Welcome: David Helvarg, Organizer, Blue Frontier Campaign
Sponsor Remarks:
Captain Phil Renaud, Living Oceans Foundations Here for people to help connect with the ocean, with a renewed love for it. Goal is to enact change, turn science into action, work collaboratively to pair the science with policy with constituency building, grow the momentum for oceans.
Sarah Chasis, NRDC Recalled growing up and family vacations on Jones Beach, Long IslandÑinspired her love of the oceans. Her family dined at a seafood restaurant. Back in those days, people werenÕt worried about toxins or mercury in their fish. People werenÕt paying attention to storm drains. Today is a different day. We need to pay attention to what we eat, where our kids play. We are creating a new blueprint of where all of us need to work together to achieve our common goal.
Chris Mann, The Pew Charitable Trusts Need to encourage ecosystem-based management and get NGOs to work together and collaborate. Need to understand the true economic value of our oceans, in terms of dollars and cents. Need to convey this value to our politicians and legislators. Where would you rather spend $1B dollars for AIG or for the Oceans? LetÕs invest in our oceans.
Mike Hirshfield, Oceana New Administration of change. We need hope, need to work together. Much has already been said, but let me say it again, we need change and this is the time for it.
Julie Lawson, DC-Chapter, Surfrider Foundation Julie represents a group of activists that love and care for the ocean. But their mission is an unusual one for a DC based groupÑthat is, impacting coastal health with an inland (3 hr in) grassroots approach, one that intersects the political arena with action. On behalf of surfers, kayakers, snowboarders and water lovers in general, we welcome you to DC!
David Wilmot, Ocean Champions We help people get elected, we represent the ocean constituency on Capitol Hill. This ocean PAC plays a key role in bringing issues to bear on congressional members. We are about moving political change. We work together with all of you to help craft the important messages and then we push those ocean interests on the Hill.
Transition to Program: David Helvarg, introducing Sylvia Earle who then introduced keynote speaker, Roger Payne
Dr. Sylvia Earle, introducing Roger Payne. Dr. Payne was knighted as a member of the Golden Arch (ÒFly By KnighthoodÓ). HeÕs a scientist, communicator, a change agent.
For More Information or to get involved contact:
The Blue Frontier Campaign
info@bluefront.org
T: (202) 387 – 8030
