NON-PROFIT group Island Keepers CNMI is calling on the public to help “Save the Old Man” on April 13 and 14.
The third annual beach cleanup event is the non-profit’s yearly event dedicated specifically to cleaning up Old Man by the Sea.
The group’s president, Noriko Akari, said the event is open to the public. Both days will involve hiking to the beach and removing trash as well as large and small debris.
Island Keepers CNMI will provide gloves and bags. Refreshment will be provided as well. Akari said the Division of Coastal Resources Management will dispose of the trash.
On April 13, Saturday, the event takes place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. On April 14, Sunday, it will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Akari said prior to forming the non-profit group, she and other scuba divers would clean up beaches before diving. They also removed marine debris from the water as well.
However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, with no customers around, the group formed Island Keepers CNMI so they could continue to keep the island clean, she said.
Akari said they have a Facebook group where they post information about their daily cleanups. She said they keep things “easy” and “flexible,” meaning their group members clean up where they can, whenever trash is around them.
One member, Rie Matsuo, has been singlehandedly picking up litter for over 600 days now.
As for the “Save the Old Man” event, Akari noted that the marine debris at the beach has a much larger footprint.
“We cannot take care of that by ourselves,” Akari said. “So that’s why we hold this annual event, to ask help from the community.”
She added, “Keeping the island beautiful is not hard. It’s just about picking up trash in front of you. If everyone does it, that’s it. If you go to the beach, have a drink then just bring it back. Only that.”
Volunteers at last year’s Save the Old Man cleanup gather marine debris at the beach. This year’s event will take place on April 13 and 14.
