‘We Need This’: Cami Appelgren Speaks Up In Favour Of Malta’s Cigarette-Free Beach Proposal
Local environmentalist Cami Appelgren took to Facebook this morning to express her support for the ‘cigarette-free’ beach proposal, announced yesterday by Mellieħa council member Gabriel Micallef.
In a bid to oppose critics of the proposal, Appelgren listed a few facts summing up why smoking on the beach is problematic; first on the list was the plethora of chemicals found in cigarette butts, all of which are eventually released into the environment.
Following this, the activist pointed out the sheer financial burden that the cleaning of cigarette butts puts on a nation. She also made reference to San Francisco (US), which spends a whopping $11 million annually to clean up the cigarette butts.
Following this, Appelgren suggested reaching a middle ground by establishing a number of designated smoking areas equipped with ashtrays along beaches, which would be cleaned up several times a day.
Appelgren finished her post with words of praise for the Mellieħa Local Council – particularly Council Member Gabriel Micallef – for putting environmental issues at the forefront of their priorities.
An hour after Appelgren’s post was published, it amassed upwards of 180 reactions on Facebook, and ample comments expressing their approval of the initiative.