Volunteers uniting 100 countries for a cleanup action

Volunteer groups and organizations from different countries are initiating a global action called World Cleanup 2012, with the aim of cleaning up illegal garbage in 100 countries and raising people's awareness worldwide.

“This is not just about the nature-lovers, it's about everyone waking up to the reality that garbage is the largest mistreated resource in the world,” states one of the action initiators, tech-entrepreneur Rainer Nolvak.

World Cleanup 2012 will consist of separate one-day cleanup actions, carried out country-wide or city-wide in participating countries between 24th of March 2012 and 25th of September 2012. Right now there are teams already gearing up in almost 60 countries all over the World: Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bénin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Croatia, Cyprus, India (New Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Patna), Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Kosova, Lithuania, Liberia, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Niger, Portugal, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Tanzania, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA (San Fransisco) and Russia.

The idea for the action grew from the Let's Do It! civic movement that started in 2008 in the small Baltic country of Estonia, when on 3rd of May 50 000 people came out and picked up 10 000 tons of waste in 5 hours, cleaning up the whole territory of the country. The video report on the action went viral and now the one-day cleanup model has been replicated in 15 more countries with staggering results – altogether 2,4 million participants and from 4% to 14,7% (of the whole population) participation rate per country.

“We have been implementing the simple and very practical Let's Do It! philosophy through those actions – don't blame someone, instead just figure out how you can make things better and invite everyone to join you,” points out Nolvak.

For next year the initiators are aiming to unite the volunteers' efforts in at least 100 countries – thus there is room for many more to join in. These actions that have been successfully carried out by dedicated people, volunteers from very different backgrounds, prove that we all can make a difference.

Now is a good time to jump on board. World that is free of waste is possible. The team of World Cleanup 2012 invites all the people and countries who wish to be a part of these Olympic Games for the clean world – join us! Read more and see how you can support and join the action: www.letsdoitworld.org

Let's do it! World is in contact with corporations and foundations worldwide. If you wish to become a partner as well, please do not hesitate to contact Ms Marie Talts at marietalts@letsdoitworld.org

Let’s Do It! movement’s partners in this global effort are: Skype Technologies S.A., Rezidor Hotel Group, Carlson, Aegis Media Worldwide, National Geographic Channel and Meridian International Center.
 

Press release in several languages, in .doc format

In English: Volunteers uniting 100 countries for a cleanup action »

In Spanish: Voluntarios unen 100 países para una acción de limpieza »

In French: Des bénévoles unissent 100 pays pour une action de nettoyage »

In Portuguese: Voluntários querem unir 100 países para uma ação de limpeza »

In Russian: Волонтеры объединяют 100 стран ради всемирной акции по уборке »

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