Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama to Participate in International Coastal Cleanup Day, September 19th
By Elaine Smith
Sep 10, 2009 - 4:31:59 PM

Grand Bahama Island - Each year, on the third Saturday in September groups of energetic students, teachers, churches civic groups’ volunteers descend upon beaches and shorelines along Grand Bahama Island’s southern coast, to take part in Ocean Conservancy International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, September 19^th, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup is the world’s largest volunteer event of its kind. Last year, 390,000 volunteers from 76 countries and 45 states cleared six million pounds of trash from oceans and waterways and recorded every piece of trash collected.

Venues of Cleanup will be found within the following settlements:

East Grand Bahama :

Sweeting’s Cay, McLean’s Town, High Rock and Freetown shorelines.

Freeport Grand Bahama :

Xanadu, Williams Town, Barbary, Fortune and Gold Rock Beaches.

West Grand Bahama :

Lover’s Beach, Crystal Beach/Deadman’s Reef, Bootle Bay and West End shoreline.

Over 500 students, teachers, civic clubs’ and churches’ members are expected to participate in this year’s cleanup. Sponsors are the Ministry of Tourism, Local Government East and West, Caribbean Bottling Company, Pure Springs Drinking Water Co., Solomon’s, and Sunny Isle Water & Juice.

This year’s International Coastal Cleanup proves to promote that cleanup efforts such as this, is more than a one-day event, it is a year-round movement.The ocean is essential to the health of everything on our planet, but harmful impacts like climate change and overfishing are taking its toll. The International Coastal Cleanup provides a direct tangible way to make a difference. Trash in the ocean kills countless seabirds, marine mammals and sea turtles each year through ingestion and entanglement. The International Coastal Cleanup brings awareness and action to one of the largest problems we face in our environment. The 2009 International Coastal Cleanup Data Report is a global snapshot of the hazardous effects of trash in the ocean.

The work of ICC inspires to empower people everywhere to take responsibility for a clean ocean, not just on a single September day, rather everyday throughout the year.

So come out and play your role in keeping The Bahamas clean and ultimately, “Inspiring a sea change.”

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