“Loreto Pride in Action” was celebrated in conjunction with Earth Day on Sunday, April 18, 2010.  Fueled by the relentless dream of some local residents and sponsored by Eco-Alianza de Loreto in collaboration with Rare Conservation and the Bay of Loreto National Park, this year’s event had over 200 participants from all walks of the community, with the greatest number being youths from Loreto.

The “Rare Pride Campaign” was launched in Loreto to combat human disruption in the Bay of Loreto National Park and rally community support for the protection of the marine park.  The Municipal of Loreto relies on the bounty and pristine environment of the Sea of Cortez not only as a primary food source, but also as a draw for tourists from across the globe.  A healthy sea environment is the foundation for the health and prosperity of the entire community.

A location was selected that had become a dumping ground of local trash and garbage.  Arroyo Candeleria is the second largest arroyo in Loreto and during the summer storm season, becomes a raging torrent, sweeping anything within its banks into the Sea of Cortez.  To clean this dry riverbed not only benefits the current environment by ridding it of trash and toxic chemicals carelessly left behind, but protects the waters and its inhabitants in the upcoming months. 

The event began with sign-ins at 7:30 in the morning.  Community members of all ages, including families and small children, gathered in front of Rancho El Jaral to lend their support.   Each participant was a given name tag, a t-shirt bearing the logo of the Pride Campaign, the Chocolate Clam, the Bay of Loreto National Park, Eco-Alianza and the, and a handful of heavy-duty black trash bags.  A short walk to the arroyo was the last easy task of the morning hours. 

While not quite a dump, the arroyo had more than its share of disposed diapers, fish heads, empty plastic bottles, tires, paint cans, spent or broken building supplies, broken roof tiles, clothing, discarded shoes, beer and wine bottles, along with molded reeking garbage.  At times a gagging reflex interfered with collecting the waste.

There are several reasons for the refuse. The primary is lack of education and an understanding of the relationship of the arroyo to the health of the sea.  This year’s Rare Pride Campaign logo - “Por un mar lleno do vida” – “For a sea full of life!” – was designed to increase awareness.

The involvement of the youth in the clean-up process was critical, for it is through the youth that real change is born and instituted.  While they may not be able to alter the behaviors of their parents, their participation gives them a first hand experience of the interrelationship of actions and consequences.

Bags of trash and broken furniture were loaded into pickup trucks and trailers headed to the dump.   At last, the dusty, tired cadre of clean-up crew reached the end of the arroyo at the highway.  Behind us – a pristine environment - the efforts of our labor clearly visible to all. 

A fabulous barbeque luncheon on the beach at Rancho El Jaral was hosted by “Amigos de Eco-Alianza” – Mary and Nick Lampros, Barbara and Al Jordan, Val and Barry Wilkerson and Linda and Tony Kinninger for all the participants.  A quick dip in the turquoise blue waters provided the perfect antidote for the dusty cleanup.

“Loreto Pride Campaign” pooled the energies of several local groups, including Rare Conservation’s Director of the Fisheries Fellow Program, Cynthia Mayoral, The Bay of Loreto National Park, the "Pride" Campaign Manager, Perla Lozano Angulo and her colleagues, and Edna Peralta, program administrator for children's education and outreach programs of Eco-Alianza.  Perla and her Pride team also work with fishers to help them better understand the environmental and economic benefits of "no-take" zones and train them to sustainable fishing practices.  

Participants included Eco-Alianza Board President Hugo Quintero, and his family, Yvo Arias, Board Vice President and his wife Graciela, Maciel Cortes, Linda and Tony Kinninger, Peter Maxwell, Rosa Campos and Vicente Campos. 

The ultimate goal of Earth Day is that every day becomes a celebration of our blue home planet, not only in Loreto, but in each and every village, town and city.   We all win – the earth and us – when we make conscious choices about our food, water, consumables and waste.   Be thoughtful. Be careful. Envelop the planet with the same love with which you shower your children and friends.