[Coral-List] Shifting Baselines
steven miller
smiller at gate.net
Sat Feb 28 16:44:07 EST 2004
Greetings:
I am sending this in case you haven't seen the new Shifting Baselines
(SB) website ([1]www.shiftingbaselines.org). SB is an environment
campaign that addresses ocean decline. There are visually compelling
special effects shots on the website front page that highlight change
in Caribbean reefs and California kelp forests between 1960 and Today.
The SB campaign is starting to attract attention, even raising a few
eyebrows that need to be raised. A few jaws have dropped too!
Scientists and Hollywood joined forces to produce an entertaining
public service announcement (PSA) and some really good educational
materials about the condition of our oceans. The website includes the
PSA and a slide show called "Pristine." You can also check out videos
of the "Round Table Discussion" and "The Rotten Jellyfish Awards." A
comedy contest ran last year that has some good laughs too, addressing
the topic of lowered standards. SB has products that are both serious
and funny - trying to lighten things up a bit on topics that are
typically presented in deadly serious formats.
I know most of you are already committed to academic and other
pursuits related to coral reefs. I know you care because you are on
this list-server. Shifting Baselines, however, is about trying to
motivate the public to take interest in ocean issues. I'm sure you've
been asked by friends, "What can I do to make a difference?" The SB
campaign addresses this issue in some ways general ways. We ask
people to order a free Shifting Baselines Action Kit, learn all they
can about ocean decline, tell their friends, and support the
environmental groups that have added their names to the Shifting
Baselines campaign. We also emphasize that the problems are big and
they won't be solved overnight, but not all is lost.
What are Shifting Baselines? Check it out! I'm sure you will find them
in your life too.
Best regards (and apologies for a somewhat untraditional posting to
this group).
Steven Miller
PS: Please don't hesitate to let me know what you think of SB, both
the good stuff and criticisms. We are interested in finding
innovative ways to communicate important issues about ocean decline to
the public. We think entertainment needs to be part of package, but
based on science. Please reply to [2]millers at uncw.edu. Thank you.
References
1. http://www.shiftingbaselines.org/
2. mailto:millers at uncw.edu
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