Issue number 62 December 1997 The International Year of the Ocean

1998 – The International Year of the Ocean

In the same year as the world will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, 10 December 1948, emphasis will be given throughout the year to the crucial role that the oceans play in all forms of planetary life.

Healthy oceans are vital to the health of the whole earth. Consequently one of the main objectives of the 1998 Year of the Ocean will be to focus public attention on the many threats that our oceans are facing from pollution, population pressure, excessive fisheries, coastal zone degradation and climate variability. Numerous conferences, seminars, training and research cruises and many other activities are being planned throughout the world, all with the common purpose of creating greater awareness and firmer commitment to the cause of restoring health to our oceans, sustainable and respectful harvesting of marine life and giving also urgent priority to repairing and beautifying all coastal areas. Educational kits and TV/video programmes will be developed to enhance knowledge and understanding of the ocean among students and young people.

To further the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment Against Land-based Activities a global evaluation of the state of the marine environment is being done by leading experts on marine pollution. lncluded in this global evaluation are the regional assessments being inade through “inter-agency” cooperation; agencies such as UN Environmental Programme, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO), the Food & Agriculture Organisation, the International Maritime Organisation, the World Meteorological Organisation and the Atomic Energy Agency.

An IOC homepage (http://www.unesco.org/ioc) will make available all current information on conferences, publications, events etc related to the International Year of the Ocean.

The official launching of an “OCEAN CHARTER” took place at the September 1997 Summit of the Sea in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Sponsored by Canada, this Charter, which is not binding but a statement of principle and a declaration of intent, will be reproduced and distributed to embassies throughout the world and signed by national dignitaries on behalf of their country at a public event during 1998. An individual version of the Charter will also be available as a means of bringing together the political and public commitment to the future of the ocean and the marine and coastal environment.

For more information:
The Year of the Ocean Office
Department Fisheries and Oceans
200 Kent St., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, KlA OE6.

Many to Many a quarterly publication issued by Operation Peace through Unity Anthony Brooke and Gita Brooke, co-founders Te Rangi, 4 Allison Street, Wanganui 5001, New Zealand phone/fax: +64-6-345-5714 ~ e-mail: larrym@clear.net.nz OPTU is an accredited NGO in association with the UN Dept of Public Information

Many to Many under the aegis of Operation Peace Through Unity is a communicating link between 'we, the peoples' of all nations, races, creeds and ideologies offering in the spirit of the preamble of the United Nations Charter an instrument for the furthering of better relationships based on deepening mutual understanding and the aspiration to promote unity and cooperation beyond all differences.