Tuesday, September 21, 2010

All Are Invited to Join the Klein Bonaire Beach Cleanup This Saturday, September 25th, 2010

Last weekend, it was time to clean up the underwater area of Bonaire, and this weekend, it’s time for a land cleanup.  Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB), together with STINAPA and Ocean Conservancy, are celebrating the International Coastal Cleanup and a 25-Year Sea Change by hosting a beach cleanup at No Name Beach on Klein Bonaire this Saturday, September 25th, 2010.

Trash is one of the most widespread pollution problems threatening our ocean and waterways, and it’s entirely preventable. Join hundreds of thousands of people around the world as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of cleaning up the world this September.

The Klein Bonaire beach cleanup is a part of the 25th annual International Coast Cleanup, the world’s largest volunteer effort to help protect our ocean, lakes and rivers. Since the cleanup began, over 7.8 million volunteers have removed over 135 million pounds of trash from the world’s shorelines. Each year, hundreds of thousands of volunteers from around the world spend a few hours removing trash and debris from beaches, lakes, and rivers keeping track of every piece of trash they find. Ocean Conservancy uses that information to produce an annual country-by-country, state-by-state index of the problem of marine debris.

So how can you help?  Those interested in lending a helping hand should meet at 7:00 AM this Saturday, September 25th, 2010 at the Harbour Village Marina.  The cleanup will run until approximately 12:30 PM.  The area to be cleaned will be No Name Beach and environs on Klein Bonaire, and it’s vital because Klein Bonaire is the island’s most important nesting site for sea turtles.  By keeping the beach clean, we can maintain unobstructed access to the beaches for egg-laying female turtles, and thus assist with the survival of these endangered animals.

During the 2009 Cleanup, 500,000 volunteers removed 7.4 million pounds of debris, in 108 countries and 45 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. An even greater turnout is expect this year.  To view the event poster, click here (in PDF format).  (Source:  STCB)