of all my childhood memories there is one that stands above the rest and that
one that stands above the rest and that
one that stands above the rest and that is the time that my brave parents rented
is the time that my brave parents rented
is the time that my brave parents rented an RV packed it with me and my brothers
an RV packed it with me and my brothers
an RV packed it with me and my brothers and drove West from our house in
and drove West from our house in
and drove West from our house in Minneapolis out to Yellowstone National
Minneapolis out to Yellowstone National
Minneapolis out to Yellowstone National Park we saw all the sights like the
Park we saw all the sights like the
Park we saw all the sights like the geysers we stopped at the Badlands but
geysers we stopped at the Badlands but
geysers we stopped at the Badlands but more than any of the places I remember
more than any of the places I remember
more than any of the places I remember this as an adventure this was my
this as an adventure this was my
this as an adventure this was my introduction to the Wild West but it
introduction to the Wild West but it
introduction to the Wild West but it wasn’t until I got older and I learned
wasn’t until I got older and I learned
wasn’t until I got older and I learned more about the National Park System that
more about the National Park System that
more about the National Park System that I realized just how lucky I was one to
I realized just how lucky I was one to
I realized just how lucky I was one to have that experience but also that
have that experience but also that
have that experience but also that hundreds of years ago people had the
hundreds of years ago people had the
hundreds of years ago people had the foresight to set aside the very best
foresight to set aside the very best
foresight to set aside the very best places the very best ecosystems in the
places the very best ecosystems in the
places the very best ecosystems in the country for everyone and for future
country for everyone and for future
country for everyone and for future generations and to really appreciate
generations and to really appreciate
generations and to really appreciate just how prescient that idea was you
just how prescient that idea was you
just how prescient that idea was you have to go back and you have to look at
have to go back and you have to look at
have to go back and you have to look at the history of the National Park Service
the history of the National Park Service
the history of the National Park Service so a lot of people know the first
so a lot of people know the first
so a lot of people know the first national park was Yellowstone in 1872 a
national park was Yellowstone in 1872 a
national park was Yellowstone in 1872 a lot of people think of John Muir the
lot of people think of John Muir the
lot of people think of John Muir the poet naturalist who was such a visionary
poet naturalist who was such a visionary
poet naturalist who was such a visionary and getting people inspired by the idea
and getting people inspired by the idea
and getting people inspired by the idea of conservation that we need to take the
of conservation that we need to take the
of conservation that we need to take the best places and protect them he had an
best places and protect them he had an
best places and protect them he had an audience in very high places so there’s
audience in very high places so there’s
audience in very high places so there’s a great story of Teddy Roosevelt and
a great story of Teddy Roosevelt and
a great story of Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir going hiking in Yosemite
John Muir going hiking in Yosemite
John Muir going hiking in Yosemite during his presidency four days
during his presidency four days
during his presidency four days completely off the grid jazz the two of
completely off the grid jazz the two of
completely off the grid jazz the two of them can you imagine a president
them can you imagine a president
them can you imagine a president actually just going completely off the
actually just going completely off the
actually just going completely off the grid for four days
grid for four days
grid for four days no tweeting like that idea but he had a
no tweeting like that idea but he had a
no tweeting like that idea but he had a great impact on Theodore Roosevelt and
great impact on Theodore Roosevelt and
great impact on Theodore Roosevelt and he created dozens of national parks
he created dozens of national parks
he created dozens of national parks hundreds of thousands of square acres of
hundreds of thousands of square acres of
hundreds of thousands of square acres of national wildlife refuges it was an
national wildlife refuges it was an
national wildlife refuges it was an important administration but it wasn’t a
important administration but it wasn’t a
important administration but it wasn’t a done deal
done deal
done deal even in the year the you know less than
even in the year the you know less than
even in the year the you know less than ten years after he created all of those
ten years after he created all of those
ten years after he created all of those new places the future of those places
new places the future of those places
new places the future of those places was very much in doubt and it wasn’t
