Beach clean-ups seem like such a simple yet effective way to do our part in preserving our environment. On Sunday 13th January, 2019 the Non Nobis and Eco Activists clubs from Naparima Girls’ High School received the tremendous opportunity to participate in a clean-up at Erin Bay, Siparia as one of two invited schools from south Trinidad. We were accompanied by our parents and our Non Nobis’ patron teacher, Miss Sahadeo. The event was organized by the SURE Foundation of U.W.I. We were also joined by the MP for La Brea, Ms. Nicole Olivierre, staff from the Siparia Regional Corporation,members from The Rotary Club of Pointe a Pierre, some volunteers from the village community and of course some fellow students , teachers and parents from Presentation College, San Fernando.
There were endless plastic bags, bottles, glass, styrofoam, tyres, animal food, abandoned fish nets, a gigantic turtle shell, old slippers and numerous fish skeletons littering the shore, and we were baffled that people would actually use the beach as their own personal trash cans so carelessly, tainting an otherwise picturesque scene. This washed up garbage from the ocean must have killed so many sea creatures. Everyone is aware of the issue of pollution that is plaguing our country and the world, and we hope that, soon, our society will develop a greater concern for our environment and wildlife, since as Sir Richard Branson said, “There is no planet B.” It was quite rewarding to see the enormous difference our collective endeavours achieved in just a few hours. We were also contented knowing that the removal of most of the waste could help save thousands of marine organisms.
Across all the volunteers, we were able to gather around 150 garbage bags full of trash, and the bay looked significantly more beautiful. This is definitely a type of activity that we look forward to participating in again. Certainly, if everyone pulls their weight in our quest to save the Earth, we can become exemplars in our society and among our peers. Then, little by little, we can surely make a difference.
