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One Planet: 04/06/2009

Factual: Science & Nature

04/06/2009

BBC World Service - One Planet, 04/06/2009

Mike seeks an oceans protector, hears from African fishermen, and learns of acidic seas.

In this week's show we focus on the United Nations' resolution 63/111, paragraph 171. "Ah yes," you say, "the one that decreed June 8th shall forever be known as World Oceans Day." I'm impressed, a week ago I had no idea frankly. But on a list of things to be celebrated and honoured by all, our seas must surely be near the top. They offer a bounty of food to us, and feed the clouds that deliver fresh water to our lands. In return, we offer them plastic bags and sewage. A pretty sweet deal. 

In this week's show, Mike and the team wanted to find out who's responsible for protecting our oceans. But we didn't have much luck. Part of the UN suggested the International Maritime Organisation, they in turn recommended a different part of the UN. And it seems no one from the UN division responsible for World Oceans Day was able to discuss the event because of internal restructuring and meetings.

Away from the UN, there are academics out there happy to tell us about the problems facing our oceans, and we hear from the University of Leeds' Dr Angela Carpenter, who reminds us that pollution from boats is not the key problem. "Eighty per cent of marine pollution comes from land based activities," she says, "land waste includes plastic bags, oil, fertilisers, medical waste, sewage and garbage."

As part of our oceans special, we also find Mike hanging out at a fishing village in Cornwall, south west England, and we chat to locals at the port of Jamestown in Ghana. We also have a special report on the acidification of our oceans from Isreal's Red Sea. 

As ever, we want to hear your views and pictures. So drop us an email at oneplanet@bbc.com, or send us a postcard. The address is Mike Williams, One Planet, BBC, Bush House, London, WC2B 4PH, UK. We read every message that drops on our doormat or into our email box, so join the debate. And don't forget you can always find us on Facebook if you're a fan, just search for One Planet BBC.

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