bays and harbors were filled with clamming boats and fishermen today we
clamming boats and fishermen today we
clamming boats and fishermen today we can feel the impact of Nassau and
can feel the impact of Nassau and
can feel the impact of Nassau and Suffolk counties 2.8 million people for
Suffolk counties 2.8 million people for
Suffolk counties 2.8 million people for example each of those 2.8 million people
example each of those 2.8 million people
example each of those 2.8 million people generates about two and a half pounds of
generates about two and a half pounds of
generates about two and a half pounds of human waste every day
human waste every day
human waste every day and what we once thought was an adequate
and what we once thought was an adequate
and what we once thought was an adequate acceptable way of treating that waste
acceptable way of treating that waste
acceptable way of treating that waste turns out to have been a huge
turns out to have been a huge
turns out to have been a huge miscalculation we discovered this
miscalculation we discovered this
miscalculation we discovered this mistake in a rather surprising way
mistake in a rather surprising way
mistake in a rather surprising way not long ago Long Island was among the
not long ago Long Island was among the
not long ago Long Island was among the nation’s top shellfish producers we were
nation’s top shellfish producers we were
nation’s top shellfish producers we were responsible for some 50% of all the
responsible for some 50% of all the
responsible for some 50% of all the clams eaten on the East Coast and we
clams eaten on the East Coast and we
clams eaten on the East Coast and we were home to the famous and once
were home to the famous and once
were home to the famous and once plentiful blue points moister but after
plentiful blue points moister but after
plentiful blue points moister but after decades of intense coastal development
decades of intense coastal development
decades of intense coastal development and unsustainable fishing practices
and unsustainable fishing practices
and unsustainable fishing practices shellfish took a dramatic decline in the
shellfish took a dramatic decline in the
shellfish took a dramatic decline in the 1960s 70s and 80s all but disappearing
1960s 70s and 80s all but disappearing
1960s 70s and 80s all but disappearing from our local waters the Nature
from our local waters the Nature
from our local waters the Nature Conservancy in an effort to address this
Conservancy in an effort to address this
Conservancy in an effort to address this decline we undertook a grand experiment
decline we undertook a grand experiment
decline we undertook a grand experiment we attempted to kick-start mother nature
we attempted to kick-start mother nature
we attempted to kick-start mother nature by restocking millions of clams scallops
by restocking millions of clams scallops
by restocking millions of clams scallops and oysters back into our water but no
and oysters back into our water but no
and oysters back into our water but no matter how much we stocking we did the
matter how much we stocking we did the
matter how much we stocking we did the shellfish simply did not survive
shellfish simply did not survive
shellfish simply did not survive and reproduce why because our water had
and reproduce why because our water had
and reproduce why because our water had become too polluted now my story doesn’t
become too polluted now my story doesn’t
become too polluted now my story doesn’t end with a failed experiment instead we
end with a failed experiment instead we
end with a failed experiment instead we switch gears we focused on the problem
switch gears we focused on the problem
switch gears we focused on the problem on the pollution specifically nitrogen
on the pollution specifically nitrogen
on the pollution specifically nitrogen pollution excessive nitrogen pollution
pollution excessive nitrogen pollution
pollution excessive nitrogen pollution from wastewater the predominant source
from wastewater the predominant source
from wastewater the predominant source of which was antiquated outdated septic
of which was antiquated outdated septic
of which was antiquated outdated septic systems and cesspools some 400,000 of
systems and cesspools some 400,000 of
systems and cesspools some 400,000 of them across Long Island imagine for just
them across Long Island imagine for just
them across Long Island imagine for just a minute
a minute
a minute Long Island as a sandbox with a layer of
Long Island as a sandbox with a layer of
Long Island as a sandbox with a layer of fresh water directly underneath
fresh water directly underneath
fresh water directly underneath surrounded by seawater on all sides what
surrounded by seawater on all sides what
surrounded by seawater on all sides what we Long Islanders put into our sandy
we Long Islanders put into our sandy
we Long Islanders put into our sandy porous soils trickles down first into
porous soils trickles down first into
porous soils trickles down first into our freshwater lens and then gradually
our freshwater lens and then gradually
our freshwater lens and then gradually seeps out into our bays and our oceans
seeps out into our bays and our oceans
seeps out into our bays and our oceans so what do we put into our sandbox
so what do we put into our sandbox
so what do we put into our sandbox chemicals fertilizers for lawns and
chemicals fertilizers for lawns and
chemicals fertilizers for lawns and wastewater in septic systems were never
wastewater in septic systems were never
wastewater in septic systems were never designed to remove nitrogen from
designed to remove nitrogen from
designed to remove nitrogen from wastewater so you might ask nitrogen
wastewater so you might ask nitrogen
wastewater so you might ask nitrogen what’s the problem with nitrogen it
what’s the problem with nitrogen it
what’s the problem with nitrogen it makes plants grow it does but too much
makes plants grow it does but too much
makes plants grow it does but too much of is a good too much of a good thing
