Even our rules and regulations, our laws, our policies, favor the destructive nature of taking too much from the ocean and using techniques that are horribly destructive. We know they don't work. We know it's not sustainable. Sylvia Earle More Quotes by Sylvia Earle More Quotes From Sylvia Earle Forty percent of the United States drains into the Mississippi. It's agriculture. It's golf courses. It's domestic runoff from our lawns and roads. Ultimately, where does it go? Downstream into the gulf. Sylvia Earle agriculture united-states golf The end of commercial fishing is predicted long before the middle of the 21st century. Sylvia Earle century fishing long If you think the ocean isn't important, imagine Earth without it. Mars comes to mind. No ocean, no life support system. Sylvia Earle support-systems ocean thinking I've always said, 'Underwater or on top, men and women are compatible.' Sylvia Earle underwater said men Knowledge is the key to making a difference. Sylvia Earle making-a-difference differences keys We are depleting this immense diversity and abundance of life, and it matters tremendously for the future of the planet. Sylvia Earle abundance diversity matter Not only who am I, but who are we? And where are we going? It's the "we." It's the social connections that are special to human beings. Sylvia Earle connections social special We have the capacity to alter the nature of nature. No, we don't have just the capacity - we are altering the nature of nature, the natural systems that cause the planet to function in our favor. Sylvia Earle favors causes natural It isn't too late to shift from the swift, sharp decline of ocean systems in recent decades to an era of steady recovery. There is time, and there is a growing awareness, which is the best way to counter indifference. People who know might care. Sylvia Earle recovery ocean people The opportunity that is unique [to our] time is what inspires me to do everything I can to move things forward. This is the first time that we have the capacity to understand our place in the greater scheme of things to the extent that we do. Sylvia Earle unique opportunity moving No creature on Earth ever has organized themselves in ways that we have, with the capacity to alter the nature of nature the way we have. Sylvia Earle capacity earth way It's taken us a short time to change the nature of nature. In my lifetime, more change than during all preceding human history put together. Sylvia Earle taken lifetime together The next 10 years could be the most important in the next 10,000. Sylvia Earle next important years The very energy sources that have gotten us to where we are now are also, if we continue doing what we're doing, a shortcut to the end of all that we hold near and dear. Sylvia Earle shortcuts energy ends We have found ways to capture, kill and market ocean wildlife on an unprecedented scale. It's an absolute catastrophe. Sylvia Earle wildlife ocean way Ironically the very energy, the very basis of how we know what we know, has been reliant on having an energy source [necessary] to build rockets to go to the moon and Mars, to support airplanes that fly, and satellites to give us our communication. Sylvia Earle airplane communication moon Burning fossil fuels has given us the gift of seeing ourselves in new ways. But that very gift now enables us to see we've got to change our ways. Sylvia Earle burning fossils fuel Globally sharks have been killed for their fins, for their cartilage, for their livers, for their meat. But mostly what has driven some species of sharks to near extinction - including the hammerhead shark - is the new luxury taste for shark fin soup. Sylvia Earle driven Life in the ocean makes Earth hospitable. We are sailing along in the universe and we have a blue engine that is making everything alright. Sylvia Earle sailing ocean blue The ocean governs the climate and the weather, it is taking care of the temperature and it is shaping the chemistry of our planet. Sylvia Earle climate ocean weather
