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 ow
it Started.1998, the International Year of the Ocean was an important milestone in the worldwide movement to protect the ocean. It brought to the surface the fact that it is now time to mainstream marine and coastal issues in the national social agenda and recognize their urgency. It served a call to all sectors of the society to act and be consciously aware of the need to “think globally and act locally”. Last year, we were made aware that all of us belong to just one big ocean and that the destruction of our seas not only affects us but also has a repercussion on a global scale. The Coastal Resource Management Project, a project implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, provides technical assistance and training to local governments and communities in coastal resource management. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding this project. The main objective of the project is to catalyze coastal resource management to a threshold that expands nationwide and is sustained beyond the project. The project started its activities in coastal communities in the south - Olango Island, Cebu; San Vicente, Palawan; Malalag Bay, Davao del Sur; Negros Oriental; Bohol;
and Sarangani Province. These sites can then become models to other communities
throughout the country. To support the replication and sustainability of
the project, activities are directed at enhancing the capability of national
and local governments and the communities themselves to develop and implement
resource management processes and systems.Community participation is therefore an inherent and integral part of the project. Different sectors of the community - the fisherfolk, the various local government units, private sectors, NGO’s - are encouraged to participate in the activities of the project. It is for this reason that CRMP spearheaded the creation of I Love the Ocean, “a movement for sustainable seas.” It all started in Cebu in February 1998. Different individuals from various walks of life with one common goal came together to commit themselves to promoting sustainable coastal resource and ocean management. In June, the movement was launched in Manila, taking a big step towards greater public awareness of coastal issues and paving the way for urban dwellers to support actions towards the sustainability of our ocean resources. Although many of us feel removed from what happens in our fishing villages, we must realize that we are a big part of the problems threatening our coastal resources and, more importantly, that we can be part of the solution. We can create a powerful advocacy group to alert the country’s policymakers to the needs of our coastal communities and the need to protect and manage our coastal resources. Many of us have the means, not only to provide financial backing, but also to contribute to the awareness of urban people of the effect our lifestyles have on the environment. |
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I Love the Ocean has been launched in six urban centers, where it is being “hosted” by different groups: Cebu City (4,221
members)- Metro Manila (4,636
members)- Dumaguete City
(715 members)- General Santos
City (701 members)- Davao City (829
members)- Palawan (152 members)- Initially supported by CRMP, the movement aims to be self-sustaining and will be managed by its members. The
“I Love the Ocean” Creed
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Stop
littering our planet: Reduce, reuse, recycle (especially plastic).
Read
labels on tuna cans; buy only those products that respect marine life.
Find
out how and where fish at your local market is caught before you buy.
Use
unbleached or white toilet paper -- colored paper contains dyes that pollute
our water systems and, eventually, the ocean.
Use
phosphate-free washing powder, detergent and other cleaning agents. 
Don’t
take shells or other ‘souvenirs’ from the beach.
Pick
up any rubbish you see and dispose properly.
Avoid
using water-polluting household chemicals. Instead use eco-friendly substitutes
such as vinegar (an all-purpose cleaner) and sodium bicarbonate (a bathroom
cleaner/mold remover).
Report
to authorities any illegal dumping or fishing activities you discover.
Let
your government know how you feel about issues affecting the marine environment:
Write local and national officials, or phone the newspapers. 
Draft
your own Ocean Charter (member-countries of the IOC will have their own
Ocean Charter, which will be presented and adopted in 1998 as a highlight
of the IYO). Get people in your neighborhood to sign your Charter, then
present it to your mayor or barangay captain and request that it be displayed
prominently in your municipal or barangay hall. 
Show you care: Wear a blue heart.
