DEQ Monthly Cleanup Brigade

(DEQ) – Due to the celebration of the Annual Environmental Awareness Month (EAM) in April. The Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) cleanup brigade will be deviating from its regular 1st Saturday of each month cleanup and instead encourages volunteers to join the Island Wide Cleanup which is scheduled for April 23, 2010. The time will be announced later.

If you would like to volunteer your time to clean and beautify our island, please ask your company or agency to sign up with the EAM Committee by filling out the forms, selecting a rout to clean and “Pick it Up!”

Volunteers will split into groups and go to selected beach or roadside and go North, South, East or West cleaning for about 2 hours or when finished.

This is a cleanup that should not be missed, so join DEQ’s EAM-Island Wide Cleanup and “Pick It Up!” Let us work together for the health of our coral reefs and cleanliness of our beaches for everyone to enjoy.

For more information about volunteering, please contact the DEQ office at 664-8500.

MINA public bins unveiled

So far eight organizations and families have adopted bins, pledging to pay for regular waste collection services for one year and to conduct at least two beach clean ups at their site. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan was on hand with his partnering organization, the Susupe Hi-5 basketball team, to receive certificates of appreciation for adopting the bins to be installed at Kilili Beach next week.

MINA’s Chair, Fran Castro said, “Partnerships such as these are the keystone to environmental stewardship. We deeply appreciate the commitment that the Congressman and these organizations and businesses have demonstrated towards protecting our islands’ natural resources”.

Other adopting organizations include: Brabu Pharmacy and Wellness Center – 13 Fishermen Monument; CTSI and Tan Holdings – Susupe Beach Park; Ericco Enterprises – Laolao Beach; Marianas Trekking – Wing Beach; The Rotary Club of Saipan – Garapan Fishing Basin; and the Marianas Visitor Authority (site not yet selected).

“CTSI Logistics-Saipan is among those companies who have continuously upheld rehabilitation projects to protect and preserve the beauty of the island”, said Saipan General Manager, Rene Magalong, who learned about the Adopt-a-Bin program through the Beautify CNMI network. CTSI Logistics-Saipan’s parent company, Tan Holdings, adopted Susupe Beach in 2008. The company encourages their team members to join in cleanups by scheduling regular birthday celebrations at the park each month.

“We were very pleased with the turn out, especially with the 20 cadets from the JROTC camp who took time to collect over 40 lbs of trash and recyclables from Obyan’s shoreline”, said MINA’s project manager. “That’s 40 lbs of trash that would otherwise have becoming marine debris. We welcome others to join in the program; only two sites remain un-adopted.”

Despite many activities to choose from Saturday morning, over 50 individuals from government agencies, public and private organizations and JROTC turned out to celebrate the installation of Mariana Islands Nature Alliance’s (MINA) first recycling and trash bins at the ribbon “untying” ceremony at Obyan Beach. The bins were made possible through a grant from the NOAA Marine Debris Prevention Program to “establish an island culture of recycling”.

If you or your company or organization would like to Adopt-a-Bin, please contact MINA by visiting their website at www.minapapcific.org or emailing Kathy Yuknavage at Kathy@minapacific.org.

Invitations to the Adopt-a-Bin Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

• MINA invites community members to the Adopt-a-Bin ribbon cutting ceremony this Saturday morning at Obyan Beach, 9:00 am.
  
  The first recycling and mixed waste bins will be installed to make proper trash disposal more convenient at area beaches, thus reducing the amount of litter left to become marine debris.
  
  We invite our many partners, members and friends to join in the celebration and recognize our many adopters (in alphabetical order):
  
  o Brabu Pharmacy and Wellness Center, LLC - 13 Fishermen Monument
  o Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan and the Susupe Hi-5 Basketball team - Kilili Beach
  o CTSI and Tan Holdings - Susupe Beach Park
  o Ericco Enterprises - Laolao Beach
  o Marianas Trekking - Wing Beach
  o Rotary Club of Saipan - Garapan Fishing Basin
  
  We thank our funders the NOAA Marine Debris Prevention Program for making this program possible.
  
  Visit MINA on the web at http://www.minapacific.org

DEQ's Green Bulletin

DEQ's Lisa Eller is looking for your info!

If you would like to include an entry on their volunteer listing or contribute a short (2 paragraphs) environmental story in the next Green Bulletin, the deadline is WEDNESDAY, March 31. That’s next week.

