World Oceans Day gnrd.net/seemore.php?id=360 Each June 8th starting from 2009, the world celebrates the World Oceans Day, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly resolution 63/111 of 5 December 2008. By the Resolution the General Assembly called upon all countries to cooperate and agree on issues related to the safety of navigation, including means to ensure safety during navigation as well as preventing, reducing and controlling pollution. This celebration comes to raise global awareness of the challenges faced by the international community in relation to the oceans. The UN General Assembly has recognized the important contribution to sustainable development, resource management and use of the oceans and seas in achieving international development goals, including those mentioned in the UN Millennium Declaration. Oceans remain the largest habitat on the Earth, as they support about 50% of earth’s components, stretch across more than 70% on the surface of the planet, and also regulate the movements of the marine environment climate and weather. At the same time the oceans face several challenges. Thus, researches indicate that more than 50% of the wealth amount in the thick of the world may come to an end unless there is better management, and 30% are over-exploited and near to collapse. Other researches show that up to 90% of huge species, such as sharks and tuna, for example, are lacking as a result of overfishing, and this may cause a serious defect in the overall balance of ecosystems. Contamination as well, is one of the main reasons that threatens the oceans where the waste of chemicals flowing into the oceans from land, and despite their invisibility, also constitute a major source of pollution and acidification. The increased produced acidity occurs because the oceans absorb excess carbon dioxide. This ocean acidity has increased by 30% than it was a century ago, where it absorbs about one-third of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the air. The absorption of these gases has a short-term advantage as it reduces the levels of atmospheric gases. In long term, the carbon absorption alters the chemistry of sea water to the extent that it could harm marine life and ecosystem changes. In addition, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced in 2012 an initiative to protect oceans from pollution, over- fishing and rising water; and supports this initiative to apply Law of the Sea, which was launched in 1994; and encouraged all countries to ratify the Sea Convention as the most important legal tool for sustainable development. The Global Network for Rights and Development emphasizes the need to pay serious attention to the oceans and to work altogether to reduce the described risks. GNRD also highlights the importance of the oceans in the provision of oxygen as they play an important role in our life on the planet.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 05:03:03 +0000
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