August 26th, 2008: STINAPA is placing containers at dive shops to collect used batteries
KRALENDIJK—2008 is the ‘International Year Of the Reef (IYOR). Emphasis is being placed on the importance of the conservation of our reefs. One of the main points for this year is to raise general awareness of the negative effects of dumping used batteries on our landfill. The group that uses large quantities of batteries are the divers. For this reason containers have been placed at the dive shops so that they can dispose of their used batteries.
Bonaire does not have a system to dispose of chemical waste. Every year over 100,000 used batteries end up in the landfill which means over 6000 pounds of chemical waste is added. Batteries leak toxic chemicals into the soil and over time these will end up in the sea or in water wells.
STINAPA Bonaire together with the World Wildlife Fund Holland, Selibon and TCB have initiated this awareness campaign to inform everyone who visits our island how important it is to reduce the amount of trash. Bonaire is a small island, and once the landfill reaches its maximum capacity there is no other place to dump the trash.
Plastic bottles and batteries are the two largest sources of trash tourists leave behind and they are the most dangerous. Plastic bottles take thousands of years to decompose, and – as already mentioned – batteries will leak toxic chemicals into the ground that can reach the sea and water wells.One of means to reach the tourists to make them aware of the situation is by radio. The two radio stations that broadcast in English and Dutch there will run a program called : ‘Environmental breaking-news’. During this broadcast, tourists will be encouraged to deposit their used batteries in the containers that STINAPA has made available at the Dive Shops.
If there are more companies interested in participating in the campaign, or if they want more information about the campaign, they can visit the STINAPA website at www.stinapa.org or call STINAPA at 717 8444.
(Picture: Peggy at Wannadive with battery container)
STINAPA a pone baki pa benta bateria usá den, na skolnan di sambuyá
KRALENDIJK—E aña aki ta ‘Aña Internashonal di Ref’ (‘International Year Of the Reef 2008’ (IYOR). Den e kuadro aki ta pone énfasis riba e importansia di konservashon di nos refnan pa bienestar soshal. Un di e akitividatnan ku STINAPA tin den e aña aki ta pa konsientisá hende ku si benta bateria na ‘landfill’, ku esei ta malu ta nos tur. E grupo ku ta usa hopi bateria ta e turista ku ta sambuyá. P’esei a pone baki na e skolnan di sambuyá pa nan por benta e bateria usá nan aden.
Boneiru no tin un sistema pa deshasí di sushi tóksiko. Tur aña mas ku 100.000 bateria ta resultá na ‘landfill’. Esei ta mas ku 2.700 kilo di material tóksiko. Bateria ta lèk kemikalia tóksiko den tera, i finalmente esaki ta yega laman òf den awa di pos.
STINAPA Bonaire huntu ku WNF Hulanda, Selibon i TCB a kuminsá ku e kampaña di konsientisashon aki, pa informá tur ku ta bishitái nos isla kon importante ta pa redusí sushi. Boneiru ta un isla chikitu i ora nos ‘landfill’ yena, no tin otro kaminda pa tira sushi.
Bòter di plèstik i bateria ku ta e dos sushinan ku mas nos bishitantenan ta laga tras i nan ta esnan di mas peligroso. E bòter di plèstik ta tuma miles di aña pa e dekompositá i e bateria ta lèk kimikalia tóksiko den tera ku por yega den awa di pos i den laman.E medio di komunikashon ku STINAPA a skohe pa usa pa konsientisá e turistanan ta radio. Na e dos emisoranan ku ta transmití na ingles i na hulandes, tin un programa di radio yamá ‘Environmental breaking-news’. Den e programa di radio aki, nos ta enkurashá turistanan pa depositá nan baterianan usá den bakinan ku STINAPA a pone disponibel na e skolnan di sambuyá.
(Riba e potrèt: Peggy di Wannadive ku su baki pa bateria usá)