PRESS RELEASE.
On the occasion of “WORLD RIVERS DAY” — 22 September 2024 —
piùblu promotes WE CAN BLU IT!
The rowing world mobilises for the environment
Launching from 20 to 22 September 2024, “WE CAN BLU IT!” — three days of collective commitment promoted by piùblu, an environmental non-profit association — to defend marine, lake and river ecosystems from plastic and microplastic pollution, promote lifestyles in favour of the planet and a sustainable future, and inform and raise awareness, particularly among younger generations:
20/09 — Rome: Round table: “The strength of shared commitment for a sustainable future”, at the Olympic Preparation Centre “Giulio Onesti”.
21/09 — Rome: Environmental awareness lessons for the youngest at the Explora Children’s Museum. 22/09 — Collective waterway clean-up actions in seven cities: Rome, Turin, Florence, Genoa, Naples, Bari, Messina.
22/09 — Collective waterway clean-up actions in seven cities: Rome, Turin, Florence, Genoa, Naples, Bari, Messina.
22/09 a Roma si terrà la prima edizione della “Almaviva BLU RACE”: tre generazioni di vogatori in gara unite per l’ambiente. At the Circolo Canottieri Aniene.
Rome, 17 September 2024 — Every year, over 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans, contributing to the degradation of 88% of the global ocean surface. In Italy, it is estimated that over 30,000 tonnes of plastic are dispersed in the environment every year, with a devastating impact on rivers and seas. The presence of microplastics is equally alarming: according to recent studies, 80% of fish in the Mediterranean Sea contain microplastics in their bodies. A clear signal of the enormous gravity of the problem. (Source: ourworldindata.org, unep.org). The impact of microplastics present in the human body — with serious consequences for the health and life expectancy of the population — is currently under investigation.
There is little doubt that contributing to combating the dramatic problem of waterways invaded by plastics and microplastics is the duty of every citizen. The association piùblu is convinced that engaging the youngest on this issue through concrete actions is a winning strategy for shaping future adults who will be attentive to and respectful of the environment.
It is in this context that piùblu, an environmental non-profit association, on the occasion of its participation in WORLD RIVERS DAY 2024 — celebrated this year on 22 September — promotes WE CAN BLU IT!, scheduled from 20 to 22 September 2024: three days of collective commitment to defend marine, lake and river ecosystems from plastic and microplastic pollution, promote lifestyles in favour of the planet and a sustainable future, and inform and raise awareness, particularly among younger generations.
WE CAN BLU IT! 2024 takes place in collaboration with: the European Parliament Office in Italy, the European Commission Representation in Italy. With the endorsement of: MASE — Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, CONI — Italian National Olympic Committee, CIP — Italian Paralympic Committee, Rome City Council — Councillorship for Agriculture, Environment and Waste Cycle, ASVIS — Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development, FIC — Italian Rowing Federation / Canottaggio Sociale, FICK — Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation, FIDB — Italian Dragon Boat Federation, WWF. With the endorsement and cooperation of FIDAS — Italian Federation of Blood Donor Associations.
Main sponsor: Almaviva. Partners: Goumbook, EXPLORA — the Children’s Museum of Rome, MareVivo ETS, Tevere Day, Plastic Pollution Coalition, GOT TO supported by IOC YOUNG LEADERS | Funding Partner Panasonic. Sponsor: Six Senses Rome. Technical sponsors: Allianz, Euromed, Basiliotti.
“At piùblu we believe that every small gesture can have an immense impact on our planet. Our mission is clear: to unite people in a collective movement for the protection of marine, lake and river ecosystems. Together we can change the course of history and leave a cleaner, healthier world for future generations. That is why piùblu invites everyone to join the We Can Blu It 2024 programme.” Roberto Montanari, President of piùblu — Non-profit association.
THE “WE CAN BLU IT!” PROGRAMME, from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 September 2024
20/09 ROUND TABLE
Friday 20 September from 11:00 to 13:00 in Rome, at the Olympic Preparation Centre “Giulio Onesti” (Largo Giulio Onesti 1), piùblu promotes the round table “The strength of shared commitment for a sustainable future”, in collaboration with the Italian Rowing Federation and Canottaggio Sociale.
Contributions from representatives of the endorsing institutions are scheduled. For MASE, Fabio Tancredi, Deputy Head of the Minister’s Cabinet, is expected. Also participating: medal-winning athletes in rowing, canoe and kayak. Confirmed so far: Carolina Foresti, patron of the Round Table, and Bruno Miguel Mascarenhas Antunes.
TOPICS: Speakers will provide an overview of the current state of plastic and microplastic pollution in waterways in Italy and worldwide, present proposals for collective actions and countermeasures, and discuss activities to engage future generations. The fundamental collaboration between the world of sport and environmental sustainability.
