Sunday, November 23, 2008

THERE were more clean-up campaigners than passing passers-by in Labasa yesterday morning as the Clean Up Fiji hype caught on in the northern town.

Equipped with gloves and 50kg sacks, the litter pickers, most of whom were secondary school students, set to work.

Helping Our Polluted Environment, a non-government organisation, said the litter in Labasa Town was very appaling.

HOPE member Doreen Robinson said rubbish from five square metres filled eight 50 kilogram bags.

Holy Family Secondary School principal Claire Vasu explained the change in students' attitudes.

"We had the children make their own rubbish bins and then painted it, which gave them a sense of ownership.

"It's because they were actively involved in rubbish bins in schools that helped them change their attitudes," Ms Vasu said.

Article reproduced courtesy of Fiji Times Online - http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=106936