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Last Updated: Oct 26, 2020 - 12:02:19 AM |
EARTHCARE Eco Kids and Volunteers clean beaches, International Coastal Cleanup 2020, a successful weekend
By Gail Woon, EARTHCARE
Oct 25, 2020 - 8:08:14 PM
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Tire and marine debris cleaned up by Gail Woon, EARTHCARE Founder on ICC Day 2020
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Grand Bahama Island - Very early on Saturday morning, September 19th, 2020, 5 groups of EARTHCARE Eco Kids and EARTHCARE volunteers on Grand Bahama Island arrived at 5 different beaches for International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICC) 2020. Due to Covid 19 Emergency Orders, groups were limited to a maximum of 5 volunteers per group all practicing social distancing and wearing masks over nose and mouth. Beaches on Grand Bahama Island are only open to the public in groups of no more than 5 persons between the hours of 5 am to 12 noon due to Covid 19 Emergency Orders by the Competent Authority.
A grand total of 400 pounds of marine debris was collected, recorded and bagged and disposed of in bins for collection by Sanitation Services. Gail Woon, EARTHCARE Founder, commented, "EARTHCARE ICC Team Leaders, Requal Davis, Rochelle Manchester, Patrizia Palmarini, Jahrin Ellis and Gail Woon helped organize their groups of volunteers to get ready for this extremely important worldwide annual event. All EARTHCARE volunteers worked very hard to see the beach cleaned up once again, collecting some surprising items and more importantly reinforcing the fact that litter is a major environmental problem. EARTHCARE was proud to be able to participate this year because in 2019 after the Island of Grand Bahama was devastated by Climate Changed Hurricane Dorian, we were not able to participate because virtually everyone was in survival mode so no ICC Day happened on Grand Bahama in 2019. Most of the garbage we collected was as expected; fast food containers, beverage bottles and plastic bags; none of which are biodegradable and all of which, with a little effort, should have been carried to an appropriate dumping point."
Patrizia Palmarini, EARTHCARE member cleaning Fortune Beach on ICC Day 2020
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Volunteers noted that debris items of local concern included plastic pieces, plastic bottle tops, glass beer bottles, a large plastic film container, ropes, a T shirt and tires. The students filled out the data cards. Data was added to the online data port of The Ocean Conservancy in Washington, D.C. where the information will be compiled into a report of the state of marine debris throughout the entire globe. Grand Bahama Island has been participating with The Ocean Conservancy through the Ministry of Tourism for over 33 years. It was a very successful day from Lovers Beach, Eight Mile Rock in the West to Fortune Beach, Grand Bahama Island in the East.
Gail Woon, Zone Captain for Gold Rock Beach was elated to have worked, once again, with the EARTHCARE Eco Kids and EARTHCARE Volunteers. “This year we were very efficient, everyone was on time, we went in, did the work and made sure the marine debris was put in a dumpster that will be collected by the appropriate authority. This annual activity is an important learning activity for EARTHCARE. It always makes me feel optimistic for the future when we have a successful International Coastal Cleanup Day.”
EARTHCARE Volunteers included: Jahrin Ellis, Gail Woon, Requal Davis, Nathanael Smith, Tia Beckford, Chery Forbes, Leah Davis (1 year old), Rochelle Manchester, Rachelle Manchester, Tyler Riley, Ma'Ryah Bowe, Daphne Riley, Bridget Davis, Patrizia Palmarini, Cheri Wood, and Jill Cooper. EARTHCARE expresses sincere gratitude to all of the participants.
Nathanael Smith, EARTHCARE Eco Kid Team Leader cleaning Coral Beach for ICC Day
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Coral Beach Marine Debris collected Requal Davis's EARTHCARE Team on ICC Day
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Patrizia Palmarini and Jill Cooper with their haul of marine debris from Fortune Beach for International Coastal Cleanup Dayj
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Requal Davis's ICC Team cleaning Coral Beach
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Sample of the marine debris from Lovers Beach collected by our Lone EARTHCARE member, Jahrin Ellis
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EARTHCARE member, Rochelle Manchester's ICC Team with the Marine Debris collected
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More marine debris from Lovers Beach collected by EARTHCARE member, Jahrin Ellis
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Jahrin Ellis, EARTHCARE member with his ICC Day haul of Marine Debris from Lovers Beach
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Rochelle Manchester with her ICC Team
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