Wiv Luv - Water Fest
In 2014, the non-profit, Wiv Luv was founded to raise community awareness of environmental challenges and solutions in the Texas coastal Bay and wetlands.
Role: Founding Principal Director - fundraising, marketing, experience design, and branding
naivety can heal the planet
humble Origins
It was 2014 - a full moon in Pisces. Roseate Spoonbills waddled and scooped their krill from the shallow muddy waters embracing the Port O'Connor jetties. There, in the melon-ball twilight, I lifted my hands in prayer-pose and silently asked the salty fates, "What will you have me do?"
I returned home to care for my folks, Grandma and Grandpa Raby, who had spent their entire lives in a tiny fishing village of Port O’Connor. Rather than asking them to uproot to urban sprawl for my convenience, I made the decision to move to them. I had just been offered a role as an Art Director at a high-profile ad agency in downtown L.A. Alas, I found myself indefinitely bound to a tiny Texas fishing community.
As I gazed up at the expansive moon, I let out a deep exhale and gracefully moved into cobra-pose, seeking solace and wisdom in the embrace of the salt air. Just as I surrendered to the universe for guidance, a fiery spectacle unfolded before me across Matagorda Bay.
A towering inferno erupted from the smokestack of the Formosa Plastics factory, flames reaching a staggering height over a hundred feet. They called it an "Upset Emission," a preventative measure to avert a catastrophic explosion. However, the sight of noxious chemical clouds billowing across Calhoun County for the ensuing weeks left me deeply unsettled. It was as if the universe had sent me a clear message.
Coincidentally, that same week, I had begun delving into Charles Eisenstein's profound book, “The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible.” Eisenstein's words spoke of the power of stillness and the wisdom of allowing oneself to be moved by forces greater than oneself. As a yogi from Yale, he advocated for a shift away from forceful change towards a more holistic approach to transformation.
Inspired by his philosophy, I resolved to take a stand against the factories through community education, local partnerships, and advocacy for the health of the waters and lands of Matagorda.
Though the journey ahead seemed daunting, my naivety was buoyed by a sense of pure potential, propelling me forward with unwavering determination.
The only person I had ever heard of who dared to confront Formosa head-on was my uncle’s wife’s sister, Diane Wilson. She made headlines by sinking her shrimp boat in protest and remained steadfast in her belief that even as a lone activist, she could make a difference. Her unwavering resolve and righteous naivety served as a beacon of hope for me. Coincidentally, Diane had also worked alongside my father, a connection I never had the chance to experience firsthand. With newfound determination, I reached out to Diane, seeking her mentorship and invaluable insights into the local factories and their impact on our community.
As fate would have it, the Taiwanese-owned Formosa Plastics emerged as the unsuspecting champion of pollution in Texas, tallying over 87 upset emissions in the year 2014 alone. Yet, it wasn't just air pollution plaguing the region. Heavily-fished Matagorda Bay and Cox Creek bore the brunt of Formosa Plastics and Alcoa Aluminum's production water, with phthalate levels in Matagorda Bay skyrocketing to 13,000 times the EPA's normal thresholds. Meanwhile, the mystery of mercury's infiltration into the food chain, originating from Alcoa Aluminum's buried deposits, remained unsolved.
As I delved deeper into the grim realities of environmental degradation, a sense of hopelessness threatened to overshadow my mission. It was then that I stumbled upon a chapter in Eisenstein's book titled 'Naivety.' "Any naivety you have, any innocence, anything daring to do something unrealistic is such a treasure," it proclaimed. Turning to the final page, I was astounded to find the name of someone I had just resolved to reach out to: Diane Wilson. Serendipity seemed to be guiding my path, affirming my belief in the worthiness of my mission despite the daunting challenges ahead.
