THE Government’s Council for Sustainable Development (GIZ) has taken the initiative to assist the Fiji Outrigger Association and the Suva City Council to promote environmentally friendly behaviour.
This was done through clean-ups undertaken at the National Canoe Centre at Suva Point to coincide with the National Environment Week.
Taking heed of the call from Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama for every child to be an environment warrior, GIZ staff members have put up their hands to join environmental warriors and mobilise people worldwide and to raise awareness on the diverse topic of sustainability.
“GIZ Fiji took this opportunity to promote environmental friendly behaviour by drawing attention of deposited marine debris accumulated on Suva Point coastline,” the organisation said.
To promote and practice environment stewardship, the organisation participated in a clean-up action during lunchtime at the National Canoe Centre at Suva Point.
“The Council also supported GIZ’s clean-up by contributing rubbish bags, hand gloves and providing a pick-up truck to cart and dispose collected debris at the landfill.
“The GIZ paddling team and Fiji Outrigger (the national federation for outrigger canoe paddling) will be taking care to maintain the area clean and to ensure sustainability.”
GIZ said their decision to take up the initiative was “because we have our paddling training there and it is always full of rubbish and no one is really feeling responsible for this area.”
“People dump their rubbish, alcohol bottles, plastic bottles, old boats; we have collected probably 12 bags of rubbish.
“The main reason to raise awareness on coastal protection and polluted coastlines is because of the importance of the ocean for Fiji.
“Fiji is surrounded by the ocean, fish and all kinds of seafood is an essential part of the Fijian cuisine and in Suva Point many people are doing water activities.
“It is such a pity that there are not enough facilities, signs and so on to draw attention on the problem of rubbish.”
