Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Africa Water & Sanitation & Hygiene May -June 2017 | Page 16

2017
World Oceans Day History
W
orld Oceans Day was
officially established
by the United Nations
General Assembly in 2008 to be
celebrated worldwide on 8th of
June annually to resolve the ocean
issues and save ocean water. Earlier
it was celebrating unofficially
every year on 8th of June after
the first proposal of it in 1992 by
the Canada at “Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil”. It has been
started celebrating on international
level by the collaboration of The
Ocean Project and the World Ocean
Network.
It was celebrated first time in the
year 2009 on 8th of June after the
official declaration of World Oceans
Day in 2008 by the United Nations
General Assembly in the resolution
63/111, paragraph 171.
The celebration of this event was
initiated by the collaboration of
many countries worldwide. Oceans
are the critical part of biosphere
and essential element for the food
security and life survival on the
earth. World Oceans Day event
provides an opportunity to all to
combat with the current challenges
spoiling the ocean cycle.
Why do we celebrate World Oceans
Day?
• To remind everyone of the
major role the oceans have
in everyday life. They are the
lungs of our planet, providing
most of the oxygen we
breathe.
• To inform the public of the
impact of human actions on
the ocean.
• To develop a worldwide
movement of citizens for the
ocean.
• To mobilize and unite the
world’s population on a
project for the sustainable
management of the world’s
oceans. They are a major
source of food and medicines
and a critical part of the
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biosphere.
• To celebrate together the beauty,
the wealth and the promise of the
ocean.
The World Oceans Day Theme
for 2017 is “Our Oceans, Our
Future”
The main conservation focus will be
on plastic pollution prevention and
cleaning the ocean of marine litter
Goal 14: Conserve and
sustainably use the oceans,
seas and marine resources
The world’s oceans – their temperature,
chemistry, currents and life – drive
global systems that make the Earth
habitable for humankind.
Our rainwater, drinking water, weather,
climate, coastlines, much of our food,
and even the oxygen in the air we
breathe, are all ultimately provided and
regulated by the sea.
Throughout history, oceans and seas
have been vital conduits for trade and
transportation.
Careful management of this essential
global resource is a key feature of a
sustainable future.
• Facts and figures
• Oceans cover three quarters of
the Earth’s surface, contain 97
per cent of the Earth’s water, and
represent 99 per cent of the living
Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • May - June 2017