Chicagoland "March for the Ocean" Events

During the weekend following World Oceans Day on June 8th over 140 organizations, including local Illinois Ocean Coalition (a chapter of the Inland Ocean Coalition), are converging to “March for the Ocean” to call to action the importance of clean water in our rivers, lakes, and oceans. This vast coming together of grassroots and national organizations (e.g., Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Future’s Society, Mission Blue, Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation and World Wildlife Fund) is taking place to demonstrate to government and polluting industries that we stand united to protect the waters that support life as well as our livelihoods.

A healthy ocean means a healthy society – physically and economically. Tiny microscopic plants – phytoplankton – that float on the surface of the sea that are responsible for 50% to 70% of the oxygen for the atmosphere. That’s more than all the rainforest combined. According to the National Ocean Economics Program database the value of ocean-related industries in Lake and Cook County from 2011-2015 is approximately $6.4 billion dollars each year. Also, ocean-related industries account for over 85,000 jobs each year during the same time period according to the National Ocean Economics Program database. These industries include construction, living resources (e.g., seafood processing, hatcheries, aquaculture), minerals, ship & boat building, tourism & recreation, and transportation.

You can support the ocean by participating in events held throughout Chicagoland from June 8th-12th. As Vicki Nichols Goldstein, founder and Executive Director of Inland Ocean Coalition, states, “You don’t have to see the ocean to want to protect it.”

• Friday, June 8th (9 am - noon): Children’s “Shells and Sharks” Program and children’s sign making party; Wonder Works Children’s Museum, 6445 West North Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
• Friday, June 8th (5 pm - 8 pm): Sign making party (continued); Location TBD
• Saturday, June 9th (8 am - 11 am): Beach clean-up; meet up at 10:30 am with signs at the E. 98th Street beach for final beach sweep and march for support; Calumet Park, 9801 S. Avenue G Chicago, IL 60617; Register here: http://www.greatlakesadopt.org/Secure/Event/13796
• Saturday, June 9th (1:30 pm – 3 pm): STRAWS the Film (free screening); Guest speakers and raffle; Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave. Skokie IL; this event is hosted by Sydney Bitar, Teen Miss Great Lakes
• Sunday, June 10th (8 am - 11 am): Beach clean-up; meet up at 10:30 am with signs at the lighthouse at Loyola Beach for final beach sweep and march for support; Loyola Beach, 1230 W. Greenleaf Ave. (Greenleaf Ave. @ Lake Michigan), Chicago, IL 60626; Register here: http://www.greatlakesadopt.org/Secure/Event/13532
• Tuesday, June 12th (7 pm - 8:30 pm): “Blue Drinks” gathering featuring Madeline Caldwell, Sustainability Coordinator with Shedd Aquarium (speaking on sustainable seafood and plastic pollution); Buzz Café, 905 S. Lombard Ave, Oak Park

Please contact Ann McElhatton, Co-lead with the Illinois Ocean Coalition, at ann@beachchairscientist.com for more information about the events listed above or to learn more about the Illinois Ocean Coalition. The Illinois Ocean Coalition is a chapter of the Inland Ocean Coalition a network of chapters dedicated to engaging inland communities in land-to-sea stewardship. Please visit www.inlandoceancoalition.org for more information. For more information about the national March for the Ocean event please visit https://marchfortheocean.org/.