Environment

Colombia's idyllic island of San Andrés drowning in rubbish

San Andrés (Colombia), Feb 15 (EFE).- (Camera: Ares Biescas) On the beaches of the island of San Andres, a Colombian paradise in the Caribbean, waves return plastic bottles, flip flops and single-use cups and cutlery to shore, covering the sand in the rubbish that has not been properly disposed of.FOOTAGE OF RUBBISH IN SAN ANDRÉS.SOUNDBITES AND TRANSLATIONS OF:Lizbeth Arigan, resident: "Around the trees, there's a lot of pollution. Pollution has taken over the vegetation."Rosaina Forbes, resident: "Kids have got sick because of pollution, they've had viruses with a fever, flu, vomit, diarrhoea. Kids and adults. A few months ago I had red spots on my skin, my skin was affected by pollution."Ana Raquel Mar, technical consultant at Schooner Night Ethnic Association: "It's a use project. We collect and transport solid residue that can be reused. In four months we have collected 40 tons. Of those 40 tons, we've sent 10 to Bogotá.""All this material we see here is ready to be taken on a ship to Cartagena."