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Live blue: Win a free tee
Celebrate World Oceans Day with cool ocean facts and a free tee.
Wed, Jun 03 2009 at 8:00 AM
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Photo: markopolis
Are you living blue? Next Monday, June 8, is World Oceans Day - a day set aside to raise awareness about the importance of oceans. Why celebrate oceans? Well, for starters, they generate most of our oxygen, they feed us, they clean our water, they help regulate the world's climate, and they act as a source for current and future pharmaceutical medicines. They are also in trouble.
Climate change is already linked to the killing of coral reefs, and destructive fishing practices have caused a dramatic decline in many types of the fish we depend on for food. Pollution is also taking its toll on the world's oceans as evidenced by the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
So what can you do to celebrate World Oceans Day and help protect our oceans? The Ocean Project is asking folks to "Wear Blue-Tell Two," to mark the day. They want people around the world to wear blue, and let people know why by telling folks two things they likely don't know about our oceans and how they can help. Here are a few ideas:
- The oceans cover about 140 million square miles, or nearly 71 percent of the Earth's surface.
- The top 10 feet of the ocean hold as much heat as our entire atmosphere.
- Oceans absorb between 30 percent and 50 percent of the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels.
- Atlantic sea water is heavier than Pacific sea water because it has a higher salt content.
- Choosing seafood that is abundant in supply and sustainably harvested can help protect the world's oceans. (Download a guide to sustainable seafood here.)
Don't have anything to wear? I'm giving away a super-soft "Live Blue" organic tee from The New England Aquarium, to help you wear your passion for the big blue on your sleeves. While you're at their site, be sure to check out the NEAq Insider link to get a virtual tour of the aquarium and learn even more about the marine environment. To win the T-shirt, simply leave a comment below about what you plan to do to celebrate World Oceans Day. One winner will be chosen at random on June 8.
The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.
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Me and my family are pescetarians, but we are very careful of what we eat ever since visting Monterey Bay Aquarium a few years ago and learning about overfishing and what fish we should and should not eat We will celebrate at the beach wearing blue here in Hawaii, and be thankful for what we have right here right now, hopefully our example will make others aware. Living close to the Pacific Garbage patch is a sad and shameful thing.
Great Post.
I will be telling my friends and family about the needs for worldwide sustainable fishing so that we can stop the rape of the oceans.
Being that I'm about as far away from the ocean as you can get (here in the midwest), for our nightly reading that evening, the topic will be our oceans.
Making sure I can tell everyone I encounter as well as make an effort to contact everyone I know through text, facebook, myspace, work and just being out and about.
My son loves to learn about anything environment, science, or history so I will be talking to my son about World Oceans Day and help him do some research online about things we can do to help.
I am directing a 'green' play called'Noah of cape Town' at the Baxter theatre in South Africa. i will get the 16 member cast to wear blue, take publicity pics and put them out on our website, facebook sites, blog sites etc to raise awareness of world Ocen day and the Ocean Project. www.noahofcapetown.co.za
I will be wearing blue while my boyfriend and his son will be at the Boston Aquarium learning more about the ocean life and how to care for our oceans now and in the future!!
I will blog on Oh, For the Love of Science! to raise awareness about the many problems the oceans are currently facing. And of course, I will wear blue.
I'm celebrating the day by cleaning up Jacksonville Beach, Florida. I set up a Facebook event and 100+ people have been invited. So far about 20 have committed. One piece of trash picked up or recycled really does make a difference! I love our oceans and the marine life in them <3
I'll wear blue on Monday and send out some facts in our office "Green Tips" email! I may also bake some blue cupcakes, that will get everyone to pay attention!
My son has developed a word for what he wants to be when he grows up "Sharkologist": someone who helps & saves sharks. I recently organized all our shark/ocean life books and discovered he has over 60! We'll be reading those next Monday!!!
Great Post.
Kids love to get involved. Here's my contribution to World Oceans Day:
My Eco Superhero Dragonfly Boy is flying in to raise awareness for World Oceans Day. Free coloring in sheets available from http://www.marghanita.com/celebrating-world-oceans-day-on-june-8th/