A wave of volunteers invaded Giorgino today, transforming what was supposed to be a simple beach cleaning operation into "one of the largest ecological mobilizations ever seen in Sardinia".
In fact, 750 people responded to the appeal launched by the environmentalist association Rebelterra and participated in the third edition of the CleanUp Games, the eco-activism competition that transformed one of the most compromised coastlines in the Cagliari area into the scene of an unprecedented collective action.
The organizers themselves provide the numbers: "Students, associations, companies, scouts, families, and citizens of all ages," the association announced, "worked side by side for hours, collecting over 8 tons of waste along the coastal stretch from Porto Canale to the Rumianca pier on state road 195. An extraordinary result."
"Today's large turnout is a tangible sign that something is changing. It means that mindsets are changing, people are eager to participate, to combat the sense of helplessness that pollution data generate," comments Carola Farci , the initiative's creator.
Stefania Peddio , marine biologist and member of Rebelterra, states: "We have witnessed a collective stand towards environmental protection that has been incredibly powerful. Giorgino is not an isolated case: he is an open wound that highlights the condition of the Mediterranean. It's not just a matter of incivility, which also exists: the hundreds of lobster pots collected and ghost nets washed ashore by the storm surge caused by Cyclone Harry clearly tell us that, as devastating as industrial fishing is on marine ecosystems, even small-scale fishing must become more sustainable: our relationship with the sea must change."
(Unioneonline/AD)