The International Coastal Cleanup Project - Singapore

The International Coastal Clean up is a world-wide effort coordinated by the Ocean Conservancy to collect data and to clean trash and debris from beaches worldwide. Established in 1977, the program records and identifies activities that litter the oceans and uses the information to help make ocean policies and to educate the public. Their aim is to create positive change in favor of the environment in which we all are a part of.

This 2008, the annual ICCS clean-up will be conducted on September 20th.
NUS (National University of Singapore) coordinates it. The website can be found here or on the side menu bar. If you're not in SG but live near a body of water, check the Ocean Conservancy ICC page to see ways in which you can help your part of the world locally.

ICCS isn't the only beach clean up in Singapore though. There are a lot all the time (and they always welcome more volunteers). The Sembawang Beach Clean-up, coordinated by the Navy Region Center Singapore Public Works/Environmental department, takes place on Earth Day (usually).

"This is one of [the] initiatives to involve the community and to bring about positive change, teamwork, a sense of belonging and making a difference," said Cmdr. Alice Wilson, an environmental engineer for the NRCS. "It is important to increase public awareness and to do our part."

The Sembawang Beach is actually one of Singapore's few remaining natural sandy beaches (did you know the ones at Sentosa are all fake and man-made?).

"I get a great sense of satisfaction from seeing the finished product of a clean beach that people can enjoy... to know that just because a small group of volunteers had the energy and will to make a difference is a great contribution not only to the community but to mother Earth," said Lt. Cmdr. Carmen Gaston.

[Quotes and information from the Sembawang Community Beach Clean-up was taken from the April 2008 issue of the Merlion Star.]

Cleaning up beaches (or mangroves, or anything really) can help coral reefs too - trash that might get washed away into the coral reefs and cause environmental stress is removed. It's a good thing.

Both Joseph and I have participated in this event - It's really fun and it makes you feel really good. You connect with a lot of people too. All you need is a pair of shoes you don't mind dirtying and a good attitude. So we'll see you around on September 20, 2008.

GET INVOLVED.

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As an added bonus: Here are a couple interviews (they're more like podcasts...) that we were able to conduct with staff members of Singapore American School regarding ICCS.

Mrs. Kate Thome
Mrs. Thome was director and creator of ICCS for 10 years (she's not anymore).


Mr. Fred Crawford
Mr. Crawford teaches college-level physics at SAS. He is also the leader of the aluminum recycling initiative in SAS's SAVE club.
Q: What is ICCS? What does ICCS do?


Mr. Doug Neihart
Mr. Neihart is the deputy principal of SAS.
Q: What are your thoughts about ICCS?

posted by Sage @ 8/30/2008 10:56:00 AM Comments: 0