Category Archives: High Seas

Whens the last time you made a promise?

Maybe you gave your word that youd help wash the dinner dishes. Or you borrowed a friends book, and told her youd return it by the end of the week.

When we make promises, were giving the message that well do what we say.

In this favorite tale from Circle Round Season 2, we meet a princess who makes an important promise. But when she tries to keep that promise, shes thrown for a real loop!

Story continues below

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Our tale is called The Princess and the Egg. Youll hear versions of this story in many places, from Portugal and Denmark in Europe, to the Mediterranean world and Middle East, to the island nation of Haiti!

Voices in this episode include Luis Negron, Jeff Song and Amber Stevens West. Grown-ups, watch for Amber on the CBS sitcom, Happy Together, as well as the Starz comedy, Run the World.

This episode was adapted for Circle Round by Rebecca Sheir. Original music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn.

This episode was originally released on October 23, 2018.

Coloring Page

ADULTS! PRINT THISso everyone can color while listening. Were also keeping an album so share your picture on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and tag it with #CircleRound. We'd love to see it! To access all the coloring pages for past episodes click HERE. Our resident artist is Sabina Hahn and you can learn more about her HERE.

Things To Think About After Listening

Think of a promise youve made.

What was your promise?

And who did you make it to?

Now, find someone you like to have fun with a family member or friend and tell that person all about your promise and whether you did, indeed, follow through!

Musical Spotlight: Harpsichord

The stringed keyboard instrument known as the harpsichord is shaped like a grand piano, and most likely was developed in the late Middle Ages.

The harpsichord can have one keyboard or two; either way, when you hit a key, a small piece of material known as a plectrum plucks a metal string and voila! You have sound. The problem is, you dont have control over how loud or soft that sound is, so when the more dynamic piano came along, that more modern instrument pretty much superseded the harpsichord. Still, youll hear plenty of the harpsichords charming, elegant, even formal sound in renaissance and baroque music and in 1960s baroque pop songs by such bands as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

Script:

NARRATOR: All her life Princess Pearl dreamed of traveling the world. She wanted to see new places, try new foods, and meet new friends.

But what she didnt want was to have people bowing down to her at every port of call, just because she was royalty. So she swore that when she finally got to embark on her adventure, she would never wear her crown. No one would know she was a princess.

Once Princess Pearl finished all of her schooling, the King and Queen surprised their daughter with a swift, sturdy sailboat to whisk her around the high seas, and a brand new atlas, so she wouldnt lose her way.

PEARL: Oh, Mother! Father! Thank you for these gifts! I cant wait to start my journey. I promise Ill send you a letter from every port I visit!

NARRATOR: But Princess Pearl was not able to fulfill that promise.

On her very first night at sea, do you know what happened? A massive storm blew in, and gusts of wind and rain tossed her sailboat this way and that!

Pearl clung to the boats ropes as wave after wave frothed and foamed across the deck. The next thing she knew, it was morning and she and her ship were washed up on an empty beach.

PEARL: Well, this trip isnt off to a very good start. (as she looks at boat) Yikes - look at this boat! What a wreck. I should thank my lucky stars it got me to shore!

NARRATOR: Pearl pulled off her soggy shoes and jumped down from the splintered remains of her sailboat. As her bare feet touched the soft, warm sand, the princess looked around her. Her heart leapt when she spotted a quaint seaside town in the distance.

PEARL: Oh boy! Civilization!

NARRATOR: Pearl sprinted across the beach. When she got to town, she stepped inside the first establishment she saw: a tiny little bed and breakfast. Thats a small hotel, or inn, where people can spend the night and enjoy a nice morning meal.

The innkeeper narrowed his eyes as Pearl entered. He wrinkled his nose as he beheld her torn, drenched clothing and bare feet - not to mention the seashells and seaweed sticking out of her soaking-wet hair!

INNKEEPER: May I help you?

NARRATOR: Pearl flashed her warmest smile.

PEARL: Why, yes, you may - thank you! Do you serve breakfast? Im so hungry I could eat a life preserver!

NARRATOR: The innkeeper sniffed.

INNKEEPER: Well, it just so happens we do serve breakfast... given that were a bed and breakfast and all. But were about to close the kitchen.

NARRATOR: One thing you should know about the innkeeper: he was a very greedy man. So although the kitchen was closing, he suddenly realized he had one last chance to make a few extra bucks. He softened his tone.

INNKEEPER: Look. I tell you what. Ill have the cook whip up something for you - something fast and simple. How about... a scrambled egg?

NARRATOR: Pearls mouth watered.

PEARL: Oh - that would be lovely! My stomachs rumbling so loudly, youd think Ive got an orchestra in there! Not a very good one... the timpani is way too loud and the tuba is hopelessly out of tune... but -

INNKEEPER: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Have a seat. One scrambled egg, coming right up.

NARRATOR: As you can imagine, that one scrambled egg was the best scrambled egg Pearl had ever tasted! Within seconds, her plate was empty. She raised her hand and called the innkeeper over.

INNKEEPER: What now?

PEARL: Well, first, thank you for the egg, sir. It was delicious! But, you see, when I rushed over here for breakfast, I kind of forgot one teensy-weeny little thing. I dont have any money.

NARRATOR: The innkeepers eyebrows shot up so high, they disappeared into his hairline.

INNKEEPER: Come again?

PEARL: I said, I dont have any money. You see, yesterday, I set out on a sailing trip around the world. Then this massive storm blew in, and I was sure I was a goner. But the winds blew me to your lovely town... and when I came to your inn for breakfast, I didnt even think about the fact that my money everything I own, actually got lost at sea!

NARRATOR: The innkeeper took a deep breath.

INNKEEPER: Okay So how, then, do you propose paying for that one scrambled egg? It costs two gold coins, you know!

PEARL: I know. And I promise: I will return to this town, and when I do, you will get your money.

NARRATOR: The innkeeper glanced again at Pearls bare feet and soggy clothing and the seashells and seaweed sticking out of her hair.

INNKEEPER: And why should I believe youll actually come back and pay up?

NARRATOR: Pearl shrugged.

PEARL: Lets just say I have some savings back home. Thanks again for the egg, sir. Have a good day!

NARRATOR: As Pearl waltzed out of the bed and breakfast and onto the street, the innkeeper grumbled to himself.

INNKEEPER: I have some savings back home. Sure ya do! Ugh. What a waste of a perfectly good egg. I bet Ill never see that ragamuffin again!

