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All around the globe, people are celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, remembering that our world is both blue—covered more than 70 percent by water—and green—full of opportunities to make our environment healthier.

The day began with a fantastic story on the television show "Good Morning America" that detailed the effects of ocean acidification on shellfish.

The real-life impacts of ocean acidification are of growing concern, as evidenced by the span of those testifying about them to Congress members on this Earth Day: actress Sigourney Weaver joins Senior Scientist of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute James Barry, commercial fisherman Donny Waters, Executive Director of Diving Equipment and Marketing Association Tom Ingram and President of Ocean Associates, Inc., John Everett to speak to the Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee. Earlier in the week, SeaWeb's Ocean Update reported on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considering whether to use the national Clean Water Act as a means of regulating greenhouse gas emissions, the cause of ocean acidification.

You can continue your celebration of the wonders of the ocean this Earth Day by catching Disneynature’s film "OCEANS." The Monterey Bay Aquarium will be giving away Seafood Watch pocket guides to guests at the premier screenings of the film.

Your ocean adventure doesn't have to end at the theater, however. The film's companion book, "OCEANS: The Threats to Our Seas and What You Can Do to Turn the Tide," contains essays written by some of the most renown voices for the ocean today, including SeaWeb Board Member Callum Roberts, ocean explorer Sylvia Earle, conservationists Alexandra and Céline Cousteau, "The Cove" filmmaker Ric O'Barry, Actor Leonardo DiCaprio and more. The book also features a What You Can Do section that includes an essay by SeaWeb about what sustainability means for the ocean. If you buy a copy of the book through our Amazon Ocean Bookstore, a percentage of the purchase price will be donated to SeaWeb, so you can help the ocean while enjoying reading about it. You can also find out about the book's back-story from its editor, Jon Bowermaster, by reading his Ocean Voice.

And while you are enjoying your Earth Day, take a few pictures of your ocean-themed events and then submit your photos to the Marine Photobank. Your photos can inspire others to continue their celebration of and work for the ocean all year long.

Here are some other Earth Day events in which you can participate:

• Earth Day Network, an organization dedicated to broadening the environmental movement that has more than 20,000 partners in 190 countries, is hosting a number of events throughout the world to celebrate Earth Day 2010. One such event is a climate rally on Sunday April 25, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to demand that the U.S. Congress enact climate and clean energy legislation in 2010. Fore more information on this event and the many others being hosted by Earth Day Network, go to www.earthday.org/events.
• Project AWARE is calling all divers and water enthusiasts to "Dive for Earth Day" during the week of April 22. Resources and information are available at www.projectaware.org/content/index.php?pid=164.
• The Nature Conservancy has released a list of ways in which people can honor the 40th anniversary of Earth Day this year, with recommendations such as eating sustainably, "greening" your garden and using reusable bags rather than plastic ones. For more information, go to earthday.nature.org.
• Conservation International, Oceana, Natural Resources Defense Council and Central Park Conservancy have partnered with Christie's fine art auctioneers and NBC Universal to hold an inaugural Christies' Green Auction. For more information, go to www.abidtosavetheearth.org.
• The United States Navy's Earth Day 2010 celebration, themed, "Partnering for a Greener Future," recognizes its environmentally focused partnerships with non-government organizations, federal and state agencies, other military services, industry and civilians. More than 50 naval installations are celebrating Earth Day 2010 with community events such as shoreline and neighborhood cleanups, tree plantings, recycling challenges, fun runs, wildlife rescues and more. For more information, go to www.earthday.org/campaigns/navy-earth-day-events.

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