Since its inception in 2008, the United Nations has celebrated World Oceans Day in recognition of the ocean’s importance as the sustainer of all life on earth. As the challenges to the ocean continue to grow, so does the need to understand them and to mobilize globally. Drawing in a global community through a series of in-person and virtual events and campaigns, the annual United Nations celebration has created an inclusive and dynamic platform, ignited a groundswell of awareness, and through multi stakeholder engagement, has yielded impactful action for the ocean and our blue planet. This World Oceans Day the theme is Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing. In celebration of the day, OceanX and Oceanic Global are teaming up on the #OceanFirst campaign to underscore 2023 theme’s call to action “Time to Put the Ocean First.”

1. OceanFirsts Campaign Toolkit
World Oceans Day 2023
FoWOD icon
.org | @unworldoceansday
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2. Since its inception in 2008, the United Nations has celebrated
World Oceans Day in recognition of the ocean’s importance
as the sustainer of all life on earth. As the challenges to the
ocean continue to grow, so does the need to understand
them and to mobilize globally.
Drawing in a global community through a series of in-person
and virtual events and campaigns, the annual United
Nations celebration has created an inclusive and dynamic
platform, ignited a groundswell of awareness, and through
multi stakeholder engagement, has yielded impactful action
for the ocean and our blue planet.
This World Oceans Day the theme is Planet Ocean: Tides are
Changing. In celebration of the day, OceanX and Oceanic
Global are teaming up on the #OceanFirst campaign to
underscore 2023 theme’s call to action “Time to Put the
Ocean First.”
LEARN MORE
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3. Thank you for participating in OceanX and Oceanic Global’s #OceanFirst campaign
in celebration of World Oceans Day and the 2023 United Nations event theme,
Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing.
Join us in sharing your ocean story to spread awareness of the importance of the
ocean to all of humanity and create a groundswell of action to put the ocean first.
PARTICIPATING IS SIMPLE:
Follow this short guide to capture a video of yourself
sharing a brief story about your connection
to or experiences with the ocean.
Select videos will be shared on social media via @unworldoceansday @oceanx and
@oceanic.global and may be featured in programming at the United Nations event on June 8th.
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4. ❏ Find a quiet, well-lit location where the light source is in front of
you
❏ Use your phone to capture your video. Have someone film for
you, use a tripod, or prop up your phone.
❏ Film vertically
❏ Center yourself in the frame
❏ Introduce yourself: Name/Title
❏ Record yourself reading one of the following lines:
SAMPLE SETUP
“This World Oceans Day I want to share my #OceanFirst with you.”
“It’s time to put the ocean first”
“Because we live on a blue planet. It’s time we act like it.”
“There is no time to wait.”
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5. ● Choose one prompt from EACH section for your
#OceanFirst story.
● Record yourself reading each prompt prior to sharing your
answers.
● Please keep each of your responses under 90 seconds.
Prompt A:
● Why is the ocean important to you?
● What is your relationship with the ocean?
● What was your first encounter with or memory of the ocean?
● What was the first time the ocean showed you something new,
something that changed your perspective?
● What was the first time you really understood how important the
ocean is to us all?
Prompt B:
● When was the first time you realized how much the ocean needs
our help, and how much is at stake if we fail to act?
● What actions do you take to protect the ocean?
● What does putting the ocean first mean to you?
● Why is it important to put the ocean first?
● What is the first step we should take to put the ocean first?
“This World Oceans Day, I want to share my
#OceanFirst story with you.
When I was 13, I was snorkeling on a family
vacation and I spotted an octopus. We locked
eyes. We gazed at each other for a good 10
minutes. Suddenly I wasn’t just looking at the
ocean, it was looking back at me. I realized
our relationship with the ocean is a two way
street.
The ocean is so important to all of us – it gives
us air to breathe, food to eat, and beauty to
enjoy. It’s time we all put the ocean first and
give it the attention it deserves. I hope you’ll
share your #OceanFirst story today, too.”
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6. Send your video to social@oceanx.org as an email
attachment or via wetransfer.com if the video is too
large to share as an attachment.
We will add campaign branding to the videos and return
to you with instructions for how and when to post. We
will publish and tag participants in the approved videos
in the days leading up to World Oceans Day on June 8th
and throughout June in celebration of Ocean Month.
Select videos will be shared on social media via
@unworldoceansday @oceanx and @oceanic.global
and may be featured in programing at the United
Nations event on June 8th.
For questions or assistance, email us at
social@oceanx.org
EMAIL HERE UPLOAD HERE
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7. ● Produces over 50% of the earth’s oxygen
● Makes up over 95% of the biosphere
(the part of the planet where life can exist)
● Absorbs 90% of heat from global warming
● 30% of the planet’s CO 2 emissions are absorbed by the ocean
● Is home to the planet’s largest carbon sinks
● Is one of the main repositories of the world’s biodiversity
● Contains ~250,000 known species with many more to be discovered
● Is a vast source of renewable energy. Ocean energy can be extracted
from tides, waves, thermal energy conversion, currents, & salinity gradients
● Covers 70% of the planet, but humanity has only ever seen ~10%
Sources: Second World Ocean Assessment, 2021 Sustainable Development Goals Report
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8. Thank you for participating in the OceanFirst Campaign and for supporting World Oceans Day.
Click to Register for the Virtual UN World Oceans Day Event.
OceanX | Oceanic Global
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