World Oceans Day was officially declared by the United Nations as June 8 of each year beginning in 2009.
The concept was first proposed on 8 June 1992 by Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (I remember that Earth Summit; there was a lot of publicity about rainforests, and celebrities rallied together and sang songs, and kids got together to write letters or send postcards in the shape of a leaf, all of which did absolutely nothing because look at where we are today) and it’s had been unofficially celebrated every year.
But, no more. It took 17 years but it’s official now. About time.
And of the 365 days a year, they could not have picked a better day than June 8. It’s a great day. Actually, it’s the perfect day. Sometime in the middle of the year, not too early or too late. Summer’s kinda here, yet it’s not hot like July or August. Kids are on their school break. The mood is generally upbeat. Lots of cool people were born on June 8, like Frank Lloyd Wright, Scott Adams, Kanye West, Nick Rhodes… and many other exceptional and remarkable individuals, for sure. And that “8″ thing is so popular with the Chinese and all. In fact, there’s no more perfect day than June 8. (Yes, I just said it’s a cooler date than Christmas. Or at least I think so.)
June 8. World Oceans Day. All creatures great and small in the oceans thank you. And so do I.
Good call, World. (And Canadians, too.) Good call.
Tags: oceans, world oceans day
