Celebrating World Oceans Day

Posted byRebecca BuddPosted inBritish Columbia, Southern Gulf Islands, World Oceans DayTags:, ,

“On World Oceans Day, people around our blue planet celebrate and honor the ocean, which connects us all. Get together with your family, friends, community, and the planet to start creating a better future. Working together, we can and will protect our shared ocean. Join this growing global celebration on 8 June!”

Today, I am celebrating our oceans, that wide expanse of blue that bestows an abundance of benefits to humanity.

Oceans resonate with our creative spirit. We feel alive when the salt air touches our face and a brisk wind buffets our bodies.  We revel in the sounds of waves splashing against the shoreline, recognizing we stand on the edge of an infinite grandness.

Oceans cover 70% of the Earth’s surface, regulating our climate and weather patterns. The ocean produces over 50% of the world’s oxygen and stores 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere.   Oceans offer a pharmacopoeia of medicines, ingredients that fight cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s diseases and heart disease. More than one billion people depend upon the ocean for sustenance.  Nearly 50% of the world’s population lives within a coastal zone and are engaged in ocean-based businesses to support their families.  From an economic perspective, oceans are the shipping routes for 90% of international trade.

Without oceans, we would not survive.

We live in a complex time where climate change, shrinking resources, and population growth are challenging us to participate in creating sustainable communities.

Everyone has a vital role to play, beginning with celebrating our precious oceans.

 

“For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”  Jacques-Yves Cousteau

World Oceans Day – A Celebration from Rebecca Budd aka Clanmother on Vimeo.

Published by Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

29 thoughts on “Celebrating World Oceans Day”

  1. I share your love of the ocean, dear Rebecca, and we are united across continents. A thought-provoking article and lovely seascapes. 💙💚

    Liked by 3 people

    1. What a beautiful thought: we are united by our ocean. These photos were taken in the Southern Gulf Islands. I was amazed by the diversity of the ocean colours, from a jade green, to blue, to grey and everything in between. We must preserve our oceans, rivers, lakes. Our very survival depends upon our choices. May we listen to the ocean’s call for help. Hugs coming across the blue expanse.

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    1. I agree wholeheartedly, Susanna. The oceans are in grave danger. We must persevere in our most noble duty to safeguard our oceans. In so doing, we save ourselves. Thank you for sharing this special day. Your visit is very much appreciated. Hugs!!

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  3. Rebecca, that’s very nice and thoughtful of you to shared this post re. oceans. Beautiful illustrations, too. We live in the coastal belt of the Arabian Sea. So vast and never ending to the eyes and so indispensable that life first arose from ocean. Makes one wonder at the grandeur of our world. Jo

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    1. How very well said – “wonder at the grandeur of our world.” When I stand on the seashore, I am humbled by the blue immensity that holds the power of our survival. It appears invincible. And yet, our oceans are in danger. Humanity holds the power to safeguard this precious gift. And in so doing, we are saved. I am so very glad that you celebrated this special day with me. Many thanks and hugs coming to you and Carina.

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    1. We live in a beautiful world that is in desperate need of our stewardship. Our choices are critical – from what we eat, to our plastic usages, to our carbon footprints – everyone makes a difference. Many hugs coming your way.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Thank you for bringing World Oceans Day to our attention. I need to be reminded that the natural world has other important roles to play in addition to being aesthetically pleasing to those of us who like to write about it.

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    1. How very well said, Liz! When I look out at a wide expanse of blue, feel the gusts of wind swirl around me, I believe that I face an invincible presence. I rarely think of the life-giving benefits of oxygen, medicine, food, livelihoods. Nor do I consider the risks associated with our consumption and fondness for plastics that are diminishing the these benefits. Most of us feel the moment, experiencing the grandness of infinite. Now, weare hearing the oceans’ call for help. May we answer….

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  7. This post is marvelous. The photos are beautiful. You have mentioned so much that our oceans give us. I appreciate that you talk of the scientific findings that have been discovered, and they are finding more as we speak! God has given us such a wonderful world, our beautiful oceans are a part of it.

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    1. I agree wholeheartedly. When we look out at an ocean, we feel the immensity, the grandeur so it is easy to forget that science behind the vision. One of my favourite quotes is by Sarah Kay: “Because there’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away.”

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  8. A wonderful tribute to this most vital element in our lives. It gives me a good excuse for some more book recommendations… Rachel Carson’s Sea Trilogy (with The Sea Around Us first) is a stunning and compelling read. And Alex Rogers’ The Deep looks amazing too – I haven’t yet read past the first few pages of this one, but it is good so far! 😀🌊

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    1. I do love your recommendations, Liz. I found The Deep and have Rachel Carson’s Sea Trilogy. There are people, like Rachel Carson who see the future with a clarity that escapes others. The Sea Around Us was first published in 1951, and now almost 70 years later remains every fresh and relevant. I so enjoy our conversations!!

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      1. We are lucky to have access still to all her wisdom and insight. Thank heavens for all those scientists and activists who are continuing to lead us in trying to solve the problems she first identified.

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    1. Absolutely! I was reading that these tiny marine plants are estimated to produce over half the oxygen that we, and all other land animals, breath. I was delighted to hear that Canada is calling for the ending of single-use plastics by 2021. Hugs coming back your way….

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks you for your lovely comment – always enjoy our conversations. We live in a beautiful world that is in desperate need of our concerted efforts. I am very well. I have been working on a podcasting project that includes discussions with my mother and sister. My father, before he passed, asked me to tell our story. It was difficult to go through my father’s photos at first, but now, it is time. Check out this link, when you have a moment. https://anchor.fm/teatoasttrivia/episodes/Telling-Our-Stories-e3voqq

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Thanks Rebecca for a wonderful reminder that oceans are our life. This post gave me such a peace of mind while reading. Have you heard about this young European Boyan Slat who aims to clean our oceans in a couple of years? He was very inspiring to me.

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      1. I am very grateful for people like him, he inspire many of us for the better. Again, thanks for bringing attention to the oceans 🙂

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