Interventi di: Carlo Corazza – Direttore della Comunicazione dell’ Ufficio in Italia del Parlamento europeo, Elena Grech – Capo FF della Rappresentanza in Italia della Commissione europea, Nicolò Cavalcanti di Verbicaro – Responsabile Nazionale Canottaggio Sociale, Sabrina Alfonsi – Assessora all’Agricoltura, Ambiente e Ciclo dei Rifiuti di Roma Capitale, Giorgio Bagordo – Senior Expert Sustainability Team WWF, Tatiana Antonelli Abella – Fondatrice e Amministratore Delegato di Goumbook (Emirati Arabi – Dubai), Mark Angelo – Ambassador of the European Climate Pact. Also participating: Carmen Di Penta — Director of Marevivo; Alberto Acciari — President of Tevere Day; Raffaella Bullo — PhD. Moderator: Francesco Gasparri, journalist and TV presenter.
Thanks to a collaboration with the Istituto Paritario Gesù-Maria in Rome, students in their final year of the Classical and Scientific secondary school will attend as piùblu Youth Ambassadors in preparation for their school-leaving examinations, accompanied by the headmaster, Prof. Rocco De Maria.
21/09 ENVIRONMENTAL LESSONS
piùblu dedicates the WE CAN BLU IT! day of 21 September to the youngest, with edutainment activities and environmental lessons taking place in Rome at and in collaboration with EXPLORA, the Children’s Museum of Rome (Via Flaminia 82). Planned: the workshop “A sea of creativity” to give free rein to imagination and create monsters and creatures that clean the sea and rivers, encouraging children and adults to keep waterways clean. The activities are included in the admission ticket and are aimed at children from the age of 3. They will take place at 10:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 17:00.
piùblu will set up its information desk in the atrium of the museum’s external area: its volunteers will be available to the public to provide information about the association. The youngest will receive the “piùblu Clean-Up Kit” with which they can take part in the Tiber clean-up day scheduled for the following day, thus becoming “piùblu Youth Ambassadors”.
22/09 — WORLD RIVERS DAY: COLLECTIVE CLEAN-UP ACTIONS for seas, lakes and rivers
In Rome, Turin, Genoa, Florence, Naples, Bari, Messina
Sunday 22 September 2024, on the occasion of World Rivers Day, piùblu promotes across Italy a major collective clean-up action on rivers, lakes and seas. The initiative will take place in Rome, Turin, Genoa, Florence, Naples, Bari, Messina. piùblu volunteers will be joined by the special participation of athletes and members of canoe and rowing clubs. All will receive the “piùblu collection Clean-Up Kit”. Volunteers from FIDAS associations will collaborate on the collection and, on this occasion, will raise participants’ awareness of blood donation, as blood and water are both absolute sources of life. Furthermore, any citizen can independently join WE CAN BLU IT! by cleaning the banks and shores included in the initiative, equipping themselves with gloves and bags to collect waste for disposal.
Clean-up of a stretch of the river TIBER. Meeting point for external participants at 9:30 at the Circolo Canottieri Ondina — Lungotevere delle Armi 44. Members and athletes of the various clubs involved meet at their respective club premises. The event will close at 13:00 with thanks to participants and a live toast on piùblu’s social channels from the Circolo Ondina Generali premises.
Participating clubs: Circolo Canottieri Ondina Generali — piùblu operational base, Circolo Canottieri Aniene, Circolo Canottieri Roma, Circolo Canottieri Lazio, Canottieri Tre Ponti, Circolo Deportivo, Centro Remiero Baja, Reale Circolo Canottieri Tevere Remo, ASD Canottieri Navalia, Circolo Canottieri Tirrenia Todaro, Centro Sportivo Rai, Circolo degli Esteri, Effe, Tiber, Canottieri Salvo D’Acquisto, Ponte Milvio.
Closing the Rome WE CAN BLU IT! is the first edition of the “Almaviva BLU RACE”: the first “Match Race” competition to see women and men of three generations rowing together in the same boats (eight-oared gigs) to send an important message of support for the environment. The race, in collaboration with the Italian Rowing Federation, Canottaggio Sociale and the Lazio Regional Rowing Committee, is scheduled for Sunday 22 September 2024, from 16:30 to 18:30 at the Circolo Canottieri Aniene (Lungotevere dell’Acqua Acetosa, 119). The prize-giving ceremony for the winning crew will follow. Guest of honour: Paralympic athlete Giacomo Perini.
“Sport and the environment — a winning alliance. Rowing is an exciting and sustainable sport practised in nature that allows you to experience it in a unique way. The regular use of rivers such as the Tiber makes every rower, myself included, sensitive to the protection of our waters. Acting against the pollution of rivers and the sea is decisive and a priority today. As Almaviva Group we are committed on multiple fronts to the protection of the environment, and we are proud to launch the first Almaviva Blu Race on World Rivers Day, to raise awareness among all of the urgency of defending marine, lake and river ecosystems from pollution,” said Alberto Tripi, President of Almaviva, an Italian digital innovation group and main sponsor of We Can Blu It! During the Almaviva BLU RACE, some researchers engaged by piùblu will take three water samples from the Tiber in the race area to quantify the presence of microplastics.
