World Oceans Day-2020
COVID-19, TB, the
oceans and the air we breathe are related!
According to the UN,
The oceans are the very foundation of human life. Life
itself arose from the oceans. The ocean is vast, covering 140 million square
miles, some 72 per cent of the earth's surface. Climate and weather, even the
quality of the air people breathe, depend in great measure on an inter-play
between the ocean and the atmosphere in ways still not fully understood. Not
only has the oceans always been a prime source of nourishment for the life it
helped generate, but from earliest recorded history it has served for trade and
commerce, adventure and discovery. It has kept people apart and brought them
together. Even now, when the continents have been mapped and their interiors
made accessible by road, river and air, most of the world's people live no more
than 200 miles from the sea and relate closely to it.
The relationship
between the oceans and the air we breathe cannot be under estimated. Oxygen is
part of the air we breathe in. Oxygen is produced through a complex mechanism.
Simply put, water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen. Oceans are water bodies.
When water breaks down to its two parts that is how we get oxygen. If the air
we breathe is not conditioned (made in conditions that are as near the body
temperature as possible) and moisturized (contains a bit of water) then it
would be harder for us to take it in as it is. The oceans are a
source of food, recreation and medicine.
They affect human
health in a variety of ways. For example, exposure to or ingestion of
pathogenic microbes, pollution, or algal toxins can
cause human illness. Conversely,
the oceans benefit human health as a source of overall
well-being and new medications.
The oceans and trees
make a large part of the the oxygen we breathe. Without oxygen there would be
no life because we need oxygen to live. It is oxygen that makes it
easier for us to breathe, that way our body can turn the raw materials it needs
to manufacture resources to use for sustenance of life.
In the case of COVID-19
and TB, our immunity fails to prevent or fight them. So, we become ill and
later die if we do not get treatment. But, that is not all. Oceans have
been a means for humans to trade and job opportunities in fisheries,
trade, shipping, tourism and travel. The oceans are a source of
minerals, energy resources, and medicines. Marine tourism has brought people
from all around the world into a close interaction with the ocean. But,
due to COVID-19 pandemic travel has been brought to a halt. The means to travel
also requires people to be carried in a crowded space which is the ideal
transmission method for COVID-19. In case one passenger has COVID-19, it is
easier for all in the craft, bus, ship or submarine to get infected.
According to Ocena.org,
Oceans cover 71 percent of the planet and are home to important species and
ecosystems that we rely on for food, livelihoods, climate regulation and more.
But the oceans need our help. Saving the oceans can sometimes feel like an
overwhelming task, but if we all pitch in, we can make a big difference.
World Oceans Day is an
international day that takes place annually on the 8th of June. The concept was
originally proposed in 1992 by Canada's International Centre for Ocean
Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada at the Earth Summit – UN
Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
We celebrate World
Oceans Day to remind everyone of the major role the oceans have
in everyday life. They are the lungs of our planet, providing most of the
oxygen we breathe. In the end, it is
a day to celebrate together the beauty, the wealth and the
promise of the ocean. Human activities affect marine
ecosystems as a result of pollution, overfishing, the introduction of invasive
species, and acidification, which all impact on the marine food web
and may lead to largely unknown consequences for the biodiversity and survival
of marine life forms.
Saving oceans means
saving ourselves too.
1. Avoid
plastics
2. Avoid
littering
3. Your
cigarette butts end up in the oceans
4. Properly
disposed waste does not end up in the water system
5. Walk
or ride that bicycle if you can
6. Buy
or farm your fish locally-Be sustainable
7. Ask
your political representatives to pronounce themselves on ocean hygiene
8. Pick
up after you go out to the beach
9. Adopt
a beach or water body
10. Tell
people what’s going on with the world’s oceans and what they can do to join you
in making a difference. Spread the word about petitions, share fun facts and
join the conversation with organisations that work on ocean or water related
hygiene on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Remember to avoid
COVID-19, follow Ministry of Health guidelines, avoid crowds, wear the mask
fully and sanitise.
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