The following is an excerpt from Philippe Cousteau’s blog for Larry King Live, to read the whole blog, click here.

The sun was blazing down as I walked up to the door of the little shop we had come to visit on Dauphin Island, just south of Mobile, Alabama.

This was my last day visiting the Gulf region after the devastating oil spill of only a few weeks earlier. The trip had started out earlier in the week with a briefing by scientists and field staff of the Ocean Conservancy, one of the leading ocean conservation organizations in the United States, who have been on the ground since day one of the disaster. That briefing had also included a helicopter trip to survey the damage from above to get an overall picture of the scale of the disaster.

Joined by members of the Ocean Conservancy, my team and I had driven three hours from New Orleans along the coast. This trip was not only to survey the environmental damage, but also to spend time with the individuals who live along the coast and whose lives are being forever changed by this catastrophe.

Read more: http://larrykinglive.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/17/the-tragic-face-of-%e2%80%98drill-baby-drill%e2%80%99/#more-20598

It was early, and the sun was just starting to peak over the pale horizon as we gathered the team at the rendezvous site. Dew hung on the Spanish moss, and I could tell the black flies were already marshaling their forces, preparing for their relentless daily onslaught.

As the crew quietly went about preparing the gear for the day’s shoot, I closed my eyes. My mind drifted, imagining what this place must have looked like 40 years ago when my father and grandfather stood gazing out over the same water, pondering the plight of what they called “The Forgotten Mermaid.”

It was 1970, and “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau” had premiered on ABC only two years before. My father, mother and grandfather had traveled to the famed Crystal River in Florida to film manatees, a gentle giant that had been silently suffering at the hands of man since the days of Columbus and that was in dire need of protection. “The Forgotten Mermaid” was one of the first episodes of the television series that would go on to capture the world’s imagination for decades to come and would transform the world by helping to usher in a whole new era of global environmental awareness.

Now it was my turn to explore the plight of a creature that is still very much in crisis, even 40 years on.

Wispy fog was gently wafting off the surface as we boarded a small boat and headed out, slowly gliding over the water in search of what early settlers called the “sea-cow.” Beside me stood Buddy Powell, a world-renowned manatee researcher, who as a 17-year-old boy had accompanied my grandfather and father acting as a local guide to their original expedition.

Next to Buddy was Sam Champion, who like so many, had watched my grandfather’s films as a boy and dreamed of sharing in his adventures. Now we were all headed out on the river to film manatees again; a creature whose plight, like that of the environment as a whole has changed little since the last time a Cousteau probed these waters.

Manatees (not unlike the environment as a whole) are still plagued by people who believe that the rivers and land “belong” to us and thus that they should be able build wherever they wish, go wherever they wish and take whatever they wish. Of course, if nature “belongs” to anyone it is the future and we are merely caretakers … and poor ones at that.

Back on the River
Like my father and grandfather before me, my work is dedicated to telling the story of the environment and the responsibility we all have to care for it so that our children might enjoy the same gifts of life that we have known. Much of my work is focused on education through my non-profit EarthEcho International, and by the end of this year I will have traveled across the country speaking to over 100,000 young people.

Just this last Monday I was in Austin, Texas, visiting an elementary school and like so many time before, I was blown away by how engaged and concerned children were about the environment. This new generation, more than any that has preceded it, is focused on the need for solutions where the interests of the natural world are not eclipsed but instead find balance with the needs of humans.

Inspired by this kind of enthusiasm, my other company Azure Worldwide has partnered with the University of Virginia to pioneer new technology by developing a totally new kind of interactive video game, the “U.Va. Bay Game” — which simulates any natural habitat where the players take on the roles of people who live and work in that particular environment.

For the first time we have the technology to create experiences where people can actually see the impact of collaboration as the game is played — it’s a groundbreaking approach to conservation that is part of the comprehensive strategy we must take to tackle these problems in the new environmental movement of the 21st century.

Being back on that river, so close to the spirit of my grandfather and father, who died just six months before I was born, was an experience that I will cherish forever. It has renewed my commitment to fighting for a world where we all understand that, as my grandfather once wrote, “We can find happiness in protecting the world around us not only because we cherish it for its awesome beauty, power, and mystery, but because we cherish our fellow humans, those who live today and those who will live tomorrow, living beings who like ourselves, will increasingly depend on the environment for happiness and even for life itself.”

Click here to watch the episode.

