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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!

# 12,800:

9:27 pm PDT, Jul 22, Roger Hannah, Illinois

# 12,799:

9:15 pm PDT, Jul 22, Carol Bullock, Washington
Coral reefs are disappearing. Rain forests are disappearing. Humanity is disappearing.

# 12,798:

8:54 pm PDT, Jul 22, Myron Mcveigh, Iowa

# 12,797:

8:40 pm PDT, Jul 22, Selma Porter, Idaho
What happens to the earth and to all life on earth if the coral reefs are gone? They are so vital to all of life on this planet. Let's all become "earth friendly" and take responsibility; carry in - carry out, recycle, use common sense, don't pollute, catch those who are throwing chemical wastes into our oceans, become aware of what we let down the drain in our homes and on our streets.

# 12,796:

8:39 pm PDT, Jul 22, Toby Cardoso, California

# 12,795:

8:22 pm PDT, Jul 22, Gina Hale, Texas

# 12,794:

8:18 pm PDT, Jul 22, Tina Page, Washington

# 12,793:

8:09 pm PDT, Jul 22, Ravin Sangha, California

# 12,792:

8:04 pm PDT, Jul 22, Angel Dougan, Ohio
people need to stop throwing trash on the beaches that end up in the water instead of in a trash can there's a reason there are trash cans on the beach

# 12,791:

7:54 pm PDT, Jul 22, Roger Woitte, Virginia

# 12,790:

7:47 pm PDT, Jul 22, H Chase Livingston, California

# 12,789:

7:43 pm PDT, Jul 22, Johnna Woosley, Iowa

# 12,788:

7:42 pm PDT, Jul 22, Jennifer Wetzel, Pennsylvania

# 12,787:

7:29 pm PDT, Jul 22, Kasha Herba, Canada

# 12,786:

7:09 pm PDT, Jul 22, Robyn Barnes, North Carolina

# 12,785:

7:05 pm PDT, Jul 22, Margaret Rollins, Georgia
our oceans are Life for the human race. our leaders, please think of your children, g'children - if not the general populace; Make Global Oceans safe; Clean our Oceans. Walking on the beach, it is hideous the amt. of trash human throw out - one person can pick up trash along the ocean's shores. It starts with One. Now, please do your part as our elected leaders.

# 12,784:

7:02 pm PDT, Jul 22, Crystal Ryan, Missouri

# 12,783:

6:57 pm PDT, Jul 22, Brenna McGowan, California

# 12,782:

6:57 pm PDT, Jul 22, Nicole Arms, Tennessee

# 12,781:

6:50 pm PDT, Jul 22, Bonnie Andres, Illinois
we need to come up with new ways of getting kids involved. maybe, by doing volunter work on weekeds to help keep the beaches and waters clean.

# 12,780:

6:47 pm PDT, Jul 22, Nancy Bates, Texas

# 12,779:

6:45 pm PDT, Jul 22, Mario Carson, Washington

# 12,778:

6:42 pm PDT, Jul 22, Name not displayed, Arizona
What happens to the oceans, soon does and is happenign to the land....

# 12,777:

6:36 pm PDT, Jul 22, Robin Schachter, Connecticut

# 12,776:

6:33 pm PDT, Jul 22, Kelly Sexton, Kentucky

# 12,775:

6:28 pm PDT, Jul 22, Richard Agee, California
You got my backing ! And I want to see a POSITIVE RESPONSE in this !

# 12,774:

6:18 pm PDT, Jul 22, Kazel Morgan, Texas

# 12,773:

6:13 pm PDT, Jul 22, Jen Mienko, Washington

# 12,772:

6:08 pm PDT, Jul 22, Sonja Loyd, Pennsylvania

# 12,771:

6:08 pm PDT, Jul 22, Sarah Young, New York

# 12,770:

6:07 pm PDT, Jul 22, Lura Conner-Castles, Florida

# 12,769:

6:01 pm PDT, Jul 22, Miriam Lehman, Pennsylvania

# 12,768:

5:55 pm PDT, Jul 22, Janet Seltzer, California

# 12,767:

5:46 pm PDT, Jul 22, Ann McGlashen, Arizona

# 12,766:

5:43 pm PDT, Jul 22, Barbara Hargenrater, California

# 12,765:

5:41 pm PDT, Jul 22, Laura Arntz, Oregon

# 12,764:

5:25 pm PDT, Jul 22, Iliana Linares-Santana, New Jersey

# 12,763:

5:16 pm PDT, Jul 22, Tamra McConoughey, Iowa

# 12,762:

5:13 pm PDT, Jul 22, Suzette Rivera, California

# 12,761:

5:11 pm PDT, Jul 22, Donny Seals, Kentucky

# 12,759:

5:08 pm PDT, Jul 22, Kathy M SCHMAUTZ, New York

# 12,758:

4:51 pm PDT, Jul 22, Erica Rudnick, California

# 12,757:

4:50 pm PDT, Jul 22, Julie Rider, Pennsylvania

# 12,756:

4:43 pm PDT, Jul 22, Stephanie Hemingway, Washington

# 12,755:

4:26 pm PDT, Jul 22, S. Morris, Ohio

# 12,754:

4:07 pm PDT, Jul 22, Name not displayed, Washington

# 12,753:

3:55 pm PDT, Jul 22, Walt Howard, North Carolina

# 12,752:

3:54 pm PDT, Jul 22, Name not displayed, New York

# 12,751:

3:44 pm PDT, Jul 22, Gerri Ward, Michigan
If we don't start protecting our ecosystem then every living organism on earth is doomed. Wake up & help restore it NOW!

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