We all must DO something!

An introduction to the “RSYC Cleaner Marina Day” October 15 2011

By David Bradley and Gudrun Nienaber

March 2011 THE CATALYST

In March 2011 David went on a sailing training program with the Langkawi Sailing School (read about our first training program in the article on pp 42-43 of the March 2011 issue of The Expat magazine) and we just had to DO something about what he saw on this eye-opening trip!

Our blog http://www.davidandgudrun.com contains the journal of this wonderful experience under the heading Maritime Voyage Journals and below are two extracts from the RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper Practical Journal:

1.     Wednesday March 16 2011.

“The next morning (Wednesday March 16 2011) we took the opportunity to visit Pulau Kukup (Kukup Island) where we found a very attractive boardwalk leading to a lookout over the extensive mangroves. This island is one of the largest mangrove islands in the world and during our walk we saw a lot of bird-life, including beautiful white breasted sea-eagles. We also saw a wild boar rooting around for a feed, some monkeys, mud-skippers and plenty of rubbish! The quantity of rubbish and flotsam that is ubiquitous in Malaysian waterways is nothing short of disgraceful. The more I see of this tropical utopia and the more use I make of the wonderful tropical oceans and beaches, the more I am becoming motivated to start doing something about trying to “CLEAN UP THE WATERWAYS”. There is wonderful precedent and blueprint that CAN be implemented here in Malaysia with the right connections and support from Government, big business and the community at large. I refer to the “Clean Up the World” campaign. The difference in the quality of the waterways in and around Sydney and the rest of Australia over the last twenty-two years resulting directly from this program has to be experienced to be believed. It can be done here in Malaysia and I will find out how to be the spark that ignites the fire that will get the results! Watch this space!

2.     Friday March 18 2011

“In the morning we again marvelled at the incredible amount of flotsam, jetsam and other rubbish that flows up and down the Klang River. There were literally islands of rubbish floating up and down the river on the tides and the place smelled like a sewer. Rats ran up and down berthing lines onto boats at the marina and whereas the RSYC is a very nice place with good amenities it is such a shame that the river is so polluted. This awful situation has hardened my resolve to look for a solution for this pervasive pollution problem affecting all of Malaysia’s otherwise magnificent waterways.

Flotsam piled onto the marina pontoon during a spring tide

April and May 2011 THE FOLLOW-UP

Our love of the sea and sailing and the above experiences led us to focus on leading an initiative to fix up and clean up the marinas and local waterways where we spend so much of our time. So we formed an organization called “Edu-Cat” and reserved the URL “Edu-Cat.com”. “Edu-Cat” is the creator and major sponsor of “Edu-Cat-Malaysia”, the name chosen for the Malaysian arm of our initiative whose prime purpose is to promote environmental harmony through specific environmental fix-up and clean up activities and on-going education campaigns.

In line with our goal “Edu-Cat-Malaysia” demonstrated its commitment to positive environmental outcomes for the marinas and waterways in Malaysia in 2011, by joining the global community based “Clean Up the World” campaign.  “Edu-Cat-Malaysia” will now join an estimated 35 million volunteers from 130 countries across the globe taking responsibility for the future of our earth in the 2011 year under the banner of “Clean Up the World”. “Clean Up the World” is a community based environmental campaign, held in partnership with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) that inspires and empowers communities to clean up, fix up and conserve the environment. As a recognized member of “Clean Up the World”, “Edu-Cat-Malaysia” will have access to very professional implementation tools and a substantial resource base that will be invaluable in the implementation of our programs here in Malaysia.

June and July 2011 GETTING STARTED

“Edu-Cat-Malaysia” “Clean Up” partners:

RSYC Logo

Captain Ali Engin Senyuva, General Manager and Dato’ Alex Nah, Commodore of the Royal Selangor Yacht Club were both very keen to help us promote our idea of “Cleaner Marinas” as we selected the RSYC as the focal point for our first project.

Also quick to come on board in an ownership role was the relatively new Rotary Club of Bandar Buki Tinggi (RCBBT) who meets every week at the RSYC.

RCBBT logo

At a recent organizing committee meeting held at the RSYC, the Majlis Perbandaran Klang expressed support with logistics, a big part of any clean-up project.  “Edu-cat-Malaysia” together with its partners RSYC and the RCBBT have set a date for the first “Cleaner Marina” project to take place at The Royal Selangor Yacht Club (RSYC) Jalan Shahbandar, 42000 Port Klang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, on Saturday October 15 2011. We are now actively seeking sponsors for this worthwhile event.

David Bradley from “Edu-Cat” said that by taking part in “Clean Up the World” this year, “Edu-Cat-Malaysia” is offering the community a way to take ownership of the local environment and to play their part in its ongoing wellbeing. “As a member of “Clean Up the World”, we are going to clean up the marina and waterways at the RSYC in Port Klang working as a close-knit team with the RSYC and the Rotary Club of Bandar Bukit Tinggi.  We’re calling on the whole of the Kuala Lumpur, Klang Valley and the Port Klang community to join us in helping to protect the area we know and treasure.

Right from the start we have the support and sponsorship of The Expat Group as our Media Partner, and Simpson Marine, Asia’s leading yacht dealership and brokerage since 1984.

We are in discussion with other potential sponsors as we go to press. At this very early stage in our planning we have created tremendous interest in this project from all with whom we have spoken. The campaign theme for “Clean Up the World” in 2011 is ‘Our Place… Our Planet… Our Responsibility’. This is a reminder that by taking action to benefit our own local area, we’re also contributing to something much bigger. We’re part of the global effort to protect our planet for future generations.”

“Clean Up the World” Chairman and founder, Ian Kiernan AO* said “Edu-Cat-Malaysia” will play an important role in the 2011 Clean Up the World campaign. “It was great to learn that “Edu-Cat-Malaysia” is showing leadership in Malaysia by taking part in “Clean Up the World” this year,” he said. “They understand what their local environment needs, and the activities they have planned will make a valuable contribution to both the local area and the global campaign.”

Volunteer to be part of this project. Come join us October 15 2011 at RSYC!

For more information about “Clean Up the World” see: www.cleanuptheworld.org and to see the activities of members http://activities.cleanuptheworld.org.

“Edu-Cat-Malaysia” is a Member of “Clean Up the World”. For more information on this initiative see http://www.educatmalaysia.com call David on +60 17 2844590 or email him at db.educat@gmail.com.