On this 40th anniversary of Earth Day…there are millions of individuals in this country with a bit of free time and an overwhelming desire to take action to make their communities and their planet better; an army of willing individuals who are quietly changing the world but who need more help if they are to reach their full potential. Who are these agents of change? Look around you, I have no doubt you encounter them everyday…you may even have them in your home. That’s right…youth. The power they have is amazing.

A year ago I had the opportunity to work with a group of three middle school boys who, as part of a service project in their community, did some research and found that lead wheel weights through improper disposal cause a considerable amount of lead pollution in the environment. These young men took matters into their own hands and worked tirelessly to pass a law in the state of Iowa to phase out lead wheel weights on state vehicles. Then the EPA cited the program as one of the reasons they are re-assessing their position on lead wheel weights, a development that will affect 300 million Americans across the country. I have seen other projects as well, from Title 1 elementary school students in South Florida growing a garden and selling the produce into the local community,to a high school in Seattle reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by several tons each year . I have been all over the country and have seen countless programs such as these.

And now EarthEcho International has launched a campaign to bring much-needed resources and tools to build a community of best practice that will help to revolutionize this growing movement. In partnership with the leading youth service organizations and national education groups in the nation, we are launching a preview of the Water Planet Challenge (www.waterplanetchallenge.org) this week.This preview site includes a service-learning guide sponsored by Participant Media, and is being launched in tandem with the Disneynature film Oceans that premiers on Earth Day. This is only the beginning, however—we continue to develop the program and will constantly add more resources over the summer in preparation time for a full launch in the fall of 2010.

As the Greek philosopher Plato once wrote, “Youth are not vessels to be filled but flames to be lit.” The Water Planet Challenge will light the flames of a whole new generation, giving them the tools and knowledge to build the kind of sustainable future we all dream of.

Jessica Remington, founder and director of One World Youth Project, is an amazingly talented young woman and a good friend. Her organization One World Youth Project is outstanding and they need your help! One World Youth Project (OWYP), facilitates high quality partnerships between schools or youth groups worldwide for the purpose of cultural exchange and community service toward the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals. Through a unique curriculum that encourages collaborative learning, OWYP creates global communities while strengthening local communities. It is our belief that recognizing one’s existence in a global community of shared challenges at a young age promotes a future of cross-cultural collaboration. One World Youth Project is an initiative incubated within Georgetown University’s Office of the President.

Below is a message from Jessica, calling for your assistance.
______________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Friends,

I REALLY need your help and quickly.

OWYP is entered into the Pepsi Refresh Everything contest: http://www.refresheverything.com/oneworldyouthproject. We have a 1 in 29 chance of winning $50,000 in this contest! The 10 organizations within the 50k category who receive the most number of votes within March win. You can vote for OWYP once a day. So, basically we need to mobilize thousands of people to vote for OWYP every day of the month. Right now we are 38th out of 290 organizations. It is believed that we need to jump to the top 10 in 48 to 72 hours in order to start on a winning track. I NEED YOUR HELP and QUICKLY!!

Would you be willing to serve as a “Captain” in OWYP’s “get out the vote” strategy?
Who are Captains?

-Captains are in charge of recruiting a group of 10 of their friends who commit to voting for OWYP in the Pepsi contest EVERY DAY of this month.
-Captains must be in the USA OR have the ability to recruit 10 people who are in the USA (as the contest only works for USA based IP addresses). THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, as non-USA IP address votes, will not count.
-Captains must remind their “group” of 10 to vote every day for the month (e.g. you could send a quick email, send them a facebook message, text them…what ever works best for you & which you know will be effective).
-All Captains must send the email addresses of their group members to win@oneworldyouthproject.org. So, that they can receive important updates from OWYP related to the contest.
-Captains agree to change their facebook profile picture a “Vote for OWYP” graphic (see attached)

Can you commit to being a Captain for OWYP? PLEASE email me back with a “YES” or “NO” as soon as you can. If you respond with a YES, then I’ll send you an email template to help in recruiting your 10 voters. (P.S. If you can’t be a Captain, would you consider becoming an OWYP Friend by voting every day & convincing 1 other person to vote with you every day?)

Let me know in the next 24 to 48 hours if you can help. I need you. We have some stiff competition and REALLY need to win this contest.

