Santo Domingo.- Thousands of volunteers, organized by as many organizations and government agencies, converged along Santo Domingo’s various beaches to scoop up thousands of pounds of trash.
Some of the volunteers are from as far as Utah, U.S., who joined the locals to mark World Beach and Coast Cleanup Day.
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... (Look, beyond the words)
Sure, DR can't see herself doing it on her own strength and knowledge...... She's a failed state!!!!!
From: United States, Brooklyn
Good old mormon boys!!
Written by: ateo2010 
, 17 Sep 2011 3:30 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Owning Noobs
Great job the spirit of our people is beautiful!
Written by: RonEvane, 17 Sep 2011 5:51 PM
From: United States, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Thank you, foreigners for helping in the clean-up. Your efforts are much appreciated.
Now, if only we, Dominicans, could learn to stop thrashing our nation!........?
From: Dominican Republic
@RobertoJose,
Although I think this article is a little misleading, I have been to Punta Cana and other vacation spots, and they were very clean. It helps raise concern about the issue. It already, has you fired-up and ready to kick the ass of anyone littering. This beach clean up is nothing new. I remember, growing up, about the mandatory community work, you needed to perform before getting your high school diploma. In my school we choose to plant 100 small pine trees, per student, in the country side. I think "beach-clean" was among the other options.
From: United States, Orange County, California
Great job but, why wait so long to clean the huge mess? I hope they keep it clean.
From: Dominican Republic
@RonEvane,
Agree!!
Written by: xwill7, 17 Sep 2011 8:28 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
robert,
I didnt see Dominicans litter in Bavaro... You are thinking of public beaches
From: Canada
what you need to do is start to fine the low life tourists that come to that beautiful country and drop their garbage and expect someone else to pick it up. and they are not from just one country they are from all the country's that visit there. I know this is one of the least worry's you have in your country.
but you need to start to take care of your beautiful island. everybody there need to be part of this. please help to keep it clean. I love to come and visit your island. but i don't like to see the slobs dumping there garbage.
Written by: telemeco, 18 Sep 2011 8:06 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Monte Plata
I think all of this start at home: i have a theory you can pretty much forget about grown up, you are set in you way you are not going to change. Focus instead on the kids, have them do school trip to clean beach, have this extra credit, let them grow where to clean a beach, plant a tree and not littering is part of the education growing up. them you will see the different 20 year later and 10 generation later it will become part of being a Dominican.
From: Dominican Republic
The Duke...you do not see many tourists eating from Styrofoam plates and containers. Nor do you see them using Macier cloro or drinking Malta Morena.
Take a walk on the beach....these items litter the beaches and shoreline. Some will claim that they items come from another country...washing up on our shores...not the case...it is a home grown problem. Check out the Yuma River after a rainstorm. You can float on the Styrofoam that runs downstream from Higuey.
Written by: RoyStone, 19 Sep 2011 12:00 PM
From: Australia
PuntaCanaMike,
You are absolutely correct.
Dominicans dump their rubbish anywhere and everywhere and the waterways and rivers end up as glaciers of Styrofoam and PET. I was involved in last year's big clean-up of the beaches of Santo Domingo. One week later they were exactly the same as before the cleanup and the big black plastic bags of rubbish were still awaiting collection months later. The whole thing is a public relations exercise for the sponsors - the main suppliers of rubbish: Coca-Cola, Phillip Morris, packaging companies and supermarket chains.
Sadly the only clean beaches are in the foreign tourist areas.
Written by: RoyStone, 20 Sep 2011 4:32 PM
From: Australia
theduke000,
I suggest you open your eyes next time you are in the Dominican
Republic. The dumping of garbage is by the locals, not the foreign tourists. That is why the tourist areas are much cleaner than the rest of the country.
Written by: RoyStone, 20 Sep 2011 4:33 PM
From: Australia
Arcangel96,
I was pleased to hear of your mandatory community work in high-school. Unfortunately I think it is no-longer on the syllabus.
Written by: RoyStone, 20 Sep 2011 11:23 PM
From: Australia
What was wrong with RobertoJose's posting at 4:22 PM?
"If the cap fits - wear it!"
From: Canada, Alberta
Hey Punta Cana Mike
I would like to help in one of these clean-ups. I'am one of the tourist that the duke says throws garbage all over the place...lol. If there is a clean up going on from Dec 30 to Jan 14 I would like to help out if you hear of one will you let me know
Written by: RoyStone, 9 Oct 2011 12:52 PM
From: Australia
ahardedge,
The clean-up is only one day per year, organized by VidaAzul representing USA-based Ocean Conservancy.
Go to the clean-up sites (along the waterfront of Santo Domingo) one week later you you will see no trace of the clean-up as more rubbish washes up from the sea. Local Dominicans (not foreign tourists) continue to use the creeks and rivers as rubbish-tips and sewers which flow into the Caribbean Sea.
