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Dear Editor
At No.63 beach on the 31st of October,2020 and at Vreen en Hoop on the 1st of November,2020, The Caribbean Youth Environment Network in Guyana = is encouraging volunteers to participate in Ocean Conservancy’s 35th International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), the world’s largest volunteer effort to remove and record trash from local lakes, waterways, beaches and the ocean. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Guyana, volunteers can still “Clean On” through safe and socially distant individual or small group cleanups; or through at-home efforts to reduce plastic waste.
“Whether engaging in this year’s ICC from home, online or safely on a beach, you are playing a critical role helping to keep plastics out of our ocean and waterways,” said Ms.Kiefer Jackson, Caribbean Youth Environment Network in Guyana’s national coordinator. “Although traditional, large group cleanups are not possible this year, ocean plastic pollution isn’t going away. It’s wonderful to see people taking action where they can.”
Throughout September, Ocean Conservancy will release a series of new online resources that encourage volunteers to research their local waste systems, think creatively about how to reduce their everyday waste footprint, or conduct a small, safe cleanup. Volunteers interested in a cleanup can follow our 8-step guide to ensure volunteer safety and adhere to local pandemic health guidelines and recommendations. Guyana’s cleanup volunteers can also contribute to the world’s largest database on marine debris by logging the trash they collect in Ocean Conservancy’s award-nominated Clean Swell app (available for free download from the App Store and Google Play). Scientists, researchers, industry leaders and policymakers rely on Ocean Conservancy’s Ocean Trash Index to inform policy and determine solutions to the growing marine debris crisis.
Every year, millions of tons of trash—including an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic waste—flows into the ocean, impacting more than 800 marine species and even entering the food chain. Over the last 34 years of the ICC, 16.4 million volunteers have joined cleanup efforts big and small to remove 344 million pounds (156 million kilograms) of trash from beaches and waterways worldwide. In 2019, 500 collected and recorded 36,849 pieces of trash ware collected from both no.63 beach and the Kingston seawall Top items included plastic beverage bottles, plastic bottle caps, plastic pieces and much more.
“The International Coastal Cleanup remains one of the most effective ways for individuals to make an immediate, tangible impact for our ocean,” said Allison Schutes, director of Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. “The ICC will certainly look a little different this year, but the ocean still needs us. Luckily there is still plenty we can do to help stem the tide of ocean plastic pollution. We are so grateful for the efforts of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network in Guyana and all the volunteers in helping us achieve our shared vision for a cleaner, healthier ocean.”
Regards
Suphane Dash-Alleyne