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Huynh Eller
Federal Programs Coordinator
CNMI Division of Environmental Quality
Coral Reef Initiative/Nonpoint Source Pollution Branch
PO Box 501304
Saipan, MP 96950
Phone: (670) 664-8500
Fax: (670) 664-8540
lisaeller@deq.gov.mp

MINA (Mariana Islands Nature Alliance) - Save the Date

You are invited to attend MINA’s annual membership meeting on Friday, April 23, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at Shenanigan’s Restaurant. More details to be posted at http://www.minapacific.org

Lights off to promote Earth Hour this Saturday

On March 27 at 8:30pm the Division of Environmental Quality encourages CNMI residents and businesses to turn their lights off for one hour, in support of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) sponsored Earth Hour event that seeks to raise awareness and promote global action on climate change.

In partnership with American Memorial Park, the CNMI Earth Hour Team is hosting a candle-lit commemoration of the event as the park lights are switched off this Saturday from 8:30pm to 9:30pm. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

In its first Earth Hour event, the CNMI will join more than 115 countries and an expected billion people world wide to raise awareness about the risks and causes of climate change as well as asking for action from world leaders on it.

Being an island nation, the Northern Mariana Islands stand to be greatly affected by rising sea levels, increasing ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and increasing occurrences of drought and large storm events. Climate change would impact local economy, infrastructure, and food production. Participation in Earth Hour will allow the CNMI to add its voice to those around the world calling for leaders to make action on climate change a priority.

More information can be found at earthhour.org or at the local CNMI Web site: earth-hour-northern-mariana-islands.blogspot.com. (PR)

Neighborhood Watch Meeting

There is a Susupe meeting set for March 24, 2010, (Wednesday) 6:30 pm, at Eric Atalig's residence by the Susupe basketball court.

NW-Susupe's goals for this Wednesday's meeting are 1) to recruit new members, 2) elect officers for Susupe Village, and 3) create a public calendar of events for everyone to post and get info from. Once this is established they will begin making plans to start cleaning up the neighborhood.

Eric Atalig is the village leader for the NWTF PIO/Susupe Block Captains in the Neighborhood Watch program operating out of the Saipan Municipal Council's office.

Please contact Eric at ebatalig@gmail.com for more information.

2010 Environmental Expo

The Division of Environmental Quality is inviting all interested public and private agencies to participate in the 2010 Environmental Expo. This event will be one of many scheduled for the celebration of the 27th Annual Environmental Awareness Month in April.

The expo aims to bring together groups working to improve, protect and conserve Saipan’s natural resources. The two-day educational event for students and educators will feature engaging exhibits focused on issues affecting the beauty and health of our island.

What: 2010 Environmental Expo
Where: American Memorial Park
When: April 21 (elementary schools)
& April 22, 2010 (middle schools and high schools)
Time: 8 am to 12 pm

There are still about a dozen spots open for interested exhibitors. If your organization is interested in participating, please email Lisa Eller for an application form. After DEQ receives your form, they will forward additional information about the venue and the expo’s schedule.

For registration and information, contact Lisa Eller: lisaeller@deq.gov.mp or call 664-8500

Tan Holdings launches “iServe.iGive back” program

Tan Holdings is committed to making a difference in the lives of the communities we live and do business in. In another endeavor to serve the community, we have formed a committee under the Tan Holdings “iServe.iGive back” program, which will initially launch its first community service initiative called: “ADOPT-A-PAVILION”

All volunteer employees of Tan Holdings will begin their work with the rehabilitation and cleaning of the pavilion and surrounding areas across JP Center to the 13 Fishermen pavilion and the shoreline from 7:00am till 11:00am on March 20, 2010.

These beautification and clean-up efforts will be a monthly project of Tan Holdings “iServe.iGive back” program


--- For more information please contact ---
Lina Dimaano: lina_dimaano@tanholdings.com
Larzie Estabillo: larzie_estabillo@cicspn.com
Tel# (670) 234-0609 ext. 104
Fax# (670) 234-1845

MINA’s Adopt-A-Bin Recycling Project Launched to Minimize Marine Debris

The Mariana Islands Nature Alliance (MINA) will be removing both real and perceived barriers to proper waste disposal at seven popular public sites this month by installing mixed waste and recycling bins at Garapan Fishing Basin, 13 Fisherman monument, Kilili Park, Sugar Dock, and Wing, Laolao, and Obyan beaches. This project, funded by NOAA’s Marine Debris Prevention Program, aims to diminish the amount of litter left on the shore that eventually washes into our ocean to become a floating “soup” of garbage.

