Read how you can protect marine life, reduce plastic pollution, and save the ocean whether you’re home or traveling to faraway beaches.
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June 8th is World Ocean Day. It’s a day to spotlight the beauty of our oceans and the many issues plaguing them. A major initiative highlighted this year is the pledge by world leaders to protect 30% of our oceans by 2023. To date, less than 17% of the world’s oceans are protected. Ramping up efforts to preserve and promote the health of the world’s oceans will protect biodiversity and offset some of the adversities the planet is experiencing due to climate change.
It’s no secret that we need to take better care of our oceans. One major crisis has to do with single-use plastic. The UN estimates that 12.7 million tons of plastic trash wash into our oceans every year. Chemicals from plastic trash not only pollute our water sources but can also land on your dinner plate through fish that eat microplastics and in turn cause serious health issues. Microplastics in seafood are also linked to some types of cancer. You can use templates provided by Greenpeace to reduce their production of single-use plastic trash.
Sign These Petitions To Tell Coca Cola You Don’t Want Their Plastic
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*You can be involved with World Ocean Day events anywhere in the world! Use this link to find cleanups, educational workshops, and other events in your area.
Our current industry models are causing harm to all life on this planet. It’s up to us to take responsibility to find the solution. It’s not dolphins who are drilling, overfishing, and polluting our oceans. While a lot of responsibility rests on governments and corporations, there are actions you and I can take. As consumers, we can write to brands and corporations, and change our habits. Some of these changes can involve indulging in vacations that do good and supporting the resorts and hotels that practice energy efficiency, local food sourcing, and of course preserving the environment. So, here are three eco-friendly vacation ideas you can read about, learn from, and enjoy today.
Volunteer in Maui with The Coral Reef Alliance or Pacific Whale Foundation
Coral reefs are a fragile ecosystem that we are damaging all around the world. In 1994 a grassroots organization engaged the diving community to protect coral reefs. Since then, they’ve expanded to sites from Honduras to Fiji to help local fishermen sustain local fish populations that depend on the livelihood of the reefs.
Everyday Ways To Prevent & Reduce Microplastics & Ocean Pollution
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Stay: Enjoy the views at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa. If you volunteer with the Pacific Whale Foundation and pick up litter on the beaches of Maui, the resort will gift you a free 5th-night stay.
Visit Malapascua Island in the Philippines with Project Aware
Follow the hashtag #lovetheunloved to support Project Aware. The organization collaborates with divers in 182 different countries to clean millions of debris floating in our oceans. They also train the next generation by offering diving courses that allow all ocean lovers to lend their support.
Stay: Evolution Diving Resort on Malapascua Island offers beach front properties, beach cleanups, and diving for novices to experts.
End Marine Pollution in Australia with Parley
Parley partners with brands, artists, filmmakers, local governments, and activists to raise awareness to track waste, organize cleanups, educate, and help develop solutions to prevent further damage to our oceans. Listen to a talk, watch a film, and find out how you can join in any of their cleanups based around the world.
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Stay: Perched along the coasts where the Wet Tropics rainforest fronts the Great Barrier Reef, Eco Village is abundant with wildlife, fauna, and a history not found anywhere else in the world.
Save The Ocean On Your Next Dream Vacation - Trendable