IYOR 2008 officially launched
Guests gathered from all over the world to attend the event, including government representatives, organizations, embassies, private sector and the conservation and scientific community. Remarks given by Claudia McMurray, US Department of State, Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Environment and Science; Noah Idechong, Vice Speaker of the Palau House of Delegates; VADM Conrad Lautenbacher, NOAA Administrator; and Drew Richardson, President and Chief Operating Officer of PADI among others, demonstrated the importance of the IYOR campaign.
The launch was preceded by a press conference that highlighted planned international activities for the year and included an exciting live web and telephone hook-up to an ongoing scientific mission on the reefs of Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean), that is using autonomous underwater vehicles and other cutting edge technologies to examine the reefs. A report on the 2005 coral bleaching event in the Caribbean that affected more than 80 percent of the reefs in the region, was also released (see Release of the "Status of Caribbean Coral Reefs after Bleaching and Hurricanes in 2005"). Minister Estrosi, Secretary of State in charge of French Overseas Territories, and Claudia McMurray, US Department of State, Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Environment and Science addressed the press conference.
The press conference provided a brief glimpse of the phenomenal effort that the coral reef community and general public are putting into making this year a success. An even further exercise was conducted on the 25th of January, when a mini-symposium was held at the Mexican Cultural Centre in Washington, DC to celebrate IYOR 2008 through a showcase of activities taking place around the world. Opening remarks were given by His Excellency Arturo Sarukhan, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States of America, an avid diver and lover of the ocean. The wealth and variety of planned activities that the countries and organizations presented will certainly inspire other actions around the globe. During the mini-symposium, a youth choir from the Chesapeake Bay Middle School in Maryland, also a "green signature" school committed to environmental initiatives as part of their integrated curriculum, performed the "Reef Check Year of the Reef" song. This song, composed by Russ Lesser, President of Body Glove International, provides an exciting platform for children and adults to use their voices to protect and save the reefs.
The launch of IYOR 2008 does not only provide a opportunity to facilitate collaboration and share plans for the coming year, it also nourishes aspirations and gives one a sense of honor in being part of a movement that is bringing people together from all levels to stand up for coral reefs. The international, regional and national launches taking place throughout the world are just that - a catalyst to propel efforts into 2008, to inspire and encourage others to join and take action, ensuring that this initiative gathers momentum.
