Held in honor of the United Nations International Days, Speak! St. Pete is a new series of programs organized to address worldwide social issues. This month's pair of panels focus on World Environment Day and World Ocean Day. Featured guests include Philippe Cousteau, who continues the work of his father and grandfather, Philippe Cousteau, Sr. and Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau, via his nonprofit environmental education and conservation organization, EarthEcho International; Dr. Noel Brown, who, aside from serving on numerous environmental boards, is the current president of Friends of the United Nations; ocean awareness and protection pioneer, and The Ocean Project founder Dr. Paul Boyle; and Dr. Frank Muller-Karger, a USF professor of Biological Oceanography and director of the Institute for Marine Remote Sensing. No respectable environmental program would be complete without an appearance by Ed Begley Jr., who moderates the discussions. Conch Republic provides free eats, Pirate's Choice Rum offers free rum samples, and live concerts by contemporary artists Kristin Hoffman and Robert Aviles & Insight follow each discussion. Sat., June 9, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg, $15 general/$5 seniors, military and children under 18 (free admission to college students with I.D.), 727-892-5798, speakstpete.com.
