World Oceans Day is annually celebrated every June 8 and is an annual observation. It’s connected with the celebration of the Ocean Conference, held from 5 to 9 June in United Nations headquarters in New York.
History
Unofficially, it
has been celebrated since its original proposal in 1992 by Canada's
International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD) and the Ocean Institute of Canada
(OIC) at the Earth Summit - UN Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Brundtland Commission (The World
Commission on Environment and Development) provided the incentive for a global
oceans day as it noted that the ocean sector lacked a strong voice. In 1992,
the objectives were to move the oceans from the side lines to the centre of the
intergovernmental and NGO discussions and policy and to strengthen the voice of
ocean and coastal constituencies worldwide.
Consequently, World
Oceans Day was officially recognized by the United Nations in late 2008. The Ocean
Project, working closely with other similar organizations, has been promoting
World Oceans Day since 2002. This project has also led a three-year global
petition movement to secure official UN recognition.
Purpose of WOD
This day is particularly important for
Mother Nature as it honors the world’s oceans. It also highlights the
importance of the ocean in our daily lives. Its aim is to
raise awareness of the role of the oceans, the importance of protecting our
marine environment and its resources, the different impacts of human actions on
the ocean. Furthermore, it is about mobilising and uniting the world behind a
project of sustainable global ocean management. It raises global awareness of
the current challenges faced by the international community in connection with
the oceans. It’s about celebrating and honouring the bodies of water that links
us all. It’s about making a difference in your life, community, and world by
taking action to protect our ocean for present and future generations.
Importance
of oceans
The oceans cover approximately two-thirds
of the surface of the Earth and are the foundation of all life. Oceans provide
us with a myriad of resources and services such as oxygen (it is one of the
“lungs” of our planet, providing most of the oxygen we breathe), climate regulation,
nutrients, and food sources as well as absorb a large quantity of carbon
dioxide emissions. It’s also economically important for countries that rely on
tourism. They are a critical part of the biosphere. The oceans are vital to
food security and the health and survival of all life. It provides
an exceptional opportunity to take personal and community action to conserve
the ocean.
Why
do we celebrate WOD?
·
To remind everyone of the major
part the ocean has in everyday life. They are the lungs of our planet,
providing most of the oxygen we breathe.
·
To inform the public on the impact
of the human actions on the ocean.
·
To develop a worldwide movement of
citizens for the ocean.
·
To mobilize and unite the world’s
population on a project for the sustainable management of the world's oceans.
They are a major source of food and medicines and a critical part of the
biosphere.
·
To celebrate together the beauty,
the wealth and the promise of the ocean
·
To inspire younger generations to
get involved with oceans’ conservation.
Theme
The theme for 2017 is Our Oceans, Our Future. The focus of the conservation action is to
encourage solutions to plastic pollution and preventing marine litter for a
healthier ocean and a better future.
Ocean
Threats
Over the last few decades, habitat
destruction, pollution, overfishing, destructive fishing, and other forms of
exploitation to marine habitats have dramatically occurred. Even though, there are a myriad of challenges
facing the world’s ocean, it’s still possible to achieve a healthy ocean,
providing for the billions of humans, plants and animals which depend on it
daily. Around 3/4th of our planet is water, but as a result of the occurrence
of global warming, there's a threat to even the largest natural resource on
earth, namely water. As a result of climate change, ocean acidification has
taken place. Accordingly, there's a major hazard to the marine life which
thrives in the ocean. This means that it will lead to a loss of equilibrium in
the natural order of things.
How it’s celebrated?
World Oceans Day
events are celebrated on not only on June the 8th, but all month
long. This day entails
launching new campaigns and initiatives, outdoor explorations, aquatic and
beach clean-ups, educational and conservation action programs, art contests,
film festivals, and sustainable seafood events. You can
also show your support digitally by using the following hash tags on your
social media platforms: #SaveOurOcean,
#WorldOceansDay, #WorldOceansDay2017, #WOD2017, #Oceans.
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