Big Cruise is driving manatees to extinction and decimating our oceans

Dear Friend, 26% of Florida’s manatee population gone in just two years. Donate $27 now to protect our oceans, marine life, and the planet before the loss is too great. If you've saved payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: [Donate $27 immediately]( [Donate $50 immediately]( [Donate $100 immediately]( [Donate another amount]( This isn’t the news I wanted to share. In the last two years alone, OVER A QUARTER of the Florida manatee population has been wiped out. I’ll get straight to the point. Manatees are starving to death, Friend. In fact, the last few years have been the deadliest on record for these gentle sea cows. That’s because our oceans are growing more and more polluted by the day. The pollution feeds algae-blooms and dead zones, which are decimating the seagrass that manatees need to survive. Yet industries like Big Cruise continue to recklessly dump toxic wastewater into the ocean, endangering marine life, coastal communities, and the planet. [It’s time to hold Big Cruise accountable before the damage is irreversible. Donate $27 today and help us reach our urgent $3,980 goal to protect our oceans, marine life, and the planet!]( As you read this, cruise ships are dumping polluted wastewater in manatee habitats. Wastewater pollutants can trigger algal blooms so thick that they block the sunlight needed for seagrass to grow. But manatees need to eat a whopping 10% of their body weight a day to be healthy. Without access to the seagrass they need, manatees don’t stand a chance against Big Polluters. Even more, cruise pollution affects coastal communities that rely on these waters! That’s why I’m reaching out to you. If we don’t act soon, the damage to our oceans and the marine life and communities that rely on them could be irreversible. It’s time to hold Big Cruise accountable and fight for our oceans, wildlife, coastal communities, and the future of our planet. Will you stand with us today before our planet’s waters are destroyed? Manatees are starving to death as you read this. Help protect oceans, marine life, and our planet and donate $27 toward our $3,980 goal today! If you've saved payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: [Donate $27 immediately]( [Donate $50 immediately]( [Donate $100 immediately]( [Donate another amount]( It’s not news that the cruise industry is raking in profits at the expense of our planet. Cruise ships can be the size of entire city blocks. And every day cruises can emit the same amount of pollution as a million cars. An overwhelming majority of these ships are run off cheaper, heavy, dirty fuel that fills the air with extreme amounts of particulate matter. These pollutants can worsen respiratory illnesses like asthma and even contribute to acid rain. That means cruise ships are directly impacting human health just to save a buck! Big Cruise is crossing the line, plain and simple. Its negligent dumping practices amount to MILLIONS of gallons of pollution. That’s contributing to seagrass loss. Believe it or not, seagrass is a vital plant for surrounding communities and our planet. Seagrass beds store almost a fifth of the world’s oceanic carbon. That carbon storage helps keep us safe from some of the worst impacts of climate change. And as sea levels rise, these plants also help protect coastal communities from storm surges. But cruise ship pollution isn’t just leading to dying seagrass. It directly impacts wildlife, too. When these mammoth ships travel close to shore, they churn up sand and contaminants. These practices harm water quality. And they can cause marine wildlife to suffocate from lack of oxygen. What’s more, Big Cruise’s negligence harms coastal communities. The water pollution drives away fish and other marine animals they rely on. That’s not to mention the serious health risks and climate pollution associated with cruise ships’ air emissions. Big Cruise is literally toxifying our planet’s air, waters, and the ecosystems they rely on -- all for the sake of profit. How long will we let it get away with this? We have to stop the cruise industry’s reckless practices for the sake of wildlife, people, and the planet. Rush your $27 donation before the damage is irreversible! If you've saved payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: [Donate $27 immediately]( [Donate $50 immediately]( [Donate $100 immediately]( [Donate another amount]( We’re at a tipping point, Friend. Big Cruise has massive resources that put it in control of the story right now. If we don’t change the narrative soon, we could reach a point of no return when it comes to the health of our planet. Friends of the Earth is doing everything in our power to fight back against Big Polluters and ensure a better future for our planet. We are working to expose the large cruise industry for the polluting, greenwashing industry that it truly is by calling out all of its polluting ways and helping communities expose the industry as it continues to expand. At the same time, we’re pushing the EPA to regulate cruise ships. But we’re up against powerful foes like Big Cruise. These massive companies will stop at nothing to get their pay day. And our oceans, wildlife, and planet are paying the price. That’s why we have to hold Big Cruise accountable. Its toxic air and wastewater emissions are causing severe harm to animals, people, and the planet. Without action, Big Cruise companies like Carnival Corp. will continue to recklessly dump toxic wastewater into our ocean waters. And we could see the degradation of one of the few tools we have to slow down some of the impacts of climate change. We need your help to stop them and ensure a healthy future for our planet, Friend. Your membership support today will go a long way towards standing up against Big Polluters and fighting for a healthy and just planet. We’ve set an ambitious goal of $3,980 today to fuel this work -- but we’re falling short. If just 1 of every 9 activists reading this contributes, we can reach our goal to stand up for vulnerable species and the planet. Will you donate $27 today and join us in this fight? Don’t let Big Cruise put profit over people and our planet. Donate $27 today and help us reach our $3,980 goal before midnight! If you've saved payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: [Donate $27 immediately]( [Donate $50 immediately]( [Donate $100 immediately]( [Donate another amount]( Standing with you, Marcie Keever Oceans & vessels program director, Friends of the Earth Contact Us: Friends of the Earth U.S. Washington, D.C. | Berkeley, CA 1-877-843-8687 [Contact us]( Email Preferences: [Click here to unsubscribe]( Learn more: www.foe.org/news www.foe.org/about-us www.foeaction.org Connect: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Flickr]( © 2023, Friends of the Earth. All Rights Reserved. [supporter]