Ocean Rising - A Movement Begins

One Voice Was Never Enough

“A magical space full of awe and wonder that gives us life.”
— Zac Schwarz, Climate Communicator

“We need to stop seeing the ocean as infinite and invulnerable. We must act like stewards, not owners.”
— Paul Wright, Citizen Scientist

“Let’s fight against these people… I want my kids to see its beauty in 10, 50, 100 years.”
— Gilles Toussaint, Big Future Co-founder

“We should not be asking why to protect it. We should be asking why we are not.”
— Saeeda Ahmed, Carbon Markets Advocate

These are just a few of the hundreds of reflections shared with me this month.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been asking across Substack, social media and in one-to-one conversations:

“What does the ocean mean to you?”

The answers have been raw, real and unforgettable.

Lauren King, Cardiopulmonary Nurse told me: “The ocean didn’t create any of the mess, we did. We are the only mammals actively destroying our habitat.”

People spoke of awe and heartbreak, joy and injustice. They described the sea as memory, refuge, future. A place of peace. A source of power. A part of who they are.

It became clear these weren’t isolated feelings, they were part of a shared instinct, a collective call.

Their words stayed with me, and in the space of a month since starting Voice for the Blue:

Hundreds of reflections. Nearly 700 subscribers. Almost 20,000 views.

A pattern emerged, a rising wave of feeling, urgency and readiness. This isn’t just something people care about. It’s something they’re ready to act on.

That’s why Voice for the Blue is becoming Ocean Rising.

This isn’t just a name change. It’s a shift in energy, direction and ambition. The ocean is in crisis, and we have not risen fast enough to meet it.

Ocean Rising is not about one voice. It’s about many. It’s a platform for those who want to learn, act, question and connect. You don’t need to be an activist. You just need to care about the ocean and want to be part of something bigger.

Ocean Rising is still the same independent journalism you’ve come to expect: the reporting, the investigations, the sharp analysis that cuts through the noise.

But it is also more.

It is a rally point. A movement. A movement. A surge of people who won’t stay silent.

This is where journalism meets collective action.

This isn’t about performative outrage. It’s about clarity, courage, and consequence.

We are not here to preach to the converted. We are here to face the truth and do something about it, together.

Starting soon, Voice for the Blue will continue as a weekly podcast. A new space for frontline stories, interviews and space to reconnect with the world beneath the surface.

The newsletter will remain right here as Ocean Rising.

Same platform. Same mission. A stronger voice for the ocean. A sharper focus on impact.

If this feels right to you, share it. Pledge. Invite someone in. The ocean needs more voices, more courage, more truth.

Thank you for being here from the start.

Let’s rise.

- Luke