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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
L-R Back Row Justin Sapp, Kristen Thomas,Candice Woon, Tristan Rampersad, Kiara Roberts, Cheri Wood,Barbie Gibson, Gail Woon, Front Row Havana Gibson, Savannah Gibson, Nayshairn Hanna, Renrick Prince, Not Pictured Karin Sanchez, Nina Sanchez, Nyjer Newbold, Miriam Culmer, Marissa (Photo: Yasmin Popescu)
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“Together we have the power to protect the ocean”
EARTHCARE volunteers cleaned the beach at Williams Town on Sunday, June 8th to celebrate World Oceans Day. EARTHCARE joined with hundreds of events worldwide to inspire people to get involved in solutions for a healthy ocean and society - by supporting clean energy choices, trash-free coasts and beaches, sustainable seafood, and more.
17 EARTHCARE volunteers met very early in the morning on a holiday weekend Sunday. We filled a truckload of marine debris and removed a tire, medical waste and much more. Three of our dedicated stars came, Tristan Rampersad from Sister Mary Patricia Junior High School, Savannah and Havana Gibson, both from Bishop Micheal Eldon School. Tristan, Savannah and Havana completed the EARTHCARE/Save The Bays Phase I Youth Environmental Ambassador Programme and have also been featured guests on Voice of the Bays, The Environment Speaks on Love 97 FM.
EARTHCARE’s youngest volunteer, Kiara Roberts, 6 years old, brought her Mom, Nyjer Newbold and her Grandmother, Miriam Culmer. “After the clean up, we went to church and everyone Kiara met, she told them that today was the "oceans birthday" and the gift she gave to the people was a clean beach”, said Nyjer Newbold.
Savannah and Havana (who designed our YEA T shirt) brought their Mother who participated too! We were pleasantly surprised by the turnout on a holiday/Sunday weekend.
“It was a great day except when people reminded me of the continued dredging and destruction that is continuing in Bimini. Beachgoers and volunteers congratulated us on our work in Bimini and our efforts to raise awareness on the environment, the healthy endangered coral reefs, the mangrove nurseries, the seagrass beds. I hope that we can mature as a country and make the Freedom of Information and Environmental Protection Acts into actual legislation. It was a great experience. We may do it again next year”, said Gail Woon Director of EARTHCARE
Redbull can (Photo: Nyjer Newbold)
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During the clean up, EARTHCARE explained what happens on International Coastal Cleanup Day (the data we take as citizen scientists) every September and volunteers were invited to take part in the International Coastal Cleanup 2014. We also showed the volunteers the Lionfish Poster (produced by the Nature Conservancy, Bahamas National Trust and BREEF) that we will be distributing to the schools this summer and in September.
EARTHCARE would like to especially thank Renwick Prince for providing a truck to properly dispose of the 10 bags of 400 lbs of marine debris that were collected. Unusual items of interest included a tire, a wooden anchor, a syringe, and over 20 balloon ribbons with balloon remnants attached. Balloons are very harmful to marine and terrestrial wildlife, as they ingest them and eventually starve to death because the balloons stay in their systems and they always feel full. Wildlife can also get entangled in the ribbon. We urge everyone to refrain from releasing balloons, it is littering, pure and simple. There are other ways to celebrate that do not involve littering.
EARTHCARE volunteers who worked hard cleaning the beach at Williams Town include: Justin Sapp, Kristen Thomas, Candice Woon, Tristan Rampersad, Kiara Roberts, Cheri Wood, Barbie Gibson, Gail Woon, Havana Gibson, Savannah Gibson, Nayshairn Hanna, Renrick Prince, Karin Sanchez, Nina Sanchez, Nyjer Newbold, Miriam Culmer and Marissa.
Some harmful things we found on the beach. (Photos: Gail Woon)
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A Yellow-crowned Night Heron visited us during our cleanup. (Photo: Gail Woon)
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Photos: Gail Woon
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