About the Cause: Saving Oceans and Beaches with Oceana
Nonprofit Spotlight 1 CommentPicture your favorite beach. Palm trees swaying in the breeze, warm sand between your toes, the sound of gentle waves crashing against the shore. This, you think, is how life should always be. Thankfully, there is an organization championing ocean preservation so that one day, your grandchildren can enjoy this same beach.
Oceana, our Cause of the Month for July, is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation. And since their founding in 2001, they have already built a dedicated following of supporters including Ted Danson, Kate Walsh, Pierce Brosnan, Nicholas Cage, James Cameron, Diane Lane, Sting, and Barbara Streisand, among others. For a chance to rub elbows with stars and support the ocean’s health at the same time, you can attend their “Splash” Party, Partners Award Gala, SeaChange Summer Party, or a variety of other events that keep combine style, charity, and a love for the ocean.
However, while there are a few glamorous nights a year for Oceana, their days are filled with real issues facing our oceans. Oceana is policy-centered, meaning they channel their resources into a limited number of strategic campaigns in order to achieve measurable results. Consequently, Oceana has already made dozens of policy victories for ocean life in its short history. This year alone, the United States has declared the loggerhead sea turtle an endangered species and Chile has passed legislation to prevent the escape of farmed salmon and further regulate the use of antibiotics in salmon aquaculture, both as a result of Oceana’s tireless work in these areas. Their main efforts include stopping ocean pollution, promoting responsible fishing, protecting marine wildlife, improving the climate and energy, and preserving special places.
The most pressing issue in ocean preservation today is clearly the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and Oceana has faced the disaster head-on. One of their primary initiatives is a petition to tell President Obama and Congress to ban offshore drilling and end all planned drilling and exploration. In less than a minute, you can help Oceana reach their goal of 500,000 signatures by simply entering your name, email address, and zip code.
However, Oceana is not only collecting signatures; they have also spread their resources across the Gulf region and Washington, D.C. in order to maximize their impact in the recovery process. Leaders of the organization have testified before Congress multiple times and Oceana has become a leading authority for news outlets on the effects of the oil spill. The non-profit has also organized local rallies and hearings in New Orleans and other places dealing firsthand with the aftermath of the spill.
So, next time you’re relaxing on your favorite beach, or even just wishing you were there, remember Oceana and their continued work to preserve the ocean and the millions of species who call it home.
The most important aspects of preserving our oceans are regulate and promote fishery activities, preserve and protect beaches and wildlife with new laws, and stop offshore drilling!! I know I’d be crushed if my favorite beaches in Cape Cod were ruined!