Making a difference

For two years running, Berjaya Redang Beach Resort has played host to the Redang Clean Up Day where friends of the environment and those like-minded got together to clear the rubbish from the beach as well as in the water.

Volunteers doing their bit to clean up the beaches.

"Therefore, we need to protect the environment in order to maintain this beauty. The island has given us a lot and now it is our time to give back to the island."

This year, the Redang Clean Up Day was held from Oct 10 to 12. Some 100 volunteers comprising professional divers, dive enthusiasts, non-divers and journalists from Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, the United States and Germany took part.

The divers successfully collected and removed a total of 707 crown of thorns starfish, which are a big threat to the coral reefs as they prey upon coral polyps and literally eat the corals to death.

At the same time, 31 fishing nets, 20 non-biodegradable plastic traps and bags of domestic waste weighing 80kg were collected from the sea.

Non-diving participants and volunteers, meanwhile, helped clear up the beach area at Chagar Hutang and collected over 75 plastic bottles, 45 food containers, 35 individual fishing lines, 15 shoes, 10 styrofoam crates and even two buoys.

Divers removing a crown of thorns starfish.

Singing a similar tune is Julian Hyde, the general manager of Reef Check Malaysia, which carries out research on coral reefs around Malaysia.

"One must understand that corals break easily," he said. "These corals are homes for the fish. Less coral will mean that the fish population will decline."

In addition, progress like building more resorts could become a contributing factor in destroying the environment around the island.

"But it is impossible to stop progress," said Hyde, who also presented a talk on ways to perserve coral reefs in the water. "What we can do is minimise the negative effects that progress has on the environment."

For the first time, some local celebrities also signed up for the clean up. One of them was actor Jehan Miskin, who has been diving for the past seven years in places like the Bahamas, Maldives and Bali.

"My two siblings are also into diving and it is from them that I learned to love it," said Jehan, who is currently featured in the TV series, Jingga 5, and is all set to begin shooting for a new movie, Ransang, at the end of the year.

Jehan getting a helping hand in the water.

This was the first time he has been involved in a project to protect the environment. "I have always wanted to get involved in projects like this but never had the opportunity," said the 29-year-old.

"I would love to get involved in similar projects every year. There is so much beauty under the sea. We do not want it to disappear. We have to preserve them."

TV presenter and actress Elaine Daly was another celebrity who came along to help.

Having been diving for the past two years in places like Tioman, Sepadan, Bali and Thailand, this was also her first time being involved in a clean-up project. "I do a lot of thinking while I am diving," she said.

She feels it is important to have this kind of campaign to help preserve the environment.

"Just imagine if there is nothing to see when you are underwater," she said, adding that such clean-up campaigns will help prevent that nightmare from becoming a reality.

Courtesy from Sun2Surf.com