was very much in doubt and it wasn’t
was very much in doubt and it wasn’t until this guy Stephen Mather a
until this guy Stephen Mather a
until this guy Stephen Mather a businessman from Chicago wrote an angry
businessman from Chicago wrote an angry
businessman from Chicago wrote an angry letter to the Department of the Interior
letter to the Department of the Interior
letter to the Department of the Interior saying you guys aren’t doing a good
saying you guys aren’t doing a good
saying you guys aren’t doing a good enough job protecting and preserving
enough job protecting and preserving
enough job protecting and preserving these places that something was done
these places that something was done
these places that something was done about it
about it
about it the Department of the Interior wrote him
the Department of the Interior wrote him
the Department of the Interior wrote him back mr. Mather if you care so much
back mr. Mather if you care so much
back mr. Mather if you care so much about this why don’t you come to
about this why don’t you come to
about this why don’t you come to Washington and do it yourself
Washington and do it yourself
Washington and do it yourself and he did he took a job at the
and he did he took a job at the
and he did he took a job at the Department of the Interior but more
Department of the Interior but more
Department of the Interior but more importantly he started a campaign he
importantly he started a campaign he
importantly he started a campaign he actually had a meeting two blocks from
actually had a meeting two blocks from
actually had a meeting two blocks from here in 1914 in California Hall and he
here in 1914 in California Hall and he
here in 1914 in California Hall and he brought together the park
brought together the park
brought together the park superintendents and a few other people
superintendents and a few other people
superintendents and a few other people who cared about this idea of
who cared about this idea of
who cared about this idea of conservation and they put together a
conservation and they put together a
conservation and they put together a plan they hatched a campaign that
plan they hatched a campaign that
plan they hatched a campaign that eventually led to the National Park
eventually led to the National Park
eventually led to the National Park Service in 1916 and that’s really
Service in 1916 and that’s really
Service in 1916 and that’s really important because it went from an idea
important because it went from an idea
important because it went from an idea that we should protect these places to
that we should protect these places to
that we should protect these places to an actual plan a way for people to
an actual plan a way for people to
an actual plan a way for people to enlist and carry that idea forward for
enlist and carry that idea forward for
enlist and carry that idea forward for future generations so little kids like
future generations so little kids like
future generations so little kids like me can go and have these amazing
me can go and have these amazing
me can go and have these amazing experiences that is the history of the
experiences that is the history of the
experiences that is the history of the national parks on land the ocean what I
national parks on land the ocean what I
national parks on land the ocean what I want to talk to you about today is a
want to talk to you about today is a
want to talk to you about today is a completely different story and we are
completely different story and we are
completely different story and we are almost precisely a hundred years behind
almost precisely a hundred years behind
almost precisely a hundred years behind so the first Marine Sanctuary was in
so the first Marine Sanctuary was in
so the first Marine Sanctuary was in 1972 after the California oil spill in
1972 after the California oil spill in
1972 after the California oil spill in Santa Barbara people got interested in
Santa Barbara people got interested in
Santa Barbara people got interested in taking that concept in applying it to
taking that concept in applying it to
taking that concept in applying it to underwater environments we’ve had
underwater environments we’ve had
underwater environments we’ve had our own John Muir who’s dr. Sylvia Earle
our own John Muir who’s dr. Sylvia Earle
our own John Muir who’s dr. Sylvia Earle who’s been a tireless advocate for
who’s been a tireless advocate for
who’s been a tireless advocate for creating these marine protected areas
creating these marine protected areas
creating these marine protected areas around the world so I know there’s a lot
around the world so I know there’s a lot
around the world so I know there’s a lot of bad news about the ocean there’s
of bad news about the ocean there’s
of bad news about the ocean there’s plastic pollution coral bleaching
plastic pollution coral bleaching
plastic pollution coral bleaching overfishing it’s hard to take it all in
overfishing it’s hard to take it all in
overfishing it’s hard to take it all in sometimes but this idea of setting aside
sometimes but this idea of setting aside
sometimes but this idea of setting aside places for nature is working science
places for nature is working science
places for nature is working science tells us that if you set these places
tells us that if you set these places
