Even though we are not elders, 12 years old, we have an idea to help out the earth.

Starbucks is always talking about how earth-friendly they are with their "green" plastic cups. But why spend so much money on thin plastic cups when you can just put a recycling bin in the most popular beverage store on the planet?

Starbucks puts most of their popular drinks in plastic cups, but they don't even have a recycling bin? Why dump more things that are horrible for the environment into garbage cans, when it is just so easy to recycle them and turn them into something new.

Pretty soon, the Earth is will be nothing but a big garbage dump, but it could be stopped. By recycling plastic cups is just a start, but if the whole world joins, it could be a movement. Even though I am just 12, I can make a difference and so can you.

How to help: Go to your local Starbucks and request a recycling bin in the store. If they refuse, print out this letter and show how many many votes it has. If we can get to 1000 votes, that would be more than we can ever ask for. Some people spend their whole lives working to save the earth. If everyone does their part, the future itself will be bright.

Thank you for everyone who took their time to read this.
We.are.the.future. Mr. Branson, we would greatly appreciate it if you post this on your blog. P.S I snorkeled off of Necker island and LOVED it!!
Kate and Madeline

A Vision of Ocean Unity and Transformation.

Instead of mankind pitting itself against the seas, mankind will be asked to pit itself in a challenge for the seas, through a Regatta of Beauty, Awareness, Inspiration and Celebration.

Ocean advocates and environmentalists hand in hand together with indigenous, island nation and national cultures brought to the doorsteps of the world, by sea, to share natural wisdom, ancient culture, art and possibilities for living in harmony with the oceans. The most ancient wisdoms united with most recent discoveries. Art united with science. People united with nature.

Imagine

A fleet of striking sailing vessels ready to depart for an around-the-world adventure, such as has never been seen before. Yachts representing nations of incredible culture, legend, art and sea-faring tradition, crewed by storytellers, natural wisdom keepers, whale dreamers and great mariners. A regatta of dazzling beauty designed to take the world on adventure that most could never dream of sharing. Each yacht painted in the amazing traditional arts and sails of great tribal nations and history, the roots of all people of the world coming together; diversity in unity, to speak, sing and share the magic of the ocean, natural wisdoms and the realisation that all of mankind is indigenous and all need to be aware of how our great oceans cry out for our love and care.

As each destination is reached the cultural richness of this spiritual journey will arrive bringing a treasure of ocean stories and amazing people that will regale even the most disenchanted members of mankind. A call to awaken and celebrate the wealth of natural knowledge available for us to share should we choose to unite. Our opportunity to honour and action our collected wisdoms in the care of our natural world and ultimately the care of us all.

This is a regatta of beauty and spirit; although it will highlight the plight of our oceans and those that depend up on them its aim is to provide a platform for the voices less often heard, but of critical value to our understanding of living in natural harmony. There is no part of our Earth that will not face the consequence of our oceans in crisis, it is only a matter of time, therefore, for all of us it is time to understand how we can make the right difference.

If you can imagine this incredible round the world event, and would love to see it take place, please vote for the creation of A Race / Regatta for the Oceans.

This vision is for global, repeatable events that will create opportunity for development, growth, learning, cultural understanding and ongoing evolution of mankind's approach to living in harmony with nature.

What would we do if we knew we could not fail? Let's be Beautiful Wave Makers !

