State of the Oceans Summit II - DEMA Las vegas

[oceanrealm]

Greetings Everyone -

Though we are starting a little late (here in Florida we are dealing
with one Hurricane after another!), we are still planning to organize
the SOSII program.

In addition to having the one-day summit we are holding two prime
exhibit spaces in order to provide an SOS presence throughout the four-
day DEMA convention.

Participating SOS organizations will be provided with show
credentials, equal display space, an in-booth presence, materials
distribution and a database of visitors to the booth, In addition,
participating organizations have first option for presentations during
the one-day summit (Sat, Oct 25th)

Last year's summit contribution fee was $300 - this year, to cover the
booth costs - the fee is $500. Please contact me at
Sum...@StateOfTheOceans.com or call 352-817-5893 if you or your
organization are willing to contribute to the SOSII expenses.

GOOD NEWS! We are happy to announce that we recently met with Stan
Waterman (during the Celebrate the Sea event in the Philippines) and
has tentatively agreed to participate with SOSII as a speaker!

We look forward to hearing from each and every one of you.

Regards,
Richard Stewart
State Of The Oceans

[ru...@zandavisitor.com]

Richard,

You and the rest of the shark conservationists have no business being
in Vegas when new fishing regulations are being negotiated in the EU
in December. Every shark group should be in Europe right now lobbying
the EU fisheries ministers for serious verification and enforcement
regulations.

The EU fishing fleets are sweeping the Atlantic clean and violating
all of the preset quota limits without penalty.

Having Sonja and others show up at the 11th hour to generate press
releases does not and is not helping the plight of sharks.

Rudy

[oceanrealm]

Hi Rudy -

Can't say I disagree with you to a point but I am sure the cost of
going to Europe - the flight, accommodations, meals, transportation,
etc - is more than many of us can manage in these economic times. If
we had contact information I am sure we can launch a flurry of online
protests.

Meanwhile, DEMA is a venue where many of our environmental
organizations have an opportunity to personally reach hundreds of like-
minded, ocean people that we need in our camps. The more people we can
recruit as "environmental foot soldiers" the better. Dive store owners
influence thousands of people each year - more than we can on our own.

As I see it - both of these events/issues need be met.

Richard
Ocean Realm Society

> > State Of The Oceans- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Peter Symes]

I think this critism is way out of line

How about giving Richard a little credit here?

Richard is IN the States and the business he - and probably others - can
contribute with is to promote the cause whereever he goes and where his
bread and butter business takes him. That includes DEMA in Las Vegas.

Flying to Europe is going to cost him airfares, hotels and what not - at
least a couple of grand USD which could be much wiser spent on other and
more important matters than transportation - not to mention a contribution
to the greenhouse gases. And who is going to foot those expenses in the
first place? Richard's personal piggy bank?

We all work on a volunteer basis and have to make good and work within the
means we have.

You may disagree with other peoples' methods but this kind of internal
bickering does not serve the cause. But point your gunsights towards someone
who deserve it instead of blasting colleagues for what you percieve as a
less than optimal strategy.

Best regards

Peter Symes

--------------------------------------------------
Peter Symes
Editor-in-Chief & Publisher
X-Ray International Dive Magazine
www.xray-mag.com

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17:03

[The Sharkman]

Dear Friends.

It seams to me that Rudy is very little aware of what is going on in Europe
and the EU and who is doing what.

First of all, as I type this European shark groups all over Europe are and
have been Lobbying their respective Governments and EU members for better
and stricter fishing regulations. Over 52 organizations also form part of
the International Shark Alliance which is based in Brussels and of whom one
of its top representatives is in fact Oceana's Sonja Fordham. Sonja has been
living in Brussels for the last couple of years and is in daily contact with
EU officials. If it was not for the work being done by The Shark Alliance,
the EU would not be working on its new Shark Action Plan.

Also Shark Alliance and its members organizations will in fact be holding
the Second European Shark Week between 11 -19 October, with events taking
place all over Europe. These events will also be targeting another petition
signing which will be sent to respective governments and the EU. More
information can be found www.sharkalliance.org

I would strongly suggest that Rudy does some proper research before posting.

Shark Powered

The Sharkman

Sharkman's World Organization
(to save & protect sharks)
www.sharkmans-world.org
-------------------------------------------------------
Sharkman's Blog
http://sharkmans-world.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
The Shark Group On line List Forum
http://groups.google.com/group/The_Shark_Group?hl=en
-------------------------------------------------------
Let Sharks Live Network
http://groups.google.com.mt/group/let-sharks-live?hl=en

----- Original Message -----
From: <ru...@zandavisitor.com>
To: "RespectProtectSharks" <respectpro...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 2:15 PM
Subject: Re: State of the Oceans Summit II - DEMA Las vegas

[The Sharkman]

Sorry to get on this issue again, but in the haste to respond to Rudy, I myself made an error. What I meant to say was that Sonja does  NOT work for Oceana, but rather the Shark Alliance and Ocean Conservancy. 

 

Also Rudy doesn't seem to understand that the problem is not that the EU is violating "preset" quotas but rather that there are no international shark quotas and only a few EU shark quotas - all of which are set too high.

 

 

Shark Powered
 
The Sharkman
 
Sharkman's World Organization
(to save & protect sharks)
www.sharkmans-world.org
-------------------------------------------------------
Sharkman's Blog
http://sharkmans-world.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
The Shark Group On line List Forum
http://groups.google.com/group/The_Shark_Group?hl=en
-------------------------------------------------------
Let Sharks Live Network
http://groups.google.com.mt/group/let-sharks-live?hl=en

-------------------------------------------------------
 

----- Original Message -----

From: <ru...@zandavisitor.com>

To: "RespectProtectSharks" <respectpro...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 2:15 PM

Subject: Re: State of the Oceans Summit II - DEMA Las vegas

[ru...@zandavisitor.com]

Alex,

There is a big difference between having a group with members who are
great grassroot organizers and publicity generators versus having
Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd, WWE, NRDC, OC and many of the other big NGOs
send in their lobbyists for a 3-4 month stint working on the EU
ministries. Shark Alliance is a great group led by Sonja whose salary
is paid primarily by OC. Sonja's skills and the efforts of this group
can serve a very effective purpose in applying pressure once lobbying
is done.