In Solidarity,
Jess

P.S. Join us on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/One-World-Youth-Project-OWYP/184125839202?ref=ts

On the left side of the page, right under the profile picture, click on “suggest to friends” link and invite your facebook friends to join us! So far we have 488 fans, we are aiming for over 20, 000 fans.

Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/owyp

Read our Blog: http://owyp.wordpress.com/

LET’S BUILD A MOVEMENT…!

Wow…what a day! I never cease to be amazed by how fast technology is moving and how many powerful tools we have at our disposal to affect education, tools that we never could have even imagined just a few years ago. I will never forget how much my grandfather loved technology and how much he believed in it as a tool to inspire the next generation. This morning I was able to combine both technology and education with some pretty exciting results.

Through my work with EarthEcho International and my role as chief spokesperson for environmental education for Discovery Education, the #1 provider of K-12 broadband-delivered educational content to U.S. schools, I hosted a live virtual expedition from the Seattle Aquarium that was broadcast to almost 50,000 elementary school students in the state of Texas. It was such a hit we crashed their system because so many schools logged on. In one hour, we worked through learning objectives for the students to bring science alive. This was a test and it worked beautifully. We had to limit it to elementary schools but next year we will open it to other states and all grades and I am confident we are pioneering a whole new frontier of education.

This is the future and I am tremendously excited! Unlike past virtual expedition programs, I was able to have two-way communication with students and we tailored the program to align with state education standards for K-5th grade, piping the feed directly into classrooms. It was an amazing experience and I know we inspired a lot of kids today.

I think my grandfather would have been astounded at how far technology has come in the 13 years since he passed away and that he would agree with me that the possibilities are endless…

I turned 30 last month. I know - I can’t believe it either. One of my resolutions for the year is to be better about posting blogs. To jump start, I thought that this would be appropriate. It’s an article that I wrote that was published in Thirty Things to Do When You Turn Thirty (www.amazon.com/Thirty-Things-When-You-Turn/dp/1416205152) last year.

Be Humbled by Nature

A brief but intimate encounter with a mother gray whale and her new baby leaves this conservationist not only with a sense of awe and wonder, but with a renewed commitment to fight for our planet and all its magnificent creatures.

by Philippe Cousteau

The boat rocked softly as the giant nudged her calf alongside us. After lifting her head out of the water and gently resting it on the side of the boat I felt an overwhelming sense of humility that this new mother would share her most precious possession, her new baby, with us. She was easily twice as long as our frail vessel and could have capsized it with a simple twist of her enormous head. The differences between our species melted away and words were not necessary, it was clear that this was a proud mother eager to show off her beautiful child. She seemed content to share a fleeting moment before she slowly, smoothly slipped back beneath the waves followed by her offspring, leaving a few small swirling eddies as the only testimony to their brief presence.

A gray whale, easily fifty feet long and weighing as many tons, had decided to grace us with a few precious moments. Aside from the awe and wonder that such an encounter would naturally elicit in any reasonable human, I also felt humility and a strange sense of pride in what I had experienced. This creature, whose kind has suffered so much at the hands of man, had swum the fifty yards to our boat and urged her calf to lift its head out of the water and interact with ME! I was standing in a small twenty-foot metal skiff off the coast of Laguna San Ignacio along the western coast of Mexico. I had come to witness the culmination of the annual southward migration of the Pacific Gray Whale, a 6,000-mile journey (the longest of any mammal in the world) south from summer feeding grounds in the Arctic. Here in the warm waters off Baja they give birth and prepare their calves for the journey north back to the food-rich waters of the Bering and Chukche Seas in the Arctic.

A United Nations World Heritage site, Laguna San Ignacio cuts into a spectacular untamed desert on the Pacific side of the Baja Peninsula and is the last and only undeveloped breeding and nursery ground in the world for the Pacific gray whale. The other two major breeding areas have been encroached upon by development and industry, which are ruining what were once pristine samples of nature’s beauty. The desert extends for miles around and looking at the sunset over the azure blue waters with every hue of crimson and orange, purple and rose bleeding into one another, it seems as though one is staring at heaven itself.

Only small eco-tourism operations run out of this rustic town along the bay and thus the few tourists who come here to see the whales are treated to one of the most majestic panoramas on earth. The local whale-watching operation adheres to strict rules that make sure the whales are not disturbed and tourists are only taken out for a few hours each day.

