A wonderful domino effect is on the move in Argentina
Last Friday, 7 September 2018, the University Belgrano, partner of Mundus maris, organised a set of activities within the framework of the Argentinean National Week of Science and Technology. One of these activities consisted of a role play where four stakeholders had a conflict over pollution of plastic waste as used in all restaurants from a fast food chain. The role play was interpreted by each of two groups of around 45 high school students, who discussed the social and economical aspects of a possible reduction of plastic contamination. The schools involved were Escuela Argentina General Belgrano and Colegio Lincoln and Instituto Huergo.
European Parliament on marine plastic – 5 Sept. 2018
Plastic pollution in the ocean from lost fishing nets and massive amounts of household litter, such as bottles, cups, straws, bags and much else reaching the ocean mostly through rivers has hit public consciousness. Everybody has seen the pictures of birds, turtles and even marine mammals miserably starved to death with their stomachs full of plastic.
The conference on "The effect of marine litter on fisheries and oceans" was organised by the European Parliament Intergroup on “Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development” at the EP in Brussels on 5 September 2018 to explore and discuss the new European Commission proposals on ways to tackle marine litter.
Measure for Measure - FishBase Symposium, 4 Sept. 2018
Every year the international consortium sustaining FishBase and other global information systems about biodiversity and human use of the ocean meet to assess progress and new challenges. Each time, a public science symposium showcases advances in using the information systems for conservation and sustainable use of aquatic resources. This year's consortium and symposium were hosted at GEOMAR in Kiel, Germany.
Rethinking Development, Gothenburg, 22-23 Aug. 2018
What kind of development do we want for today's world? That was the central question addressed by almost 400 participants from some 35 countries during the biannual Swedish Development Research Conference (DevRes) organised 22 and 23 August in Gothenburg. Mundus maris contributed to a special session under the aegis of the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes focusing on how to ensure that perspectives of people on the ground - anywhere - get heard and that joint learning can take place.
Mundus maris at the EDD 2018
Some 9,000 participants, among them exhibitors, speakers, project organisers and visitors populated the European Development Days 2018 under the timely motto She is We. Visitors queued for long times to get into the spacious premises of the Tour and Taxis complex on 5 and 6 June. Security was strict and queuing continued until after passing the reception desk. But it was definitely a worthwhile wait. A string of high-level conferences, workshops and the EDD Village with a wide variety of booths interspersed with meeting and rest areas created a conducive environment for exchanges on policies and practices. Commission President Juncker was one of the speakers of the opening ceremony.
Mundus maris celebrates World Ocean Day on three continents
Mundus maris and its friends and allies teamed up again this year to celebrate World Ocean Day, 8 June, together around the globe under the UN motto focused on protecting the ocean – and ourselves - from hideous plastic pollution. Celebrations entailed a quite diverse programme of activities, starting with the youth contest for Mundus maris Awards. Preparatory and awareness raising activities took place in several countries. Celebrations reached their culmination with special events on three continents: taking off in Brussels, Belgium, and followed by other events in Argentina, Cameroon, Nigeria and Senegal.
Congratulations to the winners of Mundus maris Awards 2018
More than seventy individuals and groups of young people sent in their works in response to the invitation to tell a story in words or moving pictures about this year's motto of World Ocean Day "For a Plastic Free Ocean". They came from six countries: Belgium, Cameroon, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal.
An international jury looked carefully at their submissions and chose the winners across the six categories of the contest.
Marine Stewardship Council does not convince at Brussels Seafood Fair
Announced with some fanfare and pride about the on-going expansion in the numbers and scope of certified fisheries, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) had invited to a podium discussion at the overbulging Brussels Seafood Fair, 24 to 26 April 2018. More exhibitors than ever are vying for business despite or perhaps because of globally shrinking production. Have so many more fisheries suddenly become sustainable?