June 8th was a day dedicated to our planet's major player - the Oceans. World Oceans Day can be like the modern trend of dedicating a day to a particular subject with the aim of focusing some attention, but can we afford to make a fuss on the day, and then let everything drift away. Everything remaining forgotten until the next year?
Fortunately there is a growing popular sentiment in which it can now be undeniably felt that the many wrongs that have been done to the oceans must be put right - and fast! As part of this sentiment, many organisations, all over the globe felt that they had to obey the call and do their part, small and insignificant as it may seem, and on World Oceans Day organise an event to improve the quality of our oceans.
Atlam Subaqua Club in conjunction with Raniero Live Life and the Emergency Response Rescue Corps in collaboration with the Valletta Local Council and the Cleaning and Maintenance Division carried out an intensive clean-up from an area right next to the Valletta water polo pitch. Weather conditions were not ideal, and underwater visibility was low, however the group of 20+ divers plus another large group of shore helpers, gathered in just about three hours over 1000 glass bottles, and filled a skip with large metal debris, including many car silencers. Truly shameful considering that the event had to be called off due to worsening sea conditions and much more could have been gathered!
Another clean-up is scheduled for Cirkewwa's South Quay and is to be carried out in July - date to be announced.
Following up and concluding the events for this year's World Oceans Day, a presentation - Help Us Save Our Seas - is to be held at the Atlam Subaqua Club premises at Bahar ic-Caghaq on Friday 22nd June at 19:30.
Help Us Save Our Seas will feature Prof. Alan Deidun who will deliver a lecture on "Aliens in Our Waters", followed by the video and photo presentation "What is dumped in our Sea" compiled by Raniero's Adventures Live Life and various Atlam members, a feature called "Ghost Fishing" by Etienne Micallef from the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps (ERRC) and presentations by No to Plastic Malta, Get Trashed Malta and Zibel.
All very topical subjects which should provide plenty of food for thought. An event which all who love the sea should not miss.
Thanks go to all the sponsors and collaborators of the Valletta World Ocean Day Clean Up - Sette Giugno event and eventually Cirkewwa South Quay Clean Up in July. Raniero's Adventures - Live Life, ERRC, Valletta Local Council, Cleansing and Maintenance Division, Strand Divers, Scubatech, Maltaqua, Diveshack, Bezz Diving, Era, Convey shipping and trading agency, Calbian Ltd, P Cutajar & Co., and It's All About Food. Further details may be seen at the event's Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1740425379371293/permalink/1751579524922545/