The planet's first legal think tank dedicated to climate migrants
26 January 2021 – conducted by James Sedlack
In the following interview, conducted by James Sedlack, Maura discusses her experience dealing with coastal flooding, public works issues, and questions of migration as former mayor and long-term resident of Mastic Beach, NY, a small coastal town on Long Island. For more perspective on Maura’s story, please see her short film with The Nature Conservancy on Long Island water quality.
22 December 2020 – by James Sedlak
‘I remember turning around to see the red glow creep upwards behind the silhouette of the tree line. At two o’clock in the morning, our surroundings began to light up like an orange-tinted movie-set. Amidst an increasingly loud roar, I heard a familiar voice yelling at us to load-up in the buggies; “C’mon boys, double-time!” shouted my captain. The fire was chugging towards us, up slope from the drainage below, and it was time to get out.’
James Sedlak is a wildland firefighter based in Lake Tahoe, California. As a first-responder on the frontlines, he has seen the devastation of megafires and feels compelled to help solve problems associated with climate change. He joins EarthRefuge to help procure content surrounding climate change and migration in an effort to raise awareness and bring diverse perspectives to the forefront.
Outside of work you can find him backcountry snowboarding, building out vans, or trail running.
Sign up to our Earth Refuge newsletter for the latest updates on climate change, environmental justice and migration!
