While dreaming of Blue Oceans, standing on the shore, beholding the ebbing waves, imbued with tinted turquoise and sapphire, I count shades of blue to ensure myself that our Oceans are safe and protected.
World Oceans provides oxygen we breathe. absorb half of the CO2 we produce, feed us and regulate the climate of world. Recreational and social services of seas and coasts are immense. Oceans are home to the greatest abundance of life on planet.
Unfortunately, manmade challenges like. pollution, dumping of sewage, un-regulated/illegal exploration and acidification of Oceans are threatening the balance of life created by nature. In persuasion of the dream “to save the world’s oceans” I have become a maritime researcher. The realisation of the fact that world Oceans are the cardinal of life on Earth, compelled me to sensitise people about the significance of blue seas.
Despite the key role oceans play in our life, I realized that people are suffering from sea-blindness. So real challenge is how to educate them. Living in the largest coastal city of Pakistan, I started working with students. Through activities like beach cleaning, awareness walk, and painting competitions, we targeted pupil in schools, colleges and universities. In order to create awareness about the need to protect oceans and adopt a healthy life style amongst other citizens of the country, I started writing articles in national newspapers.
Being a young maritime researcher, I also pursued my education in the same field so that I can work amicably because the absence of formal education about Oceans could have hampered my plans. I believe, due to lack of awareness about role of oceans in sustaining life on earth, people would remain oblivion towards their responsibility to protect oceans. Therefore, creating awareness should be adopted as International Campaign.
While working on the sea blindness and protection of oceans, I have become a true Thalassophile. During the course of Ocean awareness, I was nominated as Young Ocean Leader by SOA Alliance. I also won the Ocean Boot Camp Challenge 2019 held during Our Oceans Conference at Norway.
I am confident that my little effort will surly leads to change in society, and in future we will have more young leaders, joining hands together to save the world Oceans, and my story can inspire many young individuals around the globe. I wish and pray that mesmeric shades of blue never fade away, may my dream come true.