Dr. Karen Bell
Keep Liberty Beautiful
Thursday, June 8, 2023, was National World Oceans Day. World Oceans Day was proposed in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada at the Earth Summit. They wanted to bring awareness to the plastic that people casually release every day and end up swimming with the fish, literally.
We now celebrate World Oceans 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. Beaches from coast to coast provide us with most of our oxygen.
Go outside and take a moment to experience being by the ocean and take in the beauty that it gives to our land, the sense of wealth. For many, the waterways have provided value to our lives over time with family memories that you will treasure forever. Make a promise today that you will move forward, consciously protecting our oceans.
If you wonder how you can celebrate the ocean, author Brian Hutchinson, Oceanic Society’s vice president of outreach, 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 Oceans Day:
1. World Oceans Day Activity or Event: World Oceans Day may be over, but there are still hundreds of events going on. You can schedule a beach cleanup 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. While there are many well-managed and sustainable fisheries (that can support healthy oceans), try going vegetarian for one day.
3.Gather Friends and Family and Watch an Ocean Film: Staying informed about ocean conservation issues and sharing knowledge with your friends and family is an integral part of becoming a better supporter of ocean conservation. One easy way to learn and share information is by watching one of the many excellent documentaries showcasing ocean wildlife and conservation issues. These include Mission Blue, The Blue Planet, Sharkwater, The Cove, Disney Nature: Oceans, A Plastic Ocean, and many more.
4. Avoid Single-Use Plastics: Plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to ocean health worldwide. You can help reduce ocean plastic pollution in many ways, but one of the easiest is to avoid single-use plastic. Help support cleaner oceans by avoiding single-use plastic items, including disposable water bottles, straws, cups, lids, utensils, and bags.
5. Breathe Deep, Appreciate the Ocean: Take time today to appreciate your connection to the ocean and consider the many benefits of a healthy ocean. One of our most profound links to the ocean is through the air we breathe — more than half of the oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere is produced by marine plants. So, breathe deep, reflect on your connection to the ocean, and stay inspired to continue working for healthier oceans.
Keep Liberty Beautiful had a round-robin event day for World Oceans Day at the office. We had children from all over Liberty County come to enjoy different water base activities to learn more about our waterways. We also geared up in gloves, little reachers, Keep Liberty Beautiful volunteer shirts, and visited fishing docks/waterways in Liberty County throughout the week. We visited places in Hinesville, Midway, Riceboro, to Sunbury (Jones Creek Recreation area, Riceboro Boat Ramp, Riceboro Pavilion, Half Moon Marina area, Bryant Commons, and Sunbury Boat Ramp). We handed out litter prevention information, after-the- storm brochures, and a how-to-be-a-good- mate brochure to all the community members enjoying the day.
To find out ways that you can help keep our waterways clean and free of litter, check out our website: www.keeplibertybeautiful. org. You can also contact us at Keep Liberty Beautiful at (912) 880-4888 or klcb@liberty countyga.com.