World Ocean Day clean-up at Blue Lagoon Beach

TODAY, Wednesday, June 8 is World Ocean Day, and to mark the special day, Green Corridors is joining forces with The Zero Waste Foundation, Pick ‘n Pay, WildTrust and Youth 4 Maps for a beach clean-up.

The clean-up will be held on Saturday, June 11 from 08:00 to 10:00 at Blue Lagoon Beach.

Green Corridors is a Durban-based NPO that looks after green spaces in the city, employing a team of ecotourism and nature guides, clean-up co-ordinators, agroecologists and recycling experts. They’re calling on citizens to be mindful, that the ocean is one of the city’s (and the world’s) most important resources – and to have a collective responsibility to safeguard it for the future of the planet and future generations.

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“The day aims to propel action throughout the year – to protect our blue planet,” explained Musa Shange, Green Corridors coastal and waste management projects officer.

“We are working at the coalface of humans and the natural world, and it is devastating to see the impact we – humans – are having on the oceans. So we invite Durban citizens to join us in making a difference and to get a true understanding of what is happening to our oceans,” he said.

Siphiwe Rakgabale of Tri-Eco Tours, and Green Corridors’ Litterboom co-ordinator, said the devastation of beaches and the ocean, because of the deluge of waste coming down the waterways, is a sure sign that people are not aware of the impact they are having on the oceans.

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“More needs to be done to educate people and industries about waste, how it can be reduced or re-used as a valuable commodity,” he said.

During 2022, according to the official website, World Ocean Day is raising awareness and support for the global movement to protect at least 30% of the world’s lands, waters and oceans by 2030.

“If we can work together with citizens, businesses, organisations and communities of Durban, from all walks of life, with an aim to improve our disposal of solid and liquid waste in more appropriate ways, and increase our waste-recycling and ultimately decrease our generation of waste, this will be an important contribution to the health of the blue planet, and our beautiful city,” added Rakgabale.

Anyone interested in supporting the Green Corridors clean-up can meet at Blue Lagoon on Saturday, June 11 at 08:00. Do not forget to take gloves, water and sunscreen.