| James Kon, Aziz Idris and Faza Suraj |
OVER 800 people showed up at six different coastal locations for a nationwide beach clean-up initiative to commemorate the annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC).
Held concurrently at the beaches of Lumut and Sungai Liang in the Belait District; Danau in the Tutong District; and at Tungku, Meragang and Muara in the Brunei-Muara District, the cleaning campaigns were co-organised by Brunei Shell Joint Ventures (BSJV), Shell Deep Water (SDB) and Brunei Gas Carriers (BGC).
The noble cause saw the participation of volunteers comprising students, public members, Royal Brunei Armed Forces personnel, business partners and youths from various associations, among others.
At the Muara Beach, 180 volunteers alongside Brunei Shell Marketing Sendirian Berhad (BSM) personnel rolled their sleeves up for the cleaning campaign.
The campaign saw volunteers made up of students from Sports School, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Police Force, Brunei-Muara District Office and Brunei Darussalam Fencing Association, among others.
Also lending a helping hand were BSM Branding and Communications Head Mohd Adini bin Haji Mohd Daini, and Acting Brunei-Muara District Officer Misle bin Haji Abdul Karim.
The event aimed to promote environmental conservation and volunteerism among staff, youth and members of local communities.
BSJV companies, SDB and BGC are keen supporters of national efforts to promote environmental sustainability. This is demonstrated through a number of collaborations BSJV companies have had with government and private agencies in various key projects.
Brunei Gas Carrier (BGC) Managing Director Haji Shahbudin bin Haji Musa gets assistance in removing an old carpet found at Tungku Beach.
SDB management and volunteers with the collected trash at Meragang Beach.
BSM Branding and Communications Head Mohd Adini bin Haji Mohd Daini, left, joins the clean up.
Volunteers sorting through the collected trash. – PHOTOS: JAMES KON, AZIZ IDRIS AND FAZA SURAJ
Beach clean-up participants at Muara Beach.
Speaking to the Sunday Bulletin, Mohd Adini highlighted, “We want to inculcate the responsibility and habit of keeping the environment clean – where everyone can play an important role to make a difference. If there are not enough dustbins at the beach, members of the public can bring their waste bags to collect their rubbish and dispose of it responsibly.”
Last year, 668 kilogrammes of rubbish were collected during the clean-up. Data from the collection has been passed on to the relevant authorities, including the International Coastal Cleanup for policy makers to take the next step in preserving the environment.
He said that last year, the Muara Beach clean-up resulted in the collection of a total of 144 bags of plastic.
The Muara Beach cleaning campaign covered a two-kilometre distance and the collection of 323.81 kilogrammes (or 65 bags) of trash.
Meanwhile, BGC Managing Director Haji Shahbudin bin Haji Musa and BGC personnel worked alongside school students and volunteers to pick up 420.195 kilogrammes of trash along Tungku Beach.
At Meragang Beach, Shell Deep Water (SDB) Managing Director Stuart Goodman spearheaded a team of volunteers made up of students, family members and local community to collect 287 kilogrammes of trash.
The clean up hopes to cultivate the spirit of volunteerism and mutual cooperation amongst staff, youth and members of the local community. Further proof of the increase in environmental consciousness in Brunei was the large presence of the younger generation.
According to a press release issued by the organising committee, ICC 2016 is a worldwide event by Ocean Conservancy, with this year marking its 31st anniversary.
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