Earth & Sky

Sylvia Earle speaks of global ‘hope spots’

Sylvia Earle: There are places around the planet that people recognize as “hot spots,” places of high diversity of life.

That’s Sylvia Earle, National Geographic explorer-in-residence and former Chief Scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Earle likes to call the world’s ‘hot spots’ ‘hope spots.’

Sylvia Earle: I refer to these places as ‘hope spots,’ because if we can embrace them and protect them, there is hope, not just for continuation of these wonderful, extraordinary places, but there’s hope then for humankind.

Earle recognizes the problems – the intense pressure on the oceans and its life from human activities, from overfishing, pollution and global warming. But Earle – who as a young woman gained fame for her deep sea diving – also recognizes our human connection to the sea.

Sylvia Earle: Every breath you take is connected to the ocean, because most of the oxygen in the atmosphere is generated by living systems out in the sea. With every drop of water you drink, you are connected to the ocean, because 97 percent of Earth’s water is out there in the sea, it goes into the atmosphere, into the clouds, falls back on land and sea, regenerates the water in lakes, rivers, and streams, rivers, springs, and ultimately that’s where our water comes from. Take care of the ocean, and it’ll take care of your self.