What Are You Doing Here ?

There is nothing more inspiring than a human steeped in their passion, in this case passion for humans and the return to the well - being of Earth and her richly diverse inhabitants, Erfan Firouzi is a joy and you are not going to want to miss this conversation!

Erfan Firouzi is 17 years old, he lives in Dubai, UAE. He is currently studying at the Westminster School, Dubai. 

Erfan has always loved the natural world, and so started researching scientifically on animals and plants within the past 7 years or so. He was at first inspired by Sir David Attenborough and still till this day, Sir David serves as his role model.

As David Attenborough says: “An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.” Erfan Firouzi believes that until people understand how the natural works, they won’t pay time or care about it. "We need to understand, to care and care, to save."

Erfan has also learned that the natural world is dramatically fragile, yet if given the chance and care it can recover beyond our imagination, and since then he has been working extra hard, by creating documentaries, organizing online classes which teach young people about the natural world and “Nature Talks”  where he talks with scientists and biologist regarding saving our beautiful planet.His website is a testament to his lifelong commitment to spreading awareness to younger generations by getting them closer to the natural world with the help of his preserved zoology and botany specimens. Erfan was recently the recipient of the "WeNaturalists" www.wenaturalists.com "storyteller with purpose" award. We congratulate him and hope you learn and enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

“Our living planet is truly a very unique place, it provides us with our daily needs and support during hard times. It is now the time that we support our planet and its unique biodiversity." ~ Erfan Firouzi. 

Help re-wild the planet with Erfan at www.thewildlifefocus.com 

Emerging World Project Studios are located on Tongva Land  

s2.6 | music | axletree

According to the Urban dictionary "save the fish"  when saying goodbye is a way to remind people to be aware of preserving the Earth.

Well,  first we'd like you to say hello to Mia from Oahu, Hawaii. Mia is 13 years old and runs Youth Climate Save Hawaii. She is Vegan and insists she is not brainwashed or anything. 

Stop by and be inspired by this conversation with Mia where we talk about some of her favorite causes like the plant based treaty, what to look for in "green washing" Harry Potter (yep) how she's learning to paddle board to get in the ocean and help her with her fear of fish and how becoming vegan is a great thing to do to help save the environment.

Mia says " I’m just trying to help save this Earth! and endorsing the Plant Based Treaty will help loads and I hope I can help change this world for the better one day!” 

Find Youth Climate Save Hawaii on IG and please join Mia to "save the fish."

It’s not much of a leap to say that creative innovative youth hold the key to the solutions for the planetary emergencies we are faced with at this time. We certainly need young people with all of their available brain neurons firing to help solve these problems. Wildlife reserves, parks and greenbelts and the beings and plants that live within also depend on an alert and caring human population of informed people - for their continued survival.

We are talking today to a young person leading the change… a person whose kindness and positivity is just the dose of heart warming medicine we could all use at the moment. Nikhita Kalluri is part of the Youth Climate Save Movement, she is an intersectional climate and environmental activist whose work emphasizes internal healing and holistic action. She is 19 years old and a student at UC Santa Cruz in northern California. Please join me in your heart in welcoming our guest Nikhita. 

You can learn more about the work of the Youth Climate Save Movement on IG @youthclimatesave and @youthclimatesave_sanjose

Emerging World Project Studios are located on Tongva Land

Music by : Apoxode

Are you ready to weave yourself into nature? 

If you are able... take a walk or hang out under a tree while listening this episode.

Friends of Emerging World Project and our community have contributed to the mosaic of voices, natural earth sounds and music that you will hear throughout our brilliant conversation with our guest, Grace Kimaru.

21 year old Grace Kimaru is an environmentalist from Nyeri, Kenya. She is an urban and regional planner focusing on the environment, climate change and human rights advocacy. Her passion runs deep when it comes to mobilizing and leading other young people to be ambassadors of Mother Nature. 

She is also the founder of Foster Green Association. A project that strives for environmental conservation through tree planting, cleanups, environmental education and programs on organic farming for the younger generation.

You can also find the Foster Green Association spreading awareness about wildlife and environmental conservation on various social media platforms. Grace believes that fighting the climate crisis is not a one-man responsibility, it calls for teamwork and the commitment of the whole world. Consequently, she is a firm believer of the immense potential of African youth to transform the continent through innovation, hard work and solidarity. Jump in and support Grace and the Foster Green Association, in any way you can... as they pave a greener future; on IG @fostergreenassociation and @gracekimuru 

EWP thanks these friends for their offerings to this soundscape.

Music | Apoxode | Tongva Land

Land Blessing | Natasha Deganello Giraudie 

Intro | Terri Jude Davis

Outro | Mark Adair Rios 

Sit back and relax, perhaps outside somewhere...with the birds and enjoy this episode.  We have woven in a little poetry and invigorating music to help you weave yourself back into nature as we converse with Sebastian. People to People. People to Nature. Nature to Everything. 

 Sebastian Moreno is an Environmental Conservation PhD candidate at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. His research focuses are in ornithology, urban ecology, and social science. Sebastian's dissertation works on improving the citizen science experience by making it more inclusive and accessible to underserved communities. Outside of academia, he is a Pathways Biological Intern for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Program Coordinator for Latino Outdoors Western Massachusetts. He is also a licensed falconer and works with his American Kestrel (falco sparverius), Captain. Ask Sebastian anything @urbanbirdeco on IG.