GENOA: With the endorsement of the Municipality of Genoa. Clean-up of STURLA BEACH. Meeting point for external participants at 11:00 at the Circolo Nautico Sturla A.S.D. on Sturla beach; the clean-up activity will end at 12:30. Members and athletes meet at 9:30 at the Società Sportiva Murcarolo (Via Angelo Gianelli 113); the clean-up activity will end at 13:00. Participating: athlete Nicolò Di Tullio with volunteers from the Consorzio Ocean Agorà. Participating clubs: Circolo Nautico Sturla, Società Sportiva Murcarolo.
TURIN: Clean-up of a stretch of the RIVER PO. Meeting point for participants, members and athletes, at 9:30 at the various participating rowing clubs, and for external participants on the cycle path along the riverbank. The clean-up will conclude at 12:30. Participating clubs: Reale Società Canottieri Cerea, Società Canottieri Esperia Torino, Circolo Eridano, Società Canottieri Armida, CUS Torino.
FLORENCE: Clean-up of a stretch of the RIVER ARNO. Meeting point for participants, members and athletes, at their respective participating clubs at 9:30, and for all other participants on the cycle path along the Arno riverbank. The event will conclude at 12:30. Participating clubs: Società Canottieri Firenze, ASD Canottieri Comunali Firenze, Dragon Boat Italia.
NAPLES: Meeting point for all at 9:30. Members and athletes of the clubs meet at their respective clubs; external participants meet at the shores of LAGO PATRIA. The clean-up will conclude for all at 13:00. Participating clubs: Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia, CRV Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia, Circolo Canottieri Napoli, Circolo Nautico Posillipo, Nesis, Associazione Polisportiva Dilettantistica Circolo Ilva Bagnoli. Attending as piùblu Ambassador: World indoor rowing champion Carolina Foresti.
BARI: Meeting point for participants, members and athletes at the Circolo Canottieri Barion Sporting Club (Molo S. Nicola, 5) at 9:30, and for external participants on the nearby shores. The event will conclude at 13:00.
MESSINA: Meeting point for participants, members and athletes at Rowing Club Peloro (Via Consolare Pompea, 237) at 9:30, and for external participants on the shores of the Capo Peloro Lagoon. The event will conclude at 13:00.
For full details of all WE CAN BLU IT! 2024 events consult www.piublu.org and our social media pages: https://www.instagram.com/piubluglobal
https://www.instagram.com/piubluglobal
https://www.threads.net/@piubluglobal
https://www.facebook.com/piubluglobal
https://www.linkedin.com/company/piublu
https://www.youtube.com/@piubluglobal
HASHTAG
When sharing photos/videos on your personal social profiles to document your participation in the initiatives, please use the hashtags: #wecanbluit #piublu
Who we are
piùblu è un’associazione no-profit ambientalista che, dal 2022, si impegna nella salvaguardia degli ecosistemi marini, lacuali e fluviali, nonché nel recupero della biodiversità. Con riferimento all’AGENDA 2030, combatte l’inquinamento, in particolare quello causato dalla plastica, attraverso un’educazione ambientale mirata e azioni collettive, in collaborazione con istituzioni, associazioni sportive, scuole e cittadini. Promuove una cultura dell’ambiente e una maggiore consapevolezza ecologica tramite iniziative partecipative e lezioni d’ambiente, coinvolgendo attivamente la comunità per un futuro sostenibile e pulito.
It communicates and disseminates best practices — principally through environmental lessons aimed at the youngest, the true protagonists of change — for the elimination of single-use items, the reduction of plastic use and recycling.
L’APPELLO piùblu:
“In un mondo in cui l’inquinamento da plastica rappresenta una minaccia crescente per i nostri ecosistemi, è più importante che mai unire le forze per fare la differenza. Per questo, piùblu invita tutti a partecipare all’evento “WE CAN BLU IT! 2024”, un’occasione per dimostrare che, insieme, e soltanto uniti possiamo davvero cambiare il corso della storia per un futuro più pulito e sostenibile.”
Press office:
Maria Chiara Verdacchi – mariachiara.verdacchi@gmail.com – +39 375 5299924
Download as pdf
Volontari WE CAN BLU IT! 2024: Roberto Montanari – Presidente piùblu, Fabio Stefàno – VP Marketing e Comunicazione, Domitilla Baffigo – Segretario Generale e Relazioni Esterne piùblu, Memi Crimi – Event Manager e Relazioni Istituzionali, Filippo Carfagni – Tesoriere piùblu.
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Background information from the European Parliament Office in Italy and the European Commission Representation in Italy: #EUBeachCleanup 2024
#EUBeachCleanup is an opportunity to recall the European Union’s commitment to the protection of the marine environment, threatened in particular by pollution from plastic materials. Reducing single-use plastic consumption, increasing the proportion of waste that is recycled and promoting a rapid transition towards a circular economy are urgent issues that the European Union has placed among its priorities. With the #EUBeachCleanup campaign, the European Union — through the European Commission Representations in the 27 EU member states and Delegations worldwide, and with the invaluable support of local partners and associations — aims to increase awareness of pollution from plastic materials, especially at sea, and to encourage people to take care of our planet.
