
Saturday, 31st October 2009 - 15:07CET
Major seabed clean up in eight locations
A record number of over 250 volunteers and 42 organisations have teamed up with GreenPak to make the fourth annual seabed clean up Malta’s largest clean up ever.
“It is like cleaning up after a party. Following the busy summer months, the sea needs cleaning up otherwise all the rubbish will be scattered in the marine environment by winter storms,” said Mario Schembri, CEO of Green Dot Malta Ltd, operators of the GreenPak packaging recovery scheme.
Green Dot Malta is the organisation at the forefront of organising this event aimed at creating a healthier and cleaner environment.
“Throughout the year, GreenPak recovers millions of kilogrammes of packaging from the waste stream and diverts them away from landfill and towards recycling.
On a day-to-day basis, GreenPak collects waste materials directly from households, companies and hotels. This event gives us the opportunity to focus the public’s attention to the reckless behaviour of some individuals. It is incredible what types of rubbish are gathered from the seabed during our annual clean up drives. We are thankful to all the organisations and individuals that are once again generously supporting our drive to clean our seas, Mr Schembri said.
He said this year, GreenPak chose to think globally and act locally, by extending its annual clean up event to cover eight locations around Malta and Gozo.
By coordinating a clean up of such magnitude, GreenPak is highlighting an important message: through the public utilisation of recycling facilities, the majority of plastics, paper and glass can be prevented from entering our seas and this avoids adding to this global phenomenon.
Various Local Councils supported this event and a number of diving localities have benefitted from the Clean up. The Local Councils which took part include St. Paul’s Bay (Fekruna – Xemxija/Gillieru area , Qrendi (Wied iz-Zurrieq), Sliema (Exiles), St Julians (Dragonara Reef), Marsascala (Zonqor) Munxar (Xlendi), Zebbug Gozo (Marsalforn).
Various diving schools and clubs also lent a hand.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information Chris Said visited the volunteers at Xlendi and Marsalforn and opposition tourism spokesman Marie-Louise Coleiro-Preca at Wied iz-Zurrieq.







RSS
Comments
Il-Gahan Malti : la ma jidhirx, ma jimpurtax!
Kellu bżonn jitnaddaf Bejn il-Kmiemen ukoll għax mimli tajers, fliexken u bottijiet. Anki fl-għerien issib it-tajers!
GreenPak’s Seabed Clean Up 2009 would not have been possible without the help of various diving schools and clubs who have dedicated their free time to lend a hand in this initiative. The clubs include Amphibians Dive Club, Atlam Dive Club, Calypso Diving Club, St Andrews Divers Cove, Utina Diving College, Calypso Diving Centre, Maltaqua, Divewise, Dive Systems, Scubatech Diving Centre, Divemed, New Dimensions Scuba, Subway Dive Centre, Moby Dives Centre, and Scuba Kings Dive Centre.
Support was also extended by GreenSkips, The Malta Scouts Association, St. Paul’s Bay Girl Guides, the Russian Boarding School, AIS Ltd, GFI, McDonalds, P. Cutajar Ltd, Rokky Products Ltd, Longbow Ltd, Unicare, San Pellegrino, M. Demajo Group, Philip Toledo Ltd, Nectar Group and The Body Shop, marine conservation NGOs Bicref and Gaia Foundation, and the international organisations Project Aware Foundation and Laneo, whose aim is to clean up the world
Denise Vassallo - GreenPak Communications Manager
You wrote "What happened to our good Council in Birzebbugia, as usual eyes closed."
Quite on the contrary. Your Labour-led council has been very active fighting for your basic civic rights such as the right of enjoying your household. I was personally involved with them in the Wied il-Buni Freeport application case and they - togoether with the Birzebbuga Environment Group - fought the issue tooth and nail.
You should put more pressure on the central government to help improve the livelhood of the Birzebbuga residents.
Support was also extended by GreenSkips, The Malta Scouts Association, St. Paul’s Bay Girl Guides, the Russian Boarding School, AIS Ltd, GFI, McDonalds, P. Cutajar Ltd, Rokky Products Ltd, Longbow Ltd, Unicare, San Pellegrino, M. Demajo Group, Philip Toledo Ltd, Nectar Group and The Body Shop, marine conservation NGOs Bicref and Gaia Foundation, and the international organisations Project Aware Foundation and Laneo, whose aim is to clean up the world
GreenPak thanks them all.
The complete 'picture' of the event of today can be seen on this link:
http://www.greenpak.com.mt/images/CleanUp_2009_Map.jpg
Denise Vassallo
Communications Manager
GreenPak
Having said this I will answer your question by stating that support for the Goverment of the day - of whichever Party that may be - does not stop with this activity only. I can mention the the Life Cycleannualevent to help the Kidney/Renal Unit. Another NGO in Gozo has purchased new Monitors for the CCUI/ITU Gozo Hospital.
There are other organisations who assist in different ways our society, such as the Richmond Foundation, Suiriet il-Bniedem, YMCA, and many many others, thus saving you and me from paying higher taxes through their voluntary work.
Rather than asking such question, you and I ought to thank such organisations and support them financially or through other ways.
It is evident that you are not aware that such organisations exist even in larger countries like the USA, UK, and many other couintries.
Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta