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Sustainable

Development Goal 14

‘Life below Water’ –

We contribute to accelerating

its realization.

Read more about ‘SDG 14’…
In Your Face
The time to save the ocean is NOW!

Real change comes with the impact level.

In Your Face – The Exhibition

Ocean. Now! leverages the power of art to strengthen engagement for SDG 14 “Life below water” on all levels of society. Our goal is to rebuild a thriving marine ecosystem.

PRESS RELEASE

This way to download

About our Kids Workshops

WHY THE OCEAN?

50% of all oxygen on earth is generated by the ocean

The ocean absorbs 90% of our global warming

The ocean accounts for 17% of protein at the global level and exceeds 50% in many least-developed countries

PROJECTS

Campaign #banmicroplastics – EU level

Stakeholder in UNESCO program “Education for Sustainable Development” (ESD)

Ocean. Now! + Swaantje Güntzel

project “IN YOUR FACE”

50 beaches – 50 faces

We have to convince the people in the world that they should tell the politicians that they’re concerned.

- David Attenborough

sign our petition

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Sep 12

🤔 Recently, we’ve been thinking about the big picture and asking some important questions:

1. What do the societies we’d like to live in look like?
2. How would life be different and how would it feel?
3. What’s needed to make this transition happen?

🌊 With these questions in mind, we invite you to our new Ocean Visions series. We’ll picture positive change and celebrate our connection with the ocean, dropping disheartening news and steering in a different direction. Together let’s:

💭 Imagine solutions and results
🎉 Celebrate happy wins (and be inspired!)
✨ Feel our interconnectedness with nature

We really hope you enjoy the discoveries and connections we’ll share soon.

***
🎬: Patrick Poelchau @poelchau
🎶: “Earth“ by Laura Weider @laura.weider.art

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Aug 30

✨WONDERFUL WHALE SHARKS 🦈 The first thing you should know is that they’re not whales – they’re sharks. In fact, they’re the biggest sharks in the sea, but these gentle giants are nothing to fear. They’re filter feeders who use their large, gaping mouths to extract plankton, krill and other tiny creatures from tropical waters.⁠
⁠
This stunning, spotted species helps keep ocean ecosystems healthy, but is now listed as officially endangered. Much like many other sea creatures, whale sharks are threatened by human activities like fishing, pollution, boat strikes and tourism.⁠
⁠
So, what can we do to protect them? Well, this #WorldWhaleSharkDay, commit to:⁠
🌍 Reducing your use of plastics and help to fight pollution instead⁠
🍤 Lower how much seafood you eat – sharks are caught and killed in bycatch or left with little to eat themselves ⁠
🏊‍♂️ Avoid swimming too close to, or otherwise disturbing, these beautiful sharks if you’re lucky enough to see them in the wild⁠
⁠
*** ⁠
📖 Blog.padi.com/6-tips-whale-shark-conservation/⁠
📸 NOAA via Unsplash⁠

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Aug 24

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Aug 11

🔎 You may not know much about krill (our attention often skips over these little marine creatures to bigger, more charismatic animals) but they’re very important. Antarctic krill are a keystone species in the waters of the Southern Ocean – without them, the entire ecosystem would collapse!

Krill fact time:

🦐 Antarctic krill is the main food source for many iconic animals, like penguins, seals and whales
🦐 Even species that don’t eat krill, eat animals that do
🦐 Krill provide 96% of calories for seabirds and mammals in the #Antarctic Peninsula
🦐 They’re vital in our fight against #ClimateChange. They carry vast amounts of carbon away from the atmosphere and deposit it in the deep
🦐 They’re threatened by fishing and climate change

So, what can we do to help protect these giants of the foodchain? Let’s start by saving their home. This #WorldKrillDay help us keep the Southern Ocean healthy, and sign the petition to #ProtectAntartica. You’ll find the link in our bio.

Visual: @nsfgov

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Aug 8

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Aug 1

🎉 Nach vielen Verzögerungen und 5 Jahren harter Arbeit sind wir nun endlich kurz davor, unser Kampagnenziel zu erreichen. Letzte Woche ist das EU-Gesetz zum Verbot von #Mikroplastik in Kosmetik und Reinigungsmitteln in Kraft getreten!

Im Grunde hatten der EU-Rat und das EU-Parlament drei Monate Zeit, um ein Veto gegen den REACH-Vorschlag der EU-Kommission einzulegen - das bedeutet, dass die "gesetzliche Beschränkung von Mikroplastik, das absichtlich in Produkten hinzugefügt wird", nun in Kraft ist.

💙 Wir freuen uns sehr über diese Nachricht. Das ist wirklich ein Schritt in die richtige Richtung. Allerdings gibt es einige Schwachstellen: Für Make-up-Produkte gilt zum Beispiel eine Übergangsfrist von 12 Jahren! Das ist viel zu lang.

Wir werden das nicht hinnehmen und werden bald Maßnahmen ergreifen, um das Problem zu lösen. Stay tuned, um bald mehr zu erfahren. ☺️

**
📸 John Cobb on Unsplash

#banmicroplastics #beatplasticpollution #breakfreefromplastic

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Aug 1

🎉 After many delays and 5 years of hard work, we're finally close to reaching our campaign goal. Last week, the EU law to #banmicroplastics in cosmetics and cleaning products came into force!

