Jointly with the environmental and educational project 'Ecopazífico', the Presidency of the Republic and the National Army through the Support Command of Comprehensive Action and Development, seek to reduce the environmental impact and encourage recycling to recover the beaches of the Colombian Pacific.
For decades, humpback whales have come to the warm waters of the Colombian Pacific coast to mate and give birth to their offspring. According to the Ocean Conservancy, the excessive accumulation of garbage in the sea of the region is a great threat to this animal since it causes poisoning, entrapment and death of these animals.
The beaches of Juanchaco, Ladrilleros and La Barra in the south of the Colombian Pacific Coast, have been suffering excessive ecological impacts because of the alarming amounts of Styrofoam, plastic, bottles, flip flops and even televisions, which arrive at these places with the tide, seriously harming both the communities and the marine fauna and flora of the Colombian Pacific.
According to Ms. Rommy Schreiber, director and founder of Ecopazífico, this program is conceived for our children of the Colombian Pacific and the humpback whales that come to this waters full of life, but unfortunately are suffering from alarming amounts of plastic waste. We are extremely grateful to our partners of the National Army who have come to support us in this activity of limpiaventura. "
This international interdisciplinary group, made up of volunteers from different parts of the world and with different professions, worked hand in hand with the Army this Friday, Saturday and Sunday; two and three tons of waste have been taken from beaches.
It should be noted that the material collected in these beaches is given to build works of art. All artists, both national and international, have an open invitation to go to the Nicolás Suárez Ecological Foundation, in the San Antonio neighborhood, where the reserves of this material are stored, volunteers help transport these elements to Cali, to be transformed into artistic works. The material has no cost and it is handed with the commitment to turn it into art.
Jorge Pineda, of the Proartso Foundation said: "We use art as a communication tool. We are making a hammerhead shark of these plastic elements, because it is one of the animals that suffers the most from this environmental problem and in the same way from illegal hunting. We are cleaning this paradise with the Army and the community.” For his part, Major Jorge Eliecer Gaitán, commander of the Support Battalion of Comprehensive Action and Development No.3, who accompanied the activity, said: "The National Army is the guarantor of environmental protection and that is why these beaches on the coast Pacific are priority for us. Together with the National Navy, we are always willing to work for our communities. "
Source: Comprehensive Action and Development Support Command - CAAID
