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COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANAS, Guam — Participants in Exercise Valiant Shield 2012 took a break from
their training to assist the local community during the 18th Annual International Coastal Cleanup on Guam Sept. 15, 2012.
The coastal cleanup is a combined effort from local government agencies, businesses, private and non-profit organizations, federal
agencies and the U.S. military, according to a news release from the Guam Coastal Management Program (GCMP).
“This is the largest volunteer event in Guam, and we are happy to see so many people come out every year to help protect the ocean
from marine debris,” said Thomas Morrison, Bureau of Statistics and Plans director, one of the lead agencies involved in the cleanup.
Many of the servicemembers living on Guam or visiting for Valiant Shield came out to give the community their support.
Thirty six Marines from Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225, currently attached to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st
Marine Air Wing, participated in the cleanup by visiting one of 18 locations around the island to remove litter from parks and beaches.
“We want to make an effort to keep their shores clean,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Travis E. Coffey, the Deputy Chaplain with
Headquarters, Marine Aircraft Group 12, and a participant in this year’s cleanup. “It is important to leave the environment in better
condition than when we came.”
While the event is very large in Guam, it is held on a regular basis elsewhere as well. "The International Coastal Cleanup is
not just in Guam, it is an endeavor to clean our coastlines that takes place all over the U.S.,” said Christine Camacho, Guam
Coastal Management Program special events
coordinator.
Participants logged everything they picked up during the cleanup. The records from this year’s cleanup will then be sent to the Ocean
Conservancy in Washington D.C., where the data is published by geographic location and used for environmental studies.
The event will not only help keep the coastlines clean and provide material for studies, it will also greatly benefit the schools
on Guam. “The aluminum we collect actually goes to the schools because they participate in an ‘I Recycle’ program, which is used for the financial benefits of the all the schools on Guam,” said Camacho. “It becomes a little competition for the schools to collect the most cans.”
The cleanup also helps the community get back in touch with Guam’s indigenous Chamorro culture. “One of the biggest reasons I think this is so important is because it ties the community
back to the land,” said Camacho. “On Micronesian Islands, our livelihood originally came from the land. This program can get
us involved and help us remember where we came from.”
This is a community-sponsored event, which would not be possible without the support of so many participants, according to Camacho. “We have families, organizations, Tae Kwon Do groups and military members who come out to support this,” said Camacho. “The servicemembers are invited because they are
a part of this community. There are a lot of servicemembers who live and train on this island. It is very important that we involve all
parts of our community.”
The servicemembers supporting Valiant Shield 2012 couldn’t agree more. “Community relations like this give the Marines an opportunity to get out of their work spaces and get into the community to show we care,” said Coffey. “It is not just about the opportunity to train here, its important for us to give back.”
| Date Taken: | 09.15.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.27.2012 23:20 |
| Story ID: | 95417 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 80 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Guam International Coastal Cleanup receives help from Exercise Valiant Shield 2012 participants, by Cpl Brianna Christensen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
