Would you like to clean a beach this weekend? Of course not. It sounds absurd. How can you clean a beach? Whatever debris you stuff in a binbag will only be replaced by more debris on the tide the next day. So you're on a hiding to nothing.
But, it is very easy. You call the Marine Conservation Society and they will fax or e-mail you their special form where the litter found is recorded.
Then you pick any beach, measure out a 100-metre stretch and get it over and done with. (It'll take a couple of hours.) Then you can walk away into the sunset, knowing that at least you've done something, and you're free to do whatever blows you hair back for the rest of the weekend.
What is inspiring and unique about this event results from you, and hundreds of other volunteers around Britain, having filled in the MCS form detailing the types and amounts of litter found. In doing this, you have given the MCS a 'snapshot' of data that will be used to identify major polluters and form recommendations for actions to reduce pollution at source.
There really isn't another viable way of them gathering this information, so what you are doing is making it possible for them to do the serious campaigning for the environment, which is anything but a meaningless gesture.
If you would like to help, the Beachwatch is this weekend (15th and 16th).
Please call the MCS on 01989 566017 or visit their website http://www.mcsuk.org">www.mcsuk.org.