Happy World Oceans Day!

I love the sea.  In fact, I grew up fantasizing fantasize about being a mermaid and feel absolutely no shame in this disclosure.  Yeah.  I know, I know.  =)

In addition to celebrating culture in the blogosphere on OneBrownGirl.com®, I am also the Executive Director of OBG Adventure Camps, travel and learning adventure excursions for girls ages 11-14.  Because of my love for the sea and sea life, and because of the lack of diversity on the waterfront,  OBG's multicultural camp adventures all typically take place in waterfront locations.  It is my genuine pleasure to play a part in youth development not only by encouraging environmental stewardship, but by showing girls the glory of our planet's oceans, lakes, streams, rivers, ponds and waterfalls with their mysterious inhabitants.  And so it makes sense that I would be excited (!) about World Oceans Day, a day honoring the world's oceans, celebrating the products the ocean provides, and appreciating its intrinsic value. 

Officially declared a celebratory day by the United Nations on June 8, 2009, the concept of World Oceans Day was proposed on June 8, 1992 by Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and had been unofficially celebrated every year since then.  [Source:  Wiki]  And if you can't think of a reason to celebrate the ocean, consider this:  The world's ocean 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, and provides limitless inspiration!  [Source: theoceanproject.org] How much more significant can the ocean get than that!?

Side note:  In light of the overwhelming damage that the BP oil spill has brought about, the relevance of this celebratory day is not lost on me.  I also hope it is not lost on BP.

For more information about World Oceans Day, please click here.  And don't forget about BBC Warner's brilliant Oceans DVD and Disneynature's newly-released Oceans movie (see trailer below).  All three are a must-see!  Happy World Oceans Day!!!!