Thoughts of Ocean or Ocean of Thought?

Happy World Oceans Day ! June 8th is World Oceans Day to celebrate the oceans and the major role it plays in our life. They constitute more than 70% of the world's surface.

“How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is clearly Ocean”
– Arthur C. Clarke

They are the elixir of life, the reason we or the matter of fact any living being exist. They are the most incredible thing in the universe. It is home to 228,450 known species and as many as 2 million more that remain a total mystery. It also adds to the beauty and aesthetic of the earth. I mean how would you get your aesthetic beach sunset pictures? All the beautiful beaches? Discussions about all the weird fishes that live in the depths of our oceans.

However this day is not about the beauty of Oceans, it is to bring to notice the harm that human actions are causing the oceans. Over 90% of the big fish Population is depleted and 50% of Coral Reefs are destroyed. The oceans have become a garbage dump with plastics floating around and severely affecting marine life.

Every year the UN has a theme for the day which is the aspect they would want to focus on. This year’s Theme of Oceans Day is “The oceans- Life and Livelihood. It focuses on how the Oceans have not only given us life but also has given so many people a source to make a Living. According to the UN “The Ocean is key to our economy with an estimated 40 million people being employed by ocean based industries by 2030.”

What is wonderful to me about this UN Convention for World Oceans Day is that one of the speakers is 14 year old climate activist, Catarina Lorenzo. She is one of the 16 children along with the likes of Greta Thunberg and Ridhima Pandey who are the part of Children vs climate. This group of children has presented a landmark official complaint to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child to protest lack of government action on the climate crisis. It is great to know that the UN is giving a platform for youth activists to speak and express their thoughts. Climate change affects Gen-Z more than it affects other generations. So we don’t fight for our future, why would others.

However The UN also states one line in its website about this day that I don’t quite agree with. It says “Even with all its benefits, the ocean is now in need of support.” According to them We need to support our oceans. My question is: Do the oceans need us, humans, to protect it ?

Oceans are majestic and incredible. I find them absolutely fascinating. The first form of life on Earth was formed in the oceans, Four Billion Four Hundred Thirty-Four Million Years before humans! Oceans are the origin to every living being on Earth. Now we have to save them ?

Oceans, I believe, are the most powerful force on this earth. Humans are powerless and insignificant in comparison to the ocean. While it gives us life, it can very well destroy it in seconds. If there is an imbalance in nature, Oceans are nature's equaliser.

Most of our life is according to the ocean. We all must have studied in Geography that Ocean currents are vital to maintain the stability of our environment and climate change. They Influence and stabilise the temperature which brings temperate climate to North American and Europe.

However , India’s relation with the Oceans goes way back into history. During Ancient India, we were expert sails men. Indians during the Indus Valley civilisation were able to trade with civilisations across the oceans. There are traces of trade between the Indus Valley Civilisation which was between 2600–1900 BCE in the Indian subcontinent and the Persian Gulf and Egypt. While only Kanyakumari is truly in contact with only the ocean, it is called Indian Ocean.The Indian Ocean has connected people since ancient times,while the other oceans were more of a barrier. The history of the Indian Ocean is marked by maritime trade; cultural and commercial exchange probably date back at least seven thousand years. All the places connected by the Indian Ocean have multiple mixes of each other's culture.

More recently, Research has indicated that human induced greenhouse warming, and changes in the frequency and magnitude of El Niño (or the Indian Ocean Dipole), events are a trigger to this strong warming in the Indian Ocean. This has resulted in a change in the monsoon onset time and pattern. The process is affecting the agricultural yield. Any excess or little rainfall is, therefore, detrimental to these crops.

India’s 60% of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Oceans bring monsoons in India which are the reason we have crops. The wind picks up the moisture from the oceans which eventually leads to rainfall.. If there is even a slight change in the ocean currents our lives can flip upside down. Our crops will be destroyed , there will be droughts and 60% of our population will lose their livelihood. They give us everything we take for granted. Indian have not excessively used the oceans like North America has, which I believe is absolutely wonderful.

After all that it gives to us, We humans think that the oceans need our protection! Well I believe the oceans don’t need us, we need them. We need to save the ocean so that we can save ourselves.

They produce more than 50% of the world's oxygen. Without oceans the basic necessity of life will cease to exist.They are responsible for creating the conditions that we are living in today.

They also absorb 30% of Carbon Dioxide produced by us which has slowed down the impacts of Global Warming. Global Warming is the rise of temperature of the earth due to depletion of the ozone layer and the increase of greenhouse gases which cause a heating effect on the earth. We all are well aware of the causes of Global warming and the effect it is causing in this world. We know one of them is increasing ocean levels due to melting of ice caps.

Here, we don’t actually need to be worried for the oceans. We need to worry about ourselves. Like I mentioned, while the oceans are life giving, it can cause fatal destruction. If the oceans rise, coasts will be submerged. Oceans with one swipe can destroy civilisations. With one overflow, it can shift economics. We can only imagine what it will do if we keep letting the ocean levels increase.

The Human race often feels like they can take control of the world and for the most part they have. However, oceans are what I believe pulls us down. We have seen what a microscopic virus can do to the world. How would we be able to deal with the entire ocean overflowing into our lands? How do we plan to stop this great force of nature before it engulfs our cities?

Keeping this in mind, we should celebrate our oceans and also fear them for they are after all a force of nature. They are the reason that we exist. There is so much in the oceans that is still unknown to us. However known things like rising ocean levels and plastic dumping in the ocean needs to be monitored and taken seriously. Oceans are not constant, they are dynamic. They move according to their own will ,something that the humans have not yet been able to control rather have to revolve their life around.

"You will love the ocean. It makes you feel small. But not in a bad way. Small because you realize you're part of something bigger."- Lauren Myracle

Do check out this video!