You can help us spread the word about “what are you doing here” by sharing this episode or leaving a review in your favorite podcast app. Reviews help potential new listeners see that our show is worth their time, and every single one makes a difference.

Youth Climate Save is the first youth climate organization to focus on the link between climate change and animal agriculture. It's time to seriously talk about that connection and what better place to start ... than with our youth. On this episode we are speaking with Greta Cuthell a 17yr old activist from Australia.Greta spent 2 years working at a wildlife sanctuary, which made for a very different high school experience, during that time she saw firsthand effects of climate change. It’s was this experience that opened her eyes and she has said it destroyed her while also revealing her calling to being vegan. At one point in our talk Greta shares how being vegan brightens her own day, by knowing that she is not contributing to the suffering of animals. This is but one powerful insight amongst many others from this vibrant and compassionate being. These days, she works with Youth Climate Save, a movement that empowers young people from all over the world to stand up for climate justice and animal justice while also educating others on these pressing issues. Greta's voice lands evocatively on our hearts as she focuses her life on helping to create a more beautiful, just and kind world. as an organizer for Youth Climate Save Victoria you can find Greta on IG @youthclimatesavevictoria and support the plant-based treaty @plantbasedtreaty  

some of the things we talked about ...

* Animal Agriculture

* Plant based food system

* Veganism

* Community Building

* Renewable Energy

* Being in right relationship with the natural world

   visit EmergingWorldProject.Org

 s2 | synergy | from Greek synergos ... working together

As we come out of our hiatus the "Emerging World Project" collective recognizes that empathy and stories are essential to all things regeneration and that the emergence of this future depends on a societal consensus around revitalizing our culture of collective sensemaking, real dialogue, and civic virtue. Here is a taste of what is on our plate. We can't wait to share with you all ... the full meal of stories we are gathering.

The making of a wildlife vet!

Chatting with us from her home in Kenya our guest is Gabbie, she is an aspiring wildlife veterinarian who is already steeped in conservation and environmental work at the young age of 16!  

Her huge heart leaps out at you as we talk about the state of iconic African wildlife. Gabbie shares with us the stories of growing up with wildlife as her norm. No fear here when a lion sticks its head in the window while on a game drive, nor a tremble upon the discovery of a cheeky baboon helping itself to all the snacks in her tent. But, this is not all fun and games, wildlife protection is a big deal that Kenyans are devoted to and succeeding as the guardians and stewards of their land and wildlife. Gabbie's is a voice of the future for her country and a very active youth in the conservation field. It is no wonder she aspires to be a wildlife veterinarian as that will put her on the front lines of the care that wildlife are increasingly in need of these days. Gabbie is well aware of the need to educate people about the wildlife in Africa in a way that does not romanticize the situation, but yet encourages people to love not fear and become warriors for their protection and preservation. Gabbie has a couple organizations that she suggest you support, so please visit these websites and show your support for our world's wildlife and environment and you can follow this young leader on her IG @little.miss.dolittle (get it?) visit:  https://www.bornfreeusa.org/ https://www.olpejetaconservancy.org/

Face to face with a lion... oh my! 

The huge heart and soul of our guest from Kenya, wildlife and environmental conservationist Gabbie ... leaps out at you and into your heart, as we talk in depth about the state of iconic wildlife. Gabbie shares with us the stories of growing up with wildlife as her norm. No fear here when a lion sticks its head in the window while on a game drive, nor a tremble upon the discovery of a cheeky baboon helping itself to all the snacks in her tent. But, this is not all fun and games, wildlife protection is a big deal that Kenyans are devoted to and succeeding as the guardians and stewards of their land and wildlife. At 16 years old Gabbie's is a voice of the future for her country and a very active youth in the conservation field. It is no wonder she aspires to be a wildlife veterinarian as that will put her on the front lines of the care that wildlife are increasingly in need of these days. Gabbie is well aware of the need to educate people about the wildlife in Africa in a way that does not romanticize the situation, but yet encourages people to love not fear and become warriors for their protection and preservation. Gabbie has a couple organizations that she suggest you support, so please visit these websites and show your support for our world's wildlife and environment and you can follow this young leader on her IG @little.miss.dolittle (get it?)

visit:  https://www.bornfreeusa.org/

https://www.olpejetaconservancy.org/

The huge heart and soul of our guest from Kenya, wildlife and environmental conservationist Gabbie ... leaps out of this mash-up podcast and into your heart, as we talk in depth about the state of iconic wildlife. Gabbie shares with us the stories of growing up with wildlife as her norm. No fear here when a lion sticks its head in the window while on a game drive, nor a tremble upon the discovery of a cheeky baboon helping itself to all the snacks in her tent. But, this is not all fun and games, wildlife protection is a big deal that Kenyans are devoted to and succeeding as the guardians and stewards of their land and wildlife. At 16 years old Gabbie's is a voice of the future for her country and a very active youth in the conservation field. It is no wonder she aspires to be a wildlife veterinarian as that will put her on the front lines of the care that wildlife are increasingly in need of these days. Gabbie is well aware of the need to educate people about the wildlife in Africa in a way that does not romanticize the situation, but yet encourages people to love not fear and become warriors for their protection and preservation. Gabbie has a couple organizations that she suggest you support, so please visit these websites and show your support for our world's wildlife and environment and follow this young leader on her IG handle @little.miss.dolittle (get it?)

visit:  https://www.bornfreeusa.org/  

https://www.olpejetaconservancy.org/