World Clean Up Day 2018 was held on Saturday 15 September. Turkey, in solidarity with many countries around the globe, responded to the call for action. Green groups, school teams, dive teams, friends, and families from around the country donned gloves and filled garbage bags. It has been reported that roughly 42 thousand people from around the country collected 128 tonnes of garbage. They liberated shorelines, national parks, suburban localities and a myriad of other locations previously drowning in man-made debris. In Istanbul, teams from Tidy Turkey were all systems are GO.
A year on from its inception, Tidy Turkey group members congregated in several locations around Istanbul and further afield. They dispersed like rubbish collecting ants across beautiful but disrespected landscapes, collecting litter as they went and visibly contributing to a wider social awareness of Turkey’s serious littering problem.
One such location was Büyükada, the most touristed of the Prince Islands and reached by a convenient ferry ride from Istanbul. This island regularly experiences a swell of sightseers descending on its shores, especially on weekends.
Despite Büyükada’s size and awkward litter accessibility, our event went off without a hitch. Although the forest areas and rocks along the waterfront that most required trash collection were either quite a walk away from our rendezvous point or tricky to manoeuvre, they proved no match for the enthusiasm and commitment of our dedicated crews.
In the morning everyone convened at the Büyükada Anadolu Club in time to connect with our clean-up dive crew before they ventured into the water. Our two land crews then set off and in a few hours had collected a staggering array of litter which included everything from cigarette butts, wet wipes, drink cans, and of course dozens of plastic water bottles. Larger garbage, discovered in the forest areas and in the sea, included a vacuum cleaner, hot plates, and broken sections of a ceramic toilet along with tires and fishing paraphernalia such as nets and ropes.
Tidy Turkey has targeted several other Prince Islands during previous events. Sadly, these islands suffer from their own popularity and represent garbage hotspots, as do many recreational locations around the country. As day trippers, tourists, and others seek reprieve from the big smoke to enjoy a little downtown in these relaxed and naturally scenic locations, waste gets thoughtlessly discarded.
This was conspicuously apparent whilst returning to Istanbul by ferry. Seated on the side benches looking out over the water someone next to us threw wrappers into the sea without the least compunction, but looking somewhat abashed when we diplomatically suggested this might not be the smartest move.
What has always struck me is the lack of thought that accompanies such actions. Where do litterers think this debris is going to go? Such scenarios highlight the need to act with patience and by example and hope that by doing so we will all consider our actions more carefully.
So, Tidy Turkey’s first anniversary and second event for World Clean Up Day went off without a hitch on a beautiful early autumn day. Teams hit alternative locations around Istanbul and indeed further afield. Dive crews, other than members of the Everblue Dive Club that joined us on Büyükada, also participated and tackled river and sea debris in Fethiye and Eskişehir. A couple of school groups also got involved. Students from SEV Üsküdar and MEF Ulus both provided clean up teams at different locations near their schools. Happily, kids were also represented in other Tidy Turkey teams.
As usual, friendships were formed and a sense of achievement felt in helping to bring focus on this issue and rid our landscapes of dangerous and unsightly pollution. Nonetheless, this journey has really just begun. Planning for future events is already underway and these will be held during the weekend of 20-21 October 2018. Beyond that, future scheduled events will hopefully be held regularly and new members are always welcome. Let’s get out there people.
Details of these events will be posted on the official Facebook page for Tidy Turkey and in the group blog.
