 | | |||||
Friends of the Environment Abaco, Bahamas | ||||||
 | | | | | | |
September is International Coastal Cleanup Month | ||
| | |
 | Originally started in 1987, the concept of an International Coastal Clean up was to engage people to remove trash for the world's beaches and waterways and then identify the source of the debris and then initiate behavioral changes to decrease these types of pollution. It has been noted that most of the debris on the beaches comes from shoreline and recreational activities such as sports, picnics and beach going. | ||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
Marine debris is not only responsible for polluted beaches, but each years hundreds of animals are caught up in the trash causing lethal cuts, hampered mobility, suffocation and drowning. Over the last 30 years, the increase in plastic and other non-biodegradable products means that trash has no boundaries. These items are durable and buoyant and can travel hundreds of thousands of miles and have an endless life on our beaches and waterways unless they are removed and destroyed by man. | |||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Friends of the Environment along with the Ministry of Tourism partnered with the Ocean Conservancy to organize coastal cleanups throughout various communities in Abaco. Abaco's schools, service groups, church groups and group of friends once again participated in this year's Cleanup. Participants were supplied trash bags and an inventory cards that everyone was asked to fill out a card identifying the debris that they have collected. These forms were returned to Friends of the Environment's office for tabulation and then sent off the Ocean Conservancy who will catalogue and use the data in global environmental education. | ||
| | |
 | ||||
Saturday, September 15th, over 35 volunteers gathered at the Crossing Beach in Abaco in an effort to clean up trash and debris. Among this group of volunteers were two youth groups, the Anchor Club and GGYA. Teachers also assisted as well as staff from Friends of the Environment and the Ministry of Tourism. The Minister of Tourism, Mr. Neko Grant as well as the Director of Tourism, Mr. Don Cornish also paid a courtesy call on volunteers. . | ||||
| | | | |
 | ||||||
 | Volunteers combed the beach as well as snorkeled underwater. A total of 12 55-gallon bags of trash were removed. Amongst the trash removed was an unusual find, a toilet that had been buried underwater | |||||
| | | | | | |
 | ||||
On Sunday September 16th, the men’s fellowship group of Zion Baptist, Murphy Town invited the Education Coordinator of Friends of the Environment to talk to their group about International Coastal Cleanup Day. At the end of the presentation, the Pastor, Rev. Christopher Dean presented Mrs. Maycock with a donation to Friends of the Environment. | ||||
| | | | |
On Saturday September 29, the communities of Dundas and Murphy Town participated in the biggest volunteer cleanup event ever. Over 100 volunteers came out to pick up litter on Forest Drive and the back (coastal) road of Dundas and Murphy Town. This event was coordinated by Friends of the Environment in partnership with the local Ministry of Tourism office and the Ocean Conservancy in observance of International Coastal Cleanup Day. Among some of the volunteers included the anchor club of Forest Heights, Abaco Central High, Central Abaco Primary, Grace Baptist Church, St. James Methodist Church, youth groups, concerned residents, local government members, teachers, and students. Mr. Cephas Cooper, the new Senior Island Administrator was also among the volunteers. Volunteers began at 8:30 am and were finished by 11 am. The rotary club of Abaco, Employees of the Abaco Tourist office and members of the Dundas Town Committee assisted with the donation of the use of their trucks to take the trash to the Central Abaco Dump. Bakers Bay, M& R Food store, and Central Pines Texaco assisted with the donations of water & Gatorade to volunteers. Friends of the Environment provided trash bags and gloves in order to facilitate this cleanup. This event proved to be very successful; a total of 114 bags of trash were taken to the dump which amounted to more than 2200 pounds of trash! | ||
| | |
Volunteers began at 8:30 am and were finished by 11 am. The rotary club of Abaco, employees of the Abaco Tourist office and members of the Dundas Town Committee assisted with the donation of the use of their trucks to take the trash to the Central Abaco Dump. | ||||||||
 | ||||||||
 |  | |||||||
| | | | | | | | |
 |  | ||||||
 | |||||||
Bakers Bay, M& R Food store, and Central Pines Texaco assisted with the donations of water & Gatorade to volunteers. | |||||||
| | | | | | | |
 | ||||||||||
 | ||||||||||
Friends of the Environment provided trash bags and gloves in order to facilitate this cleanup. This event proved to be very successful; a total of 114 bags of trash were taken to the dump which amounted to more than 2200 pounds of trash! | ||||||||||
 | ||||||||||
 |  | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
 | ||||
The Ocean Conservancy notes that the most troubling aspect of coastal pollution is that all marine debris can be traced back to one source ... PEOPLE | ||||
| | | | |
Be a part of the solution... Particpate in International Coastal Clean - Up.......EVERY Day of the Year | ||||
 | ||||
| | | | |
Copyright 2004 Friends of the Environment. All Rights Reserved. Website designed by CocoMotion | ||||
| | | | |