A Benin-Style Beach Clean-Up

The gray, morning clouds weren't ominous enough to deter us from participating in a beach clean-up, sponsored by the US Embassy and the Ocean Conservancy. It took us about 30 minutes to walk from our house with two other teachers to help pick up trash behind the Benin Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

When we arrived, the volunteers were done collecting garbage and were sorting it into two categories: organic or not organic. So we donned big red vinyl gloves and starting sorting.

Here's Debbie, one of my colleagues, finishing up the sorting.

Compared to Oregon's Beach Clean-Up, sponsored by SOLVE, this was a drop in the bucket. The size of the area scoured by the volunteers was roughly 300 meters in length, from the surf-line to the end of the sand inland. Plastic, by far, was the most common item collected, from bags to bottles to unrecognizable items. Shoes of all types were also a common find.

Bags of garbage, baskets of organic stuff.

Then the bags were hauled to a truck and taken away, not sure where, though.

 

 

Here's a group shot of the volunteers. It was interesting to see that many volunteers wore masks as well as gloves.

The event was advertised in the school's weekly newsletter. Three school families helped out while we were there.

This clean-up was quite different than what we are used to. One obvious difference is the low number of volunteers. Another one is the amount of coastline cleaned up. Benin has about 75 miles of coast, compared to Oregon's 350 (?) miles. I know there was one other site in Cotonou that was designated for clean-up. However, I think the two sites were it.

The need for clean-up is TREMENDOUS here along Benin's coast. The beaches are littered extensively, either with items that people just leave or with items that are washed up. I was uplifted to know that a clean-up was possible, but disappointed with the turnout as well as the small amount of area cleaned. But it's a start.

We saw some unusual things on our way back to our house . . .

Some sort of dead animal was floating close to shore. It was badly decomposed and difficult to identify, but very smelly!

 

 

 

 

Tires were being burned, east of where we cleaned up the beach. What an unexpected thing to see considering why we were on the beach.

Some bones were close to where the animal carcass was floating. Donn took a close-up of this one, which he now thinks is a human femur. Other bones close by also looked like human bones. A creepy and disturbing find.

A church group, known as Celestial Christians, was setting up for a church service. 

Here's a link for you if you want to find out more about their beliefs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_Church_of_Christ

On-going construction of buildings is a common sight. These buildings look like they've been a work in progress for some time.

On the street outside the construction area you will always find materials to make the concrete blocks used for the buildings.

Cement and sand?

 

Mixers and blocks set out to dry.

We stopped at the local fruit and vegetable vender to buy a few items, when we heard these guys comment on Donn's University of Oregon shirt. We think they were starting the tailgate party a bit early; it was 15 hours until kickoff when the picture was taken. :)

Duck fans all the way from Salem, Oregon!

And finally, here's a picture of what we encounter when we get to the street in front of our house. We had quite a bit of rain the day and night before, so the puddles were very large. The entrance to our house is just this side of the foremost tree on the left. Mind you, this is a major connection between two busy roads.

 Thanks for checking in with us. We'd like to hear from you if you've got the time.