SECRETARY-GENERAL, STRESSING COMMITMENT TO PROTECT OCEANS, SAYS MISSION OF PREVENTING DAMAGE 'TO OUR ONE AND ONLY EARTH' MUST BE PRIORITY

11 August 1998

Press Release
SG/SM/6671

SECRETARY-GENERAL, STRESSING COMMITMENT TO PROTECT OCEANS, SAYS MISSION OF PREVENTING DAMAGE 'TO OUR ONE AND ONLY EARTH' MUST BE PRIORITY

19980811 In Statement in Lisbon to Independent Commission on Oceans, Kofi Annan Praises Portugal's Efforts to Highlight Issue of Oceans Worldwide

Following is the text of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's statement to the Independent Commission on the Oceans, in Lisbon, today:

Let me at the outset express my sincere gratitude to Mario Soares for his leadership of this Commission, and to the nation of Portugal for staging, through Expo, such truly splendid efforts to highlight the issue of oceans worldwide. These efforts speak to all of us: they are an appeal to each and every one of us to protect and focus our attention on one of our planet's most valuable resources.

I am especially appreciative of your work because the United Nations General Assembly has declared this year a year to "Save Our Seas". Forgive me for dwelling on some figures for a moment -- but they are figures worth dwelling on:

-- Oceans comprise more than 70 per cent of the Earth's surface.

-- Nearly two-thirds of humanity -- some 3.5 billion people -- inhabit coastal areas and depend on coastal and marine environments for their livelihood.

-- Twenty years from now, this population is expected to have reached seven billion.

For far too long, we have regarded the oceans' resources as inexhaustible. We have viewed the oceans as a bottomless receptacle for unlimited waste.

With changing land patterns due to the pressures of an ever-increasing population, with the development of industries, with the massive use of agro-chemicals, the oceans have reached the limits of their capacity to assimilate the waste generated by human activities.

Our self-centred approach has damaged human health, ecosystems and economic productivity. Any approach to meaningful and effective protection of the marine environment must factor in the full complexity of modern life -- from politics to technology, from science to the law.

That is why, Mr. Soares, we are so fortunate that you and your colleagues in the Commission have brought your international experience and expertise to look at the multifaceted nature of the issues.

The peaceful uses of the oceans; the implementation of the law of the sea; the economic side of ocean management; science and technology; social and economic development; on all these questions, you have stimulated an awareness among politicians and civil society alike.

Allow me to recall the words of Queen Elizabeth I, who more than 400 years ago wrote to the Spanish Ambassador to England: "The use of the sea and air is common to all; neither can a title to the ocean belong to any people or private persons, for as much as neither nature nor public use and custom permit any possession thereof."

In other words, the ocean belongs to us all.

So -- whether we live near the ocean or not -- let us demonstrate our commitment to protecting it. Let us prevent any further damage to our one and only Earth. Let us inspire people to make this mission a priority in their daily lives. Let us recognize that our lives depend upon it. Thank you all.

* *** *