Today 8 June we celebrate World Oceans Day, to bring to mind everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life.
On 8 June each year, we celebrate the ocean, its importance in our lives, and how each of us can protect it, no matter where we live. World Oceans Day liftoff the profile of the ocean, connects people worldwide and inspires continuing action year-round to protect and rebuild this amazing resource that we all depend on.
We celebrate World Oceans Day, to bring to mind everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. The purpose of the Day is to inform the public of the impact of our 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. The oceans are the source of all life on earth, and every day, they continue to nurture us. Oceans provide half the oxygen we breathe. Oceans regulate our climate and our rainfall. Oceans give us a bounty of seafood; they revitalize us with their beauty and their splendor. In return, many people treat the ocean as both landfill and bottomless provider. Its creatures are harvested to the point of extinction, and pollution, trash and oil spills are thoughtlessly dumped back. Over 80% of the earth’s creatures live in the oceans, and we too depend on the oceans for a healthy world. We need to protect our oceans because without them life on Earth would't and can't exist. Oceans 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.
History
“For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.” ― Jacques-Yves Cousteau
World Oceans Day takes place every 8 June. The concept was originally proposed 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 (also known as the World Commission on Environment and Development), provided the inspiration for a global oceans day. The 1987 Brundtland Report noted that the ocean sector lacked a strong voice compared to other sectors. At the first World Oceans Day in 1992, the objectives were to move the oceans from the sidelines to the center of the intergovernmental and NGO discussions and policy and to strengthen the voice of ocean and coastal constituencies worldwide.
Since 2002, there has been a concerted effort to promote World Oceans Day as a unique opportunity to celebrate the ocean. The Ocean Project, working in partnership with leading organizations from all sectors, including the World Ocean Network, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and many others in its network of 2,000 organizations, has been promoting World Oceans Day since 2002 and together with World Ocean Network led a four-year global petition movement to secure official UN recognition. Each year there are more organizations world-wide who mark World Oceans Day.
In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution officially recognizing 8 June to be "World Oceans Day", effective 2009, through Resolution 63/111 (paragraph 171). As such, the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs promotes the celebration of this International Day for the United Nations.
Why we celebrate World Ocean Day?
“Whenever I look at the ocean, I always want to talk to people, but when I'm talking to people, I always want to look at the ocean.” ― Haruki Murakami
We celebrate World Oceans Day, to bring to mind everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. The purpose of the Day is to inform the public of the impact of our 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.
The oceans are the source of all life on earth, and every day, they continue to nurture us. Oceans provide half the oxygen we breathe. Oceans regulate our climate and our rainfall. Oceans give us a bounty of seafood; they revitalize us with their beauty and their splendor.
In return, many people treat the ocean as both landfill and bottomless provider. Its creatures are harvested to the point of extinction, and pollution, trash and oil spills are thoughtlessly dumped back. Over 80% of the earth’s creatures live in the oceans, and we too depend on the oceans for a healthy world. We need to protect our oceans because without them life on Earth would't and can't exist.
Oceans 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.
Ocean Sustainability
“The use of the sea and the air is joint to all; but nobody has a title to the ocean belong to any people or private persons, inasmuch as neither nature nor public use and custom permit any possession thereof.” ― Queen Elizabeth I
The Ocean Project recognizes that there is one global ocean that connects us all. Within our one ocean, there are five distinct oceans: the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and the Southern Ocean. Until 2009, people promoted “World Ocean Day” but added the “s” after the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in late 2008 officially recognizing June 8th as World Oceans Day. Perhaps one day the UN will embrace the singular “Ocean” but in the meantime, we are following the UN-designated use of World Oceans Day to show solidarity for the conservation of this important resource that connects us all.
World Oceans Day events are celebrated on 8 June. The day is marked in a variety of ways, including launching new campaigns and initiatives, special events at aquariums and zoos, outdoor explorations, aquatic and beach cleanups, educational and conservation action programs, art contests, film festivals, and sustainable seafood events. Youth have been playing an increasingly important role since 2015. The World Oceans Day Youth Advisory Council has been helping lead conservation awareness and action efforts globally since 2016.
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