Marine Conservation Institute Thanksgiving!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Marine Conservation Institute thought we would share what we are thankful for:

Caryl Garcia, Vice President for Operations: I’m grateful to be living in these “interesting times”—really! It is in times of challenge that you can clearly see the greatness in people, their generosity of spirit, their passions, their willingness to sacrifice for ideals. The entire world is on a quest right now, whether it is for protecting our precious planet, struggling for political freedoms and human rights, or pursuing economic justice.

Lance Morgan, Vice President for Science: I am thankful for cool ocean breezes that keep those pinot noir grapes happy during those hot Sonoma summers.

Michael Zwirn, Director, Development: A three-year-old who wants to help save the dolphins and elephants and polar bears and turtles, and the other threatened species of the planet.

Jeff Ardron, Director, High Seas Program: I am thankful every day for the life support this planet and its global ocean provides me. (I am also thankful that the Ocean has been “patient” (i.e. resilient) as humanity awkwardly struggles to show its thankfulness!)

Julia Hathaway, Director, Ocean Policy: In a year when our federal government seems unable to do little else, I’m thankful the ocean programs came out in relatively good shape!

Jennifer Felt, Director, Pacific Islands Conservation: I am thankful to be surrounded by a community of hard working passionate people with the well being of the oceans on their minds and in their hearts.

Joan Inge, Accountant: I’m thankful for all the teamwork that we have here at Marine Conservation Institute.

Emily Douce, Conservation Advocate: I am thankful that congressional disagreements were put aside for a brief moment in order to pass the FY2012 Commerce Appropriations Bill.

Margaret Cooney, High Seas Fellow: The South Korean Coast Guard :o)

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/17/8853222-south-korean-coastguard-clashes-with-armada-of-chinese-fishing-boats

Sara Maxwell, Postdoctoral Fellow: I am thankful for the good progress we HAVE made - new regulations, MPAs, good people and their staff in office - despite the difficult political and financial climate. I would say that our continued progress - albeit slower - is a sign of the importance and need for the work we as a conservation community are doing!

Bette Rubin, Ocean Policy Intern: I am thankful to be working with such an incredible team of ocean advocates, who strive every day to make a difference, and make the world a better place.

Marine Conservation Institute would like to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

Conserving our Natural Resources Will Help the Economy and Our Future!

As the US government attempts to restore fiscal responsibility, Marine Conservation Institute argues that drastically cutting funds for vital ocean and coastal conservation programs is NOT the answer to our nation’s financial woes. By conserving our ecosystems, we are investing in our future. Congress is currently determining the fiscal fate for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as they work this week to pass FY12 appropriations for the agency. While funding levels are not as high as they were for FY10, NOAA is expected to fare better than originally thought. See details here.

We’d like to share the below Op-Ed piece from The Hill newspaper, regarding the necessity of protecting our country’s resources – not only because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it will provide an outstanding economic return for us and for future generations.

Defining our natural heritage

By John L. Nau III - 11/15/11 – The Hill

In the coming days Congress will be faced with a series of historic decisions that will shape the federal budget for years to come. To be successful, lawmakers will need to achieve the delicate balance between cutting excess, redundancy and waste while also generating strong returns on federal investments to benefit our struggling economy.

These will be difficult decisions and, as our Founders envisioned, a vigorous debate has commenced to help inform how they are made. However, there is one set of issues where members of Congress should put their differences aside and unite behind a common vision: conserving and preserving our nation’s natural and historic treasures for the benefit of current and future generations. Dedicating the resources necessary to achieve this goal is not only patriotic — it’s a smart business decision.

Some argue that America can no longer afford to invest in our natural resources, pastimes and historic landmarks. As a businessman, I strongly believe that we can’t afford not to. In short, President Theodore Roosevelt had it right more than a century ago when he said: “There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in our country.”

Conservation, recreation and preservation are a unique component of the federal budget because the funds dedicated to these programs pay for the stewardship of the lands, historic places and wildlife habitat that are owned by all American citizens.

Conservation and preservation programs constitute only 1.2 percent of the overall budget. However, these programs are primers for generating exponentially greater nonfederal investments. Natural resources conservation, historic preservation and outdoor recreation contribute more than $1 trillion to our economy each year. This supports millions of American jobs, the overwhelming majority of which are impossible to export abroad. For example, outdoor recreation alone creates nearly 6.5 million jobs for individuals directly employed in the industry.

The federal budget cannot and should not be balanced disproportionately on the backs of conservation, outdoor recreation and historic preservation programs at a time when they are creating such strong returns on the taxpayer’s investment.

Americans have long taken pride in preserving our natural and historic resources because they are at the very heart of our economic, cultural and social well-being. We conserve wildlife habitat and open spaces for camping, hiking, hunting and fishing and preserve our historic buildings, artifacts and landscapes because doing so creates a legacy and continues a unique American heritage. As President John F. Kennedy said: “It is our task in our time and in our generation, to hand down undiminished to those who come after us ... the natural wealth and beauty which is ours.”

American taxpayers and our elected leaders must join together in the coming days and stand firm on behalf of our national treasures. If we fail, history will judge us as the generation that turned its back on the natural and historic assets that define the heritage of our great nation.

Nau is chairman emeritus of the Civil War Trust, vice chairman-elect of the National Park Foundation, a trustee of Ducks Unlimited’s Wetlands America Trust and former chairman of the President’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

You can access this article by clicking here.

Senate Approves FY12 Funding for NOAA and other Government spending!

Yesterday, the US Senate approved the combined FY12 Appropriations bills for Commerce, Justice, and Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Related Agencies, and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. The combination of 3 appropriations bills is being called a "minibus" (an omnibus is when all appropriations bills are combined; as this includes 3 bills, it's a "mini"), and after much debate in recent weeks, the bill was finally passed by the Senate.

This means that the Senate has approved the allocation of $5 billion for NOAA. This is more than the bill's counterpart in the House of Representatives. Marine Conservation Institute is pleased with this level and applauds the Senate for highlighting the importance of our oceans and natural resources.

This bill is now ready for conference (the settling of differences between the House and Senate versions) and final passage.

See the press release of yesterday's passage of H.R.2112 below: