Cleaning the Beach

Well after a Sunday helping clean the Silvermine Beach in Mui Wo and the following Saturday morning cleaning the Nim Shue Wan Beach at Discovery Bay I thought I had seen rubbish on beaches.

Caught the ferry back from Discovery Bay to Mui Wo and could not believe what used to be lovely sandy beaches were now dumping grounds for polystyrene (that is the first thing you see as it is the lightest and so is on top) and everything else you can only just imagine.


This is the Wang Tong River though it gives you an idea of the other beaches.

No this was not directly put there by humans, rather it was Typhoon Hagiput showing us how much is floating around the Hong Kong waters. Hagiput on 23 September kindly delivered it to prominent beaches to remind us all that we should be looking after our waterways more than we are. It also reminded us of the power of the sea when combined with a high tide and a storm surge. Check out http://www.kinzie.com/renovations.htm for an idea.

So together with some Hong Kong XL Life Members and the dedicated team from DB Green (http://dbgreen.org/) Louise and I headed off to Nim Shue Wan Beach at Discovery Bay to take away another layer of rubbish.

There was everything from Fridges to Boats to Washing Machines to Shoes and of course other rubbish. It is incredible what has washed up and this is only one of Hong Kong’s beaches.





We even had the local Chinese lady directing us not to take things to the bin but instead to her place. What a laugh when she turned up with her sledge hammer and pliers to recover the best bits!!!


The photos tell the story and of course the cleanup ended with a snack at the beach.


Grow well
Dr Merrin

Earth Day - Yes it is another one today!

Happy Earth Day to you!

Earth Day has been celebrated since 1970. Find out more about Earth Day and the Earth Day Network at http://www.earthday.net/

Now this one day may be called Earth Day however I make every day an Earth Day – why not join me?

If every day we chose to take on one new way of supporting a sustainable Earth then by the end of the year that is an amazing difference you have made. I have focused on changing one thing I do a week, so that is 52 things by the end of the year. That is a very good outcome for us all.

Choices are simple and I would encourage you to take on at least one new item in your daily life today and then to tell others about what you are doing.

· Business cards – printed on paper not plastic, non-laminated using recycled paper with vegetable based inks. Well… that is 4 things all just in your choice of business card printing.
· Electronic Invoices – Send invoices out electronically, pay online and store the receipts electronically.
· Lights – turn on only those that you need, replace bulbs with more energy efficient ones.
· Appliances – Turn them off when not using them. Not just on standby – flick the switch.
· Air-conditioning – In summer set the temperature a degree or two higher (you can cope being warm – just take off another piece of clothing). Better still turn off the unit and put on a fan. Even better open the window and let the breeze blow through.
· Painting – If you are repainting your apartment then choose an eco paint. We used a clay based paint and it went on easily and did not smell at all.
· Cleaning – For your clothes, the dishes and the bathroom look for the eco options. They work just as well, are less harmful for you or your helper to use and they do not pollute the water with chemicals.
· Transport – Reduce the use of your own car. Take a bus or train when you can rather than a taxi. You can even try walking those shorter distances. It keeps you fit and you may meet a friend along the path.
· 3 R’s - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. There are thousands of things you can do here. Separate out the recyclables from your rubbish and take them to the recycling station.
· Purchases - Choose to buy items with less packaging. Your oranges and banana’s do not need to be wrapped they come in a perfectly natural wrapper!
· Food – Eat less meat and become more vegetarian. I love a good steak though have stopped eating meat everyday. If you just choose to have one meal a day that contains meat rather than 3 meals containing meat then you have made a significant difference to how many methane generating animals have to be grown.
· Air travel – only travel by plane when you have to. Have a teleconference instead. Offset your travel with a carbon programme (http://www.plant-a-tree-today.org/)
· Take time to look at the natural beauty around you. Yes take time to talk to the animals and smell the flowers. It is Earth Day so say hi to you fellow planet mates!!!

Make every day an Earth Day

Grow Well
Dr Merrin