Mrs. Cousteau awarded honorary UMM degree

MACHIAS – Francine Cousteau is passionate about carrying on the legacy of her late husband, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, to leave behind a world that future generations can enjoy, and to raise public awareness of critical environmental issues.

Capt. Cousteau was the legendary undersea explorer, author and ecologist who died June 25, 1997, at the age of 87.

The diminutive Francine Cousteau, whose first language is French but who is fluent in English, was the keynote speaker Saturday at the 92nd annual commencement at the University of Maine at Machias.

She was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters. The degree was bestowed upon the internationally renowned ecologist for her outstanding achievements in continuing the work of her late husband to protect the Earth.

Cousteau on Saturday characterized her first trip to Washington County as an exploration.

“For me, it is a discovery,” she said with a laugh. “When you only look at a map, you see this coast, but it is incredible … with thousands of places to explore, and this kind of location is perfect for education.”

Cousteau spent Friday night at a bed-and-breakfast in Machiasport and was delighted Saturday morning when she saw an eagle flying lazily overhead.

Cousteau, who is president of the Cousteau Society of the United States and Equipe Cousteau de France, spoke ardently about the three-pronged mission of the society: education, environmental awareness and the rights of future generations.

The society has developed numerous educational programs that target audiences from grade school to university students and include everything from classroom initiatives to a 63-episode cartoon series that depicts Jacques Cousteau’s adventures.

But it was clear during an interview Saturday that Francine Cousteau is concerned about what she called “justice for the environment.”

Last year, she delivered a 9,000-signature petition to the United Nations asking the international body to adopt a bill of rights for future generations. She said it was her husband who demonstrated the incredible fragility of the world.

“Little by little, he awakened our consciousness to the duty we have to protect that fragile future,” she said.

Cousteau also has pursued justice for the environment through the International Court of Justice at The Hague, which could not help her, she said, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration, also in The Hague, which could.

“I discovered that the Permanent Court of Arbitration was working on tools to solve the disputes with matters concerning natural resources and the environment,” she explained.

The Cousteau Society, under her leadership, also has launched an international effort to create an international court for the environment.

“Today [Saturday] there was a big meeting in Rome where all the judges, the heads of the supreme courts of Europe, met to discuss this issue of the necessity of an international court for the environment,” she said.

The society’s primary expedition ship, Alcyone, is now conducting a five-year research program throughout the world’s endangered oceans and rivers.

Born Francine Triplet in the Limousin region of central France, Cousteau is an ardent student of foreign languages who trained at the French School of Interpretation.

In her address to the graduates, she urged them to look deep inside themselves and “dare to explore the dreams and boost yourself to reach them.”

Cousteau received a standing ovation.