Reflecting on World Oceans Day

Today, June 8, is World Oceans Day, founded in 2002 to celebrate, honor, help protect and conserve the oceans. Events in honor of World Oceans Day will occur across the globe.  For some, this holiday prompts reflection on the issues related to oceans, such as sustainability and human trafficking practices in the seafood industry.

Over the past two years, the Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking has coordinated advocacy efforts to encourage seafood companies to eradicate human trafficking practices.  In 2016, the Coalition sponsored a postcard campaign, while in 2017 they focused on encouraging seafood companies who are cleaning up their supply chains to label their products.  Read more about this year’s project on their website.

In honor of World Oceans Day, Fair Trade USA has launched a campaign encouraging consumers to purchase seafood that is produced in an environmentally and socially responsible way.  Launched in 2014, their certification of seafood products allows consumers to make purchases that have been shown to meet rigorous standards for workers in the fishing industry.  Learn more about their work on their website.

How will your campus celebrate and reflect on World Oceans Day?  Let us know!

 

Join Catholic Climate Covenant for a Webinar on Oceans and Vulnerable Populations

With the one-year anniversary of the release of Laudato Si’ approaching, Catholic Climate Covenant will be hosting an informative webinar: “Climate Change’s Canaries: Oceans and Vulnerable Populations.”

This evening, Thursday, June 9, at 7 p.m., tune in to hear from leaders such as:

• Sister Wendy Flannery, convenor of Climate Frontlines at Friends of the Earth Australia and member of Earth Matters, Brisbane Archdiocesan Catholic Justice and Peace Commission
• Ryan Ono, Program coordinator of Ocean Acidification Team of the Ocean Conservancy

Flannery and Ono will be joined by members of communities impacted by climate change to discuss their experiences, as well as the specific impacts of climate change on communities of the Pacific, other Small Island States, the U.S., and indigenous communities. Of special importance for discussion will be the ways in which communities of faith can respond to the effects of climate change on the world.

How does your college or university respond to the impacts of climate change on the world’s oceans and the poor and vulnerable? Let us know!