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Life on Earth ultimately depends on the oceans. As world-renowned ocean scientist Sylvia Earle succinctly puts it, 'No blue, no green.' This powerful statement underscores the fundamental connection between the health of our oceans and the vitality of our planet. Climate change is inflicting severe damage on this essential 'nursery of life', drastically impairing the ability of the world's oceans to sustain and renew life.
To address these pressing challenges, it is imperative to re-imagine our relationship with the wondrous world of water. Can we cultivate a renewed love for the sea that fosters a transformative interaction, shifting from exploitation to cooperation? Even more radically, can we reclaim our inheritance and move beyond the Western narrative of viewing the ocean merely as an object, instead embracing it as a communicative, sacred presence?
Reflecting on the insights and teachings of Indigenous peoples is crucial in this endeavour. Indigenous communities have long regarded the ocean with reverence, recognizing its sacredness and intrinsic value. Their traditional ecological knowledge offers profound lessons on how to live in harmony with the natural world. By listening to and learning from these perspectives, we can begin to reshape our interactions with the ocean, fostering a more respectful and sustainable relationship.
In their work On the Edge: A-Way with the Ocean, Graeme Garrett and Jan Morgan invite readers into a journey of engagement with a diverse array of thinkers, including philosophers (especially phenomenologists), poets, theologians, and scientists. Drawing from their experiences in the coastal town of Tathra in New South Wales, they explore how we can listen to the cry of Earth and return to the threshold of wonder.
This invitation to wonder is a call to action. By re-envisioning our connection to the ocean, we can begin to address the environmental crises we face. Embracing the ocean as a sacred, communicative presence encourages us to protect and preserve it, ensuring that it can continue to support life on Earth. It is through this profound shift in perspective that we can move towards a future where the health of our oceans and our planet are restored, and where our interactions with the natural world are characterized by cooperation, respect, and reverence.
