EMECS12The Students and Schools Partnership Program Declaration
United by the Ocean
This declaration is the collaborative efforts of 17 student representatives, teachers,and scientists from Japan and Thailand, who participated in the 12th International
Conference on Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas or EMECS12. The
theme of this year’s conference is “Cooperative stewardship for integrated management
toward resilient coastal seas”. This, truly, is appropriate based on the circumstances andissues that we are facing today. We are separated by political boundaries, dividing us into
citizens of different countries. However, we are ultimately connected by one ocean. What
unite us are the environmental issues and the similar sense of uncertainty for our future.
We have long noticed that the coastal areas near our schools and local communities
are littered with trash of all kinds, some of which are composed of harmful materials. Not
only is it aesthetically not pleasing to the eyes, the trickle-down effects of such pollutants
are potentially harmful to the marine lives, including economically important andendangered species. We have realized that terrestrial activities can induce harmful effects incanals and rivers, which will eventually prove to be detrimental to the marine environments.
We have considered the physiological effects resulting from the consumption ofcontaminated food on our bodies and the eventuality of such effects on our children. We havestood by the beach, feeling apprehensive about swimming in the ocean. We have recognizedthat what occurs along the coastlines of our countries, can, and will, affect citizens of othercountries.
Regardless of whether or not we are part of the problems, we certainly want to bepart of the solutions. Some of us are actively involved in beach clean-ups, raising awarenessamong the local communities, and related research projects. Some of us have braced thesummer sun and the winter cold, to pick up trash, piece by piece, in hopes of seeing a beachthat once was. Some of us have tried to convince the governing bodies in our schools andlocal communities to sort and properly dispose of trash. We have experimented on innovative
methods to recycle and convert fishery byproducts and reducing waste.
Despite our efforts, we sometimes feel dejected and discouraged. Every so often, itappears that our efforts are in vain. We feel that the problem of trash in the ocean is notwidely recognized by the general public. In places where the problem is apparent andpersistent, only a small group of people are involved in the conservation movements. We
strongly believe that it is necessary to raise awareness among larger groups of individuals,
to promote environmental education in schools, and to encourage the general public to getinvolved and be part of the solutions. Ocean trash is a global environmental issue, which
requires worldwide collaborative efforts. The citizens of the world must travel on the samejourney toward cleaner marine environments and better quality of life for the future
generations.
Lastly, on behalf of the participants of the EMECS Students and Schools Partnership
Program, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the hosts and the organizing
committees for giving us this opportunity to exchange ideas and perspectives. In the pastfew days, we’ve been inspired by the people we’ve met and the experiences we’ve shared.
Through our trials and tribulations, we feel a renewed sense of hope and togetherness, aswell as courage to face future challenges.