tells us that if you set these places aside nature will come back and we can
aside nature will come back and we can
aside nature will come back and we can keep the oceans healthy so we know this
keep the oceans healthy so we know this
keep the oceans healthy so we know this idea works and dr. Sylvia Earle has been
idea works and dr. Sylvia Earle has been
idea works and dr. Sylvia Earle has been influential like John Muir with
influential like John Muir with
influential like John Muir with administrations George W Bush and Obama
administrations George W Bush and Obama
administrations George W Bush and Obama were both fantastic ocean presidents
were both fantastic ocean presidents
were both fantastic ocean presidents creating marine protected areas all
creating marine protected areas all
creating marine protected areas all around the country this is not a
around the country this is not a
around the country this is not a conservative idea or a liberal idea it’s
conservative idea or a liberal idea it’s
conservative idea or a liberal idea it’s not even an American idea it’s just a
not even an American idea it’s just a
not even an American idea it’s just a good idea but but here we are a few
good idea but but here we are a few
good idea but but here we are a few years later and now the administration
years later and now the administration
years later and now the administration is proposing to roll back a lot of the
is proposing to roll back a lot of the
is proposing to roll back a lot of the progress we’ve made in the past 20 years
progress we’ve made in the past 20 years
progress we’ve made in the past 20 years so so don’t warn organize we need to do
so so don’t warn organize we need to do
so so don’t warn organize we need to do what Stephen Mather did a hundred years
what Stephen Mather did a hundred years
what Stephen Mather did a hundred years ago we need to start a campaign to get
ago we need to start a campaign to get
ago we need to start a campaign to get people engaged with this idea and I
people engaged with this idea and I
people engaged with this idea and I think we need a League of citizen
think we need a League of citizen
think we need a League of citizen scientists for the ocean and I’ve seen
scientists for the ocean and I’ve seen
scientists for the ocean and I’ve seen glimpses of this future and I know that
glimpses of this future and I know that
glimpses of this future and I know that it’s possible my friend Eric and I
it’s possible my friend Eric and I
it’s possible my friend Eric and I started building underwater robots these
started building underwater robots these
started building underwater robots these little swimming cameras with lights that
little swimming cameras with lights that
little swimming cameras with lights that you can see underwater we started
you can see underwater we started
you can see underwater we started building these in his garage five years
building these in his garage five years
building these in his garage five years ago and we’ve watched that grow into
ago and we’ve watched that grow into
ago and we’ve watched that grow into this community of thousands of people
this community of thousands of people
this community of thousands of people around the world who believe that
around the world who believe that
around the world who believe that everybody should have access to these
everybody should have access to these
everybody should have access to these places we all deserve the tools to go
places we all deserve the tools to go
places we all deserve the tools to go and explore our stories like Laura James
and explore our stories like Laura James
and explore our stories like Laura James who used her robot to find out that sea
who used her robot to find out that sea
who used her robot to find out that sea stars in her area were dying and she
stars in her area were dying and she
stars in her area were dying and she started this whole citizen science
started this whole citizen science
started this whole citizen science campaign collected data and drove
campaign collected data and drove
campaign collected data and drove awareness for sea star wasting symptoms
awareness for sea star wasting symptoms
awareness for sea star wasting symptoms to try and figure out what was happening
to try and figure out what was happening
to try and figure out what was happening there there’s stories of fishermen in
there there’s stories of fishermen in
there there’s stories of fishermen in Mexico who used the robot to create
Mexico who used the robot to create
Mexico who used the robot to create marine protected areas where NASA
marine protected areas where NASA
marine protected areas where NASA grouper were spawning too
grouper were spawning too
grouper were spawning too the future of this species it’s really
the future of this species it’s really
the future of this species it’s really amazing stuff we found that if you give
amazing stuff we found that if you give
amazing stuff we found that if you give people the tools they’ll do the right
people the tools they’ll do the right
people the tools they’ll do the right thing but we need to take it a step
thing but we need to take it a step
thing but we need to take it a step further and actually I think we can dust
further and actually I think we can dust
