On September 15, in many countries around the world an annual international clean up campaign –“Clean Up the World!” has started. It was initiated by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 1992. The campaign brings together governments, businesses, community groups, schools, and individuals for carrying out large-scale clean up actions and implementation of relevant environmental programmes aimed at improving local environment.
After 26 years of establishing the “Clean Up the World” campaign a similar initiative and idea to improve and maintain clean environment appeared in Estonia (10 years ago) followed with large-scale clean-up activities, where more than 4% of the country’s local population were engaged. All this led to the creation of another big movement -“Let’s Do It World”, which has increased the number of countries participating in the worldwide campaign to achieve a common goal.
This year, along with “Clean up the World” Campaign on September 15, another large-scale international campaign called “World Clean-up Day” was marked (within the framework of Let’s Do It! World). The theme for “Clean Up the World” campaign 2018 is -“Beat Plastic Pollution” to reduce the heavy burden of plastic pollution on our environment.
The Greens Movement of Georgia / Friends of the Earth – Georgia” has been involved on behalf of Georgia in the international campaign” Clean Up the World” since 1992. From 2010, every year participates in all clean-up activities taking place within the World Clean Up campaign and participates in “Let’s Do It World” campaign for the second time.
On September 15, along with ongoing campaign in the world, Georgia launched clean –up campaign across the country, with clean up action of Tbilisi Sea adjacent area.
In the action together with organizers participated the President of Georgia Mr. Giorgi Margvelashvili, Head of Development Cooperation of the Embassy of Sweden Ms. Molly Lien, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy in Georgia Mr. Jeffry Reneau, representatives of the embassies of Sweden, USA and Ukraine in Georgia, representatives of USAID and US Marine Forces, First Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture Mr. Nodar Kereselidze, representatives of the project “Clean Up Georgia (Phase III)” implementing organizations, also representatives of Solid Waste Management Company, National platform member organization “Caucasus Youth Union”, representative of the International Campaign Let’s Do It –Georgia, CENN implementing program “Waste Management Technologies in Regions” (WMTR II supported by USAID), Bank of Georgia, “Clean World” company, Global Water Partnership-Georgia and volunteers.
During the event, about 3 hectares of the area were cleaned up and around 6 m3 of waste was collected. Approximately 200 people took part in the action.
In addition to Tbilisi, clean-up actions were carried out in the regions of Georgia, organized by the Regional Coordinators of the Greens Movement of Georgia / Friends of the Earth-Georgia and representatives of local governments.