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Call: International Coastal Cleanup 2010

ViaNica.com | Aug 20, 2010

Cinthia Membreño

"Let's be part of the solution: don't throw garbage" is the new slogan with which the Paso Pacifico foundation, the American entity Ocean Conservancy and governmental institutions are inviting Nicaraguans to participate, for the third time, in the International Coastal Cleanup. This international activity will be held in Nicaragua on Saturday, September 25, starting at 8:00 am, in different beaches, rivers, lakes and lagoons of the country.

During a press conference given to the national media, Liza González, national director of Paso Pacifico, invited Nicaraguans to join the cause. "The challenge is to clean more than 100 sites, including beaches and rivers, and gather more than 8, 000 volunteers," she explained. In addition, González also stated that the collaboration of organizations, institutions and companies is also necessary.

Martha Ruiz, General Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA), declared that the cleaning topic has been developed together with kids, adults and teenagers so they can organize and clean the beaches. "This is a goal of the country. Therefore, Nicaraguan citizens will be able to enjoy the beauty of our land and tourism will be more developed," she assured.

In the press conference, organizers also explained that in 2009 Nicaragua occupied the 11th place in an international involvement scale of the coastal cleanup. Also, according to a press release given by Paso Pacifico, 6, 500 volunteers participated last year and collected 333 thousand pounds of garbage in 30 municipalities of the country.

Moreover, organizers also informed about the participation of the surfing community in 2010. The surfer Abril Zepeda, coordinator of the cleanup in San Juan del Sur (Rivas), explained that surfers will choose the five most popular beaches of the area. "Forty surfers - between active and retired ones - will be part of the event. A leader will be named for each beach and they will be in charge of gathering more people," she said.

How to participate?

All volunteers must organize their groups, register their beach, river, lake or lagoon and request the registration form. It can be obtained in any of the MARENA and INTUR delegations, or in Paso Pacifico Nicaragua, calling to 2279 7271 or writing at liza@pasopacifico.org.

It is also possible to make a donation. Those institutions, companies, organizations, Nicaraguan and foreigner citizens wanting to participate can donate by making a deposit to the Paso Pacifico bank account: No. 170-200-764 at BANCENTRO.

Supplies and recycling initiatives:

The national director of Paso Pacifico, also invited 2009 volunteers to wear the t-shirts they wore last year. Gonzalez also called companies to sponsor the cleanup, so the foundation can coordinate transportation from centric areas of the department of Managua, Chinandega and Leon, and give t-shirts, garbage bags, gloves, among other basic supplies.