WORLD OCEAN DAY 2020

The oceans are of great significance in our life. Oxygen is essential for our breathing and the ocean meets the amount of oxygen. But increasing the amount of  Pollution every day and plastic waste is contaminating the oceans, which many of the sea creatures die by eating. 

Every year World Ocean Day is celebrated just to remind us that oceans are our responsibility. Because they play an important role in human life. 

When was First Ocean Day Celebrated?

The first World Ocean Day was celebrated on June 8, 2009. Since then, World Ocean Day is celebrated on June 8 every year.

History of Ocean Day

 The Government of Canada proposed the concept of a World Ocean Day, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. In 2002, The Ocean Project began to globally promote and coordinate World Oceans Day development and activities.

World Ocean Day, together with the World Ocean Network and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 2004 to 2008, we developed and widely circulated a petition urging the United Nations to officially recognize World Ocean Day as 8 June each year.

As a result of the work of hundreds of our partners, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in December 2008, officially recognizing 8 June as WOD every year.

Why do we celebrate World Oceans Day?

We celebrate World Oceans Day to remind 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 main reason for celebrating WOD is to create world awareness about the importance of the oceans in the world and the challenges they face. Apart from this, the aspects related to the ocean include highlighting food safety, biodiversity, ecological balance, indiscriminate use of marine resources, climate change etc.

What is the theme of World Ocean Day 2020?

The theme of  World Oceans Day 2020 is "Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean"

How are we Polluting Oceans?

    

Some people who live far away from the sea say that we are not only contaminating the oceans. But not so, all the garbage in our homes goes into oceans,

Plastic wastage is thrown into the rivers and then these rivers  join the  oceans. Thus, every human being responsible for ocean pollution.


Have you read - What are major Ocean Environmental Problems and solutions ?

More than 80% of marine pollution comes from land-based activities. From coral bleaching to sea level rise, entire marine ecosystems are rapidly changing.

Global warming is causing alterations in  many oceanic processes, and it is threatening many species of marine animals that cannot Live in higher temperatures. Overfishing is a serious problem in many parts of the world.

How much Plastic is in Our Oceans?

Each year, an estimated 18 billion pounds of plastic waste enters the world's ocean from coastal regions. 

All that plastic is causing harm to the creatures that live in the ocean, from coral reefs smothered in bags , to Turtles gagging on straws , to whales and seabirds that starve because their bellies are so jammed with bits of plastic that there’s no room for real food.

Albatross carcass and marine debris 

About 40% of all plastic produced is used in packaging, and much of that is  single use. Less than a fifth of all plastic is recycled, though many countries  are trying innovative solutions to increase that number.

 plastics take thousands of years to decay. As a result, marine species are becoming intoxicated. In the most polluted  ocean, the mass of plastic exceeds the amount of plankton six times over. This is a large piece of evidence that leaves the problem of polluted oceans undeniable. It is upsetting that more clean up efforts are not taking place.

Plastic  breaks up into tiny pieces that are consumed by fish and sea mammals and it is  killing more than 100,000 sea turtles and birds a year from ingestion and entanglement. Chemicals in plastics are released into the water as well as the atmosphere. Fish easily become contaminated from the chemicals in the water.

Oceans and the Sustainable Development Goals 

The sixth Our Ocean Conference  took place in Oslo, Norway, from 23-24 October 2019. The Ocean Conference was convened to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

How can we stop Ocean pollution?

some ways to save oceans for common man 

1. Use less polythene  as much as possible  because we cannot totally avoid plastic; it is a  bitter truth.

2.  Reduce your carbon emission because In the last half-century, the ocean has absorbed 90%  of the excess heat created by burning fossil fuels.

3.  using carpooling means sharing a car with others or using a public vehicle if it is possible. 

4.   Don't Purchase items that Exploit Marine Life.

5.   Many organizations are fighting to protect ocean habitats and marine wildlife please support them. 

6.  Educate Yourself and Others About Oceans and the Importance of  Marine Life. 

How can we Celebrate Ocean Day?

How we can celebrate ocean day 

1.  Attend an official World Oceans Day event near you.Log on to the World Oceans Day website to view a map of World Oceans Day events taking place around the world and find one close to you. Some events are even hosted online, so you can take part from anywhere in the world.

You can view a map of events here -- https://www.worldoceansday.org/

2. Clean up trash at your local beach, river, park, canals. Create a committee of some  people at your level and take oath that we will not  litter in our vicinity rivers.

Clean up trash at your local beach, and rivers 

3.  Make arrangements for parties and make people aware that ocean and marine life are of  utmost importance for a man.

4. Teach kids how to protect the ocean with WOD lesson plans.

5.  Films, TV shows, and documentaries can immerse you in the fascinating life under the  sea and inform you about important environmental issues and ocean conservation efforts.

6. Avoid plastic as much as you can.

7. Donate to an organization that helps to protect the ocean if it is possible for you .

Theme of World Ocean Day 2019 

The theme for 2019’s World Oceans Day is “Gender and Oceans”. 

Theme of world Ocean day 2019 "Gender and ocean "

Conclusion 

Our Oceans are in serious trouble, from coral bleaching to biodiversity loss.  Healthy 

Oceans save lives and livelihoods. We need urgent  climate action to protect our oceans and our future.  

Thank you !!!