June is National Oceans Month

June is the perfect time to think about the oceans of the world. As you plan your summer beach trips, consider what you can do to contribute to the health of the oceans of the world.

The government of Canada first proposed the idea of a World Oceans Day at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The Global Ocean Project began to promote the day globally in 2002 with just a few events and a few countries. Then, with hundreds of partner organizations and tens of thousands of supporters signing petitions, the United Nations officially recognized June 8 as World Oceans Day.

The day is celebrated worldwide and The Ocean Project created the World Earth Day Youth Advisory Council in 2016 to have young people help expand the scope and impact of the day. The Council members must create one significant World Earth Day event in their community, but the Ocean Project makes it easy for anyone to submit and promote an event.

Through the Ocean Project website, it is easy to find events happening near you that you can support and participate in. These include film screenings, beach and river clean-ups, boat fests and more. There are also small steps you can take to make a difference as well. Lots of our single-use plastic ends up in the oceans, not only polluting the water but also harming marine life. Investing in reusable plastics (such as shopping bags and plastic containers) or non-plastic items (bamboo cutlery or a stainless steel water bottle) can make a big difference. When camping, bring biodegradable soaps and shampoos for natural bathing. And of course, any time you're swimming, use BRUSH ON BLOCK® Mineral Powder Sunscreen SPF 30-- a natural, chemical-free, reef-safe sunscreen. Just because you aren’t diving at a reef or snorkeling with sea turtles doesn’t mean the sunscreen you wear won’t have an effect. The chemicals pollute the water and are easily spread, causing harm to wildlife.