Ashraf AboArafe
- British Embassy, British Consulate General and Alexandrian community hand in hand to clean up Thaghr City’s beach..
21 April – On the occasion of World Earth Day, the British Consulate General in Alexandria led a project as part of the British Embassy’s Inspire Egypt initiative to support and sponsor the efforts of Alexandria Turtle and Wildlife Rescue Team to clean up the beach of Thaghr City. The initiative brought together 150 volunteers, including members of the British Consulate General staff, school students, NGOs, government employees and local wildlife lovers.
The British Consul General Wendy Freeman took part in the day’s events, starting with a walking race from Stanley tourist area and Gleem Public Beach, followed by a campaign to clean the beach. About 90 students of Alexandria schools and members of the local junior Rotary club took part in the beach clean-up and around 80 large bags filled with rubbish found on the beach were taken away.
Not only did the initiative clean up the local area, but it set out to raise awareness of Earth Day. Induction stations were set up to hold workshops and presentations about the importance of Earth Day and the impact of global climate change. Beach visitors were introduced to the concept of Earth Day, the importance of recycling and waste sorting, how to minimise waste of energy and water resources, the risks of plastic to marine life and how to reduce the use of plastic materials.
There are over 150 million tonnes of plastic in the world’s oceans and every year one million birds and over 100,000 sea mammals die from eating and getting tangled in plastic waste.
The day concluded with prize giving to the schoolchildren who took part. Winners were awarded scientific books prizes in the fields of environment, wildlife and marine life.
The British Consul General Wendy Freeman said: “Egypt has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, and I am delighted to support this community effort to bring this local beach back to its natural beauty. The enthusiasm of the local students and local junior Rotary club have made this possible. We hope that our efforts will encourage more young Egyptians and decision makers to take part in the global effort to raise environmental awareness.”
British Ambassador to Egypt John Casson said: “We all have a responsibility to look after the environment, particularly when it comes to the world’s seas and oceans where the challenge is global. That is why last week the British Prime Minister announced a GBP£61.4m package of funding to boost global research on plastics pollution and help stop plastic entering the oceans. We are proud to sponsor a community initiative in Alexandria that brings together Egyptian youth and government to serve the Alexandrian community and help the environment. That’s what Inspire Egypt is all about: celebrating the efforts of the brilliant Egyptian minds who are working tirelessly to develop themselves and their country. ’’
Last week, the UK government also announced its intention to ban the sale of plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds as part of the fight against plastic pollution. It is also looking for evidence on how to use the tax system to address single-use plastics waste.
About Inspire Egypt:
The British Embassy kicked off Inspire Egypt in September 2016 to celebrate inspiring Egyptians from all walks of life. Through the campaign, the embassy has held a series of events, workshops, activities and competitions that shed a spotlight on successful Egyptians innovating in fields including agriculture, education, sports, and social enterprise, particularly those working on building an more inclusive and equal society. The initiative aims to invest in their potential to make a difference.
