Name: Masami Umehara
Social Justice Group: Environmental Rights: Water pollution (C)
Date of Fieldwork: February 7, 2025
Name of Organization and person (people) with whom you met and their title(s):NYC H2O, Anna Bateman, Stewardship and Development Manager
What I did and what I learned about my topic, activism, social justice work or civil and human rights work from this fieldwork:
On February 7, 2025, we had an interview with Anna Bateman, the Stewardship and Development Manager of NYC H2O. NYC H2O is an organization that educates New Yorkers about the local water ecology in New York.
Anna taught us about how it’s not just important to be mindful of our waste. We should understand where all our waste is going, and how long it stays on Earth. She also said it’s important to know why we’re consuming and try to consume less. She also talked about experiences she had on the beach. Of course, she found trash, but she also found a pile of creepy mannequin legs on the shore. Sadly, she also saw dead animals stuck in plastic bags washed up onto the shore. She could see the impact of ocean pollution just by walking by the shore.
Anna thinks prevention is the most effective way to stop ocean/water pollution. For example, people can prevent trash from blowing out of trash cans, or limit how much they use or buy something that can contribute to ocean or water pollution. Things that we, normal people can do to affect this problem is beach cleanups. It’s easy to sign up for and is enjoyable(for some people).
She also told us about ways we young people can impact ocean/water pollution in the future as a job. There are many types of skills and jobs around this topic. Most people think of trash and marine debris, cleanups and marine biologists when they think of ocean pollution. But there are many more different aspects of ocean pollution, and many ways to help. Anna said it’s important to know what you’re passionate about and what skills you have and connect it to ocean/water pollution to make an impact using your skills and interests.
