The Emmaus Helsinki association donated €1,500 for the University of Helsinki's Monicoast project, which explores the diversity of coastal areas. The funds came from the sales proceeds of Emmaus charity shops on World Water Day.
Many of us associate the plight of water bodies with rubbish patches floating in the ocean or with marine areas overwhelmed by algae. However, despite being invisible to the naked eye, some of the other human-induced changes to our oceans are radically affecting their suitability as habitats for various species.
For example, fossil fuels release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, making sea water more acidic. This rise in acidity affects mussels, leaving them unable to make their protective shells.
For this reason, the University of Helsinki's Monicoast research project has chosen the pH level of the Baltic Sea as one of the variables measured.
Several data loggers monitor daily variation in temperature, salinity, oxygen concentration, pH and turbidity in Finnish coastal waters.
Funded by donations, the project studies the effects of long-term changes to diversity in coastal areas. The data loggers are located in the sea outside Tvärminne Zoological Station on the Hanko peninsula.
Important Baltic Sea is a robust donation initiative
Recently, the Monicoast project received a donation of €1,500 from the Emmaus Helsinki association.
Emmaus Helsinki is part of the international non-religious and non-political solidary movement Emmaus, established in 1949. The movement works actively for disadvantaged members of society.
Emmaus Helsinki was established in 1966 and also prioritises environmental values and the fight against over consumption.
The association has two charity shops in Helsinki: one in Vallila and the other in Lauttasaari. The donated funds came from the sales proceeds of these shops on World Water Day in March.
Pauline Stenberg, member of the Emmaus Helsinki board, stresses the link between sustainable development, the state of the environment and socioeconomic factors. Climate change affects living conditions everywhere on Earth.
- The Baltic Sea is a lifeline for all of us here. It feels especially important that we save our one and only sea. Monicoast also felt important because it relies on donations and is a robust initiative, says Stenberg.
To collect donations on World Water Day, the charity shops received brochures from the University with information on Monicoast. Stenberg describes the customers as receptive to - and familiar with - the campaign concept. Each year, Emmaus donates a large share of its charity shop proceeds.
- I'm sure our customers appreciate knowing what their money will be spent on, and we're often asked about our charitable donations. And the cleanliness of the Baltic Sea is a key focus for many of our customers.
In addition to serving on the association board, Stenberg volunteers for Emmaus at the charity shop till.
She first learned about Emmaus in summer 1969, a few years after the Helsinki branch was established, when volunteering at an international workcamp. She was keen to get involved in solidarity activities.
Having pursued a career in academia, Stenberg has now retired from her role as professor of forest inventory at the University of Helsinki.
She emphasises the importance of investigating the environment to find out what we can do to help the planet.
- Throughout my career I've worked in research, and I value and view it as a priority.
