(Save Our Seas is a Federally Trademarked name)

Message from the President

Aloha friends,

Indeed, in these last days of the millennium, most of us would agree with Chicken Little's assessment of the state of the world. International wire services report the Earth's atmosphere is falling due to global warming, contamination now affects virtually every body of water on the planet, food shortages are increasing at alarming rates in every developing country, over 50% of the animals on our planet are endangered, and the world's fish stocks are rapidly disappearing. It really does seem as though the end of the world is near.

But just as the naive Chicken Little and his barnyard friends were easy prey to the hungry Foxy Loxy who tried to lure them into a trap, so are we in danger of being victimized by media hype,;mass hysteria, and end of millennium doomsayers. The truth is, there is always another side to the story.

Without constantly educating ourselves and examining the facts, we are as susceptible to duplicity as the naive Chicken Little. The fact is, there are millions of educated, caring, and compassionate people who are working everyday to reverse the trend of environment degradation. Many have found and are working on viable solutions. Others have singlehandedly saved endangered species or invented sustainable solutions. Their stories must be told if our children are to inherit a healthy planet. While we do not have the space in our newsletter to tell all of the heroic stories, we are initiating a Selected Reading & Viewing column for our members. The list includes books and autobiographies which have inspired us and filled our hearts and minds with hope, internet sites for up-to-the-nanosecond environmental news releases, and educational films for the family. We hope our members will email or write to us with your additions to the list.

Just as Chicken Little and his barnyard friends were saved when they learned the truth, our oceans and planet will begin to heal when we overcome our ignorance and apathy. The truth is, we can save our oceans and planet.

Anyone wishing to assist us should feel free to participate by contacting Save Our Seas, P.O. Box 598, Hanalei, Hawaii 96714; sos@aloha.net, (808)826-2525.

Aloha. Teri Tico,

President Save Our Seas

THIRD ANNUAL SOS CONFERENCE A SUCCESS

Leading the coral reef monitoring was Dr. Gregor Hodgson of the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Institute for Environment & Sustainable Development. Dr Hodgson originated and oversees the global reef program "Reef Check." Reef Check was established in 1997 during the International Year of the Reef to obtain data about the condition of coral reef globally and to centralize the global data at one location. Dr. Hodgson traveled to Maui for the Oceans Conference to explain Reef Check to local resident and oversee the monitoring at Kapalua. The data obtained will be added to the international Reef Check website at www.ust.hk/~webr/ReefCheck/HawaiiFaces.htm.

According to Dr. Hodgson, over 10% of coral reefs globally are dead, and over 40% face extinction within our lifetime if current trends are not reversed. Contributing to the decline of coral reefs are human impacts such as pollution, run-off from coastal development, overfishing, and global warming. By setting aside at least 10% of the world's reefs as Marine Protected Areas where commercial activities are banned, reefs and fishing populations can be restored.

Also attending the Conference was Dr. Clive Wilkinson, Director of the Australian Institute of Marine Science at the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef has the distinction of being the first Marine Protected Area in the world. Dr. Wilkinson is one of the world's greatest experts in the management and preservation of marine resources. According to Dr. Wilkinson, Marine Protected Areas can co-exist with human activities if managed properly. The Great Barrier Reef is an example of a marine protected area which serves as a living classroom for education of children and adults, as well as a visitor destination. Strict resource management policies prevent human exploitation and destruction of precious coral reef and marine life. Dr. Wilkinson believes more marine protected areas must be established around the globe if the world's marine wildlife and coral reefs are to survive. For more information about the Australian Institute of Marine Science, please refer to www.aims.gov.us/index.html.

MAHALO

Sea Change, A Message of the Oceans, Sylvia A. Earle, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1995.

The Sea Around Us, Rachel Carson, Oxford University Press, 1950.

Ocean Warrior, Captain Paul Watson, 1996.

Our Stolen Future,Colburn, Dumanoski & Myers, Penguin Press, 1997.

References:

Atlas of the Oceans, Chancellor Press, 1991.

Year of the Ocean Discussion Papers, U.S. Federal agencies w/ Ocean Related Programs, March, 1998. For a free copy, call (202) 482-3385 or fax (202) 482-5231

State of the World,Worldwatch Institute, W.W. Norton & Company, Ltd., 1998.

The Green Encyclopedia, An A-Z Sourcebook of Environmental Concerns and Solutions, Irene Franck & Daavid Brownstone, Prentice Hall, 1992.

Films:

Shadow in a Desert Sea, by Howard hall

Coral Reefs: Rainforests of the Sea, by Jonathan Bird

Keepers of the Coast, Surfrider Foundation

Ocean Warrior, Rod Ellis