June 8. World Oceans Day. A date when we should remember that planet Earth is not so much land as water. Oceans cover more than 70% of the surface, produce half of the oxygen we breathe, and regulate the climate. But we, humans, treat them like an endless dump and an endless fridge. This day is not a festival with balloons. It is a day of concern, awareness, and promise. Let's understand why oceans are important and how we can help them. Oceans — the lungs of the planet Every second breath of oxygen you take is thanks to phytoplankton in the ocean. These are the tiniest algae that absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. The rainforests we so protect only give us 30% of the oxygen. The rest is the ocean. Without it, we would suffocate. The ocean also absorbs excess heat (more than 90% of the greenhouse effect), slowing down global warming. But the price is high: water acidifies, corals bleach, and sea levels rise. The ocean is our silent savior, suffocating from our own gratitude. The history of the holiday World Oceans Day was proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. But it was officially established by the UN only in 2008. Since then, June 8 has been an occasion for environmentalists, scientists, and concerned individuals to draw attention to ocean issues. Each year it has a theme: restoration, sustainability, fighting plastic. In 2026, the theme is "Youth and the Ocean: A Wave of Change." A call to the new generation not to repeat the mistakes of the older ones. Plastic disaster: numbers Every minute, a truckload of plastic waste enters the ocean. By 2050, there will be more plastic in the water than fish by weight. Microplastic (particles less than 5 mm) has already been found in fish, salt, drinking water. It causes inflammation and hormonal imbalances. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is no longer a patch, but a floating continent of plastic covering several million square kilometers. Sea turtles confuse bags with jellyfish, whales die ... Read more