Flowers, chocolate, and kisses are all words that come to mind when someone mentions Valentine’s day. Now, I have a lot of beef with this Hallmark Holiday, including seeing the millions of couples planning something special for their significant other and just the idea that there’s only one day when we are supposed to be affectionate… Why can’t we love all the time? And how do we make this a day not totally full of dread for the single individuals on February 14th? I may not be able to find you a date this year, but I can help you change the narrative. So let’s dive in! (see what I did there;))
Usually, everywhere you turn, you run into a couple on Valentine’s day; sometimes it’s an older couple that is celebrating 30 years of marriage, and other times it’s a young couple’s first time saying, ‘I love you.’ Whatever the circumstance, love’s everywhere! All you have to do is walk outside and look for it. Now being single or without close family members, deep down you may feel a void, but it’s nowhere near as big of a void as humpback whales have faced. You may have just laughed, and I get it; it seems silly but think about it. The majority of humpback whales travel alone or in very small groups called pods usually consisting of two or three whales. And most times when you hear the haunting songs of humpbacks, they are trying to attract a mate. In 1988, humpback whales were considered endangered due to being caught in large fish nets and vessel strikes. Today the humpback whale family has recovered by 30-35 percent.
At this point, you may be wondering why I’m writing this if the species is no longer considered endangered. I believe it’s important to spread awareness so that we don’t have a species made of beautiful creatures endangered again. I think there is value in spreading loving even when it seems like enough people are doing that already.
What are some practical ways of spreading awareness? While not everyone is fortunate enough to adopt a whale, there are certainly ways you can make a difference in these creatures' lives.
CUT BACK ON LITTERING
As of right now, there are about 5.25 trillion pieces of trash in the ocean that contribute to sea creature endangerment. The Costal Degree Monitoring Program helps to eliminate a good amount of waste throughout the ocean but it’s important for individuals to hold themselves and others accountable.
DONATE TO CHARITIES
There are countless charities that support wildlife conservation including spreading awareness for Humpback whales. There are a variety of different organizations including the following:
1. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Dominican Republic
2. The Whaleman Foundation
3. Allied Whale
4. BlueVoice.org
5. Center for the Conservation of Samaná Bay and its Surroundings (CEBSE)
6. Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
7. Whales Bermuda
8. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), USA
ADOPT A WHALE
If you feel led to support the humpback whales there are organizations that take donations and help humpback whales while you get updated on how your buddy is doing. By participating in this way of spreading awareness, you can help shine a light on animals that all too often go unnoticed.
In the end, it’s important to remember that you are making a difference just by speaking out about topics that need awareness!
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