On the Leesh Productions' June 2013 Newsletter

Dear Friends,  What You Can Do is spending this summer honoring our oceans from coast to coast.  Recently, we made trips to The Parker Manatee Aquarium at The South Florida Museum and The Monterey Bay Aquarium to interview their experts on the current health of our oceans, and what people can do to help.  Our videos spotlighted the issues of climate change, plastics, sustainable seafood, and the human impact of overfishing and trash disposal.  More importantly, we highlighted one minute ways to make an impact and help.  In addition, on June 22nd, What You Can Do's video: Help Fight Hunger in New York City, featuring one of our favorite organizations, Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, screened at the Manhattan Film Festival in Greenwhich Village.  Thanks to the festival for including us. We had a blast! Wish you and yours a happy kick off to the summer,  The On the Leesh Team A few weeks ago, Amanda visited The Monterey Bay Aquarium to interview experts on the most pressing topics affecting our oceans today.  First up, Amanda interviewed Jim Covel, the Senior Manager of Guest Experiences, about the state of our oceans and ocean health in general. All the choices we make affect our oceans.  Everything from the pesticides we use on our lawns, the cars that leaks oil onto pavement, and the cleaning products that we choose for our homes, all will eventually run off into our seas. Even if you're in the middle of the country! Check out the video to learn how you can help make better choices to protect one of our most valuable resources.  Next up, Ryan Bigelow, outreach manager for the Seafood Watch Program, explained that we have already lost over 85% of the big fish in our oceans. According to the aquarium, catching fish faster than they can reproduce may be the single biggest threat to ocean ecosystems. Downloading the app or a pocket guide  from Seafood Watch, allows consumers to make better choices at restaurants and supermarkets.  Making better choices and talking about the issue of overfishing will help bring back fish populations.  It has worked to bring back Swordfish and Chilean Sea Bass, so let's give it a try! Watch this video to find out more.     Thanks to The Monterey Bay Aquarium for such a warm welcome, and to everyone who got involved in the conversation on Facebook.  Be sure to subscribe to us on YouTube. UP NEXT July continues What You Can Do's dedication to our oceans.  We're traveling to Bradenton, Florida to interview Marilyn Margold at The Parker Manatee Aquarium at The South Florida Museum.  The Parker Manatee Aquarium is the home to the ambassador of Manatees, Snooty. He's turning 65 this year, so stay tuned to find out who you can celebrate manatees in his honor.  Marilyn also discusses the biggest threats to our marine wildlife and how we can help make a difference.    If you're an artist, we're holding a contest in honor of our oceans in New York City. We're seeking works of art made from recycled plastic that will be featured as part of a show at Bushwick Coffee House, a coffee shop in Brooklyn, NY. The contest will culminate in an event and concert with the Sea Monsters on July 20th.  Write us at info@ontheleesh.com for more information.     Be sure to write in and share your ideas on how to protect our oceans!

Help Protect Our Fishies

As I mentioned in a previous blog, Choose Wisely, our oceans are threatened by overfishing. Preventing overfishing has long been a passion of mine. When swordfish was on the threatened list - I used to pitch a fit to anyone who would try to order it around me. My passion for our oceans began at a young age, which gets me thinking...

Last year, we visited kids at a school in Brooklyn on Earth Day to talk to them about ideas for going green. Almost all of them said to shut off the lights and recycle. This lingo has become so ingrained in our kids, it's now the new "wash your hands" and "brush your teeth." Which leads me to believe that if we can get kids to start paying attention to the world's problems at a young age, there's no telling what they can do with our planet.

The Ocean Conservancy has a great program called Go Fish. It's an online game that teaches people about the state of fish in our oceans. Though it's not great for really little kids (it includes some pretty advanced concepts), it would be great for anyone age 10+. And there are incentives to play: if you answer all five questions, $1 will be donated to help the Ocean Conservancy's efforts to make overfishing a thing of the past.

Even though it's a game, it's not just for kids. I urge you to join me today and play this game to see what you know and don't know about the state of our oceans. The more people we get to play, the more $1 donations will be made. Oh and don't feel bad about your score - I got 2 right the first time I played.

If you have a little one at home, play the game with him/her. Instill your kids with the love of our oceans. This love will grow with them and there's no telling what the outcome will be. I hope that these problems won't face our grandkids, but it starts today. And it starts with you.

Will you join me?
Thanks - Alicia