We can learn a new language. We can all speak Ocean.

Water is the foundation for all life. You don’t need me to quote facts and figures but in a nutshell, the health of our global population depends on the health of our oceans.

An advocate is someone who speaks up for someone or something and motivates and inspires others to create change. An ocean advocate speaks up for the sea – the sea doesn’t speak but it certainly has a voice and a language – we just need to translate it.

We know we’re at a crucial point in time with how we respond to climate change. We’re all trying to do our bit, like reducing plastic use and conserving energy, but it can feel challenging and overwhelming, and sometimes impossible and futile alongside the fast demands of life.

But perhaps we can work with a new perspective.

It’s widely known that being told not to do something has minimal impact (think health warnings on certain products – we still buy them knowing they are bad for us), so let’s focus on what we CAN do and let’s enjoy it while we’re doing it!

Advocacy is a big word that carries a lot of weight and responsibility but just as with most waves, change starts with a ripple. So let’s start there – let’s cause a rumble on the surface.

Creating a ripple

UNDERSTAND

Learn and discover – immerse yourself

No one individual will ever know everything about our oceans. But together we can build our collective knowledge. Pick one aspect of the ocean that intrigues you and learn everything you can about it.

Read books, blogs, watch documentaries and stories. Get curious and go beyond the surface. Challenge what you’re learning. Always ask, what does this mean?

Listen with all of your senses. If the ocean could speak, what would she be saying?

What can you already hear?

POSITIVE ACTION

Move to Create energy

Choose one thing that you can commit to that creates positive change.

Some ideas:

Beach cleaning, becoming a patreon of, or volunteer for, an organisation that supports ocean advocacy and conservancy, use your creativity to educate others in your community and organisations.

CONNECT

GET IN IT, ON IT, BESIDE IT, FEEL IT

Whatever, you’re doing with water, stop and notice how it makes you feel. Spot patterns in the waves, listen to its sounds, visualise the underwater world that you cannot see, remembering that there is more marine life than human life on our planet.

Think of all the ways water sustains our ecosystems – and not just the environmental ones. Think about what water means to you.

What do you love? What do you fear?

How would you like to build your relationship with water?

INSPIRE OTHERS

PUSH YOUR ENERGY OUT

Share your knowledge, share your ideas, share your actions.

Encourage others to connect with the ocean by bringing them along with you on your journey.

Take part in #100daysofblue on social media from 30 May to 6 September.

How does your energy move across others?

Ocean Advocacy in Action

SeaLegacy

A non-profit organisation that uses storytelling and media to inspire others to engage in ocean conservation.

Ocean Conservation Trust

A global charity working towards a vision of a healthy ocean.

Project AWARE

A non-profit organisation that works with scuba divers to protect our underwater environments with a specific focus on Shark Conservation and Marine Debris.

Oceanic Preservation Society

An NGO focused on marine protection. They create films that expose the truth about many of our global threats.

Wallace J Nichols

Marine biologist, ocean advocate and author of Blue Mind: how water makes you happier, more connected and better at what you do.

Surfers Against Sewage

A grassroots environmental charity dedicated to the protection of the ocean, waves, beaches and wildlife

In Dorset

Conservation at Sea: Dorset Wildlife Trust

Dorset Wildlife Trust wants to see a return to Living Seas - marine wildlife thriving in our coastal waters, recovering from past decline as we use the sea’s resources more wisely and learn to value the sea for the many ways in which it supports our quality of life.

Oceans to Earth

Oceans to Earth are a Poole-based environment protection organisation committed to reducing and recycling plastic waste and raising sustainability awareness.