These thoughts for the New Year of 2003 are sent with the hope that clear thinking and sustainable living practices continue to grow and prevail in cultures around the world. Our heart motivates our decisions and inspires us to seek positive change and invigorates our will to act.

Today, more than ever before, we know that everything in our world is connected. The health of our planet-our living biosphere-is vitally interconnected to the health of all its inhabitants and habitats.

Jean-Michel speaks to the world media about what he and the Ocean Futures Society team has seen on the Galician coast, and his call for global action on the transportation of toxic materials on the oceans.  Photo credit: Nan Marr, Ocean Futures Society

Our planet is going through difficult times. It is stressed beyond capacity, because of Man's careless and overindulgent behavior, and our continuing belief that "bigger" and "more" are always better. We can no longer deny the impact of global warming. The effects are essentially due to Earth's inability to recycle the massive amounts of carbon dioxide that have been allowed to be emitted because of a lack of global standards and regulations, obsolete transportation systems, and lax industry guidelines, among many others. The manipulations by international industries and policy makers to continue to use nonrenewable resources without regard or consideration for the rights of future generations is deplorable. Deteriorating community health and the threat to our real security-the ability to live in a safe and toxic-free environment-are causing the social and economic instability we are now experiencing around the globe.

We know what the problems are. We know what the solutions are. And, we know what we need to do to correct them. We are increasingly in need of inspiration and the will to act.

In this extraordinary time, when unprecedented communication and information are available virtually instantaneously, each and every one of us has the responsibility to make decisions ourselves. We are truly living and experiencing direct democracy. Only, we must participate! Young people should become further engaged in this opportunity for a great adventure of discovery. This quest will provide them with the knowledge and will to better manage our planet by just tuning in and by participating directly.

We have no right to ignore the vital role that all of us can play. It is now time, and it is not too late. Although the crisis is bigger than anything we have yet faced, we do have the ability to overcome all obstacles and we will if we have faith in the power of the heart and mind.