BECQ to commemorate EAM with slew of activities

The Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality is commemorating Environmental Awareness Month this April. EAM is all about protecting and caring for our islands, and this year’s theme is “Our Natural Treasures.” To celebrate, BECQ is hosting a number of activities throughout the month of April.

It starts with the EAM proclamation signing today, April 1, 10:30am at the Governor’s Office.

BECQ Lab Tours will also be held on April 7-8, 14-15, and 27 28 at the agency’s office. The purpose of the Lab Tours is to give students an insight on how it is to work in a laboratory and gain knowledge on the importance of testing our water quality; in addition, to determining whether our beaches are safe to swim in. The Lab staff will showing the students their facilities and what are the tools and skills needed to have in order to work in the lab.

For more information about the Lab Tours, please contact Dean Palacios or Charito Bautista at BECQ, (670) 664-8500 or E-mail: deanpalacios@becq.gov.mp or charitobaustita@becq.gov.mp and sign up today!

On April 16 and 30, CNMI Snorkels Day will be held at the Flame Tree Festival (Civic Center Beach) and Obyan Beach, respectively, from 9am to 12pm. The activity is free.

BECQ will also be partnering with the Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance and Let’s Move Marianas to invite the public to come out and join us in its standing CNMI Snorkels Program.

Bring your snorkel or use one of ours—hop in the lagoon with marine biologists to see our ocean environment up close, and get a workout in for your day! BECQ’s snorkeling experts will be available to help you learn how to use your mask and snorkel.

For more information, please contact Avra Heller at BECQ, (670) 664-8500 or e-mail: avrahellerdeq@gmail.com.

A tree giveaway will also be held on April 16 from 9am to 12pm at the Flame Tree Arts Festival.

In partnership with CNMI Forestry and NMC-CREES, BECQ will be giving out free native trees and plants to the community.

The “Tree Giveaway” event is to promote the reduction of harmful erosion impacts that’s facing our precious islands.

For more information, please contact Jonathan Arriola at BECQ, (670) 664-8500 or E-mail: jonathanarriola@becq.gov.mp.

An Environmental Expo for all 4th and 5th graders will be held on April 19-20 (8:30am-1pm) and April 21, 2016 (12:30pm-3pm) at the American Memorial Park

It is one of BECQ’s main events for Environmental Awareness Month and BECQ is excited to invite 4th and 5th grade students, educators, and the public to attend. This is a showcase of the CNMI’s environmental and natural resource groups in conducting widespread outreach.

For more information about the Environmental Expo, please contact Avra Heller or Jihan Buniag at BECQ, (670) 664-8500 or E-mail: avrahellerdeq@gmail.com / jihanbuniagbecq@gmail.com.

On April 29, an Island Wide Clean-up will be held from 2:30pm to 4:30pm. For more information, please contact Aileen Benavente or Tom Pangelinan at BECQ, (670) 664-8500 or e-mail: aileenbenavente@becq.gov.mp/tompangelinan@becq.gov.mp and sign up today!

BECQ will also be holding several competitions during Environmental Awareness Month.

Its “Trash to Treasure” Tote Bag Design Contest will be held on April 16 at the Flame Tree Arts Festival.

The goal of this contest is to actively encourage the use of reusable shopping bags within our community and decrease the amount of plastic bags bringing harmful effects to the environment.

Remade tote bags created by our young designers will be featured at the Flame Tree Arts Festival event by turning the garbage back into art. Help save our earth and inspire the usage of reusable shopping bags!

For more information please contact Olivia Tenorio or Katie Graziano at BECQ, (670) 664-8500 or e-mail: olivetenorio81@gmail.com/k.graziano.becq@gmail.com.

The Coral Reef Initiative #SpeakForTheReefs Video Contest will be held for the whole month of April.

Participants should showcase their creativemess by making a 30-second YouTube video where you #SpeakForTheReefs. Submit your video links to Avra Heller or Jihan Buniag at BECQ or e-mail: avrahellerdeq@gmail.com/jihanbuniagbecq@gmail.com.

MINA also has Environmental Awareness Month activities set for April like Taya Plastic Tuesdays. Joeten Enterprises, in partnership with MINA, is encouraging customers to say “No!” to plastic bags and utilize their reusable bags. Every Tuesday, Joeten will not distribute plastic bags and instead offer the option to use their own bags, provided boxes, paper bags for 10 cents, or to purchase reusable shopping bags for 99 cents.

As part of MINA’s efforts to reduce plastic pollution, MINA volunteers will also be setting up learning stations on Thursdays at the Garapan Street Market throughout the month of April. Bring your old T-shirts and the team will teach you how to make old T-shirts into reusable bags. MINA encourages the community to refuse plastic bags at the checkout counter.

For more information, please contact Jolly Ann Cruz at minaoutreach@gmail.com or 233-7333 (REEF).

For more information on BECQ’s activities for Environmental Awareness Month this April, contact EAMcChair Tehani Kirby-Joab or vice chair Robert Deleon Guerrero at (670) 664-8500 or e-mail: kirbyjoab@becq.gov.mp /robertdlguerrero@becq.gov.mp. (PR)