Families teach children environmental responsibility at beach clean up
Locals took time off their Saturday morning plans to clean up Durban's beaches.
SOCIALLY responsible locals rallied friends and family to the beaches along Blue Lagoon where Coca Cola started an impromptu beach clean up in response to a social media request for the beverage company’s assistance in getting the beach clean within the small window before the rubbish (much of which was plastic beverage bottles) was washed into the sea.
Deon Myburgh, general manager of Coca Cola Beverages’ Coastal said while the company have a more than ten year relationship in beach clean up activity in partnership with Ezemvelo Wildlife, the clean up on Blue Lagoon and surrounding beaches along Durban on Saturday morning was an impromtu one. “This clean up is in response to requests from the community to help clean up after the recent floods. We also have long term education programmes at schools around environmental awareness and run a successful recycling programme with these schools,”he added.
Mike Delport who came pass Blue Lagoon beach before heading to a meeting was astounded by the sight he saw. “I’m just so happy there are still people with humanity in there hearts in this world. To think they can donate their precious time on a Saturday morning, to Mother Nature and bring their children to help too, is incredible,” he said.
Meanwhile young volunteer, Oluhle Gasa, and her cousin Imani Mthethwa kept a close eye on the recycling station at the clean up. “I don’t like people who don’t recycle, its so important I even remind my dad when he forgets,” Oluhle said.
Everlyn Naicker, said her family was at the clean up to promote social and environmental awareness to their young daughters. “They love the beach and swimming, so we wanted them to see it and be more environmentally responsible and clean up the beach they love,” she added.
Walking buddies Brenda Mayer and Juliet Ackermann, also made another pit stop to help the clean up. “We usually do our Saturday morning beach walk at 7am, so decided to help out here instead and collected 22 bags of rubbish which also included fishing hooks,” Mayer said.
Lorraine Mee said she didn’t hear about the cleanup until her daughter saw it on Facebook, “We need to give back. Its our earth and out planet so we all need to make a difference. Nicholas Bredenkamp, told Berea Mail ” It is important and has got to be done, unfortunately most people don’t really care,” while cleaning up with a friend.
See more of the friendly faces that helped clean up our beaches in our gallery.
