Mary - Ventura, CA.: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 8:32AM PST (-0800 GMT)
To the general Pannel - Will California residents be able to give real input to the Conference. Should that be done through the web or by mail to NOAA?

Santa Barbara, Thomas - 12th grade: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 8:36AM PST (-0800 GMT)
We want to be able to swim in clean ocean water. Is part of the Conference going to work on the issue of clean coastal water?

Robert - Camarillo California: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 8:39AM PST (-0800 GMT)
We want to be able to swim in clean ocean water. Is part of the Conference going to work on the issue of clean coastal water?

Marcy : . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 8:40AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How do you suggest we increase general awareness of the publics responsibility / role in Coastal conservation issues.

Kym: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 8:42AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How can an individual, not an organization, get involved and have real impact?

silverlight: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 8:52AM PST (-0800 GMT)
how can I finish my masters degree when I am spending time as a rinky dink photographer?

: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 8:55AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Kathy (kmarkos@pe.net)--Is research being conducted on ways of cleaning up storm drain water before its released into the oceans?

elizabeth: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 9:04AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What is the mission of NOAA?

Jim J: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 9:06AM PST (-0800 GMT)
How do I sell the need for ocean preservation to desert dwellers, many of whom have never been to the ocean?

Kelly: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 9:08AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Is there a comprehensive list of coast/ocean related organizations who offer students the opportunity to volunteer/intern with them?

: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 9:20AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Cleaning up just our local oceans sounds like it could be an expensive endeavor. If we do not get the support of agriculture, state & local government, the federal government, and private industry, I see no way to make it work long-term. Do we lowly private citizens have a champion in the Clinton Administration or Congress that sees the need for a really comprehensive program that we can get behind? If not, how can we raise awareness of this issue so a politician or two will put some resources into it?

Timothy: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 9:20AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Does the movie or tv industry represent a potentially important tool for public education and public involvement in conservation issues.

Ocean_lover: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 9:36AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Why is it that the issue of ocean pollution has gotten so large as of date? Is the ocean worse off than say 20 years ago? Is much of the pollution problems due to other industrial or urban areas that have washed up on our shores here on the south coast by currents, or is the awareness just that much better? Really curious. Please mail me at:A HREF="button

Jim J jjones262@aol.com: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 9:38AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Resubmission ( with email address) How do I sell the need for ocean preservation to desert dwellers, many of whom have never been to the ocean?

sally r. - san diego: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 9:38AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What follow up to the conference will take place as far as public input in the weeks to come? Will there be other occasions to give input through the web? Will a report be generated from conference.

Mike in Santa Barbara: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 9:40AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Do you forsee a time in the future when management of our coasts will not be partitioned along jurisdictional lines separating marine waters from coastal watersheds? Could protected areas and related programs span across this "coastal zone?" What good is a nearshore marine reserve intended to protect biodiversity if it cannot be managed for protection against land-based pollution? I'm interested in what messages emerge from the conference that speak to these issues. Thank you.

: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 9:50AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Kathy (kmarkos@pe.net)--I think support from local, state, and national government is vital for funding to preserve the oceans. A powerful key to support is thru education of our youth. The are the future politicians, developers, and community members. When my students took a field trip to Anacapa Island, they were overwhelmingly moved about the beauty of the islands and the ocean. After seeing these islands, they realized the importance of preserving our oceans. It was all they could talk about on the trip back. How can we raise the awareness of the importance and beauty of the oceans for all students?

camp internet: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 9:55AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Kathy - do you have any comments or questions from your students that came up during this years studies of the coastal islands?

: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 10:02AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Kathy (kmarkos@pe.net)--Students expressed a large concern over preserving and protecting the islands and oceans. They felt state government should fund and create laws to protect the islands and oceans.

elizabeth: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 10:04AM PST (-0800 GMT)
I definitely feel the state government should be protecting the oceans and the islands. Are they not currently involved in that at all?

Margaret - 12 grade: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 10:12AM PST (-0800 GMT)
What laws are in place that folks should be aware of this year having to do with coastal issues

Linda Rollins: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 10:13AM PST (-0800 GMT)
I am a teacher in California, and in listening to your talks, am thinking that the public school systems represent an incredible EXISTING network of families that can be mobilized to address ocean issues. Milos and Sara - would you be interested in promoting a statewide program that gets families involved in ocean issues that then influence congress and state legislation ?

Splash: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 10:22AM PST (-0800 GMT)
When will people start to realize that the ocean as a whole, is a living organism? How can we teach children and adults to consider its health, like the life blood of our planet?

Paradise HomeSchool - santa barbara: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 10:24AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Did the past year of problems in the Clinton Administration (the legal problems) have an impact or are those problems having an impact on funding proposed by Clinton for Oceans programs?

RAIN team: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 10:25AM PST (-0800 GMT)
Jim J - your question was answered in the video broadcast - his answer to how desert dwellers can be taught to understand the ocean issues as relevant to them was to discuss the climate patterns that the oceans influence, and how that affects everyone around the world.

RAIN team: . . . . Wed, Jul 28, 10:29AM PST (-0800 GMT)
To Thomas, 12th grade - your question about efforts to clean the oceans was answered by Sally Yozel of NOAA ( National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ) - she said YES! keeping the ocean clean is one of the main goals that the 1,000 people at this conference are working on - both pollution from industries AND from what they are calling non-point pollution which is what each of us put into the rivers and storm drains that make their way to the sea.

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