NARRATOR: As it turns out, the innkeeper was right and very, very wrong.

NARRATOR: What do you think will happen? Will the princess come back to settle her debt?

Well find out, after a quick break.

[MIDROLL]

NARRATOR: Welcome back to Circle Round. Im Rebecca Sheir. Today our story is called The Princess and the Egg." When we left off, Princess Pearl had promised a greedy innkeeper that shed come back and pay for one scrambled egg. Her sailboat had crashed in the innkeepers quaint seaside town, so she wasnt able to give him the two gold coins necessary to cover the meal.

After her shipwreck, Princess Pearl eventually found her way back to her own kingdom. The king and queen hugged their daughter extra tight when she got home. Then they surprised her with an even bigger boat, with even more sails so that she could try again with her world travels.

And she did.

Several months into her journey, she found herself back at the quaint seaside town: the one where shed been shipwrecked and where she had a debt to settle with the owner of the bed and breakfast.

But this time when she stepped into the cafe, she was not barefoot; on her feet she wore a pair of fine leather boots. Her clothing was well-tailored and trim. And her hair wasnt disheveled and strewn with sea life; it was tucked neatly beneath a green velvet cap.

As you can imagine, the innkeeper did not recognize her.

INNKEEPER: May I help you?

PEARL: Yes, I think you may! Several months ago, I got into a shipwreck and was unable to pay you for one scrambled egg: a humble breakfast that cost two gold coins. I promised Id come back and pay for that delicious meal. And... here I am!

NARRATOR: The innkeeper stared at Pearl with disbelief. Was this really the same ragamuffin from all those months ago? She looked so fancy, so elegant!

PEARL: And further, sir, to thank you for your generosity and your patience I intend to pay you double. No - make it quadruple. So, instead of two gold coins, that would be, what, eight?

NARRATOR: The innkeeper thought for a moment. Why should this prosperous woman pay a mere eight gold coins when obviously she could pay so much more?

INNKEEPER: Im sorry. Eight gold coins, you say? No, no! You owe me far more than eight gold coins.

NARRATOR: Pearl was confused.

PEARL: I do?

INNKEEPER: You bet you do! Think about it. If I hadnt served you that one scrambled egg, that egg would have hatched into a chick! And then that chick would have grown up and laid eggs and hatched a dozen more chicks! And each one of those chicks would have gone on to lay eggs and hatch a dozen more chicks! You see where Im going with this?

NARRATOR: Pearl shook her head.

PEARL: Um, Im not sure I -

INNKEEPER: Long story short... you dont owe me eight gold coins. You owe me

NARRATOR: He pulled out a pencil, grabbed a napkin, and began scribbling.

INNKEEPER: (to himself, as he scribbles his calculations on the napkin) Lets see multiply this times this, add up that and that Okay uh-huh alright. You owe me eight-million gold coins.

PEARL: Im sorry eight-million?!?!

INNKEEPER: Yup! Eight-million! I mean, give or take a few thousand. I rounded down. Figured Id give you a bit of a discount.

NARRATOR: Pearl could hardly believe what she was hearing.

PEARL: But sir, I cant pay you eight-million gold coins!

NARRATOR: The innkeeper scowled.

INNKEEPER: Really? You cant pay?

NARRATOR: He gestured toward Pearls fancy clothes and shoes.

INNKEEPER: ...or you wont pay?

NARRATOR: Pearls mind raced. She reached into her purse.

PEARL: Look. What do you say I give you a hundred gold coins and we call it a deal.

NARRATOR: The innkeeper fixed Pearl with a steely gaze. He crossed his arms.

INNKEEPER: Nope. Eight-million gold coins, or I see you in court. Tomorrow.

NARRATOR: Pearl sighed.

PEARL: Alright, then. See you in court.

NARRATOR: As Pearl sat down to dinner that night in another hotel, blocks away from the bed and breakfast she was so distraught could hardly eat. She picked at her boiled peas took half-hearted nibbles of her steamed corn and by the time dessert was served a warm bowl of roasted chestnuts she couldnt even take a bite.

She stared at her plate of food, wondering what in the world she would do tomorrow in court.

Then, suddenly, it hit her.

PEARL: Ive got it! The answer is in the peas! And the corn! And the chestnuts! Id better get some sleep; tomorrow is going to be a big day.

Go here to see the original:

Encore: The Princess and the Egg - WBUR

As one local resident headed to Vancouver and ultimately to Toronto to pursue his career as dancer, actor, video editor, another took to the high seas to entertain on cruises and appears as part of a dance troupe on a popular television series.

As one local resident headed to Vancouver and ultimately to Toronto to pursue his career as dancer, actor, video editor, another took to the high seas to entertain on cruises and appears as part of a dance troupe on a popular television series.

Other local artists chose not to leave Prince George while yet another came from a large urban centre to find success here.

All of these perspectives were explored during a Zoom event called Following Creative Paths: Recentering Northern Artistic Life presented by ArtsUNITE from Ontario where panelists from Prince George discussed several topics including their decisions on what path they chose to achieve their own measure of success.

The panelists were Izaak Smith, who ultimately moved to Toronto to pursue his career, Tristan Ghostkeeper, who moved to Vancouver to pursue his career, local artists Elmer Gunderson and Clayton Gauthier, who both stayed in Prince George and Aidyl Jago who came to PG from an urban centre to open a music school.

Smith, a dancer, actor and now video editor, who appeared in the first season of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, movies and commercials said he carries his Prince George-ness around with him everywhere he goes.

His dance training was with Judy Russell at her Enchainement Dance Studio and he credits that opportunity with a lot of his success.

I think people under rate the art scene in Prince George as maybe being too northern or reclusive or hokey and I experienced a really big culture shock when coming to the big city, Smith said. Theres a different interaction with art and story telling and I think what we have in northern BC is special and I think its something that more people want.

Smith said Prince George offered him a great base to launch his career.

Tristan Ghostkeeper couldnt say enough about Judy Russell and the training he received at her dance studio.

He takes all the knowledge he garnered from that experience and carries it into all his career opportunities, he said.

As part of the discussion, the topic of the life/art divide and how Prince George takes up space in their artwork was put forward.

