12 May becomes National Cleanup Day

12 May was declared the National Cleanup Day and over 150,000 people are expected to take part in the planned cleanup activities. The project was launched by the social movement “Come on, Moldova!” on March 27, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a news conference, project coordinator Daniela Cibotari said the waste affects the whole society and they want to obtain changes by this event, adding keeping places clean is a responsibility of every person, not only of the authorities. “The aim of the project is to clean the public places by a concerted effort of the community. The long-term objective is to educate the people to live in harmony with nature and to cultivate an ecological spirit among the Moldovans,” said Daniel Cibotari. The organizers aim to collect about 10,000 tonnes of garbage during one day. Until May 12, there will be carried out a series of cleanup activities, including “Come on, Chisinau!” on March 31, and a cleanup event at the Orheiul Vechi reserve. The Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Dirk Schuebel said the European Union supports such events for three reasons. First of all because they engage civil society in general and the people in particular. Secondly, the National Cleanup Day coincides with the day when Europe Day will be marked in Chisinau. The third reason is that the environment is a priority for the EU within the Eastern Partnership and in the cooperation relations with Moldova. The project “Come on, Moldova!” is supported by the Ministry of the Environment, the Volunteering Coalition, the Milieukontakt International Foundation and singers. The social movement “Come on, Moldova!” received a letter from President Nicolae Timofti, where he thanks them for the event planned to be staged on May 12. Last year, the National Cleanup Day was on April 16.