| Coastal Cleanup Challenge |
| July 01, 2009 |
Seas the Day. Sign Up a Team Almost everyone is aware of the marine pollution and the 14 billion pounds of trash that are dumped into the world's waterways, choking our oceans on this planet. Many of us feel helpless about it and don't know how to contribute apart from recycling. But since 1986 a number of caring community members around the world have actively cleared 100 million pounds of debris from 170,000 miles of shorelines, rivers, lakes and wetlands. Thousands of volunteers will show up to beaches and waterways for the annual event between September 19 and October 19 to maintain the beauty and health of earth's rivers and oceans, as well as protect animals from marine debris. An estimated 500,000 participants will turn out to over 100 countries worldwide to conduct, what has been hailed by the Guinness Book of World Records as, "the world's largest trash collection event", organized by The Ocean Conservancy. Headed by celebrity ambassadors such as Daniel Wu, Lisa S, Jocelyn Luko and Ankie Beilke the Hong Kong International Coastal Cleanup Challenge urges participants and teams to take responsibility and sign up and compete against one another in an effort to clean up our treasured coastlines. Associations, schools, companies, chambers, community groups and individuals are all encouraged to join Hong Kong's 9th annual coastal cleanup, which is also co-sponsored by CLSA and National Geographic Channel in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong International Coastal Cleanup Challenge urges participants and teams to take responsibility and sign up and compete against one another in an effort to clean up our treasured coastlines. Associations, schools, companies, chambers, community groups and individuals are all encouraged to join Hong Kong's 9th annual coastal cleanup. Since Hong Kong started this event in 2000, over 16,000 participants have collected 136,788 kgs of trash from 100 beaches, which included everything from grocery bags, cigarette filters, fishing lines, water bottles, batteries and other obscure items. "By cleaning up, collecting data, and recycling, we demonstrate that environmental stewardship and protecting our coast and waterways is fun, easy, and is everyone's responsibility", says Lisa Christensen, Founding Director of Ecovision Asia, the official Hong Kong event coordinator. "This data is used to devise solutions, and to effect policy and behavioral change", she adds. Trash is not only painful to the eye, it's deadly to marine animals too. An estimated 100,000 marine mammals and two million sea birds die each year from eating or becoming entangled in marine debris. Research shows that 60 to 80 percent of the debris come from land-based sources. Trash in the gutter becomes trash on the beach. Trash and pollution washes untreated off city streets and country parks, into gutters, storm drains, streams and rivers, and finally to our ocean and beaches.
Sign up your team in 3 easy steps! Make a Difference! 1. Select a beach and date and register a team with Ecovision Asia, the official Hong Kong coordinator - Cleanups will be held throughout Hong Kong from September 19th-October 19th. Select the beach you would like to clean and then recruit your friends, family, and co-workers. Take Action! 2. Organize your cleanup and recruit volunteers - Download the "How to organize your own beach cleanup" details and data cards from www.ecovisionasia.com/hkcoastalcleanup, collect your biodegradable bags and gloves and bring plenty of water, sunscreen, shoes, hat, and gloves. Be Part of the Solution! 3. Collect data and pick up trash - Data collection is important! Your data goes into The Ocean Conservancy's international database, which is used to identify the sources of debris and to help devise solutions to the marine debris problem. Most people like to work in a team of 5, with a couple picking up trash, another picking up recycling, and one recording the items on the data card. Be sure to return trash, recyclables and your data card to the beach captain.
   For more information about the International Coastal Cleanup in Hong Kong, please contact Lisa Christensen, Director of Ecovision Asia and the HK Coastal Cleanup Challenge. Lisa Christensen
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