After watching the Netflix documentary, "Chasing Coral" in science class, a handful of students at Davis Drive Middle School in Cary, NC wished to take action. They witnessed just how quickly coral species around the globe are dying off and felt a responsibility to do something about it. For reference, in 2016 alone nearly 67% of the Northern Region of the Great Barrier Reef was killed due to warming oceanic temperatures. Based on current trends, within the next 30 years annual bleaching will kill most of the world's corals.

This is a major concern for not only the thousands of coral species in our oceans, but also for the fish communities that thrive there.  Corals provide homes to nearly 25% of ocean life.  Additionally, nearly half a billion to one billion people worldwide rely on coral reefs as their main source of food.  Therefore, ocean conservation is very much so an urban issue, and one that we need to highlight.

Students have put together a petition to drive the city of Cary towards using more renewable resources for energy production.  In doing so, we hope to lower the local levels of carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere which are ultimately playing a hand in increasing oceanic temperatures.

Please sign this petition if you wish to be a small part of a global change towards a healthier Earth and happier corals!