The ‘Gozo-Rocks-Green & Clean Hike’ for tomorrow, Sunday, the 9th of February, will start at 1.00pm from the road to the Heliport in Ghajnsielem, it will then pass by the cemetery and then along the road to Xewkija until they reach the Recycle Center where the volunteers will then take a rural path to the Olive Garden in Xewkija. Everyone is welcome to join in.
Organiser, Louis Debattista, said that “the main road has a tremendous amount of litter and the garden has some recyclable waste but mostly shotgun shells. We will then take a path in the Valley to cross the Mississippi River (just kidding!) to get to the other side to go to Mgarr Ix-Xini.”
“The last part of the hike is uphill from Mgarr ix-Xini to where the bus will be waiting to take us back to Qala,” Louis said.
“Last Sunday we picked up 15 bags of trash/recycables from the area around Our Lady of Lourdes, Xatt l-Ahmar and Mgarr Ix-Xini.” Louis stated, “eco-Gozo or another enitity needs to invest in no-dumping signs with warnings for fines if you get caught dumping or littering and it needs to be enforced. Maybe private companies would be willing to provide signs with their company logo on them.”
Louis said that he would like to give a “big thank-you to the local councils of Qala, Ghajnsielem, Xewkija, and Sannat. They have been well-organised in helping me and providing us with what we need, including transport and materials, to be able to clean and take care of all the trash, recyclables and gun shells that inconsiderate people leave behind.”
“I am sorry to see our beautiful island covered with trash and I encourage eco-Gozo please, if you have funds to make roundabouts pretty, and cut the grass, please also pick up the trash as you go.”
Louis also gave thanks to Mr Victor Galea, the Gozo College Principal, who, Louis said “had a meeting with all the heads and asked me to join in so that I could explain the clean-up hikes to enable them to send the message to all the students and parents as well.”
He added, “I do hope that they will send the message out there and adults and kids will join in to be part of us and stay active, see the environment, enjoy good company, and most importantly, understand what will happen if we don’t start taking care our country.”
“Please everyone, stop dumping. Government and eco-Gozo stop letting this happen, you need to do your part as well, come up with something better so we can see a cleaner island. You all have the power, money and strength, so use it for this important cause,” Louis asked.
“It has not been easy for the kids and everyone else who volunteer to help out, but we are also enjoying the country side.”
Volunteers joining the clean-up hike tomorrow, are asked to take 2 bottles of water and a snack. Gloves and bags are provided.
For further information please contact Louis through the Gozo-Greyhounds facebook page, or email him on louismalti@aol.com [1].
3 Comments To "‘Gozo-Rocks-Green & Clean Hike’ on Sunday, everyone is welcome"
#1 Comment By George Palmer On February 9, 2014 @ 11:02 am
So much for the hunting organisations calling themselves conservators. They are the biggest source of pollution on the island-lead and plastic. At least the neanderthals could take the trouble to pick up their spent cartridges, even if they don’t mind giving us all lead poisoning!
#2 Comment By Jens.Hörnicke On February 10, 2014 @ 8:13 am
Bravo! George Palmer .Tell them !
#3 Comment By Louismalti@aol.com On February 24, 2014 @ 3:34 pm
The Island is full of trash so a lot of things we need to focus on and yes that is one of the small problem as well. I am just hoping people can come and join us to help. I hope people can start taking care the island by stop dumping. take care all and thank you .