Duckey and his pals are calling on you to help write his next book! Entries are already pouring in for the Youth Eco-Essay Contest so put your thinking cap on, sit down to your keyboard (or a clean sheet of paper), and start writing. We want to know why you think it’s important to save the planet. Then, the second part of the contest challenges you to create your own Ocean Protector – and the winning entry will be in the next book and you’ll be a contributing writer! You’ll need to check out all the details on the website and the deadline for submissions is May 31, 2009. Be creative. Let your imagination run wild! We won’t even say “the sky’s the limit here” because there is no limit to what you can do – and we can do as a team! Believe it! Achieve it!

Recently, a Washington state based company applied for federal permits to study another form of reusable energy – using the forces from ocean waves and wind to produce electricity.  If approved, Greys Harbor Ocean Energy will have permission to study ocean waves five to 10 miles off the Ventura coast. The Ventura Ocean Energy Project  would help the company learn how to utilize the “up and down action of the waves” to push air back and forth to drive a turbine that generates electricity. Electricity would then be sent via cables on the see floor to shore. They have also applied for permits north of San Francisco, as well as sites off Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey. The company says that if all sites were developed, they could produce enough power to fill two million homes. Yet another reason to preserve our oceans and benefit from them at the same time!

OK, so Murdock clearly wants to help save the oceans, but now he can join a group of new buddies that want to save a specific part of the oceans – namely, those big waves he loves to ride! Yes, there is a new environmental coalition called Save the Waves. While it may seem a bit self-serving (saving ocean areas that produce great waves in order to surf on them), the coalition’s goal is to preserve and protect great surfing locations worldwide and the staff works with local communities, and foreign and national governments in order to prevent coastal development from entering the surf zone. The major problem is the development and construction of marinas and jetties, which either bury a spot or alter the natural sand flow patterns that cause the huge waves. There are also places in the world where the ocean is simply too polluted to surf – although the waves would be great otherwise – so members of Saves the Waves basically work to diminish and mitigate anything that would keep them out of the water. Murdock’s thinking of joining, you should check it out too!

Despite the fact that I just flipped the calendar to 2009 and we’re only days into January, if you’re like me, you’re already thinking about summer vacations and where you may spend some R & R time. I frequently hear from friends and acquaintances searching for a dual vacation – one that provides them the relaxation that they ultimately deserve, but also affords them the opportunity to actually make a difference to someone or something. Eco-friendly vacations have become popular in recent years and are divided into three subcategories that can sometimes be a bit confusing. Ecotourism is a way to conserve the environment while giving back to a community, whether it’s through funding, volunteering or preservation. Sustainable Tourism means the traveler is putting to good use the “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra while on vacation – basically, you’re taking care of your environment around you so as not to do harm for future travelers. Green Tourism typically involves travel using conservation ideas and resources. There are varying levels of “green” tourism, from hotels that recycle to resorts that are completely eco-friendly. Google “eco-friendly tourism” and you’ll find organizations that create trips from just the basics to full “green” luxury. Orbitz.com is another great resource for ideas on trips and destinations. Simply search using ecotourism to find a relaxing – and rewarding – vacation destination.

Did you know that old nets and traps are simply tossed away at sea (whether they were left there because they were broken or if a fisherman forgot about them doesn’t matter)? This thoughtless discard is the leading cause of deaths every year to marine life, including sharks, fish, sea birds, and sea turtles. All total, this “ghost fishing” impacts more than 267 species worldwide, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. So they’re stepping in and doing something about it. New legislation is being proposed in California to include reporting lost fishing gear along the coast of California and to also establish ways for its removal. The aquarium is active in trying to get this legislation passed. Check out the aquarium’s site and learn more about the legislation and how you can get involved.

Lately I’ve been blogging about environmental and conservation issues in the news, ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle, plus other ideas that just seem to swim around in my head. But today, what I’m more curious about is what’s swimming around in your head? With 2008 closed and 2009 here and now, I’d love to hear from you as to why you think saving the ocean is important. What kind of personal impact do all of our efforts have on you? Did you do anything in 2008 to help the oceans and its inhabitants? What are your thoughts for this year? How are we going to band together to really make a difference? In these troubled economic times, it’s very easy for environmental and conversation efforts to feel the effects from local, regional, and federal budget cuts as well as our own personal financial situations. How can we work together to make this a better planet for our kids in the years to come? Send me your ideas. I’d love to hear from you!

What makes our world tick each year? What are some of the most famous (or infamous) events that happen that could or did cause significant change? Being a lover of National Geographic, I was exploring their website the other day and was intrigued by what they considered to be their top 10 news stories of 2008. Here they are:
10. Total Solar Eclipse on August 1: Where, How to See It
9. Bigfoot Discovery Declared a Hoax
8. Oldest Living Tree Found in Sweden
7. Great Pyramid Mystery to Be Solved by Hidden Room?
6. Sky Show December 1: Jupiter, Venus, Moon Make “Frown”
5. Hurricane Gustav to Become Gulf Coast Monster?
4. Unknown “Structures” Tugging at Universe, Study Says
3. Portal to Maya Underworld Found in Mexico?
2. Large Hadron Collider “Actually Worked”
1. Alien-like Squid With “Elbows” Filmed at Drilling Site

I’m amazed that of these 10 top news events, more than half are somehow directly related to our environment – our planet. If news about our planet has engulfed more than half of the top news stories in 2008, where is our world headed in 2009? What types of news stories will we hear and read about that might continue to cause change to our world next year? As we ponder these questions, it continues to be our duty to understand our own small carbon footprint, and continue to look for ways as individuals and as a team, to reduce that footprint as much as possible. To read more about these top 10 news stories, visit the National Geographic website at http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/081215-top-ten-stories.html.