Global warming, climate refugees, plastic pollution in the oceans, rising sea levels and water temperatures – these are all subjects of daily concern that prompt us to act to save our oceans. Mercator Ocean International has always invested in scientific and citizen initiatives, so it is no surprise that we are supporting the #VFTO campaign launched by Surfrider Foundation Europe.

What is the “Voice for the Ocean” (VFTO) campaign?

 Surfrider Foundation Europe: Next year, 2019, will be crucial for the future of the oceans. We must act quickly if we want to save our ecosystem and our planet. This is why it is vital that everyone should be mobilised and fully aware of the issues.

In the run-up to the European elections in May 2019, Surfrider Foundation Europe encourages civil society as a whole to “make your voice heard” for the protection of the oceans through an online consultation: VOICE FOR THE OCEAN.(VFTO)

This awareness campaign VFTO is being run in two phases:

• Until the end of 2018, Surfrider Foundation Europe is calling on European citizens and civil society actors concerned by the protection of the oceans to participate in a broad online consultation on ocean-related issues. In parallel with this consultation, Surfrider Foundation Europe is also organising a tour of five European countries (starting with Spain and Belgium during October and Portugal in November), in cooperation with various local institutional actors.
• From January 2019, Surfrider Foundation Europe undertakes to publish the results of its survey and inform the candidates in the European elections of the different priorities expressed by citizens.

At the end of this consultation, Surfrider will speak on behalf of the citizens of Europe to the candidates in the European elections to inform the latter of the “priorities” expressed during the consultation and ensure that they include them in their campaign programmes.

How can citizens “make their voices heard” as part of VFTO in practical terms?

Surfrider Foundation Europe: The online consultation addresses four key issues critical to the oceans and of concern to all citizens:

• Ocean pollution
• Resource exploitation and energy transition
• The ocean and you
• Sustainable tourism

VFTO also has an educational mission: before answering the questions related to these four issues, each citizen can consult objective information (text and video) that will help them measure the scale of the issues.

Click on this button to find out more and express your views accordingly:

We are counting on you to spread the news of this citizen consultation to your acquaintances and social networks!
#VFTO
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VFTO_EU
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/surfridereurope
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surfridereurope/