A WORLD OF BLUE:
FEBRUARY 13 & 14, 2017
UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NYC

A WORLD OF BLUE brings together 200 members of parliament for a discussion around major international ocean issues. Sponsored by the Inter-Parlimentary Union and moderated by W2O's own Peter Neill.
Entitled "A World of Blue, Preserving the Ocean, Safeguarding the Planet, and Ensuring Human Well-Being in the Context of the 2030 Agenda," the hearing provides an opportunity to reflect on ocean issues and the intimate connection to other goals such climate change; hunger and food security; health risks linked to pollution, chemicals, and other harmful materials; sustainable economic growth and employment; and governance and the rule of law.
A WORLD OF BLUE will be webcast live from the United Nations in four languages. Learn more at https://beta.ipu.org.
 

IN MEMORIAM: MARIO SOARES

Mario Soares, former Prime Minister and President of Portugal, statesman, exile, political prisoner, "father of democracy," passed away in January at the age of 92. Soares was inspiration for and patron of the World Ocean Observatory. He had many political and environmental achievements in his lifetime; chief among them was the creation of the Independent Ocean Commission report "The Ocean, Our Future" as well as the Global Water Contract, both important documents for guiding the global community toward preservation of earth's ocean and fresh water resources. It was Soares who called for an "ocean observatory" to serve as "a focal point to bring together relevant information from other sources and to serve as an interactive site for all ocean-related information and providing direct links to all relevant sites." The World Ocean Observatory is the realization of that recommendation. Listen to Peter Neill's five-minute audio tribute here or read the blog post here.
 

W2O CASE STATEMENT:
AN ARGUMENT FOR SUPPORT

The purpose of the World Ocean Observatory is to expand strategies related to sharing resources and teaching tools on ocean issues, conservation, sustainability, and innovative solutions. The future of the ocean depends on a dramatic amplification of these tools and this conversation. Our aim is to build audiences exponentially and to be a major catalyst for transformative behavior for the future of the ocean. To learn more about our mission and programs, have a look at our 2017 Case Statement [mobile friendly pdf].
 

WATER IS LIFE
(AND WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS)

Beginning with a discursive analysis of the most pressing issues relating to present conditions on land and sea, Peter Neill's lecture provides a persuasive argument for why the ocean matters and understanding how its sustainability and careful use can establish a new paradigm for adaptation to changing climate and around which to build a new global community. Lectures can run from six minutes to one hour and cover many ways in which the ocean holds the keys to humanity's survival. To book a speaking engagement, contact us at director@thew2o.net.
 

WORLD OCEAN RADIO IN JANUARY

World Ocean Radio is a weekly series of five-minute audio essays on a wide range of ocean issues from science and education to advocacy and exemplary people and projects. World Ocean Radio is hosted by W2O Director Peter Neill. Available for RSS feed, podcast, through PRX.org and the Pacifica Network, and for syndicated use at no cost by community radio stations worldwide. We are pleased to welcome our newest broadcast affiliates: KVGD, Goldendale, Washington Community Radio; KRZA 98.7 FM, Alamosa, Colorado Community Radio; KVOY 104.5 FM, Central Oklahoma Community Radio; and KCEI 90.1 FM, Cultural Energy Media for Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado. To learn more about becoming a broadcast affiliate, contact us at director@thew2o.net.