Australian High Commission
Colombo
MEDIA RELEASE
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22 September 2009
Australian High Commission joins forces with local communities and the Navy in Clean Up the World initiatives
The Australian High Commission (AHC) in Colombo joined forces with local communities and members of the Sri Lankan Navy, as part of a number of activities to celebrate Clean up the World Weekend (18-20 September).
The principal aim of this year’s initiatives was to raise youth awareness for environmental protection and conservation issues. Working closely with students of Maris Stella College, Negombo, the AHC organised for Abans (the local recycling contractor) to run a workshop for the students to help them design and implement their own recycling scheme at school.
Separately, on Saturday, 19 September, officials from the AHC got their hands dirty along with 25 local volunteers in an effort to clean up a stretch of Crow Island beach in Mattakuliya. The activity - organised jointly with PEACE (a local NGO) - was a great success, owing much to the hard work of 15 officers from the Sri Lankan Navy who also donated their time to assist our efforts. Rallying the troops, Stephen Foster, Third Secretary at the AHC said: “Sri Lanka and Australia share many things in common as island nations – the coastal beauty of both countries is something that should be looked after and protected for all generations to enjoy”.
Clean Up the World is a community-based environmental program that inspires and empowers communities and individuals from every corner of the globe to clean up and conserve their environment. The campaign mobilises an estimated 35 million volunteers in more than 120 countries each year, making it one of the largest community-based environmental campaigns in the world. Founded by an Australian, Ian Kiernan, and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Clean Up the World is now in its 17th year.
Media Contact: Surovi Abeyratne 2463242