our place, our planet, our responsibility

Yesterday, i volunteered for Clean Up The World 2011, "a global campaign that inspires and empowers communities to clean up, fix up and conserve their environment". i am not new to volunteering as i have done this since i was a young girl and all throughout my university years. my mother was a community coordinator in the local elementary school then and she took me and my sister to remote communities in my country to advocate the "bayanihan" spirit in schools, clinics and even chapels! i am glad i've imbibed this spirit despite living abroad for a few years now.

to raise awareness for the campaign, we had a parade in Main Street

i think setting a good example to the next generation is crucial to sustainability. they must know that it is important to take care of our planet before it will be too late

i say start them young because mothers are the perfect role models!

after all the speeches (i say less talk, more work!), the children participated in an interactive focus group

there were art works made by school children that were very insightful

so which side of Gib would you like to live on? (i just want a house, really, it doesn't matter which side)

even cute doggies like Chobe said "aye!" to the clean-up (although he was eyeing my sandwich more often than i want him to)

after all the blah-deblah-deblah, real work begins! but first a pic going up the famous Referendum Steps :)

our group led by Tom Finlayson (the guy on the extreme left; he also happens to live on top of Referendum Steps) was assigned in the Upper Rock so we geared up and got ready for some pickin' under the hot sun. we had a couple from Germany (they were tourists) who volunteered (they just saw the poster one day before the event and decided to participate! how cool is that?!) come to think of it, there were only two locals who volunteered, Tom and the little girl! (yes, i know its not lunch with the mayor)

during our break, these two intrepid pickers had a little picnic under the trees....

the breeze was cool and the view was priceless!

you will know Tom's cat, Boots, is coming because you can hear his jiggling bells... he was just there for moral support :)

around 3:30 we decided to call it a day... we got 42 bags of trash and thats covering only a small area of the Upper Rock!

on top of the bags of trash, we also found this swivel chair, a mattress, 2 plastic chairs, two leather sofas, a small pram, and some big towels! my question is, how in heaven's name did these get up there??

in the end, i felt doubly fulfilled that i am part of the solution. since living here, i have observed a strong sense of community in Gib, as evidenced by the admirable solidarity during the recent National Day celebrations. i hope in the coming years, the Gibraltarians will not only pride themselves with this solidarity but also that they open their minds and their arms to include taking care of the planet where they also belong. a formidable fortress with a rich military history, the Rock has seen so many generations of Gibraltarians seek shelter within and outside its area. i hope and pray that Gibraltarians take care of it for their future generations to enjoy :)