Around eight million tonnes of plastic washes into our seas every year: plastics, from bags to bottles, also litter our beaches - affecting the health and well-being of animals, plants and humans. The ocean is the heart of our planet. Like your heart pumping blood to every part of your body, the ocean connects people across the Earth, no matter where we live. The ocean regulates the climate, feeds millions of people every year, produces oxygen, is the home to an incredible array of wildlife, provides us with important medicines, and so much more! 

World Oceans Day is a global day of ocean celebration and collaboration for a better future. This year, individuals and organizations across our blue planet are celebrating with the theme "Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet" and are promoting prevention of plastic ocean pollution with events in their communities. 

You, too, can get involved in a fun and easy way! Join The new wave for change, a project started by singer Jack Johnson. "For World Oceans Day I'm joining with others around the world in a wave for change to help keep plastic trash out of our ocean and away from ocean animals. My pledge is to stop using disposable plastic bags and bottles (do the wave now) and I challenge you to make your own pledge, post it, and keep this wave going!"  

Join them by taking a video, sharing your commitment to the ocean and your challenge for others, and making a wave with your body. Pass it on by sharing your video online with the tags #WaveForChange and #WorldOceansDay and @CelebrateOceans on Twitter. Let's get everyone to make a wave for ocean conservation!

With the enthusiasm and involvement of people around the world, World Oceans Day has grown tremendously each year since The Ocean Project started promoting and coordinating it in 2002.

The United Nations will celebrate World Oceans Day 2016 and recognize the winners of the Annual World Oceans Day Oceanic Photo Competition at an event on 8 June 2016 at the United Nations Headquarters.

With the project Music Against Rubbish, comming this fall, the crew is trying to help preserve the island and its natural beauties. Support the project here. 

To learn more about Gili Trawagan and preserving the surrounding coral reefs, check our article.

Remeber, you are the key for a better future!