WORLD OCEANS DAY #SDG14 #LifeBelowWater

“The environment is no one’s property to destroy; it’s everyone’s responsibility to protect.”

The environment is a blissful combination of plants, wildlife, mountains, rivers, deserts and what not. But one of the most beautiful and pleasant gifts provided to us by the nature are the oceans – the massive water bodies which seem never-ending. These oceans account for 96.5% of the earth’s water and are a home to a large variety of biodiversity.

Oceans make the existence of life possible on the Earth. They are the reason of photosynthesis taking place on a large scale. They fulfil the water needs of the human race as well as the flourishing wildlife. They are the lungs of biosphere, a major source of protein, medicine and also a source of the employment of about 40 million people through ocean-based industries. The aquatic plants produce about 50% of the oxygen present in the atmosphere. By serving such great needs for the sake of life on earth, they appear to be of extreme importance to all the living entities.

The sad-truth of today is that, humans have over-utilised the oceanic resources, due to their immense greed, leading to their depletion, which in turn, jeopardizes the future of our planet.

Human beings deeply care for, and protect their prized possessions because they have paid a price to earn them. They are wrong in thinking that oceans come free of cost. The cost to be paid after their consumption is the life, not only of humans, but of the complete set of living creatures on this planet.

With lack of oxygen, dehydration, unsheltered biodiversity, climate change and many other environmental crises, the earth is bound to perish.

The United Nations’ initiative of dedicating a day to oceans has resulted in the recognition of World Oceans Day since 2008, this year’s theme being ‘The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods’. This intensely focuses on the 14th Sustainable Development Goal of the UN, ‘Life Below Water’. In support of conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine life, everyone is requested to at least plant a small step towards marine-life conservation and protection. Let’s join hands and not pollute our oceans, so that they become a safe and usable resource for humans as well as the creatures inhabiting the ocean and help in maintaining the balance between life, diversity and optimum utilization. Taking a step up,

Let’s remember that the earth we have today is borrowed by us from our future generations.

BY- FREYA MALHOTRA