Earth Day 2011

On Wednesday April 13th, 2011, the Toledo Institute for Development and the Environment (TIDE) in collaboration with the Southern Environmental Association (SEA) conducted a beach and community clean-up campaign in Punta Gorda Town at the 1mile stretch of Hopeville and Texaco Gas Station. The clean-up campaign was geared towards the celebration of EARTHDAY which is commemorated every year on April 22nd. The overall idea of the campaign was to create awareness among community members about the problem of garbage and waste affecting the beaches and residents of Punta Gorda Town and the surrounding Villages.

Apart from the presence of SEA and TIDE staff there was numerous groups that joined the clean-up campaign they are Toledo Community College, St. Phillips Primary School, Jacinto Environmental Club, Toledo Tour Guide Association, Sustainable Harvest International, Plenty Belize, Belize Defence Force, St. Benedict Primary School, Bethel Seven Day Adventist School, and Machaca Outreach Center. SEA would like to take this opportunity to thank all the schools and environmental groups for taking the time out to conduct the clean-up campaign. We look forward in working hand in hand with other groups to combat the problem of solid waste.

As part of activities held in commemoration with EARTHDAY, the Southern Environmental Association also held another clean-up campaign at laughing bird caye along with SPLASH Dive Shop who provided boats and food for the participants. There were approximately 100 students from Seine Bight and Placencia Village who participated in the event. The students thoroughly cleaned the 1.4 acre island which was covered with debris, plastic bottles, and styrofoam. Personnel from SEA and Splash Dive shop also joined the students on their quest to clean-up the island. Thanks to all who participated and contributed in this event.