Creating National Oceanic Policy

On May 11 at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, CLCV's Chief Executive Officer Warner Chabot moderated a panel entitled "Creating National Ocean Policy: Working to Protect Our Oceans and Resources."

In addition to Warner, who has also served as the Vice President of the Ocean Conservancy, the distinguished panel included:

• Sarah Chasis, Director of Ocean Initiative, Natural Resources Defense Council;
• Julie Packard, Executive Director, Monterey Bay Aquarium; and
• Michael Thuss, Director and Member, Texas Water Conservancy Association.

According to the Commonwealth Club: "The United States has ocean areas larger than any country in the world. The White House is considering a national policy to address the environmental and economic challenges that face our oceans, coastal states, communities, jobs and waterways."

The panelists' discussion was timely in light of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and today's public (and nauseating) blaming and finger-pointing during testimony before both the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works by Lamar McKay, President and Chairman of BP American, Steven Newman, President and Chief Executive Officer Transocean Limited, and Tim Probert, President of Global Business Lines and Chief Health, Safety and Environmental Officer of Halliburton.

The Commonwealth Club invited all to "join the panel to discuss this historical planning for the sustainability and health of our nation's oceans and resources -- for now and future generations."

If you didn't make it, don't worry: We'll report back with some highlights from this important conversation.