As the Cayman Islands, along with countries around the world, marks Earth Day 2024, a number of public and private organisations and venues are hosting events to highlight the occasion.
Some groups are organising events in which residents and visitors can participate, while other venues are hosting events that promote green practices.
Earth Day began in 1970, and is marked on 22 April, although some local events take place in the days around that date. This year, the international movement makes a plea for the end of plastics for the sake of human and planetary health.
On the event website, there is a call for the production of all plastics to be reduced by 60% by 2040. To help promote the reduction of plastics, join in the following:
EARTH DAY EVENTS ON-ISLAND INCLUDE:
CAYMAN TURTLE CENTRE EVENTS
Earth Day Family Fun Day
• Saturday, 20 April
• 10am-4pm
Cayman Turtle Centre Earth Day Turtle Release
• Monday, 22 April
• 10:30am
• Location to be confi med
Explore the Mangroves at Barkers Beach (Facebook Live)
• Tuesday, 23 April
• 9:45am
• Cayman Turtle Centre’s Facebook Page
Earth Day Beach Clean Up in partnership with Chamber of Commerce
• Saturday, 27 April
• 7-10am
• Barkers Beach
• Further information: 949-3894
OTHER EVENTS:
North Sound Estate Annual Community Earth Day Clean-up
• Saturday, 20 April
• 7-11am
• Sign-up at the car park at International College of the Cayman Islands.
• Refreshments include tea, coffee and food.
• Further information: 943-7652
Chamber of Commerce Annual Earth Day Cleanup
• Saturday, 27 April
• 7-10am
• Cayman’s largest volunteer-driven beach and roadside clean-up event, which usually attracts between 2,000 and 2,500 volunteers from various Chamber member businesses and community groups. Teams assemble early in the morning at pre-arranged locations and clean up a beach, park or roadside area that has been agreed. The two main ways people participate are by registering teams, or by becoming sponsors. The Chamber encourages members, businesses, organisations and individuals to register their teams on its website. Sponsors usually participate by organising teams, too. The registration for sponsorship is available on the Chamber website.
• Further information: 743-9126
Plastic Free Cayman Turtle Tracks
• Saturday, 27 April
• 8-10am
• The Plastic Free Cayman beach clean-up event is a community-driven initiative dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and health of Grand Cayman’s beaches. Volunteers will come together to remove trash and debris, contributing to the protection of marine life and Cayman’s coastal ecosystem. Participants are encouraged to bring their reusable water bottles to stay hydrated, with water refills provided at the event; wear gloves for safe handling of waste; and use reef-safe sunscreen to protect both their skin and the marine environment.
• Further information: [email protected]
Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
• Saturday, 27 April
• Free admission for Cayman residents.
• Entry includes full access to the Botanic Park, Children’s Garden and Blue Iguana Conservation area from 9am-4:30pm. A small selection of plants will be for sale behind the Visitor Centre. Entrants must show ID for admission.
• Further information: 947-9462
PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE WATER
Here are some facts from the Earth Day website, referring to microplastics in the ocean, which is of particular relevance to a small island territory like the Cayman Islands.
- Microplastics in different forms are present in almost all water systems in the world, including streams, rivers, lakes and oceans.
- There is more microplastic in the ocean than there are stars in the Milky Way.
- By 2050, there will be more plastic in the oceans than there are fish (by weight).
- The chances of disease on a coral reef are enhanced 22-fold by plastics.
- In 2018, a huge survey of the 159 coral reefs across Asia-Pacific region showed that over 11.1 billion plastic particles were entangling the corals, and this number is estimated to increase by 40% by 2025.
- Plastic debris may also cause physical damage to the corals by exhausting the resources for the wound-healing process.
- More than 7,000 species of fishes, invertebrates, plants, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals can be found in the coral reef ecosystem.
- Many animals at the base of the food chain eat microplastics. These animals are then consumed by others that are eaten by humans.
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT EARTH DAY, WITH IDEAS OF HOW TO MARK IT, CAN BE FOUND AT EARTHDAY.ORG.
This article originally appears in the Spring 2024 issue of What’s Hot.
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