June 8th - World Oceans Day
2015 theme: Healthy oceans, healthy planet.
"We have to ensure that oceans continue to meet our needs without compromising those of future generations. They regulate the planet?s climate and are a significant source of nutrition. Their surface provides essential passage for global trade, while their depths hold current and future solutions to humanity?s energy needs." -Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
"World Oceans Day, held every June 8th, is the United Nations-recognized day of ocean celebration and action. People all over our blue planet organize celebrations ? which can be a huge event in your community, a special announcement, or anything in between ? to support action to protect the ocean.
...This year in particular WorldOceansDay.org will provide special resources on plastic pollution. The ocean and its wildlife is choking on plastic, and we need to both stop this pollution at the source, and clean it up from the coasts.". [Source].
Happy Oceans Day everyone!
June 8th - World Oceans Day
Plastic Pollution
I believe the best way to celebrate something is to acknowledge its importance, identify a problem related to it and contribute in any way possible.
Quick facts:
-approx. 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year
-the plastic accumulatesin 5 areas where currents converge
-a third of it is concentrated in theinfamous Great Pacific Garbage Patch
!!at least 1 mill. seabirds, 100,000 marine mammal die each yeardue to plastic pollution
!!survival of at least 100+ species, including the Hawaiian Monk Seal and Loggerhead Turtle, could be jeopardized by plastic debris
!! toxic chemical (PCBs, DDTs) are adsorbed into plastic, these persistent organic pollutants bio-accumulate in the food chain, resulting in an even higher concentration of pollutants inside fish, including ones consumed by humans(Health effects linked to these chemicals are: cancer, malformation and impaired reproductive ability)
For more information, please visit:https://www.theoceancleanup.com/(source)
Plastic pollution and sea turtles
Did you know?
- Plastic bags are petroleum-based and do not biodegrade.
!! Sea turtles and other marine creatures mistake plastics and other garbage as food (such as jellyfish) and ingest it. This mistake causes blockages within their digestive system and eventual death.
- According to the US EPA, Americans use more than 380 billion plastic bags and wraps each year. It takes 12 million barrels of oil to produce this many bags.
- Worldwide, as many as one trillion plastic bags are used each year. This equates to 100 million barrels of oil!
- Less than 5% of plastic is recycled worldwide
Learn more:https://www.seeturtles.org/ocean-plastic/(source)
https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/rare-sea-turtles-eating-plastic-at-record-rate
What can you do?
Refuse
Avoid using single-use and disposable plastics like bags and bottles, straws, cups, plates, silverware and razors.
Reduce
Reduce waste: buy in bulk, buy vegetables and legumes without prepackaging, and look for products and packaging made from renewable resources. Choose products that have the least amount of disposable parts like toothbrushes with replaceable brushes. Consuming less will decrease the waste of unnecessary plastics. Become a responsible consumer!
Reuse
Reuse preferably nontoxic (glass, stainless steel) containers and goods to make less waste.
Recycle
Recycle is the last option! Be aware that many plastics are not recyclable and are accidentally lost into waterways and oceans. Further, in most countries plastics cannot be recycled due to the lack of financial resources to have a recycle program.
Educate with a smile
Educate (but don't preach) others about the suggestions listed above and why plastics are dangerous. Whenever you can, set an example by following the above list. People will catch on even if it takes while.
Learn more:https://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/plastickills.html(source)
Other helpful resources:
https://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/marinedebris/md_impacts.cfm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_pollution#Ocean
Must watch:
TEDed -What really happens to the plastic you throw away - Emma Bryce:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6xlNyWPpB8
The follwoing is areally beautiful example on what can be done by each of us and even if you don't have a river nearby, if you see a plastic bag, do a good deed today. Pick it up and place it in a recycling bin.
https://www.trueactivist.com/man-cleans-up-trash-from-riverbank-on-his-way-to-work/
Let us know how you got involved in celebrating the World Oceans Day!
Thank you very much for all of this amazing information,@Vixiana! I have checked out a few links so far, and have already learnt a lot more than I was aware of. So thank you very much for sharing!
Really happy to hear that! Hopefully more people can learn about it :) Thanks to your wonderful idea there will be a chance to learnabout many more things in the upcoming days and months.
