Saving Mother Ocean (Earth Spirit)

In the latest of the Earth Spirit series is Saving Mother Ocean. While the book is on the shorter side, it is perfect for those of us who feel called to save and protect the Earth and her natural resources. The focus for this edition is the Ocean and what we can do as stewards of the sea. The book chapters include: Mother Earth Mother Ocean and Neptune, Ocean Aid, Down the River into the Sea, Threats to the Oceans, Ocean Meadows and Forests in the Sea, Action We Can Take, Let the Children Lead Us, and Organizations Helping to Save the Oceans.

More than ever, this book is important as the oceans and seas need our help. Plastic pollution is the largest threat to marine life as well as humans, over-fishing is depleting resources, and global warming is forever changing undersea landscapes. While the situation can feel overwhelming, this book helps those who are environmentalists and want to do our part to help fix the destruction by showing ways we can help. Working together we can all chip in to help save Mother Ocean.

With 70% of the world covered in water, we have a duty to protect the seas for generations to come. The author Steve Andrews begins with background and information on the oceans and the impacts we have on the world and its survival. He tells of the histories and myths from various beliefs and societies and how they view the seas. There is a great spiritual and physical connection between humans and the oceans. For the reader who picks up this book, chances are high they also feel called in how to help with conservation efforts whether you live near a coast or inland. The author has great tips on what you can do to help.

First though, the author provides some examples of the issues at hand. Readers may not be aware of things such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that consists of floating plastics equal to the size of Texas. (In fact there are several of these large floating garbage piles in the ocean). This was one of the eye openers for the author on beginning the journey on how to help do better to protect the seas.

One of the themes that I took away from the book was to think outside the box on ways to help. As someone who does not live near a coast and cannot participate in beach cleanups, there are many ways we can try to help. With the internet at the fingertips, we can raise awareness, support organizations taking actions, donate funds, and be more mindful about our own plastics and garbage by considering where they go. Just because someone doesn’t live along a coast, doesn’t mean their actions won’t affect the oceans. Rubbish that gets into rivers or other waterways can be carried into the oceans. Birds and other wildlife can become entangled or swallow items tossed aside.

The author also goes into explaining it is just more than trash and plastics we as humans have to be careful with. Pesticides, chemicals, raw sewage and other contaminants can also affect our planet. For myself, I never really thought about the damage that cruise ships can cause. The bulk of the book is helping the readers realize some of the various impacts that these things have on our planet and the oceans. Once we become aware of these (especially if they are out of sight and out of mind) we can all work together on helping with conversation efforts.

The point of the book is not to cause fear or make us feel powerless but rather open the eyes so we can take steps towards positive actions to save our oceans. The chapter on Actions we can take is filled with ideas that the reader can do to make an impact collectively. Readers are encouraged to check out the organizations listed at the back of the book for further help as well as the suggested further reading.

I recommend this book for anyone who is looking to become more educated on the issues that potentially cause harm to our oceans and what they can do to help the planet.

~review by Amber Barnes

Author: Steve Andrews
Moon Books, 2021
pp. 88, $10.95