Offshore Drilling and The Future of Our Islands

This episode of 'Equity In Every Drop' features an in-depth conversation about the pressing climate challenges confronting The Bahamas, a vulnerable island nation on the front lines of climate change, battling sea-level rise, and the looming threat of offshore drilling. Hosted by Thomas Hynes, the show welcomes Rashema Ingraham, Bimini Coastal Waterkeeper and Executive Director of Waterkeepers Bahamas, and Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, Executive Director of the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation. Both organizations are part of Our Islands, Our Future - a coalition focused on environmental protection in The Bahamas. 

The discussion illuminates the importance of the ocean to Bahamians, touching on job dependence, cultural significance, and the environmental risks of potential oil drilling in the region. The episode delves into the economic implications of preserving the ocean and coral reefs against the backdrop of climate change, with particular attention to threats like hurricanes and rising sea temperatures. It emphasizes the broad public support for a ban on oil drilling, highlighted by a recent poll showing 85% of Bahamians in favor of this action, which could elevate The Bahamas as an example on the global stage that a sustainable future free of fossil fuels is possible.

The conversation also addresses the importance of legislative support, community involvement, and the role future generations play in sustainable environmental policies. Overall, this episode not only showcases the threats facing The Bahamas but also the determined efforts and positive steps toward preserving its natural beauty for future generations.




Creators and Guests

Thomas Hynes
Host
Thomas Hynes
Thomas Hynes is the Communications and Marketing Manager for Waterkeeper Alliance. In addition to podcast hosting and production duties, he manages and writes all sorts of editorial content for the organization, including blogs, feature articles, advocacy alerts, email campaigns, social media content, and more. Thomas grew up on the Long Island Sound in Connecticut and now makes his home two blocks from the East River in Brooklyn, New York. He primarily commutes across the river to the Waterkeeper Alliance office via ferry boat. Thomas was drawn to environmental work in order to take an active role in the fight against climate change and help bring justice to the rotten polluters who seek to ruin our shared resources. Before working at Waterkeeper Alliance, Thomas wrote a nonfiction book about the history of wildlife in New York City. "Wild City" also highlights the power and success of the Clean Water Act, and other environmental regulations, in leading an unlikely ecological turnaround. In his spare time, Thomas photographs the many tugboats traversing the city’s various waterways. Thomas lives in Brooklyn with his wife and their son. They can be found most weekends walking or biking along the East River.
Casuarina McKinney-Lambert
Guest
Casuarina McKinney-Lambert
Casuarina is the Executive Director of the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF). Born and raised in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, Bahamas, she has a strong passion for protecting the marine environment and sustaining the communities that depend on our waters. She completed the International Baccalaureate at the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales and graduated with a degree in Marine Biology and Environmental Policy from Duke University. Casuarina studied mangrove creeks and wetlands throughout The Bahamas, and taught science and coordinated student research at the Cape Eleuthera Island School before joining BREEF. Casuarina was a founding board member of the One Eleuthera Foundation and the Bahamas Protected Areas Fund, and she is a member of the National Biodiversity Committee, the National Climate Change Committee, and the Fisheries Advisory Board. Casuarina has served on several Town Planning urban development boards and is a member of the Bahamas SDG Technical Committee for Environmental Sustainability. Casuarina has represented The Bahamas at numerous regional and international conferences. While happy on land, Casuarina is most at home underwater. She is a Divemaster and an avid sailor with a history of exploring the most remote and pristine islands and reefs in very small boats.
Lori Harrison
Producer
Lori Harrison
Lori Harrison is the Communications and Marketing Director for Waterkeeper Alliance. She oversees multi-faceted communications and marketing activities to advance the organization’s mission of protecting our right to clean water in communities around the world. With 25 years of experience in strategic water communications and mission-based work, Lori is an award-winning writer and content creator. Her expertise lies in translating complex concepts into relatable ideas, fostering engagement, and promoting sustainable practices and solutions. Her work not only aims to protect clean water, public health, and the environment but also focuses on "connecting the disconnect" between people and this essential resource. Before joining Waterkeeper Alliance, Lori had a background in corporate marketing for professional sports and held various communications and creative positions with a non-profit educational organization for global water professionals. Notable achievements include creating the WATER'S WORTH IT® grassroots awareness campaign and writing the award-winning children's book, “Why Water's Worth It,” designed to educate and inspire the next generation of water protectors. Lori lives in Virginia with her husband and their two children.
Rashema Ingraham
Guest
Rashema Ingraham
Rashema T. Ingraham is the Bimini Coastal Waterkeeper and Executive Director of Waterkeepers Bahamas. As a real-deal Grand Bahamian, and descendant of a fisherman from Bimini, she is a vocal ambassador for the environment. It was her late grandfather who opened her eyes to the waterworld and nature at large, taking her into his self-made canoes when she was much younger to catch fish and conch for the night’s enjoyment. Rashema is a certified paralegal who has legal experience working closely on environmental litigation matters. She is the co-founder of GB Envirobins, a non-profit community-service company that places trash receptacles along the main streets on Grand Bahama Island to encourage a trash-free environment. She is a trained leadership facilitator and incorporates leadership training into a vibrant environmental youth program with Save The Bays. As the Executive Director of Waterkeepers Bahamas, she focuses on education and citizen action for clean water use, making presentations to schools, churches, and youth groups. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Management from the College of The Bahamas (now University of The Bahamas), and understands the value our natural resources have in maximizing the island’s tourism product.
Offshore Drilling and The Future of Our Islands
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