Members of Waterfall Survivors removing the rubbish around the Kanching Waterfalls area.
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RAWANG: Food wrappers, underwear, polystyrene packets, mineral water bottles, disposable cups, cans and plastic bags were among the garbage found littered around the Kanching Waterfalls area during a recent clean-up.
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| A volunteer picking up the trash left behind by visitors. |
The bad habits of visitors to the popular falls at the Kanching Recreational Park have resulted in the scenic spot being dubbed one of the dirtiest tourist attractions in the Klang Valley by social group Waterfall Survivors which spearheaded the massive clean-up.
Together with a group of volunteers, members of the Waterfall Survivors formed a human chain and collected bags of garbage around the majestic falls. The bags of garbage were later arranged in the shape of the number "350" as part of a worldwide campaign.
"This is the second time the Waterfall Survivors group is cleaning up the Kanching Waterfalls area. While it is fortunate for us that not all the waterfalls are littered indiscriminately, we found that the Kanching Waterfalls is one of the dirtiest tourist attractions in the Klang Valley," said Joe Yap Wei Lea, president of Waterfall Survivors.
"Around the world, from the melting slopes of Mount Everest to dying coral reefs, environmentally aware groups are trying to bring attention to the number 350.
"Scientists think that 350 parts per million is the highest level of carbon dioxide that the atmosphere should contain instead of the current carbon dioxide concentration of 390."
The seven-tier Kanching Waterfalls is rated as one of Selangor's premier waterfalls and it is a popular recreational spot, especially during weekends and public holidays.
The clean-up at the Kanching Waterfalls is one of more than 2,000 environmental events carried out simultaneously in 150 countries in conjunction with the Global Day Of Action coordinated by 350.org to urge world leaders to take action to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change.
"Images of the Kanching clean-up and other such activities around the world will be shown on giant screens in New York City's popular Times Square as part of a 350 countdown," said Yap.
"The action taken worldwide are scheduled to take place before the world's leaders congregate in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the United Nations Climate Change Conference to draw up a new climate treaty."
The Kanching Waterfalls clean-up was supported by the Selangor government, Tourism Selangor, the Selayang Municipal Council and Selangor Civil Defence Department.
Children as young as 5 and those in their 60s were among the volunteers who turned up to help.
Fifty children from PSPK Young Generation Centre were also present.
The Waterfall Survivor is a social group set up by Yap on Facebook and its members had cleaned up other waterfalls including the Serendah Waterfalls, Sungai Gabai Waterfalls in Hulu Langat and Kedondong Waterfalls in Batang Kali.
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