
World Oceans Day
Today communities around the globe will celebrate World Oceans Day as an opportunity to learn more about our ocean and take action to help conserve it. This year the celebration is bigger than ever with hundreds of family-friendly events at aquariums, zoos, museums, exciting online events and strong prospects for a new youth movement to protect the ocean.
"A record number of aquariums, zoos, and museums are providing ways on World Oceans Day for their visitors to get inspired and take personal action to help our world's ocean," said Bill Mott, director of The Ocean Project. “World Oceans Day provides an opportunity for people across the country and around the world to celebrate our ocean connections, do more for ocean conservation, and learn more about our ocean."
World Oceans Day Coordinator, Alyssa Isakower, commented, “The worldwide response has been more enthusiastic than ever. June 8 provides a chance for the world to rally for a generation of ocean advocates who go beyond raising awareness and take real action for ocean protection.”
Under the theme, “Youth: the Next Wave for Change,” many events will focus on inspiring the younger generations. Public opinion research by The Ocean Project supports this emphasis, finding that youth and young adults:
- Express more interest and concern about the health of the ocean, and the problems of pollution, overfishing and climate change
- Look to aquariums, zoos and science centers for ways they can be part of the solution
- Have a higher belief in their own ability to make a difference
- Are recognized by their parents as better informed on ocean and environmental issues
New and exciting happenings:
- Hundreds of events planned: Already more than 250 events are listed from dozens of countries, with several hundred more expected.
- Dr. Seuss teams up with World Oceans Day: More than 100 institutions are planning Dr. Seuss-themed events.
People taking action around our blue planet:
- Youth in action in Arcata, Calif.: Friends of the Dunes celebrates their 8th straight World Oceans Day. One-thousand students will conduct a beach cleanup and invasive plant removal and then will create an aerial art design, with a plane capturing the image.
- Making a difference in the Marshall Islands: Youth groups, government and non-government agencies will participate in beach and underwater dive cleanups, and more hands-on activities.
Visit EcoWatch's WATER and BIODIVERSITY pages for more related news on this topic.
Scientists have newly photographed three species of shark that can glow in the dark, according to a study published in Frontiers in Marine Science last month.
- 10 Little-Known Shark Facts - EcoWatch ›
- 4 New Walking Shark Species Discovered - EcoWatch ›
- 5 Incredible Species That Glow in the Dark - EcoWatch ›
EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
FedEx's entire parcel pickup and delivery fleet will become 100 percent electric by 2040, according to a statement released Wednesday. The ambitious plan includes checkpoints, such as aiming for 50 percent electric vehicles by 2025.
Trending
Lockdown measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic had the added benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by around seven percent, or 2.6 billion metric tons, in 2020.
- Which Is Worse for the Planet: Beef or Cars? - EcoWatch ›
- Greenhouse Gas Levels Hit Record High Despite Lockdowns, UN ... ›
- 1.8 Billion Tons More Greenhouse Gases Will Be Released, Thanks ... ›
'Damning' Docs Reveal Meatpacking Industry Fought Minimal COVID-19 Safeguards Under Trump
By Brett Wilkins
Documents obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture by the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen and published Wednesday reveal how leading players in the meatpacking industry—one of the hardest-hit by the coronavirus pandemic—fought the minimal efforts imposed by the Trump administration to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in meat processing plants last spring.
<div id="38879" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="fa8fb1444e4ed26d200a49e324e3f9da"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1367195319922872325" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">BREAKING: New docs we uncovered show the meatpacking industry vehemently fought COVID safety measures, arguing that… https://t.co/HTeX4A9anG</div> — Public Citizen (@Public Citizen)<a href="https://twitter.com/Public_Citizen/statuses/1367195319922872325">1614799740.0</a></blockquote></div>
- Tyson Pork Plant Closes After More Than 20% of Workers Test ... ›
- Trump Orders Meat Plants to Stay Open Despite Health Threats ... ›
- Documents Show USDA and Meatpacking Industry Downplayed ... ›
By Richard B. Primack
Weather patterns across the U.S. have felt like a roller coaster ride for the past several months. December and January were significantly warmer than average in many locations, followed by February's intense cold wave and a dramatic warmup.
The leaves on this cherry tree have suffered damage from a late frost. Richard Primack, CC BY-ND
- Plants Are Decades Away From Absorbing Less Carbon, Study ... ›
- Climate Change Has 'Worsened' North America's Pollen Season ... ›
- What to Plant in a Warming World - EcoWatch ›
- Climate Crisis Could Cause a Third of Plant and Animal Species to ... ›
- Rise in Mountain Plants Linked to Climate Change - EcoWatch ›