Chapter members show off their yellow gloves and the litter they removed from uShaka Beach in South Africa
On Saturday the 19th of September 2009, the PTPI Hillcrest High Student Chapter, along with our friends and family members, met at the pier at uShaka Beach in Durban to do our small part in the International Beach Clean-up Day. Wearing yellow gloves and with black bags in hand we started our mission. As we walked along uShaka beach we were met by other groups of people who were also doing a clean up. It was pleasant walking along the beach on a typical sunny South African day of blue skies, no clouds, warm air blowing through our hair and cool water washing up and around our feet.
We had to stop and pick up rubbish and litter which was not only a potential danger but also an unpleasant distraction from a perfect day. Along the beach we found strange items such as metal, glass, condoms, lighters, toothbrushes, earbuds, towels, shoes, lip ice, cigarettes, and what I personally think was the best find of the day- a pair of jeans which had much character.
When we finally made it to our destination at the pier, we weighed our 15 bags which came to an amazingly disgusting 55kgs (121 lbs) of rubbish within the space of two piers; roughly a kilometre (0.62 miles) of beach between them. After a few photos we walked back along the now clean beach with broad smiles across our faces and with feelings of accomplishment. (From Caitlin Smith.)
Close-up of a Peace Pinwheel, created to promote "whirled peace"
On International Day of Peace, Monday 21 September 2009, the PTPI Hillcrest High Chapter, in conjunction with our Afritwin chapter, celebrated and raised peace awareness in our school through numerous entertaining activities and presentations on the day. Members created posters with peace quotes which were put up on each classroom door and around the school buildings.
We then kicked off the day with our “Peace Assembly” where we gave an explanation of International Peace Day, said the Universal Peace Prayer and sang a peace related song “What He Means” by a South African band, Just Jinjer, which proved to be quite a hit!
After our presentation we came to the highlight of our day, the planting of our “Peace Pinwheel Garden”. Each student had made a “Peace Pinwheel” the previous week and we played music while they “planted” their pinwheels in the peace sign on the field! This was such an amazingly successful task, and our stunning “Peace Garden” remained an eye catching feature for the entire day!
Hillcrest High was 1 of 3 schools in South Africa to take part in this “Pinwheels for Peace” project, promoting “whirled peace”! It also drew the attention of our local newspaper, the Highway Mail. To top off the day peace sign stickers were handed out for people to wear and we also sold peace ribbons! It was a highly successful and memorable day which was enjoyed by all and raised huge awareness! (From Megan Borthwick.)
To view more photos from these events, take a look at the photo album on PTPI’s Facebook page!
Tags: Humanitarian Projects, International Day of Peace, Ocean Conservancy, South Africa, Student Chapters
I am very sorry to say that I could not find the book that is being discussed in my country at the moment when you started reading it because I had to order it. However I have followed all different opinions and I find that there is a lot in common with another book that I found HONEYMOON IN TEHERAN by AZADEH MOAVENI, a journalist with American citizenship but grown in Iran. SHe works for the NEW YORK TIMES and THe WASHINGTON POST among others.
She deals with the problems of modern Iran, like censorship, the role and condition of women and mainly the lack of liberty together with the nuclear weapon problem etc.
Reading these books we must feel lucky as we live in countries where freedom is given for granted but these people have to confront everyday with lack of liberty also the most natural ones as wearing something that is not accepted or considered convenient. And I wonder if people mainly women who are compelled to lead such life can have any selfrespect. However this book I have read also shows and discovers a lot of behaviors that are spreading among young people that are very similar to ours as if there were a public life in one way and a private one different.Very modern,and actual.
I will continue reading your comments because though I have not read the book I can say I know what it is about through your comments. Thank you
What a great story! Thanks for all you do.