?The very survival of the human species depends upon the maintenance of an ocean clean and alive, spreading around the world. The ocean is our planet?s life belt.? Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Our 21st century reflects new and challenging dilemmas. Today, water pollution is an urgent matter and the authorities are faced with the necessity of fast decision-taking in view of resolving our most common problems. Much has been stated, written and done but yet we must not stop.

Whether we accept it or not, our oceans are slowly dying, out of helplessness. History is paved with various examples of Man?s insanity. Remember the death of the Baltic Sea? The dumping of more than thirty thousand bombs and containers filled with mustard gas together with seven thousand tons of arsenic is just another chilling event of our past. Are we heading for another Minimata tragedy? Those who recall this 1970s particularly gruesome event can witness about this small Japanese village whose inhabitants were killed as a result of industrial pollution. Mercury poisoning was found to be the main cause of these people?s intense suffering and slow deaths.

Briefly speaking, water pollution is equivalent to agricultural, industrial, everyday sewage, medical waste and radioactive waste. Dumping of toxic waste also affects rivers, lakes and causes irreversible harm to marine fauna and flora. Moreover, garbage from cruise liners, fishing fleets and oil tankers is mercilessly killing the ocean ecosystem.

One cannot forget the dramatic impact of oil spills that have killed millions of aquatic creatures. Yet, the award for the most deadly killer goes to plastic. It is chilling to see how such a common element of our daily life plays a fatal role in the degradation... and death of our oceans.

The 2002 Earth Charter claims that our global situation is one where ?the dominant production patterns are causing devastation, the depletion of resources and a massive extinction of species.? Today, we talk of sustainable management of the oceans and coasts, of marine parks, of protection from anchor damage and zoning of lagoons. The various world conferences have highlighted the specific measures that should be adopted in our desperate attempt to save our oceans. The Climate Change Conference in Rio in 1992, The SIDS Conference in Barbados in 1994, The Kyoto Protocol in 2001, The World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 basically reflect the global movement that has also been echoed in Mauritius through several radical measures of the ministry of Environment.

The ?Operations Plages Propres? campaigns have been launched to sensitise the Mauritian citizen. It is fundamental that every individual understands the vital importance of preserving our ecosystem. The coral reefs monitoring programme, the banning of lagoon sandmining, together with lagoon monitoring portray the Ministry?s intent in this battle for survival.

Our children need guidance in developing their mental, intellectual and emotional skills in this new era. It is quite trendy to use various e-friendly terms, but we must go beyond. Our world, our nature, our oceans require our help and care. There is the necessity to save our planet for ?all life on earth depends on our oceans...? Do we have the choice?

<B>Pamela ARASEN-LILETTE</B>