Showing posts with label World Oceans Day - June 8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Oceans Day - June 8. Show all posts
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Secretary-General's message on World Oceans Day 2012
New York, 8 June 2012 - Secretary-General's message on World Oceans Day
This year’s World Oceans Day falls as the international community marks an important milestone: the thirtieth anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
When the Convention opened for signature on 10 December 1982, it was rightly characterized as a “constitution for the oceans.” Forged through a process of negotiation among more than 150 States, the treaty is a living monument to international cooperation.
When it was adopted, the Convention on the Law of the Sea made treaty history. With 320 articles and 9 Annexes covering every aspect of the oceans and marine environment, the Convention sets out a delicate balance of rights and duties.
The protection of the world’s oceans and coasts is among the key goals of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, which will open in Rio de Janeiro in just 12 days. The Convention is contributing to this goal through its provisions, including on the preservation of the marine environment, marine scientific research and the transfer of marine technology.
We must do more for our world’s oceans, which are threatened by pollution, depleted fishery resources, the impacts of climate change and the deterioration of the marine environment. Rio+20 must mobilize the United Nations, governments and other partners to improve the management and conservation of oceans through initiatives to curb overfishing, improve protection of the marine environment and reduce ocean pollution and the impact of climate change.
There could be no more fitting way to commemorate World Oceans Day than for all countries that have not yet done so to ratify the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Let us make 2012 another milestone year for the world’s oceans, so that we can set sail toward the future we want.
Monday, 18 July 2011
Make a Pledge - The Pledge - One Ocean: The Nature of Things with David Suzuki: CBC-TV
Think resourcefully, reduce consumption and waste, get involved and protect the ocean.
Enter the ocean and experience it in a very personal way. Explore the past, present and future of the world's oceans and our race against the clock to save them.
Make a Pledge - The Pledge - One Ocean: The Nature of Things with David Suzuki: CBC-TV
Enter the ocean and experience it in a very personal way. Explore the past, present and future of the world's oceans and our race against the clock to save them.
Make a Pledge - The Pledge - One Ocean: The Nature of Things with David Suzuki: CBC-TV
- Ask about the sustainability of fish at retailers and restaurants. Ask a local fish retailer and restaurant owner about the sustainability of the products they sell.
- Buy fish directly from fishers on the dock. Learn about locally caught fish to contribute to sustainability.
- Buy locally and purchase organic. Buy locally to eliminate the need for transport, and choose organic products to reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides.
- Celebrate World Oceans Day and Rivers to Ocean Week. Help celebrate World Oceans Day, June 8 and Rivers to Ocean Week, June 8 - 14.
- Challenge local politicians to take action on sewage treatment. Write to local politicians in areas where sewage is not being treated, and stress the importance of responsible treatment procedures.
- Check the source of omega-3 products. Check the source of omega-3 products to limit menhaden harvesting.
- Choose vacation spots that support coral protection. Find out about the conservation policies of resorts you may visit.
- Collect garbage from beaches, lake shores or riverbanks. Clean up surrounding neighbourhoods, and set an example for others so local areas will be kept in good condition.
- Count and identify seabirds along the shore. Understand the connection between sea birds and other marine life.
- Demand more marine protected areas. Educate yourself, and then write the federal government and demand more marine protected areas.
- Dispose of garbage properly, on land or water. Carry a washable bag and collect garbage while you're out and about.
- Dispose of household hazardous wastes properly. Dispose of household hazardous wastes at proper waste disposal sites rather than dumping them down the drain or in the garbage.
- Dive responsibly. Be sure to book tours with accredited operators in order to protect coral.
- Eat more sustainable seafood. Eat more sustainable seafood species like sardines and mackerel.
- Eat organically grown food. Eat organically grown food and avoid the chemicals and industrial fertilizers that end up in the ocean.
- Explore a tide pool. Learn more about the diverse species that live in tide pools.
- Garden with mesh screens. Using mesh screens to garden helps control weeds and keeps rainwater in the water table.
