The World Ocean Network
There is one global ocean and it is the essence of life on Earth.
Each human being shares responsibility for it.
We only have one ocean and life would be impossible without it, so let’s take care of it together!
The World Ocean Network – a planetwide initiative for the Ocean
Founded in 2002, on the initiative of Nausicaa, the World Ocean Network (WON) is an international association of museums, aquariums, research centres, educational charities and non-governmental organisations.
Its purpose is to increase public awareness of the importance of the ocean for humanity, and of the impact our everyday activities are having on the marine environment.
Building awareness about the crucial role played by the ocean in our daily lives, informing the general public about the state oceans are in, helping them to understand the complexity of maritime problems, publicising sustainable policies, involving the public and changing consumption habits, kindling a desire to adopt a more responsible behaviour in respect of the marine environment – such have been the priorities of the World Ocean Network since its creation in 2002.
The world ocean network is promoting the concept of ocean citizenship
The World Ocean Network brings together 250 partners from each of the 5 continents. The organisations which participate in the network, which include educational charities and trusts, aquariums, science centres, natural history museums, zoos, the media, NGOs, and so on, have an audience of more than 250 million people each year all over the world. They can make a real contribution to public information campaigns and can effectively raise public awareness of the problems facing the marine environment and the preservation of the ocean. Each of these institutions operates at local level, but through building partnerships and joint-working, the Network is able to make a global impact
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An action programme
The Network has launched a joint network-wide communication campaign on the scientific issues in order to reach out to billions of people all around over the next ten years.
The Network has created awareness raising tools such as the Citizen of the Ocean Passport (this passport commits its holder to take action, either individually or with others, for the future of the Ocean).
The Citizen of the Ocean Passport
Today, half of the Earth’s inhabitants live less than 80 kilometres from the coast. Because the inhabitants of the continents pay too little attention to the Ocean, the World Ocean Network, of which we are a member, unilaterally took the initiative of creating the Citizen of the Ocean status.
“For the Future of the Blue Planet, we can make a difference», is our motto and the principle guiding our work. This is why the, “Citizen of the Ocean Passport” was launched by the Network’s entire membership on the occasion of World Ocean Day on 8 June 2004.
Through their action, Passeport holders represent the Ocean on Earth. Because we protect best what matters directly to us, it is at the their own individual scale that Citizens of the Ocean make a commitment to taking action, with a single planetwide goal: saving the ocean.
The Citizen of the Ocean Passport
The Citizen of the Ocean Passport confers rights:
- To enjoy a privileged reception across the World Ocean Network, which includes a large number of Sea Centres, Aquariums and Museums all across the world.
- To have one’s voice heard, as a defender of Humanity’s world heritage.
- To be recognised as an Ambassador for the Ocean (honorary title).
but also duties::
- To stay informed through the World Ocean Network and its members, and to act as a spokesperson for their activities.
- To promote a better stewardship of the marine ecosystem and its resources.
- To speak out whenever the Ocean is in danger.
The Citizens of the ocean will receive both a warm welcome and support for their initiatives from Nausicaa, as well as from all of the centres and organisations participating in the World Ocean Network.
By learning about the issues and by informing others, by proposing new members and by participating in conservation work, Citizens of the Ocean will become eligible for the title of “Ambassador”.
Further details on the Citizen of the Ocean Passport are available from the website www.reseau-ocean-mondial.org. Since 1 June, the Ocean Embassy has been located in Nausicaa’s multimedia library, where aspiring Citizens of the Ocean can obtain their Passport for the price of 1 Euro and 20 cents, (cost price only) and may, if they wish, offer a contribution above this sum.
THE WORLD OCEAN NETWORK COMMITS TO ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
This blog keeps you informed of the events related to ocean and climate change in the frame of the Conference on Climate Change COP16 - Cancún , Mexico, December-November 2010: http://oceanmondial.worldoceannetwork.org/cop15/en
