The Sri Sathya Sai International Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (SSSIOTT) participated in a National Beach Clean-up Day, spearheaded by the award-winning environment conservation group, Nature Seekers, which took place on March 5th, 2023. From March to September every year, Trinidad is host to the majestic leatherback turtles as they travel across the Atlantic Ocean to nest on the east coast of the island. Sea turtles have been around for more than 110 million years and play a significant role in maintaining healthy oceans.
Eighty-five Sai devotees participated in this project which was held at The Matura Beach, a popular nesting site and habitat for leatherback turtles. Keeping beach shorelines clear of debris is critical as it may hamper the female sea turtles’ journey from the ocean to their nesting sites.
Nature Seekers reported a total of 409 trash bags weighing 2,679 kilograms of garbage and debris collected on that day, covering half of the turtle nesting area. The most common items collected included styrofoam, glass, nets, ropes, and plastics, the largest item recovered was a refrigerator. Debris, especially marine waste, is a predominant factor in the entanglement and death of the turtles along this journey.
“Nature is your school, your laboratory, the gateway to liberation, and the panorama of God’s manifold majesty. Seek to know the lessons it is ready to teach; all things in nature are just as divine (Brahman) as you are. So, any act is divine, and any work is the worship of the divine; build the mansion of your life on the strong foundation of faith that all is divine.” –BSSSB October 4, 1970
Teamwork to remove logs
Volunteers cleaning along the shoreline
Group photo after the cleanup
Garbage bags collected