1. Mercedes Mehling Writing Sample
The following is an excerpt from an article I wrote while interning at
yourolivebranch.org:
John Weller wants you to care about the ocean-one in particular that you
may have never heard of. Located in the unforgiving, frigid bay of
Antarctica’s Southern Ocean, the Ross Sea is considered the last healthy
marine ecosystem on the planet. Despite being the windiest, driest and
coldest place on earth, the ecosystem is teeming with predatory fish, whales,
seals, and an astonishing one third of the world’s Adélie penguins, Emperor
penguins and Antarctic petrels. Unlike the rest of the world’s oceans, the
Ross Sea has remained virtually untouched by human industry, pollution,
invasive species and overfishing. Unfortunately, the commercial fishing
industry views the Ross Sea as an untapped market, and since 1996 around
3,000 tons of Antarctic Toothfish have been removed from its waters each
year. John Weller and his brainchild, the Last Ocean Project, seeks to stop
this before it’s too late.
[…]
Weller believes that although we are at a tipping point in terms of the fate of
our oceans, we have a chance right now to change the course of history.
“The beginning of this story is basically un-refuted. The ending of the story
is still to be decided. We can make a difference and we can do it right now.”
The goal of the Last Ocean Project is not just to protect one small area of the
earth; it is to make people realize the importance of this ecosystem to human
existence. We get somewhere between 50-80% of our oxygen from the
ocean, so if oceans are being negatively affected by human industry, so is
the air we breath. But Weller says it’s not that hard to turn things around.
Marine protected areas have been studied and proven to not just recover
when left alone, but also feed other damaged areas nearby. With a
strategically placed network of protected areas around the world, there is
hope that all oceans will be able to recover someday.
“If we can protect this one place, this last place, that can be a game changer
for the rest of the world.”