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deadline: 1-1-2009
goal: 17,000

Protect Ocean Life During International Year of the Reef

Sponsored by: International Year of the Reef

Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet - home and nursery for almost a million fish and other species. Unfortunately, about 70 percent of the world's coral reefs are threatened or destroyed, and 20 percent of those are damaged beyond repair. The resources coral reefs provide are worth about $375 billion each year - and they cover only one percent of the earth's surface. 2008 has been designated as the International Year of the Reef to raise awareness about the increasing threats to coral reefs. Whether you live near the ocean or thousands of miles away, you can help restore this amazing habitat.

Pledge to:

- Use ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to coral bleaching and ocean acidification, and threaten coral reef survival. Long lasting light bulbs are a bright idea. If every household replaced a burned out bulb with and energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulb, it would prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that produced by about 800,000 cars.

- Use naturally-derived and biodegradable detergents and cleaning products. The chemicals we use end up in our waterways and are carried to the oceans. Just one pound of phosphorus in water produces about 500 pounds of algae, blocking sunlight and starving coral reefs. Outside the house, minimize the impacts of fertilizer by using zero-phosphorus products or no more than one pound per 1,000 square feet of turf area for nitrogen.

- Not give coral as presents. Corals are popular as souvenirs, for home decor and in costume jewelry, but corals are living animals that grow and reproduce. It takes corals decades or longer to create reef structures, so leave corals and other marine life on the reef.

- If I use the ocean for recreational purposes, I will use reef-mooring buoys for my boat whenever possible, or anchor in sandy areas away from coral and sea grasses so the anchor doesn't drag on corals or tear up sea grass beds. When diving and snorkeling, I will maintain proper buoyancy control, never touch the reefs and spread the word about coral reef stewardship.

Already signed this pledge? Now sign the International Declaration of Reef Rights: http://www.reefcheck.org/petition/petition.php

Take the Pledge!

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We signed the “Protect Ocean Life During International Year of the Reef” Pledge!

# 12,100:

4:45 pm PDT, Jul 17, Terri Melloway, Australia

# 12,099:

4:42 pm PDT, Jul 17, Devon Farr, California

# 12,098:

4:42 pm PDT, Jul 17, Fernando Martin Maroto, California

# 12,097:

4:35 pm PDT, Jul 17, Keith Razack, New York
The plight of the planets is worth the pain of a few discomforts. We must all make a change for the planet.

# 12,096:

4:27 pm PDT, Jul 17, Aimon Bustardo, Oregon

# 12,095:

4:18 pm PDT, Jul 17, Jadia Ward, Washington
As a scuba diver I have witnessed the damage done to our reefs. The coastal waters of Florida are prime example of devastation by unchecked and uneducated citizens doing harm to a reef system. More education is truly need to bring awareness on behalf of our ocean planet's health. The coral reefs are a major part of our oceans ecosystem. I promise to share and educate everyone I come into contact with. I also am buying trees in the Amazon forest through the Nature Conservancy to help restore this planet's largest natural CO2 scrubber. If you want to learn more and be part of the solution... here is a good place to start. http://rumbledoll.multiply.com/links/item/6/THE_NATURE_CONSERVANCY_-_Plant_a_Billion_Trees_-_Dedicated_to_my_grandson_GAIGE NO BETTER TIME THEN NOW... for soon it will be TOO LATE! Sincerely, Jadia Ward

