#ourocean2014

[statedept]

[yahoonewsdigest-intl]

DiCaprio donates $7m to prevent oceans turning into 'massive dead zones'

Entertainment

DiCaprio donates $7m to prevent oceans turning into 'massive dead zones'

Leonardo DiCaprio has donated $7m toward protecting the oceans after witnessing "environmental devastation firsthand." The Hollywood star told the audience at the Our Ocean conference about the importance of protecting ocean wildlife. The conference coincided with President Barack Obama announcing new efforts to protect areas of the Pacific Ocean controlled by the U.S. from overfishing and environmental damage.

What once had looked like an endless underwater utopia is now riddled with bleached coral reefs and massive dead zones.

Leonardo DiCaprio

The U.S. is planning to expand the Pacific Remote Islands National Monument, which together with action taken by other nations such as the Cook Islands and Kiribati, would mean some three million square kilometers are declared off-limits to all fishing fleets and drilling activities—creating the world's largest marine reserve. Appearing in a video message at the conference, Obama said he was "directing the federal government to create a national strategy to combat black market fishing that threatens our oceans, undermines our economy, and often supports dangerous criminals."

We have systematically devastated our global fisheries through destructive practices like bottom-trolling, where huge nets drag across the bottom of the ocean for miles, literally scraping up everything in their path, permanently destroying abundant underwater forest, teeming with every possible imaginable form of wildlife.

Leonardo DiCaprio

[yahoonewsdigest-gb]

Plan to create world's largest marine reserve - in middle of the Pacific Ocean

Science

Plan to create world's largest marine reserve - in middle of the Pacific Ocean

The United States joined forces with other nations to declare a vast swath of the Pacific Ocean a marine sanctuary and take "historic" steps to combat illegal fishing. Taking the helm in a stepped up fight to save the planet's oceans, President Barack Obama ordered his administration to chart a way to expand an existing U.S. reserve and create what would be the world's largest marine park.

If we ignore these problems, if we drain our oceans of their resources, we won't just be squandering one of humanity's greatest treasures.

President Barack Obama

The U.S. is planning to expand the Pacific Remote Islands National Monument, which together with action taken by other nations such as the Cook Islands and Kiribati, would mean some three million square kilometers (1.2 million square miles) are declared off-limits to all fishing fleets and drilling activities. The White House said "tropical coral reefs and associated marine ecosystems are among the most vulnerable areas to the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification".

We'll be cutting off one of the world's major sources of food and economic growth, including for the United States. We cannot afford to let that happen.

President Barack Obama

[yahoonewsdigest-intl]

Obama to use executive power to create world's largest ocean preserve

Americas

Obama to use executive power to create world's largest ocean preserve

President Barack Obama announced plans today to use executive power to expand the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, which would create the largest ocean preserve in the world by banning drilling, fishing, and other activities in a massive stretch of the Pacific Ocean. Carbon pollution is making the world's oceans more acidic, pollution is threatening marine life, and overfishing could wipe out entire species, Obama warned.

If we ignore these problems, if we drain our oceans of their resources, we won't just be squandering one of humanity's greatest treasures.

President Barack Obama

The executive steps, first reported by The Washington Post, come as Obama is searching for ways to leave his second-term mark on the environment despite opposition from many Republicans in Congress. The moves could rankle some GOP lawmakers who say Obama is exceeding his authority by going around Congress to promote his agenda on issues like the environment, immigration, and gay rights. Earlier this month Obama unveiled sweeping new pollution limits amid signs that Congress wouldn't act soon to combat climate change.

We'll be cutting off one of the world's major sources of food and economic growth, including for the United States. We cannot afford to let that happen.

Barack Obama

[yahoonewsdigest-us]

Obama to use executive power to create world's largest ocean preserve

Politics

Obama to use executive power to create world's largest ocean preserve

President Barack Obama announced plans today to use executive power to expand the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, which would create the largest ocean preserve in the world by banning drilling, fishing, and other activities in a massive stretch of the Pacific Ocean. Carbon pollution is making the world's oceans more acidic, pollution is threatening marine life, and overfishing could wipe out entire species, Obama warned.

If we ignore these problems, if we drain our oceans of their resources, we won't just be squandering one of humanity's greatest treasures.

President Barack Obama

The executive steps, first reported by The Washington Post, come as Obama is searching for ways to leave his second-term mark on the environment despite opposition from many Republicans in Congress. The moves could rankle some GOP lawmakers who say Obama is exceeding his authority by going around Congress to promote his agenda on issues like the environment, immigration, and gay rights. Earlier this month Obama unveiled sweeping new pollution limits amid signs that Congress wouldn't act soon to combat climate change.

We'll be cutting off one of the world's major sources of food and economic growth, including for the United States. We cannot afford to let that happen.

Barack Obama

[exchangealumni]

"If we ignore these problems, if we drain our oceans of their resources, we won’t just be squandering one of humanity’s greatest treasures. We’ll be cutting off one of the world’s major sources of food and economic growth, including for the United States. We cannot afford to let that happen."

President Barack Obama, in a recorded message presented during the Our Ocean conference, State Department, June 17, 2014

[leodicapriofangurl-blog]

Leonardo DiCaprio pledged $7 million to protect whales, sharks, & our oceans over next 2 years

[exchangealumni]

Before I wanted to be an actor, I dreamt about becoming a marine biologist.

Leonardo Dicaprio, Our Ocean Conference, State Department, June 17, 2014