further and actually I think we can dust off Stephen Mathers playbook so what did
off Stephen Mathers playbook so what did
off Stephen Mathers playbook so what did he do so the first thing that he did was
he do so the first thing that he did was
he do so the first thing that he did was he focused on infrastructure so 1914
he focused on infrastructure so 1914
he focused on infrastructure so 1914 wasn’t just a time for the parks it was
wasn’t just a time for the parks it was
wasn’t just a time for the parks it was also a time for the automobile the Model
also a time for the automobile the Model
also a time for the automobile the Model T was rolling off the line and Stephen
T was rolling off the line and Stephen
T was rolling off the line and Stephen Mather understood that this was going to
Mather understood that this was going to
Mather understood that this was going to be an important part of American culture
be an important part of American culture
be an important part of American culture and so we partnered with Highway
and so we partnered with Highway
and so we partnered with Highway associations around the country to build
associations around the country to build
associations around the country to build big beautiful highways out to these
big beautiful highways out to these
big beautiful highways out to these parks and it worked these basically
parks and it worked these basically
parks and it worked these basically invented car camping and people he knew
invented car camping and people he knew
invented car camping and people he knew that if people didn’t go to these places
that if people didn’t go to these places
that if people didn’t go to these places that they wouldn’t fall in love with him
that they wouldn’t fall in love with him
that they wouldn’t fall in love with him and they wouldn’t care so that was a
and they wouldn’t care so that was a
and they wouldn’t care so that was a really insightful idea that he had a
really insightful idea that he had a
really insightful idea that he had a second thing they did was they focused
second thing they did was they focused
second thing they did was they focused on visionary philanthropy so Stephen
on visionary philanthropy so Stephen
on visionary philanthropy so Stephen Mather was a successful businessman from
Mather was a successful businessman from
Mather was a successful businessman from Chicago and any time there was a parks
Chicago and any time there was a parks
Chicago and any time there was a parks association that needed funding anytime
association that needed funding anytime
association that needed funding anytime there was a highway association any
there was a highway association any
there was a highway association any funding they’d step in write the checks
funding they’d step in write the checks
funding they’d step in write the checks make it happen
make it happen
make it happen there’s a great story of his friend
there’s a great story of his friend
there’s a great story of his friend William Kent who recognized that there
William Kent who recognized that there
William Kent who recognized that there was a small patch of redwoods left on
was a small patch of redwoods left on
was a small patch of redwoods left on the base of Mount Tam and so he quickly
the base of Mount Tam and so he quickly
the base of Mount Tam and so he quickly bought up the land and donated it to
bought up the land and donated it to
bought up the land and donated it to this national parks effort that’s muir
this national parks effort that’s muir
this national parks effort that’s muir woods today it’s one of most popular
woods today it’s one of most popular
woods today it’s one of most popular national parks in the whole country my
national parks in the whole country my
national parks in the whole country my parents are visiting here from Minnesota
parents are visiting here from Minnesota
parents are visiting here from Minnesota and they don’t really even care about
and they don’t really even care about
and they don’t really even care about this talk they just all they’re talking
this talk they just all they’re talking
this talk they just all they’re talking about is going to muir woods but the
about is going to muir woods but the
about is going to muir woods but the last thing is critical is Stephen Mather
last thing is critical is Stephen Mather
last thing is critical is Stephen Mather focused on engagement in one of the
focused on engagement in one of the
focused on engagement in one of the first meetings that they had around this
first meetings that they had around this
first meetings that they had around this new system he said if you’re a writer I
new system he said if you’re a writer I
new system he said if you’re a writer I want you to write about this if you’re a
want you to write about this if you’re a
want you to write about this if you’re a business owner I want you to tell your
business owner I want you to tell your
business owner I want you to tell your clubs and your organizations if you work
clubs and your organizations if you work
clubs and your organizations if you work for the government I want you to pass
for the government I want you to pass
for the government I want you to pass regulation everybody had a job each of
regulation everybody had a job each of
regulation everybody had a job each of you all of you have a role to play in
you all of you have a role to play in
you all of you have a role to play in protecting these places for future
protecting these places for future
protecting these places for future generations each of you all of you I
generations each of you all of you I
generations each of you all of you I love that that’s the plan simple
love that that’s the plan simple
love that that’s the plan simple three-point plan
three-point plan
three-point plan I think we can do the same so this was
I think we can do the same so this was
I think we can do the same so this was the headline when Obama created a pop up
the headline when Obama created a pop up
the headline when Obama created a pop up the papahanaumokuakea National Monument
the papahanaumokuakea National Monument
the papahanaumokuakea National Monument lots to see but good luck trying to get
lots to see but good luck trying to get
lots to see but good luck trying to get there but like Mather we should focus on
there but like Mather we should focus on
there but like Mather we should focus on the technology of our time all of this
the technology of our time all of this
the technology of our time all of this new amazing digital infrastructure can
new amazing digital infrastructure can
new amazing digital infrastructure can be built to engage people with the
be built to engage people with the
be built to engage people with the oceans so there’s the National Marine
oceans so there’s the National Marine
oceans so there’s the National Marine Sanctuary has created all these
Sanctuary has created all these
Sanctuary has created all these wonderful VR 360 videos where you can
wonderful VR 360 videos where you can
wonderful VR 360 videos where you can actually go and see what these places
actually go and see what these places
actually go and see what these places look like our team is continuing to
look like our team is continuing to
look like our team is continuing to build new tools this is our latest this
build new tools this is our latest this
build new tools this is our latest this is the Trident underwater drone it’s a
is the Trident underwater drone it’s a
is the Trident underwater drone it’s a diving submarine it’s sleek you can fit
diving submarine it’s sleek you can fit
diving submarine it’s sleek you can fit it in a backpack you can go down to a
it in a backpack you can go down to a
it in a backpack you can go down to a hundred meters deeper than most divers
hundred meters deeper than most divers
hundred meters deeper than most divers can go and they can see these
can go and they can see these
can go and they can see these environments that most people have never
environments that most people have never
environments that most people have never had access to new tools are coming and
had access to new tools are coming and
had access to new tools are coming and we need even better tools we can also
we need even better tools we can also
we need even better tools we can also use more visionary philanthropists so
use more visionary philanthropists so
use more visionary philanthropists so when Eric and I started this we didn’t
when Eric and I started this we didn’t
when Eric and I started this we didn’t have any money we were building this in
have any money we were building this in
have any money we were building this in his garage but we went to Kickstarter
his garage but we went to Kickstarter
his garage but we went to Kickstarter and we found over 1,800 people almost a
and we found over 1,800 people almost a
and we found over 1,800 people almost a million dollars we’ve raised on
million dollars we’ve raised on
million dollars we’ve raised on Kickstarter finding other people who
Kickstarter finding other people who
Kickstarter finding other people who think yeah
think yeah
think yeah that’s a good idea I want to be a part
that’s a good idea I want to be a part
that’s a good idea I want to be a part of that we need more i more ways of
of that we need more i more ways of
of that we need more i more ways of people to get engaged and become
people to get engaged and become
people to get engaged and become visionary philanthropists themselves
visionary philanthropists themselves
visionary philanthropists themselves we’ve also had traditional
we’ve also had traditional
we’ve also had traditional philanthropists who have stepped up to
philanthropists who have stepped up to
philanthropists who have stepped up to fund us in the sea initiative the
fund us in the sea initiative the
fund us in the sea initiative the science education and exploration we’re
science education and exploration we’re
science education and exploration we’re gonna help us get donated units out to
gonna help us get donated units out to
gonna help us get donated units out to people on the front lines people who are
people on the front lines people who are
people on the front lines people who are doing the science people who are telling
doing the science people who are telling
doing the science people who are telling the stories inspiring communities you
the stories inspiring communities you
the stories inspiring communities you can go on to open explore calm and see
can go on to open explore calm and see
can go on to open explore calm and see what people are doing it’s hugely
what people are doing it’s hugely
what people are doing it’s hugely inspirational and it’ll also hopefully
