Half the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean yet we continue to take it for granted. In this urgent talk, Uma mani takes us beneath the waves to reveal the fragile ecosystems that sustain all life on Earth. From painting coral reefs to diving among them, she has seen the beauty and heartbreak of our blue planet: dying reefs, entangled turtles, and plastic-littered seabeds. This talk is a call to action: protecting the ocean is not charity it is survival. Because as the ocean’s lungs falter, so too does ours. An artist turned scuba diver and ocean crusader, Uma Mani is widely known as India’s “Coral Woman.” At 49, she defied convention—learning to swim, scuba dive, and painting the underwater world she discovered. Her journey became the award-winning documentary Coral Woman, inspiring countless people to take action for our planet.Through her vivid art, talks, and activism, Uma Mani raises awareness about the fragile beauty of coral reefs and the urgent need for marine conservation. From donating her art proceeds to reef restoration to speaking at schools and organizations, she reminds us that passion has no age limit—and that the ocean’s survival is deeply tied to our own.When asked about her favorite view, Uma Mani always points beneath the waves—to the corals, whose resilience mirrors her own. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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