of is a good too much of a good thing
of is a good too much of a good thing becomes a problem and as nitrogen from
becomes a problem and as nitrogen from
becomes a problem and as nitrogen from wastewater gradually seeps into our
wastewater gradually seeps into our
wastewater gradually seeps into our freshwater lens and then out into our
freshwater lens and then out into our
freshwater lens and then out into our bays and harbors it triggers massive
bays and harbors it triggers massive
bays and harbors it triggers massive blooms of algae we essentially have over
blooms of algae we essentially have over
blooms of algae we essentially have over fertilized our local waters these
fertilized our local waters these
fertilized our local waters these massive blooms cost shellfish to die and
massive blooms cost shellfish to die and
massive blooms cost shellfish to die and fish kills and it’s not just marine life
fish kills and it’s not just marine life
fish kills and it’s not just marine life that suffers our drinking water supply
that suffers our drinking water supply
that suffers our drinking water supply is threatened local economies of
is threatened local economies of
is threatened local economies of shellfishing tourism recreation suffer
shellfishing tourism recreation suffer
shellfishing tourism recreation suffer people who just want to go to the beach
people who just want to go to the beach
people who just want to go to the beach to enjoy a day of swimming of clamming
to enjoy a day of swimming of clamming
to enjoy a day of swimming of clamming or fishing can’t because of these blooms
or fishing can’t because of these blooms
or fishing can’t because of these blooms pets have died from drinking nitrogen
pets have died from drinking nitrogen
pets have died from drinking nitrogen ladened pond water and people have
ladened pond water and people have
ladened pond water and people have fallen ill from swimming this was the
fallen ill from swimming this was the
fallen ill from swimming this was the state of harmful algal blooms
state of harmful algal blooms
state of harmful algal blooms Long Island just this past summer in
Long Island just this past summer in
Long Island just this past summer in 2017 it’s a colorful picture but it’s
2017 it’s a colorful picture but it’s
2017 it’s a colorful picture but it’s not a pretty one much of Long Island’s
not a pretty one much of Long Island’s
not a pretty one much of Long Island’s 1,100 miles of shoreline and waters were
1,100 miles of shoreline and waters were
1,100 miles of shoreline and waters were impacted by some sort of algal bloom and
impacted by some sort of algal bloom and
impacted by some sort of algal bloom and what’s worse is that the steady rising
what’s worse is that the steady rising
what’s worse is that the steady rising in temperatures of our waters as a
in temperatures of our waters as a
in temperatures of our waters as a consequence of climate change are
consequence of climate change are
consequence of climate change are increasing the frequency and the
increasing the frequency and the
increasing the frequency and the toxicity of these blooms if we are to
toxicity of these blooms if we are to
toxicity of these blooms if we are to thrive in the year 2050 we need to win
thrive in the year 2050 we need to win
thrive in the year 2050 we need to win the battle to restore swimmable
the battle to restore swimmable
the battle to restore swimmable drinkable fishable water the things that
drinkable fishable water the things that
drinkable fishable water the things that matter most to Long Islanders there’s
matter most to Long Islanders there’s
matter most to Long Islanders there’s good news
good news
good news we are already well on our way to
we are already well on our way to
we are already well on our way to enhancing public awareness about this
enhancing public awareness about this
enhancing public awareness about this problem promoting the right kind of
problem promoting the right kind of
problem promoting the right kind of technology and securing the public funds
technology and securing the public funds
technology and securing the public funds needed to transform antiquated
needed to transform antiquated
needed to transform antiquated technology we place it with
technology we place it with
technology we place it with state-of-the-art nitrogen moving systems
state-of-the-art nitrogen moving systems
state-of-the-art nitrogen moving systems that will return the water we use back
that will return the water we use back
that will return the water we use back to nature in a clean condition and Long
to nature in a clean condition and Long
to nature in a clean condition and Long Island is not alone in this pollution
Island is not alone in this pollution
Island is not alone in this pollution problem massive algal blooms are
problem massive algal blooms are
problem massive algal blooms are occurring all over the world such as
occurring all over the world such as
occurring all over the world such as this one on a beach in China pollution
this one on a beach in China pollution
this one on a beach in China pollution kills 9 million people every year that’s
kills 9 million people every year that’s
kills 9 million people every year that’s 15 times the number killed by war and
15 times the number killed by war and
15 times the number killed by war and other forms of violence so what’s at
other forms of violence so what’s at
other forms of violence so what’s at stake in the year 2050 when our planet’s
stake in the year 2050 when our planet’s
stake in the year 2050 when our planet’s population is expected to grow to 10
population is expected to grow to 10
population is expected to grow to 10 million people excuse me 10 billion
million people excuse me 10 billion
million people excuse me 10 billion people those 10 billion people will
people those 10 billion people will
people those 10 billion people will require about 62% more in food calories
require about 62% more in food calories
