Professor Juanee’ Cilliers from the North-West Unversity and a group of students used Earth Day and World Fish Migration Day to clean up the Mooi River
Two important dates on the calendar during April were the 21st which is World Fish Migration Day and the 22nd which is International Earth Day. In celebration of these two days, an initiative was launched to clean-up the Mooi River that runs through the town of Potchefstroom in the North-West Province.
The Water Research Group of the North-West University initiated the idea, and together with the 3rd Year Urban and Regional Planning Students, some lecturers, professors and some community members, they cleaned up the public space.
All participants voluntarily pitched up at 9h00 on Friday morning, the 20th of April, to clean-up the Mooi River and surrounding area.
“In 40 minutes we filled 40 bags! This area is actually quite often cleaned and maintained by the Local Municipality, but the enormous amount of plastic pollution is calling for more action – where all people should do their part, take ownership of their own town and public spaces, and clean, restore, and protect our earth.” – Professor Juanee’ Cilliers
“Single-use plastics are the worst! Earbuds, straws, plastic bags, food containers, food wrapping, tomato sauce bags, shopping bags – these were the main items we found in the river and in the green spaces surrounding the river. These plastics end up affecting our marine life, our quality of water and ultimately our health – as it enters drinking water in the form of microplastics and microfibers.”
Everybody can contribute to making our earth, and our country better. Refuse plastics! Clean the environment!
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