Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of legendary environmentalist, inventor of the AquaLung, and underwater explorer Captain Jacques Cousteau, visited Richland, Michigan at Gull Lake High School as a distinguished speaker. His talk was part of the Gull Lake Community Schools Foundation’s Distinguished Speaker Series. The title of his lecture  “Our Water, Our World” focuses on our responsibilities to future generations and covers areas such as sustainability, best practices for individuals and communities. Throughout his talk the marine explorer, filmmaker, and environmentalist highlighted the unbreakable connection between us and the oceans. During his lecture series Jean-Michel came across has a man who cares deeply for humanity as he does for the sea. Cousteau said. “If you protect the ocean, you protect yourself.”
Halfway into his talk rain began falling on the gymnasium roof. “The oceans [are] falling on the building! We’re part of the whole system,” he said.

During his lecture, Cousteau spoke of his father, the late Captain Jacques Cousteau.
Jean-Michel showed a newly created tribute video of his  father. The video showcased the late Jacques giving a warning in 1971 that if nothing is done to stop environmental damage to the seas “in 30 to 40 years it will be the end of everything.” Jean told the audience that “we have maybe 10 more years to turn things around.”

Who’s to blame? It’s easy to point fingers, Cousteau said, “but remember when you point, you have three fingers pointing back at you.” He said that “sitting down, showing, talking — not arguing” is the best way to come to agreements in environmental matters.

Talking Scuba posed a written question during a Q/A asking what he thought was his biggest achievement, he said, came after a meeting with President George W. Bush.
Inspired by Cousteau and his documentary “Voyage to Kure,” Bush established the protected Papahanaumokuaea Marine National Monument, 140,000 square miles from Midway Island to Hawaii in 2006.

After the presentation Cousteau took the time to dedicate his recent book, My Father, The Captain: My Life with Jacques Cousteau to the production crew of Talking Scuba. The line to have memorabilia and books signed stretched all the way back into the Gymnasium, where the presentation took place. Those that attended, experienced a rare opportunity to meet  a fine upstanding gentleman who’s lectures and films inspire us all to be better stewards of our natural resources.