For me art has been something I have needed everyday and its medicine too, Clayton Gauthier said. Growing up in Prince George I wondered why there wasnt any art around. Wheres the art? Because art changes the energy in the room. When you see art its so beautiful. Its about people sharing their art with others and sharing their stories through art. Its such a beautiful thing to feel so that was my motivation to keep doing this art and I want to see it all through the community and thats a big part of growing up in a small community. When you dont see that art around on a regular basis you have a motivation - OK, I can do this and be a part of it and share my art with the kids and pass it on. I feel its powerful. Art does such beautiful things.

The event took place over two hours and explored many other aspects of the arts including grassroots versus institutional community development while bringing culture conversations away from larger metropolitan cities and toward more remote regions. This event explored the lived experience of the unique artistic community of Prince George, focusing on the challenges, concerns, differences, and future development.

The Prince George & District Community Arts Council (CAC) was instrumental in putting the event together and is the umbrella organization for the arts in Northern BC.

Sean Farrell, executive director for the CAC, said hes seen a shift in the culture in Prince George in the last couple of years where there are a lot of plans for the city that include the arts and making space for it in the community.

I think right now there is an incredible energy happening at our city hall that has finally recognized art and culture isnt just a secondary recreational thing and could be a core piece of urban planning, Farrell said.

During a recent city council meeting, an hour was spent talking about how to make arts and culture a more predominant part of the citys landscape, he added.

There was a consensus during the meeting that weve kicked this can too long down the road and we missed opportunities and were not going to miss those opportunities any more. We can see there is a recognition now that this needs to happen and I think there is a political will now for that to happen. I think timing is always really important and these issues that were talking about are actually being heard.

Link:

Prince George the focus of arts discussion - Prince George Citizen

With the state reopening, Fathers Day 2021 is looking a whole lot different from last year. Restaurants are expected to operate at full capacity, music festivals are back on the calendar and fully vaccinated Californians have been given the green light to ditch their face masks at many (but not all) places. For those eager to break out of their pandemic shells and maybe brave the return of packed crowds (and yes, traffic), Los Angeles has Fathers Day weekend events that go beyond ballgames and beer.

Go to the drive-in movies at the Santa Monica Airport: They were a welcome revival during the era of social distancing, and drive-in movies are still an option for those who need a minute before returning to indoor theaters or those who simply enjoy the experience of watching films outside. The drive-in at airport has a few shows, including Taken, a movie technically about a father-daughter relationship. More info on this location; there are also rooftop movies in El Segundo.)

Paint in Leimert Park: Channel your inner artist this weekend with Sip N Paint in Leimert Park, hosted by Da Art Haus. Create a piece of art to take home in a laid-back atmosphere. The event takes place from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Leimert Park Village Merchants Assn. The $25 ticket includes a canvas, easel, apron, paints and paintbrushes. More info

See environmental art in Long Beach: The Long Beach Museum of Arts exhibition Earth, Every Day has been extended through June 27 and features the work of high school students from the city. See how topics like pollution, renewable energy and climate change are explored. The museum sits on a beachside bluff overlooking the Pacific and has an outdoor restaurant to make more of the visit. The museum is also holding its Art Auction XIX; if youre in a position to splurge, you might be able to pick up a gift as well. Advance tickets ($8 to $10; children 12 and younger are free) are required. More info

Catch up with Made in L.A.: The COVID-19-postponed biennial is still open at the Hammer Museum in Westwood and the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino. Made in L.A. 2020: a version brings together 30 Los Angeles-based artists across two institutions a show that spans L.A. in more ways than one. As of Wednesday afternoon, Fathers Day reservations were still available at the Hammer (free admission) and the Huntington ($13 to $29; children younger than 4 are free). More info

Get classical at the Getty Villa: Looking for something more old school? Celebrate Dad a little early and head over to the Getty Villa on Friday. The Malibu institution is home to ancient Greek and Roman art, with tranquil gardens that make the Italian countryside feel as close as Pacific Coast Highway. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday appeared sold out, but plenty of spots were available for Friday, and the best part: Admission is free. More info

Gear up at the Petersen Automotive Museum: If youve got F9" fever, try an afternoon at the Petersen, across the street from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. It boasts of having one of the worlds largest car collections, with modern racers, vintage high-performance vehicles, sci-fi designs and more on view. Advance tickets ($11 to $16) are still available for this weekend. More info

Marvel at maritime wonders in Oxnard: If seaside treasures are more your thing, a nice Sunday drive to the Channel Islands Maritime Museum might do the trick. Its Fathers Day event will feature vintage boats, classic cars, ship models and even knot-tying demonstrations for those whove always wanted to explore the high seas. Regular admission ($3 to $7; children 6 and younger are free) apply. More info

Jam out at the Grammy Museum: More than just dad music, the Grammy Museum is reopening just in time for Fathers Day weekend. The downtown L.A. institution has three new exhibits, which are centered on Motown, the Dave Matthews Band and Marco Antonio Sols. Reserve advance tickets ($13 to $15; children 5 and younger are free). More info

Uncover the secrets of the Madcap Hotel: Its not exactly Hotel California, but its something close. The Madcap Motel in downtown L.A.'s Arts District has the oddities you need to feel like youve entered another dimension. The immersive show, modeled after a 1960s motel, invites you into a mystery of bizarre installations and photo ops. Timed tickets ($36.90 to $47.25)required. More info

Explore L.A.'s great outdoors on a hike: Sometimes its hard to beat quality time spent outdoors with your loved ones. Check out The Times guide to the 50 best hikes in L.A., where you can get the scoop on the best hiking experiences the region has to offer, with details about trail length and difficulty. Directions also included.

Visit some of our 101 Best Restaurants picks: Indulge in the reopenings of eateries around Los Angeles by perusing our annual list of 101 restaurants. The list not only includes reviews but also highlights Angelenos who helped to make a difficult year a little bit brighter. Check individual listings for Fathers Day weekend availability.

Tune into opera: A Fathers Day virtual recital will take place from 3 to 5 p.m., hosted by the African Americans for L.A. Opera chapter of the Opera League of Los Angeles. Featuring the voices of Derrell Acon and Leonard Hayes, the free performance just may to tug at your heartstrings. More info

Dive into coral reefs: The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is inviting kids and their families for a guided art lesson about coral reefs Saturday. Parents looking for family fun can get the kids engaged with the thousands of animals that call coral reefs home, all while staying in the comfort of your own. Tickets are $10 per household. More info

Make a tasty treat with virtual cooking classes: BLVD Kitchens online cooking school has a stacked schedule of classes for kids and their parents. This weekend features lessons for little ones on how to make brownies and strawberry jam perfect for Sunday brunch treats. Paid reservations required. More info

Go here to see the original:

Father's Day 2021: Things to do in L.A. and Orange County - Los Angeles Times

Adventure of the Seas made its first port of call stop not at a private island on this sailing, when we arrived in Cozumel.

