Join the Liberty County Keep Liberty Beautiful World Ocean Day Event on June 9 in honor of World Ocean Day. Keep Liberty Beautiful has partnered with Beach.com to inspire travelers and coastal communities to care for the places we love, and this Global Day of Ocean conservation is the perfect opportunity to make a positive impact. Around the world, we all will celebrate our ocean on the 8th of June!
One Ocean,
One Climate,
One Future – Together
World Ocean Day is a collective action for a healthy ocean and a stable climate, working in collaboration with a wide range of organizations. World Ocean Day belongs to all groups and individuals, collectively, everywhere. It’s about how we can create a better future with an abundant ocean and a stable climate by working together.
Beach.com is hoping to help travelers discover the best coastal stays. They are committed to preserving the beauty and health of our oceans. They host beach cleanups nationwide, including ours on St. Catherine’s Island and our round robin activities at the KLB office.
Beach cleanups bring together volunteers, ocean advocates, and community leaders to remove harmful debris and raise awareness about the issue of plastic pollution. By joining a beach cleanup, volunteers will be part of a movement to keep our beaches clean and our marine life safe from debris.
World Ocean Day is on Sunday, June 8 and Keep Liberty Beautiful is celebrating World Ocean Day on Monday, June 9, at the KLB Office at the Liberty County Community Complex, 9397 East Oglethorpe Hwy., Midway. World Ocean Day was proposed in 1992 by Canada's International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada at the Earth Summit. They aimed to raise awareness about the plastic that people casually release every day, which ultimately pollutes our oceans and affects marine life, including fish. We now celebrate World Ocean Day to help remind us to be mindful of our trash and take extra precautions to dispose of litter properly. The ocean has a significant role in our everyday life; some may say it's the lungs of our planet.
Please take a moment to step outside and experience the ocean, appreciating the beauty it brings to our land and the sense of wealth it provides. For many of us, the waterways hold cherished memories with our families. Today, make a personal commitment to protect our oceans, moving forward with a conscious effort.
If you wonder how to celebrate the ocean, Author Brian Hutchinson, vice president of outreach at the Oceanic Society, co-founder of the State of the World's Sea Turtles Program, and program officer of the IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group, said it best. He wrote a recent article listing these five ideas to help show your appreciation on World Ocean Day:
1. World Oceans Day activity or event: You can schedule a beach cleanup (KLB St. Catherine’s Island cleanup is on August 16) or go to your nearby fishing hole and clean up there.
2. Skip the seafood (and meat): Avoid seafood by giving the ocean a break today, and try going vegetarian for one day.
3. Gather friends and watch an ocean film: Staying informed about ocean conservation issues and sharing knowledge with friends and family is an integral part of becoming a more effective supporter of ocean conservation.
4. Avoid single-use plastics: Plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to ocean health worldwide.
5. Breathe deep, appreciate the ocean: Take a moment today to appreciate your connection to the ocean and consider the numerous benefits of a healthy ocean.
The Keep Liberty Beautiful World Ocean Day celebration will be a round-robin event held near our Butterfly Garden on June 9 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All are welcome from all over Liberty County to enjoy various water-based activities and learn more about our local waterways. We will also be equipped with gloves, litter reachers, and Keep Liberty Beautiful volunteer shirts, and visit fishing docks and waterways in Liberty County starting June 8, and throughout the week. KLB staff and summer interns will visit places in Hinesville, Midway, Riceboro, and Sunbury (Jones Creek Recreation Area, Riceboro Boat Ramp, Riceboro Pavilion, Half Moon Marina Area, Bryant Commons, and Sunbury Boat Ramp). We will provide litter prevention information, after-the-storm brochures, and a “How to Be a Good Mate” brochure to all community members enjoying the day.
To find out how you can help keep our waterways clean and litter-free, visit our website: www.keeplibertybeautiful.org. You can also contact us at Keep Liberty Beautiful at (912) 880-4888 or klcb@libertycountyga.gov.