Armed with unwavering faith and patience, I continued to navigate through the mist of uncertainty, drawing inspiration from unlikely sources. Revelations emerged from the depths of the steamy ether, including the remarkable work of Paul Stamets, the world's leading mycologist. His research and YouTube videos showcased the astonishing capabilities of mushrooms, from producing antibiotics to cleaning up environmental disasters like the Betel oil spill in the San Francisco Bay. It dawned on me: mushrooms held the key to addressing the ecological woes plaguing our community.
I solved the puzzle of Methyl-mercury entering the food chain! A saltwater fungus was bioaccumulating the mercury buried by Alcoa Aluminum. The mycelia converted the mercury into methyl-mercury and made it bioavailable to junior blue crabs. The crabs were eating the fungus for its antibiotic properties, just like the bees in Stamet's videos. The black drum fish ate the crabs. Locals ate the drum fish, and local doctors stayed busy. Alcoa's research team reached out to me in awe of the findings.
The solution came in a flash of naivety. We would use oyster mushrooms to bioaccumulate the mercury from the soil the way the Betel scientists extracted the oil from the San Fransisco bay. Then we would isolate the crabs from the mycelia. If I inspired the community to remediate the land, the factory would have a social incentive to be even more accountable. I naively hoped they would adopt the technique or use an even more effective method.
Danger Brook, Wiv Luv Production Manager, performs lyra from the dredges of an oyster boat.
solutions
In response to the environmental challenges posed by the factories, I took proactive steps to initiate tangible solutions. Recognizing the need for a structured approach, I founded Wiv Luv, a fiscally sponsored non-profit organization dedicated to remediation education, community partnerships, and conservation advocacy.
Understanding the importance of fostering collaboration rather than assigning blame, I adopted an approach centered around inspired activation. Instead of fueling divisive sentiments, I sought to unite community members in a shared commitment to environmental stewardship. To this end, I forged a partnership with the Texas Oystermen, leveraging their expertise and resources to launch the Wiv Luv Water Fest.
As part of our educational outreach efforts, I spearheaded the development of bioremediation community art to demonstrate the effectiveness of Oyster mushrooms ability to bioaccumulate mercury.
The Wiv Luv Water Fest was a monumental event that brought together community members, experts, and performers to champion environmental activism. Distinguished water scientist Gerald Pollack delivered captivating lectures, while over 12 oystermen boats served as venues for engaging discussions, hosting more than 300 attendees. The festival atmosphere was further enlivened by the mesmerizing world music of award-winning band Atash and the graceful performances of the Crash Alchemy circus troupe, who danced prayers on silks suspended from oyster dredges.
Following an inspiring activation ceremony, the community mobilized to implement the bioremediation project. Central to our efforts were the innovative "fairy rings," circular rafts filled with beer mash and inoculated with oyster mushrooms. To safeguard the delicate ecosystem, we carefully swaddled the underbelly of the rafts with fine mesh, preventing junior blue crabs and other sealife from accessing the antibiotic mycelia thriving in the "fairy ring" soil. Within weeks, the oyster mushrooms began to fruit, signaling the success of our remediation efforts.
Subsequent testing of the mushroom fruiting bodies revealed elevated levels of mercury, validating our approach and garnering attention from local news outlets. Empowered by our achievements, community members rallied behind calls for accountability, urging EPA-Zone 6 regulators to hold Alcoa Aluminum accountable for their environmental impact.
in the end
In a remarkable turn of events, Alcoa Aluminum downsized to a skeleton crew just nine months after the Water Fest—a testament to the power of collective action and the belief in the impossible. Diane Wilson's unwavering commitment to justice serves as a beacon of hope, as she continues to challenge corporate giants like Formosa Plastics in the largest lawsuit in Texas history. Though challenges persist with Calhoun County's array of petrochemical factories, the enduring lesson remains: trust in your naivety, embrace the impossible, and let the fates guide your journey toward a more sustainable future.
Dr. Gerald Pollack (University ofWashington State) speaks on the 4th Phase of Water at Wiv Luv Water Fest
Leila Noone of Crash Alchemy performs lyra from the dredges of an Oyster Boat
Raby, Oysterman, Aerialist, and Musicians celebrate Texas waters.