Ocean River Institute Inc. is a small but powerful organization that I have come to respect a great deal. Their work extends to a variety of issues, dealing with every size waterway; literally, no watersource is too big or too small for their attention. Their work becomes even more important in the wake of a disaster like the current Gulf oil spill and its impact on the environment and wildlife affected. ORI works directly with communities and small groups, rather than being a huge, impersonal organizational machine, so a relationship between people and nature is always forged. This, in turn, fosters respect for the environment and a working partnership. That is essential to caring responsibly for the planet.