Helvarg explains that it’s not too late to turn the tide on the cascading marine disasters confronting 71 percent of our planet’s surface and 97 percent of its living habitat. Through individual and collective action as families, consumers and citizens we can still make a difference by working to protect, restore and explore our last great public commons. Not surprisingly in working to protect the oceans, through changing our daily consumption, energy use and transportation habits, we also find that we can save money, improve our health and reconnect with our communities.

 

“Blue is the new Green.” Today in the United States there are some 2,000 groups working to protect our shores and waters. These include national and international organizations, professionalized marine groups, marine wildlife rescue and advocacy groups and, most numerous of the seaweed groups are local and regional organizations. What are they doing, how are they doing it, and is it enough?

 

Dedicated watermen and waterwomen, working together have begun the first ripples in a rising tide of citizen action for the recovery of our Blue Frontier and marine heritage. They know there are common sense solutions that can work. They know that protecting our nation’s watersheds, shorelines, and seas, makes sense both morally and economically. Healthy, clean and bountiful oceans help assure vibrant coastal communities and economies.

 

In this presentation you will be hearing about a workable blueprint for grassroots action to save the ocean that surrounds Hawai‘i.