Once known as “devil fish,” because they would attack the small whaling skiffs that were sent to hunt them, Pacific gray whales were driven to near extinction in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries but their numbers have rebounded since the hunt was banned in 1947. They retained their fearsome reputation, however, until 1972 when a local fisherman discovered that a giant whale that had approached him seemed consumed not by a desire to hurt him, but rather by a curiosity about this strange ungainly creature that had invaded her world. As he later recounted, “I don’t know what finally compelled me to reach out my hand. The moment I touched the whale for the first time, I felt something incredible. I lost my fear. I was amazed. It was like breaking through some kind of invisible wall. And I kept touching. That moment I compare with when my first child was born.” From that moment on, the nickname of these gentle giants changed and they are now known as the “friendly whale.”

In our modern, industrialized world we are all too often separated from a sense of belonging to nature. While there are many natural experiences that will humble you, nothing will prepare you for that first moment when you touch a giant whale and gaze into the eyes of her calf. Few experiences in life can ever match the deep feeling of honor at being allowed to share in the mother’s joy and pride in her newborn; the experience will leave you speechless.

As we bustle about our daily lives, which seem to get increasingly busy as we enter our fourth decade, we may forget that we are a part of this planet. Thus it is easy to watch the daily onslaught of bad news about our environment with a certain degree of detachment. From global warming and collapsing ecosystems to pollution and plummeting bio-diversity, we face mounting crises that threaten life as we know it. And yet the power to change rests in the hands of ordinary people willing to demand change of themselves, their habits, and the priorities of their politicians.

Being humbled at the awesome beauty and power of nature is a way to jolt us from our malaise. It can help give us a renewed sense of commitment to embrace the urgent responsibility we all have to fight for a planet in which all its magnificent creatures can continue their incredible journey with dignity and health.

As the only species on earth endowed with the power to cherish, protect, and enhance life, we are bound by a wonderful responsibility to do so. We must embrace this singular power with gratitude and humility. Sometimes being humbled by nature, for just a moment, can help remind us of that.

Wow, well I have to say that I am very honored that Bob Woodruff would do the piece he did for ABC/Planet Green. He was such an amazing guy to work with, so talented and down to earth. My thanks to all of you who support our work. We have updated the website with new information about EarthEcho and our great projects. We hope to have a link to the whole piece which aired on Planet Green soon.

Cheers

P

The following is a Q&A between Philippe Cousteau and the students at cogito.org:

1. I’m a junior in high school and I am interested in pursuing a career in oceanography. Since oceanography is a little more obscure than other areas of study, what can I do to become an oceanographer? How can I prepare myself and what schools/educational opportunities should I look for?

PC: First of all, good for you, oceanography is an amazing field and there are so many opportunities for discovery. Did you know that we have only explored around 5% of our oceans? Scientists discover new species almost every research trip they embark upon.

Oceanography is a science-heavy discipline and therefore, you should make sure that you are well grounded in the basic sciences and, to your best ability, the advanced and AP sciences as well. But don’t let classroom work dominate your life. Getting real world experience at local zoos, aquariums and research centers is also important. I would also stress the need to get outside. Whether you live on the ocean or not; never lose that sense of wonder and exploration. That curiosity that drives us to learn more about the world around us is nurtured by simple exploration of our backyards, our neighborhoods and our local natural resources. I was on an advisory council for the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and one of the scientists there has discovered several new species of insect in his own urban backyard!

As for formal education, I would suggest the University of Miami, Stanford, or Boston University and then consider doing graduate work at a place like Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. I can also recommend the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where I went to school; they have an outstanding program and it is a wonderful place. It can be a little scary to go to a school outside the US but it is well worth it and St. Andrews would be my first pick.

2. As the scion of an oceanographically-oriented family, you must have been exposed to the sea and the wonders it can contain early on in life. Your grandfather was also a pioneer in the study of the oceans. This being said, do you regard your work as a continuation of that of two previous generations of Cousteaus? How has this affected the specific focuses of your studies into oceanography and your overall interest in the subject? Basically, how has being part of a legend affected your willingness to participate in it?

PC: My grandfather’s first forays into the world at large were very different than the ones that we embark on today. When my grandfather explored the oceans for the first time; it was a journey of discovery. Many of the things that they saw, few if anyone had ever seen before and they were the first to capture those images on film and share them with the wider world. Imagine all the things we take for granted today, Nemo the clownfish for example or even Flipper the dolphin. All of them were total mysteries to the world.

