En el mar

The sea gives life. It has always been this way. Life on land originated in the sea and depends on it for its existence. Its vast waters and coasts make it possible for us to witness the magic of life on our beautiful blue planet. It gives us at least 30 percent of the oxygen we breathe, absorbs 25 to 30 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions, regulates our climate, and provides food to at least 3 billion people.

In addition, the sea provides us with riches that go far beyond economic inputs and environmental benefits. It gives us peace of mind, enriches our soul, and awakens emotions from the depths of our being. Who does not like to listen to the swaying of the waves on the beach, feel the water caressing our toes in the sand, the hug of the breeze, or a seashore kiss? What feelings does witnessing a coastal sunrise or sunset evoke in you? There are reasons why the sea has been a source of inspiration for countless songs and poems through the ages. Wherever we are, we connect with the sea in some way or another.

In this context, I celebrate Azul’s initiative to give us a taste – through snippets from Latin American coastal music and the written word – about our connection with the sea and need to take care of it. I connect, in particular, with the song La Jaibera, a song that originated from the coasts of Mexico, the country that gave me birth and unselfishly shaped much of who I am today. As long as I can remember, my family found some excuse to visit the coasts of Mexico. I learned to walk on the beaches of the Mexican Pacific. My childhood memories are full of images, tastes, smells, sounds and textures that transport me directly to the coast. I grew up surrounded by songs like La Jaibera, music that often supported the sacrosanct process of cooking a good fish, a shellfish paella, or some freshly caught jaiba (swimming crab). Through cooking and visits to the coast, I learned to respect and admire fishing and those who engage in this noble and necessary profession.

Two key solutions to limit the effects of climate change and the increase in greenhouse gases are the protection and restoration of coastal ecosystems – such as reefs, mangroves and seagrasses that could help keep more carbon out of the atmosphere – and increase the use of low-carbon protein sources from well-managed fisheries to feed the earth’s growing population. Mexico’s jaiba fishery is a great example, where many coastal communities have taken the reins to ensure that the fishery regenerates with minimal impact to the environment and continues to provide economic sustenance and culinary pleasure to thousands of Mexicans.

Yet, the preponderant vision of development worldwide is still based on a highly extractive economy that is largely disconnected from our care for the environment. How can environmental protection be made compatible with economic activities and the productive continuity of a country?

This is a problem of focus and intent. There is no reason why environmental protection should be divorced from a nation’s development goals. Quite the opposite. Time and again it has been shown that the degradation of ecosystems represents an increasing cost to the development and well-being of a country. If the economic logic moves in one direction, and the logic for maintaining healthy ecosystems moves in the other direction, we form a chasm in the way our realities are formulated, with devastating long-term consequences.

The well-being of a country depends on the maintenance, care and regeneration of its natural systems. Maintaining healthy ecosystems and pursuing regenerative economic activities, where social well-being is promoted through the care and regeneration of the environment, should be a central part of the future of a nation.

Let us seek an economy where the conservation and regeneration of our seas and coasts is not an afterthought or a passing idea, but a starting point for the integral development of coastal nations. Protecting and maintaining our vast natural heritage sheltered in and by the sea will give way to humanity’s long-term well-being. The sea gives life. It is time for us to give it some in return.

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