For those who don't understand what lobbyists do. It is not just
persuading people that something is right. Most lobbyists are lawyers
and they actually write the laws. They write a draft copy and then
run it past the person who will sponsor it and his/her allies. Then
they take this bill and run it past those who would be opposed. The
lobbyist negotiates with the opposition to see what language changes
they can make to the bill to see how much of the bill's intent has to
be given away to insure passage. Sometimes this requires surveying
the opposition to see who is hard and firm and who has some
flexibility.

For the most part, lawmakers do not write, lobby or obtain votes for
laws, that is what the lobbyists do. Lawmakers sponsor and vote on
laws. Before and after the laws are passed, lawmakers take full
credit for everything.

Getting an issue passed when there is no opposition is almost a no-
brainer compared to when there is opposition and lobbying is needed.

Lobbying and negotiating takes time and there is only 10 weeks or so
before proposals are presented and voted on.

Shark Alliance is a collection of very effective and passionate folks
with real strenghth in grass roots marketing. However, another
group(s) needs to write and negotiate the verification and enforcement
laws.

And it need to be lobbyists who are killed at and understand the
nuances of getting this accomplished.

Last, but most important, it costs money and the only folks who have
the skilled staff and finances to accomplish this are the large
NGOs.

I hope Shark Alliance does not allow their egos to get in the way of
evualating what their strengths and weaknesses are.

My problem with NGOs is that last year the small commercial fishermen
contact all of the large NGOs and asked for lobbying help. None was
offered and another year has passed with no shark protection. So far,
none of the big NGOs have sent in their lobbying teams to meet with
the fisheries ministers.

I wish everyone in Europe would quit using Sonja as an example that
the big NGOs care and are working on the problem. She is a public
relations person whose speciality is generating publicity. She is the
best there is in the shark industry. However, she is NOT a lobbyist.

Sonja is the perfect example that the large NGOs have not made sharks
a priority and have a publicist working on their behalf instead of
lobbying team.

Rudy

On Sep 19, 2:17 pm, The Sharkman <sharkma...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear Friends.
>
> It seams to me that Rudy is very little aware of what is going on in Europe
> and the EU and who is doing what.
>
> First of all, as I type this European shark groups all over Europe are and
> have been Lobbying their respective Governments and EU members for better
> and stricter fishing regulations. Over 52 organizations also form part of
> the International Shark Alliance which is based in Brussels and of whom one
> of its top representatives is in fact Oceana's Sonja Fordham. Sonja has been
> living in Brussels for the last couple of years and is in daily contact with
> EU officials. If it was not for the work being done by The Shark Alliance,
> the EU would not be working on its new Shark Action Plan.
>
> Also Shark Alliance and its members organizations will in fact be holding
> the Second European Shark Week between 11 -19 October, with events taking
> place all over Europe. These events will also be targeting another petition
> signing which will be sent to respective governments and the EU.  More
> information can be foundwww.sharkalliance.org
>
> I would strongly suggest that Rudy does some proper research before posting.
>
> Shark Powered
>
> The Sharkman
>
> Sharkman's World Organization
> (to save & protect sharks)www.sharkmans-world.org
> -------------------------------------------------------

> Sharkman's Bloghttp://sharkmans-world.blogspot.com/
> -------------------------------------------------------
> The Shark Group On line List Forumhttp://groups.google.com/group/The_Shark_Group?hl=en
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Let Sharks Live Networkhttp://groups.google.com.mt/group/let-sharks-live?hl=en

[jup...@gmail.com]

Dear Richard,
if I can help out with $ 200 again as I did for Sharkprotect.com
last year, please let me know. I would be happy to help.
Best regards,
Jupp Kerckerinck
www.sharkprotect.com

On Aug 31, 10:01 am, oceanrealm <oceanre...@gmail.com> wrote:

[oceanrealm]

Jupp -

As with last year we GREATLY appreciate your support. I will, this
week, determine what can best be accomplished with the summit.

As you may have read, I felt that if we had 10 organizations
contributing $350 we could have a physical presence on the show floor
with representation for all. Thousands of people in the dive industry
are not familiar with many of the organizations and thier goals. Being
on the floor would show a united effort to influence those who make an
income from a prestine ocean and marine life protection.

My isea was to then rent a small meeting room at the hotel in a round
table configuation so as to accommodate an afternoon ggroup
discussion. We can do short presentations as well but the effort is to
create organization to organization dialog.

DEMA has again declined to support these non-profit organizations -
neither with a co-op booth, a discount or payment terms for the
reserved booths, nor with providing us with a meeting place.

It is obvious that as a result of the continued decline for support
for this SUMMIT, we should become much more pro-active with this event
and stand fast to expose the horror's that are taking place with the
gaol of recruiting the grass roots foot shoulders of DEMA member. I
truely believe these peolpe doo care, do know some of the issues and
would be ready to support our co-operative efforts if we could reach
out and touch them personally - not via email and print mail.

If there is anyone else that will join Marie Levine and Jupp to
support our efforts - please step forward. The show space is $3,500
and a meeting space around $500!

$400 x ten organizations - $200 x 20.

I have to the day of the show to porduce a certified check or - no
display.

Thanks for your support.

Richard Stewart

State of the Oceans Summit