Back from the brink
- By Richard Branson -
- Jun 25, 2012
By no means everything went the way we all wished in Rio, as far as the High Seas and the oceans are concerned.
But with enough determination we will get there. It is worth remembering that the whales were in peril 20 years ago but in the end the world community did what was right and whale numbers are now rapidly increasing. The turtles were once in peril and once again they are now generally being protected and their numbers are increasing.
However, there are still masses to do with the wholesale slaughter of sharks and manta rays, bottom dragging, overfishing and many other issues. But it is worth remembering that these campaigns can work. It is well worth the enormous amount of time and energy that so many people are putting into projects like protecting the High Seas for future generations.
It is just so, so important that all those thousands of people at Rio that worked so hard to get a treaty don’t despair because two out of 137 countries vetoed the treaty. In the end right will prevail, and like the Right Whale itself, we will bring the oceans back from the brink.
By Richard Branson. Founder of Virgin Group