# 12,094:

4:14 pm PDT, Jul 17, Jessica Black, Arizona

# 12,093:

4:10 pm PDT, Jul 17, Cher Hawkes, Maine

# 12,092:

4:08 pm PDT, Jul 17, Karen Kessler, California

# 12,091:

4:03 pm PDT, Jul 17, Kristy Mitchell, Texas

# 12,090:

3:54 pm PDT, Jul 17, Karen Broten, Illinois

# 12,089:

3:49 pm PDT, Jul 17, Kathleen Eales, Michigan

# 12,088:

3:46 pm PDT, Jul 17, Patricia Hammerschmidt, Arizona

# 12,087:

3:46 pm PDT, Jul 17, Jamie Flitton, Oregon

# 12,086:

3:31 pm PDT, Jul 17, Kendall Hamrick, Texas

# 12,085:

3:28 pm PDT, Jul 17, Claire Chambers, California

# 12,084:

3:25 pm PDT, Jul 17, Virginia Simpson-Magruder, California

# 12,083:

3:00 pm PDT, Jul 17, Gail Mcnamee, Pennsylvania

# 12,082:

2:55 pm PDT, Jul 17, Emily Weibel, Minnesota

# 12,081:

2:52 pm PDT, Jul 17, Carly Krauledis, Illinois
Protect the beauty!!

# 12,080:

2:40 pm PDT, Jul 17, BY Hawkins, Kansas

# 12,079:

2:32 pm PDT, Jul 17, Brianna Dilts, Indiana

# 12,078:

2:32 pm PDT, Jul 17, Laura Krause, Florida

# 12,077:

2:27 pm PDT, Jul 17, Denise Aughtman, Mexico

# 12,076:

2:24 pm PDT, Jul 17, KIMBERLY VANDERPOOL, California

# 12,075:

2:17 pm PDT, Jul 17, Maria Van Dingenen, Connecticut

# 12,074:

2:12 pm PDT, Jul 17, Joan Mueller, Wisconsin

# 12,073:

2:09 pm PDT, Jul 17, Louise Thompson, Massachusetts

# 12,072:

2:08 pm PDT, Jul 17, Marie Dutto, France

# 12,071:

2:07 pm PDT, Jul 17, David Dumas, Oregon

# 12,070:

2:06 pm PDT, Jul 17, Dilip Paul, Maryland

# 12,069:

2:04 pm PDT, Jul 17, Kathy Lash, New Jersey

# 12,068:

2:00 pm PDT, Jul 17, Edward Berbaum, Pennsylvania
Start now to protect what we have left of healthy Reefs and ocean water. This generation will go down in history as the worst ever otherwise since a decision to do this smells of many other decisions supporting pollution and degradation of our natural, awesome wonders.

# 12,067:

2:00 pm PDT, Jul 17, Kimberly Toon, Arkansas

# 12,066:

1:49 pm PDT, Jul 17, Bill Liddle, New York

# 12,065:

1:48 pm PDT, Jul 17, Billie Mann, North Carolina

# 12,064:

1:46 pm PDT, Jul 17, Name not displayed, Illinois

# 12,063:

1:46 pm PDT, Jul 17, Gail Wrigley, Arizona

# 12,062:

1:37 pm PDT, Jul 17, Tiffany Berry, Kansas

# 12,061:

1:35 pm PDT, Jul 17, Martha Taliaferro, Texas
Good planets are hard to find. We need to stop destroying the one we have.

# 12,060:

1:27 pm PDT, Jul 17, Richard Cyr, Kentucky
If you rune everything there will be nothing lets all try saving something.

# 12,059:

1:22 pm PDT, Jul 17, Thomas Panto, South Carolina
We can not BUY or BURN our way out of this one

# 12,058:

1:18 pm PDT, Jul 17, Carol Foort, Washington

# 12,057:

1:17 pm PDT, Jul 17, Annie Coughlin, California

# 12,056:

1:13 pm PDT, Jul 17, Sarah Norton, South Carolina

# 12,055:

1:12 pm PDT, Jul 17, Karen Ernst, Missouri

# 12,054:

1:08 pm PDT, Jul 17, Sandra Demasi, Pennsylvania

# 12,053:

1:06 pm PDT, Jul 17, Name not displayed, California

# 12,052:

1:04 pm PDT, Jul 17, Margaret Mantooth, Oklahoma

# 12,051:

1:03 pm PDT, Jul 17, Marcia Trinidad, Arizona

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