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Community Chat: Live like you Love the Ocean
Bonaire Talk: Community Chat: Archives: Archives 2008: Archives 2008-06-01 to 2008-06-30: Live like you Love the Ocean
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boom starts with a Tara (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7154) on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 1:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

This was sent to me by a friend who volunteers with the Marine Mammal Center here in Santa Barbara. She gives countless hours id'ing whales and teaching the public.
I thought there might be a few BTrs who would appreciate the sentiment and writings too.

"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.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6495) on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 2:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Great stuff, Boom. The only issue I have with this, is the preaching to the choir problem. We are mostly divers and already do these things and more. The trick is to get this message out to the wider world and start educating the teaming masses, they are the ones that need to hear and heed this.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boom starts with a Tara (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7155) on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 2:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Good point Cecil. Hopefully the choir will pass it on :-) :-)

I know my mom & hubby seem to think it's all hogwash -- and they were both chemists by trade.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Patrick who herds sharks on Bonaire***** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3070) on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 2:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Don't be talking about the family, lil sistah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Message edited by pat_t on June 11, 2008)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boom starts with a Tara (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7156) on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 3:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm sorry Brother.... that didn't sound nice did it.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Patrick who herds sharks on Bonaire***** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3071) on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 3:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

But that alright I still love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Timmmy - Bonairian Bottom Dweller (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5653) on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 3:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hello Brother Patrick and Sister Tara

pssssssst Boom - the package has arrived for the FL MM. - Thank you soooooo much!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boom starts with a Tara (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7158) on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 4:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

purrrrfect!!! It's the original from whence your meat originated...... was that confusing enough? he he

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bette ( BC from you know where) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #365) on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 4:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

That one cool piece of text.
And Cecil you just had the same thought a I had.
But I think I have an idea which could help at least locally.

I have printed it out Yeah, I did a bit of tricking so that it has some looks and I'm having somebody translating in to Papiamentu and then I'm gonna hang it in every supermarket on the island.
It's a small thing but every great thing starts small right?! :-)))))

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boom starts with a Tara (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7161) on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 5:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Good job Bette :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6496) on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 6:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

That is a wonderful idea, Bette.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Yo MO - Meet me at the 3Day in Atlanta (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3660) on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 9:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Boom - I'm not so surprised. Even though they are chemists (and lord knows I am surrounded considering I work for a Chemical company) if they aren't environmental chemists OR aren't involved in "green" solutions there is always the thought that it can be better with Chemistry. One of my company's main products is PET - plastics basically. And while we find that plastics are the source of many of our problems really - practically everything we use contains something from a chemical company. Computer - loaded with the stuff, toothbrush, many cosmetics/beauty aid products, etc. You know those shower gels with the little scrubbing beads? Look and see what they are made of - yep,you guessed it - plastic. And what happens to that plastic - well, it doesn't dissolve. It goes down the drain and right into our water system. So no more of those scrubby gels for me.

Yes, I use "green bags" and I rarely put my produce in the produce bags. And speaking of bags - you know those feel good biodegradable trash bags - RIP OFF!!! They say that they will degrade in the sun. That might be true but do you REALLY think that the bag will ever see the light of day? Not likely. You are wasting your money with that trash bag.

Ok - sorry - rant off and I have GOT to get back to studying. Been a pathetic attempt this evening. tick, tick, tick - that's the study clock winding down to next Saturday...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boom starts with a Tara (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7172) on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 9:55 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I really love you YoMo.... I'm so glad you're a BTr!!!
I've decided to try to get the girls at the gym to bring their own water bottles. I started doing that but then promptly left my bottle at a restaurant. Time to get a new one and get with the program!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Yo MO - Meet me at the 3Day in Atlanta (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3662) on Thursday, June 12, 2008 - 7:51 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I use my own coffee travel mug at the coffee shop I visit every morning on the way in to work. It's a REALLY cute hot pink leather and stainless steel one that has "The Breast Cancer Research Foundation" embossed in the leather. And the top is the coolest top I have ever seen. After seeing that artwork about styrofoam and plastic cups and what not I started thinking about the styrofoam that I use and what I could do about it. So this was one of the things that I thought of. I also sent an email to the coffee shop and about reusable mugs and some things that they might think about to promote their shop AND help the environment. They are looking into it - though there might be some "health" issues.

Anywho - that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I said I was getting off of here and I mean it - I gotta go!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom C.* the others are gone - again (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16999) on Thursday, June 12, 2008 - 8:59 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

To the choir, keep up the good work and as has already been said "Spread the word."

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cecil (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6504) on Thursday, June 12, 2008 - 12:15 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Amongst my co-workers at lunch, I am pretty much forbidden to say anything about anybody's food. This all stemmed from ragging on somebody's shrimp one day. It's unfortunate that the masses are not very interested in by-catch and bottom dragging discussions. What the he11 is wrong with these people?


and don't even get me started on long linners, shark finners (another area that got me in trouble with chinese friends), nitrogen loading, bleaching, crown of thorns, sea urchins and surface temperatures.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boom starts with a Tara (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7176) on Thursday, June 12, 2008 - 1:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cecil you and Guy are in the same boat. Back in the day, he started a campaign for the fire stations to ban canned tuna that wasn't 'dolphin-safe'. The old-timers still tease him about being a dolphin-hugger. Works for me.

I have to say, I don't think I'm alone in having gotten a few good tips/reminders from this thread. Reminders that we have to remain diligent and can always do a little more in the battle to preserve and respect our earth.

More tips are a good thing!!!!

 


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