Despite being our ever-present neighbor, the ocean remains unknown and neglected by us. A few months ago, I assisted a kindergarten class; the children were learning about their neighborhood. “What is your address?” the teacher asked. “What is the name of your street? What are the closest buildings around you?” In this example, children were taught not the geography of Spain or Alaska, but of their homes’ nearest surroundings. The same would apply to scientists, yes? No.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, the deepest part of the ocean is named the Challenger Deep, which is about 36,200 feet deep, and was first sounded in 1875 (“How deep is the ocean?”). However, the region was not explored until 1960 (“Ocean Exploration: Timeline”). Only three years earlier, in 195,7 did the Soviet Union launch Sputnik into space, and nine years after the Challenger Deep was explored, on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. (“Space Exploration.”) In comparison to the 36,200 feet deep ocean, the moon at its closest to Earth is 225,623 miles, or 1,191,289,440 feet away (Erickson).

Who has their priorities straight? Kindergarteners, who learn first to chart what is closer to them than what is not, or scientists, who strive to explore the moon that is about 32,909 times farther away than the deepest part of that pool we call the ocean.

While we study the cosmos, the unknown fathoms of the deep blue are ignored --along with its treasures. As stated by U.S. News & World Report, “Despite an increasing rate of species discovery, as much as 95 percent of the world's oceans remain unexplored” and “up to two thirds of the plant and animal species in the world's oceans may be undiscovered, according to the largest study of the oceans' biodiversity ever conducted.” (Koebler.)

The one third of ocean species that we have been fortunate enough to stumble across have improved our daily lives. Just one example is the sea sponge, which produces chemicals that are used in medicines for viruses and cancers (“From Sea Sponge to HIV Medicine”). Along with the sea sponge, the coral reefs are also a vital resource, as “According to a United Nations estimate, the total economic value of coral reefs range from US$ 100,000 to 600,000 per square kilometre per year” and “support an estimated 25 percent of all marine life, with over 4,000 species of fish alone.” (“Benefits of Coral Reefs.”) These are only two types of marine organisms that benefit our lives. Imagine how else our lives would improve if we were to discover all of the ocean’s treasures.

However, like a bomb that kills indiscriminately, we are blindly decimating our cures before they can even be found. The same coral reefs that provide fish with shelter and us with beauty, medicine, and money are experiencing genocide due to destructive fishing, overfishing, pollution and a rise of CO2. according to “Losing Our Coral Reefs.” How fortunate that global warming is just a myth. The same article stated, “Ten percent of coral reefs have already been damaged beyond repair, and if we continue with business as usual, WRI projects that 90% of coral reefs will be in danger by 2030, and all of them by 2050.” (Cho.)

Do not feel sorry for the coral reefs; at least they will not die alone. According to “What is Ocean Pollution,” “Over one million seabirds are killed by ocean pollution each year. Three hundred thousand dolphins and porpoises die each year as a result of becoming entangled in discarded fishing nets, among other items. One hundred thousand sea mammals are killed in the ocean by pollution each year.” (Rinkesh.)

Let us staunch our pity for the lives we are destroying and focus more on us, as humans are so prone to do. We say that a man’s best friend is a messy creature, and yet despite its obtrusive licking habits, a dog’s manners are superior to ours, for a dog does not soil where it eats. We do. Millions of tons of waste are poured into the ocean through run off, ocean dumping, and the simple offense of littering. Except the offense is not so simple. “Eventually, water evaporates from the ocean, leaves the salt behind, and becomes rainfall over land.” ("Ocean Pollution II," MarineBio.org.) So when we dump sewage, industrial and radioactive waste into the ocean, the pollution eventually returns to us through acid rain, which soaks into our soil, where we grow our food.

While on the topic of dinner, crops and fish are not the only food sources that are contaminated by our waste. According to The Nature Conservancy, “Thirty-six percent of the world’s total fisheries catch each year is ground up into fishmeal and oil to feed farmed fish, chickens and pigs.” (“Discover how we are all connected to oceans.”)

How karmic and -- dare I say -- poetic.

The saying goes, “Do not bite the hand that feeds you.” To turn a phrase, one should also refrain from obliterating and dumping human waste on the hand that feeds, cures, and happens to make up two thirds of our world. However, we humans are quite the contrary bunch. Instead of educating ourselves of the ocean shared by every soul on this planet, we first fly out into space where we have yet to find life, never mind a practical source of supplies we can actually use.

Instead of cleaning one of our primary sources of food and money, shared by all cultures, we contaminate it with pollutions ranging from a plastic cup thrown on the ground instead of in the trashcan a foot away to radioactive waste. Instead of protecting the coral reefs, sea sponges, and countless other species both discovered and undiscovered that hold the cure to our greatest medical crises, we tear them to the ground.

My lesson for today, my dear children: the ocean is a gift; let us not spit on it anymore than we have already. In Suzanne Collins' "Mockingjay," Plutarch said, “We’re fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self destruction.” For once let us turn our contrary natures to use and prove him wrong.

Works cited:
“Benefits of Coral Reefs.” Benefits of Coral Reefs | International Coral Reef Initiative. International Coral Reef Initiative. n.d. Web. 18 February 2016. <http://www.icriforum.org/about-coral-reefs/benefits-coral-reefs>.

Cho, Renee. “Losing Our Coral Reefs.” Losing Our Coral Reefs. Earth Institute Columbia University. 13 June 2011. Web. 18 February 2016. <http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/06/13/losing-our-coral-reefs/>.

“Discover how we are all connected to oceans.” Five Reasons We are All Connected to Oceans | The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy. n.d. Web. 18 February 2016. <http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/habitats/oceanscoasts/explore/five-reasons-we-are-all-connected-to-oceans.xml>.

Erickson, Kristen. “How far away is the moon?” How far away is the moon? :: NASA Space Place. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Web. 18 February 2016. <http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/moon-distance/en/>.

“From Sea Sponge to HIV Medicine.” From Sea Sponge to HIV Medicine | Smithsonian Ocean Portal. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. n.d. Web. 18 February 2016. <http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-photos/sea-sponge-hiv-medicine>.

“How deep is the ocean?” National Ocean Service. National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration. n.d. Web. 18 February 2016. .

Koebler, Jason. “Two Thirds of Ocean Life Remains Undiscovered.” Two Thirds of Ocean Life Remains Undiscovered - US News. U.S. News & World Report. 15 November 2012. Web. 18 February 2016. <http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/11/15/two-thirds-of-ocean-life-remains-undiscovered->.

“Ocean Exploration: Timeline.” Ocean Exploration: Timeline - National Geographic Education. National Geographic. n.d. Web. 18 February 2016.

<http://education.nationalgeographic.org/media/ocean-exploration-timeline/>.

"Ocean Pollution II - MarineBio.org". MarineBio. Marine Bio Conservation Society. n.d. Web. Accessed 14:36 PM 2/18/2016. .

Rinkesh. “What is Ocean Pollution?” 20 Facts about Ocean Pollution – Conserve Energy Future. Conserve Energy Future. n.d. Web. 18 February 2016. <http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-ocean-pollution-facts.php>.

“Space Exploration.” Space Exploration, Space Exploration Information, Facts, News, Photos -- National Geographic. National Geographic. n.d. Web. 18 February 2016.

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/space-exploration/.