Unfortunately the weather forecast was not favorable, but you gotta make do with what you get.

Since it was overcast and looked like it might rain a lot, we decided to go downtown and have lunch instead of doing an excursion or going to the beach.

I was curious to see what Cozumel is like after all these months without cruise ships and the tourists they bring. While so much attention is given to the plight of the cruise lines during the shutdown, ports like Cozumel have been suffering without the daily flow of tourists.

I was surprised to see most of the shops and restaurants open for business. Perhaps they all just closed up until today, but the stores were ready for tourists.

In fact, many of the people working at these shops were surprised to see cruise ship visitors. Some told us they had heard cruise ship guests would be limited to cruise line excursions, or were simply unaware a ship was back.

In Cozumel, you have to wear a mask inside and outside, regardless of if you are vaccinated or not. It's a federal law, so it definitely made walking around a little more uncomfortable since the humidity was extremely high.

Besides wearing masks, the experience being back downtown was the same as in the past. Lots of people encouraging you to stop in and shop, restaurants open, and taxis all over the place.

We had lunch in a restaurant we had never been to before north of downtown, but the food was disappointing. It just was nothing special.

We then headed to a new coffee shop that I had never seen before,Aqui + Ahora Coffee.

The place had a great vibe to it, and a nice assortment of coffees, snacks, and some light food too.

Afterwards, we decided to head back to the ship and relax in our (air conditioned) cabin.

Overall, Cozumel looked better than I expected. I thought perhaps only a fraction of the stores or restaurants would be open, but a surprisingly large number of venues were open.

When we come back next week, our plan is to visit an old favorite, Paradise Beach, and see what that experience is like now.

Visit link:

Adventure of the Seas Live Blog - Day 5 - Cozumel - Royal Caribbean Blog

The Arctic geopolitics has become one of the strategic policy planks of big powers. This has been reflected in the separate statements issued by the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the U.S. President Joe Biden after the US-Russia summit in Geneva on Wednesday.

Putin told reporters that Moscow and Washington should interact on issues related to the Arctic region. He said: Russia and the United States are among the eight members of the Arctic Council; Russia chairs the Arctic Council this year. Moreoverthere is a strait between Alaska and Chukotka, the United States is on one side and Russia is on the other. All this together should push us to join efforts (The TASS News 16 June 2021).

Dismissing American concerns about Russias alleged engagement in the militarization of the Arctic region, Putin said: we discussed this issue inabroad format andinsome detail. This is ahighly important andinteresting issue asthedevelopment oftheentire Arctic region andtheNorthern Sea Route inparticular has tremendous economic significance formany countries intheregion andbeyond it. TheUS concerns regarding militarisation are absolutely groundless. We are not doing anything new there compared totheSoviet era. We are restoring thelocal infrastructure that was lost anddemolished completely some time ago. we are doing this using up-to-date technology. We are restoring themilitary andborder control infrastructure, andwe are creating nature conservation infrastructure, which has never been done inthepast. We are creating arelevant base fortheEmergencies Ministry, which will give us theopportunity toconduct high-seas rescue missions incase ofemergency andtoprotect theenvironment (President of Russia, 16 June 2021).

Putin pointed out that Russia would be ready toassist all theinterested countries andcompanies indeveloping theNorthern Sea Route. He said that thenavigation season intheregion is much longer, andit will become practically year-round due toclimate change andaswe launch our new icebreakers, including theLider. Russia has themost powerful nuclear icebreaker fleet which is inhigh demand here (Ibid).

Putin also reminded that theUN Convention ontheLaw oftheSea (UNCLOS) describes thelegal regime ininternational waters, including internal waters, theinland sea, theterritorial sea, thecontiguous zone, theexclusive economic zone andtheopen high seas. Aninland sea is located inside acountrys territory It is covered byaspecial regime, andwe dont have toprovide anyone with any privilege here. It is our sovereign right toallow ornot toallow foreign ships tosail there. But we do not abuse this right, andwe grant free passage toeveryone (Ibid; The TASS News 16 June 2021).

President Biden in his press conference in Geneva said that there is a long list of issues they spent time on and this obviously included the question of the Arctic. Biden said that they discussed how both the U.S and Russia can ensure the Arctic as a region of cooperation rather than conflict. According to him, I caught part of Presidents Putins press conference, and he talked about the need for us to be able to have some kind of modus operandi where we dealt with making sure the Arctic was, in fact, a free zone (The White House, 16 June 2021).

A month before the U.S.-Russia summit, President Biden, addressing at the United States Coast Guard Academys 140th Commencement Exercises, said that in the Arctic, the Coast Guard is the prow of American presence in the region, rapidly growing in strategic importance as ice recedes and new sea lanes open. We, the United States, are an Arctic nation, and the United States must demonstrate our leadership and engagement, our diplomacy, and our operational skill. And we have to make sure that every country respects these international norms. So, we need them we need modern ice breakers, yes, but just as critically, we need to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those Allies and partners who share our values, including Indigenous communities who are the keepers of traditional knowledge about the Arctic waters (The White House 19 May 2021).

A day after Bidens statement came the 12th Ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council which marked Russia assuming Chairmanship of the Council. The Council meeting was held on 20 May 2021 in Reykjavik, Iceland. That was the time when Washington was set to begin a fresh round of campaign against Russian efforts to hold sway over the Arctic shipping lanes and reinstate a military component in the discussions underway over issues in the region. There were reports about the U.S. and its NATO allies opposition to Russias attempts to control Northern Sea Route. Moscow was, in fact, keen on resuming high-level military dialogues within the Council, but it got deferred following the Ukraine issue in 2014. Moscow was equally suspicious about NATOs strategy in the Arctic.

