Do your part for World Oceans Day - Books by Eric Douglas

Considering that yesterday was National Doughnut Day it seems like there is a “day’ for just about everything any more. I think World Oceans Dayis one we should all celebrate and support, though.

(From the World Oceans Day website) Why Should I Celebrate World Oceans Day?

Generates most of the oxygen we breathe
Helps feed us

Regulates our climate
Cleans the water we drink
Offers us a pharmacopoeia of potential medicines

Provides limitless inspiration!

I like to think of the ocean as “mine”. The last one on the list is especially true for me; all of my novels, most of my short stories and most of my non-fiction writing involve the ocean. It inspires me, calms me and excites me all at the same time. When I’m out on the water (or under it) I find myself smiling. Especially when I’m diving, I often daydream and end up writing portions of upcoming stories while I float along.

You might be saying to yourself, I don’t live anywhere near the ocean. What does World Oceans Day have to do with me? How do my actions affect the ocean? Taking care of water in your own backyard directly influences the health of the ocean. Pollution, chemicals and litter all make it to the ocean through small streams and watersheds.

What can I do? Here’s what other people are doing (again from the World Oceans Day site):

I promise to bring reusable bags to the grocery store
I promise to get a reusable water bottle
I promise to take shorter showers.
I promise to take public transportation to school/work once a week.
I promise to only eat sustainably harvested seafood.
I promise to participate in a litter clean-up.

I promise to not use toxic pesticides on my lawn.

A couple of the things on this list that I do involve plastic bottles and bags. I make a concerted effort to recycle all of the plastic bottles (along with paper and aluminum) that come through my house and I try to always use reusable shopping bags at the store. I have seen those flimsy shopping bags littering pristine beaches and water bottles coating shore lines in my travels. It makes me sick to see them and I don’t want to contribute to the problem.

A good friend of mine always referred to the ocean as “hers” and she has worked her entire professional career to protect it and support ocean causes. That’s where I picked up the phrase and it influences my everyday actions. Honestly, I think we would all be better off if we all thought of the ocean as “mine”.

If you want to learn more about how your own efforts at home can support World Oceans Day and the health of the ocean that provides life for all of us, visit the website and make a promise.