In recognition of Mike Burke’s exceptional contributions to the SSAFE Advocacy Team and the SSAFE Board of Directors, SSAFE has established this award.  After Mike Burke, the team’s original co-leader, passed away in October 2023, Mary Burton, SSAFE Chair, proposed the award both as a tribute to Mike and to celebrate outstanding work by future team members.

The 2023 “Mike Burke” Annual Award for Excellence in Advocacy goes to Barb Smith (Kendal at Longwood).  Always an effective member of the Advocacy Team, Barb suggested that SSAFE develop an action alert on the little-known but highly significant issue of deep-sea mining for minerals that end up in EV batteries. Her thorough research resulted in a petition to the International Seabed Authority and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, signed by a record-breaking number of SSAFE members.  A member as well of the SSAFE Education team, Barb developed an educational component for the petition by showing films in Longwood’s auditorium, created eye-catching posters and educational materials, and helped out on other petition-related activities.

To celebrate Barb’s efforts, SSAFE will donate $100 to a charity of her choice in addition to $100 to Mike Burke’s beloved Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Barb Smith wrote a lovely note to SSAFE after receiving her award:

“Thank you and those who made the decision to give me the award.  I feel there are so many people in SSAFE who have done incredible work, that I felt awkward receiving the reward.  I do understand that it was related to the deep sea mining issue and am grateful that SSAFE decided to take it on, even though at first glance it seemed outside SSAFE’s mandate.  We never got responses back from Elon Musk or the International Seabed authority, but at least in the case of the ISA, we joined many others in seeking a moratorium.  And even if that moratorium doesn’t last more than a year, it has provided some time for additional research and for developing regulations which may help to mitigate the damage of mining and assure that ‘all humankind’ benefits from the mining.