Oasis Magazine - Cairns & Tropical North Queensland Issue 19 - Aug|Sep 2017 | Page 40

Citizens

OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

The beauty of the Great Barrier Reef will take your breath away . It is alive , colourful and bustling with varied marine life . As the world ’ s largest coral reef ecosystem , the Great Barrier Reef is priceless . It supports 64,000 jobs and contributes $ 56 billion to the Australian economy . However , the threats to the future of the Great Barrier Reef are real and immediate , as demonstrated by the back-to-back coral bleaching episodes in different sections of 2300km-long Reef during 2016 and 2017 . Climate change is a global challenge that impacts the Great Barrier Reef through rising sea temperatures , ocean acidification and extreme weather events .
The Great Barrier Reef is a barometer of the health of our planet and recent bleaching events have elevated its importance around the world . Helping the Reef will not only ensure future generations can experience its natural beauty , it will contribute to a better future for Earth .
Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef will connect people from all walks of life and all corners of the globe with the Reef , to enable them to play a role in the future health of this World Heritage area . A hub for people who care about the Great Barrier Reef and a repository for ideas , knowledge and actions to nurture the Reef , Citizens will tap into the desire for a healthy planet for generations to come .
Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef is starting a journey of collaboration that will bring scientists , universities and the people who live and work on the
Reef as managers and tourism operators together to benefit the Reef .
As the journey evolves , Citizens will encourage people , communities , businesses , organisations , schools and clubs around the world to adapt to a lifestyle where the decisions we make at home , such as whether we recycle and save energy , serve to secure the future of the Reef and our planet .
The digital platform CitizensGBR . org is where you can connect , learn about the Reef and what you can do to help it . This will enable operators to use the Citizens logo on their products , organise a co-branded video to show guests and train their staff about Citizens .
Local ambassadors will be recruited along the length of the Great Barrier Reef to share stories of their passion for the Reef and how they care for it while they are working on the Reef and when they are at home . Tour operators will be asked to nominate their staff as champions .
In addition to highlighting these Citizens-initiated projects , CitizensGBR . org will list and explain actions Citizens can take to tackle climate change , the greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef . Citizens can commit to taking an action that will impact the future of the Reef , such as reducing your carbon footprint , single-use coffee cups or plastic straws .
We need to feel empowered to make the changes that will help the Great
Barrier Reef and we need to encourage our family , friends and neighbours to join in . We all have a responsibility to act now . There is great cause to feel optimistic about the future of the Great Barrier Reef . The people who work on and live around the Reef are passionate carers for the environment both on land and on water . They have been guardians of the Reef for many years and have been working to protect it .
The Citizens Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef is an iconic public artwork to be erected on the Cairns Esplanade . Using the Reef creation story of local Traditional Owners , Torres Strait Islander artist Brian Robinson has designed a monumental 6m-high and 11m-wide sculpture that frames the view out to the Reef . The Indigenous story is corroborated by science , a revelation made public in David Attenborough ' s recent documentary on the Great Barrier Reef .
This mirrored sculpture will provide visitors with a must-do selfie opportunity that can be shared via social media encouraging others around the world to think and care about the Great Barrier Reef .
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