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THE
BLU REVOLUTION: The Vision
| By Michael Portelly
I have been an underwater photographer and filmmaker for
more than 25 years. I share the grave concerns of many who
fear that our generation will bequeath future generations
the legacy of a planet that has been poisoned and stripped
of its assets and its beauty.
Twenty-five years ago I made a film called "Ocean's
Daughter," in which I tried, in my own small way, to
add a voice to the growing calls to protect out planetary
future. At the same time, I wanted to convey a sense of
the mysterious beauty that is known by all of us who love
the ocean. Spiritual myth and scientific fact blend their
views when they depict the ocean as the mother of all life.
The film tried to express the sacredness of that life and
the magical beauty of nature, of which we are a part, and
the fact that we might ruin our chance to evolve into mature
adulthood as a species. It would be tragic indeed, if future
generations were forced to live under inhospitable planetary
conditions and never witnessed the wonders of nature we
have experienced, except by watching the films from our
era, which would be like the visual fossil record of what
once was but is forever gone.
 As
one who has made a living from the ocean, I feel a deep
sense of responsibility to offer any ideas that might help
to reverse the tragedy that is befalling our oceans and
our world. As the world moves ever deeper into crisis and
bitter conflicts remain unresolved, the spectre of environmental
catastrophe moves inexorably closer. The earth's biosphere
and the interconnected systems that support all life on
this planet---including humans---are under increasing stress,
mainly caused by the direct or indirect effects of human
economic activity. The imbalances of this economy are a
cause for concern.
Environmental and developmental organizations are underfunded
in areas where poverty and disease continue to claim lives---at
a time when even the richest governments cannot meet the
needs in their own countries, much less those in the developing
world. At the same time that we celebrate record highs in
the markets, 40,000 children under the age of five die every
day from chronic malnutrition. Species extinction is reaching
epidemic proportions, as ecosystems are destroyed by insensitive
development and pollution. Climate change is out of control
and, in the tropics, rising sea temperatures are killing
90% of coral reefs. These are clear warning signs that we
are disrupting the systems of nature that we, as human beings,
require to sustain life on this planet.
Though a recent Pentagon report stated that global warming
and climate change are as great a threat to national and
global security as global terrorism, the president of the
United States has been unable to restrict CO2 emissions,
citing economic reasons. We find ourselves caught in the
clutches of an economy that has evolved so fast that it
now operates beyond the control of any political power on
earth. It is enforcing decisions that affect the future
of our world and is in danger of crushing life on this planet.
I once looked out at the world with despair, until one day,
quite by chance, I woke up to a strategy that uses the power
of media in a new way. It focuses consumer and investor
support for companies willing to help fund solutions to
global problems, including global warming, in a way that
rewards investors, increases profit and liberates new resources.
It makes it viable for business to enter into a new alliance
with world needs.
 If
we look at the state of the ocean realm, many fish species
are becoming toxic with pollutants, and fish stocks are
in steep decline caused by overfishing and indiscriminate
and destructive industrial fishing methods. Unseen by the
human eye, spawning grounds and habitats are being decimated
across the planet. Fleets of fishing vessels drag trawl
nets across the seabed, in the traditional way, and unknowingly
crush ecosystems that could take decades or even centuries
to recover. This is turning the continental shelf into a
desert.
Marine scientists around the world have shown how artificial
structures placed in the ocean soon evolve into ecosystems
covered with marine life. They have proved through comprehensive
research that artificial reefs not only increase biomass
in the ocean, but can transform this undersea desert into
a haven in which wildlife can flourish.
In Antibes, three years ago, I discussed the germ of an
idea with Andre Laban, the great diving pioneer. With his
encouragement, I shared it with ocean explorer and journalist
RIchard Stewart; visionary marine architect Jacques Rougerie;
Christian Petron, the legendary cameraman of the Big Blue;
and in the United Kingdom, Andy Byat, co-creator and producer
of the illustrious BBC Blue Planet television series. Since
then I have spoken with other distinguished colleagues and
it is with their encouragement I now share it with you.
It is called the Blu Revolution and was formulated to focus
political will and involve businesses in regenerating the
ocean and play their part to slow global warming.
It creates a financially viable plan to initiate a global
programme to construct artificial reefs in suitable materials
to create new habitats, revitalize fishing and coastal communities
around the globe, preserve our ocean heritage, and restore
the ocean as a source of food.
The
Blu Revolution also opens the way for the creation of a
new generation of artificial reefs. Across the world there
is a growing mountain of plastic waste that is not biodegradable.
Although some is recycled, most is either burned or buried.
Imagine if we could transform some of this plastic into
a life-creating alternative: artificial reefs. Plastic manufacturers
could invest in the future by focussing their expertise
on creating the technology to stabilize and transform certain
waste plastic into nontoxic, durable and remoldable forms.
Working hand in hand with marine architects, engineers and
biologists, plastic manufacturers could perfect the process
to provide a plastic skeleton that, when immersed, would
quickly become covered in marine growth. Here, the nonbiodegradable
quality of plastic would become an asset. It would support
the new habitat indefinitely, instead of rusting away as
ships do when sunk for the same purpose.
A new global industry could emerge, designed to reverse
the destruction and create new ecosystems to regenerate
fish populations. Idle fishing fleets could mobilize to
drop artificial reefs of functional design at depths beneath
the storm zone, on the continental shelf---where each year
an area the size of the United States is currently being
destroyed. This area could be restored, creating new ecosystems
and breeding grounds. In more sheltered, shallower, coastal
areas, such as in parts of the Mediterranean and the Red
Sea, where the water is warm and clear, this could result
in the creation of aquatic gardens of great drama and beauty
that would attract visitors, divers and naturalists alike.
