– Marco Carvalho
The Lusophone Scouts Group of Macau (GELmac) pulled out of Hac Sa beach, in Coloane, fifteen bags of plastic and other debris, as part of the first coastal cleanup initiative conducted by the organization this year.
The initiative, which took place Saturday morning, brought together about three dozen volunteers. Amongst them were members of GELmac and their relatives, but also a few residents that answered affirmatively to the challenge launched by the Catholic scouts movement of Macau SAR.
In little more than three hours, the group conducted two cleaning rounds along the longest stretch of sand of the territory and collected a dozen and a half bags of debris returned by the sea. From the shoreline of Hac Sa Bay, they mainly removed plastic of several kinds, footwear, polystyrene containers (the material used in take-away food boxes), cigarette buts and organic material. The main purpose of the intervention was to strengthen the environmental awareness of the younger generation, by making them understand that there’s no planet B: “The main purpose of this initiative was to raise their awareness, to convey the idea that they are responsible for their own actions and to let them know that each and everyone of us has an impact on the planet”, a source from GELmac told O Clarim. “We also want to raise their sensitivity, so that they can contribute to the common good”.
The initiative – the first of its kind conducted by GELmac in 2019 – was conducted in the aftermath of the participation of the group in a seminar on urban sustainability. The conference was organized in early March by the Portuguese School parents’ association.
The longevity of polymers and the impact they have on ecosystems has been on the agenda in Macau and around the world. Coastal clean-up actions have become more frequent over the past few months, after a campaign against the use of disposable plastics gathered thousands of signatures last August. In the middle of March, the Government announced its intention to tax plastic bags and promised to move ahead with the restriction of other pollutant materials.
The initiative conducted last Saturday was the first of its kind promoted by the Lusophone Scouts Group of Macau this year, but it should not be the last. The group celebrates its 22nd anniversary next weekend, with a celebration aimed at the members of the movement and their families.
In June, as usually, the local Catholic scouts will take part on the celebrations of Portugal’s national Day. A month and a half later, between July 21 and August 2, a group of five scouts will participate in the 24th edition of the World Scout Jamboree, initiative held every four years. This year, the Jamboree will take place in the state of West Virginia, USA.
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