YatharthLongterm Goals
Sir Richard Branson and Ocean Unite strive to establish at least 30 percent of the world’s oceans as a protected area that must entail legal consequences against those who damage them. They aim to reach their goal by the year 2030 and for that to happen, Sir Richard plans to take immediate actions by directly addressing the issue. Even when Richard was absolutely unaware of the wreck that lied at the surface of the Blue Hole, he had set a meeting with the Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow and his wife to raise a similar concern. The business tycoon managed to convince him to reserve 10 percent of Belize’s territorial water bodies under protection. A proposal to ban grill nets was also in talks due to the damage they can cause to the marine ecosystem.
Hope For The Future
The conditions at the bottom of the Blue Hole were far away from good and the research team was well aware of the seriousness of the situation. They had to take matters into their own hands before the condition worsens as the human-generated waste products could endanger the ecosystem around the reef. The changes were coming along faster than anyone had imagined. Sir Richard’s proposal was well received and supported by the Prime Minister of Belize. It was rumored that he would make an announcement before the New Year. As it transpired, the PM’s wife is also a self-proclaimed environmentalist and Branson himself took a daring step which set an example.
Implementing Change
Sir Richard Branson was deeply influenced by the gruesome visuals he witnessed at the bottom of the Blue Hole. He decided to take immediate actions and he began by bringing a change in his own enterprises. Branson’s “Virgin Airlines” had pledged to stop using any sort of single-use plastic and its related goods on their flights. Branson stated, “I’m looking with grave concern toward the future, noting that my grandchildren will be in their thirties in 2050, and I can’t bear imagining them in a future without coral and other wonders the ocean contains.” Moreover, Belize too has pledged to cease single-use plastic beginning from 2019. But Branson was not going to limit himself to just Belize as he was willing to do all in his power to save the environment.
Earth On His Mind
Sir Richard Branson was only getting started as he later volunteered himself and his services to numerous charities and NGOs which were already working to ensure the sustainability of the environment. Furthermore, he initiated another campaign to reserve an entire island in the Caribbean region to help sustain and boost the population of endangered Madagascar’s ring-tailed lemur. While Branson had certainly set an example by developing his organization to be more eco-friendly, for instance, the annual Special Award for Environment hosted by his organization. He’s also a key member in the OceanElders organization, a group of public figures devoted to raising awareness in context to the subject. Some other famous personalities associated with this organization are the like of Neil Young, Jackson Browne and even Fabien Cousteau’s own father Jean-Michel. But what have these big names done to address the problem that exists in the Blue Hole?
Plastic Problems
The amount of non-degradable waste we humans have created over the decades is one of the primary threats that the planet and its environment face. A few public figures have pledged to come forward and join this fight including the most beloved A-list Hollywood actor. Immediately following the massive success of his Hollywood blockbuster Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio started the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation with the specific goal of strengthening and helping organizations those devoted to the environment and its protection. One of the primary and most active branches of his own foundation is the Plastic Solutions Fund, that focuses on eliminating non-essential use of plastic by 2035. Hopefully there will be enough influential people to see if the Blue Hole in Belize is taken care of, however, in Egypt, a different Blue Hole faces a more catastrophic situation.
Tropical And Dazzling
One of the most saline water bodies in the world, the Red Sea is a water inlet that lies between Asia and Africa. It is famous for its diverse reefs, specifically near the Sinai Peninsula making this place a must-visit or say a hub for diving enthusiasts. The Sinai Peninsula which is just north of Dahab, Egypt, has a Blue Hole of its own. Although it is a bit smaller than the one in Belize, its supernatural reputation makes it famous.