require about 62% more in food calories than what’s currently available and yes
than what’s currently available and yes
than what’s currently available and yes they’ll be producing a lot more human
they’ll be producing a lot more human
they’ll be producing a lot more human waste of those 10 billion people about
waste of those 10 billion people about
waste of those 10 billion people about 70% are expected to live in cities and
70% are expected to live in cities and
70% are expected to live in cities and two-thirds of those cities will be right
two-thirds of those cities will be right
two-thirds of those cities will be right on the coast subjecting billions of
on the coast subjecting billions of
on the coast subjecting billions of people to deadly storms and sea level
people to deadly storms and sea level
people to deadly storms and sea level rise just last year alone 68,000 people
rise just last year alone 68,000 people
rise just last year alone 68,000 people every day were displaced by flooding
every day were displaced by flooding
every day were displaced by flooding seems like just a frightening
seems like just a frightening
seems like just a frightening preview of what’s to come each of the
preview of what’s to come each of the
preview of what’s to come each of the last four years 2017 included has earned
last four years 2017 included has earned
last four years 2017 included has earned the badge of being the hottest year on
the badge of being the hottest year on
the badge of being the hottest year on record I’d say we’re in a pretty hot
record I’d say we’re in a pretty hot
record I’d say we’re in a pretty hot mess we need to think of tackling
mess we need to think of tackling
mess we need to think of tackling pollution climate change and the massive
pollution climate change and the massive
pollution climate change and the massive disruptions it causes as disease
disruptions it causes as disease
disruptions it causes as disease prevention as health care and let’s not
prevention as health care and let’s not
prevention as health care and let’s not forget that climate change is not only a
forget that climate change is not only a
forget that climate change is not only a disrupter it’s a divider those less
disrupter it’s a divider those less
disrupter it’s a divider those less privileged are actually much more prone
privileged are actually much more prone
privileged are actually much more prone to its deadly effects nature needs to be
to its deadly effects nature needs to be
to its deadly effects nature needs to be recognized and valued as the most
recognized and valued as the most
recognized and valued as the most valuable player it is but as a society
valuable player it is but as a society
valuable player it is but as a society we don’t do this terribly well we can do
we don’t do this terribly well we can do
we don’t do this terribly well we can do better
better
better for example the value that marshes and
for example the value that marshes and
for example the value that marshes and wetlands and dunes play in storm
wetlands and dunes play in storm
wetlands and dunes play in storm prevention and flooding prevention is
prevention and flooding prevention is
prevention and flooding prevention is usually ignored the marshes the dunes
usually ignored the marshes the dunes
usually ignored the marshes the dunes their level they’re filled in they’re
their level they’re filled in they’re
their level they’re filled in they’re built over and then storms occur and
built over and then storms occur and
built over and then storms occur and massive flood damaging happens but here
massive flood damaging happens but here
massive flood damaging happens but here on Long Island after superstorm sandy it
on Long Island after superstorm sandy it
on Long Island after superstorm sandy it was reported that we’re present and
was reported that we’re present and
was reported that we’re present and healthy wetlands actually helped prevent
healthy wetlands actually helped prevent
healthy wetlands actually helped prevent an additional 625 million dollars in
an additional 625 million dollars in
an additional 625 million dollars in flood damages from occurring communities
flood damages from occurring communities
flood damages from occurring communities began to wake up and appreciate the
began to wake up and appreciate the
began to wake up and appreciate the value of these natural assets once they
value of these natural assets once they
value of these natural assets once they were measured in dollars and cents so it
were measured in dollars and cents so it
were measured in dollars and cents so it is our relationship with nature is it
is our relationship with nature is it
is our relationship with nature is it just take take take until there is
just take take take until there is
just take take take until there is nothing left have you ever been in a
nothing left have you ever been in a
nothing left have you ever been in a relationship that felt like a one-way
relationship that felt like a one-way
relationship that felt like a one-way street you give and give and they take
street you give and give and they take
street you give and give and they take take take or maybe it was the other way
take take or maybe it was the other way
take take or maybe it was the other way around
around
around either way it’s depleting on the flip
either way it’s depleting on the flip
either way it’s depleting on the flip side when there’s equal parts give and
side when there’s equal parts give and
side when there’s equal parts give and take the relationship hums it thrives it
take the relationship hums it thrives it
take the relationship hums it thrives it grows
grows
grows nature doesn’t behave like a credit card
nature doesn’t behave like a credit card
nature doesn’t behave like a credit card you can
you can
you can spend down all your credit open up a new
spend down all your credit open up a new
spend down all your credit open up a new line blow that one out and so on
line blow that one out and so on
line blow that one out and so on once we’ve depleted our environment it’s
