SEA PLEDGE LAUNCHED: GOOD NEWS FROM COP 17 - Kingsway in on the action

Kingsway in on the action, Luyanda Cele: Head Prefect, Kingsway High School

Prashna Buddan: Student, Kingsway High School, Amy Cuff: Head Prefect, Kingsway High School

Ella Addison, Scottburgh Primary School

SEA PLEDGE LAUNCHED: GOOD NEWS FROM COP 17

SEA Pledge was launched at COP 17 and in many coastal areas around South

Africa in both serious and fun events on 3rd December. Four children carried

the SEA Pledge petition and resolution to the chairpersons of the Global

Ocean Forum and read the resolution to the audience. 

The build up to the launch at COP 17 began on 12th October when Sustainable

Seas Trust travelled to coastal towns between Sodwana and Saldanha to

encourage involvement with COP 17 and SEA Pledge. The SEA Pledge team

presented 25 lectures and met with mayors, clubs, businesses and schools

involving them all in the SEA Pledge initiative for ocean conservation and

sustainability.

On World Oceans Day at COP 17, 3rd December, children and adults at beach

and water venues around South Africa also launched SEA Pledge and celebrated

the oceans. Despite poor weather (not necessarily due to climate change)

many people turned out between Sodwana and Saldanha to pledge their support

and to encourage governments and major international organizations to commit

to caring for the oceans and coasts. Their activities included building sand

sculptures, such as a giant "Handprint for Change" sand sculpture, beach

clean ups, penguin releases, scuba diving, outings in boats, painting a

giant Coelacanth mural and indoor functions such as dinners and braais.

SEA Pledge has been collecting petition signatures as part of their coastal

tour. It has been 13 years since the UN last had an International Year of

Oceans, so given the urgent need to reinvest in better understanding the

seas and marine life, the SEA Pledge petition and resolution calls upon the

UN to declare an International Year of Oceans and Coasts. The petition was

accepted by the Global Oceans Forum at which the President, Dr Biliana

Cicin-Sain, pledged to endorse and forward the resolution to the UN. As many

speakers at the Global Ocean Forum indicated, we need to invest in ocean

research and create new standards of care in order to combat climate change.

As of the launch date, members of 29 countries around the world have

indicated support for SEA Pledge. Visit our website to view the map

(www.sst.org.za/map) and see who has made a Pledge in your area. You could

be the first person in your community to mark your commitment to the

environment, or you could join the Business or Schools Challenge and compete

with other local business or schools for the best Pledges. 

To get involved, visit www.sst.org.za for more information. Additionally,

stay up to date and support the cause by following '@SEAPledge' on Twitter

and liking the 'Sustainable Seas Trust and SEA Pledge' page on Facebook

(www.facebook.com/seapledge).