[CINC] GREAT SHORT ARTICLE - World Ocean Day article by Dr. J Nichols

[Clare Fritzsche]

Greetings, Naturalists!

Last week I was in Washington, D.C., attending Capitol Hill Ocean Week 
with our CINC Volunteer of the Year for 2007, Kathy Van Slyke. There 
were several discussions about climate change and its impact on the 
oceans. At an awards dinner hosted by the Channel Islands Marine 
Sanctuary Foundation, Jean-Michel Cousteau spoke briefly after he 
received a lifetime achievement award. He emphasized how he approaches 
conservation from the heart, and he encouraged us to do the same, since 
we will protect what we love. I thought of all of you and how many of 
you were drawn to volunteer because of your love for the ocean and its 
critters, and how you share that passion with the folks you engage in 
your work as naturalists. I thought you would enjoy this article. Thanks 
for all you do!

*We need to live life with ocean in mind*

By Wallace J. Nichols

Article Launched: 06/06/2008 01:34:07 AM PDT



Everywhere I go, people ask: "What one thing can I do for the ocean?"

My daughter, a kindergartner, answers simply: "pick up your trash." Of 
course, using energy-efficient light bulbs or driving a hybrid are good 
answers, since global warming is fundamentally an ocean issue. Then 
again, the simple act of choosing to eat seafood that is sustainable and 
healthy can help the ocean.

But our ocean is in serious trouble. Reading recent news and scientific 
papers is enough to make your head spin. They tell us that there is no 
corner of our vast ocean that is not free of human fingerprints.

As an oceanographer, I'm quite familiar with the relentless bad news. 
Keeping up-to-date on it all is a part of my job. Since the ocean holds 
the majority of life on Earth and governs our air, our climate and our 
food, that means we're in real, big trouble.

As daunting as it appears, the ocean crisis can be boiled down to three 
problems: we've put too much in, we've taken too much out, and we are 
wrecking the edge.

Who wouldn't be concerned about the ever-expanding Texas-size "garbage 
patch" in the Pacific Ocean, the shutdown of West Coast salmon fishing, 
right whales and sea turtles drowning in fishing gear, and the summer 
closure of beaches due to toxic pollution?

*What you can do?*

Obviously, there is no silver bullet - or, is there? If I had one answer 
to give to those who ask, "What can I do for the ocean?" it would be 
this: "Live like you love the ocean." Living like we love the ocean 
means putting less in, taking less out and protecting the ocean's edge 
where so much life lives.

Less in. Less out. Protect the edge.

Simple.

Rather than wringing our hands, hope is on the horizon. We can live like 
we love the ocean in many ways.

First, shop like you love the ocean.

Buy products that are ocean-friendly. Use a canvas bag to get your stuff 
from the store to your car to your house, rather than a plastic bag that 
will stick around forever. Drink filtered tap water from a refillable 
glass or steel bottle instead of buying water shipped halfway around the 
world.

Second, eat like you love the ocean.

When you choose seafood, be sure it's caught sustainably. That's gotten 
a heck of a lot easier lately as Whole Foods, thousands of local 
restaurants, and even Wal-Mart are going organic and sustainable.

Third, vacation like you love the ocean.

*Doing your part*

This summer, hike in a coastal park or visit an aquarium. Go on a sea 
turtle or whale watch where your visit supports conservation. Surfing, 
kayaking and snorkeling are all ocean-friendly activities. Why not join 
Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup and make a day of it 
with your friends?

Lastly, vote like you love the ocean.

Many local, state, and national politicians support bold efforts to 
tackle global warming, create ocean parks - our so-called "Undersea 
Yosemites" that Ocean Conservancy is helping to build - and better fund 
cutting-edge ocean science. With our votes, we must be perfectly clear: 
We want leaders who bring about sea change.

We are entering a decade of progress in the culture of conservation and 
sustainability. Millions who care deeply about the ocean are joining to 
transform our relationship with the sea - they are starting a sea change.

Each of us must be part of this ocean revolution - each in our own way, 
each as part of a connected whole.

Join for yourself. Join for others. Join for the ocean. But, when you 
join, please remember to live like you love the ocean.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

/WALLACE J. NICHOLS is a senior scientist at Ocean Conservancy and a 
research associate at California Academy of Sciences. He was featured in 
the documentary film "The 11th Hour." He wrote this article for the 
Mercury News./


-- 

Clare Fritzsche
Volunteer Administration
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
Channel Islands National Park
Schedule for weeks of June 9:
MON: 8am-12pm & 2-6pm, Santa Barbara: (805) 966-7107 x366
TUE: 8-9:30am & 2-6pm, Santa Barbara: (805) 966-7107 x366
WED: 8am-12pm & 2-6pm, Santa Barbara: (805) 966-7107 x366
THU:  9:30-11am, Oxnard: (805) 382-6149 x105
            2-6pm, Santa Barbara: (805) 966-7107 x366
FRI: 8am-12pm & 2-6pm, Santa Barbara: (805) 966-7107 x366
Please call my cell phone if need be: (805) 729-0127
Santa Barbara FAX: (805) 568-1582

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