An Overview Of Our Solution
Blue Hope in the Digital Age
Who is this solution impacting?
Ecosystem
Océanos/Costas
Community Type
Urbano
Suburbano
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: América del norte
Problem
Describe the problem
Translating Sylvia Earle’s 2009 TED wish for a global network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), “hope spots†of the ocean, into an attainable goal, Project Blue Hope aims to revolutionize the way we give, connect & empower for marine conservation. Utilizing a dynamic, philanthropic social network to gather micro-donations, Project Blue Hope's goal is to foster local marine reserves, education and sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities worldwide. Our website will serve also as a portal for learning about ocean issues and solutions, educating through written pieces, as well as an interactive world map with embedded marine conservation videos. Read more of our plan at: http://projectbluehope.com
Biodiversity Impact
Project Blue Hope plans to partner with organizations such as OneReef Fund and the Pew Legacy Group, to foster local stakeholder support for ocean protection. Using a three-tiered model, with phases implemented successively over the next year, users will come to our website to learn, connect then act for marine conservation. In the ‘Learn’ section, we’ll organize and synthesize scientific literature, photography and videos into creative, easily shared educational resources for marine conservation. Engaging and empowering users by explaining ocean issues as well as their solutions. Because seeing is believing, the ‘Connect’ section, will host an interactive Google Earth map featuring embedded video, photos and stories from around the world that document, first-hand our ocean issues from above & under water, what communities are doing to combat them and the positive examples of marine conservation. In the ‘Act’ section, the power of social media and online social networks can be used to gather micro-donations for the establishment of MPAs, their subsequent management and/or implementation of alternative livelihood programs. The revolutionary platform utilized is called TenInThree, created by TEDx speaker Taylor Conroy, with proven success of raising over hundreds of thousands dollars to build schools in Kenya through FreeTheChildren. And specifically, the first community and organization we plan to fundraise for will be the Isabela Oceanographic Institute in the Galapagos in the Fall of 2011 (see sections below for more).
Solution
By raising awareness and spreading knowledge, Project Blue Hope will ignite public support for marine conservation and allow worldwide users to be more informed, better ocean stewards. MPAs specifically are Project Blue Hopeƒ??s focal solution to ocean biodiversity threats. Our educational pieces work to promote cross-discipline & cross-cultural discussions to brainstorm new ocean solutions for marine biodiversity protection. In addition, our visual video map will allow us to highlight the coastal communities we ask users to fundraise for, as well as embed links to ocean webcams, live classroom video feeds and marine satellite tracking programs. Project Blue Hope asks users to take action only after we have informed them with the latest marine science findings and real-world footage of ocean solutions. Using a modified version of the successful TenInThree platform, the first community and organization we plan to fundraise for will be the Isabela Oceanographic Institute in the Galapagos. Project Blue Hopeƒ??s founder, Christine Beggs, will travel to document, film and live with the community in the Fall of 2011 to foster sustainable economic alternatives, local stakeholder communication and social-wellbeing as the culminating project for her Masterƒ??s in Marine Conservation through University of Miamiƒ??s Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (see section on improving human well-being below for more). // Because of the dynamic, interactive abilities of the web to connect people and spread viral messages, this solution can be utilized for marine conservation globally. Our site will be positioned to educate & inform around the world, as well as fundraise for economic alternatives & MPA establishment within various local coastal communities. The pilot project will begin in Fall 2011 at the Isabela Oceanographic Institute, a Florida-based non-profit organization whose base of operation is located in Puerto Villamil, Isabela, Galapagos, Ecuador. Results using our website to fundraise for local marine conservation efforts will then be replicated on a larger-scale.
Replicability
How many years has your solution been applied? 1 year // Have others reproduced your solution elsewhere? Yes // Working directly with local stakeholders and our partners, we will bring much needed ocean conservation measures into reality by fostering communication and cooperation between interest groups. IOI uses the paramount role of education and capacity building in achieving long lasting conservation results within the Puerto Villamil community and wider Isabela island. The Institute is managed by a Board of Directors and 9 local staff, in addition to rotating interns. More available at http://www.ioi-galapagos.org/aboutus.shtml. To support IOI, Project Blue Hope will utilize a modified version of Taylor Conroy’s 10in3 platform to crowdsource micro-donations from an online network of ocean enthusiasts. The 10in3 model has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the grass-roots organization FreeTheChildren, building schools for impoverished communities around the world. A few of the fundraising successes and current campaigns on the 10in3 platform appear at http://pocketchangeheroes.com. In addition, Project Blue Hope’s founder, Christine Beggs, has spent the last 4 years successfully building the highlight profitable online ecommerce business, EZUltrasound.com. Her skillset and expertise in social media, online marketing, web design & brand promotion are now being applied to ProjectBlueHope.com. During the continual development of ProjectBlueHope.com over the next year, the connections the organization has made within the University of Miami’s RSMAS community will form the foundation for an extensive support network for Project Blue Hope’s vision.
Human Well Being and Livelihood Impact
The Isabela Oceanographic Institute (IOI) provides a platform for merging international higher education with local development aid in education and conservation to create sustainable economic alternatives in the small community of Puerto Villamil, formerly dependent on fisheries. IOI’s vision is for a sustainable Galapagos, working to generate educational, economic and social benefits for the Puerto Villamil community. This goal pairs perfectly with ProjectBlueHope.com’s model to educate & connect individuals online and then will allow the a wider online community to fundraise for IOI’s efforts in helping the local community become a model for ecotourism.// Project Blue Hope and its partners, that use the latest scientific findings to determine critical ocean areas in need of protection, will work to develop designs community-based solutions to global conservation challenges, making protective ocean measures a win-win situation for all marine stakeholders. The pilot project will begin at Isabela Oceanographic Institute (IOI) in the Galapagos in the Fall of 2011. IOI was founded as a non-governmental Florida-based nonprofit in 2006 and has as its mission promoting conservation through education. The organization operates in the small fishing community of Puerto Villamil, Isabela. They connect international entities and academic institutions with local government bodies and organizations for the common goal of supporting the development of community concepts and strategies which encourage good stewardship and participatory management of this unique natural and social environment. IOI runs several outreach programs and projects in both formal and public education, development of a new public library and social development for environmental stewardship.