The Sea is the mother of all life on Earth, which first evolved in her realm about 3.6 billion years ago. It would not be until 450 million years ago that some species became terrestrial but a fabulous diversity of life still inhabits Mother Sea, much of which has yet to be discovered by humans.
Nourishing and sculpting terrestrial ecosystems with her wind and precipitation, she also destroys habitats and human developments with coastal hurricanes, severe inland storms and flooding rains. Indeed, as our climate warms, these destructive events will intensify.
Furthermore, as her component oceans open and close, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanism alter terrestrial landscapes and destroy regional life; the recent earthquakes in Venezuela demonstrate a risk that stretches across the globe. The Sea, an essential component of Life on Earth is both generous and destructive; we could not live without her but often succumb to her power.
