Changing the World Starts In Your Backyard
I hope our readers are staying safe during these insane times we are all experiencing. I want to thank our next inspiration Eve Isambourg,, an ocean conservation activist, yoga teacher, surfer and Naturopathy student for spending some time sharing with us her passion for the planet now in a time where we are all reflecting on our responsibility and changes that HAVE to happen moving forward.
Interview by Daniela Silva.
Tell us about yourself Eve
I like to think that I am a child of the tide, or at least to never forget that I come from a family of the Sea. Born in France, in the Northern West coast, by the Ocean, from parents riding waves windsurfing, playing with the wind and sand, speed sailing worldwide. My brother and I were two lucky fishes, having the chance to travel young to some beautiful places around the globe. We moved to Mauritius in 2011, a family decision, and for sure a life-changing experience. I was 13. Lost in the middle of the Indian Ocean, growing up in such a Paradise, is pure bliss: right in between the waves and the mountains.
I have always loved the Ocean, I like to say I am genetically islander. But, I was not properly aware of my deep connection with nature until I moved to Paris for my undergrad studies. I quickly came to realize what I wanted my life to be about: the sun, the sand and the sea.
If I couldn’t be by the Sea, I had decided I could speak up for it; my purpose, and mission on earth, even though the first months in the city have been a major challenge for me. I joined actors for change, committed human beings for Mama earth and the Ocean. For a year and half, I’ve travelled to about 20 countries, joining missions, offering my time to local projects with global impacts. Whether I had the privilege to speak up for the Ocean at the United Nations when only 19, launched the global #IspeakBlueToo social media campaign, organized the World Clean Up Day home 1 with more than 3000 people taking part, or avoiding an international cruise-ship to stop in one of the pristine island in New Caledonia, I’ve loved all those missions, where I felt I was not only useful but supported by a wonderful human wave for change.
Your greatest inspirations or influences?
When it comes to the deep blue, Sylvia Earl, who’s dedicated her life to Ocean Science. When I left high school, my two major inspirations where Malala Yousaftzai and Emma Watson.
I love to read Jiddu Krishnamurti and I also feel inspired by whoever is encouraging the idea of taking care of ourselves, each other and the planet.
Environment and Well- being is who I am, and what I want to do. Thus, I chose an Environmental Policy Master at Sciences Po, and studying what you care for the most about is pure bliss. The past few years, things have been changing very fast when it comes to environmental issues awareness. Regarding how fast climate is changing, and how impactful human behavior is when it comes to biodiversity loss, we are not changing fast enough, no doubt about that. However, the good news is, at least we are changing. If I take Mauritius as an example, there has never been that many projects, campaigns, companies, organizations doing good to preserve that jewel of the Indian Ocean.
Consumption is definitely evolving, once again not as fast as we should, but it is, and that is positive. I believe in France for instance, more and more people are getting aware of their overall impact.
There are thousands ways of making an impact. Learn and share that information, that is something we all can do. Spread awareness with your friends and family. The more we talk about it the faster and easier we’ll act and change. There are two major process: the top-down and the bottom-up actions. The top-down process is way to often criticized as we believe the public powers do not do enough. At the EU level, some measures are taken, but It takes long for laws to be voted and implemented, and economic interests very often are major obstacles for change. Bottom-up measures are just as impactful in an other way. I like to say that changing the world starts in your backyard.
Do Everything With Love
Doing good to Mama Earth, to yourself and others, is in my opinion the top three priorities when it comes to pure happiness. We all have something to bring to the world, that is our mission. To find it is to know ourselves. Human beings are amazing with wonderful capacities of thinking, of creating, of doing; if only we take the time to listen to our deep self. Love, is a wonderful thing and my advice to whoever wishes to do something good, is to do it with love. Taking care of ourselves, bodies and souls, of each others, friends and family, unknown people, people in need, or the planet, the Ocean, requires love. And honestly, that is the best ingredient of it all.
On Well Being
If you learn what is bad for your health, in terms of food, cosmetics, activities, addictions (...) you’ll realize that very often, almost always, it is bad for the planet. Thus, I believe, the best thing to do, is a step-by-step path. Ask yourself How can you be the change, knowing that our daily habits play a major role. I am vegan. I am working on being 100% zero waste. I raise my voice, create informative content, support local projects, international NGO’s etc, I do my best to do my part. I am working towards rethinking my transportation habits (having my family all over the world is not easy, and loving to travel neither, thus that is probably the hardest challenge for me, especially when it comes to flying.
My mission is to be a storyteller. I am raising my voice about what I know is good for ourselves and Mama Earth. That is what I love to do. And I believe our life is doing what deeply makes us happy. If we all do so, I have no doubt it will bring to the planet we live on, optimism, respect and care, and we’ll be much more connected to our souls, each others, and the wonderful planet we live on.