At the Arctic Council foreign ministers meeting in Reykjavik, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Council should focus on peaceful cooperation on environmental issues, maritime safety and the well-being of indigenous people in the region. He told that the Arctic is a region for strategic competition that has seized the worlds attention. But the Arctic is more than a strategically or economically significant region. Its home to our people, its hallmark has been and must remain peaceful cooperation. Its our responsibility to protect that peaceful cooperation and to build on it. Blinken alsounderlined the importance of sustaining effective governance and the rule of law to ensure that the Arctic remains a region free of conflict where countries act responsibly. He had also challenged the legality of the proposed Russian maritime rules and expressed deep reservations about Russias military activity in the far North (ABC News 21 May 2021).

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov challenged NATOs motives in deployments of bombers and submarines to the area. It is therefore important to extend the positive relations we have within the Arctic Council to encompass the military sphere as well, first of all by revitalizing multilateral dialogue on military issues between the general staffs of the Arctic states, Lavrov said. Moscows anxieties also found expression in Lavrovs statement on Norway. He said: Our Norwegian neighbours, who have never had the principle of the permanent presence of foreign military personnel enshrined in their laws, are now amending their legislation In fact, things are moving towards what US Secretary of State Antony Blinken once called presence on a persistent rotational basis. We see this presence in other parts of Europe as well Mainly, we are worried about what is happening near our borders. Norway is our close neighbour with which we enjoy good relations. But the problems associated with the escalation of military and political tensions due to deployment of foreign troops in Norway and the Baltic states remain (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, 20 May 2021).

Earlier, Nick Paton Walsh (CNN) wrote that Russia was amassing unprecedented military might in the Arctic and testing its newest weapons in a region freshly ice-free due to the climate emergency, in a bid to secure its northern coast and open up a key shipping route from Asia to Europe. There were also reports of concern voiced by experts about Russian super-weapon, the Poseidon 2M39 torpedo. Walsh said that this unmanned stealth torpedo was powered by a nuclear reactor and intended by Russian designers to sneak past coastal defenseslike those of the U.S.on the sea floor (Nick Paton Walsh 2021). It was aimed to deliver a warhead of multiple megatons, according to Russian officials, causing radioactive waves that would render swathes of the target coastline uninhabitable for decades. Christopher A Fordthen assistant secretary of state for International Security and Non-Proliferationwas quoted saying that the Poseidon is designed to inundate U.S. coastal cities with radioactive tsunamis. Similarly, Vice Admiral Nils Andreas Stensnes, head of Norwegian intelligence was reported to have said that his agency had assessed the Poseidon as part of the new type of nuclear deterrent weapons. And it is in a testing phase. But its a strategic system and its aimed at targets and has an influence far beyond the region in which they test it currently (Ibid).

According to Walsh, the Russian military build-up has been rivaled by NATO and U.S. troop and equipment mobilisation. For instance, the U.S. B-1 Lancer bombers positioned in Norways rland air base were completed missions in the eastern Barents Sea. The US militarys stealth Seawolf submarine was conceded by American officials as being in the area. A State Department official was reported to have told CNN: Theres clearly a military challenge from the Russians in the Arctic, including their refitting of old Cold War bases and build-up of new facilities on the Kola Peninsula near the city of Murmansk. The senior official said, That has implications for the United States and its allies, not least because it creates the capacity to project power up to the North Atlantic (Ibid). Lt. Col. Thomas Campbell, a Pentagon spokesman, was quoted saying that Russia is refurbishing Soviet-era airfields and radar installations, constructing new ports and search-and-rescue centers, and building up its fleet of nuclear-and conventionally-powered icebreakers. It is also expanding its network of air and coastal defense missile systems, thus strengthening its anti-access and area-denial capabilities over key portions of the Arctic, he noted (Ibid).

Washington is evidently uneasy about Russias attempts to influence the Northern Sea Routea shipping lane that stretches from Norway and Alaska, along Russias northern coast, across to the North Atlantic. The NSR is expected to reduce the travel time it presently takes shipping containers to reach Europe from Asia via the Suez Canal.

According to an official of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East, the volume of cargo shipping along the NSR is expected to increase to 100 mln tonnes by 2030. Another Russian official said that the NSR would be a more environmentally friendly route than transport routes located to the south, since Russia prioritizes the environmental safety of cargo transportation in the development of the Arctic route and focuses on ships using appropriate types of fuel (TASS 12 May 2021).

In April this year, the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russia will continue developing its military infrastructure in the Arctic and on the coast of the Arctic Ocean. According to him, It is important to say that the Northern Fleet is constantly practicing employing fighter aviation from the airfields of Arctic archipelagos. The military infrastructure continues to be developed on Arctic islands and the coastline of the Arctic Ocean (TASS 20 April 2021).

Plausibly, the U.S. and the NATO allies are set to become increasingly active in the region. The U.S. contends that the Arctic is now caught in an economic and military competition from Moscow and Beijing. The emerging role of China in the region is also viewed with increasing suspicion, particulate after its proclamation of the Arctic Policy (The Peoples Republic of China 2018). Beijings self-styled status as a near-Arctic state with its polar silk road project raised new concerns in the West, particularly in the background of mounting tensions between the U.S and China (Seethi 2021).

Meanwhile, Moscow was increasingly worried about the attempts to make the region a potentially dangerous terrain of the Wests military exercises. The Russian Embassy in Washington said: The Arctic Challenge military exercises involving the United States are provocative, do not establish any framework for mutual trust in Europe, and contradict (the) peaceful and sustainable development of the Arctic region. The drills are held twice a year under the auspices of Nordic Defence Cooperation, which included a contingent of 250 US Marines, ten F/A-18 Hornet multirole combat jets, as well as KC-130 tankers and transport aircraft. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that a total of 40,000 troops and 15,000 pieces of weapons and equipment, including strategic aviation, were concentrated near Russias borders in the west and south, even as the NATO reconnaissance flights had doubled in the first three months of 2021 compared to 2020 (Sputnik News, 8 June 2021).

It was in the background of big power games that Russias foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov said that Russia controls the Arctic. It has been absolutely clear for everyone for a long time that this is our territory, he said. A report in The Economist says: Russian land makes up 53% of the Arctic coastline. Russia has also ramped up its military investment in the region: since 2007 at least 50 Soviet-era military outposts have reopened. But the other Arctic states see things differently. In 2018 NATO sent an aircraft carrier into the Arctic Circle for the first time in 27 years. Last year British and American warships entered the Barents Sea, north of Norway and close to Russias key naval bases, for the first time since the 1980s. Next year Norway will carry out its biggest military exercise inside the Arctic Circle since the cold war. (The Economist 14 June 2021).

