One morning, I set out to brace the 5-North traffic to get to Birch Aquarium at Scripps. I heard about it from a docent in my tour of Torrey Pines. The adult ticket was $17. (Note: You can get a $3 coupon from this website.)

As soon as I got in, I enjoyed an empty aquarium almost entirely to myself. On the left side is what I call the “Environmental Awareness” room, where you’ll read about global warming, the effects of carbon dioxide excess, and how everyday, simple acts can help our planet.

The first thing that stood out for me was the reporter’s booth. You can read three topics from a teleprompter. This time, I chose “heat waves.” The script read:

“For skiers and snowboarders, enjoy the Sierras as much as you can. With the rate of global warming going now, the snowy mountains might just be a thing of the past.”

Snow-capped mountains, a thing of the past?

Unthinkable. I still want my future kids to enjoy seeing fish in freshwater, squirrels on golf course, or snow and dry seasons alternating in Mount Laguna. These are the things I’m enjoying in my lifetime. What can we do everyday to limit our carbon footprint?

1. UNPLUG all appliances and electronics when not in use.
2. Recycle.

I left the “Environmental Awareness” room and walked across to the real “Aquarium.” Dark-lit, with several dozens of tanks filled with fish, jellyfish, planktons, crab, starfish, etc. 

Man-made kelp forest.

I thought of a friend, Anna Oposa who is spending a good chunk of her adult life advocating for Save the Philippines Seas. And also the cousin of my boyfriend, Esperanza Garcia, who is moving to the Philippines to push for sustainable energy.

When I left the Birch Aquarium, I felt two things: happiness and sadness. Happiness, that modern technology and environmental advocacy has allowed millions of human beings to take a peek of ocean life. Sadness, because human beings are the number one reason of that exact life is decaying exponentially. I enjoyed the Birch Aquarium, and I can’t wait to bring my sisters there. By then, I could teach them to be more frugal — one of the best ways to contribute to saving our ocean life.