Since the mere age of four I have been active in the ocean conservation field.
My passion started with the Monterey Bay sea otters, fueling me to create ‘Sea Otters Comfort.’ My artwork was acknowledged by famed marine artists Robert Wyland, who invited me to paint on the one-mile-long ‘Hands Across the Oceans’ canvas in Beijing, China, along with other children from around the world.
It was there I earned my title as Youth Ambassador for the Planet. My artwork was then given recognition by President George W. Bush and displayed in the Smithsonian. Since then I have continued to be active in my community, educate others, and encourage my peers to get involved through my artwork, public speaking, and music I composed.
In 2014 I spoke on the MOTE Aquarium’s Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Art as Advocacy Panel, and received a grant to aid my project in identifying what litter has been gathered, therefore determining what trash is posing a threat to the beach and innocent marine life.
My current goal is to start the movement to switch local Santa Cruz vendors’ utensils, straws and dinnerware from plastic to something biodegradable and eco-friendly.
Recently I had a private interview with Congressman Sam Farr, who suggested that I go to the Santa Cruz City Council to pitch my idea of switching to eco-friendly products.
Anyone can get involved, and I encourage everyone to join the ocean conservation movement.
Minding your carbon footprint, using reusable products, joining local beach cleanups and respecting our marine environment — there are so many simple things you can do to help make a difference, and every small effort counts. A huge way to help is to spread the word: Raising awareness is the best way to support marine mammal and habitat protection.
I would like to invite everyone to join me in going down to Santa Cruz Cowell Beach on Sept. 17 for California Coastal Cleanup Day, and lend a helping hand in keeping Mother Earth healthy and litter-free.
I hope my work will inspire and empower those around me, giving them the motivation to protect marine life and get their community involved as well.
I’m looking forward to seeing what we can all do together, because the fight for ocean preservation is not one to be done alone. Our planet’s future is only what we make it by our conservation actions today.
Paris, 15, lives in Boulder Creek.
