Eco-Inspiration: Alexandra Cousteau and Blue Legacy

Despite our very best efforts to be environmentally active sometimes it’s tough to motivate. The problems can seem too big or too far away from our individual lives.  Sometimes, when I feel overwhelmed I look to “enviro-celebs” to inspire me…

Alexandra Cousteau is one of these celebs I speak of.  Cousteau is founder of Blue Legacy, a  non-profit movement to bring water to the forefront of society’s issues.  Further, Blue Legacy aims to motivate people to act on these critical issues.

Alexandra’s family is rooted in environmental advocacy. She’s the grand-daughter of activist and National Geography contributor Jacques-Yves Cousteau.  Her parents were bringing her on expeditions when she was just a few months old.

In 2000 she founded EarthEcho International, with her brother Phillipe  in honor of their late Father.  The organization’s mission “is to empower youth to take action that restores and protects our water planet.” Another sibling endeavor is Planet Green’s Blue August.

In ’08 Alexandra’s brain child Blue Legacy was born.  Over the past two years the organization has worked to educate and inform by using videos and educational tools from their first-hand expeditions. The Blue Legacy team travels the world to learn and document the issues facing waterways.

In fact, Alexandra and her team are wrapping up a 14,500 mile expedition across North America to research and inspect water issues. They’ve explored six different ecosystems and hosted awareness events in over 10 cities where they invited locals to help with restoration projects. They’ll wrap up the journey in Washington D.C. on November 12.

Feeling inspired? Go to Blue Legacy’s signup form to be contacted with information.

You may not be born into an environmental dynasty or have the collateral to start a National organization. However, getting involved within the Philadelphia community (and beyond) brings us one step closer to the environmental causes we support.

Browse (and stay tuned!) to Green Philly Blog for more worthy causes to get involved with.

Posted by Beth