**Primary Article: Beach Clean-Up in Tijuana Raises Environmental Awareness**
On Saturday, September 21, 2024, employees of Baxter, a medical products company, organized a beach clean-up in Tijuana aimed at raising awareness about the importance of protecting marine environments from pollution.
“We covered half of the beach, conducting a thorough, detailed clean-up—like an ant operation. Our goal is to create a positive impact in our community, and keeping our beaches clean is fundamental,” stated Jairo, a Human Resources Analyst at Baxter.
Seventy volunteers participated in the clean-up, targeting areas such as El Vigía, Aqua Residencial, and Cañada Azteca. Among the collected waste were straws, plastics, and diapers.
“We noticed considerable amounts of small debris that should be easy for people to dispose of themselves, yet they leave it behind. Items like straws, plastic bottles, and even baby diapers were found,” Jairo highlighted.
He also pointed out two major factors hindering cleaner beaches: the lack of adequate trash bins and proper signage to encourage people to dispose of their waste responsibly. “More trash bins and signage are needed to make people aware that they should take their trash with them. Otherwise, our beaches will continually be dirty and polluted,” he added.
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**Secondary Article: “Ocean Conservancy Leads Global Efforts for Cleaner Beaches”**
In a related global initiative, Ocean Conservancy has been spearheading efforts to maintain clean and healthy beaches worldwide. Their annual International Coastal Cleanup engages millions of volunteers in over 100 countries to remove millions of pounds of trash from shorelines.
According to their latest report, cigarette butts, plastic wrappers, and food containers topped the list of collected debris. Ocean Conservancy emphasizes the importance of collaborative community efforts to tackle the problem of marine debris.
“We must all take responsibility for our marine environments. Small actions, such as participating in local clean-ups and reducing plastic use in our daily lives, can significantly impact the health of our oceans,” a spokesperson for the organization stated.
The global push for cleaner beaches is echoed in local efforts like the Tijuana beach clean-up, showcasing how collective actions, both large and small, contribute to a larger cause — safeguarding our marine ecosystems.