Oceana Dives into the Oceans of Google Earth 6.0 to Explain Ocean Acidification - Oceana

Oceana Dives into the Oceans of Google Earth 6.0 to Explain Ocean Acidification

Press Release Date: November 29, 2010

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Anna Baxter | email: abaxter@oceana.org
Anna Baxter

Oceana has teamed up with Google to create a powerful new Google Earth 6.0 tour explaining ocean acidification. The new Google Earth 6.0 tour, entitled “Ocean Acid Test with Dr. Jeffrey Short” takes visitors through the ocean highlighting the impacts of ocean acidification, particularly the threat facing shell producing organisms, such as crab, lobster, and coral.

“Google Earth allows users to explore and learn about extraordinary places anywhere on earth or sea,” said Will Race, Pacific Communications Manager for Oceana.  “We appreciate Google’s commitment to ocean education and helping alert people about important ocean issues like acidification.”

The tour will be unveiled online November 29 at Google Earth’s Outreach homepage: http://www.google.com/landing/cop16/, and on December 1 at the booth sponsored by Google Earth at COP16 in Cancun, Mexico.  At COP16, which starts in Cancun on Monday, November 29, delegates from 192 countries will gather to tackle the enormous issues caused by climate change.  Along with the tour launch, Oceana will also be making a presentation to highlight the global threat of ocean acidification. The Ocean Acid Test tour will be available to delegates throughout the conference, and it is available on Google Earth’s Climate Change page: http://www.google.com/landing/cop16/climatetours.html#oceana and on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dvf2IvptJo

The joint effort is part of the Google Earth Outreach initiative, which gives non-profits and public benefit organizations the knowledge and resources they need to visualize their cause and tell their story in Google Earth & Maps to the hundreds of millions of people who use them.  The initiative has gathered information from dozens of organizations to create Google Earth tours that highlight a broad range of humanitarian, environmental, cultural and other global issues.

“Education and awareness are the first steps towards change, we are honored to stand with Google and ensure that we all move in the right direction towards a sustainable future with vibrant ocean ecosystems,” said Race.