The aim of the Baltic Sea Day is to inspire people to enjoy our unique home sea and make concrete actions and promises for it. The day includes activities for the whole family, such as maritime walking tours, the Baltic Sea Fest in the South Harbour and the crowd plunge at the Hietaniemi beach. You can find information about all the events on the Baltic Sea Day website.
Cinema screenings about littering and dialogue between human beings and the Baltic Sea
To celebrate the day, the Baltic Sea Challenge organises environmental short film screenings at 18 and 19.30 at the Kino K13 cinema in Katajanokka. Both screenings feature newly released short films: Trashday and Minun mereni (My sea). Each screening lasts about an hour.
Trashday is a documentary directed by Petrus Koskinen, telling the story of “Roska-Eino” (Trash Eino), who started collecting rubbish after noticing that nature in his neighbourhood was full of them. Both Petrus and Eino will be present at the screening at 18.
The second film, Minun mereni (My sea), is a documentary directed by Ari Heinilä. The poetic short film is about the dialogue between the sea and human beings, in which the sea plays the main role and human beings a supporting role. Ari will be present at both screenings.
Climate-themed photo exhibition in Kalasatama until 19 September
The Helsinki City Urban Environment Division’s office in Kalasatama, at Työpajankatu 8, houses an exhibition of Saara Lilja’s photography, titled Maapallo polullani (Earth on my path).
The exhibition takes a stand on climate change and biodiversity loss. The exhibition shows the journey of a water drop in the world, the fleeting nature of life and the wonder of encounters.
The exhibition is open from Monday to Friday from 8 to 16 until 19 September. On the Baltic Sea Day, on 29 August, artist Saara Lilja will be present at the exhibition from 12 to 13.30. Prizes will be drawn among those who vote for their favourite piece.
Tips of the Baltic Sea Challenge: 6 + 1 ways to help the Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea Challenge offers practical tips that everyone can use to help the Baltic Sea.
For example, you can go for a walk on the Baltic Sea Day and collect rubbish from the seaside so that it does not end up in the sea. Everyone can be a Baltic Sea Day chef and create a menu with friends. The condition of the Baltic Sea can be improved by eating sustainably caught wild fish such as bream, vendace or perch, because fishing removes nutrients and thus curbs the eutrophication of the sea.
“Every city dweller can celebrate the Baltic Sea in their own way – the most important thing is that everyone stops at least for a moment to think about our magnificent Baltic Sea and what they can do in their daily lives to make the Baltic Sea better in the future,” says Outi Seppälä, Coordinator of the Baltic Sea Challenge at Helsinki.
With the City of Turku, the City of Helsinki launched the Baltic Sea Challenge in 2007. The Baltic Sea Challenge is a network that encourages companies, municipalities and communities to take concrete water protection measures more than the law requires. Currently, more than 330 organisations have joined the challenge.
