Clean up the World Day, 12 September 2014.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs took part in the activities organised by the Cook Islands National Environment Services (Tuanga Taporoporo) in recognition of the day internationally recognised as Clean up the World Day.
The 2014 theme set by the National Environment Service was “E tango Maori te Ao Ora Natura, Our Islands, Our Biodiversity Our Future” and organisations were encouraged to volunteer time and to target rubbish and waste along our coastal beaches and river ways that pollute our lagoons and threaten the existence of our marine and birdlife.
Staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs targeted their Clean Up Day activities along the beach front in Tupapa in front of the Ministry premises up to the Game Fishing Club and along the main road between the Fishing Club and the Ministry.
“I would like to give a big meitaki ranuinui to all staff that participated in our Clean Up Day activity. It was good to see that the beach was far cleaner this year compared to last year,” stated Secretary of Internal Affairs, Bredina Drollet.
In 2013, the cleanup effort of the same area took almost three hours. This year, the time taken was far quicker at less than an hour and the level of waste collected was also significantly lower showing that regular annual cleanups can make a difference.
Appreciation is given to the National Environment Service for assisting with some supply of bags and gloves and to those staff that brought their own gloves and bags.
Other Clean Up Day activities in the Cook Islands included the participation of schools on Rarotonga and Pa Enua, private businesses and other Government agencies with cleanup activities, planting of trees, conserving of water and undertaking environmental awareness raising or education initiatives. For further detail, please visit the National Environment Service website.
