Mni Wiconi - It is Life
Refreshing Waters Teem With All We Need
It is life.
We can all recognize that water is a universal need for all living things. People, animals, and plant life alike.
To be honest, we even need it to operate other aspects of our lives such as cooling our vehicles. Water is needed and everything inside of it deserves conserving with consideration to the future of all entities that share this beautiful planet called Earth.
Each river flows to meet the ocean and there it opens to a place of such endless possibility but we must conserve and protect it you see as stewards of this land. None of this belongs solely to you or to me, but to the collective as a whole and it is our duty to care for it truly so that generations beyond us can appreciate it's beauty for the sea is a place so wondrous.
I remember my childhood fondly for times that are rather simple. Spent around creeks and rivers and our own wood collected campfires, and beachcombing on the coastline of the Pacific Northwest. I've made some incredible memories on the West Coast and seeing a baby seal coming bustling down the beach is probably one of my favorites. Watching it nearly nip of the fingers of one of my beachcombing party members' wasn't so great, but we warned him not to try to pet a wild animal. These are the things that make the ocean special as far as memory making goes, but there is so much more to it than that. The fish species and mammalian that are under threat due to our incompetence is beyond acceptable, and we have known it for some time. I can recall the save the whales campaigns from my childhood and the efforts to recycle, reuse and reduce. Being that I was a child who attended part of my elementary years in school in Oregon, I got to learn about Keiko and Free Willy directly since he was housed for so long at the Newport, or Oregon Aquarium.
The fact that we have a floating island of garbage with a proper title in the Pacific Ocean so many years after this fact is a disgrace. And, we, human beings – are the reason for its existence.
We’re responsible.
Cleaning up oil spills and cleaning wetlands of litter are excellent ways to help the ocean environment but there is so much more we need to still address. Mainly, how we are going to rid ourselves of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
It’s unbelievable that we lost the Great Coral Reef but have a massive floating dump with a proper title that can be Googled, just the same. As for me and my family, when we go beachcombing these days I remind my children to collect extra garbage they see, to clean up both after themselves, and others and to remind others to do the same.
The way we’ve been able to help our ocean animals is by remembering that the space isn’t ours. We are merely visitors and when we visit we need to behave as proper guests considering those who live there and how they need to have their space.
So, while myths and truths are live within the Ocean’s depths so is the majesty of the memories of every person who enjoys their many facets. Remember that by reducing your damage, and throwing out your disposables in proper receptacles.
Do not allow them to meet the warmth of our lovely ocean's depths nor the icy rigidness of the frozen waterways, for each of these hold precedence to the grandeur of all things and should we allow our actions to continue we will be the destroyers of all these lovely things.
About the Creator
Sai Marie Johnson
A multi-genre author, poet, creative&creator. Resident of Oregon; where the flora, fauna, action & adventure that bred the Pioneer Spirit inspire, "Tantalizing, titillating and temptingly twisted" tales.
Pronouns: she/her
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