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People unite underwater for Earth Day celebrations.
April 14, 2004
San Francisco, CA - Tsunami Alert! Coastal communities around
the world should brace for a big splash this week as thousands
of people "Dive In to Earth Day". Volunteers from over sixty
countries and territories will take action to protect their
local marine environment by organizing beach and underwater
clean-ups, educational workshops, fish and reef surveys, and
exciting fundraising events to support marine protected areas.
"We can all take a moment out of our busy lives and do
something - ANYTHING - for our marine environment," says
William Shatner, Hollywood celebrity and Dive In embassador."We can join a beach clean up or even just pick up trash off
the street or a local park. The more we are aware of our
environment the more we can do something about saving it."
Each year Mr. Shatner joins other celebrities such as
Leonardo DiCaprio, Peter Benchley, and World Champion
Freediver Tanya Streeter, in the Dive In activities.
The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) launched Dive In To Earth
Day in 2000 to ensure that the underwater world is represented
during the annual Earth Day celebrations. In just five years,
over 1000 Dive In activities have been organized in more
than 90 countries and territories around the world, generating
over 20 percent of all registered Earth Day activities worldwide.
Through Dive In, people have come together to make a real
difference in turning the tide on ocean destruction while
raising awareness of the need for urgent action.
"It is critical that we take steps to protect the marine
environment today," says Brian Huse, CORAL's Executive
Director. "All across the planet marine ecosystems and
fisheries are collapsing as the result of human activity.
Moreover, scientists predict that 30% of the earth's remaining
coral reefs will die in the next thirty years if human threats
continue at the current rate." More diverse than rainforests,
coral reefs shelter a quarter of known marine species and
provide protection, food, and income for almost a billion
people.
The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is a non-profit coral reef
conservation organization based out of San Francisco, California.
CORAL coordinates Dive In To Earth Day in partnership with
Project AWARE Foundation and with the support of West Marine,
Air Pacific, Earth Day Network and the International Coral Reef
Action Network (ICRAN).
For more information about how you can participate visit:
http://www.coral.org/divein
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