The Inseparable, Globally Connected Ocean
One Ocean, Multiple Bodies: The Debate on Why We Call It Just 'The Ocean'
When it comes to our beloved Ocean, we might think it's divided into separate regions like the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern. But that's just schoolbooks talking. In reality, it's one vast, interconnected system that plays a pivotal role in making all life on Earth possible.
One Ocean, One System
Embracing the concept of 'our Ocean' as a single, unified entity stresses its interconnectedness. Events in one part of the Ocean can have far-reaching effects on the entire system. For example, the world was shocked when approximately 29,000 rubber ducks, from a toy shipment, washed into the North Pacific. Within ten months, they began showing up on beaches in Alaska and Washington, proving the global reach of even a simple toy thrown into the ocean.
A similar story unfolded when nearly five million Lego pieces spilled into the Ocean from a cargo ship off the coast of Cornwall, UK. A quarter of a century later, tiny plastic toys are still washing ashore, demonstrating that human actions can have significant, long-lasting effects on marine environments.
The Power of Human Actions
These anecdotes show not just the interconnectedness of our Ocean, but also the impact of human actions.
We're all connected to the Ocean through weather, climate, and the very air we breathe. But we also have personal connections – perhaps you swim, sail, or simply enjoy the sounds of the sea. You likely benefit daily from products that are transported by boat from around the world. According to biologist Wallace J. Nichols, author of "Blue Mind," our brains have a natural affinity for water that can calm, connect, and heal us.
The roles the Ocean plays in keeping us alive – like supplying over half the oxygen we breathe, regulating the climate, nourishing the crops we eat, and feeding billions of people – are not always well-understood.
Connecting People with the Ocean
At Ocean Generation, we aim to reestablish the bond between people and the Ocean. We're an educational charity that uses science, storytelling, and pop culture to make marine science interesting and relevant to everyday life. As we understand the importance of the Ocean, we feel a sense of connection. When we feel connected, protecting it becomes a natural step. A healthy Ocean is vital for a healthy planet.
The Trickle-Down Effect
We seldom think about the water that comes from our taps as Ocean water. But as the little fish once said,
All drains lead back to the Ocean
Every waterway – rivers, drains, even the water in your coffee – eventually flows into the Ocean. Even the 60% of water that makes up your body has passed through the Ocean at some point. The Ocean breathes life into our lungs, nourishes our food, and controls our weather. It impacts us in ways we may not realize.
That means all our choices have effects that reverberate throughout our beautiful blue planet. Everyday actions, even those that seem small, matter.
Feel More Connected to the Ocean
Join Ocean Generation
- We offer bite-sized environmental education through science, storytelling, and popular culture.
- We translate complex Ocean science into engaging content for social media.
- We run Youth Engagement programs for people between the ages of 3 and 25, both online and in-person.
- We host talks for companies and corporate entities in the UK. Subscribe to receive the Ocean in your inbox, or explore the Ocean in your daily scroll on Instagram.
- The Ocean, despite its divisions into different regions as depicted in schoolbooks, is a singular, global system that plays a substantial role in supporting life on Earth.
- Human actions, whether intentional or unintentional, can have far-reaching effects on the entire Ocean system, as illustrated by events such as the floating rubber ducks and lost Lego pieces.
- Our personal connections to the Ocean extend beyond its visual appeal, encompassing its significance in weather, climate, and the air we breathe, as well as our daily use of ocean-transported goods.
- In the realm of environmental-science, Ocean Generation aims to rekindle the bond between individuals and the Ocean, using science, storytelling, and pop culture to make marine science more relatable to daily life.
- Every choice we make, no matter how small, has a ripple effect on our planet, reinforcing the idea that sustainable living and home-and-garden practices are integral to ensuring a healthy Ocean, and ultimately, a healthy planet.
