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#EarthDay: Fabien Cousteau - We live in an oasis in space

Fabien Cousteau
Fabien Cousteau attends the Digital Life Design (DLD) conference GETTY

(CBS/What's Trending) Part of What's Trending's mission is to bring you the insight from bloggers and other voices on the internet who have become an expert on their topics in this digital age. Today, on Earth Day, we bring you a special column from Fabien Cousteau, grandson of the famous oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau. He's followed in his grandfather's and father's noble footsteps and has taken on the responsibility of advocating for the protection of our environment.

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For the last 41 years, this little blue orb lost in vast space has been hearing the yearly cheer of our well-intentioned species thanks to a certain Senator Nelson from Wisconsin. Originally the result of a catastrophic oil spill off Santa Barbara, California, Earth Day was created to emphasize the fragility of our planet and its importance to our existence.

Last year, we witnessed the Deep Water Horizon oil spill, the worst in U.S. history. Although the public has been continuously assured that all would be well, it seems that evidence is proving otherwise. Unfortunately, it is yet another powerful example of the long-term repercussions our actions are having not only on the health of our environment but on our own personal health and the health of the economy as well.

So what is the take-away here? In its simplest form, it is that our wellbeing is directly related to that of the planets'. We need to start looking at our planet as a bank account. We must start living off the interest it bears and stop eating away the capital. As consumers, we are casting the ultimate votes in our everyday lives. Of course, we must support the advocacy, conservation and restoration of our one and only life support system, but the biggest impact lies in the decisions we make each and every day.

"So what can I do?" It just so happens that the many things we can do and the many actions we can take have added benefits to us as well. As a single person living in small apartment in a large city I was able to not only lower my environmental "footprint" but also save almost $1700 in one year by adopting simple solutions (just take look on the internet for examples).

This week, I was invited to be part of the EDTA Innovation Motorcade in DC to help promote the acceptance and awareness about the benefits these new vehicles offer. Manufacturers both large and small came together to showcase their latest cars and the lower environmental footprint they leave when compared to their gas-guzzling cousins. I couldn't help but be giddy at the opportunity to take the Tesla for a spin. After all, a consumer accessible electric vehicle capable of 0-60 in 3.7 seconds and up to 240 miles on one charge? Wow! Even better than this, there were practical vehicles for all needs: utility vehicles, sedans, compacts, sports cars and so on. All are better choices than those we are currently driving. With fossil fuel prices skyrocketing and wreaking havoc with air and water pollution, climate change, ocean acidification etc, the time is NOW to start adopting such technologies.

Beyond vehicles: Earth Day is a special day to feel hopeful. We can make drastic changes for the better. Simple actions such as weaning ourselves off single use plastics such as those ubiquitous bags and water bottles, not using toxic chemicals in our homes or yards, or choosing sustainable food options (which are available as free downloadable apps) in restaurants and supermarkets, replacing your home light bulbs to CFL or LED lights, and unplugging electric alliances when not in use and powering down your computers do have a big impact. Support innovative and growing organizations such as Plant A Fish, Ocean Futures Society, Plastic Pollution Coalition, Blue Ocean Institute, Islands First and many more as well as telling your government representatives to vote for marine protection. Encourage family, colleagues and friends to do the same. Reach out to your networks via social media sites. Lets make it go viral so we can celebrate Earth Day everyday!

Thru sheer luck, our species has been chosen to inhabit the only oasis in space we know. It is time for us to stop living ON this planet, and start living WITH the planet. Let us ensure that our children have a chance to enjoy what we have thus far taken for granted. As my grandfather used to say: "People Protect What They Love".

Happy Earth Day everyday!

Growing up on the salt-stained decks of his famous Grandfather's ships, Calypso and Alcyone, Fabien Cousteau was destined to follow in the family footsteps of exploring and working tirelessly to protect our planet's immense and endangered marine habitats. In 2006, Fabien partnered with his father, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and sister, Celine, to complete a three-year multi-hour series for PBS called "Ocean Adventures." Topics explored ranged from the Grey whale migration of the west coast of the Americas to the magical coral spawning of the Caribbean to diving with squadrons of Goliath groupers to the ghost ships of the Great Lakes. In 2010, he launched Plant A Fish, an innovative nonprofit organization designed to empower communities and children to help restore their local water ecosystems through the healthy "replanting" of key marine species. Initial programs include the restoring of oysters in New York's Harbor, mangroves and corals in South Florida and sea turtles in the Gulf and El Salvador. An active writer, he is currently working on a children's book trilogy and sits on the boards of the New York Harbor School, Blue Ocean Film Festival, Water Innovation Alliance, and the advisory boards of the Plastic Pollution Coalition and the U.N. Millenium Project. More on CBS News: On Earth Day, neat new eco-friendly products
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