Remember That Ocean is Important

Everyone knows that water is a vital element of our daily lives. With more than 8,500 miles of shorelines, 2.1 million acres of estuaries and 30% of the state's land cover consisting of wetlands, Florida's relationship to water is vital to the prosperity of the state. Florida Southern College students are aware of the importance of clean water and they are looking for ways to share their knowledge with everyone else by raising awareness of ocean pollution. Currently the class of Free Enterprise students is participating in a project called O.B. Ocean Pollution to engage in projects that empower others by reducing, reusing, and recycling. The idea of the project comes from Enactus organization, which is a community of student, academic and business leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to enable human progress. The message we want to bring across is that 80% of pollution to the marine environment comes from the land. Water pollution is the 2nd worst type of pollution after air pollution. Unsafe water causes 4 billion cases of diarrhea each year, and results in 2.2 deaths, mostly of children under five. People need to know that with small changes in their regular behaviors they can improve a whole lot. Here are just few of many things that individuals can do in order to help reducing ocean pollution: 1. Using a reusable tote or other bag at the grocery store; 2. Drinking water out of glass or other non-plastic container; 3. Recycling plastics whenever possible; 4. Never littering and always disposing of trash properly. Visit this website and sign up for the local beach cleanup days: http://www.oceanconservancy.org