Basically, the EU Council and EU Parliament had 3 months to veto the REACH proposal by the EU Commission – meaning the 'legal restriction on microplastics intentionally added in products' is now active.

🩵 We're very excited about this news. It really is a step in the right direction. That being said, there are some flaws: for e.g. make-up products have a transition period of 12 years! This is waaayy too long.

We won't accept this and will be taking action to address it soon. Stay tuned to learn more. ☺️

***
📸 Jonas Von Werne via Unsplash.

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Jul 26

🌳 MAGICAL MANGROVES 🌊 Let’s take a moment to admire these rare and very special ecosystems.⁠
⁠
Mangroves are made up of unique trees and shrubs that flourish at the border of land and sea – in intertidal zones. These hardy forests handle hot and salty conditions that most other plants wouldn’t dare.⁠
⁠
But that’s just the start of their impressive abilities. These unsung heroes:⁠

🌊 Protect coastal communities from storm surges⁠
🤲 Trap impressive amounts of carbon ⁠
🐠 Provide nursery grounds for precious marine species⁠
🌱 Reduce soil erosion and filter pollutants⁠
⁠
However, mangroves need our protection. So, what can you do to help? ⁠

1. Spread the word of the importance of mangroves. ⁠
2. Support conservation organisations that focus on mangrove protection, research and restoration.⁠
3. Advocate for laws that protect mangroves from destruction (write to lawmakers, sign petitions etc).⁠
⁠
***⁠
📸 Timothy K via Unsplash⁠.

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Jul 23

🌊Wise words indeed from “Her Deepness” Dr Sylvia Earle🪸

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Jul 12

🎉 Gute Nachrichten: Die EU hat heute ein bahnbrechendes Gesetz für den Erhalt der Natur verabschiedet!
Das #NatureRestorationLaw zielt darauf ab, bis 2030 mindestens 20 % der geschädigten Land- und Meeresflächen der EU (und bis 2050 alle Ökosysteme) wiederherzustellen.

🐬 Dieses dringend benötigte Biodiversitätsgesetz bedeutet die Wiederbelebung großer Teile der Natur - einschließlich der Küsten-, Fluss- und Meeresökosysteme. Zu den spezifischen Zielen gehören Seegraswiesen, Sedimentböden und die Lebensräume von "ikonischen Meeresspezies" wie Delfinen, Schweinswalen, Haien und Seevögeln.

Jetzt müssen wir nur noch abwarten, welche Änderungen ausgehandelt werden (hoffentlich noch vor den nächsten EU-Parlamentswahlen). 🤞🏼

***

📸: Eine der letzten natürlich wachsenden Austern (Ostrea edulis) in Britannien, Stephane Pouvreau via Unsplash

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Jul 12

🎉 Good news time: the EU passed a landmark law for nature today!⁠
⁠
The #NatureRestorationLaw aims to restore at least 20% of the EU’s damaged land and sea areas by 2030 (and all ecosystems by 2050). ⁠
⁠
🐬 This much-needed biodiversity bill means revitalising vast swathes of nature – including coastal, river and marine ecosystems. Specific targets include seagrass beds, sediment bottoms and the habitats of ‘iconic marine species’ like dolphins, purposes, sharks and seabirds.⁠
⁠
Now we just have to wait and see what amendments are negotiated (hopefully before the next EU parliamentary elections).🤞🏼⁠

***
📸: Benjamin L Jones via Unsplash

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Jul 3

Wir freuen uns sehr, dass unsere Ausstellung #inyourface seit diesem Wochenende im @frauenmuseum_hittisau zu sehen ist. "BLITZBLANK! Vom Putzen - innen, außen, überall." ist eine Ausstellung über das Putzen als Kulturtechnik und über eine extrasaubere Welt. 🧹🧼🧽🫧

Danke an das Team vom @frauenmuseum_hittisau für das spannende Ausstellungsthema. Wir leben in einer immer sauberen Welt, die mehr und mehr schmutzig und toxisch ist. ❗️Ein Konzept, das unsere verquere Wertewelt aufdeckt und gleichzeitig Aspekte wie Design, Feminismus und soziale Gerechtigkeit anschaut. 👌🏽🌍

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Jun 29

Eine Ode an den Orca

In den letzten Wochen haben Orcas Nachrichten (Gibraltar, Iberische Halbinsel) geschrieben. Warum zerstören sie die Ruder und bringen Boote ins Wanken? Es liegt nahe, dass es eine Reaktion auf das menschliche Verhalten im Ozean, ihrem Zuhause, ist. 🌊

An der Spitze der Nahrungskette haben Orcas keine Fressfeinde, außer den Menschen. Er dringt in ihren Lebensraum zu sehr ein und fischt ihr Futter weg. Dieser Wahnsinn muss gestoppt werden ❗

Dabei könnte der Mensch auch mit Orcas kooperieren. Es gibt Geschichten, in denen Orcas mit Fischern zusammen jagen gehen. Sie tauchen vor allem in indigenen Kulturen auf (Bering-Expedition, Ostrussland; Twofold Bay, Australien).

