by Channel 2 News staff
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Tuesday marks World Oceans Day and the 50th day of oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico.
A group of Alaskans met at Lynn Ary Park Tuesday and walked on the Coastal Trail to the water to hold a vigil.
According to the group, they released flowers into Cook Inlet's waters as a symbol of purifying the water, a connecting of the oceans, the beauty of a world on clean energy and a commitment to preventing tragedies like the Gulf Oil Spill.
"Our hearts go out to the people of the Gulf. As Alaskans, we're with you and we hope that the fisheries will recover," said attendee Michelle Wilson Nordhoff.
World Oceans Day is now officially recognized by the U.N. as June 8th each year.
The concept for a "world ocean day" was first proposed in 1992 by the government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
