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8 JUNE 2008 - WORLD OCEAN DAY WE ARE ALL CITIZENS OF THE OCEAN!

World Ocean Day, celebrated on June 8 under the aegis of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission reminds us that the ocean is vital and that each of us must preserve it as best as we can. More than 50 countries on 5 continents took part in this event through community and educational awareness actions in 2007. Some events are already scheduled for 2008 World Ocean Day. The World Ocean Day is an opportunity to heighten public awareness of the essential role that the ocean plays in our day to day life. The World Ocean Network is promoting World Ocean Day in conjunction with the The Ocean Project. Together, they are striving for its official recognition as an International Day by the United Nations. World Ocean Day 2007 First Reports: From Europe From Argentina (PDF) and Latin America (PDF) Do not hesitate to send us your programme for World Ocean Day 2008.

More information: World Ocean Day: Canada proposed the creation of a World Ocean Day during the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. The World Ocean Network and The Ocean Project then took over to make this day a unique event which would allow awareness to be raised among the public at large as well as among decision makers of how to manage the oceans and their resources in a better way and to provoke the desire to adopt “sustainable behaviour” in favour of maritime environments. UNESCO: The UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and its partners coordinate national ocean research and observation programmes (within the world ocean observation system) and constantly survey the state of the oceans in order to improve weather forecasts, reduce uncertainty regarding climate change, improve the management of ecosystems and maritime resources and provide early warnings in the case of tsunamis and other catastrophes relating to oceans. More information available at: http://ioc.unesco.org/iocweb/index.php World Ocean Network: The World Ocean Network which was created in November 2002 is made up of organisations which address the public at large and those concerned by the future of the Blue Planet. The main objective of the Network is to mobilise the largest amount of people possible on a global scale to encourage new behaviours which respect of the environment and in this way promote the reasonable and sustainable use of the ocean. The Ocean Project: The Ocean Project is an international network of aquariums, zoos, museums and conservation organisations working to create an understanding among their visitors and members of the significance of the ocean and the role each person plays in conserving our Blue Planet for the future. More information available at: http://www.theoceanproject.org/