matangitonga (Nuku'alofa, Tonga) The Hihifo Youth Council took part in a National Climate Change Awareness Week where they picked up rubbish along the coastline of Tongatapu's western district, where in April Tropical Cyclone Harold swept inland, destroying properties.The beach and lagoon is embedded with materials from shattered buildings and their contents, and rubbish from a nearby informal rubbish dump.
This was the youth's first community development work joining Tongatapu 5 People's Representative, Losaline Ma'asi, district and town officers, community members, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources staff, Tonga IW R2R and Climate Change in the campaign, that included tree plainting.
Silia Leger of Tonga IW R2R said trucks were filled with various rubbish was found from plastics tobroken fiber tanks, tin cans (drinks, canned food), glasses (bottles, plates and bowls), building materials rubble (roofing materials: nails, timber, metal roofing and broken-down bricks and cement blocks).
She said most of the rubbish was spread by TC Harold, still on the coastal area, while some were in the water and could only be visible during low tide.
It was collected in the trucks and for dumping at Tapuhia. The Youth Council is planning to have a coastal clean up as part of their work plan, she said.
Poisoning coastal areas
Losaline spoke on the importance of cleaning our evironment.
“Fish and crabs rely on the coastal areas as breeding areas and if we are not cautious on how we maintain these breeding areas, we may not have access to have sufficient seafood as food security in future.
“In addition, many the plastics and man-made items are not compatible with the environment and will not decompose, hence poisoning the living organisms along the coastal areas,” she said.
"Because of the shallow water tables at the western side, it is critical to minimise the release of wastes at these areas that can affect the water for consumption and health of the residents at the western side."
Losaline said the youth has an important role to play in their communities.
“Their level of education can contribute a lot to better development of the communities and they have the capacity and potential to perform tasks if they are given the space and opportunities to do these work well.”
The national clean up was held on September 3 starting at 7- 9:00am at Kolovai, 'Ahau, Kanokupolu and Ha'atafu.
Original Publication: https://matangitonga.to/2020/09/25/hihifo-youth-help-critical-coastline…
