“To me the ocean is a creature and this creature is amazing. It hosts so many other creatures within it. It feeds most creatures on the planet, from humans to birds to the sea life that lives within. It produces jewels that we love to wear like pearls. It gives us money. It gives us food. It gives us emotional and spiritual connection.” – Reem AlMealla
E95 – Reem AlMealla on PRIVILEGE, RESILIENCE & MARINE BIOLOGY
DIVING WITH THE CURRENTS OF CHANGE
Source: https://allthatweare.org/2020/07/16/e95-reem-almealla-on-privilege-resilience-marine-biology/
In this episode Amisha talks with Reem AlMealla, a marine biologist and a climate advocate.
Reem is the only female Bahraini Marine Biologist currently working on the field researching reefs and marine ecosystems in her country of birth Bahrain, and previously Indonesia, Madagascar, the Seychelles and South Africa. With her work and her stronghold presence she redefines what’s possible for young women in Bahrain and in many places around the world. She co-created the first national biodiversity database in Bahrain and was a co-founder of the Arab Youth Climate Movement.
Amisha and Reem explore experiences around privilege, the daunting depths of the currents of change of our time and opening our eyes to the beauty that surrounds us for creating a hopeful future. Reem takes us on a short journey of her life revealing how she inspires change, the importance of standing in ones values and finding ones niche whilst rising beyond experiences of marginalisation and discrimination.
“Being centred is a privilege, because to be able to sit down and quieten the world is privilege.” -Reem AlMealla
Reem AlMealla is a nature lover, a marine biologist and a climate advocate. Originating from the island of Bahrain, located in the youngest and hottest sea on the planet (the Arabian Gulf), Reem is one of the first Bahraini woman marine biologists who works on the field. She has spent the last 10 years working on reefs and other marine ecosystems in Bahrain, Indonesia, Madagascar, the Seychelles and South Africa. Her work includes studying the change in fish behaviour in response to changes in their ecosystems, reef carbonate budgets, which is an indicator as to whether reefs can keep up with rising sea levels as a consequence of climate change and the genetic diversity of the coral symbiont across different thermal regimes. Over 2.4 billion people (40% of the world population) live within a 100 km (60 miles) of the coast some of which depend on the ocean for their livelihoods. Reem spends her days contributing towards building the knowledge needed to conserve and manage reefs that ensure island stability and is the lifeline of billions around the world.
She invests a lot of her free time in creating foundations for platforms that never existed in the Arab world for future generations. She created the first national biodiversity database in Bahrain and was a co-founder of the Arab Youth Climate Movement – the first platform of its kind in the MENA region for Arab youth to come together to address climate issues. Reem is determined to contribute towards creating the necessary shift in the region to bring environmental protection, conservation, climate justice and their connection to human spirit into the world’s priority list.
To find out more about Reem‘s work visit @rmealla
To connect or work with Amisha, visit amisha.co.uk
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