WORLD OCEANS DAY
June 8, 2016
World Oceans Day is celebrated all over the world every year on June 8. The concept was first proposed in 1992 and in 2008 the UN General Assembly designated 8 June as World Oceans Day.
The ocean is the heart of our planet. Like your heart pumping blood to every part of your body, the ocean connects people across the Earth, no matter where we live.
The ocean regulates the climate, feeds millions of people every year, produces oxygen, is the home to an incredible array of wildlife, provides us with important medicines, and so much more!
In order to ensure the health and safety of our communities and future generations, it’s imperative that we take the responsibility to care for the ocean as it cares for us.
This year, the theme is HEALTHY OCEANS, HEALTHY PLANET, and we’re making a special effort to stop plastic pollution.
There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic trash in the world’s oceans, and each year, 8 million tons of plastic are added to the count.
Plastic pollution is a serious threat because it degrades very slowly, polluting waterways for a very long time. In addition, plastic pollution impacts the health of aquatic animals because animals mistake the micro beads for food. Scientists also fear health impacts for humans.
(Material source www.un.org)
Lethal lesions and amputation caused by plastic debris and fishing gear on the loggerhead turtle.
It is our duty to keep the ocean plastic free.
#world oceans day image credit: www.zsl.org
