Take a stroll along any beach after a storm and you will get an idea of just how much litter is floating around in the world’s oceans: the sand is strewn with plastic bottles, flip-flops, scraps of fishing net and timber. The scene is the same the world over, for the seas are full of garbage.
As plastics are particularly durable, the mass of plastic debris in the world’s oceans is steadily increasing – often with fatal consequences for countless sea creatures.
Sadly, a lot of the rubbish on beaches is left there by humans!
We can all play a part in reducing the pollution on our beaches, which in turn ends up in the sea. The best way is to dispose of your rubbish responsibly however, whilst the oceans are full of rubbish there will be a need to carry out beach cleans too…
Sea Shore Savers
On Sunday, Çalış Kids Club and helpers met at the stretch of public beach just before Şat in Çalış, for the fourth Sea Shore Savers event, organised by Kate Topcu and Sharon Baltacı.
Sea Shores Savers is a practical, fun way to educate kids on the importance of protecting the environment, the impact rubbish has on our surroundings and the devastating impact it has on Loggerhead Sea Turtles and other marine creatures.
The event started with a session and guessing game on how long it takes for different items left on the beach to break down.
Did you know plastic grocery bags take anywhere from 10-1000 years to decompose? Researchers fear that some bags may never fully decompose; instead they gradually just turn into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic.
In photos
The cleanup
Getting rid of the rubbish
Kaydem Plastik is a recycling contractor working with Fethiye Municipality. Kenan from Kaydem Plastik was there helping out and at the end of the cleanup the bags were loaded up and taken away.
Video by Süleyman Akbay – “We’re at Şat Beach in Çalış doing the Sea Shore Savers beach clean with the kids.The beach is full of rubbish even though there are signs saying please take your rubbish with you”
Enjoying the clean beach
After the clean up it was time to enjoy the lovely clean beach. Beach games for the kids…and the big kids!
Followed by a picnic
And here’s a final word from the kids…
“Türkiye’yi Temiz Tut” – “Keep Turkey Clean”
Click here for more information about Türkiye’yi Temiz Tut
Click here for more information about Çalış Kids Club
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