High School Students involved with Pier2Pier

COMMITMENT TO HELPING PROTECT
WILD DOLPHINS & MANATEES

Jamie Aquino

Hi.  My name is Jamie…I am a high school Journalism teacher. 

Since I have lived in Florida most of my life, I have been aware of the perils facing manatees and wild dolphins, not only in Florida, but in all of the international waters throughout the world.  I began investigating just how extensive the damage was to these marine mammals.  I was shocked at what I found!!!

I discussed the problems with my students and we decided that we needed to do something to make people aware of these problems.  As a result of this, I decided to contact Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys for two reasons…he has a love of the water since he is from Florida and he is well recognized through his music. 

We next contacted the United Nations Convention on Migratory Species, who already had a program set up and agreed to a joint effort to further promote this program internationally. It was decided to hold a press conference in Washington D.C. where Nick Carter was named a special ambassador to the Year of the Dolphin campaign.

The results of my initiative – Pier2Pier – are the efforts of my Journalism students who have found creative and innovative ways to reach out to other students in Florida, the United States and countries around the world. My students and I appreciate all the assistance and support of organizations such as the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, the United Nations Convention on Migratory Species, the Save the Manatee Club and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. I am especially thankful to Florida Wildlife Commissioner and former Miami Dolphin football great Dwight Stephenson, for his interest in our project and his dedication to helping all of Florida’s wildlife, including dolphins and manatees.

We are excited about raising money for the Bryan Adams Foundation to build a public school in Haiti.  In addition to being recognized for his music and photography, we want the public to know that Bryan Adams has donated so much of his time and resources for charitable causes.  Just like me and my students, Bryan Adams is concerned about the environment which is why this project is so important.  This school will feature a marine science program, where students can learn about wild dolphins, manatees and all the marine life in and around the waters of the Haiti.

In addition to funding the school in Haiti, we will also be working on projects that support the Florida Keys Marine Mammal Rescue Team and the Save the Manatee Club.

Through this website, my students and I have the ability to educate and inform the public about the issues and threats to wild dolphins and manatees. Click on the links for more information.

YEAR OF THE DOLPHIN

Jamie Aquino with Nick Carter, a special ambassador for the Year of the Dolphin. Supported by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Year of the Dolphin (YOD) in 2008 is a joint initiative between the United Nations Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and its dedicated regional agreements on dolphin conservation as well as the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) and the TUI AG.  Year of the Dolphin raises awareness of dolphin species and informs decision makers.  Pier2Pier is an initiative under YOD.  More information about YOD can be found at www.yod2008.org DOLPHINS ARE REALLY WHALES! Did you know that dolphins are really small, toothed whales? Here is a shot of a humpback in Antarctica taken in the Gerlach Strait in February 2006. The photo was taken by international award winning photographer Sebastian Copeland, who traveled to Antarctica to photograph the frozen tundra and its unique marine life. He recently published a book called Antarctica The Global Warming. For more information, check out the website www.antarcticabook.com

EARN A DOLPHIN DIPLOMA The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) is awarding dolphin diplomas to young people who make an active contribution to dolphin protection.  Get involved with a Pier2Pier project to receive your WDCS dolphin diploma award.  More information about obtaining a dolphin diploma can be found at www.whales.org or www.yod2008.org Click here to download the teacher’s activity pack.