World Oceans Day 2019 – What you need to know

Across the world, people celebrate World Oceans Day to honour our oceans and to create a better future. As a society, we’ve pretty much done an excellent job of messing up the ocean, and it’s time we take responsibility for that.

We can give back by shifting our focus to ocean conservation during June. There are many ways to do it. It is, after all, up to each one of us to ensure that our oceans are healthy enough for future generations to enjoy.

Why celebrate World Oceans Day?

A healthy world ocean is critical to our survival. Every year, World Oceans Day provides a unique opportunity to honour, help protect, and conserve our world’s shared ocean. The ocean is important because it:

• Generates most of the oxygen we breathe
• Helps feed us
• Regulates our climate
• Cleans the water we drink
• Offers a pharmacopoeia of medicines
• Provides endless inspiration

How to commemorate World Ocean Day

It’s easy enough to get involved. You could plan an event officially, register it with the World Oceans Day Organization, or find other activities to attend. These include youth events, beach cleanups, etc.

But first, we need to change our perspective about the what oceans mean to us, and the impact it will have if we continue on our destructive path. We also need to learn more about the sea and the creatures in it.

Most importantly, we need to change our ways. According to the World Oceans Foundation, we are linked to, and through, the ocean. They said in a mission statement:

“By taking care of your backyard and helping in your community, you are acting as a caretaker of our ocean. Making small modifications to your everyday habits will make a difference, and involving your family, friends, and community will benefit our blue planet even more.”

Lastly, and this is the fun part: celebrate. Whether you live on coast or inland makes no matter. Do your part.

[H/t: WOD]