Ocean Advocates Weigh In At TakePart.com

Yesterday was World Ocean Day, and I shared my own thoughts about the topic in this post. Personally, I think the threats to our oceans are one of the biggest dangers to the planet and our continued existence on it, and World Ocean Day was meant to spotlight some of those concerns, especially as events in the Gulf of Mexico continue to unfold.

I wasn't the only one talking about the plight of our oceans yesterday however, as a number of far more qualified people that me weighed on the subject over at TakePart.com. Topics ranged from global climate change, oil in the Gulf, and more.

Contributors included the likes of Philippe Cousteau, who said that he felt that increased levels of carbon are the biggest threat to the oceans today. Roz Savage shared her thoughts as well, pointing to the high levels of plastic that are now found in our waters. And our friend Jon Bowermaster, who has been filming along the Louisiana coast, discusses the chemical run off that has created a dead zone in the water at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Each of the articles also includes some ideas on how we can "get our hands wet", or in other words, how we can all pitch in and help on an individual or grassroots level. I may be pointing these suggestions out a day after World Ocean Day, but it's never too late to start helping out.

While you're over reading the various essays, be sure to checkout TakePart.com more fully as well. The site is dedicated to tackling the biggest environmental issues today, and finding ways that we can all "take part" in making the world better place. Think of it as social networking with an eco-friendly slant.

World Oceans Day: Save Our Planet, Save Ourselves

Today is World Oceans Day, and considering what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico at the moment, it seems fitting to stop and reflect on what we are doing to our seas, and how that effects the rest of the world.

We've known for some time that the health of our oceans has a direct impact on the health of the rest of the planet. The oceans are the engines that drive the air currents and weather patterns that have long term, and lasting effects on the environments around us, and yet we seem to have neglected them for too long. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a depressing example of how we have treated the oceans as a dumping grounds, and it is scary just how much crap has accumulated out there. All of that garbage is contaminating and killing off fish at an alarming rate, and yet we seem powerless to do anything about it.

Of course, the massive oil spill that has been going on for more than six weeks in the Gulf of Mexico is just another example of how poorly we have treated the oceans. The oil that has been spewing out of that hole in the Earth has has created an environmental disaster of unprecedented proportions, and we're now told it will take years to clean it all up. Worse yet, today we got the news that the oil is not just on the surface as we had first believed, but is now being found in low levels under the water as well. Meanwhile, endangered turtle species, untold numbers of fish, manatees, birds, and other creatures are all at risk, as the oil continues to spread further eastward.

Environmentalists keep telling us that we need to change our ways. That our lifestyle is destroying the planet. But that is, once again, very short sighted. We're not destroying the planet, we're destroying ourselves. The Earth has survived far worse than what we can throw at it, and the sooner we realize that, the better we'll be. A better, more healthy, and environmentally sound approach to our own lives will lead to better, more healthy world as well. It's as simple as save our planet, save ourselves.

Book Review: Oceans: The Threats to Our Seas and What You Can Do to Turn the Tide

Last week, in celebration of Earth Day, Disney and National Geographic released a ground breaking new film called Oceans. Directed by Jacques Perrin, the visionary filmmaker who brought us the acclaimed nature films Microcosmos and Winged Migration. Oceans has been years in planning and production, and by all accounts, it is stunning to behold on the big screen. I say this, because as of this writing, I have yet to see the film, due to the fact that I couldn't find a cineplex in Kathmandu.

On the other hand, while traveling abroad I did have the opportunity to read Oceans: The Threats to Our Seas and What You Can Do to Turn the Tide. The book, which is edited by Jon Bowermaster, is meant to serve as a companion of sorts to the film. It is a compilation of 31 different essays from as many authors, on a number of different topics centered around our seas, and the threats to their health, which will have wide ranging consequences for the future of the entire planet.

Some of the essays are sentimental in nature, such as Carl Safina's "Caught in the Same Net" and "Remembering the Ocean" by Celine Cousteau. Others offer up warnings about the Oceans' future, such as "Coral Reefs in Crisis", written by Abigail Alling or Richard Ellis' "The Bluefin's Uncertain Future". All of the stories are informative, insightful, and fascinating, especially if you have any level of awareness about the impact of global climate change. Other authors contributing to the book include ocean explorer Sylvia Earle, circumnavigator Liz Clarke, Captain of the Plastiki David de Rothchild, and Adventure Blog favorite Roz Savage. Even actor Leonardo DiCaprio submitted a short piece on how important, yet finite, a resource our water supply is. Bowermaster's own contribution, an essay on the changing state of the ice around Antarctica is also a sobering story about what is happening now, and how it could impact the future.

