We have scheduled a beach clean-up on Bonaire for the afternoon of 30-October-2001. We would welcome anyone on-island at that time, that wishes to join us. Details of the project follow below.


CONSERVATION PROJECT DESCRIPTION . . .
We have set up a project to clean up a portion of the island on the windward side (just to the north of Cai), where debris washes up. We are coordinating with STCB (Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire), the Center for Marine Conservation (Now the Ocean Conversancy.) in Washington D.C. and Jong Bonaire, a local youth group.

Local organizations will supply trucks to remove the debris and collection bags. The Ocean Conversancy will provide forms on which to categorize our collections and hopefully determine it's source. We will supply the labor and work gloves. We are currently trying to obtain beverages and snacks, sunscreen and insect repellent, etc. for the group.

Jong Bonaire, is an after school teen center for high school students on Bonaire. Our group consists of divers from DSC Divers, the Delta Dive Club and the Fairfield County Diving Association.

If you will be on-island at that time and wish to join us, please respond to this thread.

Thanks,
George k

Hello George, your project is very important and we hope that all over the world it will be come a reality because if you see the beach of the port of Catania it's incredibel, Catania is in Sicily, it's not like in touristic zone like Taormina, where everything is clean, so I think that we have to ask more interest of the Governement of Lands in general. It's very important to respect the Nature and animals. So I am very interesting by your project and I want to be a member, thank you for more informations about this. I wait your answer here. See you !!! SONIA

Sonia;

You are welcome to join us if you are on Bonaire on 30-October-2001. We would be greatfull for your help. We will be working after 14hr00 at the shoreline just to the north of Cai, on the east side of the island. Just ask for me (George). You will also be able to contact me at Plaza Resort Bonaire after 18hr00 on 27-October. If I am not available, leave a message where and when I can contacct you.

If you will not be on-island at that time, I will be posting the results of our project on this discussion group after we return.

We are a group of divers, mostly from the northeast U.S. and, as group coordinator, I will try to continue such projects in support of the local community and environment on our future trips.

George

George,
This is to inform you that I requested SELIBON to place a container at Lac on 30 October. This container will be picked up by the same after the clean-up.
If needed you can contact me at 7172897.
Jan Kloos, Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire

Thanks Jan.

George

Georges, Thank you for your attention but for the moment I can not come to your group but I am happy to see that you go discuss with you members of the results, and I am very happy that with this computer everybody is near to change slowly something for the world nature. I wait answers and questions of everybody on your site. SEE YOU SONIA

CONSERVATION PROJECT, BONAIRE –– Participant reports

30 October 2001

We came. We saw. We conquered. Trash that is.
Every year the DSC (Danbury Ski Club) expends its horizons, from skiing on frozen water (snow) to the liquid form, for a week long dive trip to an exotic location. This year brought us to the beautiful island of Bonaire.
In addition to enjoying the pristine waters surrounding the island, Trip Coordinator, George K. arranged a shoreline clean up project. Along with the volunteers from Jong Bonaire, members of the DSC, the Delta Dive Club and the Fairfield County Diving Association, were bound for Lac Bay
On a steamy, hot, Tuesday afternoon, approximately 20 members of the group picked up volunteers from the Jong Bonaire center in Kralendijk. We piled into our trucks, filling the cabs and the truck beds to capacity; and the first similarity between Bonairean youth and American youth became clear. The kids couldn’t sit still in the back of the truck. They stood for the entire trip, serenading us with hits from Bonaire’s top-40 radio station.
The instant we pulled up to Lac Bay, the rain started; a welcome respite from the heat. The rain lasted for all of five minutes, and the sun came out. There was no avoiding it any longer. We had to begin. The amount of trash and debris was overwhelming for everyone. It was EVERYWHERE. How could we possibly make a dent in all of this?
And then after the first few bags were filled, am amazing thing happened. The shoreline started looking cleaner! The participants from Jong Bonaire and the visiting divers talked about what we were accomplishing together. As we picked up more, we talked more – about their school, their lives and the island, their families, and our lives in the United States.
On it went:picking-talking – talking-picking and within a few hours, the giant amount of washed up trash, was gone; and so was the thousands of miles that separated our groups.
So thank you Bonaire. We would have never guessed that helping rid your shores of washed up debris would lead to one of the most beautiful parts of our vacation.

Dorian

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- A Brief Cultural Exchange -

After diving in the morning, a group from the DSC (Danbury Ski Club) Divers, Delta Dive Club and Fairfield County Diving Association joined with a group of young Bonairians to pick up debris (mostly plastic and rope) washed up on the shoreline just to the north of Lac Bay.

At first there was a little reluctance between the groups to actively interact, however it wasn’t long before our common purpose began to forge a common bond. The age and cultural gap narrowed and the laughter and genuine interest in the lives of each group, by the other took over. By the end of the project, youthful exuberance, laughter and singing provided a reward far greater than the effort of our work. I sensed that the youth saw a different aspect of affluent N. Americans, an aspect of respect for nature and an appreciation for the natural resources of Bonaire. It was a rewarding and bonding experience.

R. J. B.

What a wonderful idea! Connect with people, have fun and clean up. That poor shore line is so full of junk that washes ashore from other islands, boats, etc.

Maybe the Feb/March BT group could organize something similar, in addition to our get-together. Anyone interested??

Josie,
Sounds good, I'll keep the FtMg (February thru March group) list up to date (at least I'l try); we could use some volunteer 'organizers / coordinators' to set-up some activities.
Chet

You can count us in,

Peter & Liesbeth

Chet -
What Feb thru March group?
Ed and I have been away for 5+ weeks so haven't had a chance to read this site.
E-mail me direct since my phone line connection is SO SLOW I can't always get things if there are pictures in the thread.
Peggy pegdiver@monmouth.com