NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Volunteers throughout The Bahamas are preparing to take part in the Ocean Conservancy’s “28th Annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC)” on Saturday, September 21st, 2013.
For more than a quarter of a century, volunteers from all over the world have gathered every year along coastlines and waterways to participate in the International Coastal Cleanup®. Many walk, while others set out on boats. Thousands more don scuba gear to seek trash below the water’s surface. In 2012, more than half a million volunteers participated, collecting more than 10 million pounds of trash and covering a distance of nearly 18,000 miles.This year celebrates 28 years of volunteerism for a healthier ocean.
As such, it not only makes a powerful statement about global concern for the environment, it also empowers local communities to do something about pollution.
“The Bahamas has participated for many years in the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup and we will again this year to make a difference to our marine environment,” said Linzi Knowles Belton, Education Supervisor for Dolphin Encounters on Blue Lagoon Island the Coordinator of International Coastal Cleanup in New Providence.
“This year, we return to Yamacraw Beach, behind Stoke’s Cabana from 8:00 a.m. until 11 a.m. and we encourage members of the public to join us. Please wear closed-in shoes, bring water bottle, sunscreen and gardening gloves. Abaco and Grand Bahama are also participating and are hosting clean ups of their beaches.”
International Coastal Cleanup Events in The Bahamas:
In Nassau:
Yamacraw Beach:
Dolphin Encounters – Project BEACH will host International Coastal Cleanup,
Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 8:00 a.m. – 11 a.m. at Yamacraw Beach near Stoke’s Cabana – the public is invited to volunteer and attend.
Free bus transportation every 30 minutes starting at 7:30 a.m. from the Marathon Mall or Town Center Mall. Please wear closed in shoes, sunscreen and gardening gloves.
Email Meagin Bullard at meagan.bullard (at) dolphinencounters.com or Linzi Knowles – Belton at linzi (at) dolphinencounters.com for more information or to volunteer.
• Dolphin Encounters – Project BEACH will also be hosting month-long Beach Buddies programmes with local students. Please call the education department at 363-7180 extension 303 to coordinate a programme.
In Abaco:
Friends of the Environment, the International Coastal Cleanup Coordinators for Abaco, is organizing a cleanup on the Ernest Dean Highway on Friday, September 20th from 9:30 a.m.– 11:30.a.m.and the public is invited to attend. They invite schools, businesses and other community groups to hold their own cleanups through the months of September and October. FRIENDS will provide trash bags, gloves and data forms. Please contact Cassandra Abraham at Friends of the Environment at 242-367-2721, email her at cassandra (at) friendsoftheenvironment.org, or visit www.friendsoftheenvironment.org.
In Grand Bahama:
• On Saturday, September 21st, volunteers will clean up 13 beaches and shorelines from east end to west; from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The Ministry of Tourism Office in Grand Bahama serves as the Grand Bahama coordinator for International Coastal Cleanup. Please call Pauline Wells at 242-350-8600 or 242-350-8635 or email pwells (at) bahamas.com for more information.
All Other Islands
• Contact Linzi Knowles-Belton at Dolphin Encounters for information packets on forming your own clean-ups for International Cleanup at 363-7180 ext. 303 or 359-0278 for more or email linzi (at) dolphinencounters.com
Caribbean Bottling Company which produces Coca-Cola in the Bahamas is a continued sponsor of the event providing refreshments for volunteers both in Nassau and Grand Bahama. Coke is the global sponsor for International Coastal Cleanup.
“Coca-Cola and Caribbean Bottling Company are pleased to sponsor International Coastal Cleanup in both New Providence and Grand Bahama as part of our ‘Live Positively’ philosophy,” said Jennifer Basden, Marketing Manager for the Caribbean Bottling Company.
“‘Live Positively’ is our commitment to making a positive difference in our communities by redesigning the way we work and live so that sustainability is part of everything we do – forever.
“Supporting the work of ICC directly impacts three areas of our Live Positively commitments – Sustainable Packaging, Water Stewardship and Active Healthy Living. The ICC is the Coca-Cola premier litter abatement partnership and the world’s largest single-day volunteer effort to eradicate litter and debris from beaches, inland waterways and oceans. In its 17th year of support, the Company is expecting to contribute 50,000 volunteers across 40 countries.”
Other local sponsors include: Aquapure, Bahamas Foam Insulation, Bahamas Waste, Bahamas Wholesale, Bahamas Experience Tours, Chelsea’s Choice, CBC, Department of Environmental Health Services, Dan Knowles Tours, Dolphin Encounters, Johnson’s Charter Service, Leisure Tours, National Coastal Awareness Committee, Signarama Bahamas, Thompson Trading, The Nature Conservancy, T & K Trucking, The Mall at Marathon, Town Center Mall, and Waste Not/ Cans 4 Kids.
“The International Coastal Cleanup engages people to remove trash and debris from the world’s beaches and waterways, to identify the sources of debris, and to change the behaviours that cause pollution,” added Ms. Knowles-Belton. “The event isn’t just about pollution clean-up it’s about pollution prevention. The event focuses on educating and empowering people to become a part of the marine debris solution. We thank our sponsors for their support and participation and encourage the public to volunteer and participate. As a coastal community keeping our ocean and waterways clean is vital to our environment and way of life. Together we can preserve our coasts.”
To learn more about International Coastal Cleanup visit www.oceanconservancy.org. For information on the many outreach programs offered by Dolphin Encounters-Project B.E.A.C.H. please call Annette Dempsey at 363-7180 ext. 303 for more or visit www.dolphinencounters.com.
10 things you can do for trash free seas (Source the Ocean Conservancy.)
The 2012 International Coastal Cleanup, by the numbers (source the Ocean Conservancy):
• More than 550,000 people (561,633) picked up more than 10 million pounds of trash (10,149,988) along nearly 20,000 miles of coastlines (17,719)
• Over the past 27 years, over 9.5 million (9,654,895) volunteers have removed 163 million (163,940,906) pounds of trash from more than 330,000 (330,009) miles of coastline and waterways in 153 countries and locations.
Volunteers found:
• Total garbage equal to the weight 10 Boeing 747 jumbo jets.
• Enough trash to equal the weight of 41 blue whalesEnough light bulbs (24,384 bulbs) to replace every light on the Eiffel Tower.
• Enough disposable cigarette lighters to start 178,557,500 campfires
Ocean Conservancy educates and empowers citizens to take action on behalf of the ocean. From the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico to the halls of Congress, Ocean Conservancy brings people together to find solutions for our water planet. Informed by science, our work guides policy and engages people in protecting the ocean and its wildlife for future generations.
