Ticket to Life Scouts join coastline clean-up drive

Celebrating Clean Up the World Weekend which mobilises Scouts every year worldwide to join millions of people to take a positive action to conserve and protect the environment, Scouts from Malate Troops under the Asia-Pacific Region Ticket To Life Project in the Philippines, joined thousands of environment advocates trooped in the coastline of Las Piñas-Parañaque for the 26th International Coastal Clean-up Day on 17 September 2011.

Clean Up the World, has always been a strong ally of World Organization of the Scout Movement since since 2008, focusing on creating public attention on global community concerns for the environment and how each individual can make a positive contribution to a cleaner and healthier world.

Over 7,000 people including Scouts from TTL Malate troops and sister Scout unit Brighton Venturers 1012, spearheaded the coastline cleanup of Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area, situated at the western side of the Cavite-Manila coastal road, where residents, local officials, civic organizations, businesses and environment advocates joining the event.

Las Pinas/Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area has been declared as habitat for migratory birds and ecotourism area with a total area of 175 hectares along the coasts of Las Piñas and Parañaque. It consists of around 30 hectares of 8 species of mangroves and 113 hectares of mudflats. These mangroves and mudflats are roosting and feeding grounds for 27 species of threatened rare and uncommon water birds. Around 5,000 individuals of migratory birds had been observed in the area.

Countless of sacks of garbage composed of styrofoam, plastic bottles, toys, bags, candy and juice wrappers, slippers, and others were collected by participants armed with bamboo sticks to separate bio-degradable from non-biodegradable items.

Country Coordinator Ms Sophie Castillo explained, “Through this kind activity, we are able to educate Scouts about the harmful effects of garbage in the environment and at the same time, we contribute to protect and preserve our environment from the effects of global warming.”

This year five NSOs from Asia-Pacific Region took part in the Clean Up the World Campaign, namely Bhutan, Brunei, Japan, Scouts of China and Philippines.

 

Source: scout.org