June is environment month

The Ministry of Environment and National Beautification will celebrate, as it has over the past 10 years, Environment Month in June.

The public is encouraged to come and participate in the activities scheduled for the month, which are being planned in collaboration with the Ministry, its departments, and stakeholders under the theme: Living Sustainably Is…Thinking Circular,… Repair Don’t Just Replace.

The aim of the month-long celebrations is to bring awareness to the environment, and, this year, the Ministry’s focus will be to encourage the public to repair items where possible rather than replace, as well as continue practising of the four R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle and recover.

The first main event on the calendar will be a beach clean up hosted by the Optimist Club and the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN), on Sunday, June 2, at Browne’s Beach, Bay Street, St. Michael, beginning at 6:30 a.m.

In addition, every Wednesday, the CYEN will host an environmental awareness series, beginning on June 12 at #10 The Garrison, St. Michael, at 5 p.m.

On Saturday, June 15, the Coastal Zone Management Unit, along with the Optimist Club, will host a Sunset Coastal Walk, while on Friday, June 21, there will be a Coral Reef and The Blue Economy – Interactive Expo at Southern Palms Hotel, St. Lawrence Gap, Christ Church.

The popular ‘De Heart Uh Barbados’ (de hub) 10k Run and 5k walk, hosted by the Natural Heritage Department, will take place on Saturday, June 22, and the following day, Sunday, June 23, the Environmental Protection Department will host a blue carbon ecosystem tour.

The month of activities will climax with a two-day Small Island Future Festival, formerly known as the SGP Green Knowledge Fair, at the Pelican Craft Centre, Princess Alice Highway.

Other activities planned for the month include: weekly tree planting by primary schools; Folkestone Park and Marine Reserve’s Underwater Clean Up on World Oceans Day; and Hidden Treasure Talk and Tours every Wednesday in the month.

As a result of the Environment Month designation by the United Nations, three specific dates are acknowledged across the world in June regarding the environment: June 5, World Environment Day; June 8, World Oceans Day and June 17, World Desertification Day.