World Oceans Day 2021 celebrates 'The Ocean: Life & Livelihoods'

Happy World Oceans Day! I begin today's celebration by quoting the description for this day from National Day Calendar, something I have done for other holidays, but not this one.

World Oceans Day takes place every 8 June. It is an annual observation to honor, help protect, and conserve the world’s oceans. The ocean provides us with many resources and services including oxygen, climate regulation, food sources, medicine, and more

The sea is important because it:

• Provides food for people
• Makes oxygen
• Impacts weather everywhere
• Purifies water that runs to the ocean, evaporates and falls as rain
• Provides the basis for a large number of medicines
  

...

The concept was initially proposed in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD) and the Ocean Institute of Canada.

At the first World Oceans Day in 1992, the objectives were to move the oceans from the sidelines to the center of the international discussions and to strengthen the voice of marine and coastal constituencies worldwide.

World Oceans Day events are celebrated on 8 June, the closest weekend, the week, and the month of 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.

The United Nations declared this year's theme to be "The Ocean: Life & Livelihoods." Follow over the jump for three videos from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UNESCO about World Ocean Day in general and this theme in particular.

UNEP uploaded two videos related to today, beginning with yesterday's exhortation to activism, Protecting Seas and Oceans also protects our human rights.

The ocean is home to marine life and to our food. It supports our livelihoods, cultures and economies. Marine pollution damages these aspects of our lives, and infringes on the human rights attached to them. Ensure your rights regarding oceans are being promoted, protected and respected.

The list of citizen and consumer actions in the video reminds me of the graphic "10 things you can do to change the food system" at the end of On Thanksgiving eve, I present "Food, Inc." Both serve as guides to consumer and citizen action, even if they don't overlap much on the specific actions.

Today, UNEP asked What action can you take today to save our oceans?

On this World Oceans day, Lewis Pugh took a dip with some Cape Fur Seals off the tip of Africa near Cape Town.

During his swim, the UN Patron of the Oceans asks us to consider our impact on oceans and what we can do to make a positive difference to save our seas.

The underwater footage should look familiar, as it's in the same general location as the setting of My Octopus Teacher.

UNESCO uploaded their own video about today, World Oceans Day: How Marine World Heritage builds resilience for people and nature.

Spread across 37 nations from the tropics to the poles, the 50 UNESCO marine World Heritage sites are among the ocean’s most productive waters. Their abundance of marine life is vital to sustain the livelihoods of indigenous communities, local businesses and artists alike.

The focus on coral reefs reminds me that June 1 was World Reef Awareness Day, which I wrote that I should observe in Happy World Rainforest Day! I missed this year, but tomorrow is Coral Triangle Day, so I might just post about coral reefs tomorrow. Stay tuned.