Africa-Press – Mozambique. World Coastal Clean-up Day volunteers collected over a ton of garbage from Beira’s Estoril, Veleiro, Biques, Desaguadouro, Náutico, Jardim das Velas and the Grande Hotel beaches on Saturday.
The action brought together approximately 300 volunteers from NGOs like “Let’s do it Mozambique” and the Mozambican Recycling Association (AMOR), and from the Higher Institute of Science and Distance Education (ISCED).
According to the manager of General Projects at AMOR, Cristóvão Gumonda, the idea was to mobilize volunteers and clean up Beira seafront to promote awareness about the irregular disposal of solid waste.
Gumonda added that society must be aware that cleaning the coast is essential, since only by conserving the environment would citizens enjoy better living conditions and avoid major environmental problems.
The AMOR manager said that the promoters and volunteers had hoped that restrictions surrounding the new coronavirus, including the use of beaches, would limit the accumulation of litter.
But this had not happened, as large amounts of empty drinks bottles, plastic containers and bags, among other types of waste, continued to be found on all the beaches covered.
Gumonda said that his organisation had mobilized children, in order that they would in turn to make their family members and friends aware of the need to keep the places where they live clean.
Gumonda said that one of the main pillars of his organization was environmental education, and that he hoped Saturday’s cleaning journey would have a positive impact on solid waste management, both on beaches and elsewhere.
