Every year, June 8 is World Oceans Day. But June 11 is the date of birth of “Captain Planet” alias Jacques-Yves Cousteau. For a few years now, there has also been a Cousteau Day and it’s a good opportunity with him not only to remember Commander Cousteau but also to renew our knowledge of the environmental issues that we are increasingly facing. Several short documentaries with commentary from his youngest son, Pierre-Yves Cousteau, are excellent on this subject.
They are missed by two generations of French people born after the war, Haroun Tazieff, Michael Serresthem husband Krafft but probably more Jacques-Yves Cousteau who, he had a world stature since he was called in English “Captain Planet”. Remember that he was born on June 11, 1910 in Saint-André-de-Cubzac in Gironde and that it was in 1943 that he invented the scuba with Émile Gagnan. His global adventure will really begin with the Calypso, a former minesweeper for the Royal Navy that a patron allows him to buy and equip in 1950 and with which he will begin an oceanographic campaign in the Red Sea. “The World of Silence” will follow, which will win the Oscar for best documentary and the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1955, and then for more than 40 years, 56 expeditions and more than 100 films.
Increasingly aware of the defense of the environment, Jacques-Yves Cousteau will largely devote the last decades of his life to it, alerting to the dangers that human hope poses to the biosphere, the climate and finally on itself. His youngest son, Pierre-Yves Cousteau, took up the torch, notably with Miscellaneous and the videos which accompany this site on which one can find his explanations on the Cousteau day that can be celebrated every year after World Oceans Day. He begins by explaining about his father that:
” Since June 11, 2010, I have launched an annual online campaign to commemorate his birthday, his work, his philosophy. Cousteau Day is dedicated to all people around the world who fight for the preservation of nature, of which we are an integral part. Activists, defenders of the environment, ecologists, dreamers, ecologists, nature lovers from all walks of life and from all professions: all those who defend respect for Life on this planet and fight against all odds to help mitigate its destruction. “.
Corals are an important part of the ecosystem of the oceans and they are central for hundreds of millions of people indirectly as explained to Futura the members of the Catlin Seaview Survey. As this video shows, we are studying the impact of ocean acidification by the carbon dioxide produced by humanity and causing global warming. To obtain a fairly accurate French translation, click on the white rectangle at the bottom right. The English subtitles should then appear. Then click on the nut to the right of the rectangle, then on “Subtitles” and finally on “Translate automatically”. Choose “French”. © Pierre-Yves Cousteau
As it concerns Miscellaneous Pierre-Yves Cousteau also explains, quoting his father, that:
” “People protect what they love.” That’s why I created Miscellaneous : an international network of divers who want to turn their passion into action.The program has several goals: to raise awareness of the beauty and fragility of marine life, and to empower people to help study and protect it, making every diver an agent of study and conservation of the aquatic world.Miscellaneous is my way of transposing my father’s work into the present and the future.He has made millions of people around the world aware of environmental issues.With MiscellaneousI want to continue this work and empower people to actively study and protect marine life “.
The Indonesian archipelago of Raja Ampat (“the four kings”) is located near the northwest coast of New Guinea. It is made up of some 1,500 islands, often mountainous as Wikipedia explains. © Pierre-Yves Cousteau
The study of the climate and its evolution under the influence of Humanity goes through the study of archives in the polar ice. To obtain a fairly accurate French translation, click on the white rectangle at the bottom right. The English subtitles should then appear. Then click on the nut to the right of the rectangle, then on “Subtitles” and finally on “Translate automatically”. Choose “French”. © Pierre-Yves Cousteau
The island of Santorini reminds us that a paradise can become a hell if we do not respect the environment. To obtain a fairly accurate French translation, click on the white rectangle at the bottom right. The English subtitles should then appear. Then click on the nut to the right of the rectangle, then on “Subtitles” and finally on “Translate automatically”. Choose “French”. © Pierre-Yves Cousteau
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