Don't waste your holiday. Go to an all-inclusive resort on the Atlantic Coast and you might find a reasonably clean beach to enjoy. If you go to a beach frequented by locals (like Playa Najao) the rubbish everywhere will disgust you, even if you can tolerate the noise of many distorted sound-systems playing Hip-Hop and Bachata at 95 dB all once.
From: Canada, Alberta
To Roy Stone
I have been to lots of places in the DR I know that there is alot of garbage around. I don't just hang out at the all inclusives. Have a few Indian reservation around where I live just like some places in the Dr....some may figure it is a a waste of time but it will make me feel good so what the hell
From: Dominican Republic
ahardedge,
I thought the indigenous Canadians were at one with nature and custodians of the environment - just like the Australian Aborigines.
From: Canada, Alberta
Pretty Maria....lol I'am........I love the DR as much as I love Canada 2 best places in the world
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Good old mormon boys!!
How to do you come to the conclusion that DR is a "failed state" from this community effort? Isn't this a positive thing? Moreover, this is an international effort, even in USA were cleaning up beaches.
:)
http://www.oceanconservancy.org/o..../disney-helps-stars-align-in.html
Thank you, foreigners for helping in the clean-up. Your efforts are much appreciated.
Now, if only we, Dominicans, could learn to stop thrashing our nation!........?
Although I think this article is a little misleading, I have been to Punta Cana and other vacation spots, and they were very clean. It helps raise concern about the issue. It already, has you fired-up and ready to kick the ass of anyone littering. This beach clean up is nothing new. I remember, growing up, about the mandatory community work, you needed to perform before getting your high school diploma. In my school we choose to plant 100 small pine trees, per student, in the country side. I think "beach-clean" was among the other options.
Agree!!
I didnt see Dominicans litter in Bavaro... You are thinking of public beaches
but you need to start to take care of your beautiful island. everybody there need to be part of this. please help to keep it clean. I love to come and visit your island. but i don't like to see the slobs dumping there garbage.
I think all of this start at home: i have a theory you can pretty much forget about grown up, you are set in you way you are not going to change. Focus instead on the kids, have them do school trip to clean beach, have this extra credit, let them grow where to clean a beach, plant a tree and not littering is part of the education growing up. them you will see the different 20 year later and 10 generation later it will become part of being a Dominican.
Take a walk on the beach....these items litter the beaches and shoreline. Some will claim that they items come from another country...washing up on our shores...not the case...it is a home grown problem. Check out the Yuma River after a rainstorm. You can float on the Styrofoam that runs downstream from Higuey.
You are absolutely correct.
Dominicans dump their rubbish anywhere and everywhere and the waterways and rivers end up as glaciers of Styrofoam and PET. I was involved in last year's big clean-up of the beaches of Santo Domingo. One week later they were exactly the same as before the cleanup and the big black plastic bags of rubbish were still awaiting collection months later. The whole thing is a public relations exercise for the sponsors - the main suppliers of rubbish: Coca-Cola, Phillip Morris, packaging companies and supermarket chains.
Sadly the only clean beaches are in the foreign tourist areas.
I suggest you open your eyes next time you are in the Dominican
Republic. The dumping of garbage is by the locals, not the foreign tourists. That is why the tourist areas are much cleaner than the rest of the country.
I was pleased to hear of your mandatory community work in high-school. Unfortunately I think it is no-longer on the syllabus.
"If the cap fits - wear it!"
I would like to help in one of these clean-ups. I'am one of the tourist that the duke says throws garbage all over the place...lol. If there is a clean up going on from Dec 30 to Jan 14 I would like to help out if you hear of one will you let me know
The clean-up is only one day per year, organized by VidaAzul representing USA-based Ocean Conservancy.
Go to the clean-up sites (along the waterfront of Santo Domingo) one week later you you will see no trace of the clean-up as more rubbish washes up from the sea. Local Dominicans (not foreign tourists) continue to use the creeks and rivers as rubbish-tips and sewers which flow into the Caribbean Sea.
Don't waste your holiday. Go to an all-inclusive resort on the Atlantic Coast and you might find a reasonably clean beach to enjoy. If you go to a beach frequented by locals (like Playa Najao) the rubbish everywhere will disgust you, even if you can tolerate the noise of many distorted sound-systems playing Hip-Hop and Bachata at 95 dB all once.
I have been to lots of places in the DR I know that there is alot of garbage around. I don't just hang out at the all inclusives. Have a few Indian reservation around where I live just like some places in the Dr....some may figure it is a a waste of time but it will make me feel good so what the hell
I thought the indigenous Canadians were at one with nature and custodians of the environment - just like the Australian Aborigines.