Latest news with #UNOceanconference
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Activists highlight socio-ecological crisis
T'puram: As part of World Ocean Day, activists displayed an art installation in Valiyathura on June 8, symbolising the vast socio-ecological crisis that unfolded after the container ship MSC Elsa 3 sank off Alappuzha coast. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The display, symbolising the shipping company through a ship model, was set against the backdrop of plastic nurdles that washed ashore. It raised messages reading, 'no time to waste'. "The people have the right to know and expect a detailed statement on the circumstances of the accident, as well as a comprehensive clean-up and compensation plan from MSC, who have not yet communicated even after two weeks," said Jackson Pollayil, state president of Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation. "While the decarbonisation of the shipping industry and global plastics pollution are discussed at the UN Ocean conference, major profitable shipping companies such as MSC can no longer shy away from their responsibility," said Amruta S N, climate campaigner at Greenpeace India. tnn
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
David Attenborough admits 'if this doesn't work, I don't know what will'
The natural history veteran has this week launched his heartfelt campaign to restore our seas to their former glory, just a few weeks before the UN summit in France Sir David Attenborough is optimistic that his Ocean film, and book, will have the biggest impact of his 70-year film-making career. Colin Butfield has worked with him on both projects and says the natural history veteran, who turns 99 today, firmly believes that the call for industrial fishing to be banned in 1/3 of the ocean could bring about monumental change. The film-maker and author told the Mirror: 'At the screening this week David got a standing ovation from 2,200 people and he was really delighted. He said to me,'This might just change something. And if it doesn't, I don't know what will.' The film, specifically shot and designed to be watched on the big screen ahead of next month's UN Ocean conference in France, shows how quickly our seas can recover if simply left alone. The problems are caused by super trawlers, often not headquartered in the UK, which hoover up everything and cause widespread destruction on the sea-bed. 'We needed to show the ocean at its most spectacular and at its most damaged,' Colin explains. 'And we wanted to film places which had actually recovered and show it on a massive scale. It's persuasive when you can see what can be achieved.' Colin, who has collaborated with Sir David on several previous projects, said the idea to campaign for change by charting 100 years of the ocean came about three years ago. 'Back at the start, David said, 'If actually we pulled this off, the ocean in 50 years could be richer than anyone alive has ever seen it.' Colin said he would be 'stunned' if anyone watching the film didn't come away thinking that some fishing methods are destroying the environment and, if fixed it, it could bounce back really fast. 'This would massively help with tackling climate change as well,' he explains, saying that the responsibility for this now lies with governments. 'They can easily, almost at the stroke of a pen, make this decision,' Colin said. 'It's one of those rare chances for politicians to do something that is fundamentally good.' The team behind Ocean, now showing in cinemas, is optimistic that the strategy can work. 'If you protect 1/3 of the ocean the bounce back would be so big that we'd be able to catch much more fish than we catch today. Economically this is a no-brainer - and it's great for the UK's fishing communities who will benefit.' It's not just our children and grandchildren that will benefit, it's all of us. 'This could have a massive impact within a decade.' Sir David may be one year away from his centenary, but he remains unassailable when it comes to natural history presentation. Colin said: 'It's incredible. He has that way of turning it into something so much better than if anybody else did it. It's his lived experience - I'd wager he's seen more of the natural world than any person that's ever lived. How do you replace that? You just can't. He's a one off. 'I genuinely think he'll never retire. His scripts are exceptional, I honestly think it's some of the best work he's ever done. His pieces to camera - I've never seen him do better. He's such a genius. If he can write like this now, why stop?' After all the excitement of the past few days, Sir David planned to celebrate his birthday quietly today, with close family. 'Two days ago we had the massive film premiere, then last night he had the book launch with Michael Palin, ' Colin said. 'I think today he's going to have quite a chilled day, with a family dinner and a couple of glasses of wine. He deserves it.' - Ocean: Earth's Last Wilderness, published by John Murray Press, out now in hardback, £28
TimesLIVE
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
New David Attenborough film showcases destruction and hope in planet's oceans
British naturalist David Attenborough says there is hope for the future of the planet's oceans in a new film premiering later on Tuesday that sets out the scale of damage caused by human activities and the oceans' capacity for recovery. In his latest work 'Ocean', Attenborough, one of the world's best-known nature broadcasters and filmmakers whose work spans seven decades, charts the challenges faced by the seas over his lifetime, from destructive industrial fishing practices to mass coral reef bleaching. 'After almost 100 years on the planet I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land but at sea,' he says in a trailer of the movie. Its full release in cinemas on Thursday coincides with Attenborough's 99th birthday. Tuesday's premiere in London will see a glitzy event with celebrities and dignitaries walking a blue — not red — carpet in the evening and a daytime screening for students and teachers. Despite depicting the bleak state of the health of the oceans, discoveries made during filming offer hope, Attenborough said. 'The ocean can recover faster than we had imagined, it can bounce back to life.' 'If we save the sea we save our world. After a lifetime filming our planet I'm sure nothing is more important.' The film's release comes before the UN Ocean conference in Nice, France, in June where it is hoped more countries will ratify a 2023 agreement to protect ocean biodiversity. So far only 21 countries have signed, falling well short of the 60 needed for the agreement to come into force.
