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MINA, youth group’s Laolao Bay cleanup nets 50 lbs of trash
Staff of the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance and a youth group from the Jesus is Lord Church jointly did a beach cleanup at Laolao Bay last Saturday, July 21.
The purpose of the Laolao Bay beach cleanup was not only to prevent the accumulation of marine debris but also to encourage volunteers to learn more about near shore marine management.
Saturday’s beach cleanup was focused in an area designated as Zone 2, from the Coral Reef Management Office parking lot to the MINA hut, located and along the road and shore. The cleanup coordinators were Shirlynn Perez and Herbert Sablan.
The Christian Youth for the Nation members collected 11 bags of trash that weighed 50.79 lbs, and seven bags of recyclables that weighed 36.79 lbs.
Genelin Camacho, a member of the Jesus is Lord Church, says she is grateful for being given the opportunity “to clean this beautiful beach and it feels good to give back to the community.”
She was surprised at the large amount of trash they collected, thinking that Laolao Bay is already a clean area. “This beach cleanup motivated me to do things differently in the future by recycling and placing trash in the right place.”
Another member, Jeremie Tanghal, stated that he collected a huge amount of trash and that taught him to protect the environment by making sure that people place their trash in trash cans or recycle bins.
During the trash collection, they found a gas stove and an aluminum faucet. “We can assume that these were result of illegal dumping and not from picnics,” they said.
MINA is a nonprofit organization that works to sustain the natural environment that ensures the islands’ way of life. Tasi Watch is a collaborative effort between the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance, Our LaoLao Campaign, Division of Environmental Equality, Coastal Resource Management Office, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and other government agencies, and private organizations by providing the Laolao Bay communities the opportunity to manage near shore marine resources. (MINA)
