Publish Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Location: New Bern, North Carolina
Oceana, the largest international organization focused solely on ocean
conservation has announced the finalist for their 2010 Ocean Hero Award. Ayla is humbled and greatly honored to be selected as one of their five Junior Hero finalist .
Oceana, is 100% dedicated to fighting on behalf of our world’s oceans. Through focused campaigns they channel their resources to scientifically identified problems and work tirelessly towards practical solutions. The threats our oceans are facing seem insurmountable, but Oceana knows their health and abundance can be restored through collaborations between scientists, fishery management organizations, governments and passionate individuals.
The Oceana team selected the ten finalists (5 adults and 5 juniors) from over 300 nominations. The winner in each category will now be decided based on public voting which ends next Wednesday, May 26th. Most of you are aware of Ayla’s passionate commitment to ocean conservation. The Oceana team wrote the following blog on their website about her efforts: Ocean Hero Finalist: Ayla Besemer You can also learn more about her work under the Save Our Seas menu on our website.
Should you be inspired by her efforts, I know she would greatly appreciate your support by voting for her. There is a link to the voting on the Oceana home page or by clicking on this direct link 2010 Ocean Hero Voting. Feel free to forward this on to others who might be interested as well.
Ayla, although deeply honored by this nomination, is feeling a bit awkward about my writing this blog, as she feels the focus should be on saving our oceans not about her. However, my hope is this process might help spread the word to an even greater audience and get more young people involved in making a difference for oceans today. Thank you, and as Ayla would say….remember to Think OCEAN!
Congratulations, Ayla, on your nomination. That’s quite an honor!
Kathryn, I first want to congratulate you and David for raising Ayla to be such a consensus person.
Secondly, CONGRATULATION Ayla……. You go Girl!
Third, I tried to follow your links to the voting, but I don’t find a place to vote. There is a 2010 Ocean Hero Voting section, but it only asked for pledges. I cannot find a place to vote. Please clarify.
Thanks
Art
Go Ayla!!!!!
Hi Art-
Thank you for the kind words and your support of Ayla’s work. You are in the right section, and I agree with you that it’s confusing the way it’s been set-up. Once you complete the pledge, you are taken to the next page where you see the Ocean Hero biographies and can vote. It’s important to note that they are not asking you to pledge money. They are receiving a dollar from an outside donor for each person who comes to vote. I’m guessing this pledge section serves three purposes for them:
1. They are trying to ensure that a person can only vote once by using your email address as a unique identifier.
2. They are psychologically trying to get people to commit to protecting the oceans by taking this pledge.
3. They are building an email list of people who are potentially interested in ocean conservation issues since they took the time to go and vote.
Once you vote, you will receive an email confirmation. At the bottom of that confirmation, there is a place to “unsubscribe” should you wish not to receive any future emails from them. Thanks for taking the time to ask the question.
All the best,
Kathryn
You get my vote. Sure wish you folks would post more video’s
What a wonderful and well deserved honor! Congratulations, Ayla! And good luck with the voting.
Kathy, JIm, Megan and Michael
Just Voted!
Great Job Guys…..
Go, Ayla!!!
congrats hope u win
Yea Ayla! We are counting the days till we see you again!
You have my vote!!! Those Finatics ain’t got nothin’ on you!!! GO TEAM AYLA!!!
Also, I’m on board with Tim, you guys need to post more videos.
WOW! a great big ATTA GIRL, AYLA!!!
Of course you have our vote!
The couldn’t be prouder grandparents from Harsens Island!!!
Luv,
Us
Congrats to Ayla! Just voted and also posted the “Stop the Drill” message to my facebook status as well as spent some time catching up on your blogs! Very enjoyable! Hope to catch you in Michigan sometime in the future!
The Roberts Family
Yaaaay Ayla!!!
It’s great to read this post and know their are young people concerned about the ocean’s ecosystem especially with the BP corporate oil companies lack of response ability to the oil spilling into our precious ocean ecosystems. A catastrophe such as this requires activists that can make a difference. Ayla is the perfect spokes person. Passion, intelligence and family along with an infectious personality…you go girl!!!
thank you for helping all of us take notice and protect our precious environments!
High Five
Vickie
Hey guys,
It’s been a while since we have heard from you. Is every thing all right?
Howdy, Kathryn. You sure look to be living life in the front row. Beautiful. Stephen Gold and I were just typing about you. Hope your ears were burning! Would love to catch up some time. Be well. Harold