My First Persuasive Essay!

This is my first post yay!

   Keeping our oceans clean is important for saving marine life, protecting human health, and keeping the balance of our ecosystem. San Clemente, California, my hometown is on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. From an incredibly early age I was always at the beach. I even have baby pictures of me running in the sand in my diapers. Once I learned how to swim, my dad taught me how to surf. Surfing for me was a way of life. In the summer we would get to the beach earlier in the morning and not leave until after the sun went down or our bonfire burnt out. I have so many memories of sitting on my surfboard out in the water and watching dolphins play in the surf. Sometimes they would sneak up on you and spook you a bit. First thought sometimes was, “Is it a shark”? But quickly you would realize it was just dolphins.

        The ocean provides a home for marine life and a place for humans to enjoy God’s creation. You can sit on the sand and watch, listen, and smell the waves. You can listen to the sound and feel the sand between your toes. For those of you who have had the opportunity to see the ocean, you know exactly what I am describing. Pristine beaches line the California coast, with sand for friends and family to spread out and have an enjoyable time.

          With heavy foot traffic at the local beaches, we can see trash and garbage start to become a problem. It always broke my heart when I would sit in the water and see some kind of plastic cup or other plastic products go floating by. Not only was trash a problem but also types of water run-off and chemicals pose a problem because they end up in the ocean. We hear of different ships causing some kind of oil or chemical spills in the ocean all the time, which causes devastation to marine life. The following presents an example of a major oil spill off the California coast. “Energy companies have a long and tumultuous history of offshore drilling in California and elsewhere in the United States. The damage from these spills is often long-lasting and catastrophic. On October 2, 2021, an Amplify Energy pipeline, running between an offshore rig and the coast of Long Beach, was dragged by the anchor of a cargo ship, spilling 144,000 gallons of oil into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Huntington Beach in Orange County.”[1] This event appears to be the result of negligent shipping.

      The impacts of this spill are presented here: “Experts say that the long-term impacts of the Orange County oil spill on the environment could be significant. birds and marine life could become ill even if there not saturated by oil, and this area is uniquely delicate.”[2] We can see from this statement that even though an animal is not saturated with oil it can still have a negative effect on the wildlife. “After the Orange County oil spill, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife placed a temporary ban on commercial and recreational fishing along a 20-mile stretch of coastline extending six miles out to sea.”[3] These catastrophes can seem bigger than the everyday person. You might ask yourself; how or why does this pertain to me? Even if you cannot be a part of the oil clean up, you can still do your part.

       Doing our part might looks like cleaning up after yourself when we visit these beautiful beaches. Even if the trash does not belong to us, we can still pick it up and dispose of it in the proper places. Going back to my original question Why is it important that we keep our ocean clean? “Our ocean is in serious trouble. Heating, pollution, acidification, and oxygen loss pose serious threats to the health of the ocean and to all living beings who call this vast planetary resource their home.”[4] The following five reasons from the United Nations explain why we should keep our oceans clean: 1. The ocean regulates our climate and provides the air we breathe.[5] “Our ocean mitigates non-renewable industry pollution by absorbing 25 per cent of all carbon emission, while generating 50 per cent of the oxygen we need to survive. It not only functions as the lungs of the planet, providing us with the air we breathe, but also as the world’s largest carbon sink helping to combat the negative impacts of climate change. Additionally, the ocean has taken up more than 90 per cent of the excess heat in the climate system helping to regulate temperatures on land. Thus, climate action depends on a healthy ocean, and a healthy ocean requires urgent climate action.”[6] 2. The ocean feeds us.[7] “The ocean and its biodiversity provide our global community with 15 per cent of the animal protein we eat. In least developed countries, seafood is the primary source of protein to over 50 per cent of the population. It is therefore critical to protect the ocean’s biodiversity and practice sustainable fishing strategies for continued consumption.”[8] 3. It provides jobs and livelihoods.[9] “The ocean provides livelihoods to three billion people, 50 per cent of the entire global population. Marine fisheries provide fifty-seven million jobs globally. The blue economy is a strong industry that allows people to make their living and provide for their families. However, over 60 per cent of the world’s major marine ecosystems that underpin these livelihoods are unsustainably, with a sizable portion being completely degraded. Additionally, according to UNEP, pollution from the eleven million tons of plastic that enters the ocean annually, costs an estimated US $13 billion, including clean-up costs and financial losses from fisheries and additional ocean-based industries. It is critical that we stop polluting our ocean.”[10] 4. The ocean is a tool for economic development.[11] “The ocean is a significant economic tool. Ocean economies are among the most rapidly growing in the world. The market value of marine and coastal resources and the developing industry is estimated by UNDP to be US $3 trillion per year, which is about 5 per cent of total global gross domestic product.”[12] 5. We need a healthy ocean to survive.[13] “The ocean affects us all in positive ways, no matter if you live on the coastline or in the desert. It provides climate regulation, food, jobs, livelihoods, and economic progress. Thus, we must work together to protect and save the ocean for the sake of our future survival on this planet.”[14] Although not all of us live next to the ocean, we can still do our part by keeping our water ways clean no matter where you live. One way or another all water leads to our oceans.

        How many people in the United States visit the ocean with their families each year? I had the opportunity the other day to stand at a major entrance to a popular beach, where I made a very interesting observation. While standing there, I must have heard three different languages being spoken amongst different families. What I realized was that people come from all over the world to enjoy one of Gods creations. If we don’t continue the efforts of keeping our beaches clean, future generations may not have a beach to go to. Next time your next to a water way or ocean, my charge to you is do your part to clean up after yourselves and pick up any trash you might find. Lets leave the earth in a better state then we found it.   

Bibliography

1. Schreiber Singleton, “History of California Oil Spills,” Singlton Schreiber, January 1, 2025, https://www.singletonschreiber.com/practices/mass-torts/orange-county-oil-spill-among-largest-in-california-history.
2. Nations United, “5 reasons you should care about our ocean,” United Nations, June 21, 2022, https://www.un.org/en/desa/5-reasons-you-should-care-about-our-ocean.

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[1] Singleton Schreiber, “History of California Oil Spills,” Singlton Schreiber, January 1, 2025, https://www.singletonschreiber.com/practices/mass-torts/orange-county-oil-spill-among-largest-in-california-history.

[2] Schreiber, “Oil Spills.”

[3] Schreiber, “Oil Spills.”

[4] United Nations, “5 reasons you should care about our ocean,” United Nations, June 21, 2022, https://www.un.org/en/desa/5-reasons-you-should-care-about-our-ocean.

[5] Nations, “our ocean,”

[6] Nations, “our ocean,”

[7] Nations, “our ocean,”

[8] Nations, “our ocean,”

[9] Nations, “our ocean,”

[10] Nations, “our ocean,”

[11] Nations, “our ocean,”

[12] Nations, “our ocean,”

[13] Nations, “our ocean,”

[14] Nations, “our ocean,”