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Estonian-born Merle Liivand, who now calls Miami Beach her home, is known as Mermaid Merle because of her passion for protecting our oceans while swimming incredible distances in a monofin “mermaid’s tail”.
Beyond being a 5-time Guinness World Record Holder for various swimming accomplishments and her work as an ambassador for the Paris Olympics, Earth Day and several other environmental organizations, Mermaid Merle just made history again by conducting the world’s first live underwater interview with Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr..
Wearing scuba gear and special mask, she spoke beneath the Pacific Ocean with Palau’s President in a live broadcast to raise awareness about ocean conservation and climate threats facing Palau, a Pacific island nation of about 18,000 people. Rising sea levels, coral bleaching, and stronger storms are endangering its coasts.
Mermaid Merle collaborated with social entrepreneur Gunter Pauli to showcase the Li-Fi Communication Mask, a brand-new technology which uses light pulses to allow for wireless speech communication. It works where Wi-Fi does not.
Gunter Pauli runs a group called The Blue Economy theblueeconomy.org.
The blue economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems. It encompasses both traditional maritime activities like fisheries and shipping, and newer sectors such as marine renewable energy, aquaculture, and biotechnology, all within a framework that protects the environment and conserves natural resources. The concept emphasizes balancing economic development, social equity, and environmental sustainability.
Mermaid Merle boasts that Miami could be best city in the world for the Blue Economy.
“With the cooperation of our government and local businesses, I see a bright future of relying on our waters and technology to generate revenue, while also being kind to our Earth.”
County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has strongly supported Mermaid Merle’s efforts for several years now and applauds this Blue Economy initiative.
On November 18, Mermaid Merle received a medal of honor in NYC at the Estonia House to recognize her global efforts in this regard. She is the Estonian government’s first female athlete to receive the award.
This is an iPhone Must Do
We continue to march towards a thinner physical wallet every day. Many of the physical cards that we used to carry can now be part of our digital wallets on Apple and Android smartphones.
Beyond credit cards and affinity cards for shopping, the iPhone can now replace your driver’s license in twelve states. Florida is not yet on the list, but should be soon.
However, Apple did give every U.S. citizen a reason to add one more item to their digital wallet. iPhone users can now add their U.S. Passport as a form of REAL ID, the Federal standard for providing identification. Since this costs nothing, it is a MUST DO for anyone with an iPhone and a U.S. Passport. This way the next time you forget your driver’s license or passport, you have a REAL ID backup in your iPhone.
To install your Digital ID, open the Apple Wallet app > Select the + on upper right > Choose Driver’s License and ID Cards > Choose Digital ID. In the quick setup, you will first be asked to take a photo of your physical passport and scan the chip inside your passport. Following that, you will take a live photo of yourself. These steps take under a minute. After a brief verification process, your Digital ID appears along your other stored items in your Apple Wallet.
You can use your new Digital ID at over 250 domestic airports and, in the near future, to prove your identity at various websites. Your identity will always remain secure and you will control what information you share with these websites.
It is an exciting future and this is a no-brainer way to get started.
Real Estate Update
As of 11/19/25, there were 162 properties for sale in Pinecrest, 15 homes pending sale and 9.5 months of inventory. If you’re ready to move, contact me to get the best local expertise, truthful guidance and realistic expectations. It’s easy to get started at miamihal.com/getstarted. I invite you to view past episodes of my The MiamiHal Real Estate Show at miamihal.com/the-miamihal-real-estate-show to hear from experts and get the latest real estate news.
Hal Feldman (MiamiHal) is a Realtor with RE/MAX Advance Realty. You can contact him with your story ideas or real estate questions at www.MiamiHal.com, Hal@MiamiHal.com or www.facebook.com/MiamiHal
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