From July 11-13 of 2004, the Blue Frontier Campaign initiated the first Blue Vision Conference in Washington DC. That three-day event drew some 250 marine advocates from 23 states. Speakers included ocean advocates Peter Benchley, Philippe Cousteau, Rep. Sam Farr, journalists, citizen-activists, directors of aquariums and marine science centers and the top environmental representatives of the two presidential campaigns. Third party candidate Ralph Nader also dropped by.
Since that time two major blue ribbon panels, the Pew Oceans Commission and US Commission on Ocean Policy have warned that the ecological collapse of our living seas represents a threat to the nation’s security, economy and environment. Unfortunately this month their ‘Joint Initiative’ was only able to give a C- to the U.S. government’s response.
