Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

I have created a documentary called "Our Island's Treasure" about the destruction of the Henoko ocean to build a new US military base in Okinawa. My mother was born in Okinawa, so I feel a deep connection and love for my island roots. When I heard that the US and Japanese governments were dumping hundreds of tons of sand and concrete into our precious coral reef systems, it broke my heart- not only because there are over 5300 marine species depending on our waters, but also the impact it has on our indigenous lifestyle and cultural bond with the ocean, in addition to the clear effects of climate change already appearing on the islands. Seeing the active destruction and protests motivated me to show what's happening in the midst of this media silence. Through fundraising, weeks of interviewing intergenerational activists and hundreds of hours of footage, I produced my documentary, "Our Island's Treasure," and gained thousands of views worldwide to spread awareness and inspire global action. I use my platform as a student from the United States to show the American audience the urgency of saving this sacred ocean from across the world, as it impacts all of us. I have uploaded this short documentary on Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/340517922), and have also created a website of information, action ideas, and ways to support at www.riseforhenoko.com. Through this ongoing issue, I have learned to build an even stronger pride for the resilience of my community, and plan to keep encouraging those around me to take part in this urgent fight for our ocean. I am spreading awareness about this crisis on social media as well, and hope to use my education and activism to inspire others to create change. The Henoko base construction is still happening today. But that doesn't mean we can't take part in stopping this horrible destruction of our wildlife.