Das Buch "Orca Chief" von Roy Henry Vickers @royhenryvickersgallerys and Robert Budd @lucky_budd taucht auch im großartigen Film @thewhaleandtheraven_film auf, es beschreibt genau dies. Wir möchten den Autoren hiermit für die bemerkenswerte Geschichte danken und Euch das Buch und den Film wärmstens empfehlen. 💙

 ***
 📖: National Geographic, The Whale and the Raven, Orca Chief 📸: Tim Cole on Unsplash

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Jun 21

🎉 Some good mid-week news! 🙌 Remember back in March when the United Nations informally agreed a legal framework to protect international waters? (After 20 years of discussing it!)

Well, on Monday, the UN formally adopted the treaty. This means we’re one step closer to a serious win for marine conservation. In September, it’ll be opened for signatures and will take effect once it’s ratified (signed) by 60 countries.

☺️ These things take time, but we’re so pleased to see this progress!
 *** 📖: Oceancare.org 📸: Jean Wimmerlin on Unsplash

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Jun 14

😮‍💨Microplastics are abundant in the air we breathe, and new research just published in the journal 'Physics of Fluids' shows that humans inhale about 16.2 pieces of microplastic every. single. hour.

💳 This means, each week, you could be breathing in a credit card’s worth of plastic!

Scientists conducting the study found that microplastics (containing a cocktail of toxic pollutants and chemicals) collect at the back of our throats and in our nasal cavities. More research is now needed to understand the potential health impacts of air-borne microplastics.

🔗 Read more about this study in the link in our bio.

➡️ We’re committed to protecting human and ocean health from microplastics. Are you with us?

***
📸: a-ts/ Alamy Stock Photo
📖: Physics of Fluids/ AIP Publishing

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Jun 8

🗺️ Historically-speaking, humans have named 5 different oceans on our planet: the Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and most recently, the Southern Ocean (only officially recognised in 2019!)

But you may have noticed our name: @Ocean.Now is singular. That’s because for us, there’s only one ocean. The sea itself doesn’t recognise any boundaries.

In nature, there are no clear-cut borders. Everything in our biosphere is connected. But, why is this important?

Humans need to understand that every choice we make impacts our ocean, landscape, weather, the food we eat, the air we breathe…

With a growing understanding of the interconnectedness of things, we can make better choices.

We hold the ocean in our hands – just as it cradles us. Happy #worldoceanday🫸🌊🫷

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Jun 5

How did the UN #PlasticsTreaty #INC2 go?

Well, it's early days – this was only stage 2/5 of the treaty development process. But for us, the key points are:

Positives:
✅ 175 countries agreed on working on a treaty that is legally binding
✅ A zero draft document will be formulated by the Chair for INC-3 (Nairobi, Nov 2023)
✅ The majority of countries pledges for rules of procedure that allow a democratic voting approach

Negatives:
⛔️ Key oil- and some chemical-producing countries are expected to continue filibustering the negotiations (as in the first two days in Paris)
⛔️ The question of how much plastic production can be reduced (a fundamental one) still seems far away
⛔️ The rules of procedure are not finalised yet (offering a loophole for oil producing countries to veto a progressive treaty)

There's still a lot of heavy work to do (and it will be tough), but this process is hugely important. We'll keep pushing for systematic change towards plastic!

On this note, we want to send a huge thank you to the fantastic teams of @breakfreefromplastic and @ciel_org (who organised the coalition) and the amazing NGO partners we met. We are very grateful for this partnership. 🙏🏽

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Jun 1

🐠It’s #WorldReefDay today & what better way to spend it than fighting for the future of these amazing (and incredibly important) ecosystems.

We’re here at #INC2 to lend the ocean our human voices. Reefs are already suffering from climate change & overfishing. But they also have microplastics to deal with too.

Microplastics:
🪸Physically damage coral tissue
🪸Reduce growth and reproduction
🪸Act as a carrier for toxic chemicals and pathogens

🐟 Join us in calling for big action on microplastics!

***
📸: Francesco Ungaro via Unsplash
📖: Journal of Hazardous Materials, (Vol 454)

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May 31

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May 29

💪We’re here at the #INC2 UN #PlasticsTreaty in Paris.🇫🇷

Over the next 2 weeks, country representatives and organisations will gather to shape a legally-binding (!) global plastics treaty.

This morning we displayed our #inyourface portraits in front of the UNESCO building.

🌍 These images reflect how humans affect this planet. They also represent why we do what we do – we’re saying NO to the plastic disaster we’re living in. This madness needs to stop NOW.

Afterwards, we gathered with @plasticsrebellion and @noplasticinmysea to send a strong message to the world.

We’re fighting for a progressive #INC2 UN #PlasticsTreaty that supports systematic change. Stop the plastic wave! Join us in calling for a global treaty without loopholes for polluters 🤝

***
🖼️#inyourface portraits by @saskia_uppenkamp_photographer and @tomasob based on the artwork “Microplastics II” by @swaantje_guentzel

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