Aspen Peak - Niche Media - Aspen living at its peak
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spirit oF generosity Charity Regist er opportunities to give. Aspen Writers' FoundAtion summer Author sAlon With Just one of the many potential beneficiaries of the ocean Health index "We are in an era where humans dominate the ocean, and we are the first to admit we are measuring a troubled system. "—Dr. Greg Stone continued from page 68 other studies have not. Instead we invited really smart, successful people who were passionate about the ocean: Ted Waite, founder of Gateway Computers; Stone Gossard, guitarist for Pearl Jam; Bart Sale, a consultant who helps businesses grow, and others. But Beau and his wife, Heather, were really the drivers." After the course was set to develop the OHI, Santa Barbara–based marine biologist Ben Halpern was brought on to translate the results of the research and write the peer-reviewed paper, which is to appear in Nature this summer and will officially unveil the OHI to the world. The rollout will also include a sizable media campaign and a sophisticated website; the hope is that groups as diverse as the World Bank and NOAA will adopt its numbers. "It's not a panacea that's going to solve all problems," says Halpern, "but it will definitely help in the process of trying to fix things." "One of the things Beau and I worried about," says Stone, "was that we didn't want to just be rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic and then still hit the iceberg. Investors are confronted with these choices all the time: One group wants to save tuna; another wants to save the coral reefs. You can't necessarily do both, so how do you 70 aspenpeak-magazine.com choose? Our hope is that the OHI will help them look at the underlying health of that system and let them focus their policies and spending. In my mind, that's going to be the big 'discovery' of the OHI numbers." Today it's not enough to worry only about your own local coastline. It's estimated that more than a billion people worldwide rely on sustenance and livelihood from the ocean. In 2010, 86 percent of the seafood consumed in the US was imported, with the majority sourced from China, Thailand, Canada, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Ecuador. Americans have a vested interest in helping to maintain the health of those oceanfronts and their countries' economies. From a businessman's perspective, Wrigley is somewhat concerned that the next step—turning the OHI stats into a tangible difference—may be the hardest. "Until you start the ball rolling with economic policies, you won't incentivize businesses to get involved. If governments are putting monies into subsidies to keep boats afloat that then go out and overfish, nothing's going to change and no one is going to invest in trying to protect that part of the ocean." In the meantime, however, he says he and Heather are happy to have been able to give back in a meaningful way to the ocean they love. Up next for Wrigley, he says, is to get back into the ocean, rather than just talking about it around a conference table. "That's the beauty of technology, isn't it? I can work from almost anywhere. You have to stay out in the field if you're going to protect what you love, right? I'm most happy in the ocean, and I can't wait to get back in." AP ChAd hArbACh AWF brings together renowned authors and literary buffs for a celebration of literature. best-selling author of The Art of Fielding, harbach will give a reading and talk at the doerr-hosier Center on the campus of the Aspen meadows resort on August 13, followed by an intimate author salon held at isberian rug Company, with proceeds benefiting AWF. $20 for the reading and talk, $50 for the author salon. 970-925-3122; aspenwriters.org prohibition pArty staged July 28 and hosted by susan Crown and William kunkler, this benefit for Jazz Aspen snowmass will honor shelly Friedstein and will feature cocktails, dinner, dancing, and live music. Sundeck atop Aspen Mountain, 970-920-4996; jazzaspensnowmass.org JAspeAkeAsy ArtCrush this benefit for the Aspen Art museum has quickly become one of the hottest tickets of summer. held August 3 on the AAm grounds, the evening will honor tom sachs with the 2012 Aspen Award for Art. Festivities begin with an outdoor wine reception and silent auction, followed by a gala dinner for 350 guests and a live auction. 970-925-8050; aspenartmuseum.org 12 hours oF snoWmAss A benefit for the Aspen youth Center (AyC), this 12-hour mountain-bike race is held on July 21 in the snowmass ski Area. riders participate solo, in teams of two or three, or in an open team of up to eight riders. the intermediate course keeps riders focused with challenging uphills, technical descents, and plenty of single track. racing legend lance Armstrong has competed in the past. 970-390-9730; 12hoursofsnowmass.com photography by keith ellenbogen (turtle)