Activity 3: Beach clean up on 22nd May 2011

Our Third beach clean up was held on the 22nd of May, from 4pm to 7pm, at the Taj beach-Trinity-Benaulim stretch. About 35 volunteers, mainly the youth, were a part of the clean-up. About 28 huge garbage bags were cleared off.

We met at the Trinity beach at 4pm and formed 2 groups, each set out in opposite direction. Collection of garbage was carried out along with segregation. Garbage was segregated into degradable and non-degrable.

It is a shame to see the amount of garbage lying around the beaches and the fact that the authorities responsible to clear the same are doing absolutely nothing about it. Also, not a single trash can is to be seen on any of our beaches, and even the few that are present are overflowing with garbage and are attracting all sorts of insects, rodents, germs etc. Its high time trash cans are introduced on our beaches and are maintained well too.

Beach clean up drive, 22nd May

Its time 2 play our parts for our dear mother land, yet again!!!

The next clean up drive by 3G-Goa Going Green has been scheduled to be held on 22nd May, 2011.

We meet at the TRINITY BEACH at 4pm, sharp. We then head out in opposite directions towards VARCA and BENAULIM beaches.

Gloves and Bags will be provided, but please do try to bring your own gloves.

Lets save our Beaches and keep Goa's beautiful identity intact.

 

GEE THOSE 3G BRATS! by DAVID ALBUQUERQUE

When a number appears before the letter ‘G’
I say: “Gee, better stay clear
G stands for the rajas and ranis who’ve caused all this gooby dirt"

Now I hear '3 G' - and fear the worst:
Dirt, dirt and more dirt
But Lo!  Am I wrong
You are folks I see clear Dirt
Your dirt
My Dirt
The-guys- who-spill-and spew-out-of-buses’ dirt

3 G, you grubby Dirt Cleaners, you noble brats of Goa
Do you even know what you’ve done?
Cleaned Goa? Cleaned her beaches? Cleaned her soul?
Far, far more, dear brats
Your biggest clean up job is – me

Your hands are busy, your fingers nimble
Doing something that relates to birds - or the sounds they make
(Darned! I never can get my head around all these new whatchamacallits your generation does all the time)
Yet those hands are on Goa, her beaches, her once-forested hills, her rivers
Those hands cradle, tenderly mend this hurt and bleeding land
Injured by us
- the Generation Greedy
- And those magnificent men in their cars
Cars that flaunt our national flag
And their power over this land and her people

Your eyes are before screens and monitors –always – so we believe
Yet you see things we don’t see
Things on a beach
Or a river
Dirty, yucky things

Your ears are stuffed with another of those new thingammies – again all the time
Yet you hear what we don’t hear
- The cries of a wounded, dying land

3G beach clean up: Hope prevails!! by NANDITA COSTA

Riding my bike to Colva, I pass once green fields dumped with garbage… Cars racing past… faster, faster… on the road to destruction!! I’m heading for the 3G Beach clean-up. I’m already running late.

Soon to be greeted by an enormous number of people… site seeing, littering…walking the air of human arrogance, most disconnected what so ever with nature! In this milieu, I feel like an outcast.. the conversation of previous days, ringing my nerves… “Change is not possible” “You can’t do nothing to help Goa” “Your wasting your time” “It’s a bit too late!!”  

Silence!!  Off with the sceptics!!

It’s not long before I escape such ‘encouragement’ and spot a number of youth struggling to carry the waste they’ve collected on the Colva Beach. Young, spontaneous, full of purpose…  tired, dirty… longing for a shower!

“Ola!! I’ve been looking for you guys a long time! !” Filled with hope I greet and hug... Change is hear and the movement begun!! Let’s take it forward!! One step done… now to the next!! Lets combine our talent into one force!

My heart extends to David, Anne, Delroy, Alacoque, Alison and  others who made this possible!! Many of whom I meet for the first time… But share one thing in common- “We are Goan & We care”! Our blood is young, our ideas unmet, our spirit soaring… ! Brain storm people… Let’s work out a concrete plan… let’s meet again!

Think of ‘Captain Planet’ my hero as a kid…

And here we are... on our way to becoming heroes ourselves!!

"Destroyers of Goa… Here we come!!!"

Let no one tell you that we can't, cause we can and we will SAVE GOA!

Activity 2: Massive Beach Clean-up on Sunday, May 1st 2011

Our once beautiful And clean goan beaches are now getting destroyed, due to the carelessnes of tourists and locals alike.
On the 1st of may , 3g - Goa going green , organised a beach clean up at Colva beach from 4 pm to 7 pm. 45 volunteers mainly consisting of youth from different places around margao came for the clean up.
Members of the Green team,consisting of school students from Benaulim also participated. they cleared up the waste starting from sernabatim to Betalbatim. The majority of the garbage consisted of beedi packets and plastic carry bags and peoples old chappals. 26 such bags of trash were collected.

The bags were then set aside to be collected by a government employed garbage contractor who is in charge of maintaining the garbage disposal at the beach.

The main reason behind the filthy beaches is the absence of dustbins. Most of the tourists complain that they had no where to throw their waste and hence just leave it behind. Setting up of proper dustbins and providing for segregation of waste would go a long way in preserving our beautiful Goa.....!!