Event marks the observance of Earth Day worldwide

KUWAIT: A beach cleanup was organized by the US Embassy in collaboration with the Kuwait Dive Team yesterday at Anjafa Beach. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

KUWAIT: A beach cleanup was organized yesterday at Anjafa Beach by the US Embassy in collaboration with the Kuwait Dive Team. The event was held to mark the observance of Earth Day worldwide, which falls on April 22. In his message during the event, US Ambassador to Kuwait Lawrence Silverman said he hopes people around the world can mark and celebrate Earth Day every day. "Every day we should be thinking about preserving the environment and what we can do, even in very small ways, to keep our neighborhood and the places we love to visit clean," he said.

Silverman thanked the members of the Kuwait Dive Team, who sponsored the cleanup. "I have followed the work of the dive team ever since I arrived here 18 months ago. I have admired their commitment to the environment and to the people of Kuwait. We should be thankful for the team's dedicated efforts since it was established in the aftermath of the environmental devastation wrought by the invasion and occupation of Kuwait," he added.

Yesterday's theme was 'End Plastic Pollution'. Plastic pollution constitutes a growing threat to marine life and ecosystems. Icebergs of coagulated plastics have even threatened coral reefs and other delicate marine habitats. "Knowing the damage that plastic pollution can cause should motivate each of us to think twice about how we handle products packaged in plastic and the plastic bags that we so quickly throw away," Silverman said. He also advised and encouraged everyone to practice recycling and if necessary reduce the use of plastic materials. "Less plastic deposited into landfills means less plastic that finds its way into fragile marine environments here in Kuwait and around the world."

Dr Dari Al-Huwail of the Kuwait Dive Team thanked the US Embassy for the collaborative work to clean the beachfront in Anjafa in Salwa. "We really need to give something back to our environment and the surrounding we live in. If we do not care about our environment, we are ruining the future and generations of people, and this is a recipe for disaster. Just imagine throwing a plastic bottle and leaving it in the world for more than 450 years - a plastic bottle will decompose only after 450 years," he said.

"At Kuwait Dive Team, we've been doing this for many years. We've been collaborating with non-governmental organizations to clean up and care for the environment. These types of activities directly reduce pollution, save wildlife and improve humans' quality of life. We have to start with ourselves on a smaller scale, then later, it will give a lasting impact on all of us and the world," Huwail concluded. Yesterday's beach cleanup team also comprised of staff from the US Embassy and US service personnel from Camp Arifjan and their families.

By Ben Garcia