Shore To Restore

Hi! My name is Nina Zheng and I am an international student coming from Jamaica attending Nova Southeastern University in the Razors Edge Global Program. I want to make a difference in our ocean life. Imagine the vast, shimmering expanse of the ocean, once teeming with life—whales breaching through the waves, schools of fish glittering like stars, and coral reefs alive with color and movement. Now picture it fading, suffocating under the weight of plastic pollution and toxins. Sea turtles, once symbols of resilience, choke on discarded bags, mistaking them for jellyfish. Majestic dolphins wash ashore, their lifeless bodies filled with microplastics they couldn’t avoid. The symphony of the ocean is silenced by our actions, as coral reefs the vibrant rainforests of the sea turn ghostly white, unable to survive in the warming waters. The ocean is dying, and with it, the creatures that have called it home for millions of years. Each passing day, the heartbeat of the sea grows weaker, and if we don’t act, this beautiful world beneath the waves will be lost forever, leaving nothing but silence where life once thrived. Coming from an island where beaches and the ocean is a big thing, it hurts for me to see over tourism and overall recklessness destroy them little by little. Especially, these days we've been getting many hurricanes, the coral reefs that the Hurricanes can cause severe physical damage to coral reefs through strong winds and turbulent waters. The force of the waves can break coral structures, uproot them, and create sediment clouds that block sunlight essential for coral photosynthesis. In addition to the mangroves and coastal ecosystems: The intense winds and storm surges can uproot mangrove trees and destroy coastal habitats, which serve as crucial nurseries for many marine species.

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of Oceana and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.