Why Oceans? Why Now?

Imagine losing coastlines, entire islands, and substantial parts of Asia, northern Europe and the Arctic from erosion, floods, and glacial melting. Imagine the consequences of a year with record heat temperatures.

Can you envision a world constantly hit with hurricanes and tsunamis, afflicted with drowning seals and disappearing polar bears, and impoverished by lost marine environments and arctic livelihoods? Can you further envision the disappearance of coral reefs, and depletion of as much as 1/3 of the species in the oceans due to ocean acidification and climate change?

Now, imagine a world where you could make a difference. Imagine that you could help the world better undersand the oceans, reduce ocean pollution, restore ecosystems, repair damaged marine environments and replenish the oceans' resources.

Can you imagine rebuilding the world's oceans and seas, valuable resources upon which so much of our existence depends? Can you imagine taking on challenges such as climate change impacts, ocean acidification, and bleaching of coral reefs?

As one of our most precious assets, the ocean is indispensable to life itself. It is the largest habitat for living things in our solar system and sustains our lives with over 50 percent of the earth's oxygen. "Without our oceans, we wouldn't be able to breathe; we wouldn't be able to eat; we wouldn't be able to live.'"