Looking at the Arctic geopolitics within a framework of big power rivalry, it is plausible to say, as a Carnegie Endowment paper underlined, that Moscows ambitious programmes in the Arctic amount to a renewal of its Cold War posture centred around long-standing missions of protecting the sanctuaries of its ballistic missile submarine fleet and operations in the North Atlantic in the event of a war in Europe. But the paper warns that the Russian military is resuming these missions with fewer resources and facing a more formidable array of adversary capabilities than during the Cold War. This might again make a room for suspicion if the task before Moscow is to recoup economically capable partners like China in its Arctic geopolitical objectives. Chinawhich is palpably worried about the Indo-Pacific strategy of the U.S. and its partners in a wider regionis all set to bolster its Belt-Road Initiative, and the Polar Silk Road is perceptibly Beijings dream project in the coming years. Russias Chairmanship of the Arctic Council is therefore seen as a major challenge for other Arctic States like the U.S., Canada, Norway etc. with China emerging as an important stakeholder in the region.

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Russia, US And The Churning Arctic Geopolitics Analysis - Eurasia Review

As President Joe Bidens administration moves to restore U.S. global leadership on the environment, it cannot afford to ignore the health of oceans. It must spearhead the successful conclusion of negotiations on aU.N. high seas biodiversity convention, which are currently adrift. To bring this treaty into port, the United States will need to forge global agreement on several contentious issues. It will also need to temperits neuralgic opposition to legally binding multilateral commitments, recognizing that the treaty poses no threat to U.S. sovereignty and is deeply in American interests.

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Although not entirely lawless, the high seas are poorly governed bya fragmentary patchwork of regulatory schemescovering everything from migratory birds and regional fisheries to deep-sea mining and pollution from ships. The biggest gap in oceans governance is the absence of a comprehensive agreement to conserve and sustainably manage marine living resources and ecosystems on the high seas, which are experiencing catastrophic declines as technological advances permit their unprecedented exploitation. Already, some 40 percent of the worlds oceans have beenseverely altered by human activity; only 3 percent can beconsidered pristine.

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A proposed high seas pactformally, the Internationally Legally Binding Instrument on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, or so-called BBNJ treatywould plug this gaping hole. It woulddramatically enhance environmental stewardshipover a vast commons thatencompasses 43 percent of Earths surface, contains 90 percent of the oceans biomass, and constitutes the greatest repository of planetary biodiversity. The BBNJ treaty would bean implementing agreementunder theU.N. Convention of the Law of the Sea, the closest approximation to a constitution for the worlds oceans.

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Formalintergovernmental negotiations on the BBNJopened in September 2018. Unfortunately, the treaty is nowstuck in the doldrums. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, parties were slated to hold their fourth (and ostensibly final) negotiating session in March 2020. Bad timing. The postponed talks are scheduled to resume in August, though this date could slip. More worrisome,international divisions persist on core issuesat the heart of the treaty, including the multilateral rules that should govern marine genetic resources, area-based management tools, environmental impact assessments and capacity-building. Underlying many specific disagreements isa broader philosophical divide: Developing nations insist that the high seas and their resources constitute the common heritage of mankind, whereas developed nations, including the U.S., tend to invoke the freedom of the seas and resist being bound by international obligations.

The topic ofmarine genetic resourcesis especially divisive. While there is consensus that all nations should benefit from their exploitation, the actual details of any global regime remain elusivesuch as whether benefit-sharing should be voluntary or mandatory, or whether it should apply only to specimens collected in situ or also todigital sequence information(or genetic sequence data) subsequently derived from those specimens. Generally speaking, poorer nations insist on maximal benefit-sharing, whereas wealthy ones seek toprotect the intellectual property rights of companiesseeking to profit from their investments.

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Countries are similarly divided on the principles and rules that should govern the collective management of fragile, biodiverse zones, including through the designation of marine protected areas and other arrangements. The high seas containmany ecologically sensitive regions, such as theEmperor Seamount Chainstretching from the Aleutian to the Hawaiian Islands. Nations have yet to agree on the authorities and mechanisms whereby the world will identify, establish, regulate and monitor such zones. Reaching agreement on such matters is a precondition forachieving the 30 by 30 goalof protecting 30 percent of Earths marine and terrestrial surface by 2030,a target Biden recently endorsed.

The BBNJ negotiations reveal that there is broad multilateral consensus for states toconduct environmental impact assessmentsbefore undertaking major activities on the high seas. But there is scant agreement on thethreshold that should trigger such assessments, the technical standards that should inform them, and whether they should be mandated and/or reviewed by a treaty body. There is also disagreement on how best to build the capacities of developing countries to participate in the conservation and sustainable use of the high seas, including how to assess their needs and whether technology transfers should be mandatory or voluntary.

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Beyond resolving these core issues, the final negotiations are supposed to determine any enduring institutional arrangements that will implement the treaty, which could include a secretariat and a standing conference of parties, as well mechanisms to resolve disputes among and monitor compliance by its parties. A huge bone of contention is whether such a governance structure should take precedence over existing sectoral bodies, notably the International Seabed Authority, as well as regional fisheries management organizations.

The Biden administration has a historic opportunity to help break these logjams. To credibly lead the world, however, the U.S. will need toabandon its long-standing reluctance to enter into legally binding environmental treaties, which it too often perceives as infringements on its ability to do what it wantsrather than as useful mechanisms to secure valued outcomes.

Such insistence on absolute freedom of action has frequently been shortsighted, but it is increasingly counterproductive today, as other nations and corporations dramatically expand their activities on and exploitation of the high seas, with disastrous consequences for the marine environment. In the absence of a high seas biodiversity treaty, for instance, there is little to stop a nation or private actor operating under a flag of convenience fromundertaking ecologically destructive mining operations on a deep seabed, launching freelance climate remediation efforts at sea, or even creating floating cities mid-ocean, heedless of the impacts on marine life.

It is deeply within the U.S. national interest to voluntarily accept some international constraints on its own behavior, if, by so doing, it can prevent others from degrading the ocean commons. This is particularly true given Americas generally high regulatory standards. Historically, private U.S. corporations seeking to extract resources from the high seas have had to comply with American law, namely the National Environmental Policy Act, to ensure that they do not cause grievous harm to the ocean. While the Trump administration rolled back these procedural requirements, the Biden administration will surely reinstate them, raising an obvious question: If U.S. corporations are already subject to stringent environmental regulations, why should Washington oppose internationalizing them?

