Environmental Rehabilitation: Detainees and Volunteers Join Forces for Beach Clean-Up

After last year's success, the appointments organized by the Non-Profit Organization "Plastic Free" and "Second Chance", a Third Sector association that serves as a bridge between prisons and companies to create reintegration opportunities, are back. The Oasi dei Variconi in Castel Volturno will be the spotlight beach. From the beaches of Tuscany to the coasts of Calabria, passing through Marche, Puglia, Sardinia, and Campania. The shores of six Italian regions will see about fifty detainees from nine penitentiaries and the volunteers of Plastic Free, an organization committed since 2019 to fighting plastic pollution, in action on Saturday, March 23, to counter environmental degradation. Flavia Filippi, founder and president of "Second Chance", states: "For many detainees, this will be the first outing after a long time, thanks to a reward permit granted by the Supervisory Magistrate. This fills this renewed partnership based on values such as inclusion, re-education, respect for nature, and legality with even more meaning. Thanks to the collaboration with the prisons of Cagliari, Livorno, Secondigliano, Palmi, Locri, Laureana di Borrello, Bari, Ancona Montacuto, and Ancona Barcaglione, we will be able to achieve a double result, benefiting the environment and the well-being of the detainees." "This initiative demonstrates how the concrete contribution of everyone is fundamental for the safeguarding of our territory - adds Lorenzo Zitignani, General Director of Plastic Free Non-Profit Organization - Armed with gloves, brooms, and a desire for sharing, the detainees will be guided by our volunteers in environmental cleaning operations so that we can clean the beaches of six beautiful locations from the waste that our seas return to us." The environmental cleanings are open to everyone, also fostering a moment of social inclusion. Participation is possible upon registration on the website www.plasticfreeonlus.it. The meeting points for the other appointments will be the beach of Portonovo in Ancona (at 10 am), the beach of Pane e Pomodoro in Bari (at 9:30 am), the square Fernando Pilia (side Luchia) in Cagliari (at 10:30 am), the square of the 3 Ponti in Livorno (at 9:30 am) and the village La Quiete-Angolo verde in Palmi, Reggio Calabria (at 9 am).