Change 'the Norm'

UNESCO World Ocean Day

How many of you have truly thought about our oceans; about how they contribute to everything we do; how they affect each and every one of us, on the planet.

Although - June 7th was UNESCO World Ocean Day, did you even know?  And now you are reading this article, are you curious as to why we need to celebrate, make known and consider our oceans far more than we do?

Polluted waterways, melting polar icecaps, oil spills, ever-increasing global temperatures, exploding nuclear power plants, warring nations, over-fishing, species extinction, illegal farming, excessive tourism, destruction of habitats, dying coral reefs, drilling and noise pollution and yes, fireworks.  The list goes on – and yet, few will make an effort to contribute or change one’s habits - in the most minute way, for the betterment of our oceans, and ultimately - our planet.

Gaza - New York Times

Citizens of every country say, “but it’s got nothing to do with me…  How can I do anything?  Someone else will fix it – I don’t need to worry.  What can I do?  I’m only one person – are you kidding me?  Who needs to think about that?”

The fact of the matter is – we all need to think, act and make a difference as to how we treat the earth in general, for eventually everything ends up – either in, on or affecting our oceans, which in turn affects our food source; the health, maintenance and continuance of all species - in our oceans and on land.
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Everything is linked and the sustenance of all species is at risk.  We are at risk, not just the animal kingdom.  The cycle of life and death affects everything and everyone – we are inextricably linked, far more than most of the human race realises.
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It is so easy to throw down rubbish at one’s feet, so easy to say – “the cleaner will pick it up, it doesn’t belong to me.  I didn’t do it – why should I pick it up?”

Greenqueen.com.hk

Why?  Because like any problem, ‘what you walk past – you accept.’

What about - assault and battery, rape and sexual misdemeanors of children, women, men; war crimes against humanity, inequality, racism, gender crimes…  Do you walk past these?  Do you look away – pretend you can’t see or hear the screams of pain – the agony of brutality – the viciousness of repugnant, vindictive, human behaviours upon others?  Do you say stop?  Do you make any effort to prevent it?  Do you watch it on TV, socials or make fun of everything your eyes are glued to?  Do you re-post this appalling behaviour and add to the continuance of its prevalence on our planet?

“What you walk past – you accept” – as ‘the norm’.

Because you make it ‘the norm’, by turning away from the problem.

Our oceans need and deserve our attention – not because we make ourselves out to be more superior, more important or feel we are more relevant in the grand scheme of things, but because everything matters – we all matter – you matter to someone, somewhere on the planet.  And… on your deathbed, you are going to ask, “Did I matter?”  “Did I do everything I could have, to be a good person?  Was I loved, will I be missed or remembered when I am gone?  Have I said everything I wanted to say – have I appreciated everyone while I was here?” 
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And you will say, “I don’t want to leave.”

https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2019/11/26/gender-alert-global-protests-denounce-violence-against-women/

There is not one species on this planet that does not deserve our care and attention.  We are all gifted the breath of life and the finality of death – we all bleed - equally.

World Ocean Day is not just about the cheers, the drinks and the parties to pat oneself on the back.  It is about looking around us – seeing how we live and recognizing that what we do every day - affects someone else, some other species, someone else’s habitat – home or environment.  We can choose to selfishly ignore – destroying everything good in the world, or we can choose not to turn a blind eye - pretending problems do not exist. 

We can choose not to walk past any of it - anymore.
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We can choose to stand up for all life forms; we can choose to say “enough!”  and not wait, for the person next to us - to do something.  We can take responsibility and do our part – each and every one of us. ​

genetics.org.uk

We all went to school – either in an institution or by some family home education – we all tell our kids to do the right thing – stand up for one another, to not harm or destroy.  Why?  Because deep down we all know what is morally ‘right’.  It is in our blood – imprinted in our DNA – this is who we are.

But, we just follow the pack – because no one likes to not be part of the majority, because that means the majority can pick on us.  So, like sheep, people follow ‘the norm’ – making ‘the norm’ - more ‘the norm’

Let’s change ‘the norm’.
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Bite the bullet.  Stand up for what’s right – be that on World Ocean Day or on some other level, where we see injustice happening every day, every hour, every minute and second around the world.

ANDRIJA ILIC/AFP via Getty Images

chipandco.com

Start by picking up after yourself – help each other – our kids, family, our next-door neighbours, people we walk past in the street - to understand that it is not right to expect the world to be just given to them; you have to earn the right to be here. That means standing up for every, living being on this planet – whether they can speak for themselves or not…Yeah, it’s hard.  Yeah, you will get resistance.  Yeah, you will get, “but why?”

Because every living thing, matters on our planet – they are family.  And just because an entity does not speak our language, does not mean they do not speak at all, or feel, or wish for things to be different.  We just have not learned their language and vice versa.

Let’s change ‘the norm’.