If you ever get a chance, I encourage you to watch two films made by my grandfather many years ago. “Silent World” and “World Without Sun” both won academy awards and showcase not only Jacques Cousteau but also my father as they captured images of the reefs off the coast of Southern France and the Red Sea in the 1950s and 1960s.

I remember growing up with these tales about my father’s adventures, about how awestruck he was by what he glimpsed as a young boy. I was raised on stories of when he took his first breath underwater and descended onto those reefs. I also was told of how devastated he was by what has happened to those very same reefs, which are now mere shadows of what they once were. I spent many hours of my own youth there, as well, diving off the coast of France as a young boy and I can no longer stand to go back. I find the barren and desolate underwater landscape so terrible.

It can break your heart when you see the beauty that was once there – that was captured by my grandfather on film – and know that it’s all gone now.

So at first it was about exploring our relationship with the environment for the first time. But as my father got engaged in the 60’s and 70’s it became more than just an exploration of nature and more an exploration of the world in the context of humanity’s relationship to it, as an integral and often powerful force for change.

As part of the third generation, both my sister and I see our role as a journey to understand not only the relationship between humans and nature, but our role in being stewards of this planet.

Continuing the legacy has always been part of our lives and something we have embraced wholeheartedly. But there is something else, and this is very important, we are not part of that legacy just because of our names. Of course I am proud to have the Cousteau name. But I’m not a Cousteau only because of my name.

The fact is that the Cousteau spirit of conservation and care for the environment was taught to me. It lives on through me because of my actions not my birth certificate.

I grew up hearing about how important the work was. Sitting with my grandfather and listening to his life’s stories – hearing the urgency in his voice – being inspired by the passion my own father had for taking action for a better future — that was instrumental to my becoming the person I am today.

You could call it a family legacy or just good teaching. Regardless, I am a firm believer that if we are to build the sustainable future we all dream of, we must do it together. Each of us…all of us…making a positive difference; that is a legacy that we can all share in.

3. Out of all the environmental crises that are happening in the world, which one do you think requires the most attention?

PC: Without question, I think that the excessive output of carbon into the atmosphere is the most troubling. The reason I say that is because carbon is the leading cause of climate change, which is a global crisis unlike any we have ever faced. Climate change or global warming as it is also called is a crisis because it is changing our oceans which are the primary driver of our climate.

As climate or weather changes, the domino effects will be felt around the world. For example, water scarcity is likely going to be the defining cause of conflict and mass migration of people in the 21st century. In large part this will be caused by the changing weather patterns of the world which is being caused by changing currents and rising temperatures and sea levels in the ocean which is being caused by global warming. That is a bit of a simplification but you get the idea, everything is connected to everything else on this planet. But the excessive output of carbon into the atmosphere is also responsible for another very scary problem that has nothing to do with climate change…ocean acidification. OA as we call it, is caused not by rising temperatures but purely by the absorption of carbon by the oceans.

The absorption of carbon by the ocean causes the oceans get more acidic and the creatures in the ocean that build shells, such as coral, shellfish, mollusks, even smaller organisms such as pteropods (a small free swimming snail that form the basis of many ocean food chains) are unable to build their shells and thus survive. If this continues it could mean the wholesale collapse of many ocean eco-systems which would have disastrous effects on the planet. Imagine, two billion people rely on fish for their primary source of protein today. If fisheries collapse because they have no basic food source, those people would starve and many would go to war to try and feed themselves. That is just one example and the others are just as serious.

Don’t get depressed yet, there is hope and I believe that we have not passed the point of no return. We have a chance to change this world and it is up to us to do it. The last 50 years have seen the greatest amount of destruction of this planet and it is the next 50 years, OUR 50 years that will decide its fate. That means demanding of our politicians that they take these problems seriously and a willingness to make changes in our lives. Ask yourself, do we really need a bigger house, or a bigger car? A comfortable life is what we all aspire to, that is human nature, but a comfortable life should not be defined by excess and greed but by living in gracious and sustainable harmony with the planet.

4. What is the most exciting thing you have done during your expeditions?

PC: Without a doubt diving with Great Whites was the most exciting thing I have ever done. Despite the media hype, sharks aren’t mindless killers and being in a shark cage face to face with a 15-foot Great White is easily one of the most incredible experiences in the world and will change your perception of nature and humankind’s place in it. Contrary to popular belief divers almost never report coming out of the water in fear but rather with a sense of awe and sheer appreciation at the wonder, grace and beauty of these much maligned creatures.

