Your Ocean Activist newsletter
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Whether you've just joined us, or you've been here a while, we want to start by saying thank you. By being on this mailing list you're helping us to spread the voice of the ocean far and wide. True Ocean Activism, for a thriving ocean, thriving people.
Two weeks ago marked the second ever UN Ocean Conference, and what a week it was, with the head of the UN declaring an ocean emergency. Our chief exec, Hugo, was there in Lisbon. representing us Ocean Activists. Here are some of his key takeaways from the week:
- World leaders and countries lined up to voice their concerns over mining the deep. There is a growing call for a legal framework to stop deep sea mining before it starts.
- Plastics were back at the top of the agenda as we move towards developing the legally-binding Global Plastics Treaty, which will be completed in 2024. The Treaty will put into action the commitments of over 175 nations, and will focus on limiting production and delivering true circularity.
- New marine reserves and protected areas were announced by many nations, including Portugal, Columbia and Uruguay, who announced protections to create a Hope Spot – a protected, wild sanctuary for whales and dolphins. The UK government also announced a new £154m programme to protect and restore marine and coastal habitats and £100m to implement and manage Marine Protected Areas.
- Blue Carbon was undoubtedly the hot topic – with seagrass, kelp, mangroves, salt marshes and other coastal ecosystems in the spotlight.
Hugo said: "What an amazing week, working alongside the good and the great of the marine conservation and ocean movement. There was a lot of energy, optimism and innovation on show. Now, it's vital that the commitments made in Lisbon are implemented and enforced at pace and scale, and in a way that leaves no one behind. The world is watching."
Last week, our campaigns team travelled to Westminster, to host a drop-in session for MPs to pledge support for more river bathing waters.
New bathing waters are a vital step in protecting our blue spaces, with over 90% of sewage outflows pumping sewage directly into rivers. And, as we know, the state of our rivers directly impacts the health of the ocean.
More than 40 MPs stopped by, and with the nation behind us, and our petition nearly at its 40,000 target, we're feeling optimistic ✊
BUT - no battles have been won just yet. We need more MPs to support their communities to get bathing water status. It needs to be a priority. And we won't keep quiet until our waterways are given the recognition they need to thrive.
Marie, an SAS supporter, ran a whole 10k at the age of 75, to raise funds for SAS!
She's amazing, and so is fundraising on your birthday. After all, what better way to celebrate than to help save the ocean?
So many Ocean Activists are raising funds for us with birthday fundraisers on Facebook. The great thing about them? You don't have to do a thing (unless you want to...). You can just sit back as your friends and family ramp up the donations in your name, towards our shared goal of thriving people and a thriving ocean. 🌊
Exmoor is a Plastic Free Community! It's the first National Park to be awarded this status, so it's a pretty big deal...
The park has successfully completed the five steps towards reducing single use plastics, with more than 40 organisations committed to reducing plastic waste. We can't wait to see more communities like this in the UK, working together to fight single-use plastic.
Find out how you can get involved 👇
We've created an amazing network of businesses that support us - like-minded brands, freelancers, businesses and creatives, united in their passion for protecting our oceans, beaches, waves and wildlife.
Do you have someone in mind that could support us with their work? Recommend the Ocean Network to your favourite business and help the fight for the ocean.
OEP investigates sewer regulation in England
Something smells off 💩
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has announced that they're investigating the roles of Ofwat, the Environment Agency and the Defra Secretary of State in the regulation of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in England, and whether they have failed to comply with their duties.
We've known for years that the water industry is up to no good. And our campaigning on this issue is creating waves of change. Now it's time to see what crawls out of the woodwork. We'll keep you updated.
Before we go, do you have a Plastic Free hero in your life?
We're looking for stand-out young campaigners, community leaders, small businesses, charities, designers, entrepreneurs, sports clubs and schools, who are on a mission to end plastic pollution. Get nominating today, and help celebrate those working to hold back the plastic tide.
