Rolling up their sleeves to "go to sea" for a better environment — young people clean up beaches around the island

Reported by Reporter You T-Ru / Taipei

A group of young Taiwanese, rolling up their sleeves and bending down, pick up trash on beaches across Taiwan, all in pursuit of a "more beautiful Taiwan." This is the "Taiwan Clean Earth Corps," formed by seven graduates from the Department of Life Sciences at National Taiwan Normal University. Through hands-on beach clean-ups, they hope to inspire environmental awareness among youth, remind the public of the severity of marine litter pollution, and spread the concept of sustainable ocean management to everyone.


▲ The "Taiwan Clean Earth Corps" inspires environmental awareness through hands-on beach clean-ups. (Photo / From the Facebook page of Taiwan Clean Earth Corps)

Selected for the 4th "Youth Adventure Taiwan – Finding Your Own Inspirational Map" Practice Plan Competition by the Cabinet-level Youth Development Administration, the Taiwan Clean Earth Corps, themed around "Rallying for Beach Clean-Ups, Connecting to Dream Clean-Ups," has organized a series of beach cleaning events. Lin Yi, the corps' leader, said: "We’ve read so many books growing up, but what we truly need to do is definitely more than just studying. Knowledge is power, but knowledge is also responsibility. After learning, we must put that knowledge into action. Beyond knowing, we have to do."

The first beach clean-up by the Taiwan Clean Earth Corps at Golden Sand Bay began on April 22 of last year (2012), successfully gaining support from young people through free social media channels. Over the course of a year, they mobilized over 650 participants, visiting five beaches: Gongliao Golden Sand Bay, Tamsui Sand Dunes, Kaohsiung Cijin Harbor, Tainan’s Golden Coast, and Jinshan Shuiwei Harbor. Young volunteers gathered via online calls to clean the beaches, removing large amounts of trash and restoring Taiwan’s coasts to their natural state. In April 2013, they set out again, starting at Laomei Rock Pools in New Taipei City, spreading environmental protection efforts to every corner.


▲ The Taiwan Clean Earth Corps’ website reads: “The end of the waves is the start of the trash.” (Photo / From the Facebook page of Taiwan Clean Earth Corps)


▲ Hundreds of youths participated, visiting five beaches over the year including Gongliao Golden Sand Bay, Tamsui Sand Dunes, Kaohsiung Cijin Harbor, Tainan’s Golden Coast, and Jinshan Shuiwei Harbor. (Photo / From the Facebook page of Taiwan Clean Earth Corps)


These actions have not only won awards in various competitions but have also earned invitations to speak at middle and high schools. This not only provides them with encouragement to continue but also serves as motivation for the "Taiwan Clean Earth Corps" to keep spreading their message. Many who heard the talks were moved to join clean-up efforts. Team member Liao Yuanzi happily said: "Sometimes doing nothing is fine, but once you do something, it really makes a difference. We did it!" Additionally, anyone who voluntarily joins beach clean-ups and uploads photos to their fan page will receive a free postcard from the Taiwan Clean Earth Corps as encouragement, hoping to spread the seeds of ocean care far and wide.

The seventh activity since the founding of the Taiwan Clean Earth Corps will take place on May 26 at 2 p.m. at Xiangshan Wetlands in Hsinchu City. A post has also been made on social media, inviting the public to join the beach clean-up at Xiangshan Wetlands in Hsinchu. If you agree with and support the ideals of these young people, consider joining the Taiwan Clean Earth Corps, try bending down, rolling up your sleeves, and stepping onto the beaches of Taiwan yourself.


▲ The seventh activity since the founding of the Taiwan Clean Earth Corps will take place on May 26 at 2 p.m. at Xiangshan Wetlands in Hsinchu City. (Photo / From the Facebook page of Taiwan Clean Earth Corps)

Regarding future plans for more similar activities, team member Wen Yiting said: “Some may want to become teachers, and we plan to integrate marine conservation concepts into our lessons to educate students. This year, like last year, we’ll complete five beach clean-ups to continue spreading the idea of sustainable oceans to everyone.” The Taiwan Clean Earth Corps hopes to rally more youth in the future, spark environmental awareness, and sustain the vitality of the environment. As team member Dai Yi wrote on a postcard: “The most beautiful thing in the world isn’t the scenery itself, but the heart that protects it.”