Continuing the legacy of Jacques Cousteau
The grandson of famous environmentalist strives to make the world a greener place
Philippe Cousteau Jr. at this year's Tribeca Film Festival.
Do you think awareness is enough to solve today's environmental issues? Think again.
EarthEcho International, a Washington, D.C.-based environmental organization, is redefining how we look at our relationship with the environment, stressing that action is essential in order to truly make a difference.
"It's not so much that you can make a difference, it's that everything you do makes a difference," says Philippe Cousteau Jr., president of EarthEcho and grandson of legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau. He also co-hosted "Ocean's Deadliest," Steve Irwin's final documentary for Animal Planet.
"All of the choices you make have consequences," he says. While the implications of this are different for everyone, we can all get involved on several different levels, starting with our choices as consumers.
"Shopping is politics," says Cousteau, 27, who emphasizes the importance of buying locally grown food. "Food travels about 1,200 miles before it gets to your table." Who knew that we could cut back on carbon emissions simply by choosing a locally grown apple over a banana from Ecuador?
EarthEcho is certainly doing its part to lead people in the right direction and raise awareness about the need for conservation, with young people as one of its major targets. It will be working with the eco-friendly Warped Tour, the largest concert tour in the country, with a mostly youth-based audience, to provide storytelling outlets to concertgoers through media.
They are also tapping into family-friendly entertainment with their involvement in "Wild Earth: Deep Ocean Safari," a simulated ride that will allow guests to ride in submarine mockups for a virtual ocean dive. Destined for places, such as the San Diego Zoo-aquariums and family amusement centers, the ride is sure to help EarthEcho in its quest to bring its message to young audiences.
Cousteau Jr. is probably best known for his participation in "Ocean's Deadliest," and while many viewers may primarily associate the film with Steve Irwin's tragic death, or with the fascinating but dangerous animals it features, perhaps the most important message that it provides is its conservation-focused conclusion.
Who is the ocean's deadliest creature? Not great white sharks, not stonefish, but humans. Shocking as this may be, it should serve as a reminder to us all that we have a responsibility to care for our environment and oceans, particularly if we expect them to take care of us. "The oceans are the life force of the planet," says Cousteau. "The environment is not a luxury item."
While many students may believe that their actions have little impact on the environment, that's simply not the case. Although we live in New York City, where public transportation is the most efficient way to get around, this does not mean we can ignore the impact of the rest of our behavior. This often means choosing the lesser of two evils, and can be as simple as avoiding fast food restaurants, which are far from eco-friendly. We can also get involved at the community and legislative levels, including on campus. (How about turning off those water-wasting faucets in the restrooms?)
On a larger scale, supporting fair-trade practices and voting for environmentally friendly government leaders can have an even greater impact than we might realize. "Government and industry are reactionary," says Cousteau. "If people take the initiative to lead, government leaders will follow."
Want to know more? Visit earthecho.org, where you can share a story about your personal impact on the environment, learn more about the Student Environmental Film Fest and enter for a chance to win an expedition with the EarthEcho team.