Poor Care of the World's Oceans Imperils the Planet

The problems which lie ahead for the world's oceans, the effects of climate change and the rising levels of ocean pollution were discussed and debated during the event, presided over by Nicolas Ibarguen. "We are prone to thinking that the foods which reach our tables will always be there, that the climate won't change, and that if something happens we can fix it, but with the deterioration of our oceans what hangs in the balance is the world," said Angelica Fuentes, co-chairwoman of the ABC Foundation.

The forum was part of the ABC's Foundation Planet initiative which is co-presided by Omnilife's Angelica Fuentes and Jorge Vergara; Cesar Alierta of Telefonica; Juan Carlos Eserki of Grupo Telecorporacion Salvadoreno; Guillermo Romo of Grupo mega; and Emilio Ascarraga, chairman and CEO of Televisa. Ascarraga said "the lack of awareness about the oceans is equivalent to its importance." The Mexican businessman emphasized the effect society has had on the killing of sharks. "If people knew that 100 million sharks are killed annually, that two thirds of the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean, and that over-fishing and pollution could result in the disappearance of thousands and thousands of species, they would acknowledge the risk and act differently," the Televisa CEO said.

The event was attended by, among others, oceanographer Sylvia Earle, one of the world's leading experts, who defended her idea of developing a global network of protected Marine areas. Earle called those Marine areas "points of hope for saving and restoring the planet's blue heart." Earle has been director of the U.S.'s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and more recently directed the consulting group of 30 experts overseeing Google's "Ocean in Google Earth" program. French explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of Jacques Cousteau, also attended the event. He has used his vast scientific and marine diving experience to transmit his concern for the preservation of the seas. The oceanographer emphasized the need for maintaining hope in the face of the dangers threatening the oceans' survival.

Among the participants at the forum were Donna E. Shalala, University of Miami (UM) president, and experts such as Dr. Kenny Broad; Edward Cassano, director of the Monterrey Bay Aquarium; Christopher Chin, director of Coare.org; Patrick Douglas, CEO of Shark Diver; John Francis and Terry Garcia of the National Geographic Society; David G. Gallo, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Peter Lehner of the Natural Resources Defense Council and the documentarian Rod Stewart, among others. The Forum's objective is to propose a series of initiatives so that governments, businesses and society in general adopt urgent measures to preserve the oceans.