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IN BRIEF

4 stories around fighting for the ocean”, summed up Sandy
the world Tudhope, Co-Founder and Co-Director of
the programme, eager to inspire the youn-
The panel enjoyed listening to stories wo- ger generation. Encouraging the students
ven in all corners of the world, starting with to consider themselves as leaders in their
Ilena Zanella, involved in setting up a shark current lives, the teacher mentioned a few
sanctuary in Costa Rica between the Co- of the key ingredients of the Edinburgh pro-
cos Islands and Malpelo, a reserve which gramme focused on coaching:
has transpired to be a source of blue car-
bon as well as an opportunity for the local • understand your own style of leadership
communities, especially women, to combat and emotional intelligence to seek solu-
climate change. Yolanda Sanchez, from tions based on the specificity of the ONCE UPON A TIME,
Spain, then spoke about the development economic, social and cultural context of THERE WAS A BABY
of an ocean education programme created your region;
in Chile, now involving a network of around • develop sensitive intelligence and listen POLAR BEAR CALLED
fifteen countries in Latin America. Biologist to others;
Shirley Binder, who supports the develop- • cultivate the value of courage to be a ICE…
ment of marine protected areas in Panama, player in ocean change at all levels, from
stressed the need to call upon players in local level to international level; “This is the story of a baby polar bear: Ice. He lives in the
science, political governance and finance • create a global network of ocean lea- North Pole in a country called Clear Water. But this country
with a view to reaching the 30% target for ders. is in danger" recounts Valentina Agnesi, the dynamic
protected ocean areas by 2030. Meanwhile, President and Founder of the association Let’s Free
Hugo Tagholm, in the United Kingdom, has The Sea, to two Year-2 classes from Monaco’s François
mobilised a community of over 100,000 Ocean Leader, the d’Assise-Nicolas Barré catholic school, at the Monaco’s
surfers and sea-goers who have proven to tipping point Multimedia Library. Why in danger? asks the storyteller.
be valuable alert-raisers concerning water Because “it is increasingly hot, so the ice melts, because of
quality and marine pollution. During the dis- Invited to join the Ocean Leaders commu- global warming”, answer the children already attached to
cussion, these charismatic ocean leaders nity on stage, HSH Prince Albert II of Mona- the hero of this climate tale, who decides to set off to New
spoke in depth about their experiences and co expressed his support for this initiative York to plead the case of polar bears at UN headquarters.
shared their opinions, underlining the main which places the younger generation not At each stage of his trip, the main character encounters
challenges encountered in their actions. as inheritors of problems but as leaders an environmental issue and helps, never losing heart, the
to bring about change. In the second part animals in difficulty he meets on the way.
of the event, the ocean leaders took on
Joining the role of facilitator, conducting various Thanks to this story featuring endearing characters,
the community round tables on leadership with all the Valentina Agnesi raises child awareness of marine
participants. The dialogue focused on the pollution, the fate of ghost nets and the effects of plastic
Demonstrating the inclusive approach of questions and concerns of a younger ge- in the ocean: “Tips and advice are also given so that the
this event, the panellists then identified key neration determined as much as concerned children can feel they are agents of change”, comments
advice to become an ocean leader, drawing about the future of the ocean, sharing their the organiser of this event which places focus on
from their own experience. “There are diffe- experience and discovering that action can constructive discussions with schoolchildren. “We need to
rent type of leadership and I learnt to accept begin here and now… take action so that every human-being understands that
my own style. A leader is an ‘inclusive’ indi- all waste must be picked up”, declares one of the children,
vidual, both among the local communities showing the early signs of helping to bring about change.
and in international organisations”, said Ile- As the story goes: “Jumping Jellyfish! It’s never too late!”
na Zanella. “There is no competition when