When the Gulf of Mexico and its coastal residents experienced the tragic oil spill in April 2010, Lucy Buffett could not sit by idle as the situation became more and more alarming…watching as crude oil flowed mercilessly into her beautiful Gulf of Mexico, she felt a responsibility to act as her childhood home, its beaches, its people, and its habitat suffered.

In an editorial Lucy wrote shortly after the disaster became public knowledge, that begins, “Dear coastal inhabitants everywhere and all who know the joy of putting their toes in the ocean,” she mused on the nature of our universal “one-ness” in the face of such a global, not just local, catastrophe:

“You see (this) is how we live here on the Gulf Coast. When I say “we,” I mean ALL OF US. Our love of the water: the Gulf, the bays, the rivers, the estuaries, and the way we enjoy it, is absolutely holistic and transcends race, religion, socio-economic status, gender, and political affiliation. The Gulf Coast is where the everyday person can play and recreate. We love where we live and are proud of it.

Recently, I asked a friend of mine’s six-year old if she knew how many oceans there were. “One, Miss Lucy,” she promptly responded. Then with a little hesitation, she added, “Don’t they all touch?” Out of the mouths of babes! What is happening in our backyard could just as easily be happening in yours. But does it matter? We are all one!”

It was from Lucy’s deep love for her home and its resilient residents, the Gulf of Mexico, and all its entities, as well as her life-long, spiritual belief in a true kinship existing between all living things, that the One Love One Ocean campaign was born.

The One Love One Ocean mission is to promote the inherent connectivity between a healthy ocean, social and political tolerance, and life. Lucy was certain that by raising awareness, ALL people that are sustained by the oceans, through unified, global, brotherly and sisterly love, the Gulf of Mexico, her wildlife, and her coasts, could eventually recover from the oil crisis. Lucy’s mantra echoes, “We are all in this together!”
Lucy started with a simple idea: to raise funds to assist in the overwhelming task of coastal clean-up and education. She and her team designed a special One Love One Ocean t-shirt to be sold at her restaurant, LuLu's at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

The t-shirt sales took off locally, as residents felt a common need to bond and express their grief, heartbreak, but absolute resolve to stop the oil spill and save their coastal home and its living habitat!

When Lucy’s big brother, Jimmy Buffett, wore the t-shirt in front of tens of thousands of people on the beach for the Jimmy Buffett & Friends: Gulf Coast Benefit Concert, which was broadcasted LIVE on CMT, to an audience of millions, let’s just say the sales increased…substantially.

Attention on the One Love One Ocean t-shirt campaign found a much wider, even global, audience. With its grass-roots sincerity and positive message, One Love One Ocean eventually sparked the attention of the Bob Marley Family’s 1LOVE.org foundation, also committed to “(empowering) people to take action for sustainable and responsible living. And encouraging acts of love and kindness that change the world little by little.” (excerpt from the 1LOVE.org mission statement http://www.1love.org/). Currently, through a partnership with the Bob Marley family and Gary Shiffman of 1Love.org, Lucy Buffett and LuLu's has been able to truly spread the word…”we are all in this together,” and the future of our oceans is everyone’s RESPONSIBILITY.

Funds generated from One Love One Ocean related merchandise sales are now distributed through LuLu's to various organizations that support sustainability and education in oceanic and/or socio-political programs. Some of the amazing organizations that have benefited from this campaign include, but are not limited to a scholarship fund for the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (http://www.disl.org/); the “Noah’s Ark Project” with Gulf Specimen Marine Lab, Inc. (http://www.gulfspecimen.org/noahsark.html), an organization committed to offering a safe haven for marine life during similar catastrophes; and sponsoring a trip for 20 students from the Mad River Middle School in inner-city Dayton, Ohio for low-income students to travel to Gulf Shores and experience sea life up-close and in person.  

Through the waves of turmoil, Lucy Buffett and the One Love One Ocean campaign have helped to create a true “ocean” of hope… and YES, our Gulf Coast is slowly but surely recovering. One Love One Ocean embodies the spirit and heart of people with a positive outlook and a common spirit. As Lucy said during the height of the fear in the outcome of the spill on the Gulf of Mexico:

“The mighty and intelligent energy of the water, waves, and wind assured me that she (the Gulf) will survive this. With good intentions and innovative ideas, we can make a difference.”

Stay tuned for ONE LOVE ONE OCEAN campaign developments and funds distribution stories….