- Go to the beach as often as possible. Learn how to appreciate the ocean by visiting often and developing a connection.
- Help restore a wetland, bog or riverside. Get involved with community groups working toward restoring wetlands, bogs, and riverside areas.
- Host a sustainable seafood dinner. Show your friends that eating sustainably can be helpful, fun and delicious.
- Learn about the seafood people eat. Learn more about the seafood people commonly eat and how it is caught.
- Learn about the source of meat products. Purchasing meat products responsibly can help to keep certain harmful wastes out of the ocean.
- Learn how to dive or snorkel. Go diving or snorkelling to gain first-hand knowledge of the ocean and its creatures.
- Learn how to identify local ocean species. Gain more knowledge about the diverse species living in the ocean.
- Learn how we are all connected to the world's ocean. Learn how we, as society, are connected to the world's ocean, even if we don't live near it.
- Learn more about northern marine ecosystems. Find out more about northern marine ecosystems, which support wildlife species found only in the Arctic.
- Listen to elders' stories about ocean change. Listen to the stories of elders about the changes they have seen in the ocean.
- Look for books, music, and movies about the ocean. Learn more about the ocean so you can help protect it.
- Make a list of things the global ocean does for our planet. Find out how we're connected to the ocean and get motivated to help protect it.
- No longer de-ice walkways with salt. Keep harmful chemicals from getting to the ocean by avoiding using them in your every day life.
- Only buy vintage or fake coral jewellery. Don't purchase any coral items that were harvested unsustainably.
- Organize or support an environmental fair. Organize or support an environmental fair with ocean-themed games and activities.
- Plant as many trees as possible. Plant new trees to help absorb carbon dioxide, prevent erosion, and store rainwater to keep pollutants out of the ocean.
- Post "No Dumping" & "No Littering" signs. Post "No Dumping" signs beside wetlands and rivers and "No Littering" signs on community property such as schoolyards.
- Practice and promote recycling. Choose reusable products wherever possible, and recycle plastic materials.
- Reduce personal carbon emissions. Develop a plan to reduce personal carbon emissions by 80 per cent.
- Reduce pesticide use and ocean-bound contaminants. Support or initiate programs to reduce pesticide use and ocean-bound contaminants, especially along waterways.
- Reduce plastic consumption. Reduce plastic consumption by choosing items with reusable or recyclable packaging.
- Research environmentally-friendly alternatives to wasteful or hazardous products. Consult a local library or the Internet for information about environmentally- friendly alternatives to wasteful or hazardous products.
- Research seaweed as a source of food and refuge for ocean species. Research the importance of seaweed as a source of food and refuge for many ocean species and learn how over-harvesting can affect marine life.
- Research the fish that used to be in the ocean closest to home. Find out more about the number, species and size of fish that used to be in the ocean closest to your home.
- Set-up a community acidification experiment. Set-up an acidification experiment with your circle of friends to show people how chalk disintegrates in vinegar, just like coral reefs will in an acidic ocean.
- Share info about the affects of CO2 emissions. Read more about the affects of CO2 emissions on the ocean and share that information with others.
- Study an ocean ecosystem. Study an ocean ecosystem, such as a kelp forest, coral reef, rocky shore or sandy beach.
- Support conservation organizations. Support conservation organizations involved with protection of the oceans.
- Teach a child how to responsibly catch and eat fish. Teach a child how to catch and eat fish while obeying local fishing regulations.
- Tell politicians to stop ocean acidification. Tell politicians to stop ocean acidification by cutting CO2 emissions drastically and then start a petition to get others involved.
- Use non-toxic cleaning products. Choose to purchase environmentally safe products for use in your household.
- Visit an aquarium whenever possible. Learn new things about all of the different marine animals you can meet at an aquarium.
- Watch an ocean documentary. Go to a theatre, watch online, or rent a movie about the ocean. You'll find out more about the many issues facing it.
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