Clean up the World 2007 in Gibraltar proved to be incredibly successful. Bringing together over 500 volunteers from every sector of our community picking up rubbish, several hundred more supported the parade and exhibition which launched the weekend itself at Casemates on the Saturday morning.
Having identified sites in the preceding weeks, via land and sea surveys- with the Police, MoD, Technical Services and media- the ESG co-ordinated over 23 teams representing organisations and schools who took part cleaning up 27 different sites. Underwater sites were targeted, coastlines too, as well as many of our green areas which were disgracefully littered. The organisers wish to thank everyone who took part, sponsored and supported the event and ensured 2007 was the most effective campaign ever.
Why? Because as in previous years CUTW has generated a focus, sense of purpose and empowerment among those who took part and encourages further projects to be developed throughout the year: Details of these will be made public shortly.
On the down side the Clean up this year has emphasised the serious problems Gibraltar still faces with dumping and littering, not uncommon throughout Europe but on a patch our size something we should be able to manage better. Gibraltar also produces double the waste per person than someone living in the UK, something we should not be proud of and try and reduce.
CUTW volunteers will soon be contacted to attend a gathering where ideas will be shared and commitments made by each team to take these issues further throughout the coming year. The ESG, as an example, will soon be distributing a “Rubbish Guidelines” poster.
Finally and most importantly Clean up the World would not be as successful as it has been every year without the commitment and support from the community – warm thanks and acknowledgment goes to all as follows:-
Performances by:
St Josephs and Loreto School
Westside Poets
Musicians: Special thanks to Michael Clarence, Adrian Pisarello, Eric Rowbottom and Sister Dee
Exhibits from: As well as information and posters on the Clean up the World Global campaign there were displays from: Westside School great art work and a Greenwatch display; St. Mary’s, St. Martins Governor’s Meadow, Loreto and Bayside School and more from ESG, GONHS, FoE, Technical Services, as well as a footprint corner with guidance from Catherine Walsh and Jon Scott. A very busy Kid’s corner included a giant foot model produced by Michele Stagnetto and helpers as well as colouring and footprinting charts. Children were also encouraged to decorate trees provided by the GONHS with messages on the environment shaped as feet; a comprehensive poster on rubbish guidelines was also displayed for the first time which saw input from Environmental Agency, Department of Environment and organised by the ESG – this was then designed by Anne Coelho who also prepared a large photo montage on rubbish. All in all, the exhibition was exciting and made a colourful splash across the square. Special thanks too to those who came to help set up early in the morning.
Parade:-Westside, Bayside, St Joseph’s First, St Joseph’s Middle, Notre Dame, Sacred Heart, Loreto, St Mary’s, several Clean up the World team leaders, and many other campaign supporters. Main Street was a sea of people and colourful displays and the walkers certainly made an impact as they wound their way to Cathedral Square and back to Casemates. Thanks to the very young whose little legs struggled to make the whole walk but managed to! Also to the caterpillar carriers celebrating Gibraltar’s wonderful biodiversity!
Clean up Teams:
Technical support from Steve Payne (abseiling support), Partygaming, Vic Stadium, Amigos del Camino de Santiago, Eco Warriors (ESG), Ministry for the Env, Stray Cats, FoEGib, South District Group, Royal Gibraltar Police officers and divers, Environmental Agency, GONHS-Cave Section, Royal Gibraltar Regiment, Ministry of Defence, Westside School, Paper Recycling, St. John’s Cadets, Nunca Mais (ESG), St. Christopher’s, Bayside School, Rotary Club, Gibraltar Youth Service, Green Transformers (ESG)
Special thanks to rubbish collectors: Tom Scott, Jim Howitt, Ewen Clinton, Ernest Teuma – ESG, Andrew Abrines – Wildlife (Gibraltar) Ltd, John Carreras – Gibraltar Heritage Trust, Glen Banda – Environmental Agency
First Aid cover: Reliably provided as in previous years by St John’s Cadets Angelo Cerisola and Graham Southall
Equipment and Assistance from: Christina Cortes (ESG) again assisted with her excellent work on the promotional materials in the hot summer months. Gibraltar Philharmonic Society (Ministry of Culture), Department of the Environment, Trafalgar Group, CK Transport, Toyota, Beacon Press, Environmental Agency, Gibraltar Wildlife Ltd, Arts and Crafts Gallery, St Joseph’s Middle School, Royal Gibraltar Police – Marine section, Technical Services and Steve Payne- Abseiler for surveys, Royal Gibraltar Regiment, Michele Stagnetto for her creative and untiring work for the cause, Local Media in promoting the campaign in the run up especially GBC, Radio Gibraltar, Gibraltar Chronicle and the Insight Magazine. Adrian Pisarello and Eric Rowbottom for providing the sound system for event, Radio Gibraltar for providing live radio coverage of Casemates event as well as a live link to Australia at the opening and finally to Lizzie Savignon for help during the early stages of the campaign.
Sponsors:- Thanks to Main Sponsors Bonita Trust and the Open Day Trust, Interbuild, Master Services, MoD, Morrison’s and MRW- Icom for support and help in making this inspiring campaign a reality.
Great care has been taken to include all those who took part – if anyone has been missed out please accept our apology and do let us know and understand this is purely because of the numbers involved..
