Clean up the World Weekend

Salam Gunakanta *

Drive to clean Ema Market by group of volunteers in September, 2013 :: Pix - Boris Oinam

What is Clean Up the World Weekend

Clean Up the World is a community-based, environmental campaign that inspires and empowers communities around the globe to clean up, fix up and conserve their environment.

The campaign's flagship event is Clean Up the World Weekend, celebrated globally on the 3rd weekend in September each year, however Clean Up the World encourages and supports groups to undertake activities throughout the year.

Clean up the World was established in 1993, after Clean Up Australia founders, Ian Kiernan and Kim McKay, approached the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with the idea of taking the Clean Up Australia concept globally. The resulting partnership now mobilises an estimated 35 million volunteers from 120 countries annually, making it one of the largest community-based environmental campaigns in the world.

UNEP assists Clean Up the World to promote the campaign and encourages participation through its networks. Clean Up the World works across six global regions identified by the United Nations and in three languages - English, French and Spanish. In 1998, Ian Kiernan was awarded the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Sasakawa Environment Prize for his vision and implementation of this worldwide environmental movement.

Now in its 20th year, Clean Up the World, held in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), mobilises an estimated 35 million volunteers from 130 countries annually, making it one of the largest community-based environmental campaigns in the world.

The campaign brings together businesses, community groups, schools, governments and individuals in a range of activities and programs that positively improve local environments. Since the first Clean Up the World campaign in 1993 the improvements achieved due to the efforts of millions of concerned volunteers around the world have been astounding. Examples of community-led Clean Up the World activities include:

* Recycling and resource recovery
* Tree planting
* Education campaigns
* Water reuse and conservation
* Competitions
* Exhibitions
* Fix up projects.

While participants are encouraged to hold environmental events on or around CUW Weekend (always the 3rd weekend in September), Clean Up the World is also designed to provide support to groups undertaking activities throughout the year. Clean Up the World is associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations and is supported by, and collaborates with, a range of partner organisations in various countries.

The Clean Up Story

In 1989 a solo-yachtsman and builder had a simple idea to make a difference in his own backyard – Sydney Harbour.

In 1987, Ian Kiernan AO* competed in the BOC Challenge solo yacht race and as he sailed around-the-world he was shocked by the pollution he continually encountered in areas such as the Sargasso Sea in the Caribbean. Having waited years to see the Sargasso's legendary long golden weeds, Ian's anticipation turned to anger and disappointment when he found them polluted and tangled with rubbish.

Ian recalled. "I can't overstate the disappointment I felt when I found this sea of magic and myth littered with rubbish from discarded thongs, plastic buckets and disposable nappies, to toothpaste tubes and plastic bags."

Once back in Sydney, Ian enlisted the help of friends and held Clean Up Sydney Harbour Day (1989) which motivated 40,000 volunteers to remove rusted car bodies, plastics of all kinds, glass bottles and cigarette butts from the harbour.

Ian and his committee believed that if a city could be mobilised to take action, then so could the whole nation. Almost 300,000 volunteers turned out on the first Clean Up Australia Day in 1990 and that involvement has steadily increased over the last 21 years. The next step for Ian was to take the concept of Clean Up Australia Day to the rest of the world. After gaining the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) , Clean Up the World was launched in 1993. The uptake of Clean Up the World globally (an estimated 35 million people in over 130 countries now participate each year) has demonstrated that this simple Australian idea has universal appeal and the health of the environment is of concern to people worldwide.

In 1998, Ian was awarded the prestigious United Nations Environment Programme Sasakawa Environment Prize. The honour was awarded for "mobilising tens of millions of people around the globe to take responsibility for their own environment." Ian has also been named a Global 500 Laureate while Clean Up the World's ability to bring communities and individuals together has been honoured by a Building World Citizenship Award from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

Clean Up the World – Theme 2013

The estimated 35 million volunteers, who take part in Clean Up the World, are taking responsibility for the environment – and the effects are felt not only in the community in which they take place, but right across the planet.

Our campaign theme - Our Place… Our Planet… Our Responsibility - highlights how local action – taken by every community and volunteer partaking in a Clean Up the World activity – has a global impact. Activities to improve the environment in your place could include planting trees, cleaning parks or beaches, conserving water or undertaking environmental awareness raising or education initiatives.

International Year of Cooperatives 2013 is the UN International Year of Cooperatives. Clean Up the World encourages member organisations to work cooperatively with local authorities, agencies and the community to make the health and well being of our planet and its people a priority. As an individual we can act locally to protect our environment and together we can make a difference in not just your town, but your state, country and the world! Let's share the spirit of cooperation with others this year and get more involved to see what together we can make happen!