ocean heroes What are you passionate about? What can we do to save the oceans?
Linda K. Glover
Oceanographer, GloverWorks Co-author, Ocean: An Illustrated Atlas Editor, Defying Ocean’s End
I am passionate about the vast, beautiful, mysterious ocean, with life forms not yet discovered and so much we don’t yet know. We do know it provides half the oxygen we breathe and—through evaporation to clouds to rain—provides most of the fresh water on Earth. We must protect our ocean. First, we must continue to learn: What’s there? How does everything work? How are we damaging the natural processes? How can each of us reduce carbon emissions, harmful overfishing, and our use of plastics? Photo: Rob Cannon mission-blue.org
Vicki Nichols Goldstein
Founder/Director, Colorado Ocean Coalition
I’m passionate about helping people understand their connection to the ocean. The power inland states have to make change is often overlooked. In 2011, I founded the Colorado Ocean Coalition to inspire inland people to become committed and united stewards of our ocean. I have always felt that you don’t have to see the ocean to protect it, and now I’m helping to make that happen. The ocean belongs to all of us. Recognize that our rivers flow to the sea and care for them. Speak out for strong ocean protection and remember that your actions can make a difference. Photo: Matthew W. King coloradoocean.org | bluethedive.org
“ People
need to under stand that species extinctions , ha bitat destr uction, ocean acidification, and pollution are all chipping away at the resilience of the thin layer of life that sustains us on Spaceship Ear th.
”
— EDITH WIDDER, PH.D.
Edith Widder, Ph.D. CEO/Senior Scientist, Ocean Research & Conservation Association, Inc. (ORCA)
Our biggest challenges for the ocean and for the planet are problems of perception. People need to understand that species extinctions, habitat destruction, ocean acidification, and pollution are all chipping away at the resilience of the thin layer of life that sustains us on Spaceship Earth. Our problems are solvable if they are clearly defined. To do so, we need to monitor our planetary life support systems the way doctors monitor a patient’s vital signs and then use that information to protect ecosystem services as though our lives depend on it, because they do. teamorca.org | kilroyacademy.org
Bonnie Monteleone Executive Director, Plastic Ocean Project, Inc.
“A stupid problem,” an elderly woman said to me as she looked at my images of sea life maimed by plastics. Yes, it really is! We can’t see carbon emissions or mercury infiltrating our water, but plastic is visible and should be much easier to manage. I am passionate about stopping a stupid problem. The trick is to give plastic value so it doesn’t end up in the wrong place. I believe turning plastics into oil, a commodity found in nearly every household item, road, and car, is one thing we can do to save our ocean. plasticoceanproject.org | theplasticocean.blogspot.com
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