Haveriet - a call to action for our seas

Haveriet is Sigma and Danir’s next initiative for a better tomorrow. They plan to use Haveriet to inform people about life below the surface, explain just how important the oceans are to us humans and spread knowledge about the acute critical conditions existing along our Swedish coast.

The coastline of Sweden stretches 2400 kilometres, from Strömstad to Haparanda, and is one of Europe’s longest. Add to that the many lakes, rivers, streams, and other waterways and it is easy to see why Sweden is a country with a strong connection to water. Many of us enjoy spending time in, on or by the water.

But the importance of the oceans is much greater than just being a source of enjoyment; they are vital. In addition to stabilising the climate by absorbing one third of all carbon dioxide emissions, all the oceans together produce more oxygen than all the Earth’s rainforests and produce half of all the oxygen in the air we breathe.

Haveriet aims to inform people about life below the surface and how much it affects us above the surface. With the help of the staff at the Marine Education Center and their fascinating marine pedagogy, this initiative will help to increase the ocean literacy of children and young people throughout the country. In addition it will show adults what they need and can do to restore our oceans and waterways.

In addition to highlighting the acute situation along the Swedish coast, Haveriet is also going to help the Marine Education Centre to introduce more Young Sea Ambassadors in locations along the Swedish coast.

The goal is to have Young Sea Ambassadors in at least 12 places. Haveriet is also a pledgedrive in which both the public and companies can contribute with money. The money raised will be used to start up a new national foundation, headed by the Marine Education Center, which will focus on projects improving our marine environment.

– We Swedes love to be around water and are fascinated by all that hides below the surface. At the same time, we are surprisingly unaware of what things really look like down there, says Johan Glennmo, CEO Danir.

– A restoration of the sea begins with increased knowledge and we want to spread that knowledge with the help of Haveriet, says Johan Glennmo, CEO Danir.

– It is rewarding to get involved in concrete projects for the sea and its inhabitants. Öresund is a brilliant example of how a sea can recover, says Michael Palmgren, Marine Education Center.

– The situation along our coast is acute. If our fields and forests had been in the same condition as the enormous areas of dead seabed, something would have been done a long time ago, says Fatima Kahlil, Young Sea Ambassador.

– I do not want animals in the sea to be adversely affected by us. I wanted to be involved in initiating change for a healthier sea and that’s why I chose to get involved and become a Young Sea Ambassador, says Maira Khan, Young Sea Ambassador.

*The word Haveriet is used here in a double sense, referring both to the sea itself (hav) and to its collapse (haveri), which this project aims to reverse.

International Expect a Better Tomorrow Day

Haveriet is a project intiated by Danir and Sigma and is funded financially by Expect a Better Tomorrow – a foundation.

Sigma and Danir launched the “International Expect a Better Tomorrow Day” on New Year’s Eve 2017. There were already days for most other things, so why not have a theme day for a better tomorrow? By launching “Expect a Better Tomorrow Day”, Sigma and Danir wanted to contribute to a more sustainable, equal and fair society. Their first project, Segerpotten, brought the financial situation of women’s football to the attention of the public. During 2019, the Funkisfonden has highlighted the importance and benefit of physical activity for people with intellectual disabilities.

haveriet.se | expectabettertomorrow.com