Clean-Up Challenge

 

 Clean-Up Challenge Recap

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    In celebration of the International Day for Disaster Reduction, which took place on the 13th of October 2021, the UWI STAT St. Augustine Corps hosted a Clean-Up Challenge in the form of a virtual clean-up drive that sought to recognize the role of littering and pollution in exacerbating natural phenomena, such as flooding. Pollution, to an extent, becomes a disaster of its own. Trinidad and Tobago has seen extensive flooding following rainfall, which can be partially attributed to poor drainage systems hindered by man-made and organic debris that block water systems.

    Human beings are accordingly prone to becoming bystanders in their environment and they maintain that they do not have responsibility for events that they did not directly cause. Likewise, the bystander effect persists as a complex psychological phenomenon that suggests that people often fail to take initiative in times of crisis as they believe that someone else will take charge and lead initiatives. It is thus important that individuals take an active and direct role in maintaining and securing their environment to ensure that a healthier, productive, and cleaner space is sustained. 

    Littering similarly has devastating impacts to both wildlife and humans, and it thus demands attention and action. It is important that we do what we can to keep our environment clean and reduce avoidable phenomena.

    As part of the challenge, citizens of Trinidad and Tobago were asked to look around their immediate home and surroundings, locate litter, and responsibly dispose of it. They were requested to send in photos before, and after they did this. The photos were then posted to Instagram  and the post with the most likes was accordingly deemed the winner.

We wish to recognize each of our participants! We had three submissions, two participants, and one winner!

In first place, with 25 likes at the end of the voting window, was Ms. Katrina Sammy 🏆

@kat_rina_xx

In second place, with 22 likes, was Ms. Priya Anmolsingh 🥈

@priya.anmsolingh

Thirdly, we recognize our final submission from Ms. Samantha Joseph of So Eco 🌺

@soeco.tt

Responsible Waste Disposal remains imperative to environmental and human wellbeing. Be sure to:

• Throw away all of your waste items responsibly. 
• Clean up any litter, debris, and waste items from your surroundings. 
• Reduce the quantity of waste that you produce by living a low impact or low waste lifestyle.

For more information on specific local and regional disasters, in tandem with data about their causes, impacts, and measures we can take to reduce and mitigate their impacts, visit our #monthlymitigations initiative on Instagram!