Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1197486
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 JANUARY 2020 21 COMMERCIAL 15 Zero Waste Future programme organises three clean-ups and supported turtle releases THE Zero Waste Future, a pro- gramme funded by The Coca- Cola Foundation, is an ambi- tious programme that aims to accelerate the behavioural change required to make the circular economy and recy- cling part of people's hearts, minds and everyday routines. To this end clean-ups of the St Thomas Bay, Golden Bay and Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay were organised in collabora- tion with EKOSKOLA with the participation of six schools. Prior to this clean-up, stu- dents participated in an edu- cational session focused on raising more awareness re- garding the impact that litter has on aquatic environment. Three turtles were released during these clean-ups and the Zero Waste Programme spon- sored the tracker placed on one of the turtles. "It was inspirational to see students, guardians and teachers coming together to clean our environment. The Zero Waste programme uses a solution-based approach to educate and empower young people to create a more envi- ronmentally conscious society through ongoing educational campaigns in schools followed by meaningful actions such as this clean-up,'' said Stephen Bonnici, Public Affairs and Communication Manager at GSD Marketing Ltd. During these clean-ups, more than 100kg of waste was col- lected from areas consisting of rocky coastline, sandy beaches and a public garden. The litter collected was catalogued on a standardised Ocean Conservancy data card and disposed of responsibly. The data will be analysed and will support the drafting of proposals on how to further eliminate marine litter that will be put forward to all rel- evant stakeholders. A record sum of €1,365,556 was raised during the New Year's day Feast of Generosity organised by Id- Dar tal-Providenza. Helped by the nice weather, a huge number of peo- ple made it to Siġġiewi to make dona- tions under the big tent erected in the parking lot. Many others phoned in to make their donation. As has now been the custom, vari- ous parishes in Malta and Gozo made special collections during church cel- ebrations that were donated to the Home on behalf of the community. The Director, Fr Martin Micallef, said that this year's edition of the Feast of Generosity has once again highlighted the generosity of the Mal- tese people towards Id-Dar tal-Provi- denza. He said these funds will enable the Home to continue to provide a better quality of life for its residents at the Siġġiewi Home as well as at the homes in the community. The first official visitor was Arch- bishop Charles J. Scicluna who also celebrated Mass in the Home's chapel which was attended by the Parliamen- tary Secretary for the Rights of Per- sons with Disability and Active Age- ing, Anthony Agius Decelis. In his homily the Archbishop said: "Let us let God look at us because that way our own way of looking at each other will be God's look coming from the heart. How nice it is that Maltese and Gozitans alike start the new year helping each other with acts of soli- darity even in their own circles. There are various forms of poverty besides financial and one of them is solitude where a person feels lonely and aban- doned by society." Archbishop Scicluna appealed to the Maltese public to support the grow- ing number of homes that Id-Dar tal- Providenza has in various localities so that persons with special needs can still be able to live in the heart of the community. Other visits during the day were made by the President of Malta, George Vella and Mrs Vella, the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Mrs Muscat and Auxiliary Bishop Mgr Joseph Galea-Curmi. Also at- tending were ministers and members of Parliament from both sides of the House, delegations representing the main poplitical parties and represent- atives of constituted bodies and they also took time to answer the phones. On the occasion of the year when the Church will be commemorating the hundred anniversary of the birth of St John Paul II on May 18th 1920, during the day in the chapel there was a relic for the veneration by the public with a piece of gauze with the Saint's blood of when he was shot in St Pe- ter's Square by Mehmet Ali Ağca on May 13th, 1981. This relic was donat- ed to the Home by Sr Maria Bambina Bugeja, a Maltese nun that assisted the Pope when he was recovering at the Policlinico Gemelli. There was also a huge number of vis- itors to view the hundred or so works of arts kindly donated by Maltese and foreign artists and exhibited in the St Paul Hall. The auction of these works of art will this year be taking place in April, at a date still to be announced. Last year's auction raised a total of €29,487. The live television broadcast started at 9.00am with Holy Mass and contin- ued till just after midnight when the total sum collected during the day was announced. TVM2, ONE TV and NET TV took part for long stretches of the 15-hour televised marathon. This in- cluded entertainment provided by the top singers and musicians on the is- land that managed to create a festive family atmosphere under the big tent. Id-Dar tal-Providenza thanks Maltese for generosity President George Vella and Fr Martin Micallef answering the phones