 Imagine
travelling underwater through these living sculptures of
marine life. It could establish a new focus of activity
for marine research and recreation, creating ecological
and financial prosperity for local communities around the
world. A new epoch of marine exploration might dawn as we
restore the ocean realm, where the concerns of pioneers
Jacques Yves Cousteau and Hans Hass are finally addressed.
Where the visions of other great men, like Commander Phillippe
Taillez's Archipelago, can become a reality. With the emergence
of ocean-based communities and the creation of sea bed and
floating architecture, we might yet live to witness floating
cities gracing our skyline.
The necessary building blocks for all of this exist; however,
scientists advise us that if we do not address the issue
of global warming and rapid climate change, all this may
become academic. The melting polar ice cap is a visual clue
that global warming is a reality, disrupting the ocean's
vast circulatory system, changing weather patterns, and
creating unseasonal droughts, floods, hurricanes and storms.
We all witnessed the human tragedy of New Orleans and even
the United States, with all its resources, is having problems
dealing with the continual pounding. In the developing world,
the effects of weather disruption are even harder felt,
with crop failure, top soil erosion and famine. I have read
that more than 300 million people live within three feet
of mean sea level. Rising sea levels will create severe
humanitarian and economic consequences that could destabilize
the whole world.
Scientists advise us that though we cannot stop global warming,
we can slow it down. Across the world, global warming has
become a major issue. Research shows that any company willing
to take steps to neutralize their CO2 emissions will earn
the loyalty of consumers and responsible investors. In the
United Kingdom, Future Forests coined the phrase "carbon
neutral." They will analyse the CO2 output of a business
and calculate the number of trees required to be planted
to neutralize the CO2 debt. This could become a way to fund
global reforestation. Similarly, the World Land Trust will
use sponsorship money to prevent tracts of mature forest
from being cut down. Saving our tropical rain forests, in
the longer term, will help stabilize rising sea temperatures
and save our coral reefs.
 Research
shows that advertising the way a company is willing to help
the world increases profits and makes it viable to fund
relief efforts. This way, businesses can save lives, protect
ecosystems and endangered species, fund new technology to
declare pollution-free status, and come to the rescue of
governments who are playing their part to slow global warming,
all without losing money.
It requires no research to know that people care deeply
about this world, as evidenced by the millions who responded
to the tsunami appeal and continue to donate to charities
to alleviate unnecessary human suffering or protect the
natural world. The added support of business leaders will
help focus political will in a new way, where it can wield
the most good. A new concept for what constitutes global
security for the twenty-first century might emerge from
this alliance, in the form of a world that works together
for the common good.
As we entered the new millennium, we entered a global age,
where we witnessed the celebrations in every capital city
around the world, where smiling faces from every culture
expressed our hope for a better, more just and more peaceful
world. Perhaps the powers that be might convene a global
summit to "Stop the World" long enough to find
a way to resolve our differences and review where we are
heading, while we still have time to change course onto
a life-giving path.
Imagine the public response if the United Nations, or another
such body, guided by a scientific council and working with
business leaders and nations, were to initiate a global
program to mobilize the necessary technological, financial
and human resources to meet the challenge we all face.
I know that across all nations of the world, people are
united by their love of life, the ocean and this world.
They work in corporations and governments and come from
every walk of life. If you agree with what is said, please
share the Genesis Project strategy and the Blu Revolution
with decision makers and everyone you know, so that a focussed
dialogue can be opened that will initiate the necessary
remedial measures at the soonest opportunity.
The Genesis Project economic strategy is a practical and
simple solution, which has within it the financial power
to turn the concept of the "Family of Man" into
a practical working reality. I ask you to go to www.portelly.com
and hear the Genesis Project lecture, given at the Open
University in the United Kingdom. It includes a film depicting
this strategy that was shown at the United Nations World
Millennium Peace Summit in 2000. I ask you to listen with
an open mind and invite you to share your views, contributions
or expertise by visiting www.BluRevolution.com.
At the Antibes Film Festival, Daniel Mercier and his team
have created the annual gathering, that has become affectionately
known as the Underwater United Nations, attracting distinguished
experts from almost every field of ocean exploration, from
around the world. Imagine what could be achieved if we could
link up and work together to evolve such projects as the
Blu Revolution and make a formal representation to the European
Union and the United Nations, to make them a reality.
I still recall the first photograph NASA produced of this
earth from space, which revealed to us a cosmic perspective
of One World, as we witnessed this beautiful blue orb floating
like a jewel against the starry firmament. I know I share
the hopes of many, when I voice my deepest wish, that future
generations have cause to thank us for the decisions we
must find the courage to make, decisions to protect our
planetary future and the undreamed of possibilities that
await.
Though the hour is close to midnight, if we work together,
we can turn things around ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 I
am deeply grateful for the global vision of my old friend,
Ocean Realm Society founder and
Ocean Realm Journal publisher/editor-in-chief
Richard Stewart, and to Diver
publisher Bernard Eaton - old mentor and friend and founder
of the Marine Conservation Society
in the United Kingdom, for their encouragement. I dedicate
this presentation to the memory of my friend and confidante,
editor of the Dutch diving magazine Duiken,
John Neuschwander, a man who loved the ocean and shared
the same vision. - Michael Portelly.
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The
BLU REVOLUTION site is supported by the Ocean Realm Society
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Plan
now to participate with the State of the Oceans Summit
November
1st, 2007 in conjunction with the DEMA Show, Orlando, Florida
| IN MEMORY OF BLU REVOLUTION CO-FOUNDER - MICHAEL PORTELLY
|
www.StateOfTheOceans.com
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