Whether you've seen the new film or not, Oceans makes for engrossing reading. But if you have seen the film, the book opens with an interview with director Perrin, who discusses what it was like to get this film made. It was a huge undertaking, involving camera crews visiting 54 locations around the globe, and on one particular day there were 26 location managers and 19 cameras in the field. A host of new technology was also created for the movie, including specially modified underwater cameras, a remotely controlled helicopter camera, and even a torpedo cam. Fascinating stuff to be sure, and something that will no doubt be on my mind when I get a chance to watch the movie itself.

So, whether you've seen the movie or not, be sure to grab a copy of this book. It is a great compilation of insights and thoughts on our oceans from some of the foremost experts on the topic.

Jon Bowermaster Celebrates 30 Days of OCEANS

It's no secret that Jon Bowermaster loves oceans. He's pretty much explored everyone of them in some fashion, and more often then not, it has been in the seat of a kayak no less. He has also taken ever opportunity possible to spread the word about the importance of the Earth's oceans for our environment, and the effects that global climate change are having on the health of these incredibly important bodies of water.

With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that he has kicked off a special series entitled 30 Days of OCEANS on his website to create awareness of the threats to our seas and as part of a celebration of Earth Day, which falls on April 22nd, an event that is now in its 40th year, and that Jon admits to lobbying to be renamed Oceans Day for 2010.

The 30 Days of OCEANS event centers around excerpts from a new book that Jon has served as the editor on. The book is entitled OCEANS, Threats to the Sea and What You Can Do To Turn the Tide, and consists of essays from 30 of the top experts on oceans. People who are out in the field studying the changes that are having a profound effect on those waters, and as a result, the rest of our planet as well. Some of the contributors include David de Rothschild, Roz Savage, Carl Safina, and many more.

Over the next few weeks, Jon will be posting excerpts from the book on his website, running up to, and through Earth Day. The first of those excerpts is already online, and is written by ocean exploration legend Sylvia Earle, a woman with more than 70 years of experience studying our oceans. You can read that excerpt by clicking here.

Ocean Rowing: Roz and Sarah Suffer on the High Seas

Our two favorite British rowers continue to pursue their goals on separate oceans, both making progress, but suffering in the process.

We'll start with Sarah Outen, who I haven't checked in on in a few weeks. She's still out on the Indian Ocean, and steadily making her way to her final destination on Mauritius, where she'll become the first woman, and youngest person, to row across that body of water.

Sarah has now been out on the water for 90 days, and the past few have been interesting to say the least. Yesterday, she wrote in her blog that she would like to see some sharks out on the high seas, and while she still hasn't had that happen, she did have a couple of whales stop by for a visit today. A few days back she also marked a milestone of sorts, passing the 80º East mark, and edging ever closer to dry land.

It hasn't been all sunshine, whales, and landmarks however. On Thursday, Sarah was facing some of the roughest, most dangerous seas she has experienced yet, the worst of which rolled her little row boat, the Serendipity, and sent her flying overboard. Luckily, she was still roped to the boat via lifeline, but in order to get back onboard, she had to unhook herself, untangle it from the gate for the oars, and scramble back on board. Scary stuff to be sure. But Sarah took it all in stride and remains upbeat, despite suffering a broken oar, sprained wrist, and the loss of a couple of seat cushions, which my have the longest lasting effect on her journey. She is safe though, feeling well, and making outstanding progress at the moment.

Switching over to the Pacific, Roz Savage is more than 1150 miles into the second stage of her trans-Pacific row. She completed the first leg last year, going solo from San Francisco to Hawaii. This year, she'll be completing the leg from Hawaii to Tuvalu, with an eye on finishing the journey next year, ending in Australia. When she's done, Roz will be the first woman to row solo across the Pacific, covering some 7000+ miles in the process.

Life hasn't been a bed or roses for this British rower either. When she isn't dealing with choppy seas, she's rowing naked in the rain. And if that wasn't bad enough, she's also been attacked by flying squid, which inexplicably flew from the water onto the boat. Today's wonderful blog post answers all the burning questions you've had about ocean rowing, including her "bucket and chuck it" method of going to the loo.

To keep tabs on Roz's progress, check out the Roz Tracker, which now has her at nearly 36 days at sea, and having rowed more than 494,000 times.

Pedaling (not paddling!) Across The Atlantic!

Best Hike has a cool story up today about Greg Kolodziejzyk's attempt to pedal across the Atlantic Ocean. You read that right. He's pedaling, not paddling, as the craft that Greg will be traveling moved forward in much the same way that as a bike.

According to the Pedal The Ocean website, sea trials on the "WiTHiN" vessel began in January. Greg hopes to launch his attempt at setting a new speed record for crossing the Atlantic under human power this coming December, hoping to complete his pedal in just 43 days. You can also learn more about Greg at AdventuresOfGreg.com where you can learn about his previous adventures and future plans as well.

This should be interesting to watch and the design of his boat is really cool. Check it out in motion in the video below.

A big thanks to Rick over at the Best Hike Blog for sending this my way.