The 8th of June marks World Oceans Day, an ideal opportunity for us to celebrate, and commemorate, one of the most important compounds on earth: water.
What is World Ocean Day?
This international celebration supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is aimed at fostering public awareness about the critical need to protect the ocean and to sustainably manage its natural resources.
Why is a World’s Ocean Day needed?
Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by ocean.
- Producing more than half of the earth’s oxygen, every second breath you take comes from our ocean.
- The ocean absorbs 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans, which significantly minimises the impacts of climate change.
- As home to most of earth’s biodiversity, the ocean remains the main source of protein for more than a billion people worldwide.
- And as if that isn’t enough, the ocean also controls our climate by absorbing over half the heat reaching the Earth from the sun.
- Tragically, 90% of big fish populations have been depleted and 50% of coral reefs have been destroyed.
- Deep sea trawl fishing, plastic pollution and microplastics are seriously eroding ecosystems and biodiversity, leading to the alarming projection there will be more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050.
Human kind is taking more from the ocean than can be replenished, and we’re often filling it with crap too.
Our Ocean is one connected system, and many more of us need to recognise this. In school, we are taught that the Ocean has five separate regions: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and Southern Ocean. However, the Ocean is not separated by geopolitical borders, it’s connected as one and works as a whole entity to help make all life on Earth possible.
World Ocean Day reminds every one of us of the major role the ocean has in our everyday lives. It is the lungs of our planet and a major source of food and medicine and a critical part of the biosphere. There is no such thing as “new” water – so of course we must protect this vital resource at all costs.
World Oceans Day 2022
“Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean” is the theme for World Ocean Day 2022, and in the spirit of collective action Urban Veda has been donating a share of our profits to our charity partner Ocean Generation from our online sales every month since 2019. We have donated an average of 7.5% from the proceeds of our online sales over the past four years to Ocean Generation who work to restore a sustainable relationship between humanity and the ocean, while also campaigning against plastic pollution.
This month, we wanted to go one step further and look at other ways we can protect water as the most essential element on the planet – and one of the core elements underpinning Ayurvedic philosophy too.
"In Ayurveda, water is the protector of the body and provides the most basic and essential nourishment." Katie Alcott MBE, Founder and CEO of Frank Water.
Given that our Ayurvedic philosophy stems from India, we spoke with the charity Frank Water to see how we could assist in supporting access to clean water in India. The communities they work with are in some of the most remote and hard-to-reach areas in the world.
- Within India, 6 million children, and over 62 million people, have serious health problems because of the consumption of dirty water.
- Frank Water have helped 617 communities and 426,459 people in the last 16 years.
Frank Water consulted with water treatment companies and have calculated that £12 can help one person access clean water for life. To mark World Ocean Day 2022, Urban Veda are excited to be signing up as a charitable member of Frank Water’s Rainmaker Club, starting by donating £12 for every face and body oil bought from any of our skincare and body care collections for the entire month of June. For every oil you buy, you will help us give one person water for life – because water is life.
"We're absolutely delighted to be partnering with Urban Veda, a natural skincare company that shares our passion for water. In Ayurveda, water is the protector of the body and provides the most basic and essential nourishment. This partnership, like their skincare, is so much more than skin deep. It is a demonstration of
ongoing commitment to raising awareness of the value of water to all life and wellbeing whilst directly supporting water inequality and insecurity challenges around the world. We look forward to working together to improve the lives of those most in need, and the planet itself through better water access and management." Katie Alcott MBE, Founder and CEO of Frank Water.
Happily, this month, we’re proving that water and oil do mix!
Thank you to all our customers who purchased from our selection of face and body oils including our bestselling Radiance Facial Oil featuring Indian Turmeric. With your support, we were able to provide the gift of clean water for life.
