RCL Royal Caribbean Group

MEDIA ADVISORY -- Call to Action Wednesday, October 29 Oceana to Call on Chicago Area Residents To Stop Vacationing with Royal Carribean CHICAGO, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- WHAT: Oceana, a non-profit international ocean advocacy organization, is joining with Illinois supporters to hold a call to action launching a national pledge campaign encouraging citizens to tell Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (NYSE:RCL) that they will not spend their vacation dollars with the company until it ends its practice of dumping inadequately treated sewage into the oceans. Brief history of Chicago area community support: Recently, Oceana began a public education campaign throughout the Chicago area. Since the Chicago area campaign began, 25 local travel agencies said they support Oceana's campaign and over 2,500 people living in the Chicago area have pledged not to cruise with RCL until they clean up their act. On Wednesday, Oceana will open this pledge opportunity to the remaining Chicago area public. On October 2, 100 concerned Chicago area citizens participated in a national call-in day, contacting RCL headquarters and then inquiring about their environmental policies. In addition, 50 concerned Chicago citizens and students posed for photographs holding cartoon-style speech bubbles with sayings like, "I won't take my spring break cruise with RCL." All of the visual petitions were emailed to RCL CEO Richard Fain. WHEN: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 at 12 noon WHERE: The Historic Water Tower, 800 N. Michigan Ave. WHO: Speakers: Bryan Hirsch, Illinois Stop Cruise Pollution Coordinator Albert Ettinger, Senior Staff Attorney, Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest Liam J. Heneghan, Ph.D., Director, Public Policy Program and Associate Professor of Environmental Science, DePaul University Supporting organizations: Illinois Student Environmental Network Alaska Coalition Illinois Citizens Action COOL (Conserve our Oceans Legacy Campaign) WHY: Discharges from cruise ships endanger our oceans, marine life and human health. Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines are needlessly dumping vast amounts of inadequately treated sewage and other harmful wastes into some of the most pristine parts of our oceans every day. This pollution is 100% preventable. Royal Caribbean has the resources and technology to literally clean up its act. The health of our oceans depends upon it. Photo and video opportunities available ... banner, signs, a cutout cruise ship, protester dressed in dolphin costume and the Water Tower backdrop DATASOURCE: Oceana CONTACT: Toni Antonetti, +1-847-949-0097, or Carolyn Staven, +1-773-348-0566, both for Oceana

Copyright