once we’ve depleted our environment it’s
once we’ve depleted our environment it’s really hard it’s very expensive
really hard it’s very expensive
really hard it’s very expensive and sometimes not even possible to get
and sometimes not even possible to get
and sometimes not even possible to get it back here on Long Island we need to
it back here on Long Island we need to
it back here on Long Island we need to take responsibility for returning the
take responsibility for returning the
take responsibility for returning the water we use back to nature in a clean
water we use back to nature in a clean
water we use back to nature in a clean state before it’s too late there are
state before it’s too late there are
state before it’s too late there are signs of hope we can succeed places like
signs of hope we can succeed places like
signs of hope we can succeed places like Boston Harbor Tampa Bay in Florida even
Boston Harbor Tampa Bay in Florida even
Boston Harbor Tampa Bay in Florida even parts of Long Island Sound have
parts of Long Island Sound have
parts of Long Island Sound have recovered from serious degradation when
recovered from serious degradation when
recovered from serious degradation when polluting practices are halted and clean
polluting practices are halted and clean
polluting practices are halted and clean water is restored and there are other
water is restored and there are other
water is restored and there are other examples of this vision of people and
examples of this vision of people and
examples of this vision of people and nature thriving together fishermen who
nature thriving together fishermen who
nature thriving together fishermen who will catch a few less fish today by
will catch a few less fish today by
will catch a few less fish today by agreeing to accept sustainable
agreeing to accept sustainable
agreeing to accept sustainable harvesting restrictions but they’ll help
harvesting restrictions but they’ll help
harvesting restrictions but they’ll help protect their livelihoods into the
protect their livelihoods into the
protect their livelihoods into the future and to help ensure the recovery
future and to help ensure the recovery
future and to help ensure the recovery of key fish populations in the whales
of key fish populations in the whales
of key fish populations in the whales that eat them like this beauty recently
that eat them like this beauty recently
that eat them like this beauty recently spotted feasting off the coast of Long
spotted feasting off the coast of Long
spotted feasting off the coast of Long Island’s waters will be succeed in
Island’s waters will be succeed in
Island’s waters will be succeed in creating a world where people in nature
creating a world where people in nature
creating a world where people in nature thrive in 2050 I don’t have a crystal
thrive in 2050 I don’t have a crystal
thrive in 2050 I don’t have a crystal ball we can continue on a path of
ball we can continue on a path of
ball we can continue on a path of depletion or we can change the way we
depletion or we can change the way we
depletion or we can change the way we think and the way we act and make
think and the way we act and make
think and the way we act and make decisions that get us better connected
decisions that get us better connected
decisions that get us better connected to what we value most in nature
to what we value most in nature
to what we value most in nature businesses communities governments
businesses communities governments
businesses communities governments individual people make decisions all the
individual people make decisions all the
individual people make decisions all the time that collectively add up to putting
time that collectively add up to putting
time that collectively add up to putting us on one of these two paths so your
us on one of these two paths so your
us on one of these two paths so your decisions matter where does the food you
decisions matter where does the food you
decisions matter where does the food you eat come from and where does all the
eat come from and where does all the
eat come from and where does all the packaging from it go what chemicals do
packaging from it go what chemicals do
packaging from it go what chemicals do you use every day in products that are
you use every day in products that are
you use every day in products that are that you use that are washed down your
that you use that are washed down your
that you use that are washed down your drain can you take public transportation
drain can you take public transportation
drain can you take public transportation more often and decrease your own carbon
more often and decrease your own carbon
more often and decrease your own carbon footprint
footprint
footprint and as a voter are you familiar with
and as a voter are you familiar with
and as a voter are you familiar with positions that candidates for office
positions that candidates for office
positions that candidates for office have on really important issues like
have on really important issues like
have on really important issues like sustainable agriculture and renewable
sustainable agriculture and renewable
sustainable agriculture and renewable energy pay attention folks all around us
energy pay attention folks all around us
energy pay attention folks all around us are taking steps to get back on a path
are taking steps to get back on a path
are taking steps to get back on a path that connects us with what we value most
that connects us with what we value most
that connects us with what we value most in nature make informed decisions and
in nature make informed decisions and
in nature make informed decisions and most importantly ask yourself what do I
most importantly ask yourself what do I
most importantly ask yourself what do I want my relationship with nature to be
want my relationship with nature to be
want my relationship with nature to be thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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