The Critical State of Our Oceans

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It covers two-thirds of our planet, is the primary food source for much of the world's population and drives planetary weather conditions, but there is growing concern over the health of our oceans. The problems of oceanic pollution and marine life degradation revealed by French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau 30 years ago seem quaint by comparison. Does the US Congress possess the political will to protect American fisheries? What are the ramifications of global warming and the melting of the polar ice caps? Are we slowly poisoning marine life and, in turn, ourselves, with a surge in chemical runoff? On the eve of Earth Day, guest host Conan Nolan explores the critical state of our oceans with environmentalists, marine ecologists, management strategists.Making News: Will Bush Bring Aid to California Levee Repairs?President Bush visits California to talk with hi-tech executives in Silicon Valley today and an Earth Day visit tomorrow to a hydrogen fuel-cell facility in Sacramento. There, he'll meet with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who's up for re-election but has shown no interest in seeking any administration help. In fact, the Governor has broken with the White House, particularly on disaster preparedness--and California's levee system. Political consultant Bill Bradley writes for the LA Weekly and publishes New West Notes. Reporter's Notebook: New Orleans Experiments with DemocracyNew Orleans has only a fraction of the population it had in the last mayoral race, but no shortage of candidates seeking to replace incumbent Ray Nagin in tomorrow's election. Gordon Russell, staff writer for the New Orleans Times-Picayune, which recently won two Pulitzer Prizes for its coverage of Hurricane Katrina, has more on the election and ongoing recovery efforts.
Guest host Conan Nolan is a reporter for KNBC in Los Angeles. He's covered national and local news stories since 1986, reporting on Capitol Hill, the Columbine massacre, the capture of "Unabomber" Ted Kaczinski, the infamous police chase of OJ Simpson, and the Loma Prieta-San Francisco earthquake.
Making News Resources:
  • Angelides gubernatorial campaign
  • Westly gubernatorial campaign
  • Schwarzenegger re-election campaign
  • Governor Schwarzenegger's Global Warming/Greenhouse Gas Initiative
  • Governor Schwarzenegger on repair of critical levee erosion sites

    • Main Segment Resources:
  • International Earth Day
  • US Commission on Ocean Policy
  • Pew Oceans Commission
  • Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act
  • HR 5030, to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Act
  • Monterey Aquarium's Seafood Watch
  • Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants


    • Reporter's Notebook Resources:
  • NOLA on New Orleans' election, candidates

    • Credits

    Host:

    Warren Olney