Imagine if spent uranium were not considered in the cost of producing nuclear power? What if power plants could dump their waste into the ocean without regulation? Well, such is the case with plastics. PLASTIC ARE GREAT, as long as someone else deals with the waste costs. When plastics end up in our landfills, the costs of dealing with consumer convenience and industrial profit are simply a tax payer subsidy. Not being “cradle to cradle” is only robbing the cradle of future generations. When plastic washes out to sea, it creates at least 1,000 years of environmental terrorism -- annual beach clean-ups are fantastic, but ultimately just a bandaid on a bullet hole. Banning plastic is not realistic, but that doesn't mean we can't work toward responsible handling. Here’s a novel concept: If you sell the package or container, then you have to deal with it. Demanding an end to plastics is blindly optimistic -- demanding an immediate responsible handling of them is fair. INITIATE FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT FORCES WHOLESALERS AND RETAILERS OF ALL PLASTICS HAVE TO TAKE BACK ANY CONTAINERS, PACKAGING, OR PRODUCTS THAT THEY SELL. People say that the costs will only be passed on to the consumer -- Well that is EXACTLY THE POINT! Until we pay the real price for plastic, sustainable, clean and responsible alternatives will not have a chance in the free market. Plastics are not as convenient as we were told, they are not as cheap as they have been sold. Those who consume the most, should pay the complete cost for responsible consumption and the 1st World needs to lead the way for global sustainable solutions. Attempting to be fair is not radical.

Support The Nautical Tribe to educate and inspire a generation of Ocean Advocates with many more efforts like this at: http://tinyurl.com/83kx92m Thank you ≈

The definition for our Earth's Water Cycle is based on a definition published 430 years ago and covers only one-third of the water cycle - the "atmospheric water cycle".

The new definition is called the Waterway Cycle, and covers all three "interactive cycles," and connects Earth's water from its inner core to the water of our surrounding universe.

The Waterway Cycle and its three "interactive cycles."
1. The Oceanic Water Cycle - whereby all the water in our planet's oceans is circulated to Earth's core and creates a oceans about every 7 million years. This cycle is driven by Earth's hot core.
2. The Atmospheric Water Cycle - the cycle everyone is taught where we have evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection. This cycle is driven by the heat of our sun.
3. The Cosmic Water Cycle - where Earth constantly loses small quantities of atmospheric water into outer space, and where Earth constantly gains small quantities of water from outer space.

These three cycles constantly interact and are vital to the renewal and health of our planet's waters and the life it supports.

This new definition is based on the research of William Waterway (www.williamwateray.com), has been published, and was recently simulcast to eleven countries at the International Symposium of Aqua Sciences and Water Resources (ISASWR).

See William Waterway's presentation on The Water Channel at: http://www.thewaterchannel.tv/en/videos/categories/viewvideo/1126/education/water-cycles-new-definition-as-qwaterway-cycleq

We need to build reefs. My idea is to use mesh and electrolysis to build incredibly beautiful underwater structures with caves and ledges, and to let a low voltage attract minerals to the walls with nooks and crannies that coral can adhere to. The structures will form in months and life can begin to occupy the new habitat. Since these structures will be artistically designed, they will be friendly to divers and tourists, and will also spawn Eco industry. I've made small models and they are beautiful. I have a Masters in Whole Systems Design and need backing to get this project started. We need to do this now, in areas that have been made barren.

It’s worked brilliantly for bird conservation – declines and extinctions reversed by BirdLife International which has separate NGO partners operating in over 100 countries worldwide, creating a global network of Important Areas for Birds (IBAs).

Whales and dolphins are charismatic stars that can inspire people about our oceans – so unite all the whale and dolphin charities of the world around a mission to create Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) all over our planet.

We’ve tracked down 200+ whale and dolphin charities in the world – and we start to unite them as a partnership for change at WhaleFest October 2012. It’s on the 30th anniversary of the world voting to suspend whaling, in the very building - the Hilton Brighton, UK – where the vote was taken. A global-scale, week-long public event supported by hundreds of organisations, politicians, and big names.

Whaling was just ‘suspended’ not stopped. Thousands of animals are still hunted by a small group of countries, and worldwide a thousand whales and dolphins die every day from many threats (WWF figures). An entire dolphin species, the Yangtze River Dolphin, has become extinct - yes, on our watch - and more look set to follow.

30 years ago we ‘saved’ the whale. It’s time to inspire the world’s charities to work together and to inspire our young people – the Ocean Youngsters - to finish the job and defend our oceans.

