If you know me then you know how much I love sea creatures/marine life/oceans/anything nautical. One of my favorite sea creatures is whales, yet I have never seen one, not even in a zoo. (Which is not where I would want to see one) My senior class trip went to Baltimore on a whale watch, but I didn't go and now I'm really regretting that since the oceans are in such bad shape. I am afraid I'll never get to see a whale.
Please take some time outside of yourself to learn about the oceans and what you can do to help. We are all part of the problem and it's time we all become part of the solution.
Fun Facts:
- The oceans contain 99 percent of the living space on the planet.
- An estimated 80% of all life on earth is found under the ocean surface
- The blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus, is the largest known animal ever to have lived on sea or land.
- A group of herring is called a seige. A group of jelly fish is called a smack.
- Since the architecture and chemistry of coral are very close to human bone, coral has been used to replace bone grafts in helping human bones to heal quickly and cleanly.
- Life began in the seas 3.1 billion to 3.4 billion years ago. Land dwellers appeared 400 million years ago a relatively recent point in the geologic time line.
- Less than 10% of the oceans have been explored by humans.
- The oceans cover 71% of the Earth's surface and contain 97% of the Earth's water.
- Air pollution is responsible for 33% of the toxic contaminants that end up in oceans and coastal waters. About 44% of the toxic contaminants come from runoff via rivers and streams.
- Each year three times as much garbage and waste is dumped into the world's oceans as the weight of fish caught.
- Refined oil is also responsible for polluting the ocean. More oil reaches the oceans each year as a result of leaking automobiles and other non-point sources than the oil spilled in Prince William Sound by the Exxon Valdez.
Knowledge is power.
The more you know about the ocean, it's life, and what it means to your life the more you can understand and the more you can do. Here are some helpful links to learn about the oceans:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/456440372
http://www.seashepherd.org/
http://www.usgs.gov/
http://www.epa.gov/
http://www.cleanoceanaction.org
10 Tips For Everyday Living
1. Reduce, reuse, & recycle to save money and natural resources, as well as improve the quality of our environment.
2. Buy in bulk quantities. Reuse & refill the containers. When purchasing any items, bring your own bags and do not purchase over-packaged items.
3. Save water by using less. For example, turn off the water while brushing teeth, take shorter showers, and if washing a car, use a qualified facility that recycles water.
4. Reduce the use of disposable items, such as plastic straws, lighters, cups, diapers, razors, or pens. All disposables generate toxics, use up precious resources, are not generally recyclable, and fill our landfills. Instead, buy items that are reusable.
5. Use environmentally safe products in your home and office. For more information see COA’s “Tips for Cleaning” and other tip cards.
6. Be proactive by writing manufacturers and retailers. Urge them to make and sell recyclable products, and to use minimal packaging and environmentally safe products.
7. Vote. You have the power to demand change. Talk or write to elected officials about environmental issues and hold them accountable.
8. Replace inefficient items in your home to save energy and money. At minimum, look for “Energy Star” products. Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving fluorescent bulbs. Replacing just one bulb will save $44 and .25 tons of coal.
9. Educate family, friends, employers, and others of their responsibility to the environment. Inform anyone you see littering, or otherwise harming the environment, about pollution issues.
10. Implement these tips and get involved with environmental groups. Visit websites for information, alternative products, and ideas for what you can do to make a difference.
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