Ocean health is critical to our climate, our oxygen and food supply, and our planet’s greatest biodiversity.  This directly affects you and the people and places you love.

Did you know that

1. •Plastics comprise up to 90% of floating marine debris and are the most common type of marine litter worldwide?  This garbage seriously endangers ocean organisms of all sizes, including mermaids!
   

2. •Ocean acidification and temperature rise is turning many of the world’s coral reef systems into dead zones?  This is a dual problem caused by toxic pollutants and climate change that will cause widespread decline of critical life forms that we depend on for food and oxygen.
   

3. •Protecting biodiversity in our world’s oceans may be one of the most important things we can do?  Understanding the interconnectedness of our biosphere and committing to Radical Contraction of Resource Consumption in a really good place to start.  Here’s some help:
   

How can I get involved in protecting our oceans? 

1. Contact your local Surfrider Foundation Chapter to find out where to join in locally
   

1. Read up on the Rise Above the Plastics campaign to learn about ways to limit your use of and reliance on PLASTIC
   

An informative and funny interview with Captain Paul Watson of the Sea Shepard Conservation Society by Bill Maher provokes some thought... 

Check out these additional resources to learn more and get involved in excellent and eye-opening citizen action

LINKS:

1. •               Surfrider Foundation (obviously my favorite) is an international organization dedicated to organizing and managing citizen driven campaigns in four core areas: beach access, clean water, coastal preservation (coastal development) and ocean protection.  They have very effective organizing and involvement strategies and they were founded by surfers.  Find your local chapter!
   

1. •350.org is a virtual platform driven by climate scientist Bill McKibben.  Dude knows what he’s talking about, and you should read what he has to say about the state of emergency we are in.  Check out this website to get involved in national and local campaigns—they were instrumental in creating pivotal climate marches, and their current campaign on ‘divestment’ is very interesting.
   

•Environmental Justice:  This website gives resources and explanations related to EJ and illuminates important social issues related to environmental devastation and those it affects disproportionately:  the poor, aboriginal peoples and other marginalized populations and species.

•Algita Marine Research Foundation is founded by Captain Charles Moore who has lead the charge on research of plastics pollution in the oceans.  He hosts voyages to the seas of plastic, and sponsors amazing educational efforts:

•The 5 Gyres Institute is an education and activist organization that gives excellent information of the great ‘seas of plastic’ know as the 5 Gyres, and publishes easy to read, serious research about the issue of plastics pollution in the oceans, our bodies and elsewhere.

BOOKS:

1. •               My new favorite read entitled This Changes Everything:  Capitalism Versus the Climate by Naomi Klein is a MUST READ.  Visit this awesome website and then buy the book.
   

2. •              This printable PDF is a nice starter list for any bibliography on Climate Change:            
   

3. •               Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor by Rob Nixon made my brain explode.    Ufff.
   

AUDIOBOOKS:

1. •                 Al Gore’s Our Choice is an excellent primer for the climate crisis conversation.  The book has great print images, and is now somewhat outdated.  Because it’s big and travel prohibitive, go for this one on audiobook: http://ourchoicethebook.com/audiobook/
   

PLASTIC BAG REFUSAL SCRIPT:

“Thanks, but I don’t need a bag.  I know you don’t make these decisions, but it would be great if you could tell your manager how many people refuse bags, and that each cashier should ask before automatically bagging all items.  It could really make a difference.”  If you are strident about this, expect pushback and attitude.  If you are playful and appreciative, they might think twice next time.  Try out various characters and tones to see what elicits the response you like the best.  In the meantime, you are using less plastic and modeling new behavior.