The first official World Ocean Day took place on June 8, 2009. This annual event was proposed by Canada at the 1992 Earth Summit . It was celebrated unofficially for many years with events such as beach cleanups and seafood festivals. In 2009, the UN announced that World Ocean Day would be observed every year as a way of honoring the importance of oceans and addressing future environmental challenges.
Is the future of the oceans our responsibility? While the oceans provide so much, including food, trade routes, transportation, and recreation , humans do not always treat them with respect. Pirates and drug dealers commit crimes in the oceans. Nations hold their battles in them. Even fishermen, who rely on oceans to make a living, sometimes ignore rules about species protection. Everyday people are also to blame for the state of the oceans. Many pollute the waters carelessly as they have fun on the beach.
Some people think oceans can take care of themselves. Others believe environmental problems will hurt future generations. Would the oceans and their species survive without any human intervention ?
READING QUESTIONS
- Which oceans have you been in?
- How healthy are the oceans around the world?
- What problems do oceans face?
- What types of crimes occur on the oceans?