Every idea I've seen on this page is fantastic and many merit much broader exposure. So many things we see in the media concerning the environment are either bleak, boring, or both. Why is it that when we take on big problems, we think that we have to become monks? I've been working with Fabien Cousteau to create a whole different kind of program that inspires people to really GET WITH THE PROGRAM. If we truly take all these matters seriously, then we need to get serious about making solutions more marketable. We have all of these incredible media tools today, but we are using them to peddle mindless garbage. How about showing that Smart IS Sexy and Conservation IS Cool. We are putting together an exciting new eco-adventure TV program that follows groups of 16 college students for semesters at sea on a pirate ship that uses no fossil fuels. Each show will have segments broken into SEAS: Sail, Explore, Assess, & Serve. "The Nautical Tribe" invites audiences on an adventure of activism that will inspire people from around the world to become agents of change on our blue planet. Every new anchorage will bring us face to face with some of the most difficult social and environmental challenges of our time. Our Tribe will join hands on grass root projects to work locally while adventuring globally. I am asking the Ocean Elders to bring your influence to production and distribution so that we are not having to compromise any of this project’s integrity. This next generation needs to take on heroic challenges and will need incredible mentors to send them on their way. It’s time to get back to inspiration rather than desperation. It’s time to Occupy our Oceans right into mainstream media ≈ Our site is at: http://www.nauticaltribe.com Thank You Elders!!!

Turn Rubble into Reefs. Change happens where Change is Needed. One of our biggest projects with The Nautical Tribe is to build a Center for a Sustainable Haiti. We would like to purchase beach front property (less than $10K U.S. per acre) to initiate an educational, eco-tourism center for the children of Haiti. At the center, we plan to take earthquake rubble and use it for BioRock Reefs; show how sewage can be converted to algae biodiesel; provide carbon capture that also reduces deforestation via biochar World Stoves; retain eroding hillsides with Vetiver; and many other simple but profound innovations. All projects are planned to show the interdependent relationship of ourselves, the land, the oceans, and wildlife. This particular center would educate children in one of the most devastated places on Earth so that they can become tomorrow's leaders in the Blue and Green Movement. Support projects like this and others that we are designing and promoting as a media revolution on The Nautical Tribe: a youth driven adventure of activism supported by mentors like the Ocean Elders. Projects like this can be done with very little money, but would bring a vast amount of exposure to the kind of work that we all need to be doing around the world. Please check out the following links:
Center for Sustainable Haiti: http://www.center4sustainablehaiti.org
The Nautical Tribe: http://www.nauticaltribe.com
You can also vote to get the Nautical Tribe on the air and out to sea on missions like this with the Ocean Elders by clicking here: http://tinyurl.com/83kx92m

≈≈≈ Let's ROCK the BOAT and MAKE some WAVES ≈≈≈

On the 23rd June 2010, a young Orca was found swimming alone off the coast of the Netherlands. Sick and underweight, the orca, later named Morgan, was captured and transported to the Dolfinarium Harderwijk.

Over the next year, Morgan's health improved, and Orca experts from around the world agreed it was time to release Morgan back into the wild. However, the Dolfinarium Harderwijk ignored these requests and despite animal activists and orca experts like Ingrid Visser and the Orca coalition fighting for Morgan in court. Sadly the judge has now ruled that Morgan is to be transported to Loro Parque.. a theme park in Tenerife as soon as possible where Morgan will become a clown and most probably used as breeding stock for seaworld. Morgan's family have been found in Norway and millionaire Ady Gil has offered a million dollars to enable Morgan to stay in a seapen until she is ready to go back in the wide. There is no reason for Morgan to be in captivity where she is doomed to stay until her most probable early demise. We put it to you that by helping Morgan to regain her freedom will help all other orca held in captivity. No one should be visiting dolphinairums and living on the profits of marine mammals. Thank you for listening. KiaOra

