Taskos and North of England Beach Cleaning

North’s Greek office, together with our Members – Tsakos, took part in a beach cleaning exercise on Saturday 1 October 2016.

This was part of an initiative sponsored by Greek marine environmental organisation HELMEPA which both North and Tsakos support as members. This year, October has been designated by HELMEPA as  a month of action for the marine environment, as part of an International Coastal Clean up Campaign (ICC) 2016. The campaign was launched in Greece with beach clean ups in Salamina, Vouliagmeni Lake and Chalkis to include underwater clean up activities with extensive participation of HELMEPA members, volunteers, students and teachers, Port Authorities, cooperating entities and local associations, diving centres and environmentally aware organisations and supporters. So far more than 1,400 volunteers have scheduled clean ups throughout Greece.

On this occasion we were cleaning one of the beaches in Varkisa, on what turned out to be a glorious sunny morning, with a still crystal clear azure sea that really brought home the beauty of Greece’s coast, and why it is so important to protect it. The clean-up was undertaken with enthusiasm by adults and children alike, with a significant amount of plastic and other rubbish (mainly cigarette butts) collected over a two hour period. Those who had the foresight to bring their swimming gear then plunged into the cool calm beckoning sea, whilst those who had forgotten had to make do with the spectacular scenery and a well-earned iced coffee in true Greek style. All in all a very enjoyable and worthwhile morning’s work.