World Oceans Day

Last week was World Oceans Day, one could argue a fairly new event as it was only officially recognized by the UN in 2009, but something that has be running in some shape or form for nearly 20 years. The event celebrates the rich and beautiful resource that is the world's oceans, the life they support and the hard work and dedication of those conservation and campaign groups who work tirelessly to preserve aquatic life. A Facebook amigo of mine, by the name of Edwin B Trinidad and his friends the Green Warriors, were one of the groups that took part in the festivities in Mati, Davao Oriental, in The Philippines.  As you can see from the pictures, the group highlight the abundance of life on their shores and how it can be just as easily shared rather than destroyed...clearly have an amazing time in doing so.

In the wake of the Gulf Oil Spill, we can expect to see an increased interest in sea life conservation as the long clean up campaign continues over the coming months, though it's perhaps a bitter sweet pill that it takes a catastrophe to draw attention to such matters. The Green Warriors of Mati have been taking this matter seriously for some time, and deserve to be applauded for their commitment to raising awareness in their area.. For more information on the group, please make Edwin a friend on Facebook.

Speaking of Facebook, if you haven't heard of her already, I suggest you check out the page of Olivia Bouler, the 11 year old girl whose amazing bird drawings inspired by the wildfowl of the Gulf Coast were offered to those who donated to the National Audubon Society and have so far raised an estimated $100,000 for conservation charities. Olivia herself has now become a world wide media phenomenon covered by newspapers and broadcasters the world over and recently featured in the CBS News segment of one Katie Couric.

Unfortunately, not having a car and a baby to take care, of  it's been a while since I made it to the Irish Atlantic coast to enjoy the surf on my own backdoor, though a few weeks ago we did hop on the train to one of the cove beaches along the Belfast Lough.  As Shuggie's first beach experience went well, aside from the sand eating. I'm not an expert surfer by any means, but love to do it whenever I get the chance and there is something bracing and character building about risking the ball freezing Donegal surf in early Autumn or mid Spring (apparently the best surf is November, but to endure that you would have to be certifiably insane, and I'm not quite there yet). I've even visited Hawaii a few years ago to see how the other half live and must say they have it easy over there.

It's probably apt therefore, that I give am mention here to the SAS, that's Surfers Against Sewerage by the way, who over a twenty year period have actively campaigned against sewerage and pollution in UK. A not for profit organisation, the group campaign for clean and safe recreational waters, free from sewage effluents, toxic chemicals, marine litter and nuclear waste. They were given a great write up in this weeks weekend Guardian which you can read about here