Boat Show
Posted by
donna
Posted on: 06/06/07
Boat Show
Hi to all!Life is sure speeding along, plenty to do.
The Bristol Boatshow was a success, the rain held off, bands were great, and lots of people gathered round the new boats and exhibits. Given the boatshow had been rained out the previous years, it was great to see so many out and I had the privilege of meeting most of them. Will Barbeau went to the creative realm and put together a photo display of my journey as well as got promo material together for OceansWatch and Youth4Nature for a second board.
The response was overwelming in favor of both. I spent 2 days telling seastories and relating those stories to the desperate state of the earth as the temperature warms in global warming. The constant barrage of tropical storms, endless instability in weather, total unpredictable nature of the weather patterns due to those warming effects on the atmospheric environment, warming and cooling air, which creates weather. With the added experiences with wildlife and the mentorship I share by the sea herself, all ears and hearts seemed to open. Young people gathered around my mainsail and drew pictures and signed their names all to be flown as I sail, representing their support of solutions to globalwarming, and caring about the ocean, her wildlife and that of the world.
Already young people are answering emails to write and get involved with the decision making process of the USA by giving a voice to their caring. Biggest thanks to The Town, Harbormaster office, Sean Sullivan, and each one that signed my sail, my guest book, leant support, signed up for youth 4 nature and oceanswatch... big huge hugs xoxoxo
Thanks you to Jay Miller, Vice Chair of the Sierra Club in RI and member of the newly created marine committee nationally, who is hosting me at the The Oceans Week Conference in Washington DC. It has been absolutely eye opening experience for me. With all the PR, films and documentaries on the oceans and marine wildlife, it seems inconceivable that the legislative representatives are desperate for the outcry of concern that they can use to forward the cause of saving our endangered ocean creatures and the habitats they live in. Desperate to build support for the agencies that maintain the weather satelites, NOAA, research, education.
There are trust foundations anxious to further the dedication of ocean frontage to sanctuaries ensuring vital critically endangered ecosystems are not destroyed by the careless furthering of capitalistic goals, with total disregard for their impact on life. During the opening statements today Leon Penneta, once Chief of Staff for President Clinton and continued activist for Ocean related preservation issues, dynamically verbalized what all there felt: great passion to see the ocean environment protected and the incredible challenge before each to relate to the whole country (not just coastal America) the intricate, vital interdependance of man with the ocean, regardless of where we live.
The Ocean is the cleanser of the atmosphere, the reservoir of water covering 70% of the earth's surface. The issues of the ocean's preservation are issues that effect every aspect of our life. The air we breath, "our health, recreation, economy, our soul as a country". "What must we do to protect this legacy for our children? " I didn't realize that 50% of our GDP (gross domestic product) comes from Coastal Communities. This is about economy..
But the most astounding thing was to hear the legislative representatives beseech the audience, Non government organizations, organizations representing the consciousness of the populace to create a voice. They are working hard to create bills and policy that will protect our ocean and marine wildlife, the coast for access by all, but when they go to the legislature, they have no power to wield. There are no calls, no letters, no emails, no voices crying "We Need To Take Care Of The Ocean!!!!!" Yes, nature preservation has a voice, though not loud enough, the land!! but not the sea. It is hard enough to get a commercial, money driven, lobby-fed busy congress to consider the future, the beauty and impact of wildlife, but the sea?
Is she impervious to this horendous assault? No way! But the issues most concerning to the constituents, those voices that are screaming for resolution, those are the ones who get policy, funding and support. "We need to hear from diverse groups with a unified voice" states Eric Webster, Director of NOAA Legislative Affairs.
Beyond this the legislative representatives implore us that there is tremendous power at the state and local government level to deal with much of the real, 'at the source' issues facing the environment and wildlife today...
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THERE ARE EARS WAITING TO HEAR, THERE IS A PROCESS BY WHICH OUR CONCERNS, WHEN VOICED WILL EFFECT LAWS TO BE PASSED TO SUPPORT OCEAN PRESERVATION POLICY, MANAGEMENT OF ALL USING THE OCEAN, PROTECTION FOR THE VAST NUMBERS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES FROM FISH, TO WHALE, TO CORAL. TO PREVENT MORE SHRINKING OF THE ICE AND INCREASE IN THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS GLOBALWARMING IS ALREADY HAVING. HOW MANY MORE UNPRECIDENTED EVENTS.
Not only can we make that difference in Washington, but there are real effective changes that can be made on the state, local and personal level that will make a difference...We don't need to wait for a president to sign a law to create a difference. NO matter the policy made by the government laws are only as good as those who implement them. We can implement great changes now. There will be educational information coming...
Ok, off my soap box.
It is moving. I had never been to Washington DC. The ideals upon which she was built are still etched in the very life of the walls of these most majestic buildings. Ancestors, the battles that have gone before, won and lost, the landmark decisions that have changed the life of every one who calls themselves American. We can envision landmark decisions made today for the ocean's protection, sanctuaries, management of the resources and those who have self-destructively anhilated the very life forms upon which their economy exists, by greed and ignorance, neither of which are excusable.
So... This is a beginning. I hope to begin a new section in the website about how we can help. The simplicity of writing letters and making a phone call at a strategic moment. Getting involved in fun, group activities to clean and restore. To develope the critical thinking skills that allow a person to see issues, consider the impact those issues have on themselves and the world, to consider solutions then evolve with caring to act upon those solutions.
Sierra Club has dedicated all their over 100 years of experience in promoting grassroots change, to as effectively as possible bring action toward creating Cool Cities, Cities which have reduced the human effects on the environment to stop the further devastating effects of Global Warming all over America. There is a place for me to work with the Sierra Club of Rhode Island as a liason to the yachting and marine organizations, health care organizations (as a professional nurse) and schools (having worked with young people for so many years, even a pediatric nurse) to present the Cool City Campaign, Climate Protection Agreement to the local government which will bring the necessary changes to decrease the furthering of Global Warming in the Coastal Rhode Island area. It will give me an opportunity to share my journey, music, but also my deep longing to share the understanding of the unified interdependent nature of humanity and all nature, hoping to help bring postive momentum to needed changes.
Check out www.oceanswatch.com. Also reaching out to that community closest to the sea, the yachting community to build that coalition to effect change, to add their responsible voice as it is the very ocean they rely on for their lifestyle we must work together to protect. Yachtsmen and women are most often very willing to support change but need encouragement to get involved as they have often gone to the sea for solace, not to have a voice, as I did. But let us raise an accountability and standard of caring and doing to decrease the impetus for global warming, stewarding the sea which we use every day.
Check out www.youth4nature.pnn.com A new format I set up for young people to publish their findings, ideas, stories, letters, and photos regarding policy and whatever event or issue is pending in the world regarding wildlife and marine preservation. If our youth can think clearly, creatively figure it out and then write about it, they can effect change. And when this is young people thinking and writing, doing, caring, things change. The next generation has the tools to create a world they want to live in. Inconvenience today is just habit tomorrow once we begin to honor the code of conduct that will protect our future.
Check out www.ocean revolution.com. Getting young people involved, excited and having a blast learning about and caring for the ocean and becoming more effective adults in the process all over the world.
www.bluefront.com; This is for all ages..
donna
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