For this soon to pass World Oceans Day, I feel somewhat at a loss for words when trying to convey my own impressions of, and concerns for, the oceans of this planet. Our oceans have been, and continue to be in serious trouble. The fact is, by the time you read this sentence, on average you will have taken maybe 3-4 breaths. Half of those are directly a result of the ocean, no matter where you live. The other half, perhaps from the plants around you, also wouldn’t exist without the oceans. Half of the planet’s oxygen comes from small one-celled plants in the ocean called phytoplankton. So you have this ecologically critical mix of blue and green. As renowned oceanographer Sylvia Earle once stated:
“No ocean, no life. No blue, no green. No ocean, no us.”
When I first got certified to dive back in 1993, it was out of a desire to explore what covers the majority of this water world. In fact, it played a significant part in igniting the next steps of my interest in photography. The sights down there were so wondrous, only a photograph was capable of explaining the “other-worldly” things I saw. Even then, it never came close to the experience.
To get a decent photograph back then, it took learning some photography skills with a trusty Nikonos V camera and 35mm slide film. Then, imagine being in the center of a bubble capable of spinning to any orientation you want and being amazed at every view. It was overwhelming to say the least.
It’s hard to believe that started 25 years ago. Today is another one of those recognition days to draw our attention to a key aspect of our environment. For sure, there is a lot happening to celebrate it. However, in comparison, it pales in comparison to a worldwide recognized day like Christmas. Of course, there are nearly 2000 years of ingrained history behind one vs. the other only being recognized by the UN since 2009 (unofficially since 1992). So I recognize a certain absurdity in the following: What if we traded Christmas recognition for giving more priority to the oceans?
Every year, many grimace and moan about how retailers begin promoting Christmas earlier and earlier. Can you imagine if all of this effort, money, attention, and focus was spent on our oceans every year? What if people made ocean lists instead of Christmas shopping lists? And aside from the overly commercialized aspects, what if it was discussed in communities as much? Is it possible for something so vital to every species on this planet to rise above this other day, which is an arbitrary date based on the Roman Winter Solstice?
I often try to take the perspective of an alien race visiting our planet and trying to understand its culture, society, and priorities. Can you imagine the discussion of trying to explain why one has so much more attention than the other in the context of true celebrations of life?
By the time this post is published and read, perhaps many will not even know it was World Ocean’s Day on June 08. Imagine a world if the same happened for another prominently recognized day. Maybe our attention for colorful decorations should be more on blue and green.
If you feel the generous Christmas, ahem Ocean, spirit, I have a post for contributions to Sylvia Earle’s Mission Blue on my Facebook Page. Another highly respectable organization – WildAid (a 4-star rated charity!) – is doing a World Oceans Day campaign with matching donations HERE.
from their campaign:
The rangers of Machalilla National Park patrol their waters day and night to protect nesting sea turtles, sea turtle hatchlings, the largest remaining population of giant mantas in the world, migrating humpback whales, and coral reefs. During patrols, rangers also remove floating gill nets and other marine debris that trap and kill 40,000 sea turtles every year in Ecuador. We need your help to meet our goal of raising $25,000.
I would happily trade all Christmas recognition for more Ocean awareness. Living on what is essentially a very large island, Australians tend to be well aware of the fragility of our oceans though even here, nowhere near enough is done. Still there are a number of agencies, that I help out when I can, that do try to make a difference and for our local seas, it has helped. I have also read about groups that are working on all sorts of things to help clean the oceans so there are a lot of people actually doing something but unfortunately rarely get the media attention they deserve. I often wish that Elon Musk would turn his attention more towards home than Mars because that’s the kind of money and attention the oceans need.
Yes I can understand how Australians might feel it more poignantly. I am always saddened by news of how much pressure coral on the GBR is under.
I also know there are so many doing great things. This post was part of contemplating a scale up of massive proportions, just even one time. One year, one holiday season. Would it really be so bad to do so? One of those “what if” musings I frequently have.
Two beautiful photographs and an important message about what we need to invest in. I’m off to the Mission Blue site…
Much appreciated Tom!!
Good post, Mark. We each need to take whatever action we can and continue to share reminders of the danger for us all. While we’re currently screwed at the federal level but there are a few encouraging signs in individual, volunteer groups and corporate environmental initiatives. Let’s hope “Too little, too late” isn’t on humanities tombstone.
Now if we can only figure out a quick profit ($$$) scheme for environmental recovery no doubt current administrative heads would snap around fast enough to cause whiplash. It’s always about the $$ now. Most days I feel we should be sending secret notes to the rest of the world, “HELP, we’ve been taken hostage, rescue us!” 🙁
Keep fighting the fight…love that first photo.
It’s all about the money, and only about the money, in so many aspects of our society isn’t it? There are TRILLIONS of dollars spent on Christmas related items every year. For many that holiday isn’t about that I’m sure, but in general – it is. I want to imagine a world where we are capable of recognizing such a mismatch in our priorities.
So little Johnny and Suzy, what would you like for this Christmas? A toy train set or some air to breathe? However, just like a cancer, people don’t feel or recognize the initial signs of the disease. Like you stated… “too little, too late.”
Thanks for leaving your thoughts Earl!
Your post convinced me to make a small donation to Mission Blue on your Facebook post. Maybe you should put a link here and others will do the same? Wonderful post!
Thanks Howard, I was going to do that and forgot. Will do!