ROUND-UP OF A VERY SUCCESSFUL CLEAN UP THE WORLD 2006 GIBRALTAR EFFORT
CO-ORDINATED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY GROUP

Dear Editor,
Mid-September 2006 the ESG and many others pulled off an amazing hands-on environmental community project that was: multi-layered and had needed much planning and many hours of family time over the summer holidays. This could not have happened without the help of individuals who gave freely of their time and skills and saw the value in a successful Clean up the World campaign.

For those who missed it a brief explanation will shed some light on how close to one thousand Gibraltarians, voluntarily participated over a weekend (not just for one hour!!) in a community campaign aimed at cleaning up and highlighting neglected areas around Gibraltar as well as celebrating our living environment in a dynamic and very colourful green parade and exhibition. There were a number of different projects and all very well supported.

It all began with a Green or environmental parade made up of several hundred people including lots of children. The parade had a carnival quality to it with music and dancing and brought many smiles to the onlookers in Main Street. Due to the careful planning in the lead up to the Parade, there was much colour with banners, posters, and giant figures made out of recyclable waste as well as a giant swallowtail caterpillar carried by 5 very proud young men, celebrating Gibraltar’s precious biodiversity. The parade was led by ESG’s special guest Denny Larson, leader of bucket brigades worldwide and was supported enthusiastically and proudly by:

●  PARADE:

– Schools:    St Mary’s, St. Joseph’s Middle, Notre Dame, St. Bernard’s, Loreto Convent, Westside,               Bayside
– Orgs:         ESG, Gibraltar Heritage Trust, Dukes of Edinburgh, Rotary, Friends of the Earth – Gibraltar
Rhythmic Gymnastics, St John’s Cadets, South District Association, Gibraltar Academy of               Dance
– Musicians: Michael Clarence, Adrian Pisarello and Sister Dee
& many other leading members of the community

● GREEN STREET EXHIBITION:

GONHS Stand (Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society)
ESG Stands with information on Clean up the World global campaign and the issues in Gibraltar
Displays by St Josephs First, Sacred Heart, Westside and Governor’s Meadow
Real time frieze painting on the environment
A three arrow display where children could contribute and finish off a giant recycling sign


Main artwork for both exhibition and parade was produced by two gifted artists Anne Coelho and Michele Stagnetto, also committed to working for a better environment


●   MUSIC:

Excellent renditions of relevant green musical choices were produced by Michael Clarence, Adrian Pisarello and Sister Dee

All this activity was followed by the Clean ups themselves that saw over 350 people pick up rubbish from crisp packets to old fencing, lamp posts and fridges and even a samurai sword!!

●   CLEAN UP TEAMS:


ESG (special thanks to Catherine Walsh), GONHS (including abseilers), Heritage Trust (special thanks to Brenda Soiza), Dukes of Edinburgh, Royal Gibraltar Police Senior Officers (including the Commissioner), Police Recruits, Police Divers, Rotary, Gibraltar Youth Services, Friends of the Earth, Rhythmic Gymnastics, St John’s Cadets, South District Association, Westside School, Amigos de Santiago, Govt employees and the many teams made up of dedicated individuals.
◊ Special mention to the hard efforts of our volunteer rubbish collectors who worked throughout the weekend moving the 50 tonnes to the city dump: Jim Howitt, Tom Scott, Denny Larson, Ernest Teuma, Ewen Clinton, Andrew Abrines, John Cortes, Alfred Vasquez, Maurice Sene, Glen Banda.
◊ Also a very special thanks to Steve Payne, a qualified abseiler whose commitment and skills enabled many of our teams to access difficult areas.
◊ It was wonderful to count on the support again from the Police Diving teams paying attention to underwater littering and pollution adding another important dimension to the clean up weekend
◊ Another project called “Green Watch” was also launched this weekend and we hope, will be repeated annually. This time teachers Keri Scott and Nicole Barabich and a team of Westside students spent a few hours recording the impact humans are having on the East side of the Rock which is seeing major changes of a social and geophysical kind. This living record is important to create awareness of the positive and negative impacts we are having on our environment and for more involvement in the processes to better understand how we can avoid repeating similar mistakes in the future. Involving students who are tomorrow’s future managers is crucial in this type of field study.
◊ The MoD must also be thanked for doing a clean up earlier this year towards the Clean up the World 2006 programme tackling areas in the South and Upper Rock Nature Reserve. This was done by the East and West Riding Regiment.

Equipment for the Clean up was loaned by:

Toyota Gibraltar
Rotary
GONHS
Beacon Press
Waste Management Company via Government Technical Services
Gibraltar Fire Brigade
Master Services
Department of Education
St Joseph’s Middle School
Ministry of Defence
Hire U Shop
Gibraltar Youth Service

Sponsors:

GBC Open Day Trust, Interbuild, MRW, M Serruya, Beacon Press, Latinos, Image Graphics,  Gibraltar Heritage Trust, Queens Hotel, Hassans Law Firm, Form a Co, Parody Tours


Also thanks to Rock Interactive who pursued our activity throughout the weekend to ensure that full media coverage was achieved.


Thanks to the local media for supporting the ESG in its work throughout the year.

Finally, an acknowledgment that the ESG is made up of a dedicated team of people who want to see a better environment and future for all and I, personally, would like to take this opportunity of thanking everyone who ensured this particular weekend was a HUGE SUCCESS!!!

Janet Howitt


ESG