The health of the environment — and climate change — is stressed upon the public to the extent at which it can be considered irritating. It’s because of this that people begin to ignore its importance.

You could consider it to be similar to a parent “nagging” their child: The more they tell their child to do something, the more they won’t want to do it.

Society’s attention to environmental care is scarce. Although, when it is brought to their attention, it’s drawn more towards third-world countries. This isn’t a problem whatsoever, but all areas around the world deserve the same care.

Climate change and water

Water’s role in the environment is massive — we wouldn’t be alive without it. Humans aren’t the only ones who suffer from the unhealthy state of the earth’s water — animals do as well.

The ocean is well known for being deep, blue and serene; a gorgeous sea with vast, never-ending mystery. However, it’s not treated as properly as it should be. Trash floats through its waves and animals are poisoned with the toxins that are constantly dumped into the marinas.  

We, as humans, may be at the top of the food chain on land but underwater, we are entering another world that we don’t belong in. Larger animals such as sharks and whales reign at the top of the food chain and we cannot tamper with their way of life.

Ethan William, an ocean preservation advocate, offers his opinion on the way humans treat the ocean and how he thinks it’s affecting cultures around the world.

“Ocean life is so much more than a fish in an aquarium,” William says. “They’re graceful creatures just like us but in a different environment. They deserve the same amount of respect as we do. Without treating them with care, we are hurting ourselves.”

Injuring their ecosystem affects ours just as much. By poisoning marine life, we are poisoning ourselves when we catch and consume these fish.

Ocean life is so much more than a fish in an aquarium.

“Invading another world, another culture, without proper knowledge is unfair to both us and the animals. Various cultures around the world suffer from a lack of seafood due to unsanitary water. We need to understand that polluting their world is affecting ours as well,” according to William.

Cultural perspectives

Now, if we think about all of this from a cultural perspective, each region of the world has their own way of cooperating with their surrounding environment. Some countries may have the privilege to drink fresh, filtered water but others do not. Those less fortunate don’t have the technology or money for these things.

Therefore, the water that they use for drinking, cleaning, et cetera can be rather filthy. Take Haiti for example. Haiti is considered a third world country due to its lack of money and health. Their polluted water makes for famine and unquenched thirst.

Haitians can’t provide clean water for their families or fish for the table because the surrounding ocean is uninhabitable. Other, richer cultures feed themselves differently. They have the money to sail out to different areas of the ocean and seek out healthier food to bring back and sell to the people.   

How can we start a positive chain reaction? There are organizations that provide opportunities for people to get out there and lend a hand, the Peace Corps for example. However, there are times when that just isn’t enough. For countries that can afford clean, efficient water, they may take it for granted.

It’s because of this that people seem to care less about what happens to the ocean; they’ll always have water so why bother? Some people don’t quite understand the effect their toxic actions have on the ocean and its marine life. A person’s carelessness affects more than just themselves and their life. Dare to take a stand. Be the change in our world.

After discussing the impact water and marine life has on different cultures, we’ll look into another sustainable goal regarding the environment: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.  

— By ewageck

Raised in California and Colorado, U.S.A., Wageck believes each state has its own culture. In traveling the world, she is able to learn what she can share with society and other people. After traveling and truly experiencing the world, she plans one day to return “home.”

  

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