As a matter of course, the U.S. already routinely cedes freedom of action on the high seas, like when it enters into regional fisheries management organizations or accepts shipping lanes defined by the International Maritime Organization. Ratifying the BBNJ would entail similar self-limitations, but the payoff would be huge: helping topreserve the future of lifeon nearly half of the planet.

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Bringing the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty Into Port - Council on Foreign Relations

If the past year has taught us anything, it is that we must not underestimate the power of the natural world. The Covid-19 pandemic has been a tragedy of untold proportions, and a clarion call to us that we must work harder to protect nature and live in harmony, not at odds, with it.

For many people, the notion of protecting nature in Africa conjures up visions of sweeping national parks, game reserves teeming with the Big Five and stretches of golden coastlines where turtles nest while brightly coloured fishes punctuate the clear waters. Of course, they are right: the biodiversity we are blessed with in Africa is abundant and there is much good work being done to ensure its safety and longevity.

But there is one last great wilderness that most of us will never see, and most likely have never thought much about. This great wilderness begins 200 nautical miles off our African shores, it covers half of the planet, and it is the last great global commons the high seas.

As we celebrate World Ocean Day, it is vital we recognise the importance of protecting areas beyond our national jurisdiction. Historically, a lack of clarity about who is responsible for the protection of this expanse and limited public awareness of just how vital a healthy ocean system is has, at best, fuelled disinterest and, at worst, let a small minority exploit its resources and decimate its biodiversity. But it is no exaggeration to state that our lives depend on safeguarding the high seas, even in landlocked countries like my own.

It is thought that scientists know more about outer space than they do the high seas, with some estimating that we are still unaware of 91% of the living organisms that exist in this largely unexplored ecosystem. So murky is our knowledge, that even some of the species that we do know of seem almost mythical, such as the giant squid, the largest of which was recorded at more than 13 metres long, or the whitemargin stargazer, which can sting prey with up to 50 volts. And although these alien-like creatures might seem interesting but unimportant to us in Africa, this could not be further from the truth.

To date, about 34000 organisms have been discovered in the high seas that could potentially be used in medical and food developments. So far, discoveries in the high seas have included eight marine-based drugs, five of which are cancer treatments; and the discovery of one form of alga that can be used to fortify canola oil, an increasingly popular staple in Africa.

However, at present there is no legally binding framework in place to stop wealthier nations or private companies controlling these discoveries, patenting them and preventing developing countries from accessing their benefits.

The same is true of fishing in the high seas. It is monopolised by fewer than a dozen countries, with little regulation, and is rarely equitably shared. In fact, it is estimated that the worldwide value of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing catches is between $4.9-billion and $9.5-billion, and up to 30% of such fishing ($1.2-billion) occurs beyond national jurisdiction.

But more than just providing a minority with financial benefit, overfishing in the high seas has a direct effect on stocks within neighbouring countries exclusive economic zones. This has a disproportionate effect on developing countries in which dependency on fisheries for food, livelihoods and revenues is high.

Without a strong, global, legally binding framework not only will developing countries continue to be denied access to natural resources in the high seas, but the high seas ecosystem will continue to be drastically compromised. This will have significant effects on domestic fish stocks, climate change and sea levels; and, by extension, a direct effect on our livelihoods and health even if, like me, you are sitting in a landlocked country.

The current UN High Seas Treaty under negotiation aims, for the first time, to establish guidelines for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. This would include a framework to establish a well-connected and representative network of marine protected areas, rigorous and independent environmental impact assessment of ongoing and future activities on the high seas, and clear funding mechanisms that do not marginalise developing countries.

Over the next six months we have a chance to drastically change the way we engage with the high seas and their ecosystem. As Africans, we owe it to ourselves and future generations to engage fully in the ongoing negotiations for a high seas treaty to ensure that this last great wilderness is protected and restored, and that the oceans abundant resources are distributed equally and sustainably.

To put it simply, if we do not protect the high seas collectively and globally, the repercussions will be catastrophic biologically, economically and almost certainly geopolitically.

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Africa must protect the high seas before its too late - Mail and Guardian

We are in a biodiversity crisis. Species are disappearing across the globe, undermining the biological networks that allow life on earth to survive and thrive. In the ocean, sharks are both pillars of productive ecosystems and victims of this crisis, with some species of shark declining by over 80% in the last half century.

Earthjustice is fighting to protect sharks because these millennia-old scientific wonders are on the path to disappearing before we even understand them, which will leave gaping holes in ocean ecosystems and the human communities they support. Sharks are crucial for a healthy ocean, a stable climate, and the livelihoods and culture of people around the world. We are fighting for sharks because we need them, and the earth needs them.

Overfishing is one of the greatest killers of sharks. We take too many sharks out of the ocean, both purposefully and accidentally as bycatch. One of the biggest drivers of overfishing is illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing. Illegal, unregulated, or unreported fishing is fishing that violates existing laws or happens without any oversight to ensure legal compliance. Far from land and regulation, fishers catch and kill sharks at a devastating rate. Intentional illegal shark fishing often involves the cruel practice of finning sharks alive and throwing them back in the ocean to slowly and painfully drown. Illegal fishing is also often rife with violations of labor and human rights laws.

As the worlds biggest seafood importer, the U.S. has a responsibility to lead on making fishing more sustainable and promoting wise ocean stewardship. A recently introduced bill titled the Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act takes a step in the right direction.

This bill amends and strengthens one of the most important tools the U.S. has to combat illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing: the High Seas Driftnet Fishery Moratorium Protection Act (Moratorium Protection Act), which allows NOAA to identify, certify, and potentially sanction countries when their vessels engage in illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing. The Moratorium Protection Act specifically targets shark fishing by allowing NOAA to identify nations for:

Despite the Moratorium Protection Acts focus on sharks, however, NOAA has never listed a nation for catching sharks as bycatch or for catching sharks on the high seas, and only once has NOAA listed a nation for illegal shark fishing. Clearly, a stronger law is needed to promote better international ocean management.

The Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act takes a comprehensive approach to improving our existing tools for combatting illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing and transforming our nations role from being an unintentional consumer of illegal and unregulated fishing products to being a global leader on prevention. Three elements of the bill are crucial for Earthjustices priorities of sustainable and equitable ocean management and to combat the biodiversity crisis:

The Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act is both commonsense and urgent. Illegal fishing jeopardizes the survival of one of our greatest classes of ocean predators. Sharks are keystone species, and when they disappear, entire ecosystems suffer. More action is needed to protect sharks and preserve ocean ecosystems, and Earthjustice supports this first important step to stemming the tide of illegal seafood into our ports. With bipartisan support for advancing these practical solutions to the growing problem of illegal fishing, Congress must advance the Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act this session.

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Why the Ocean Needs The Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act - Earthjustice

(l-r) Charg dAffaires, John McIntyre, Elaine Chambers (mother of Potential Officer, Nicholas Folkes), Senator the Honorable Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio, Ministry of National Security, Potential Officer, Shawna Marie Sinclair, and Commodore Antonette Wemyss-Gorman Jamaica Defence For

The United States Coast Guard Academy has admitted as cadets two members of the Jamaica Defence Force, Shawna Marie Sinclair and Nicholas Folkes. Soon to be Cadet Sinclair and soon to be Cadet Folkes will be the first Jamaica Defence Force members to be appointed to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and their appointment comes as part of the international cadet program. Worldwide, only six slots were available for international cadets with Jamaica securing two of those coveted six spots.

As international cadets, Folkes and Sinclair are subject to the same rules, regulations, and pay as U.S. cadets. They will earn a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation and will return to Jamaica to serve in the Jamaica Defence Force as commissioned officers.

Speaking at the appointment ceremony held June 1 at the U.S. Embassy, Charg dAffaires John McIntyre said All of Jamaica should be proud that one-third of the international cadets attending the U.S. Coast Guard Academy as part of Class 2025 are Jamaican.

At the ceremony, Charg dAffaires McIntyre presented the official appointment certificates to Sinclair and Folkes mother Elaine Chambers, who accepted the certificate on his behalf as he was unable to attend in person. Other distinguished guests at the ceremony included Senator the Honorable Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio, Ministry of National Security, Commodore Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, Fleet Executive Officer of the Jamaica Defence Force, Brigadier Roderick Williams, Brigade Commander, Maritime, Air and Cyber Command, Brigadier Radgh Mason, President of the Caribbean Military Academy, U.S. Embassy Senior Defense Official Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ramsey, and U.S. Embassy Coast Guard Attach Lieutenant Commander Jason Hathaway.

Speaking on the U.S.-Jamaican bilateral relationship, Lieutenant Commander Hathaway noted, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard have long enjoyed a close partnership, standing side-by-side in the Caribbean to face transnational criminal organizations conducting crimes upon the high seas and coastal zones. Today, we forge the next chapter in that partnership with these two pioneers of Jamaican sea service.

The United States Coast Guard Academy is located in New London, Connecticut and is the smallest U.S. service academy, with only 900 total cadets at any given time. The first international cadet program began as an exchange with the Philippines in 1970. Since then, over 200 cadets from 50 countries have enrolled in the program.

By U.S. Embassy Kingston | 8 June, 2021 | Topics: News, Press Releases

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Two Members of the Jamaica Defence Force Are First-Ever Appointed to United States Coast Guard Academy - US Embassy in Jamaica

By Ghaamid Abdulbasat Hatibu

The importance of protecting biodiversity is not lost on Tanzanians. Our country is well known for its incredible beauty and diverse ecosystems: home to an incredible 24 percent of the worlds biodiversity hotspots.

Perhaps most notable is Serengeti National Park, a shining example of the importance and benefits of protected areas; the great migration draws in millions of visitors each year, while also providing the necessary routes for animals to safely find greener pastures in the western corridor of the Serengeti and then back again. And, just 40km off the mainland, youll find another breath-taking example of Tanzanias natural heritage: the Menai Bay conservation area, home to sea turtles, dolphins and dugongs.

Significant role

On land and at sea, Tanzanias youth have played a significant role in working to build and maintain protection of our natural resources, and as it stands over a third of our land is protected. However, while Tanzanias efforts to protect biodiversity so far are admirable, there is one area that we can do more for: the high seas.

The high seas begin 200 nautical miles off our coast and as a result, fall outside of our national jurisdiction. But, importantly, they make up over 64 percent of the earths surface. They remain largely unexplored but are believed to make up 95 percent of the earths occupied habitats, offering a home to thousands of fish species, providing migratory routes for whales and sharks, as well as harbouring remarkable ecosystems such as deep-water corals and other microscopic life.

Yet, only around one percent of this vast global common is protected, and unless our governments come together and carve out a plan to safeguard this last great wilderness, the youth, and generations to come will face devastating consequences.

At present no singular governing body holds responsibility for looking after the high seas, and as such they are susceptible to select nations and corporations accessing their resources without suitable supervision, which means increasingly they are exploited on a first come, first serve basis. This lack of oversight has led to unsustainable fishing practices, monopolisation of genetic resource materials, unequal distribution of discoveries of note, and a lack of efficient ecosystem monitoring.

Equality gap

It is no exaggeration to say that the limited access that developing countries, such as my own, has to the high seas has contributed to the growing equality gap. Both in an immediate sense, with regards to medical and scientific advances, but also longer term, with compromised marine ecosystems contributing to climate change, rising sea levels, and reduced fish stocks in our national waters.

The High Seas Treaty, currently under negotiation at the United Nations aims, for the first time, to establish guidelines for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

This would include a framework to establish a well-connected and representative network of marine protected areas, rigorous and independent environmental impact assessment of ongoing and future activities on the high seas, and clear funding mechanisms that do not marginalise developing nations.

A healthy and productive ocean is crucial for our planets survival. To support people, fight climate change and save biodiversity, we need a network of fully and highly protected areas covering at least 30 percent of the ocean by 2030, which can only be accomplished by including the high seas.

Climate change

As young people in todays world, it is easy to feel helpless when trying to combat climate change and biodiversity loss, for years the political will just was not there. But we have changed that - and, slowly but surely, world leaders have opened their eyes to the desperate need for greater action. Now, they must open their ears and listen to the ocean. It needs our help - if not for ourselves, then for future generations. So, on this World Oceans Day today, lets join together and forge ahead with a robust High Seas Treaty.

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Ghaamid Abdulbasat Hatibu leads the Global Youth Biodiversity Network Chapter in Tanzania

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Why its time we woke up and listened to the ocean - The Citizen