“ALL WATER IS ONE SYSTEM”
“I really don’t know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it’s because in addition to the fact that the sea changes, and the light changes, and ships change, it’s because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea – whether it is to sail or to watch it – we are going back from whence we came.”
JOHN F. KENNEDY Remarks in Newport at the Australian Ambassador’s Dinner for the America’s Cup Crews (383) September 14, 1962
Public Papers of the Presidents: John F. Kennedy, 1962
Ocean Portal Project
The Ocean Portal Project allows philanthropic foundations to access and support comprehensively designed, scientifically validated solutions for global Ocean stewardship. Funders can support individually or combine resources with those that share similar objectives to accelerate larger scale projects. Raising Ocean awareness, knowledge, experience and science will help those who are attracted to the birthplace of life on this planet develop a closer relationship with the Sea and provide a more efficient forum for sustainability. The Ocean has fed those closest to the earth throughout human history: now the population is growing while our natural systems are in decline. The intuitive wisdom of indigenous Ocean cultures, cutting edge scientific analysis and experience shared by those that love, play, exert, challenge themselves, study and restore in the Water will help all those that care about the Ocean to continually develop ways for us to improve Ocean health into the future.
The Ocean Flag Project
The cries of the Ocean wilderness are unheard by the world at large because very few people actually get into the Water, interact with the Ocean intimately and develop deep, caring, longterm relationships with the Sea. The damage done to the Ocean is often unnoticed except by those that spend time in the Water daily, understand Ocean environmental science and are sensitive to the health of our Ocean. Sustainable Ocean policies will only be adopted when those who care for the Ocean can unite worldwide to inspire change. Countries represent land based “homelands” with flags. An Ocean Flag represents all those who are at home in the water. Our planet has 193 flags recognized by the United Nations, all land based on 30% of the earth. The Ocean, which comprises 70% of this planet requires a flag hanging at the United Nations to insure that the Ocean is considered, represented, has a voice and influence over land based decisions. If those who love the Sea don’t protect her – who will?
Project Kaisei
Humans invented waste – we’re the only form of life that destroy the natural systems that sustain us. We have overgrown our ecological niche by overpopulation, unsustainable resource extraction and causing global environmental damage. It takes time to unravel the web of life that took billions of years to weave, but we are watching it happen right in front of us, right now. Science shows that the Ocean is in dire distress. Life in the Ocean is man’s victim, with no voice or influence. Ocean systems are vast, interconnected, and do not change quickly: once delicate balances tip into new realms, there will be a new “normal” rather than “recovery”. Populations can not continue to expect sustenance from the Sea while using it as a toxic waste dump. The first steps to healing our relationship with nature is to admit that we are part of nature, apply science to understand the problems, stop doing harm and shift to sustainable solutions. If the Ocean is not healthy, we’re not healthy and the way collective humanity cares for the Ocean at this critical point in history will forever affect us and the children of the future.
Google Earth Hero Project
It was near the end of April 2009, when we secured funding for our first Project Kaisei expeditions. I asked TJ Marbois and Kendall Nishimine, my partners at Ojingo Labs what would be the best technological support Ojingo Labs could create to bring awareness to the issue of plastics accumulating in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. TJ immediately said, “The new iPhone is coming out in June (2009) with video capability. We can use our video comment platform (BlipBack) on the new iPhones and geo code the videos taken during the expeditions with Google Earth to show the world exactly what the researchers are seeing.” I said, TJ – it’s the end of April – we sail at the beginning of August so not only do the phones have to work, but we have to make sure the videos are accurately located on the courses of two different vessels (Kaisei – 151’ Brigantine Tall Ship and 174’ New Horizon – Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Vessel). In addition, all the telecommunications need to work with the satellites servicing the data transmission at sea. “Don’t worry, we’ll get it done and it will work,” said TJ. I bought two phones as soon as they came out in early June and TJ loaded them up with software. We tested them on land and then trained the crews on each vessel on how to use them. The folks I was was in contact with at Scripps Institute of Oceanography during the expeditions were thrilled, “This is so exciting – Ojingo took science out of the laboratory and classroom and shared it with the world in real time!” – Google thought so too and recognized Ojingo Labs as a Google Earth Hero.
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Dean & Jojo Project
I do not know of anyone on this planet who has enjoyed a thirty plus year relationship with a wild dolphin. What Dean has learned from JoJo, other dolphins and being a part of the wild Ocean is something that is fascinating, unique and extraordinarily relevant. Dean has communicated with and related to dolphin consciousness to the extent that he is as much one of them as he is one of us. I am committed to helping Dean share his experiences with JoJo because what Dean has learned from his experiences with JoJo and other wild dolphins will help enlighten our development of a sustainable relationship with the Ocean.