“The ESG is quite disappointed with the lack of discussion on Climate Change, the environment and pollution during recent election debates;  issues which greatly affect our quality of life and will increasingly impact future generations.

In an appeal to the media and political parties the ESG calls for these critical issues to be included in the debates so we can understand the commitment held by candidates and parties on these issues. 

As has been said often times in the past couple of elections: the environment is no longer the  remit of ‘NGOs or the hippie fraternity’,  but key and difficult issues that need to be central to all decision making by Government. 

Barely a word has been said acknowledging the importance the environment, our nest and home, carries for our health, safety and stability. We hope to hear full debates on these issues and also look forward to interactive public sessions where the community can raise these crucial topics with candidates.”

Organisers of the 19^th annual Clean up the World are extremely grateful to Team Leaders and volunteers, essential agencies, services, specialists and contractors for the energy and civic pride displayed throughout the clean up activity this weekend. The phenomena that the community wide Clean up has become did not disappoint with over 450 hard working citizens of all ages doing their best to help clear litter and other waste left by thoughtless people and businesses.

17 areas, many of them habitats, saw a thorough going over by busy teams leaving them pristine and cleared from food related waste to commercial and industrial material. Our seafronts, green areas, nature and marine reserves, underwater and hard to access sites as well as some town areas were tackled with verve and purpose. This effort must surely be followed by increased surveillance, fines and visible deterrents to reduce the pattern of wanton and daily littering and fly tipping.

25 teams made up of schools, associations, companies and agencies worked throughout most of Gibraltar tackling lightly littered areas and major hotspots. Seven Sisters saw an unexpectedly major haul of historic fly tipping with the Prison Car Park area another hotspot. Britannia Services closely collaborated here for which we are most thankful.

Overall a larger haul this year resulting from the excellent effort by teams and close support of Britannia who recognises the educational benefits of the Clean up Campaign and also tackled areas with us.

Thanks to all involved which resulted in the collection of 12 large truckloads and 3 vanloads of waste to the open quarry where a symbolic mountain was created driving the message home that we still have a lot to do as a community before we can hang up our boots on this important issue anytime soon.

Thanks to the Dept of Environment, Britannia, Bassadone, Wildlife Gibraltar, GibSubAqua888 and our own steering team for their help and participation on the day. Thanks go to ALL volunteers and supporters.

A fuller report will be published soon.

Watch out for a special film on the Clean up coming out soon.

Check out : https://www.gbc.gi/tv/programmes/brighter-future-906/episode/episode-1-6606

for a GBC film on the 2019 Clean up showing great community energy and participation!!

The ESG is pleased to confirm strong support once again from the Gibraltar community for the global Clean up the World Event taking place Saturday 23rd September. Millions of volunteers in 100s of countries will be taking action in their neighbourhoods to help their environment. With the long established theme ‘Our Place, Our Planet, Our Responsibility’, this campaign provides an opportunity to give something back to the natural environment we so enjoy while exercising civic pride and respect for our surroundings. It also places a spotlight on ongoing problems regarding littering and fly tipping.

Over 25 teams, including several schools, will be equipped and ready to go Saturday morning, tackling multiple sites throughout Gibraltar ranging from green areas, coastal, open and underwater as well as urban sites. These partnerships have become well established over time and are deeply appreciated. The campaign also sees essential support from agencies and specialists so that difficult to access areas are included. Special mention must be given to the Department of the Environment and Britannia for their assistance with logistics involved at some sites.

With the summer dominated somewhat with oil related pollution from the shipping world we now turn our sights to homegrown waste which continues to pervade and mar our beautiful Gibraltar.

The Clean up Campaign will stimulate discussion and highlight issues among those who take part and reach the wider community via the media. Among key aims are:

• Greater visibility of fines and enforcement of dumping and littering rules to act as a real deterrent
• Increased and improved facilities and more signage to be displayed to promote pride in our environment (info for residents/ rubble tipping/ rubbish in hotspots)
• Stricter monitoring of shared public spaces used by businesses and the community often leading to dangerous conditions and eyesores

While teams can no longer apply, fit and active people are welcome to get in touch to be added to existing teams before Wednesday the 20th. Please email to: esg@gibtelecom.net

Reports on the outcome of the busy day will be published in the media.

Visit esg-gib.net for posters and other information over the next week.

https://www.gbc.gi/tv/programmes/gbc-news-1202/episode/150823-11565

Follow above link for TNP and ESG interview from 3.50 to 10.30 minutes.

The ESG would like to share its relief and gratitude to all those involved in the recent removal of the stricken vessel OS35 from our shoreline.

Gibraltar and the nearby marine environment did not escape entirely unscathed, but it’s clear a major incident was averted by the careful handling undertaken by the Port and advisory team.

We thank our teams of volunteers who were on standby throughout the presence of the vessel and dedicated their free time when called to, to assist in the very tricky business of removing sticky, tarry oil from our shoreline. 

It thanks all at the Port led by its Captain, and other agencies as well as the Department of the Environment who kept NGOs and volunteers appraised of the environmental threat from the vessel on a constant basis.

The ESG confirms this years Clean up Campaign will be held alongside the global event on the 23rd September.

We welcome longterm teams and new volunteers to sign up and do your bit to promote civic pride and help reverse some of the damage we inflict on our natural environment in this beautiful corner of the world we are so lucky to inhabit.

New Poster and additional information will be posted this week.

Meanwhile please email us at: esg@gibtelecom.net to register your interest to participate as an individual or team. A rough idea of numbers, ages and fitness as well as a mobile contact number for our records would be very useful.

Thanks once again to those who have already been in contact and we welcome the opportunity to meet with everyone a few weeks before the day itself for discussions on the issues as well as practical information on logistics. Watch this space for more details that will be published in local media as well as emailed to team leaders. Thank you!

CLICK ON TITLE FOR PIECE

ZERO IMPACT MEANS ZERO OIL

Sunday 13^th August 2023

As the first milestone in the Rosia oil clean up is reached, with round the clock efforts in place to save the coastline stepping down to a more moderate level, news has filtered through of a very minor oil spill from a bunkering barge within the harbour itself. As far as we can tell not much detail has been published such as the barge company involved, qty of spill and most importantly why did it happen? One would think that after this most recent bunkering oil spill debacle that extra care would be ordered from top down to ensure efforts were doubled to avoid such accidents? Was this also negligence one asks? Will fines follow?

The ESG would also like to correct the statements being made of the zero impact of this latest in the run of oil spills. Zero impact means zero oil.

As an NGO that has followed the evolution of shipping and bunkering in Gibraltar the group has pressed for best technology and practice to be followed to protect the environment and eliminate air/noise and marine pollution to the least possible.

While some of these targets are being achieved, there is no doubt that much more needs to be done, and done quickly, to review why these incidental spills keep happening. The public should be told of the bunkering firms involved in selling the fuel along with whatever vessel is being serviced when an incident occurs. The ESG also believes the Port must exercise greater physical presence over the multiple bunkering operations going on in our waters as the ultimate authority for Pollution Prevention and Control. We would also insist that the industry is large enough to fund dedicated bunker inspectors to ensure standards by all operators are being adhered to during all transactions.

Bunkering is not only an economic pillar for Gibraltar. It is also a major multi million profit making business for the owners. As such, when mistakes are made, and spills occur, we think that huge fines must be given to all to ensure changes are made on the ground and tighter controls are put in place to act as serious deterrent. Instead we see some fines, clean up costs covered, a few local companies and departments working frantically to save our environment while bunkering continues, until the next one.

We need change.