“How long will we go on?” Is it possible? Yes, nothing is impossible, if we help each other, unite, work together, I can assure you that it is possible.

It’s already a fact that Cape Verde is a country dependent on the sea, located in a vast ocean: the Atlantic Ocean. We have been graced with a rich sea, full of life, beautiful and home to wonderful and unique species. The ocean makes up 71% of the planet and provides many services to human society. The sea is our home and that of so many other beings and as such I have no words to describe its importance to humanity. In its cradle developed the most diverse civilizations that used it as a means of communication and connection between them. The importance of the sea for the development of our civilization is inestimable. But have we returned that importance?

The sea is currently home to tons of waste every year. Every year approximately 13 million tons of garbage and other products are dumped into the sea. The Pacific Ocean is undoubtedly the greatest example of this pollution, and is currently home to the “Great Garbage Patch”, a large concentration of waste that stretches from California to Hawaii and is three times the size of France. It is currently home to 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, leftover bottle materials, toxic products and more, which kill thousands of animals every year. In addition, most of the world’s most polluted beaches are located between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, with beaches in countries located between these two oceans being totally contaminated by the waste we produce and which comes directly from all the world’s major cities.

Although Cape Verde is not a major polluter of the sea, it is a country that frequently encounters waste that pollutes our beaches and comes from different parts of the world, mainly the Caribbean and the South Atlantic. Not to mention the pollution that oil brings with it in its exploitation and misuse. Not only is it a non-renewable resource that will run out over time, but in the meantime it will drive entire species to extinction. Our country has large and beautiful beaches that are sought after by thousands of tourists. Tourism is the country’s main economic activity, generating millions of escudos, but it is these tourists who mostly pollute our beaches.

With the great pollution and poisoning of the sea that already exists and the trends that indicate that it will not stop, the challenges seem immense, especially in a country where society and the mind are still backward and the lack of perspective has delayed our development as a society, we must prepare ourselves for what is coming our way. If we don’t stop to rethink our actions, good times don’t await our generation, let alone future ones. The actions we take now have a huge impact on the future.

The planet we live on is limited, and the natural resources we use are finite. It’s important to think about future generations and act now to ensure that they too have a sustainable future, and that they have the chance to breathe the same air that we do. Adopting sustainable practices and reducing carbon emissions are urgent issues that need to be tackled now. We can no longer wait to take action. With each passing day, the impact of global warming and the sudden changes that our planet has undergone in the last two centuries since the industrial revolution become more evident and their effects are felt all over the world, whether through natural disasters, rising sea levels or extreme climate change. The next generations depend on the actions we take now.

The ocean/sea undoubtedly plays an ecological, economic, political and socio-cultural role. It is responsible for regulating the climate, generating income, maintaining national security and the proper functioning of the planet, as well as being a source of food, mineral resources and medicines. There is an interdependent relationship between us and the ocean, since we depend on it for our survival, and we play an important role in preserving it. As the American oceanographer Sylvia Earle – a world reference in the protection of the ocean and marine life – said, “without blue, there is no green”. Knowing and conserving the ocean means improving our quality of life and the future of society.

In order to make changes, we have to start with small attitudes, such as: investing in sustainable products, recycling waste, participating in and supporting projects aimed at protecting the ocean, staying informed and sharing knowledge, consciously consuming fish, reducing carbon emissions (using sustainable energy and clean means of transportation), among others. It’s our responsibility to conserve the sea, as its current situation has been caused by our actions and sheer greed. To make the sea healthier, safer and more productive, we need a global effort, which involves creating sustainable laws and policies, changing school curricula and spreading the word about marine environmental problems and their impact on society.

“Pollution puts the functioning and health of the sea at risk. Man-made pollution destroys our only home and destroys one of our pillars for survival, as we depend heavily and centrally on the sea.”

I ask you, reader, to help us protect our home. A small act, perhaps it seems insignificant in the midst of 8 billion people, but as I said, if we unite we can change this sad fate that our civilization has brought upon both ourselves and our planet. Take this message across borders and make it an instrument of attitude towards our society. I’ll end by emphasizing that our planet repays every act we do, so do good so that we receive good.

Author

Marlon Baptista
Student, Vice-President and Member of the Children’s and Youth Parliament