Tackling the problem of mindless littering, this weekend 16-18 September, more than 500 volunteers from Tongatapu youth groups will clean up beaches and villages in Houma, Hoi, 'Anana, Ha'ateiho, Veitongo, Vaini, Holonga, Kolonga, Lapaha, Lavengatonga and Navutoka. In other island groups 10 youth groups will clean up Ha'apai, 'Eua, and Vava'u villages as part of an international coastal cleanup called "Clean Up the World".

The villages of Pea, Folaha and Matafonua will also join in the Clean Up activities.

In the capital Nuku'alofa, the Nuku'alofa Hash House Harriers will turn their Thursday evening dash into a ...‘Hash for Trash...’, which will involve about 40 adults and children collecting rubbish from streets around Houmakelikao.

Volunteers from St Andrews High School, Tupou High School and the Peace Corp will also be cleaning up the streets and waterfront around Nuku'alofa on Saturday 18th.

Penny Dutton from the Solid Waste Management Project said that at the weekend Tonga, for the first time will be joining an estimated 40 million people in over 100 countries across the world to take part in the Clean Up the World Weekend.

"To celebrate Clean Up the World Weekend, volunteers will be picking up rubbish along roads, beaches and in villages throughout Tonga to help address the problem of litter in the seas and environment."

Clean Up the World originated in Sydney, Australia in 1993 after the success of a national clean up campaign started by round the world solo sailor and builder, Ian Kiernan AO, who decided to clean up his local waterway, Sydney Harbour.

In 2004 Clean Up the World is encouraging participants to pay particular attention to the state of the world...’s seas and oceans.

Further information is available from the Solid Waste Management Project, telephone Nukuk'alofa 23666.