As declared by the United Nations the June 8th is celebrated around the world as the world oceans day. This day reminds everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. They are the lungs of our planet, providing most of the oxygen we breathe. The purpose of the Day is to inform the public of the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and 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. In the end, it is a day to celebrate together the beauty, the wealth and the promise of the ocean.
Gender and the Ocean: The World Oceans day theme for the year 2019
According to the UN this year, the world oceans day theme focuses on building greater ocean and gender literacy, and to discover possible ways to promote gender equality in ocean-related activities such as marine scientific research, fisheries, labour at sea, migration by sea and human trafficking, as well as policy-making and management.
The importance of gender equality — in particular for the effective conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources — is increasingly recognized. However, there is very little data and research on these issues, and a concerted action towards gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is still needed in all ocean-related sectors to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5.
The UN is hosting a conference in celebration of World Oceans Day. Storytellers and speakers from around the world will join to share perspectives to build greater ocean and gender literacy and discover possible ways to promote gender equality in ocean-related activities.
The Battle Against Plastic Pollution
This year, the President of the General Assembly launched ‘Play It Out’, a global campaign against plastic pollution. Decades of overuse and a surge in single-use plastics has led to a global environmental catastrophe. Today, 13,000,000 tonnes of plastic leak into the ocean every year, what among other damage, kill 100,000 marine animals annually. While most plastics are expected to remain intact for decades or centuries after use, those that do erode end up as micro-plastics, consumed by fish and other marine wildlife, quickly making their way into the global food chain.
From plastic straws to plastic bags, we all are at the frontline of efforts to #BeatPlasticPollution.
Sri Lanka and the Ocean: Just another horror story?
Sri Lanka, being an island nation is blessed with a very large area of ocean falling under her territory, and we as a nation reap enormous amount of benefits from the ocean. But as a nation do we do enough to safe guard this precious natural gift? Just a 20 meter walk along the beach on any day of the year will give you the answer! Today the beach and the ocean we see around us has almost become the garbage dump of the country. Large amount of plastics and other waste are dumped in to the see annually. So it’s almost the time to stop this and educate people about the importance of the ocean as a major part of the ecosystem around us. Most of the time people do not hesitate to throw their litter to the ocean because the ocean is just a huge endless body of water to them.
Source – https://www.un.org/en/events/oceansday/
Featured image – Paulo Oliveira/Alamy (www.nrdc.org/)
#WorldOceansDay #SaveOurOcean
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