My early recollection of the Sea was Jacques-Yves Cousteau every afternoon on television; James Mason as Captain Nemo in Disney’s adaptation of Twenty Leagues Under the Seas by Jules Verne and Dr Seuss’ McElligot’s Pool. Ironic, since as Filipinos we live in th middle of the Tropics – what probably is the home of the most diverse collection of saltwater animals and plants. It was only during High School and College did I began to see the beauty of our seas with friends snorkeling and ultimately diving in Batangas, Pangasinan and Coron.
There was one particular book I remember about the Sea. Oddly though, I can never remember its name. But I do remember its content, the photo essays it had inside, You see the book had color plates or pictures of fishes, plants and other organisms of the sea and to see in full color was something spectacular. They were beautiful … it was like looking at the work French composer of Camille Saint-Saëns come alive in full color – in particular Movement VII in Le Carnaval Des Animaux (The Carnival of the Animals) VII Aquarium. Although I once watched a film showing of different denizens of the reef accompanied by John Williams’ score of Star Wars – in particular the Imperial March was a perfect match to movement and pulse of jellyfishes dancing and crossing the reef. But going back to the said book-which-I-cannot-remember-the-title-but-I-can-remember –the-content, there was one picture that engraved itself in my mind. It was the Sea that turned crimson with the blood of whales – freshly killed by whalers near the shore.
A Sea of Blood.
This is one of the main things I remember when the topic of conversation, whether it be online or not goes to Conservation of the Sea. Why do it? And How do you do it?
More than three fourths of our world is made up of water and a great part of that is composed of the Seas. Why save the Seas? It is the treasure we need to pass down to our children and our children’s children. It is the source of our food, medicine and well-being – we like to swim in it and enjoy looking at it … and this has benefits. We do not own it but we are Stewards of it. It is loss is our loss. It has an impact on us – without the Seas and its inhabitants we are vulnerable to extinction by disease, physical damage and even hunger.
I just remembered Tolstoy…
Leo Tolstoy wrote a story called The Three Questions and it is about a King searching for the answer to what he thinks is the three most important question in life, namely:
What is the best time to do each thing?
Who are the most important people to work with?
What is the most important thing to do at all times?
Remember these three questions, we will go back to these later.
But for now what is the nature of the problem of the Seas? It is legion for it is many…
THE DISMAL STATE OF THE SEAS
It is being harvested. It is bearing the brunt of man-made disasters and activities, And to top it off it still has to deal with the natural disasters and daily stress of just being part of the Blue Planet.
Harvesting, human and man-made disasters cannot be controlled by law and law-enforcement alone. Sadly, law making is probably the easiest thing the State can do. The problem is complex . In the case of corals for jewelry or for sea turtle specimens or for marine fishes - there is the demand for the product and the monetary rewards of getting the product to its consumer. Factor in the effect of greed and poverty and you will find no end to people and group willing to take up the trade and business irresponsibly with deadly effect to Nature and Human civilization. The solution lies not solely on the law and its enforcement but on society and culture - between the buyer, the state, the community, the scientists and the harvesters.
Everything in our planet is inter-related and everything is affected by one another. The cement plant in town affects the nearby ocean. A petshop in Metro Manila may also affect the seas around Pangasinan. A person buying a brand of tuna might have an affect on the Dolphin population of the world - because the tuna was caught using a type of net that could also kill dolphins and other sea animals.
Nearly everything is related and have consequences.
Does this mean one has to refrain from leaving one’s room in order not to affect the world?
No. The moment we are brought into this world we have had an affect on it. The important thing is how we intend to live life. Do we want to be part of the problem or do we want to be an effective part of the solution?
HOW DO WE DO IT? HOW DO WE SAVE OUR SEAS? HOW DO WE SAVE OURSELVES?
It all depends on you? What can you bring to the table? Seriously, I do not think you need to be a diver or a marine biologist to be part of the solution. Are you willing?
Are you willing to learn how as a Beach Person you can save the Seas?
Are you willing to learn how as a Pet owner you can save the Seas?
Are you willing to learn how as a Foodie you can save the Seas?
Are you willing to learn how as a Tourist you can save the Seas?
Are you willing to learn how as a Diver or Snorkeler you can save the Seas?
Are you willing to learn how as a Pet Owner you can save the Seas?
Are you willing to learn how as a Parent you can save the Seas?
Are you willing to learn how as a Surfer you can save the Seas?
Are you willing to learn how as a Businessman you can save the Seas?
Are you willing to learn how as a Fisherman you can save the Seas?
Are you willing to learn how as a Scientist you can save the Seas?
This goes on and on. The next thing to ask yourself would be based on what you have learned or know are you willing to act?
Now let us go back to Tolstoy and his story. Now this post is part of Blog Action Day for Save the Philippine Seas -Although I think Save Our Seas would be the more general aim and theme. Personally, I would like to see this effort go beyond Blog Action Day and go beyond the confines of the Online World and be felt in the real world. Anyway, the story ended with the King finding out the answers to the three questions. The journey to getting the answers is an interesting one but let me end this post with the answers and see how it relates to this post -
The most important time is now. The present is the only time over which we have power.
The most important person is whoever you are with.
The most important thing is to do good to the person you are with.