On Saturday we jumped in the car and headed to a beach clean up at Lagoon Beach in Milnerton.
The reason for us driving 50 odd kilometers to attend a beach clean up was in support of World Ocean Day and to support Zoe from Save a fishie.
Save a fishie
Zoe is one of those dynamic young women that we’ve known for a few years who jumps in splashing and makes things happen. In her teen years she has successfully managed some pretty impressive achievements in conservation and teaching eco consciousness to others.
Save a fishie is her business. And not only does she arrange beach cleanups, plant trees, teach others about being eco concious but she also runs a small shop selling things like the hand printed turtle shirt you would have seen on Hamish, eco stationary and gifts.
You can support her HERE
A mask
On arrival at the the clean up, I realised I’d forgotten my mask. Now, driving back to Kommetjie really was not an option and so as they say, ” a boer maak a plan”
Luckily my poncho has a long fold over and I was able to wear it like a buff.
Masks are compulsory and all Covid regulations are strictly obeyed at each beach clean up.
Social distancing and sanitizing is important and one of the reasons I feel safe attending a Beach clean up with Hamish.
I had dressed us both warmly as it was cold when we left home but very quickly took off both our jackets and Hamish got to show off his BEACH CLEAN UP CREW t-shirt from KRAZI AWSUM
I changed 2050
This beach clean up was sponsored by Consol who generously handed out water and their “I changed 2050” glass water bottles.
If you haven’t seen these yet, they are stunning. With 3 different sea creatures designs : whale, seal and turtle, the bottles state the text I changed 2050.
The idea behind this initiative by Consol is to raise awareness and support global awareness to protect the world’s waters.
Currently we are faced with the very real reality that if we do not change the way we consume, by 2050, our Oceans will be full of plastic instead of fish.
To initiate change Consol have sponsored various beach clean ups giving away their bottles, and are also selling their water bottles at their store. If you purchase 2 bottles, you’ll recieve a third one free and 10% of your purchase is donated to sea life conservation.
Getting stuck in
Hamish and I jumped right in and grabbed a bucket, gloves and packet to store our dirt.
I was super impressed that the gloves used are reusable and were collected at the end of our clean up to be washed. Normally we are issued later gloves and I’ve always wondered if there was a more sustainable option to this.
We took a walk along the Lagoon. Past Lagoon beach hotel and it was here that the big dirt started. Whilst we had found lots of plastic, straws and bits of papers, it was outside the hotel that the cigarette butts, sweet papers and lolly sticks started.
Next to a bin we found a tin can and some chip papers and there were remnants of a cut up matress scattered along the shoreline.
A little fishie
At one point, Hamish found a little fish. On realizing that the fish was dead, he was heart broken, convinced that all the dirt had killed this little fish.
By the end of our hour on the beach, he had found 3 little fish and wouldn’t let go of them.
His little heart kept asking me if we could save them by putting them back into the water.
Whilst this was the perfect time for me to explain the importance of not littering and changing some of our lifestyle choices ….as a mom how do you really explain to a 4 year old that these are just 3 of the many fish dying because of human behaviour?
Visions of change
At the end of our clean up, Hamish handed the bucket and a half of dirt we had gathered. Still clutching his fish he asked what Zoe was dragging out the Lagoon and we watched as she, alongside another volunteer, pulled meters and meters of material from the Lagoon.
Hamish determined to put these fish in the car and bring them home was not hearing about throwing them into the Lagoon until Margo Adonis, a former miss Earth ambassador and founder of Visions of Change offered him the choice of a new Fluffy toy.
Visions of Change is a movement to inspire change makers by advocating the protection of Environmental Human rights for all.
Eco Tods
Hamish quite happily decided to throw the fish back and headed off with Margo to choose a new fluffy friend from the pile of choices that jncluded dogs, teddies and a unicorn.
These are really cute and all kids , or ECO TOD’S, as they are referred to were given a new Fluffy toy and snack pack sponsored by Save a fishie, Checkers and Visions of Change.
The package of treats contained sweets, something to drink, chips and fruit and after the hour of hard work Hamish tucked into these straight away.
Driving home
Driving home, Hamish noted how this beach was a lot more dirty than the beach at Kommetjie and how we had collected much more dirt.
He spoke about the fishies and how sad it made him and we spoke about the things he could do to help save other fish and he cuddled his little dog as he snacked in some nicknaks and said ” Mom, I think beach clean up people are the best people”
From the mouth of babies……
If you are wanting to join a beach clean up you can join Cape Town Beach clean up on Facebookto find out about the next events.
