A new magazine aimed at children and celebrating the oceans has just been released. Sea Urchins magazine covers all aspects of sea life and conservation, the magazine offers an insight into oceans across the world and the different jobs people do. With information on marine species, diving and also fun games, tests and competitions, the magazine aims to spark a sense of adventure and curiosity in children, as well teaching them about the importance of sea conservation.

The design team at ARUP’s Foresight project has spent the last few years pondering that very question in the realm of pressing global issues. Each year the team picks a theme, and then spends a full year consulting leading experts and conducting workshops to understand that theme in a coherent and engaging manner. The project’s name is Drivers Of Change.

(photograph by Enric Sala)

This year, Foresight has focused on the world’s oceans, and has successfully identified 25 leading concerns that face the ocean, ranging from aquatic protein to access for leisure. To best display these problems, they’ve created a deck of cards, one for each problem.

To celebrate the completion of their year long investigation into the world’s oceans, Foresight teamed with MYOOZE Chris Luebkeman for a night of education and discussion. In addition to revealing the cards for Drivers of Change: Oceans, a collaborative film on ocean acidification, put together by Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Natural Environment Research Council, and the UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme.

As teachers and students prepare to go back to school, it’s worth remembering that we all have much to learn as experts continually advance knowledge that can help us preserve our most precious resources, like our oceans. Check out Foresight’s Drivers of Change: Oceans for an accessible an innovative way to stay informed in what truly matters for our oceans.

(Images courtesy of Paul Naylor)

It’s shocking to think that despite these declines, less than 0.001% of UK seas are currently protected from all damaging and degrading activities. If they are to recover and thrive; if they are to continue to provide us with the resources we depend on, we need to do better- we need a network of marine protected areas. These areas, offering protection to not just our most rare and fragile species but to the wide range of habitats and species found in UK seas are vital to give our seas the breathing space they need to recover. The Wildlife Trusts have launched a campaign- ‘Petition Fish’ in order to remind the UK and devolved governments of the importance of creating this network. They need as much support as possible to demonstrate the importance of healthy and well protected seas – that can continue to support the demands we place on them.

Stand up for UK seas- sign their petition online here or head to Wild Life Trusts and follow the link to National Marine Week to find out more about our marine events. Trusts across the UK will be carrying out activities from 30th July to 14th August so head on down to your local Trust to find out more about the marine environment and to sign to support UK seas.

‘Tales from the Deep’ was the final talk in Project Oceans’ stand out series, featuring Surfers for Sewage champion Chris Hines MBE, Philip Hoare, author of Leviathan, Willie Mackenzie from Greenpeace UK and David de Rothschild. The group of diverse speakers conveyed an inspiring passion for our oceans and discussed some of the serious issues faced by the big blue and her inhabitants. Click HERE to watch the video.

David de Rothschild at the Plastiki book signing Selfridges.

A standout feature of Project Ocean is the weekly talk series, held in the Ultralounge on Oxford Street every Thursday evening. Selfridges has teamed up with Intelligence Squared to help broadcast the weekly conversations, which predominantly focus on the various complexities of the world’s fish crisis. We’re proud to announce that the series concludes on June 2 with stories about the adventurous side of the ocean, featuring our own David de Rothschild.

David will precede the June 2 talk with a book signing at the Lower Ground Floor of Selfridge’s Bookshop, starting at 5:00pm, so come over to say hello if you happen to be in London. The book signing is a great opportunity to meet David, hear some up-close and personal stories from the Plastiki adventure and pick up a copy of the Plastiki book. After the signing, David will head over to the Ultralounge for “Tales From The Deep,” which runs from 7-8:30pm. Tickets for the speaking event are available through intelligencesquared.com, with all proceeds supporting ZSL.

If you can make it, an event like this is worth seeing in person. However if you’re not in the neighborhood we understand. Join us digitally through the Selfridges.com website.

We can’t wait for June 2nd, and we’d love to see you there. Meet David, get your copy of the book signed, and then marvel in an evening of storytelling from some of the world’s most exciting ocean adventurers.

—Mark Lukach

For World Water Day (March 22nd) MYOO Agency worked with Levi’s® to bring attention to the water crisis with a 100 person strong water march through NYC city as a part of their Water<Less campaign. Watch the video below to find out more and help spread the news by sharing it with your friends and contacts. You can make a real difference too. Levi’s® has pledged some 200 million litres of clean water to communities around the world to be released each time you visit their Facebook to play the Water Tank game.

David also mentioned the National Geographic film called ‘12,000 Bottle Boat’, which has been based on the Plastiki adventure and will be syndicated around the world. Log onto the National Geographic website for more information.

MYOO will be the new driving force behind our expeditions, adventures and a whole lot more besides. Our new site MYOO.com, is a launching pad for inspiration, storytelling and adventure. A social and environmental hybrid–half magazine, half blog covering all the latest news, trends, cool design, innovations, and in keeping with our Adventure Ecology ethos – your very own stories. We want to hear what you’re thinking, the great projects you’re working on or any exciting news you’ve heard.

Why? Because we believe in the power of collectivity to affect change. Nobody is as clever as everybody. And together we think we can build a smarter future, and best of all, have fun doing it. MYOO is all about ME+YOO, and during our Beta launch phase we’ll be asking a favour of you, our viewers, to give us your honest feedback, comments and suggestions to help us build and grow the site.

MYOO (rhymes with shoe, view & dew), is made up of four divisions:
MYOO.com.
MYOO Explore
MYOO Agency
MYOO Create
Each area shares the same aim to INSPIRE, INNOVATE AND ACTIVATE individuals, industry and organizations towards a smarter Planet 2.0 way of living. Today will mark the launch of MYOO.com., Explore and Agency, and within the next few months we’ll also be revealing our community platform MYOO Connect as well as a new and improved MYOO Create, which will be packed full of great competitions for you to get involved with.

It’s been a busy few months for the MYOO team and we hope you’re as excited as we are to be a part of our new MYOO adventure. So what are you waiting for? Get over to MYOO.com. and see what you think for yourself.

For regular updates from the MYOO team follow them on Twitter and Facebook

As we come close to Earth day 2011 we will be celebrating 8 days of Plastiki by sending out tips and starting conversations on what we can do to look after the natural wonders of our planet. Stay tuned to our Twitter feed and Facebook page.

We will also release the Plastiki book– ‘The Plastiki: Across the Pacific on Plastic: An Adventure to Save Our Oceans’ which charts the exciting voyage and gives readers the chance to find out more about the build, the expedition, the crew and the thinking behind this daring adventure.

David de Rothschild will be in New York on Earth Day at Paragon Sports where you’ll have the chance to stop by and meet the Plastiki’s expedition leader between 4pm and 5:30pm on Friday 22nd April, the first 50 guests will receive a poster and signed copy of the Plastiki book.

See you there and don’t forget to tell us what you’ll be doing this Earth Day!

Plastiki: Across the Pacific on Plastic: An Adventure to Save Our Oceans