Imagine if spent uranium were not considered in the cost of producing nuclear power? What if it power plants could dump their waste into the ocean without regulation? Well, such is the case with plastics. PLASTIC ARE GREAT, as long as someone else deals with the waste costs. When plastics end up in our landfills, the costs of dealing with consumer convenience and industrial profit are simply a tax payer subsidy. Not being “cradle to cradle” is only robbing the cradle of future generations. When plastic washes out to sea, it creates at least 1,000 years of environmental terrorism -- annual beach clean-ups are fantastic, but ultimately just a bandaid on a bullet hole. Here’s a novel concept: If you sell the package or container, then you have to deal with it. Demanding an end to plastics is blindly optimistic -- demanding an immediate responsible handling of them is fair. INITIATE FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT FORCES WHOLESALERS AND RETAILERS OF ALL PLASTICS HAVE TO TAKE BACK ANY CONTAINERS, PACKAGING, OR PRODUCTS THAT THEY SELL. People say that the costs will only be passed on to the consumer -- Well that is EXACTLY THE POINT! Until we pay the real price for plastic, sustainable, clean and responsible alternatives will not have a chance in the free market. Plastics are not as convenient as we were told, they are not as cheap as they have been sold. Those who consume the most, should pay the complete cost for responsible consumption and the 1st World needs to lead the way for global sustainable solutions. Attempting to be fair is not radical.

Support The Nautical Tribe to educate and inspire a generation of Ocean Advocates with many more efforts like this at: http://tinyurl.com/83kx92m Thank you ≈

ALL SHIPS LOG is an idea for seafarers both recreational and commercial who presently use a traditional ships written or electronic 'decklog' to input marine observations. ALL SHIPS LOG proposes, freely downloadable multilingual software (not dependent on expensive sea internet connection) designed for the purpose of collecting raw data to be made available for scientific research and education. Observed marine data including but not limited to, climate, marine life and marine debris...
ALL SHIPS LOG, once established and operating as a network portal, would be able also to call upon contributors globally to participate in specific marine environmental civil scientific research projects under the guidance of qualified scientists.
ALL SHIPS LOG recognises a seafarers reputable 'weather eye' and worth as ideal monitors and ocean custodeons.
Please see www.allshipslog.org for further details.
ALL SHIPS LOG is currently unfunded, however, has been shortlisted for a ROLEX Award for Enterprise 2012. Fingers Crossed!

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental issues facing our oceans today. The Clean Oceans Project (TCOP) has developed a unique approach to solving this problem that not only removes plastic from our oceans, but transforms it into a valuable commodity; fuel.
The Problem
As a result of poor or non-existent recycling and waste handling practices, millions of tons of plastic garbage find their way into the marine environment every year, profoundly altering fragile ecosystems and threatening humans at the top of the food chain. Marine mammals, birds, and fish die from ingesting or becoming entangled in this carelessly discarded trash. Plastic pollution also damages coral reefs, litters beaches, discourages tourism, poses a navigational hazard to ships, and destroys fisheries.
The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG) is a slow moving spiral of ocean currents where millions of tons of floating plastic pieces of every size, shape, and color tend to congregate. The sheer size and remoteness of the affected areas coupled with the financial and technical challenges of operating in a deep-sea environment have thus far stymied remediation efforts. This problem is not isolated to the Pacific; gyres containing massive amounts of plastic trash have been discovered in each of the five major oceans of the world.
TCOP believes that research, education, and policy efforts aimed at reducing plastic pollution at its source are important components of an overall strategy for addressing the issue, but ignoring the plastic already fouling our oceans because of the challenges involved in cleaning it up is shortsighted. We have devised a unique solution that will complement these efforts by transforming this waste product into a useful and valuable resource.
The Solution
TCOP has developed a targeted, multi-phase approach to achieving our goal of locating, removing, and processing ocean borne plastics into fuel. The process utilizes commercially available technology but is unique in its application, and is patent-pending. Remote sensing technology will be used to locate debris field concentrations, while collection systems developed by the oil spill response industry will harvest the debris without trapping or injuring marine animals. Our unique plastic-to-fuel technology will then generate diesel fuel from the harvested debris to power our vessels.

