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A13
Friday 22 June 2018

MAGEC: It is all about green

By Linda Reijnders lecture on this.” Changes
they made by organizing
ORANJESTAD — MAGEC a Beach Clean-Up that
Aruba is a non-profit collected over 200Kg of
organization that strives trash, excluding lumber,
towards a greener Aruba. they created an edible
This group is open to all garden at an elementary
who wish to help create school, participated in a
a greener environment. carnival initiative to collect
Catherine Carraha, plastic waste for recycling
President and Co-Founder and implemented ‘green
of MAGEC and Lian van garbage bins’ at the
den Berg, Vice-President university to separate
and Co-Founder, talked to trash. “My idea is also to
Aruba Today about their use re-usable cups within
passion for green and the the carnival groups that
urge to recruit new board- participate in the parades.
members. Even with the group’s
name on it. Why waste all
“Making Aruba a Greener these plastic cups?” says
Environment Club is the full Lian.
name of MAGEC, we are
a student’s organization A Cry for Help
at University of Aruba and The complete board is
currently comprised only going abroad to study, so
of academic foundation their goal now is to recruit
year students. This is a one- new members. Catherine:
year certificate program “We worked so hard to get
that equips motivated here and the achievements
students with the skills, tools we did … it would be sad
and capabilities to seek to see that faint.” They will
successful entry into higher stay involved as consults,
education programs. We as the club is in their heart.
strive towards a more “It is a great club with a
greener and sustainable family feeling. It also is a
Aruba and organize great experience. You
different events and come need to dedicate time but
up with ideas as to help our it will help you organize,
environment. We are now to be aware of the
a club of 17 students and environment, learn you to
are proud we have one present yourselves and be
of us in the official Ahata persuasive, be creative…
environmental board,” says there are many benefits
Catherine. Lian adds that we will for sure use in our
MAGEC encourages all future.”Lian: “To push and
people to share their ideas to achieve are great skills
with them as any idea can you develop with MAGEC.
be very useful. “We wish to Joining any organization
activate people and bring is good for you. It is not all
awareness. This applies to sunshine and rainbows, so
all people of all ages.” The you learn to keep going.”
launch took place mid-
December last year and Environment & Tourism and stimulated us to get industry to go green. Lian: “When Aruba would be
from there they started The students state that we organized. He is a great “Here at the university a real green destination,
educating. Lian: “We all know environmental professor and he triggered we have conducted a we would attract the
support organizations that pollution is a problem on the us, he was more than a research about plastic right tourists also. They
try to get laws changed in island, but because it does teacher, he guided us. straws and how hotels would enjoy a sustainable
favor of the environment, not directly affect us, many We organized the first deal with that. There are destination. It all has to
but we ourselves are not do not do anything about it. Beach Clean-Up under hotels like Bucuti and do with explaining to the
politically involved. We “We had the pleasure that his guidance. Another big Divi, who are far with the guests, making that effort.
wish to make companies one of our subjects, Earth & supporter was our faculty green vision, but for many Otherwise you will never
aware of greener solutions, Environment, was lectured adviser, Mr Giovanni Lew there is still a long way to make a change.”
for example if they use on by an Italian professor, Jen Tai.” With regards to go and this industry is a For more information
plastic straws, we are Tobia de Scisciolo, who is tourism, they see there is big polluter. That needs to please visit MAGEC Aruba
open to stop by and completely into this topic a long way to go for this be changed.” Catherine: at Facebook.q