John Jack Johnson and Catch the Wave for Change on World Oceans Day!
PROVIDENCE, RI (PRWEB) June 06, 2016 -- In just a few days, on June 8, 2016, people all over our blue planet will celebrate World Oceans Day with the theme this year, “Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet.” Organizations and individuals around the world will promote prevention of plastic ocean pollution through events in their communities, special announcements and everything in between. And, people around the world will also be joining with Jack Johnson, zoo and aquarium directors, and other leaders as part of a #WaveforChange, pledging to reduce their use of the disposable plastics that pollute our ocean and threaten its animals.
“There is growing concern about the problem of plastic pollution, and a growing interest in being a part of a collaborative solution,” said Bill Mott, Director of The Ocean Project, which has coordinated World Oceans Day efforts since 2002. “Whether you live at the beach or in the mountains, this campaign can connect your concern with your commitment, and you can become a part of a wave for change to help our ocean and its animals.”
Individual participants in the Wave for Change will:
1. Make a specific promise to help the ocean, such as eliminating their use of plastic items including the disposable plastic bags, bottles and/or straws
2. Record a video clip, stating their promise and doing the wave!
3. Post their video, encouraging others to join them by tagging #WaveForChange and #WorldOceansDay on Facebook and Instagram, and @CelebrateOceans on Twitter
Plastic pollution poses an increasingly serious problem for the ocean and its animals. A recent article in the journal Science estimated the amount of plastic going into the ocean from land at between 5 and 14 million tons annually. A report by The Ocean Conservancy adds that, “over 80 percent of ocean plastics comes from land where, after use, the plastic product or packaging is improperly discarded, uncollected, or mismanaged, and thus ‘leaks’ into the ocean,” warning that, “left unchecked, by 2025 there could be 250 million tonnes of plastic in the ocean, one pound of plastic for every three pounds of fish.”
(Source: http://www.oceanconservancy.org/our-work/marine-debris/mckinsey-report-files/summary-stemming-the-tide.pdf)
World Oceans Day is officially recognized by the United Nations, and has become an annual celebration on June 8 as well as a call for ocean conservation action throughout the year. Coordinated by The Ocean Project since 2002, the effort has expanded to over 70 countries, with participation by hundreds of aquariums, zoos, museums, organizations and groups, as well as thousands of individuals. In 2016, the effort also will include an effort to engage more youth worldwide through the creation of a World Oceans Day Youth Advisory Council.
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World Oceans Day is coordinated by The Ocean Project, which advances ocean conservation in partnership with its network of more than 2,000 aquariums, zoos, museums and other education and conservation organizations around the world
http://www.theoceanproject.org http://www.worldoceansday.org
Kara DiCamillo, World Oceans Day, http://www.worldoceansday.org, +1 401-619-0374, [email protected]
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