The day dawned with clear skies, light breezes, and the gathering of a small army of volunteers determined to make a difference in their community and each other’s lives. Over 150 people – aged 3 to 80 joined together to move trash and garbage from the Arroyo Candelaria on the north side of town.

“Loreto Pride Campaign” under the guidance of Eco-Alianza’s Executive Director, Laura Escobosa, was one of the sponsors of the clean up. Laura had extended an invitation to the community to join in the efforts.

The mammoth project began with 7:30 AM signups at the home of Jesus and Maciel Cortés. Garbage bags were distributed and the ‘crew’ moved into the arroyo. Arroyo Candelaria was chosen because of its unglamorous identification as a dumping ground of local trash, fish waste and garbage. The arroyo extends from the mountains west of Colonia Miramar, crosses under the Transpeninsular Highway and empties into the sea at Colonia El Jaral.

During tropical storms, the arroyo (or dry river bed) becomes a raging river, sweeping the uncollected waste into the waters of the Sea of Cortez. This year’s cleanup included tires, broken furniture, construction material, hundreds of plastic and glass bottles, tin cans, cardboard boxes, auto parts, an uncountable amount of plastic bags, along with vats of spent oil and other substances toxic to marine life. This man-made pollution endangers the vibrancy of the Bay of Loreto National Park and World Heritage site, an area recognized world wide as an area rich in biodiversity.

Tractors, dump trucks, wheel barrows, shovels and rakes joined the ranks of bent-over humans picking up cast off trash. Small children paraded behind their parents, their tiny hands discovering bits and pieces of plastic or paper and adding them to the collecting bags. Their involvement establishes a strong foothold toward future environmental stewardship.

Also participating in this years campaign were members of the “Green Team,” the local basketball team sponsored by Eco-Alianza. “Green Team” is involved in several educational and community outreach programs. It was great to see a group of teenagers dedicating their Sunday morning to their community. Also involved in the clean up were students from the university, CONAP (the Marine Park), and ZOFEMAT (Municipal Government).

It’s amazing what a group of determined individuals can accomplish in one morning. Approximately 4,535.90 kg. (approximately 10,000 pounds) of refuse was removed from the arroyo. At least 80 overloaded trucks snaked their way up and back the dusty road to deposit the collected refuse at the dump.

A hot and sweaty group combed the side gullies and bushes out to the highway and back again, picking up everything in their sight. Laugher mingled with groans. Sweat with sneezes. When all was done, a tremendous sense of pride filled the air. It had been a strenuous task, but the results outstripped all the hard work.

When there was nary a speck of gunk left to be carted away, the group of weary, sweaty and hungry crew made their way to Rancho Jaral for a sumptuous barbecue luncheon on the beach. Under the cool shade of umbrellas, conversation turned from what we had accomplished and what was still on the horizon.

It is the hope of both the sponsors and the participants that the example set by the cleaning celebration opens an awareness of community pride in all residents of Loreto. Education is one of the cornerstones of our behavior, and actions are always more effective than words. If each of us acts as a member of that earth based ‘crew’ that McLuah wrote about – then there will be one less piece of garbage sitting on the side of the road or in an arroyo.

What we learn when we come together, is that we can make a difference, and that our actions function as a guide for others to follow. We can’t immediately change decades of behavior, but bag by bag, can by can, bottle by bottle, we can pick and dispose properly our refuse, and in doing so, provide a visual pathway for others to follow.

The 2009 volunteer Eco-Alianza Committee members who organized this year's event were: Rosa Campos, Chair, Maciel Cortés, Barbara Jordan, Linda Kinninger, Mary Lampros and Val Wilkerson.

Plans are already underway for community event for the year 2010, to include other neighborhoods and organizations wanting to protect and save the natural environment of Loreto. Anyone interested in participating next year, please contact the offices of Eco-Alianza at (613) 135-1907, or email Laura Escobosa at laura@ecoalianzaloreto.org

Special thanks to Catharine Cooper for covering this event.