Learn about the issues that affect you, your world and your "blue backyard" – our ocean.

• Link and learn. An informed citizen is a powerful citizen. Become "ocean aware" by visiting The Ocean Project's Resource Center to find some of the planet's best websites for in-depth information on the major issues, such as water conservation, global warming, and fisheries conservation, affecting you and our ocean planet.
  
  
• Go straight to the source. If science is your thing, you can access an extensive listing related to the issues by visiting SeaWeb's Ocean Citations. There you can find listings of recent scientific articles covering all aspects of the ocean.
  
  
• Check out the "Ocean Book of the Month." To some it may be a novel idea to visit your local library but the reference librarian will have good ideas, or check out our "Ocean Book of the Month". Each month in 2006, we will suggest a book that you may want to read. If you are interested in buying a book, please consider linking from the "Ocean Book of the Month" web page and purchasing through an independent bookstore, to support them and also so we will receive a small commission to help us continue our educational work around the world.
  
  
• Watch and learn. In addition to the classics with Jacques Cousteau, you can go deeper underwater with the help of a variety of new visual media programs available to inform and inspire. The Ocean Resource Center lists some of the best visual media.

Take The Seven C's Pledge!

Nearly one out of four Americans cite “forgetting” as the reason why they do not choose environmentally-friendly options in their day-to-day decisions. Your daily actions really do affect our ocean — this month, make that effect a positive one. Take the Pledge today!

Most conservation-oriented groups rely on members, donors, and volunteers.

• Join! Become a member of your local zoo, aquarium, science museum, or nature center. Explore and appreciate your local parks and other wild areas but also visit and join one of these educational institutions. They offer programs for children, families, and individuals and are increasingly addressing pressing conservation issues in your community and around the world.
  
  
• Donate! Your favorite nonprofit aquatic or ocean conservation organization will likely appreciate any contribution, be it money or supplies. For those in North America, find an organization involved in The Ocean Project's network. Many of these groups survive on relatively little funding, so your contribution will help to keep them ‘afloat'! For an unbiased financial overview of many nonprofit organizations, visit Guidestar.
  
  
• Volunteer! Your skills and time can greatly benefit nonprofit organizations. Whatever your passions or skills, you can volunteer a little or a lot - every bit helps. You'll meet interesting people, too. Contact a local organization today to see how you can start taking action to protect our ocean - no matter if you live in Minneapolis or Miami, St. Louis or San Francisco, we're all connected to the ocean!
  
  
  • Choose an Ocean Project partner organization. Hundreds of groups are involved with The Ocean Project and many can use volunteer help.
    
    
  • Visit Volunteermatch. It's a popular Internet service that has become a volunteer recruiting tool for more than 37,000 nonprofit organizations.
    
    
  • Contact The Ocean Project. No matter where you live, you can help. We would appreciate any help with translating our information; fundraising; marketing our message; serving as a community contact; researching and writing conservation action fact sheets; developing new conservation tips; and more.