Kiernan was born 4 October 1940, in Sydney to George Arthur and Leslie Katherine Kiernan. He was educated at The Scots College in Sydney, The Armidale School in northern New South Wales, and the Sydney Technical College, where he trained as a builder but became passionate about sailing. In 1986/87 Kiernan competed in the BOC Challenge, a solo around the world yacht race. Kiernan finished 6th out of 25 competitors and set an Australian record for solo circumnavigation. Whilst making this circumnavigation, he saw, and was shocked, by the amount of waste that was polluting the waters of the world. Upon his return, he made a resolution to do something about this issue when he got home. He started in his home turf - the Sydney Harbour. Clean-up On the 8th January, 1989, Ian rounded up his similar-minded mates, and co-ordinated the first "Clean Up" event - Clean up Sydney Harbour. This basic, yet hugely successful idea prompted national interest, and in 1990, on Sunday 21 January, the first Clean up Australia took place. The turnout astounded all, with over 300 000 Australians taking part. Soon enough, Ian was meeting with the United Nations Environment Plan (UNEP) in order to discuss a global Clean Up. Finally, the agreed on a Clean Up the World event to take place in 1993. Over three days (September 17-19), over 30 million people from 80 nations turned out in order to Clean Up their world. From there, the notion has snowballed, with currently 40 M people from 120 counrties taking part in the annual Clean Up the World. Check out this wonderful interview between Ian and George Negus
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Ian Kiernan AO (born 1940) is an environmentalist who organised the Clean Up Australia campaign, and in 1993 a similar Clean Up the World operation which attracted participation from 30 million volunteers in 80 countries. He received the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 1994 and the UNEP SASAKAWA Environment Prize in 1998. He received the World Citizenship Award from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1999.