Clean Ocean Action's 20th ANNUAL FALL BEACH SWEEPS
Saturday, October 22, 2005
9 AM - 12:30 PMOrganizations and citizens are invited to participate in Clean Ocean Action's 20th Annual Fall Beach Sweeps. Held on national "Make a Difference Day, " the statewide beach cleanups will take place at 50 sites in Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May Counties. Sponsored this fall by ShopRite, Verizon, and West Marine, the Sweeps educate citizens about nonpoint source or "pointless" pollution, the leading cause of poor water quality in New Jersey. The Beach Sweeps are unique in that Clean Ocean Action (COA) tracks information about marine debris off the Jersey Shore by collecting and analyzing data from the cleanups and keeping a database specific to NJ's cleanup results. The data from the Fall Sweeps are submitted to The Ocean Conservancy, an organization whom maintains an international database that tracks trends in marine debris in the world's oceans. The data collected from the cleanups has assisted lawmakers in writing strong and enforceable laws to reduce ocean pollution, and identifying solutions that help keep the ocean clean and safe. COA invites people of all ages to engage in the fight against ocean pollution by participating in the next cleanup at ocean, lake, river, and bay locations from South Amboy to Cape May. The event is especially popular with and rewarding for students and scouts who also benefit from the event by fulfilling service hours and school projects. Volunteers interested in participating in the Fall Beach Sweeps are instructed to bring gloves, dress for the weather (event is rain or shine), and wear sunscreen and hard-soled shoes. Groups of 15 or more are encouraged to pre-register by contacting COA one week in advance, or by completing the online sign-up form on COA's website prior to the cleanup. Individuals or groups of less than 15 do not need to pre-register. A volunteer Beach Captain will be at each designated Sweeps location to greet and instruct participants. For a list of sites and meeting locations, visit http://www.cleanoceanaction.org/index.php?id3 Or, for information about sites in Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean Counties, call 732-872-0111; for sites in South Jersey, call 609-729-9262. GIVE YOUR BEACH A CLEAN SWEEP! http://www.cleanoceanaction.org
| 