5. What are the biggest issues facing the ocean today?

PC: I have to go with my answer to question 3. That is precisely why climate change is such a problem, because of how it is changing the oceans. The oceans are the life support system of this planet and as they regulate our climate, things such as rainfall are affected and thus food crops are affected and people go hungry which has huge consequences for global commerce, security etc. That is just one example but you get the idea.

Change in our oceans will cause drastic and very serious crisis around the world, not to mention ocean acidification which has the potential to collapse critical eco-systems and species populations; everything from coral reefs to shellfish by preventing them from building their shells. However, it is important to note that scientists have consistently found that the key to helping these creatures survive is to give them the healthiest and safest environments in which to live. For example, coral reefs in a pristine environment are much more likely to adapt to rising temperatures than those that are already stressed from pollution and overfishing. That is good news, and means that we must re-double our efforts to protect our environment.

6. Which of these issues have affected advocacy the most? Save the Whales gets a lot of attention, perhaps because it’s such a photographic cause. Where do you think the most effective advocacy is happening? The least?

PC: Wow, that is a tough question. I think that the most effective advocacy is that which happens in conjunction with industry. Yes, the big charismatic mega-fauna (as the whales and dolphins and elephants and panda bears are referred to) are very effective in grabbing the attention of the public but as the saying goes, money talks and no long term solution is effective unless it takes into consideration the needs of people. Thus some of the most effective solutions are those that don’t just prohibit people from exploiting natural resources but help them find alternatives to doing so.

A great example happening in Florida in the 90’s when gillnet fishing (a very destructive form of fishing) was banned along the coast. Scientists devised a way for these out of work fisherman to grow clams in baskets along the shore. This simple form of aquaculture was even more lucrative than gillnet fishing and not destructive to the environment. In a short period of time, the state of Florida went from being last in clam production in the US to being first.

7. What are the most exciting advances in oceanographic knowledge?

PC: I think it would be hard to name just one. We are learning so many every day. Unfortunately I would probably have to say that the advances I am most familiar with have to do with the dire news that we are hearing every day. How ocean acidification is a real problem and what it is doing, or how fish stocks are collapsing. These are scary things, but oceanographers are on the front lines of not only the discovery of these problems but many are also working hard on solving them. The first step to solving a problem…is knowing it exists. While we may face many challenges, the most exciting advances are those that are giving us the knowledge to tackle them.

8. Did you know from a young age that you would become an oceanographer?

PC: I have to be honest, I am not an oceanographer and contrary to popular belief, neither was my grandfather nor my father. First and foremost, they were communicators like me. I have the privilege of working with some of the best oceanographers in the world but I am not one. I am a communicator and an explorer and I have always had a fascination with story and how to share the importance of taking care of our world through media.

That is not to say that I do not enjoy science, I do and I have the utmost respect for those that pursue that field I just realized that my passion lay in sharing these stories with the world. But make no mistake, we need as many scientists as we can get and I encourage you to pursue your passion. That being said, I think it is increasingly important for every profession, scientist, doctor, oil tycoon, TV executive, teacher it doesn’t matter, to take an interest in the world around them realize that no matter what we do we can all be part of pursuing a better world.

P.S. When I was little I actually wanted to be a fireman.

9. Can you tell me what you do to prevent stings from the microscopic larvae of jellyfish particularly Thimble Jellyfish?

PC: Whenever I am diving in an area that I know has jellyfish, the most effective method to prevent getting stung is to wear some sort of full body suit, either a thin lycra one or a neoprene wetsuit. That being said, few things are offer 100% protection. If you do get stung, the best thing to do is to wash it with regular vinegar IMMEDIATELY. Do not wash it with fresh water! That will make matters worse, you can rinse with salt water, but never with fresh water as it will make the poison react even more strongly. There is an old wives tale that peeing on the sting will help…don’t believe it. Use vinegar or lemon or lime juice, any organic acid does the trick and if it is really bad, seek medical attention asap.

With election day tomorrow comes a lot of responsibility for the new president and the citizens of the United States. There will be many issues that need to be addressed immediately and we don’t want environment to be swept under the rug. Our oceans are bearing the burden of our lifestyles and we must do something to ensure they are taken better care of, that our government is actively pursuing measures to protect and restore these valuable ecosystems. Below is an article about The Ocean Foundation’s blueprint to protect our coasts and oceans.

