Recently, Blancpain and DOALOS (Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea) joined hands again to host the fourth annual World Oceans Day at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. reception. The reception was held on the evening of June 8, 2017 in the Sputnik Lobby (United Nations Headquarters Building).
His Excellency Peter Thomson, Alexandra Richards, Sir Richard Branson
June 8 is World Oceans Day. It was first presented at the United Nations Earth Summit in 1992 and became an annual informal celebration until the United Nations officially established it as an official commemorative day in 2008. On this day of the year, the whole world pays attention to the ocean, recognizes the importance of the ocean in people’s lives, and explores how to protect this boundless blue. As part of the celebration, the Office of Legal Affairs and the Office of Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea host a reception on this day each year at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The theme of this year’s World Oceans Day is ‘Our Ocean, Our Future’, echoing the theme of the high-level meeting of the United Nations Ocean Congress held on June 5-9. More than 300 guests attended the reception, including heads of state, ministers, ambassadors and the Crown Prince of Sweden.
Special guest Sir Richard Branson
During the meeting, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Legal and Legal Counsel, HE Mr. Peter Thomson, President of the United Nations General Assembly, and US Natural Resources Ms. Lisa Speer, the Global Oceans Defense Leader of the Natural Resources Defense Council, made a speech. The U.S. Natural Resources Commissioner and the High Seas Alliance funded the annual celebration of World Oceans Day.
David Gely, Blancpain’s Vice President of Brands in the United States, also discussed the indissoluble bond between the brand and the ocean, and the perfect fit between the brand value and the marine protection business. The glorious achievements of the Mind of the Ocean ‘charity project rely on the three basic elements rooted in the Blancpain brand genes: optimism, long-term vision and unremitting innovation.
His Excellency Peter Thomson, Alexandra Richards, Sir Richard Branson
Since 2014, Blancpain has made a lot of efforts in the field of marine protection under the name “Heart is the Ocean”. So far, the brand has co-funded ten scientific expeditions. With the support of Blancpain, the total area of global marine protected areas has doubled. In addition, the brand also released multiple award-winning documentaries, held multiple exhibitions, and published a number of marine protection related publications.
The photo exhibition ‘Save the Azure: Marine Ecosystem’ at the 2017 World Ocean Congress sponsored by Blancpain will also kick off at UN Headquarters on June 30, 2017. The exhibited works capture rare images of marine life that are not seen, and call on people to think and pay attention to the sensitive relationship between human activities, biodiversity and the ocean. This will enhance the public’s comprehensive understanding of the sustainable development of marine protection during the Ocean Conference and World Ocean Day.
Drum Band ‘Republic of Fiji’
Special guest Sir Richard Branson and project ambassador, Georgia May Jagger, daughter of famous rock musician Mick Jagger, At the meeting, the Secretary-General was presented with a mini-interpretation of the wave sculptures created by Branson for the La Mer Wave Walk charity art event. ‘Take a Romantic Step’ contains fifty wave sculptures from the hands of the world’s most influential artists and cultural creators. These works were toured and displayed at major venues in New York within months of World Ocean Day.
In addition, the UN Orchestra, drum band ‘Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ and New York native band ‘Vassals’ joined hands to perform, bringing exciting live music performances to the celebration.
Save the Azure: Marine Ecosystem at the World Ocean Congress Photo Exhibition 2017, sponsored by Blancpain
On the night of World Ocean Day, the Empire State Building followed the tradition of lighting white, blue and purple viewing lights, representing different depths of sea water. Blancpain is proud to participate in the annual World Ocean Day celebration, and is honored to have the opportunity to continue to promote the cooperative relationship between the brand and the United Nations, and contribute to the important cause of actively promoting marine awareness.
Blancpain has been active in the marine field since the brand officially put into production the first modern diver’s watch in 1953. In order to carry forward this brand heritage, Blancpain has been committed to the marine preservation and protection cause. By supporting major scientific research projects, marine exploration activities, underwater photography, environmental forums, public exhibitions, mainstream publications and a dedicated website, we strive to improve the public’s Awareness, and the brand’s efforts in all these areas are collectively attributed to Blancpain’s ‘heart-to-ocean’ charity.