Ocean Love!

I visit the sea every single day, I never miss a day. It’s part of my lifeblood and this year I even work at the beach, teaching Yoga on the sand! I consider Banna Beach my home – I am of here. So today is a big day for us Sea-Lovers as it’s World Ocean Day 2021. The sea inspires me, soothes me, she brings clarity and calm. I know many of you understand this healing relationship personally too. It feel so fitting that today is the day I am so proud to launch a creative endeavour I’m so deeply proud of! In a partnership with Kerry based Badger & Blue, we have designed a unique limited edition original art print with my very own poetry “The 11am Sunday Service”.

To get your very own limited edition print email me directly on ebbflowyogaireland@gmail.com

I hope you love your artwork and poem as much as I do. Thank you so much for your support!

World Ocean Day

World Oceans Day reminds every one of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. They are the lungs of our Planet and a major source of food, medicine and a critical part of the biosphere.

The day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the benefits humans get from the ocean and our individual and collective duty to use its resources sustainably.

It is also a chance to celebrate and appreciate what the ocean provides, from the oxygen we breathe, to the inspiration it provides, to the powerful healing benefits it bestows upon us.

Why does World Ocean Day matter?   

Oceans cover more than 70% of the planet, produce at least 50% of the world's oxygen, are home to most of the Earth's biodiversity and are the main source of protein for more than a billion people.

They also absorb about 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans - a buffer for the detrimental impacts of global warming.

The UN hopes World Ocean Day will help inform the public of human actions on the ocean and develop a worldwide movement to protect it and unite the world in sustainably managing the oceans.

The Ocean: Life & Livelihoods

This year’s theme is Life & Livelihoods - by 2030, an estimated 40 million people will be employed by ocean-based industries. But according to the UN we are taking more from the ocean than can be replenished, with 90% of big fish populations currently depleted and 50% of coral reefs destroyed. Anew balance must be created, "rooted in true understanding of the ocean and how humanity relates to it". The aim of the day is to build a connection to the ocean that is "inclusive, innovative and informed by lessons from the past".

How can you get involved?

So many ways! And this is what I’ll be sharing all this week on social media on Ebb & Flow Yoga, Salty Souls Café & Banna Coastcare’s Facebook & Instagram pages. I’d love to you get in involved in the conversation, so please like, comment and share the posts and let me know your ideas, what you’re committed to doing to help our Oceans health and how you love to enjoy the seas and beaches of our beautiful country.

What’s happening?

1.      Join our Banna Beach Clean-Up on Saturday 19th June 10am – 11.30am and enjoy a fascinating & informative Talk with Ray & Rachel from Clean Coasts and join in Community to help clean up the beach. Salty Souls Café is delighted to give free Hot Chocolates to everyone who takes part.

2.     2 min Beach Clean

3.     When you go for a stroll today, pick up some litter, debris and fishing waste (nets / ropes etc) and bring home for proper disposal or put in one of the bins on your beach. It takes 2 mins and you’ll be playing a major part in helping our Oceans.

Online / Media Events

1.      Tune in to Newstalk Radio’s Lunchtime Live today at 1pm with Andrea Gilligan where the discussion turns to World Ocean Day. Banna Coast Care & Clean Coast Hero Rachel Geary will hopefully be making a guest star appearance (fingers crossed her interview will be aired!)

2.     Clean Coasts Ireland has a whole calendar of online talks & events today, check it out at https://cleancoasts.org/world-ocean-day/

3.     World Ocean Day is happening virtually for the second year in a row, thanks to the pandemic, meaning anyone can sign up to hear talks. There will be a wide range of more than 40 people talking, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, actor and oceans activist Sam Waterstone and Marisa Drew and many more. Events start at 3pm Irish time and will end with a virtual Concert for the Ocean from 9pm Irish time. You can sign up for the events here: https://unworldoceansday.org/un-world-oceans-day-2021/

4.     Clean Coasts are hosting a free watch-along online. Register here to watch the artistically created and beautiful film “The Smog of the Sea” with Clean Coasts. Join the discussion on twitter whilst watching the movie together.

5.     Have your say! The Public Consultation on the expert advisory group report entitled “Expanding Ireland’s Marine Protected Area Network”, is currently open. The consultation is an open invitation for your views on area-based conservation and environmental protection in your seas and ocean, now and into the future. Find out how you can have your say at https://cleancoasts.org/world-ocean-day/

6.     If you’re a School Teacher, to help celebrate Green-Schools Marine Week, Scoilnet has created some lessons for you to explore the Marine theme within subject specifications like Science, English, CSPE, and Geography. Check it out at https://www.scoilnet.ie/go-to-post-primary/science/collections/marine/

Thanks for reading and feel free to join in online - tag me in photos of you and the sea, your favourite sunsets and your beach clean finds!

Le grá,

Maeve x

PS. All this week (from 8th June 2021) I’ll be sharing information, tips and ideas on how you can get involved and help the health of our Oceans and waterways. Keep an eye on Ebb & Flow Yoga, Salty Souls Café & Banna Coast Care social media pages