一年一度的國際淨灘淨灘日即將到來！為了替今年9月16日舉辦國際淨灘活動進行熱身，活動主辦單位美國「海洋保育協會」（Ocean Conservancy）公佈2005年淨灘活動報告，其中顯示，2005年淨灘活動共號召了45萬名義工，一天之中在74個國家、18000英里的海灘上，清除掉約820磅的垃圾。
國際淨灘行動主持人麥特爾（Vickie Matter）表示：「海裡的垃圾造成野生動物死亡，同時對地方環境也是一大威脅，更別提看到遍地垃圾有多礙眼。過去20年來我們所蒐集到的資訊顯示這終究是人為的問題，也就是說是非常有可能解決的。」
國際淨攤活動是為了海洋環境所舉辦最盛大的單日志工活動。在活動中，志工們紀錄各地淨攤活動的數據。美國海洋保育協會收集世界各地的數據資料，彙整成一份海洋垃圾累計資料報告。據統計，從首次的淨攤活動到現在，620萬名志工已經從世界各地127個不同的國家，長達1億7,900萬哩的海灘和水道清除總數達1億900萬磅的垃圾。
2005年的淨攤活動中，世界各地志工在垃圾堆裡發現了101隻動彈不得的動物，約有半數都是海鳥。光是在美國就發現9頭海洋哺乳動物困在垃圾中。動物受困事件主要禍首應歸咎於廢棄漁線，其次則是漁繩和漁網。
世界各地所清理出的海洋垃圾中，人類陸上活動所製造的垃圾佔58%，另外29%的垃圾和吸菸行為有關。其他垃圾來源則包含了海洋活動、醫療或衛生保健物品，或者是傾倒廢棄物的結果。
麥特爾表示：「在淨灘行動中，努力是地方性的，但是成效卻是全球性的。確認人類為自己的行為負責，並保持人類活動所製造的垃圾遠離海洋環境是淨灘行動的主要要素，同時這個概念與行動並非只有在淨灘日活動期間實施，而是全年無休。每一片垃圾都有人類的痕跡在上頭。」
志工們紀錄他們所拾起的每一片垃圾。數據顯示排名前3名的垃圾是香菸、食物包裝和帽子，在美國撿拾到的垃圾有一半以上是上述物品。
過去10年的調查指出，多數人並沒有意識到源自人類活動而來的海洋垃圾那麼大量，因而個人行為必須要有所改變。不過，海洋保育協會在報告中指出，從2005年淨灘行動所蒐集的資料看來，讓人們在活動中認識垃圾種類和製造垃圾的各種活動，有助於發展出新的教育方案，讓參與者對丟垃圾的行為有新的體悟。麥特爾表示：「真正的解決之道是預防，而這有賴於人們做出負責任的行為。喚醒這樣的意識正是關鍵。」
The International Coastal Cleanup last year attracted 450,000 volunteers who in a single day removed 8.2 million pounds of debris from 18,000 miles of coasts in 74 different nations, according to a final report on the 2005 Cleanup released by the Ocean Conservancy, organizer of the annual event. The report marks the start of the countdown to this year's International Coastal Cleanup, set for September 16, 2006.
"Marine debris kills wildlife and is a threat to the local environment, not to mention an eyesore," said Vickie Matter, director of the International Coastal Cleanup. "The information we've gathered over the past 20 years shows that it's ultimately a manmade problem, which means it is highly solvable."
The International Coastal Cleanup is the largest single-day volunteer event for the marine environment. During the event, volunteers record statistics of each local cleanup. The Ocean Conservancy compiles all the local figures into a report on cumulative marine debris data.
From the first cleanup to date, 6.2 million volunteers have removed a grand total of 109 million pounds of debris from the world's beaches and waterways, covering 179 million miles in 127 different nations.
Worldwide in 2005, volunteers found 101 animals entangled in debris, about half of them seabirds.
Nine marine mammals were found entangled in the United States alone. Discarded fishing line was responsible for nearly half of all entanglements, while rope and fishing nets caused the rest.
Land-based activities accounted for 58 percent of the debris collected worldwide, and an additional 29 percent is from activities related to tobacco smoking. The remaining items are a mix from oceanic activities, medical or hygienic materials, or the result of dumping.
"During the Cleanup, the effort is local, but the effect is global," said Matter. "Making sure people take responsibility for their actions and keep their trash out of the marine environment is the crucial component, and not just during cleanups but year-round, too. Every piece of debris has human fingerprints on it."
Volunteers recorded every piece of debris they picked up. Their statistics show that the top three types of debris cigarettes, food wrappers, and caps and lids account for over half of all debris collected in the United States.
Surveys from the last decade indicate that most people do not consider their own contributions to marine debris to be significant enough to warrant a change in personal behavior. However, data collected during the 2005 cleanup shows that pinpointing the types of debris and the activities that cause them aids in the creation of educational programs to help people develop a new mind set toward littering, the Conservancy says in its report. "The real solution is prevention, and that takes responsible behavior," said Matter. "Raising this awareness is key."