Last year’s Coastal Clean up Day confirmed what had already been observed; by installing and paying for weekly trash hauling services three years running, MINA virtually ended the litter problem once miring the beauty of Wing Beach. Chair, Fran Castro said, “The next step is to see if we can also get people at the beach to separate plastic, glass and metal from their garbage before throwing it in a bin. Recycling is the key to lengthening the life of our landfill. The more we separate, the less we have to bury”, said Castro “and what better way to establish recycling than by placing bins in public places”.


Ericco Enterprises was contracted by MINA to build the recycling and mixed waste bins scheduled for installation Saturday, March 27th at Obyan Beach. Regular trash hauling services will begin immediately. MINA has secured funding to pay for the first few months of service for the seven sites, but is asking interested individuals, families, and businesses to be part of the solution to the pollution problem by contacting MINA to “Adopt-A-Bin” and pay for one year of trash hauling services. In return, Adopters will have their name or logo placed on their bin and be internationally recognized as one of Saipan's eco-friendly and community-oriented businesses in a documentary that will be shown at the US Coral Reef Task Force meeting next year in Washington, DC. Adoption fees are 100% tax deductible.

Already four bins have been adopted by: MINA, Brabu Pharmacy and Wellness Center, Ericco Enterprises, and Rotary Club of Saipan. Several other organizations have also expressed interest in the program.

If you would like to adopt a bin or would like more information please contact MINA’s project manager at kathy@minapacific.org or visit the MINA website at www.minapacific.org to learn more from their Goals and Projects page about how you can prevent marine debris.

Draft Meeting Minutes for March 11, 2010

MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, March 11, 2010 – 5:30PM
Tasi Tours Conference Room

I. Introductions – around the table
II. Adopt agenda and last meeting’s minutes
1) agenda adopted
2) no meeting minutes from last meeting - moved & approved to push adoption of minutes to next meeting: agreed!
III. Special Initiatives
1) Ogumoro-Uludong – SCS: Eco-Karnival
i. Saipan Community School is hosting
ii. Looking for community participation
iii. Mission to educate youth and community
iv. Booths from K-8: games, displays, Govt Agencies are going to be involved
v. Wants to invite Beautify CNMI
1. Thelma will follow up stickers
2. Try to prepare an info sheet that could distributed
2) Lisa Eller – DEQ: Garapan Stormwater Pollution Prevention Project
i. Water gets polluted by various human activities
ii. Goal is to teach community members that pollution is tied with coral reef health and tourism
iii. Businesses cooperate and get certified
1. Free training
2. Low cost remedies
3. Certified sticker for their window
iv. Some simple, affordable, beautifying ideas
1. Rain gardens
2. Rain catchment
3. Closing trash bins
4. Unclogging drain covers
v. Comments
1. Is the CNMI-wide plan being considered in this project?
2. Suggest splitting the businesses into two groups so that those who are already compliant are recognized
3. Others need to be shown how to fix the bigger problems
4. Blue Starfish is looking for business partners to help refine program and implementation
5. How can businesses open without being in compliance?
3) Aric Bickel – DEQ: Earth Hour a World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) project
i. A world-wide endeavor
ii. Everyone around the world turns their lights off for 1-hour as part of global-statement
iii. Mission is to speak out about climate change
iv. Why here?
1. We aren’t guilty of causing or contributing like other countries
2. We are effected by ocean acidification and rising sea levels
v. Brainstormed ideas on how to get the most participation in the CNMI
4) Open Discussion: Public Information Campaign on BCNMI
i. Beautify CNMI! Is a coalition of concerned citizens, private groups, and government entities united to enhance the CNMI’s natural beauty and foster community pride in its residents and visitors.
ii. The principle concept of this committee is to follow the Beautify CNMI established style of getting things done. We build a coalition, share resources where we can and support individual(s) and/or group(s) that have an action plan.
iii. The “Energy Star Program” – it’s a label and anyone can adopt to their own initiative…we are not a formal group, but a coalition of like-minded groups and individuals all contributing to the same focus
iv. Discussion
1. Background
2. Corporate functions are missing
a. Protection from liability
b. Implementation of accountability
3. Make sure that acknowledgment is given to the primary promoter
4. Is it a group or is it a campaign?
5. If it’s a group and should be a campaign there needs to be a transition
6. Cinta and Laurie are now council members for RC&D Marianas and part of the Saipan committee --- perhaps tuck BCNMI back under this non-profit where it was originally born --- it provides structure and allows there to be a group administering a campaign
7. Take discussion to subcommittee and report back to group at next meeting
IV. Committee reports
1) Solid Waste
i. DEQ: Clean Up Brigade 740lbs at CowTown; Kagman Marine Biology Club will clean up Marine Beach this weekend
ii. PDM Promoters: Garapan with Awadori and Tanapag families cleaned up in Garapan area (940lbs collected)
2) Mariana Islands Nature Alliance (MINA) – Marine Debris project update
i. Adopt-A-Bin launching March 27th
ii. Seven most popular beach sites – so far 4 beaches adopted
iii. www.minapacific.org for more information go to Projects & Goals from the home page to find the Adopt-A-Bin project
iv. Home recycling bins as incentive for volunteers who help spread awareness about bins
v. Tipping fees are waived for sponsor clean-ups
vi. Keep MINA informed of sponsor-organized clean-ups for promo assistance
vii. Tan Holdings adopted and CTSI cleans-up Susupe Park every last Saturday of the month --- maybe they need a bin?
3) Graffiti
i. No new meetings since the last monthly meeting
ii. Graffiti education - concept/vision remains the same
1. Celebrity “Graffiti Busters” (Neighborhood Watch, TrenchTech and Power99)
2. Graffiti Walls and contest (ISK8, Power99)
3. Car Show and ISK8 competition (ISK8, Power99)
4. Mayor’s office supports idea – try to set up judging and completion to coincide with Liberation Festival and Parade
5. Set up corporate relationships for village residences to help eliminate graffiti (Neighborhood Watch)
6. Need help with structuring plan so that it can move forward; we are in danger of losing time to make it all come together
iii. Navy Hill Lighthouse Restoration Project – no report
4) Junk Cars – not present
5) Friends of the Marianas Islands (FMI) – not present
6) New/Other – N/A
V. Coalition Housekeeping
1) Calendar of Events – asked AOV to correct “time zone” so that events will show up correctly on the link
2) Website
i. No further accomplishment to-date
ii. Please submit ideas for content so that we can make sure that its included; i.e. Projects, Key People, Coalition Partners, About Us
iii. Check with Tyler Yoshimoto to get started; Eli Arago also offered to help
3) Identify and plan promotions for Signature Events
i. Ran out of time
ii. Suggested/voted/approved trying to accomplish via email
4) Identify and plan Environmental Champion Awards (should be April)
i. Ran out of time
ii. Suggested/voted/approved trying to accomplish via email
VI. Announcements
1) Rotary Club Las Vegas Night looking for volunteers
2) Other - none
VII. Set day and location for regular monthly meeting
1) 2nd Thursday of the Month:
i. April 15th Confirm or Change to April 8th
ii. Time: 5:30pm
iii. Location: Fiesta Resort & Spa (tentative) --- Lina and Eli will confirm…

