Open Forum

Hi everyone!

I'm looking forward to Museum Advocacy Day! It's great how this event is growing so much and huge kudos to AAM for all the great resources and tools and more! My name is Bill Mott, and I'm director of The Ocean Project | World Ocean Day. We've been working behind the scenes for 25 years working in partnership with museums, aquariums, and zoos to effectively engage the public, inform policymakers, and catalyze collaborative action to protect our ocean and climate.

I thought this might be of interest to some...Last year we collaborated with AAM, the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) on a joint letter supporting the Administration's America the Beautiful Initiative, and specifically the incorporated commitment to conserving at least 30 percent of nature – lands, waters, and ocean – by 2030 ("30x30").

This collaboration on a major conservation issue was unprecedented and got a lot of attention as it emphasized the importance of three interconnected threats to society and our planet: disappearance of nature, climate change, and inequitable access to the outdoors.

By the end of December 2021 the joint letter of support had been signed by over 180 museums, zoos, and aquariums was delivered to the Biden Administration and other national leaders in Congress. We hope your facility will join the nearly 200 others already signed on!

You can see the letter and learn more here. Deadline to sign is March 1.

As a bit of background, a year ago, the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce, in cooperation with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, had released a report, Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful, which calls for a decade-long effort to advance locally-led and voluntary conservation and restoration efforts in public, private, and tribal lands and waters. It adopts the 30x30 goal, which polling indicates is supported by 85% of Americans. The goal of 30x30 is also strongly supported by scientists across the country and around the world.

This month there is another public comment opportunity regarding the America the Beautiful initiative and 30x30 and we are asking those organizations and facilities that have not yet signed on to join with your colleagues to show even stronger support for nature, addressing climate change, and equitable access to the outdoors.

By adding your museum's voice, you will help achieve some crucial outcomes: 1) demonstrating strong support for conserving 30% of our lands, waters, and ocean by 2030 through a process centered on community engagement; 2) helping provide more equitable access to nature and the outdoors; and 3) reinforcing the position of AAM, ASTC and AZA members as critically important community leaders for science-based initiatives and a better future, both with the Administration, other national leaders, and within the larger movement, including local and national organizations and funders.

It's an exciting opportunity for museums! We hope your facility will join the nearly 200 others already signed on! Please click here (https://bit.ly/conserve30x30) to sign and upload your logo.

Please sign on to the letter no later than March 1 as it will be delivered to the Biden Administration shortly thereafter. We will also send all signatories a copy of the final letter, displaying the logos of museums, zoos, and aquariums from diverse communities in all 50 states across the country.

By the way, all our resources and materials are free for museums to use and customize as you wish. We have related resources, including tools for raising public awareness, all developed in collaboration with a 30x30 Working Group, comprised of museum, aquarium and zoo member organizations. Feedback and ideas always most welcome so we can best help support you!

If any questions, please contact me (Bill Mott bmott@theoceanproject.org). Thank you!

The Ocean Project
World Ocean Day - Uniting Worldwide Action for Our Ocean on 8 June Every Year

Stuart Heebner
Collections Assistant
Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology at Harvard University
11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-2019

Hi everyone!

I'm looking forward to Museum Advocacy Day! It's great how this event is growing so much and huge kudos to AAM for all the great resources and tools and more! My name is Bill Mott, and I'm director of The Ocean Project | World Ocean Day. We've been working behind the scenes for 25 years working in partnership with museums, aquariums, and zoos to effectively engage the public, inform policymakers, and catalyze collaborative action to protect our ocean and climate.

I thought this might be of interest to some...Last year we collaborated with AAM, the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) on a joint letter supporting the Administration's America the Beautiful Initiative, and specifically the incorporated commitment to conserving at least 30 percent of nature – lands, waters, and ocean – by 2030 ("30x30").

This collaboration on a major conservation issue was unprecedented and got a lot of attention as it emphasized the importance of three interconnected threats to society and our planet: disappearance of nature, climate change, and inequitable access to the outdoors.

By the end of December 2021 the joint letter of support had been signed by over 180 museums, zoos, and aquariums was delivered to the Biden Administration and other national leaders in Congress. We hope your facility will join the nearly 200 others already signed on!

You can see the letter and learn more here. Deadline to sign is March 1.

As a bit of background, a year ago, the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce, in cooperation with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, had released a report, Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful, which calls for a decade-long effort to advance locally-led and voluntary conservation and restoration efforts in public, private, and tribal lands and waters. It adopts the 30x30 goal, which polling indicates is supported by 85% of Americans. The goal of 30x30 is also strongly supported by scientists across the country and around the world.

This month there is another public comment opportunity regarding the America the Beautiful initiative and 30x30 and we are asking those organizations and facilities that have not yet signed on to join with your colleagues to show even stronger support for nature, addressing climate change, and equitable access to the outdoors.

By adding your museum's voice, you will help achieve some crucial outcomes: 1) demonstrating strong support for conserving 30% of our lands, waters, and ocean by 2030 through a process centered on community engagement; 2) helping provide more equitable access to nature and the outdoors; and 3) reinforcing the position of AAM, ASTC and AZA members as critically important community leaders for science-based initiatives and a better future, both with the Administration, other national leaders, and within the larger movement, including local and national organizations and funders.

It's an exciting opportunity for museums! We hope your facility will join the nearly 200 others already signed on! Please click here (https://bit.ly/conserve30x30) to sign and upload your logo.

Please sign on to the letter no later than March 1 as it will be delivered to the Biden Administration shortly thereafter. We will also send all signatories a copy of the final letter, displaying the logos of museums, zoos, and aquariums from diverse communities in all 50 states across the country.

By the way, all our resources and materials are free for museums to use and customize as you wish. We have related resources, including tools for raising public awareness, all developed in collaboration with a 30x30 Working Group, comprised of museum, aquarium and zoo member organizations. Feedback and ideas always most welcome so we can best help support you!

If any questions, please contact me (Bill Mott bmott@theoceanproject.org). Thank you!

The Ocean Project
World Ocean Day - Uniting Worldwide Action for Our Ocean on 8 June Every Year