Turning Sargassum from threat to opportunity | Christopher Walker | TEDxLaRomana

A revolutionary idea turned into a successful initiative, taking advantage of the sargassum invading the Caribbean beaches and shorelines to sequester CO2 generating a global impact while protecting the local natural ecosystems and sustainable livelihood in coastal communities. Following years of active involvement in cutting-edge, innovative, and entrepreneurial companies, Christopher Walker is merging his expertise with his environmental passion to create a positive social, economical and environmental impact by working tirelessly on sargassum mitigation and valuation, a challenge faced by countries across the Caribbean and Americas. Having lived in 5 continents and worked on projects worldwide, Chris has settled back into his Dominican roots after years in Dubai to help combat Sargassum, which negatively impacts the environment and tourism, an industry many countries depend on. SOS Carbon aims to provide cost-efficient innovations, paired with cyclical solutions to turn a negative into an immense positive. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@sgill4833]

Okay so what was the solution to sargassum?

[@weneedcriticalthinking]

Everything has a use, when life gives you lemons make lemonade. This sparked me to search for good solutions and brought me here. March 16, 2023 / 2:04 PM / CNN "A 5,000-mile-wide blob of seaweed is headed for Florida, threatening tourism across the Caribbean" By CBS Miami Team

[@xistap]

Me too!

[@Cousin_It]

Me too! I live on the Yucatan coast.

[@vanrudder4235]

Did you find a solution? My crew is also working on how to recycle it.

[@joaocal1]

14 minutes of self promoting, empty words and vain promises... Yawn.

[@sonnyeast3862]

Sargasso has heavy metals like arsenic,codium,lead etc.That’s why it’s not used as fertilizer.These heavy metals are absorbed by the plants. You don’t want to ingest trace elements of arsenic…

[@dopessongs3635]

1.5 speed your welcome

[@artetallerkmilo]

Thank you Christopher for this great exposition about my country Dominican Republic. all despite you are part of this country.

[@danelen]

I rarely post a negative comment but man did he say a lot without saying anything at all. Still no idea what they are actually trying there besides what everyone else is doing which is piling it up in smelly rotting piles around the Caribbean.

[@faithfulgrl]

🍀🕊 I have yet to listen to his Talk. Your comment jumped out to me, now I'm very curious what Christopher has to say or not say. I'll flip you on the catch side!

[@Ibrahim-metahari1968]

Too bad you missed the point! He said you can make building materials for houses, cosmetics, paper and medicine! He didn't say what you wanted to hear so you missed the point.

[@porrellop]

Don't see any real solution here. A lot of nice intentions though. We are working on actual solutions, for stopping, harvesting, and processing. None easy, all requiring a lot of work developing but we certainly are much closer than these guys. You need to deal with the processing first and then design the onshore and offshore harvesting system to suit. We do have over 30 Biodigestors operating in the Dominican Republic so we know a little more about the subject but I do praise them for trying.

[@vivelibre6439]

I’d love to know more about your efforts. Is there a link you could share? Thanks!

[@MrMarat81lis]

Same, please send any relevant info

[@vanrudder4235]

Are you willing to share what you have learned?.Do the Biodigestors produce power for the city?

[@SuedeBeach]

Please send a link so we can learn more

[@mr1967god]

Thank for talking like that about our paradise. It’s the true that The Government has to do their job,😢but my country is the best place to live. God bless our Dominican Republic ❤

[@marykirsten7773]

Thank you for doing this!! I'm sending this to everyone I know!!

[@artetallerkmilo]

The best beaches and tropical wheather over here, frendly people .

[@MrMarat81lis]

Producing fertilizer ?

[@Raphaelhigginbotham]

He has no real solution. This would require cooperation from those polluting the water and feeding the algae.

[@7ann7seven13]

bring it to the prisons and let the prisoners work processing , drying it and packaging it so they give back to society? Allow them to keep a portion for a savings account to begin a business of their own. Overseen by responsible , lawful people.

[@evetsdn]

I’m with DT a lot of talk but didn’t say anything constructive.

[@kaasie71]

stand still dude

[@PetrPlenkov]

So what’s the solution in the end? Harvesting?

[@chriswalker715]

Hi Petr! There are quite a few solutions, from creating sustainable products from sargassum such as biostimulants or bioplastics (among others) or sequestering carbon for example. A lot is still to be researched and developed, but what is clear, is the opportunities for sustainable solutions seem limitless!

[@artetallerkmilo]

@@chriswalker715 I'm agree with you.

[@victorochoa31]

6 minutes into the video and still hasn't said anything...

[@skepticRN]

Wtf. I am ten minutes into this video and he hasn’t said anything yet. He is just babbling.

[@3t-sm954]

TOXIC GAS EMISSIONS

[@franklama1]

Why are billionaires investing into this resource to solve so many problems?