7.22 PM Thursday, 28 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:57 06:11 12:27 15:53 18:37 19:51
28 March 2024

US ambassador, CG help clean up beach

Published
By Staff

US Ambassador to the UAE Barbara Leaf and new US Consul General to Dubai Paul Malik on Saturday led a group of more than 75 volunteers in a beach cleanup at Ghantoot Reserve in partnership with the Emirates Marine Environmental Group.

The beach cleanup was organised as part of two global initiatives, the 30th anniversary of the International Coastal Cleanup and the second Our Ocean conference that will be held in Chile from October 5-6.

Volunteers from the US Consulate in Dubai, the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi, a cub scout troop, and local environmental club Green Hope spent Saturday morning cleaning the beach at Ghantoot Reserve removing trash, litter and large garbage from the beach – including water bottles, cleaning supplies, construction equipment, oil barrels and old tyres.

“The oceans are important to all of us,” said Ambassador Leaf. “Oceans make up more than 70 per cent of the earth’s surface and are the largest part of our shared biosphere. It is an essential responsibility for all of us to take care of this shared resource”.

Between five and 12 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year from land-based sources.  Recognising this, ocean stewardship is a top priority for Secretary Kerry and a key issue for the White House.  The inaugural Our Ocean conference, hosted by Secretary Kerry in in June 2014, resulted in substantive action by the United States and many international partners on all three of its main pillars: marine pollution, ocean acidification and sustainable fishing.  Secretary Kerry will attend the second Our Ocean conference in Valparaíso, Chile from October 5-6.

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the annual International Coastal Cleanup led by the Ocean Conservancy.  Every year during the International Coastal Cleanup, hundreds of thousands of volunteers comb lakes, rivers and beaches around the world for trash.  Last year, US embassy-sponsored cleanups around the world contributed to the International Coastal Cleanup Day statistics: 560,000 volunteers in 91 countries picked up more than 16 million pounds of trash.  This year, the US Consulate in Dubai and the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi partnered with a local organisation, the Emirates Marine Environmental Group, to participate in this global effort to keep the coast clear.