Every year during Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup®, hundreds of thousands of volunteers comb lakes, rivers and beaches around the world for trash. For over three decades, more than 12 million volunteers have collected over 220 million pounds of trash.
Lets for a moment forget about the chase of souveniers and badges, but rather focus on giving back. Most of us enjoy being outdoors, we enjoy the mountains, the forests and the beaches. We all at some point in time feel we would like to give back. Well here is our chance.
Today 15 September, is
"International Coastal Cleanup Day"
One of the biggest threats facing the ocean
Our oceans are facing a human-made plastic catastrophe. With estimates being that by 2050 there will be more plastic, by weight, than fish in the ocean, the time is now to make a difference and clean up our acts. Studies have shown that millions of seabirds have ingested plastic and a staggering number of sea animals die each year from plastic ingestion. Plastic has truly permeated into the deepest recesses of our natural world and has even entered our food chain.
Plastic doesn’t break down; it doesn’t degrade and become part of the natural system again. In fact, plastic breaks up. It breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces until it becomes small enough, not only for small fish to mistake it for food, but research has found that even plankton is now mistaking this “forever material” for food and consuming it, introducing it into the food chain at the lowest level.
Ever heard of the "DIRTY DOZEN?"
The Dirty Dozen are the 12 litter items that are most commonly found on our beaches. These are: Carrier bags, chip packets, cigarette lighters, cooldrink bottles, cooldrink lids, earbuds, fishing line, lightsticks, plastic lollipop sticks, straws, sweet wrappers and water bottles.
The question now is: What can we do to stop this pollution of our oceans? Considering that 80% of plastic found in the oceans originates on land, the answer is actually quite simple - we can intervene in the cycle of pollution entering the oceans via land, by removing it from the beaches and preventing it from entering the water in the first place.
SO COME GEOCACHERS YOUNG AND OLD, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DO YOUR BIT COME JOIN ME AND HOPEFULLY A FEW OTHERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, HOWEVER SMALL IT MAY BE. WHAT IS THAT SAYING ABOUT "ONE STEP"?
Cache In Trash Out® Events
Cache In Trash Out® is an ongoing environmental initiative supported by the worldwide geocaching community. Since 2002, geocachers around the world have been dedicated to improving parks and other cache-friendly places.
Date : 15 SEPTEMBER 2018
Start time : 17H30
End time : 18H30 (SUNSET IS 18H38)
I will bring one or two bags, but if possible please supply your own bags, garden gloves and or tongs.