The CPUT Green Team, mentored by Student Development Officer Annette Grobler, recently completed a successful beach clean-up in support of the national Earth Hour 2010 campaign.
The Green Team’s exercise took place at Strandfontein Beach near Muizenberg on 27 March 2010 in an effort to contribute to improving the marine environment by clearing beach pollution.
The Earth Hour campaign is an annual initiative supported by the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) that encourages communities, towns and cities to turn off their lights for one hour sending a powerful message on the impact of global climate change.
The Green Team, headed by a third-year Environmental Management student Kombole Chiyana, is in its second year of operation and all its initiatives are supported by the institution’s Green Forum chaired by Leanne Seelinger, an Environmental Management lecturer.
It was established as a part of the students’ interest in preserving the environment and contribution to reducing the carbon footprint, in keeping with the WWF’s mandate.
On the day, the group of about 30 students from various disciplines and levels of study collected over 40 bags mainly containing plastic derived products, in spite of the rain.
During the exercise, Chiyana was able to demonstrate to the group how the litter affects the environment and how anyone can apply practical solutions to the growing pollution problem, such as recycling items made from plastic, glass and paper.
According to Grobler, “Beach pollution is a global environmental problem that threatens the wildlife and inhibits the natural cycle of development of marine life.”
She added: “The recent increase in density of large debris stranded on South African beaches is a major cause for concern, and plastic makes up a majority of the debris found on our beaches.”
Grobler mentioned that the group will be embarking on a number of new projects in the coming months, such as starting a worm bin that will produce compost to be sold, and the profits will be ploughed back into more green initiatives.
Other activities include planting trees on the Bellville campus in support of Arbor Week in September and arranging mountain hiking route clean-ups later this year.
Those wishing to get involved in Green Team activities can contact Anette Grobler at 021 460 3499 or e-mail
By: Thando J. Moiloa
Photograph: Members of the Green Team tackle the litter on Strandfontein Beach in support of Earth Hour 2010.
Written by CPUT News
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