HopeSpots to HopeScapes by Land and Sea

My dear friend and tireless advocate for our oceans, Dr Sylvia Earle is aon a blue mission to connect the dots around the world in a mosaic of hope spots where oceans get to be oceans: wild, free, abundant, diverse, healthy.

Her vision, called Mission Blue and supported by the prestigious TED Prize, is to create Hope Spots throughout the world's oceans.

I love the idea and propose the concept of HopeScapes. Because language matters.

Just as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch isn't a "patch", it's a massive swath of high seas plastic pollution some more approprately call a "vortex", these world-class marine protected areas holding a majority of the diversity and wonder on our planet are more "scapes" than "spots".

The Natonal Parks systems of nations around the world protect vast landscapes and terrestrial life, and marine protected areas around the world help to safeguard and restore epic seascapes, aquatic diversity, and ocean wildlife. Together--and sometimes even adject to each other such as the one in my backyard--they are truly HopeScapes!

Imagination gives us new Ideas which lead to actions. Many actions together can inspire hope. And by connecting all those green and blue dots we create HopeScapes.

"...in Wildness is the preservation of the world." - Henry David Thoreau

"Hope is necesary in every condition." - Samuel Johnson