article_snippet.sent: I spent much of 2010 in Gulf, traveling through the communities, spending time with the people and witnessing the impact of this environmental catastrophe.
article_snippet.sent: Community groups and dedicated organizations have worked ceaselessly to restore and repair not only the physical environment, but also the way of life.
article_snippet.sent: In the case of the Atlantic Seaboard, the increase in severe storms and rise in sea level, as well as what is at stake from an ecological standpoint, don't paint a more optimistic picture.
article_snippet.sent: Projects like habitat mapping can result in countless ecological and economic benefits, such as improved assessments of fishery health, a baseline for tracking success of billions of dollars in restoration efforts, an essential foundation for modeling and monitoring the the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem, and a planning tool for better managing one of the hardest-working bodies of water in the world.
article_snippet.sent: Not long after the spill began, I was speaking to a group of elementary school students with my environmental education nonprofit EarthEcho International.
article_snippet.sent: a group of elementary school students were all horrified and upset by what was happening in the Gulf of Mexico.
article_snippet.sent: The following local and national coalitions and organizations offer great starting points to become involved in the movement to restore the Gulf and the movement communities, and to make sure we take steps to prevent history from repeating history: The Gulf Future Coalition, Ocean Conservancy, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Wildlife Federation.