Jacob Hembrom SJ
Today is World Oceans Day. Those of us, who have been brought up in northern part of India, especially dwelling in the midst of hills, valleys and fields, would scarcely know the importance of the ocean unlike who dwell closer to it.
As we know that ocean covers about three quarters of earth’s surface. 97% of our planet is water. Therefore, it plays a major role in the lives of all living beings. It is amazing to note that it produces more than half of the total oxygen of the earth and absorbs carbon dioxide in very large quantity. Reports say, half of the world’s total population, for example 3.5 billion, is living on the coastal areas, Hence, ocean plays a vital role in their occupation.
Ocean supports the earth’s biodiversity too. The wild, mysterious and immense sea hides a rich and surprising life. It is made up of fascinating, elegant and often wonderful inhabitants. Spotting whales, turtles, coral reefs and seahorses is a truly unique experience that can be admired endlessly.
The survival of marine and coastal ecosystem and biodiversity is essential to the nutritional, spiritual, societal and religious-well being of many coastal communities. But even for the many millions of people who may not think that they have any strong reliance on the ocean, marine ecosystems and wildlife provide all kinds of benefits.
Kieran Mulvaney, author of the book “One Ocean, Many worlds of life” strikes an alarming note. He states, “underwater noise is limiting the potential of whales and other marine animals to communicate with each other, plastic debris continues to kill wildlife that ingests and becomes entangled in it, and pollution from land is creating areas of coastal waters are almost of oxygen”.
The day like this is to remind us that we are indebted to the blue planet. Let us take pledge that instead of polluting it we shall we become its caretakers.