Oceans Day Celebrates People and Oceans
8 June 2013: World Oceans Day was celebrated on 8 June around the theme 'People and Oceans.' The Day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the current challenges faced by the international community in connection with the oceans.
In a message delivered to mark the Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underlined the urgent need to increase action to reverse the degradation of the marine environment, noting that oceans are "integral to all of humanity" and highlighting their role in food security and climate regulation.
Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), emphasized that World Oceans Day is "an opportunity to recognize this and to undertake to protect the oceans, where life began and on which our future depends."
The UN Division for Oceans and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) organized various activities in observance of the Day. [World Oceans Day Website] [World Oceans Day 2013 Flyer] [UN Press Release] [GEF Press Release] [Global Partnership for Oceans Press Release] [UNESCO Message] [UN Secretary-General's Message] [IAEA Press Release]