New TED Winner

Posted by Dr. James Canton on February 22, 2009 under Uncategorized | Read the First Comment

As a young doctoral student decades ago, one of my thesis projects was to analyze a revolutionary new technology for traveling in the deep ocean. The person who was head of the company was Sylvia Earle. He ideas, then and now, have revolutionized our thinking about the connection between life support systems, humans and biodiversity.

Sylvia Earle, the foremost ocean scientist and advocate for biodiversity has just won the TED prize. She has been a staunch advocate for waking us all up to the threats to biodiversity, threats to the future of humanity. Her key point, if we do not protect the oceans, to protect the living sea, to make the sea sustainable for our children, then the game is over.

The unknown impact of killing the oceans and this impact on human health and the future—the destruction of mankind’s life support system–are known. This potential disaster in the making can be stopped. It is in our interest to protect the living sea. The climate, food chain and public health are at risk. We have 50 years before game over. Even if you disagree with the climate change data, no one can disagree with the hard evidence that we are killing the oceans. And we can change this now.

Syliva Earle’s acceptance speech is moving. Enjoy.