Celebrate World Oceans Day: revitalize your faith in the face of disaster

Next Tuesday, June 8th, will be World Oceans Day 2010. I can't believe it's been a year already since the last time I mentioned this worldwide event in my blog. In some respects, the event has been a bit under the radar, overshadowed by the ongoing horrors of the Gulf oil spill. But perhaps that makes World Oceans Day 2010 all the more timely - a day to positively reaffirm our commitment to preserving the oceans and all the life within.

This year, World Oceans Day 2010, first proposed by Canada in 1992 and later adopted by the U.N., carries the theme: Oceans of Life. A very appropriate theme given how we depend on the oceans for our very existence. Rather than one massive event, World Oceans Day 2010, which is organized by The Ocean Project.org, is made up of many regional events across the globe. If you live near one of these events, check it out as they are events that you can participate in from beach cleanups to children celebrations of Dr. Seuss' classic "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish."

You can go to the official World Oceans Day 2010 website and look up your country or region to see what is taking place. Because June 8th falls on a Tuesday this year, many events are taking place on the weekend before, June 5th - 6th.

"Designation of World Oceans Day provides an important boost to those organizations and individuals who have been deeply committed to ocean conservation. Official UN designation is another important step toward improving the health of our world's ocean. Now we need to capitalize on this fresh momentum! We hope you will be involved in planning or participating in a World Oceans Day celebration near you!"

Celebrate World Oceans Day 2010, a chance to make an optimistic, affirming statement in the face of a terrible ongoing environmental catastrophe.

It's Earth Day 2010: do something for the planet

It's Thursday, April 22nd . . . It's Earth Day.

Now celebrating its 40th year, Earth Day 2010 is a chance for all of us to take a proactive stance in protecting our natural resources, in protecting our environment - indeed, in protecting the planet.

So, today of all days, DO SOMETHING!

• Plant a tree or purchase some CFL or LED lightbulbs.

• Go to your local shoreline and do a little beach clean up.

• Make a contribution to your favorite conservation organization.

• Check the various conservation group web sites. Many of them have a shopping list of ideas.

• See Disneynature's Oceans. In its first week, Disney will make a contribution to coral reef protectection for each ticket sold.

You'll feel good about yourself. Trust me.

Seaweb.org - taking a proactive approach

As I have had the fortunate opportunity to meet with dedicated marine researchers in the making of Island of the Great White Shark and have been welcomed by aquariums nationwide for screenings and lectures about white sharks and the need for shark conservation, I have come to notice two deficiencies in current environmental/conservation communication methods: first, a lack of scientific information - translated into laymens' language - being presented to the general public and secondly, a reliance on digital communication (web, et al) which caters to the already curious but does not necessarily bring the issues to the passive reader, which constitutes the vast majority.
Seaweb.org is an organization that appears to be taking on those issues. This is a non-profit that, while using the usual digital tools (web site, email newsletters, et al), is making a concerted effort to get important research information to decision-makers while also utilizing "social marketing" techniques to reach a broader audience - an audience consisting of people who may not yet have embraced ocean issues or even given them any thought at all.

As readers of this blog, already interested in conservation issues, this is a group worth investigating and encouraging your uncommitted friends - you know who they are - to take the time and check them out.