Clean Up the World campaign in full swing |21 September 2019
Clean Up the World is once again upon us and several organisations and schools took part in the campaign which began yesterday morning.
The theme for this year is ‘Yes we can beat plastic pollution’ which is in line with the national and international efforts to tackle the huge issue in the environment.
The staff of the Indian Ocean Tuna got a head start yesterday by cleaning and collecting rubbish around the IOT compound. Over twenty-five workers took the time out of their work schedule to volunteer for this day.
“Every year IOT contributes towards clean up the world to minimise our impact on the environment, the campaign is just a small part of it as we are actively involved in the plight to help the environment,” said Marc Benoiton, the environment, health and safety manager at IOT.
He added that Thai Union, which is the organisation IOT falls under, is currently looking for ways to minimise their use of plastics in packaging their products.
In the two hours that the IOT team had started they had already filled their trash bags with rubbish such as plastic bottles.
The Ministry of Education also took part in the campaign yesterday at its headquarters at Mont Fleuri where staff cleaned up the marsh and river next to the building as well as the surrounding compound.
Lyndina Essack, senior educational officer who is in charge of the clean-up at the ministry this year, noted that they will be beautifying the ministry by using large plastic water bottles to plant flowers in to keep in line with this year’s Clean Up the World theme.
“I believe that everyone and every organisation has a role to play and we as the ministry forms part of the committee that is organising the activities today and we decided to put our money where our mouth is and do our part,” said Ms Essack.
She added that at the Ministry of Education they are playing their part in reducing the use of plastics by using water dispensers instead of water bottles and reusable shopping bags instead of single use plastics.
Elsewhere the Land and Waste Management Agency (LWMA) partnered up with the SPDF (Seychelles People’s Defence Forces) and a few independent contractors to clear up the road leading to Espace and Perseverance.
Brian Matombe, the landscape officer for LWMA, stated that the reason they are doing so is to get rid of the bushes and tall grass that have grown on the side of the road.
“Many people treat this side of the road as their personal dump site and by clearing it out it will make it difficult for them to vandalise,” said Mr Matombe.
From this morning until 3pm in the afternoon, the LWMA recorded a total of 148,890 tonnes of garbage collected during their activities on Mahé.
The Clean Up the World campaign will continue during the week-end, and this is a chance for those who wish to participate or to get rid of that old couch.
The accompanying photos show some of the groups in action yesterday.
