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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!

# 12,650:

7:47 pm PDT, Jul 21, Carolyn Liff, Arizona

# 12,649:

7:42 pm PDT, Jul 21, Barbara Wishingrad, California
I've lived near coral reefs and so I know how beautiful and precious they are. These actions are all easy to do and make such a difference; I've been living this way for years and it just gets easier. It's rewarding too.

# 12,648:

7:36 pm PDT, Jul 21, Alicia Jackson, California

# 12,647:

7:25 pm PDT, Jul 21, Jeannine Corry, New York

# 12,646:

7:24 pm PDT, Jul 21, Name not displayed, Kansas

# 12,645:

7:16 pm PDT, Jul 21, Jolene Josie, Ohio

# 12,644:

7:16 pm PDT, Jul 21, Lena Burghardt, Australia
All my light globes are energy saving ones, I clean with vinegar and bicarb, have never given coral or have any, I just enjoy looking at the water. So folk be careful out there with what you do, please.

# 12,643:

7:11 pm PDT, Jul 21, Suzanna Sexton, Connecticut

# 12,642:

7:10 pm PDT, Jul 21, Patty Marubbio, New York

# 12,641:

6:52 pm PDT, Jul 21, Lorna Soto, Texas

# 12,640:

6:04 pm PDT, Jul 21, Don Kostuck, Texas

# 12,639:

6:02 pm PDT, Jul 21, Denise Croft, Oregon

# 12,638:

6:01 pm PDT, Jul 21, Brandy Bacon, Oklahoma

# 12,637:

5:53 pm PDT, Jul 21, Jennifer Carrico, Virginia
Live by the Bible, not by the gun.

# 12,636:

5:33 pm PDT, Jul 21, Name not displayed, California

# 12,635:

5:29 pm PDT, Jul 21, Alexis Starke, New York

# 12,634:

5:20 pm PDT, Jul 21, Rachael Yura, California

# 12,633:

5:11 pm PDT, Jul 21, Carol Mellom, Minnesota

# 12,632:

5:02 pm PDT, Jul 21, Josh Lynch, Illinois

# 12,631:

4:59 pm PDT, Jul 21, Charlotte Preston, Virginia

# 12,630:

4:53 pm PDT, Jul 21, Joe Maldonado, Florida

# 12,629:

4:52 pm PDT, Jul 21, Larry Bogert, New Jersey

# 12,628:

4:44 pm PDT, Jul 21, Peggy Hindy, Florida

# 12,627:

4:33 pm PDT, Jul 21, Mary Anne Schlosser, California

# 12,626:

4:15 pm PDT, Jul 21, Bronwyn Webster, Washington

# 12,625:

4:08 pm PDT, Jul 21, Brian Dolenz, Texas

# 12,624:

3:59 pm PDT, Jul 21, Name not displayed, California

# 12,623:

3:52 pm PDT, Jul 21, Emma C., Utah

# 12,622:

3:50 pm PDT, Jul 21, Eric Hirsch, New York

# 12,621:

3:46 pm PDT, Jul 21, Viva Bader -baker, Washington

# 12,620:

3:44 pm PDT, Jul 21, Ray Berthiaume, Tennessee

# 12,619:

3:43 pm PDT, Jul 21, Name not displayed, New York

# 12,618:

3:38 pm PDT, Jul 21, Name not displayed, West Virginia

# 12,617:

3:24 pm PDT, Jul 21, Catheryn Ballew, California

# 12,616:

3:24 pm PDT, Jul 21, John Payne, Indiana

# 12,615:

3:22 pm PDT, Jul 21, Name not displayed, Connecticut

# 12,614:

3:16 pm PDT, Jul 21, Roland Jesperson, North Dakota

# 12,613:

3:13 pm PDT, Jul 21, Diana Kliche, California

# 12,612:

3:00 pm PDT, Jul 21, Dori Butterick, Georgia

# 12,611:

2:56 pm PDT, Jul 21, M. Sharp, Arkansas

# 12,610:

2:49 pm PDT, Jul 21, Laura Mcghee, Ohio

# 12,609:

2:49 pm PDT, Jul 21, Linda Olson, Texas

# 12,608:

2:46 pm PDT, Jul 21, Nate Watson, Massachusetts

# 12,607:

2:45 pm PDT, Jul 21, Lora Chamberlain, Illinois
For the love of God, control Global Warming now and stop the detruction of the Oceans by run away commercial fishing!!!!!

# 12,606:

2:42 pm PDT, Jul 21, Diana Leigh Waldron, Florida

# 12,605:

2:41 pm PDT, Jul 21, Cynthia Wozny, New York

# 12,604:

2:30 pm PDT, Jul 21, Poppy Glor, Washington

# 12,603:

2:24 pm PDT, Jul 21, Linda Lewis, Pennsylvania

# 12,602:

2:22 pm PDT, Jul 21, Charissa Gardner, Ohio

# 12,601:

2:19 pm PDT, Jul 21, Wendy Hershey, California

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