Route J-1

By Lynette Evans-Tiernan, Director of Communication and Outreach for J-1 Program

Have you ever stood on the beach with your toes nestled in the grainy sand, looking out at the vastness of the ocean’s awe inspiring beauty while listening to the soothing sounds of the waves as they crash against the shore? It’s a calming experience that always makes me feel reconnected to the natural world and Mother Nature.

We live on a blue planet. The ocean covers three-quarters of the Earth’s surface and provides 99% of the Earth’s living space. Not only is the ocean a shared resource that connects people – physically, culturally and spiritually – but it is also a driving force in the global economy, pivotal to food security, human health and scientific advancement, and home to a vast ecosystem that regulates climate and weather.

Our blue planet is fragile. It’s at grave risk – and it’s not happening by accident. Human activity is the cause. Rising levels of carbon dioxide are causing our oceans to acidify. Pollution endangers marine life. Overfishing threatens whole species as well as the people who depend on them for food and their livelihoods.

Secretary Kerry outlines the importance of protecting the oceans.

Preserving and protecting the environment is a key challenge of our generation. That’s why for the third year in a row, Secretary of State John Kerry has identified protecting the oceans as a key foreign policy priority and will be hosting the Our Ocean Conference on September 15 -16, 2016. It will bring together leaders from around the world — heads of state and foreign ministers will join scientists, environmentalists, and business leaders — to discuss the threats to our ocean and the steps that should be taken to reverse the damage.

In support of Secretary Kerry’s Our Ocean Conference, the State Department and its private sector sponsors are working in partnership to host the “Our Ocean Roadshow,” a series of events between June and September to educate J-1 exchange visitors about the importance of preserving and protecting oceans, coastal areas, and the environment.

The campaign will bring together hundreds of J-1s to participate in coastal clean-up activities; engage in interactive science displays and hands-on learning experiences; observe marine conservation activities such as grunion runs and horseshoe crab spawning surveys; and attend seminars on marine conservation, watershed management, sustainable seafood and cutting edge research, education and outreach in marine sciences; collect and recycle discarded products. Events will empower exchange visitors to become environmental stewards and teach them how their individual everyday actions can have a positive and lasting impact on the environment.

Join us each week between now and September to see how the J-1 community is protecting Our Ocean. And don’t forget to participate in the 1000 Our Ocean Actions campaign. Go to the website and share your most successful solutions, inspirational stories and significant innovations powering positive change in our seas. Together we can and will make a difference!

Categories: Program Spotlight