INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEAN-UP DAY

There’s a great bumper sticker: “Nobody likes a dirty beach”. True? Of course!  Each year there is a vast increase in the number of marine animals injured or entangled in debris found in oceans.  So how do we keep our beaches and our country clean?  Well, the same way as we learn to walk – one small step at a time.  During International Coastal Clean-up Week (13 - 18 September), South Africans will be stepping forward with volunteers across the World towards cleaning their local beaches.

This year marks the 25th annual International Coastal Clean-up - the world’s biggest clean-up organised by the Ocean Conservancy, where volunteers around the world head to the beaches and remove debris from shorelines, waterways and oceans. The aim of this clean-up is to remove the rubbish; while collecting valuable information about it; to heighten public awareness of the causes of litter and debris; and to make a positive change and promote water pollution prevention efforts.

The Cape Recife Conservancy, of which WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) is a member, would like to you to join us and a number of high school Enviro-Clubs with a beach clean-up.

Date:       Friday 17th September 2010
Time:      2pm, lasting to 4:30 pm
Venue:    Picnic area at the eastern entrance to the Noodehoek Ski-boat Club, Marine Drive, Cape Recife.
We recommend that participants wear long pants and shoes that can get dirty.  We will supply rubber gloves and bags.
Prizes:    1st & 2nd prizes for the school and pupils who collect the most litter. Coca-Cola is also sponsoring each participant with a Coke!
RSVP:    Wednesday 15th September

South Africa has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  Yet marine animals (like Cape fur seals) are often found with serious injuries due to entanglement.  Some die from strangulation, other animals like turtles and albatrosses starve because they swallow rubbish mistaking it for prey.  Almost all marine litter comes from land.  It blows off your street, and ends up in our seas.  We hope your pupils can join us in caring for our seas this International Coastal Clean-up Day.
 
Yours in conservation
 
Morgan Griffiths
 
Senior Conservation Officer
WESSA EP Region
Cellphone: 072 417-5793
Telephone: 041 585-9606
Email: morgan@wessaep.co.za