I am partnering with NRDC to paddle my outrigger canoe 1200 miles around Florida and west to New Orleans. My goal is to build support for a Healthy Oceans Act and steps to protect our oceans from global warming and ocean acidification. For those who do not know, I paddle to inform and for those who don't care, I paddle to inspire. I am documenting my journey on this blog during the month-long paddle.You can read more about the paddle, see photos, and take action here. You can also check out my personal website with information about this and other adventures here.

Tom Wagner and Debbi Stone at the Florida Aquarium hosted a rocking press event yesterday, followed by a lively round table discussion about educational outreach. Joining us at both events were the amazing defender of the Florida Gulf, Joe Murphy of the Gulf Restoration Network, who is now taking over as "chase person extraodinaire" from Melissa Waage, my third NRDC chase car wonder and the campaign manager of many enviro campaigns there.

Also in attendance were Ann Vanek-Dasovich of the Florida Wildlife Federation, Jim, a salty long term volunteer at the aquarium, Sean Kinane of the public radio station in Tampa, and David White of the Ocean Conservancy. We had quite a few cameras rolling, too, at the press conference. I am totally stoked to get the word out about the dire need for ocean protection legislation at every level, but particularly the national level.

It was great to see David again. I had met him at the Blue Vision Summit this past march in DC. That's an amazing event itself, and definitely something that every ocean and coastal lover, individuals and organization, educators and policy makers, needs to get themselves to. Definitely more on that later.

Now it's time to gear up and get out the door-- paddlin' 40+ miles to Hudson!  

Woohoo!