Rotary lead river clean-up in Brazil

Christchurch Rotary welcomed a special speaker on 11 May. Rtn Dennis Meadus, Chair of the international committee for the Rotary District comprising most of Dorset, Hampshire and the Channel Islands, spoke about what has now become the second largest single Rotary project world-wide (after the polio elimination project).

Mr Meadus is taking part in a massively funded project to clean up the polluted River Gravatai in Brazil.

The River currently provides both drinking water and sewage disposal to over 1 million people. The aim of the new project is to provide clean running water and sewage treatment. Those already involved include local Brazilian Rotary Clubs, three local authorities, a State Governor and around 70 local businesses and some law enforcement agencies as well as the British Rotary clubs and the international Rotary movement.

The project has received $600m in funding, including additional grants from a wide number of sources. There are four modules, Education, River clean-up, Re-forestation and Enforcement, to ensure a sustainable and long-term success.