Coalition of 48 leading conservation organizations calls on the next administration to protect U.S. coasts and oceans

Greenpeace, Surfrider Foundation and Sierra Club among groups urging for strong coast and ocean protection during the next U.S. presidential administration

(October 22, 2008 - Washington, D.C.) Our coasts and oceans face a multitude of threats. Human activities have harmed the health of species and habitats in every corner of the vast ocean, from Arctic fisheries to tropical reef systems, from kelp forests to tidal estuaries. From climate change to pollution, to overfishing and habitat destruction, the threats also imperil the health of coastal communities and tens of thousands of jobs in fishing, recreation, and tourism that depend on healthy, functioning coastal and ocean systems.

In response to this dire need and recognizing the link between a healthy environment and a healthy economy, a broad coalition of conservation and research organizations has asked each presidential candidate to prioritize strong, effective coast and ocean conservation measures during the next presidential term.

Forty-eight organizations from 15 states and territories across the U.S joined in sending ‘A Blueprint for Coastal and Ocean Policy for the New Administration’ to each presidential campaign, urging decisive action on behalf of our oceans. The coalition includes organizations such as Greenpeace, Surfrider Foundation, Sierra Club, Reef Check Foundation, Fauna & Flora International, NAUI and PADI Worldwide, Marine Conservation Biology Institute, Save the Manatee Club, and EarthEcho International.

“The ocean touches everyone and everything. It is essential to life and human survival,” said Mark J. Spalding, President of The Ocean Foundation, which provided the original draft and organized the coalition. “The next Administration has a fantastic opportunity to start a new wave for coastal and ocean protection, a new wave that we will support.”

A Blueprint for Coast and Ocean Policy asks for action on the following ten marine conservation issues: (1) reducing coastal and ocean pollution; (2) clean and healthy coasts and beaches; (4) improving the health of our nation’s fisheries; (4) protecting coral reef ecosystems; (5) protection of other important marine species; (6) marine ecosystem restoration; (7) addressing the links between oceans and climate change; (8) resolving conflicts between healthy oceans and energy production; (9) underwater noise pollution; and (10) ocean governance.

Supplemental information:

Link to The Ocean Foundation web page: www.oceanfdn.org

To download a copy of Blueprint, visit: http://www.oceanfdn.org/index.php?tg=articles&topics=32

Beware of Greenwashing!
What is greenwashing and what can you do to protect yourself?

Companies have started realizing that doing good for the planet is good for business. Unfortunately, they’ve also figured out that making consumers think they’re doing good can be just as beneficial. This deception is known as “greenwashing.” The term refers to a marketing technique whereby a company falsely claims to have taken environmentally friendly actions.

According to a 2007 report by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, a large majority of environmental marketing claims are inaccurate, inappropriate, or unsubstantiated. Some good news can be had in the fact that the Federal Trade Commission is currently looking to tighten its voluntary environmental marketing guidelines. However, keep in mind that these will still be voluntary, not enforced.

The most blatant greenwashers are often large corporations that have had a controversial environmental past, such as chemical, oil and car companies. For example, an energy corporation might tout the fact that it’s investing millions of dollars in sustainable sources of energy while concurrently dumping toxins into public waterways.

A more easily identifiable form of greenwashing can be found at your grocery store. Numerous companies have started using the word “natural” on their household cleaning and personal care products to entice consumers who are looking for an eco-friendly alternative. “Natural” may sound healthy and planet-friendly but it means very little since there is no third-party certification required to make that claim.

Here are some ways you can identify greenwashing:

1. Examine the claim. Is the product certified by a legitimate third party organization? Are they claiming that the entire product is green or just some of the ingredients/materials?

2. Ask for proof. Is the company willing to provide a copy of the environmental standard or testing protocol? Is the process open, public and transparent? Does it address the product’s lifecycle and larger environmental effects?

3. Check for consistency. If this is an international organization, are they selling the same products in other countries? If they advertised themselves as ‘green’, are they still doing what they claim to be doing six months or a year after the ad came out?

4. Follow the money. What organizations is the company supporting? Who are they donating their money to?

To learn more about greenwashing and companies that are and are not doing it, check you these sites:

• Corp Watch

• The EnviroMedia Greenwashing Index

• Greener Choices

• Do The Right Thing