocean
Research Center of Excellence. We agree to work towards establishing and expanding the
Center’s purpose to be a “State of the Art” ocean experience center. A facility to expose
millions of annual island visitors to the technology and behavior solutions for our SDG
problems.
● The Center will utilize the latest and greatest VR 360 visual technologies.
● Our SDG17 team of local volunteers will restore, recycle, reuse, repurpose, rebuild, and rebrand the 1988 hurricane destroyed UNESCO Biosphere lighthouse-castle facility to become the MesoAM Man and BioSphere SDG Center. The LIGHTHOUSE to be the beacon in good and bad times ahead, as we work on the UNESCO Decade of Ocean Science. This is our mission for regional SDG achievement, a regionally shared NGO co-op multi-functional comprehensive SDG Center of Excellence. A fully “Off-Grid” facility powered by best of breed renewable energy technologies, a fully renewable energy facility, a “Zero CO2” facility, including wastewater to drinking water processing. I tend to think BIG, why not an “Off-Grid Island by 2030?
George Cummings