THANK YOU TASI TOURS for hosting this month's meeting! We look forward to our corporate partners continuing to help with donating their conference room just one night out of the year to help us keep Beautify CNMI! active.

Help Make CNMI’s first Earth Hour a Success!

On March 27th at 8:30pm the Division of Environmental quality is encouraging CNMI residents and businesses to turn their lights off for one hour in support of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) sponsored Earth Hour event that seeks to raise awareness and promote global action on climate change.

In 2007 the city of Sydney, Australia decided to take a stand against global climate change by turning off their lights for one hour. This was the beginning of what has become the largest world wide event calling for action on climate change: Earth Hour.

Since its beginnings in Sydney, Earth Hour has grown exponentially in its scope and world wide participation. In 2009, 4,159 cities, towns, and municipalities from 88 different countries participated in the event. 100s of millions of people turned out their lights in an effort to raise awareness and promote action on climate change. In 2010 we will add the CNMI to that voice.

Being an island nation, the CNMI will be amongst the countries most affected by climate change. Due to our low elevation, rising sea levels put out buildings, homes, and infrastructure at risk. Increasing ocean temperatures threaten the health of the coral reefs that we depend on for food, tourism, and recreation. Higher probabilities of large storms and droughts stand to greatly affect our local agriculture.

Participating in Earth Hour will help to raise local awareness about the risks and causes of climate change as well as add to the global effort to convince leaders world wide that the time for action on climate change is now.

WWF and its local DEQ partners ask for community support to help spread the word about Earth Hour and to turn lights off between 8:30pm and 9:30pm on Saturday March 27th. More information can be found at earthhour.org or at our local CNMI website: earth-hour-northern-mariana-islands.blogspot.com

Interested in volunteering to help with the Earth Hour campaign? Have any great ideas or recommendations that can add to the success of Earth Hour in the CNMI? Contact Aric Bickel at aricbickel.deq.gov.mp or at 664-8513.

