It’s World Oceans Day – one of the best days of the year! This year’s theme is “Youth: the Next Wave for Change” and, while we may not all be young anymore, we all know young people and we’re all probably still somewhat young at heart.
Spreading awareness of the ocean’s plight is one of the biggest factors that provide hope for the future. It’s not only what we leave behind for future generations that matter; it’s also the knowledge and habits that we equip them with that will make the difference in the long run.
We’re blessed with incredible biodiversity on our shores – reason enough to celebrate today!
Going global
Speaking of youth and hope – the 2012 International Aquarium Congress (IAC) will take place in Cape Town in September and we are proud to be hosting this prestigious event. As an aquarium, we consider ourselves custodians of the environment, and education work done by aquariums the world over help to spread the news and the change.
The first day of the 2012 IAC will be dedicated to the youth. For opening day, organisers have booked a large auditorium at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in order to accommodate an extra 500 invited high school, university and college students from South Africa.
The aim is to expose this school-related audience to the role that aquariums play in the conservation of our oceans, and to involve them in discussions on some of the key issues regarding education programmes in such facilities.
Seas of sound
The trailer for Coral Rekindling Venus, below, is accompanied by a beautiful song about the ocean, by Antony and the Johnsons. Coral Rekindling Venus is “a major work for fulldome digital planetariums by acclaimed artist Lynette Wallworth. It is an extraordinary journey into a mysterious realm of fluorescent coral reefs, bioluminescent sea creatures and rare marine life, revealing a complex community living in the oceans most threatened by climate change”.
