1,200 students from 28 schools will join forces with The Smurfs as well as representatives from the European Union and United Nations to clean plastic from Ostend Beach on September 17, 2019.

The event is part of the #EUBeachCleanUp campaign, a global initiative organised by the European Union,

The Smurfs and United Nations Information Centres (UNICs) to inspire actions for clean oceans and beaches. It takes place ahead of a series of important international events: Youth Climate Summit (21/09), World Clean-up Day (21/09) and the UN’s Climate Action Summit (23/09).

Facts:
-   Every year, millions of tonnes of trash end up in the ocean.
-   If current trends continue, our oceans could contain more plastic than fish by 2050.
-   In the EU alone, 80 to 85% of beach litter is made up of plastic.
-   Around 50% of the plastic beach litter in the EU is single-use plastics.

Schedule for the day:
9:45am: Welcome at Royal North Sea Yacht Club, Address: Montgomerykaai 1, 8400 Ostend
10:15-10:45am: Press conference (in Dutch) starts, press panel includes
-   Flemish Minister of Environment, Nature & Agriculture Koen Van den Heuvel
-   Belgian sailing champion Emma Plasschaert
-   UN Regional Information Centre (UNRIC) representative
-   School network representatives

Participating children & representatives from the United Nations and European Union will be available to provide interviews in English, French and Dutch at Ostend beach.

10:45am: Part of the students start cleaning the beach, other students will also hold scientific experiments at the beach
11:00am: A boat carrying Belgian sailing champion Emma Plasschaert arrives. She is met by Flemish Minister for Environment, Nature & Agriculture Koen Van den Heuvel & The Smurfs, supporters of universal values such as respect for nature, the environment and the oceans.
11:30am: Sailor Emma Plasschaert, the Smurfs and a UNRIC representative address the children, after which the Minister kick-starts the official “life below water” school year
If you are interested in covering this event and attending the press conference, please contact morgan [dot] minchinun [dot] org (morgan[dot]minchin[at]un[dot]org)

Local partners

UNRIC Brussels, The Smurfs, 28 primary and secondary schools, Flemish Minister of Environment, Nature & Agriculture Koen Van den Heuvel & Belgian sailing champion Emma Plasschaert .