KUWAIT: Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait Takashi Ashiki poses with participants in the beach cleanup. - Photos by Joseph Shagra

KUWAIT: The Japanese Embassy in cooperation with Kuwait Environment Public Authority (EPA) and Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS) organized a beach cleanup yesterday in Kuwait City. The beach cleanup program completed 17 years since its launch in 2000.

"We have been organizing this program to help Kuwait clean its coastline," said Takashi Ashiki, Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait. "We named this program 'Operation Turtle' because we love sea turtles. Kuwait has many species of sea turtles which need protection and clean waters to live in."

The event, according to the Japanese envoy, was a project that emerged from the previous environmental projects with Kuwait. The Japanese community consisting of around 300 people usually volunteer in such initiatives. "We have been cleaning the beaches of Kuwait for 17 years, it may be less in scale but it certainly has a huge impact," said the envoy. "Such projects must continue and must be supported by everyone. Our community through this service shows its respect and gratitude towards Kuwait. This country is our second home; they are generous and hospitable people."

Japan is the largest supplier of vehicles to this part of the world, and for that, the Japanese envoy has been very grateful for the trust and confidence bestowed to Japanese car makers. "We conquered more than 60 percent of the car markets in the Gulf and we thank Kuwaitis and residents for trusting in our brands," the envoy noted.

By Ben Garcia, Staff Writer