美國加州、奧勒崗州與華盛頓州州長於18日宣佈一項新協議：以共同合作的方式來保護太平洋，以及在海洋議題方面向聯邦政府施壓。三位州長表示，將促使聯邦政府大動作制定保護國家沿岸水域的預防措施，防止沿岸水域受到污染以及環境惡化的影響，並且反對在外海進行石油與天然氣的鑽採活動。
加州州長史瓦辛格在長堤一個海洋研討會上，發表了聲明。他透過衛星視訊，與奧勒岡州及華盛頓州州長同一陣線。
此公約乃依據三州的共同認知所訂定，這個認知是三州皆擁有豐富多樣的海洋及海岸資源，這些海洋資源提供了大量的經濟、環境及社會裨益。
「然而，我們的國民仍繼續把沿海及海洋資源當成享樂用，這真是一件危險的事情，」公約中提及，「污水、海洋生物及魚類族群的減少、近海棲地的破壞，和嚴重的暴風雨、海嘯與氣候變化帶來的風險，只是對威脅我們這些依海洋為生的州，讓我們元氣大傷的一些例子」。
此公約是建立在許多人的建議上，包括美國海洋政策委員會，及皮優海洋委員會，這兩個小組皆呼籲聯邦各州及地方海洋政策單位間應有更好的協調溝通，並且採用以生態系統為依據的管理方式。
這項區域性的公約，將與各州的特定專家建立長期合作夥伴關係，並致力於確保海水及海灘潔淨，恢復健康的海洋及沿海棲地。
三位州長計畫投入更多努力，減低因近海發展而帶來的種種不利影響，並且擴大海洋和海岸的研究及監測。這份公約將包括的計畫有：提升民眾對海洋事務的警覺和知識，扶植海岸社區的永續經濟發展。
三位州長表示，他們可望在2007年初宣布啟動建議及地方行動策略。州長也已指示各別相關機構及人員，在這個秋天聯同商業、環保、政府、教育及學術團體各界代表，共同建構出這份具歷史意義的區域性合作關係的建議書。
海洋保護團體人士稱讚這個作法並表示：區域間的合作方式，對於成功地處理困擾國家沿海水域的種種問題，是很重要的。
The governors of California, Oregon and Washington announced a new agreement Monday to cooperate on efforts to protect the Pacific Ocean and to lobby the federal government on ocean issues. The three governors said they would push for the federal government to expand efforts to safeguard the nation's coastal waters from pollution and environmental degradation and would oppose efforts to allow oil and gas drilling in waters off their coasts.
Schwarzenegger made the announcement at an oceans conference in Long Beach. He was joined by the governors of Oregon and Washington via satellite.
The agreement is based on the recognition that the three states "share a rich and diverse bounty of ocean and coastal resources that provide enormous economic, environmental, and social benefits."
"Yet our citizens' continued use and enjoyment of coastal and ocean resources is at risk," according to the agreement. "Polluted waters, declining populations of fish and other marine life, degraded nearshore habitats, risks of severe storms and tsunamis and climate disruption are but a few examples of serious threats to the continued vitality of our ocean-dependent states."
The agreement is built on many of the recommendations laid out by U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commissions - both panels called for better coordination of federal, state and local ocean policies and for the adoption of an ecosystem-based management approach.
The regional agreement will forge a long-term partnership to tap experts in each state and aims to ensure clean coastal waters and beaches and to protect and restore healthy ocean and coastal habitats.
The governors also plan to pursue efforts to reduce adverse impacts from offshore development, expand ocean and coastal research and monitoring. The pact will include programs to boost ocean awareness and literacy among residents of the three states and to foster sustainable economic development in coastal communities.
The governors said they expect to announce initial recommendations and initiatives for regional action by early 2007. The governors have directed their respective agencies and staffs to work throughout this fall with representatives of business, environmental, governmental, educational, and academic communities to develop recommendations for this historic regional partnership.
Ocean advocates praised the deal and said collaborative regional approaches are crucial to successfully managing the problems plaguing the nation's coastal waters.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
