The Good Guys

A new Seaweed (as opposed to grassroots) Movement

Part of the Ocean Awareness Project, Inc. 

Important: Meet the Founder

June 8, 2006 - Washington , D.C.

What: World Oceans Day REEF Book Party
WITH David Helvarg, Philippe Cousteau, Jim Toomey ( Sherman 's Lagoon) and Special Guest Rep. Sam Farr ( House Ocean 's Caucus). Books for signing, food, fish beads.
Where: The Reef Restaurant
2446 18th Street, NW
When: 7:00 PM-10:00 PM

“I have a hidden agenda in inviting you all here today. I want to turn Earth Day into Ocean Day and make everyone think about what they can do to help save our ocean planet. Like David says, ‘Blue is the New Green.’

The Blue Frontier Campaign was founded in 2003 by David Helvarg, author of Blue Frontier – Saving America’s Living Seas . It works to support seaweed (marine grassroots) efforts at the local, regional and national level, with an emphasis on bottom up organizing to bring the voice of citizen-activists into national decision-making that will impact our public seas. There are now some 2,000 blue groups working on ocean and coastal conservation but largely operating in isolation, and with little coordinated effort among them. Blue Frontier’s mission is to strengthen this ocean constituency through building unity, providing tools, and enhancing public awareness of both the challenges and solutions being offered by these groups to the various threats facing our living oceans. To date it has:

- Organized a 3-day Blue Vision Conference, July 11-13, 2004 that drew 250 people from 170 organizations in 23 states and Puerto Rico to Washington DC . The final day included a visit to Capitol Hill greeted by the Co-Chairs of the House Oceans Caucus. Conferees then met with 3 Senators, 12 Representatives and dozens of staffers to promote a range of marine conservation measures.

- Organized a first regional ‘Blue Vision Mid-Atlantic’ Conference in April 2005 at the National Aquarium in Baltimore for 50 people from 30 blue groups between New York and North Carolina who agreed to work more closely in the future.

- Published The Ocean and Coastal Conservation Guide 2005-2006 – The Blue Movement Directory ( Island Press). This book provides a one-of-a-kind reference detailing some 2,000 organizations working to protect and restore our living seas. The Campaign will update it every two years.
- Given public presentations to two major ocean commissions, the Coast Guard, NOAA, at the Monterey , New England , and Baltimore aquariums, at journalism and science conferences, and to many activist organizations in a dozen states.

- Produced a website (www.bluefront.org), two short videos, two special magazines, and media reports for Marketplace radio, CSPAN, the LA Times, Knight-Ridder, Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, Sierra, Sea Technology, etc.

- Produced and produces a regular ‘Blue Notes’ email on ocean policy

- Presented the first Blue Frontier Awards for science, policy, media and a “Hero of the Seas.”

- Completed 50 Ways to Save the Ocean (Inner Ocean, 2006) written by David Helvarg, and illustrated by ‘Sherman’s Lagoon’ cartoonist Jim Toomey, with a foreword by Philippe Cousteau. (Read our review here).

- Held ‘Celebration of the Seas’ dinners that drew more than 200 people including 3 members of Congress in Washington D.C. and San Francisco .

- Planning similar celebrations and conferences for 2006.

-Won Coastal Living magazine’s 2005 Leadership Award.

01.	Organize a national conference of "seaweed" activists to help create a Blue Movement.
02.	Campaign for an American Oceans Act to protect our public seas.
03.	Work to improve ocean policies in America 's 23 coastal states and their watersheds.
04.	Support maritime community activists through a distribution of model policies and practices that work.
05.	Create books, a TV documentary series, and other educational materials on ocean exploration and stewardship.
06.	Endow a fellowship for investigative reporting on waste, fraud and abuse on America 's Seas.
07.	Work to incorporate marine education into middle school and high school curriculums.
08.	Organize seminars to introduce seaweed activists to oceanographers, port officials, and other marine stakeholders.
09.	Develop a media campaign that highlights lessons from our past frontier, and applies them to our new blue one.
10.	Establish an annual award called "The Breakers." Ten categories will include: Art & Entertainment, Conservation Science, Marine Education, Best Business Practices, and Hero of the Seas.

David Helvarg, is active on the speaking circuit. As are other members of the Board.  If you’d like to reach him about speaking at your club or social group gathering, contact David at Helvarg@bluefront.org or 202-387-8030.   We met David at BookExpo and he is a very nice, softly spoken, passionate individual who cares deeply about the oceans. 

Join the Seaweed Rebellion (vs Grassroots, da!)

Be a part of a rising tide of Americans who are committed to the common sense protection of our living seas. Volunteer, get involved, contribute to the Blue Frontier Campaign, and keep checking our website for more information and updates from the Blue Frontier.

If you are interested in volunteering at the Blue Frontier Campaign please email us at info@bluefront.org and list any special skills you have, ie, graphics, education, organizing, diving, pilot, ex-Navy dolphin trainer, etc...