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The Mejillones community joined forces to celebrate International Coastal Clean-up Day, a global initiative that seeks to raise awareness of the importance of keeping our marine spaces free of waste, with the support of the Municipality of Mejillones, Mayor Marcelino Carvajal and help from the Chilean Navy, Protección Oceánica and various companies like SQM.

This activity, which takes place in more than 120 countries during the month of September, is primarily designed to collect garbage and solid waste on beaches and rivers, while also identifying their sources in order to modify habits and behaviors to help reduce pollution in these aquatic ecosystems.

On this occasion, more than 400 people participated, including workers, collaborators, community associations and students, who gathered to thoroughly clean up the Mejillones coastline, managing to collect about 2 tons of garbage.

In this regard, the town’s mayor expressed that “we are very pleased with the turnout for this event, which we have held before on other occasions and which is part of our anniversary celebration. We know the sea’s importance for our city, not only as a productive source with the ports, but also because of the abundant fauna and other gifts it provides Mejillones, which we are currently promoting to drive tourism to this very deserved community. That is why we are grateful for the support of all the people and groups participating in this important activity today.”

Local companies such as AXINTUS, SQM, OXIQUIM, INTERACID, TERQUIM, GASMAR, CORPESCA, AIM, Puerto Mejillones, ULTRAMAR, ENAEX, GNL, Puerto Angamos, ULTRAPORT and BONATTI, joined this initiative, offering their support and commitment to protect our marine environment.

Blue Awakening: Raising awareness about the environment

As part of this important event, organizers announced the collaboration of SQM and the foundation Protección Oceánica, along with support from the municipality, to promote the educational project “Blue Awakening” (Despertar Azul). This educational program aims to form a network of environmental trailblazers to promote environmental awareness and circular economy for the preservation of our oceans and their biodiversity.

Pablo Pisani, SQM’s Public Affairs Manager, stated “we are very pleased to be able to sign this collaboration agreement with the Municipality of Mejillones and the organization Protección Oceánica, as it will allow us to work with schools and neighborhood councils on environmental education to protect the ocean in Mejillones. This initiative will allow us to develop a joint agenda that contributes to the sustainable development of the territory.”

The “Blue Awakening” project establishes close collaboration with local educational establishments: Juan José Latorre Educational Complex, Julia Herrera Varas School and María Angélica Elizondo Briceño School. Together, they are sowing the seeds of change and educating future generations to become stewards of the sea and promoters of a more sustainable future.

This collaboration and active participation of the community, institutions, businesses and local organizations demonstrates the power of coming together in pursuit of a common goal: protecting our ocean and promoting a more sustainable lifestyle.

In this way, the Mejillones community reaffirms its commitment to protecting our marine environment and hopes that “Blue Awakening” will mark the beginning of a brighter future with more awareness of the care of our oceans.