The Power of Volunteering

The Power of Volunteering

ICC clean upIt is said actions speak louder than words.  On September 21, the joint endeavors of close to 600 local and international volunteers lay testament to this old adage. We came together to be a part of the world’s largest volunteering initiative to clean up waterways and the ocean: the International Coastal Cleanup. Our concerted efforts resulted in 11 tons of trash being collected in 1 day over 26 km of Karnataka’s coastline*.  

Facilitated by FSL staff, this result was thanks to the communities of 6 different zones of Udupi, a coastal district in the state of Karnataka, India. Everyone from municipalities, Gram Panchayaths (local self-government units of India at the village or small town level), youth clubs, Coastal Security Forces to local volunteering groups such as the Bharath Nirman, came together for this purpose. In India, the event is a joint initiative of Ocean Conservancy , Washington, USA and Indian Maritime Foundation, Pune. The effort was also a part of FSL’s objective to facilitate environment conservation initiatives on the Karnataka coast. These include: sea turtle conservation, environment education, facilitating ‘eco-clubs’ in schools, among others.

International Coastal Cleanup is an annual initiative mobilized by Ocean Conservancy, ‘working to stop the flow of trash at its source before it has a chance to reach the water to choke and entangle dolphins or endanger sea turtles, or ruin our beaches and depress our local economies’. It harnesses the power of volunteering to conserve our world’s waterways and oceans. In 2012,  this power resulted in more than half a million volunteers in 97 countries collecting close to 1 million food wrappers and plastic bags, among other types of trash.

We wish to thank everyone who participated in the effort. And hope to continue enabling like-minded people to exercise their power to bring about social change.

*Distances and weights estimated according to guidelines stated in the ‘Pocket Guide to Marine Debris’ by Ocean Conservancy

Comments are closed.