There is no doubt that the Oceans are in trouble. So is the land and the sky, there is some simple things that we can do however to change our impact to all three. Thorium Power is not a new idea, it's surely not a new technology. It's a type of Nuclear Power. Now I know what most of you are now thinking - Nuclear Power = Bad idea.
What if it couldn't meltdown? What if the radioactive waste was no where near as bad as current reactors? Finally what if this fuel - This type of reactor could power the world on a football field worth of material? But the benefits don't stop there - The material cannot be used for weapons. Thorium is more abundant than tin and can be found throughout the solar system.

So let's recap on this Nuclear Fuel -
1 = Completely Safe, Cannot meltdown.
2 = Efficient beyond belief.
3 = Abundant
4 = World Changing.

That last one, you may be going well how? Well let's say we implemented it all. Thorium reactors now power the grid. We suddenly have a large excess of electricity. A huge cause of the world's pollution is fossil fuels used in industry and transportation. Both can be changed. Electric industry can be used as well as Hydrogen for both.

Hydrogen can be created when electricity is passed through water, separating the two. When burnt, the outcome? Water. So it's ultimately a clean energy. It is also three time's as efficient than fossil fuels. You could get three times as far on a tank of hydrogen than on gas.

Electric industry would simply use the power of electricity to replace traditional fossil fuels. Instead of heating up ore by coal or such, a high energy room using extremely powerful lights could heat up a container filled with the material. Or a more likely case, lasers can be used to transfer heat successfully. Removing fossil fuels will reduce Acid rain and Carbon emissions.

Pesticides are a huge problem to the world's oceans - Running off into rivers and lakes before finally ending either in the water table or oceans. Farming however could be changed forever by a dutch company called Plant Lab which grow's it's crops in doors. Due to the closed environments (Insects cannot get in) Pesticides and Insecticides are not used. It also used 10% of the water that traditional farming uses and finally, the only other input is electricity to power the computers and LED lighting. This style of farming is nearly three times as efficient meaning you can get a normal amount in a third of the time it takes to grow traditionally or three times as much in the same amount of time. Whilst yes this would cause a negative impact due to crop farmers, there will still be a need for animals etc so they would simply have to change. Food prices for fruit and vegetables would drop as would run off and pollutants.

Asteroid mining is another thing that most people will call me crazy for but it's the reliable choice when compared to the alternative. Currently the world is heading towards shortages due to the population exploding - China, India, Asia in general. Consumer electronics (Ipods, Ipads, Computers, Cellphones, GPS etc, even hospital equipment and aircraft) use a lot of precious metals due to their good properties in circuitry. These metals are growing short and harder to reach both in distance and costs. The Pacific ocean however is rich in Rare Earth Elements and would be the next target for companies who are looking to turn a profit. I don't have to explain how that would effect the oceans if large ships and platforms dug up the sediment and created extremely large holes in the ocean floor. Our alternate is to mine these hulking pieces of rock in our solar system. They are abundant and whilst hard to get to, promise enough materials for millions of years (The asteroid 16 Psyche is believed to contain 1.7×1019 kg of nickel–iron, which could supply the 2004 world production requirement for several million years. A small portion of the extracted material would also be precious metals - Wikipedia - Asteroid Mining) I have thought of ways to get to and from and currently they look quite interesting. That aside, if we can get these minerals from space - Where there is no ecosystem to destroy, we could solve an issue before it becomes a problem and finally an economic disaster.

I'm not asking you to vote and commit to this, I'm asking you to vote to get this heard. If we could get someone of high profile to talk about this, the world would change. It could change to become a beautiful thriving planet without global warming, ecosystem destruction.

Thanks for your time, feel free to message me if you want :)