International Coastal Cleanup Day: Kerala’s Beaches Get a Makeover
On September 21, environmental activists and volunteers came together to clean around 560 beaches in Kerala as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day. This global event is observed every year on the third Saturday of September to raise awareness about marine pollution and promote beach cleanliness.
Massive Cleanup Effort
Dr. V Subhash Chandra Bose, the Cleanup Campaign State Chairman, mentioned that various agencies, including ministries, departments, NGOs, and other organizations, participated in the cleanup. The slogan for this year’s campaign was ‘Room for Life.’
At Shangumugom Beach in Thiruvananthapuram, NCC cadets organized a cleanup drive, picking up trash scattered around the beach.
National Participation
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, joined a Beach Clean-Up Campaign at Juhu Beach. The event also saw the participation of Maharashtra’s Governor C P Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister Eknath Sambhaji Shinde, and Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani.
The Ministry of Environment launched a Beach Cleaning Drive in 2018 with the campaign ‘#IamSavingMyBeach’ on World Environment Day, under the theme ‘Beat Plastic.’ Since then, regular beach cleaning activities have been organized with the support of state governments and local bodies.
Global Impact
International Coastal Cleanup Day aims to inspire people worldwide to clean up beaches, raise awareness about the importance of preserving and protecting oceans and waterways, and address the issue of marine trash. The day was started to combat the growing pollution on beaches globally.
Doubts Revealed
NCC Cadets -: NCC stands for National Cadet Corps. It is a youth organization in India that trains young people in basic military skills and discipline.
Volunteers -: Volunteers are people who offer their time and effort to help with activities or causes without getting paid.
Kerala -: Kerala is a state in the southern part of India, known for its beautiful beaches and backwaters.
International Coastal Cleanup Day -: This is a special day when people all over the world come together to clean up beaches and help protect the ocean from pollution. It happens every year on the third Saturday of September.
Environmental activists -: These are people who work to protect the environment and raise awareness about issues like pollution and climate change.
Dr. V Subhash Chandra Bose -: He is a person who spoke about the cleanup event and the involvement of different groups. He is not the same as the famous freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose.
Shangumugom Beach -: This is a popular beach in Kerala, known for its scenic beauty and cultural significance.
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav -: He is a government official in India who participated in the beach cleanup event at Juhu Beach.
Juhu Beach -: Juhu Beach is a famous beach in Mumbai, India, known for its lively atmosphere and street food.
Marine pollution -: This refers to harmful substances like plastic and chemicals that get into the ocean and harm sea life and the environment.
