Bringing the Ocean to Folkemødet: “We need to anchor ocean literacy in civil society.”
by Ulrika LARSSON
OP's Director of Operations
OP's Director of Operations
This was the key message from Öresund Patrol’s Ocean Literacy Program Director and underwater photographer Helene-Julie Zofia Paamand at this summer’s Folkemødet on Bornholm.
The ocean and its hopefully healthier future have finally made their way onto the political agenda, and marine issues are increasingly part of public debate. But Helene believes we need to go further — making knowledge about the ocean part of everyday life and society.
The ocean and its hopefully healthier future have finally made their way onto the political agenda, and marine issues are increasingly part of public debate. But Helene believes we need to go further — making knowledge about the ocean part of everyday life and society.
Denmark is far more sea than land, and the ocean has played a fundamental role in building the prosperity we enjoy today. It helps sustain us and is one of our most important allies as climate change puts increasing pressure on our societies.
Whether that translates into a personal relationship with the sea itself is a different question. Knowing is not the same as caring, and knowing and caring without acting is a closed loop. What sits between them is connection: understanding complexity, immersion, daring to engage. That is a description of storytelling.
We need to understand the ocean, work with it and make its value part of everyday decisions — from what we buy and put in our lunchboxes to what we dream of for the future. At Folkemødet, Helene brought a little piece of the underwater world with her. She shared underwater footage from around the Ertholmene, including the sounds of seals.
Whether that translates into a personal relationship with the sea itself is a different question. Knowing is not the same as caring, and knowing and caring without acting is a closed loop. What sits between them is connection: understanding complexity, immersion, daring to engage. That is a description of storytelling.
We need to understand the ocean, work with it and make its value part of everyday decisions — from what we buy and put in our lunchboxes to what we dream of for the future. At Folkemødet, Helene brought a little piece of the underwater world with her. She shared underwater footage from around the Ertholmene, including the sounds of seals.
The ocean has a voice, and we all have a role in listening.
Through Helene's experiences from beneath the surface, she contributed a different perspective to the debates hosted by WWF Denmark, Tænketanken HAV and Sea Shepherd Denmark. She presented the work of Öresund Patrol and also shared what the ocean has taught her.
For us, this is exactly what ocean literacy is about: making the invisible visible, creating connection, and giving more people the knowledge and inspiration to care for the sea.
Because the future of our ocean cannot be shaped by policymakers alone.
It belongs to all of us.
For us, this is exactly what ocean literacy is about: making the invisible visible, creating connection, and giving more people the knowledge and inspiration to care for the sea.
Because the future of our ocean cannot be shaped by policymakers alone.
It belongs to all of us.
A special thank you to WWF Denmark, Tænketanken Hav and Sea Shepherd Denmark for bringing Helene’s perspective from beneath the surface into their debates and conversations at Folkemødet and to all her fellow panellists and speakers for the inspiring exchanges.
And thank you to everyone who stopped by, listened, asked questions and, more or less willingly, experienced the underwater footage from Ertholmene.
The seals didn’t make it to Folkemødet themselves, but their voices did.
And thank you to everyone who stopped by, listened, asked questions and, more or less willingly, experienced the underwater footage from Ertholmene.
The seals didn’t make it to Folkemødet themselves, but their voices did.