“I was shocked and alarmed,” she remembers.
Carmen’s photos of plastic waste and other detritus in the Bajo Yuna Mangrove National Park, in the Dominican Republic, sparked a heated debate · Carmen Danae Azor
Carmen grew up between many different countries, but she considers the Dominican Republic her true home (along with Mallorca) · Juanca Paulino
Worried about her Caribbean “mother island,” Carmen moved to the Dominican Republic in 2018.
Carmen has been active in organizing hundreds of beach cleanups and recycling opportunities in the Dominican Republic · Carmen Danae Azor
From government ministries to local fishers, Carmen reaches out across the spectrum of stakeholders in her work as an activist · Carmen Danae Azor
As well as focusing on plastic pollution, Carmen is involved in mangrove reforestation efforts · Carmen Danae Azor
“It was a very special moment to see it all come together,” Carmen says.
One of Carmen’s “environmental ARTivism” projects involved recording hours of underwater whale song, which were then combined with selections from a 1970 album called “Songs of the Humpback Whale” by Dr. Roger Payne, who helped launch the Save the Whales movement · Shawn Heinrichs
Carmen’s videos of plastic waves crashing into Montesinos beach, which she views as evidence of “ecocide,” have been viewed by over 30 million people around the world · Carmen Danae Azor
“Plastic pollution is drowning mangrove forests and beaches in the Dominican Republic and around the world,” she says.
Mangrove forests are incredible ecosystems, capable of absorbing up to 10 times more carbon than terrestrial forests. Yet they are increasingly drowning in plastic pollution · Carmen Danae Azor
Carmen uses photography and video to communicate about the ocean she loves and the perils it faces, such as overwhelming quantities of plastics washing up on beaches · Carmen Danae Azor
Agricultural plastic waste is just one of many industries reliant on plastics, which then pollute the world’s ocean and beaches · Carmen Danae Azor
“There needs to be more accountability on the systemic neocolonial issues of the many companies performing extractive and contaminating operations that are not aligned with the Paris Agreement’s set goals,” she insists.
Lasting eight hours, “Bandera Blanca” was a performance-art piece created by Carmen. She walked into the ocean and stayed there, in silence, until past sundown, waving a large white flag for the seas and for all those we are losing to pollution and extinction. The performance was seen only by passers-by and her brother, who stayed with the tripod and camera · Carmen Danae Azor
A Canadian company has been awarded an oil exploration contract in a Dominican marine mammal sanctuary and marine protected area. This is something that would never be permitted—by the government or the people—within their own country’s boundaries. Contracts such as these are unfortunately the rule, not the exception · Carmen Danae Azor
Half a million people worldwide directly rely on coral reefs for food, income, tourism, coastal protection, and more. Yet if we do nothing to tackle the climate crisis, they could be the first entire ecosystem to collapse · Cristina Mittermeier
“They lead and feed the family,” she says. “Going forward, I think women of color will play a key role [in conservation], although white men have gotten the media attention so far—Jacques Cousteau, Richard Attenborough, and such.”
Carmen believes we must work harder to empower women to claim seats at the decision-making table, so they can contribute to real solutions in the ocean space · Carmen Danae Azor