Invitation to Adopt-A-Bin and be part of the solution to Marine Debris

Saipan’s reefs and marine habitats are at risk from litter washing into the surrounding waters and becoming marine debris. This debris is not only unsightly; it poses a risk to marine life from entanglement, and smothering from its ingestion. MINA has found that beach clean ups alone are not the answer. The barrier to proper waste disposal must be addressed as well. In response MINA proposed and was awarded a grant by the NOAA Marine Debris Prevention program to place conveniently located recycling and mixed waste bins for public use and provide trash collection services at seven beach sites.

Funding has paid for the fabrication of weather resistant recycling and mixed waste bins for Saipan’s most popular beach sites: Garapan Fishing Basin, 13 Fisherman monument, Kilili Park, Sugar Dock, and Wing, Laolao, and Obyan beaches. Ericco Enterprises has been contracted to install the bins on March 27th and provide regular trash hauling services. The grant funding will pay for the first few months of hauling service, but MINA is asking interested individuals, families, and businesses to join the program and be part of the solution by “Adopting-A-Bin”. In return, Adopters will have their logo placed on their bin, a link to your organization on the MINA website, and be internationally recognized as one of Saipan's eco-friendly and community-oriented businesses in a documentary to be shown at the US Coral Reef Task Force meeting next year in Washington, DC.

Three sites have already been adopted! So if you wish to Adopt-a-Bin go to MINA's website under Goals & Projects. Scroll down to the link where you can download the form and send it to P.O. Box 506645 with a check for $1,000 made out to MINA, which will pay for one year of weekly trash hauling services from your site. You may submit your electronic logo and questions to MINA’s project manager, Kathy Yuknavage, at Kathy@minapacific.org.

REMINDER: Regular Monthly Meeting March 11th

Beautify CNMI! monthly meeting --- everyone is welcome & encouraged to join!

When: Thursday, March 11th
Time: 5:30pm
Where: Tasi Tours Conference Room

Tentative Agenda:

I. Introductions – around the table (5-mins)
II. Special Initiatives (30-45 mins)
1) Lisa Eller – DEQ: Garapan Stormwater Pollution Project
2) Aric Bickel – DEQ: Earth Hour a World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) project
3) Ogumoro-Uludong – SCS: Eco-Karnival
4) Open Discussion: Public Information Campaign on BCNMI
III. Committee reports (15-mins)
1) Junk Cars
2) PDM Promoters
3) Solid Waste
4) Graffiti
5) New/Other
IV. Coalition Housekeeping (15-mins)
1) Calendar of Events
2) Website
3) Identify and plan promotions for Signature Events
4) Identify and plan Environmental Champion Awards
V. Announcements (2-mins)
1) Rotary Club Las Vegas Night looking for volunteers
VI. Set day and location for regular monthly meeting (2-mins)
1) 2nd Thursday of the Month:
i. April 15th Confirm or Change to
ii. Time:
iii. Location:

PDM Promoters - Monthly Clean-up

Volunteers from Saipan Awaodori Kids team and their parents from Tanapag and Garapan area join in this month's PDM Promoters clean-up.

On Saturday, March 6th, 940 pounds of trash were collected from at Paseo & the Garapan vicinity.

Congrats to all the parents who participated and help set a good example for their children, other parents and the community.

DEQ Monthly Cleanup Brigade

(DEQ) - The Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) cleanup brigade will be at it again, picking up trash at Cow Town Beach in Marpi.

If you would like to volunteer your time to clean and beautify our island, please meet the DEQ representatives on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. at the former Cow Town parking lot. Come join us and “Pick it Up!”

Volunteers will split into groups and go East or West cleaning the beach until 10:00 am and break for drinks and then continue, if needed.

This month, outstanding brigade volunteers who participated in at least ten (10) monthly cleanups will receive a brigade cap and those who participated in at least three (3) cleanups will receive a green brigade t-shirt.

This is a cleanup that should not be missed, so join DEQ’s cleanup brigade and “Pick It Up!” Let us work together for the health of our coral reefs and cleanliness of our beaches for everyone to enjoy.

For more information about volunteering, please contact the DEQ office at 664-8500.

Carnival of the Blue 34

Carnival of the Blue 34 is now posted at Southern Fried Science.

Carnival of the blue is a rotating monthly compilation of the "best of" ocean blogging, bringing together ocean bloggers and readers and (hopefully) using new media to build a virtual community of ocean lovers. The Carnival lives on the blogs of community members and you can visit Carnival of the Blue headquarters for links to all the carnivals since ever since.