Wednesday, November 12, 2008

ENTHUSIASTIC support has started pouring in from municipal councils and groups for the November 22 Clean Up Fiji Day event.

Event coordinator Micheal Dennis confirmed yesterday that online registration had begun and that the backing of councils was tremendous.

"The councils are all enthusiastic in their support, offering to distribute bags, gloves, and be the central point for people to rally," he said.

"In Nadi, the council has given areas where they would like to see clean up activities occur and these include the back road and beaches in Wailoaloa and Newtown. But we're finding that all the councils are coming in and telling us what they can do to help."

Full support has been received from the Suva City Council Health Department, Nadi Town Council, Lautoka City Council, and Ba Town Council who have agreed to provide rubbish collection vehicles for the waste collected.

In addition, the councils of Nadi, Lautoka and Ba will act as distribution points for sacks and gloves.

According to the Clean Up Fiji secretariat, the Roko Tui Tailevu has also given support for the Clean Up Fiji campaign in the area.

On individual and group registration, Mr Dennis said this was starting through the online process in Clean Up Fiji's website www.cleanupfiji.org.

"We're starting to get it online. We had the first group register from Colo-i-Suva which was a community group of over 100 people. There's also been the Green Steps group and we've had the Methodist Church in Navakavu register about 100 people in their group. Others who have signed up online include the FIT School of Applied Science with about 30 people and the Australian High Commission".

The first group to register for this year's event from Colo-i-Suva first began at one of the earliest Clean Up Fiji campaigns. It inspired the community so much that they continued regular environmental activities in the area ever since.

One of their big issues has been that the Colo-i-Suva forest park has been used as a dumping ground by many passersby and by companies and individuals on a regular basis.

Just hours after the last Clean Up Fiji Day activity in 2006, the group found to their horror that someone had dumped all their party gear by the roadside in plain view of oncoming traffic.

In a community statement the group said: "Only hours after residents, the local Police Post and friends of Colo-i-Suva Rainforest cleaned up a large section of Princes Road, more garbage was dumped by the roadside and throughout the Forest".

"The piles of garbage, consisting mainly of plastic cups and plates, party decorations, leftover food, and drink bottles, were shamelessly and secretly dumped in the Forest following some function held nearby over the recent weekend.

"This heartbreaking sight came just hours after concerned volunteers, living in and around the area, spent most of their Saturday, April 5th, picking up roadside and Forest rubbish, which filled around fifty large garbage bags and a standard-size carrier truck".

Some of the garbage collected from Colo-i-Suva Forest park during the previous Clean Up Fiji Day event included takeaway food and drink containers, industrial and household waste, building site materials, stoves, sinks, washing machines, computers and car parts.

"Tragically, this problem continues to plague one of Fiji's most beautiful natural assets, and eco-tourism destinations," the group statement said.

If you wish to help put an end to rubbish dumping in Colo-i-Suva, you can report dumpings to Colo-i-Suva Police Post by calling 332 0706.

Clean Up Fiji Day will be held around the country on Saturday November 22. The Fiji Times is a major supporter of the program.

Article reproduced courtesy of Fiji Times Online - http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=106066