IF you’re passionate about contributing to the cleanliness of our city’s shores and beaches, don’t miss out on Clean Blue Lagoon’s first clean-up of the year this January. Clean Blue Lagoon is a group dedicated to cleaning up and maintaining, not only the Blue Lagoon and Beachwood Mangrove areas, but all areas of Durban that need improving.
Clean Blue Lagoon’s Denise Mc Creadie says the main organisers for Clean Blue Lagoon are the non-profit organisation, Adopt-a-River, in collaboration with various sponsors. “They do a fantastic job ensuring that we have bags and a team of guys who help on the day – with the organising, and they also move the bags over the river and into the Beachwood Mangroves to be removed. The Beachwood Mangroves rangers are also there on the day, and although they are doing their guided walks through the mangroves, they are also part of our clean-up,” said Mc Creadie.
The clean-up is set to take place on January 20 from 08:00 to 11:00, starting at Beachwood Mangroves at 08:00. “All of our clean-ups are held on the third Saturday of every month from 08:00 to 11:00,” said Mc Creadie.
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According to Mc Creadie, Adopt-a-River will provide garbage bags. “Volunteers need to bring gloves, a hat, water, sunscreen and, most importantly, all of their family and friends! Everyone is always welcome, and it is a good free morning out where you can meet like-minded people and make friends.”
Mc Creadie encourages Durban residents to participate in keeping the city clean. “There are a lot of people who think that it is the municipality’s full responsibility to keep the beaches clean, and although they do play their part, and yes they could do more, it is not only their responsibility. We are all responsible for keeping it clean as it is beachgoers and the community throwing their rubbish down the river. Some people question why they should volunteer as the municipality is paid to do it and it creates jobs. Unfortunately, that attitude has led to people thinking they are creating employment by throwing their litter on the floor, when, in fact, all it does is ruin our environment and wildlife and deters tourists from spending their money with us.”
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Mc Creadie went on to say that education is key on all fronts. “We have had quite a few schools and various groups come to our events, and I do believe that everyone needs to do it at least once to see how bad it is and to see the damage done to our environment. People are always shocked by the things they find – you name it, and we have found it – as they think that just because they put it in a bin, it is now gone for good. Unfortunately, it does not disappear, and a lot of the time, it is not disposed of properly and lands up in our ocean. The next problem is that microplastics and all kinds of litter have now entered our food source, and autopsies are now finding micro plastics in people. So, even if you think this is not your problem ’cause you don’t go to the beach, it actually is!”
For more information, visit the Clean Blue Lagoon Facebook page.
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