Dr. Stathis Avramidis, the Co-Chairman of the International Aquatic History Symposium & Film Festival, always stresses the importance of the individual and their safety.

“This is illustrated by this story, a story inspired the work of the Lifesaving Foundationin Ireland. It was adapted from ‘The Star Thrower’ by Loren Eiseley 1907–1977. The philosophy of the Lifesaving Foundation is illustrated by this starfish story.”

Early one morning, while walking along the ocean shore, a man came upon a stretch of beach covered with hundreds of starfish. Also on the beach was a young woman. The man watched as she picked up the starfish one at a time and put them gently back into the waves. “What are you doing?” he asked. The woman explained. “The tide has washed the starfish onto the beach, and they cannot return to the sea by themselves. They are dying from the relentless sun beating down.” The man gazed in wonder as she again and again moved a starfish from the sand into the water. At last he spoke: “There are too many! How can you think that what you are doing can possibly make a difference?” Once again she bent down and picked up another starfish. As the starfish was released into the cool safety of the water, she simply replied, “It made a difference to that one.”

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