inspirational and it’ll also hopefully
inspirational and it’ll also hopefully spur you to get involved because there
spur you to get involved because there
spur you to get involved because there is plenty of room to get involved we
is plenty of room to get involved we
is plenty of room to get involved we want to hear what you what ideas you
want to hear what you what ideas you
want to hear what you what ideas you have for telling these stories because
have for telling these stories because
have for telling these stories because that’s just it this is all about
that’s just it this is all about
that’s just it this is all about engagement there’s all sorts of
engagement there’s all sorts of
engagement there’s all sorts of interesting new ways for people to
interesting new ways for people to
interesting new ways for people to participate in the protection of these
participate in the protection of these
participate in the protection of these places and the understanding like reef
places and the understanding like reef
places and the understanding like reef check scuba divers are going down in
check scuba divers are going down in
check scuba divers are going down in swimming transects and counting fish
swimming transects and counting fish
swimming transects and counting fish biodiversity data they’re getting the
biodiversity data they’re getting the
biodiversity data they’re getting the information we need to protect these
information we need to protect these
information we need to protect these places if you’re going down to the beach
places if you’re going down to the beach
places if you’re going down to the beach participate in MPA watch document what
participate in MPA watch document what
participate in MPA watch document what activities you see going on in these
activities you see going on in these
activities you see going on in these different areas there is room for
different areas there is room for
different areas there is room for everybody to participate here and that’s
everybody to participate here and that’s
everybody to participate here and that’s just it that’s what we need we need to
just it that’s what we need we need to
just it that’s what we need we need to build a future for our grandkids
build a future for our grandkids
build a future for our grandkids grandkids I last month I went out
grandkids I last month I went out
grandkids I last month I went out sailing in we got out to the Farallon
sailing in we got out to the Farallon
sailing in we got out to the Farallon Islands 25 miles off the gate and most
Islands 25 miles off the gate and most
Islands 25 miles off the gate and most people think of this as a kind of a bird
people think of this as a kind of a bird
people think of this as a kind of a bird sanctuary but we took our robot and we
sanctuary but we took our robot and we
sanctuary but we took our robot and we sent it in
sent it in
sent it in and the people on the boat were
and the people on the boat were
and the people on the boat were astonished at the life beneath the
astonished at the life beneath the
astonished at the life beneath the surface I mean these are really really
surface I mean these are really really
surface I mean these are really really important ecosystems really it this is a
important ecosystems really it this is a
important ecosystems really it this is a whole wild world we haven’t yet explored
whole wild world we haven’t yet explored
whole wild world we haven’t yet explored and we have an opportunity right now
and we have an opportunity right now
and we have an opportunity right now just as they did a hundred years ago to
just as they did a hundred years ago to
just as they did a hundred years ago to protect these places to put in a plan
protect these places to put in a plan
protect these places to put in a plan that keep people engaged so last year
that keep people engaged so last year
that keep people engaged so last year when the executive order came out
when the executive order came out
when the executive order came out putting all of the progress we’ve made
putting all of the progress we’ve made
putting all of the progress we’ve made all of these new marine protected areas
all of these new marine protected areas
all of these new marine protected areas under review there were over a hundred
under review there were over a hundred
under review there were over a hundred thousand people who commented online
thousand people who commented online
thousand people who commented online almost all of these letters were saying
almost all of these letters were saying
almost all of these letters were saying don’t do it this protecting these places
don’t do it this protecting these places
don’t do it this protecting these places is the right thing to do my message to
is the right thing to do my message to
is the right thing to do my message to those hundred thousand people those
those hundred thousand people those
those hundred thousand people those hundred thousand letters is don’t wait
hundred thousand letters is don’t wait
hundred thousand letters is don’t wait for Washington we can do this ourselves
for Washington we can do this ourselves
for Washington we can do this ourselves thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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