I Love Okinawa, We Love Okinawa!
From I to We starts with YOU and Me
The I ♥ Okinawa Campaign starts every year on March 5th - Coral Day in Okinawa through November. Cleanups are scheduled every third Sunday.
Main Events:
* "MARUGOTO" Okinawa Clean Beach by OCCN.
June 5th (World Environment Day - UNEP) to July "Umi No Hi" Marine Day. Celebrated on the third Monday of July, Marine Day became a Japanese national holiday in 1995.
* RYUKYU ICC - Ryukyu Is. International Coastal Cleanup September - Third Weekend through the Third Weekend in November. The International Coastal Cleanup kicks off worldwide on the third Saturday of September. In Okinawa it is Typhoon season, the participation window is extended to accomodate for stormy weather. Volunteers use Marine Debris Data Cards to record trash collected and other valuable information. Promoted since 1993 as the Okinawa Cleanup "YUIMARU"- ICC. 2010 is the 18th Year for Okinawa and the 25th Anniversary of the worldwide effort started by the Ocean Conservancy.
* Clean Up the World - Participation in June and September.
* Earth Day - April, we encourage participation during yearlong Eco Campaigns.
Groups and individuals can organize a cleanup during island wide events. Sign up to lead a cleanup by becoming a Beach Captain or help us identify problem beaches by becoming a Beach Scout. Adopt-a-Beach or Adopt-a-Reef.
Beach Captains - Lead a cleanup during the International Coastal Cleanup or the Marugoto Cleanup.
My Beach - My Reef Okinawa Adopt-a-Beach Program: 3 STEPS TO JOIN Volunteers Beach Captains are encouraged to Cleanup a location twice a year plus an Eco Related event to become eligible for the Adopt-a-Beach Program. 1. June - July "Marugoto" Okinawa Beach Cleanup (June is Environment Month). Clean Up the World (CUP)
and cleanup the location again between
2. September - November during the Okinawa Cleanup "YUIMARU" -ICC using Marine Debris Data Cards as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). Coastal cleanup sites will have a location specific health chart that will keep a record in order to better monitor changes and encourage better management.
3. Individual or Group Action. Organize an Eco Awareness Action at home or at work. Beach Captains will get credit for starting an individual change. Read a book, donate. Let us know about your committment to the Earth.
The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC)
The collection of marine debris data by volunteers has been a unique feature to this annual cleanup. Our findings are put into a data base, published in a yearly report, and shared with other organizations. The data is sent to the Ocean Conservancy, in Washington D.C. and shared with our sister coordinators in Tokyo, the Japan Environment Action Network (JEAN). The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is a partnership with the ICC. PADI Project A.W.A.R.E. is also a partner promoting underwater cleanups.
The data collected by volunteers is published in the Ocean Conservancy's annual report where it is used to help create the awareness for creating and improving international laws and treaties concerning marine pollution. The data has played an important part in the passing of the Marine Pollution Act (MARPOL) and has assisted in tracing marine debris to its source. Thus, the work of volunteers is very crucial to the future of our oceans.
In eighteen years of organizing this island-wide volunteer effort, NPO Okinawa O.C.E.A.N. together with thousands off island volunteers, has removed tons of marine debris from Okinawa's coastline. We have saved countless numbers of fish and mammals from ingesting marine debris, while making the Ryukyu Island's coastline a safer place for everyone. Please help us to continue to make our island cleaner and safer for future generations.
For more information on how you can help, please e-mail edo@okinawaocean.org (English / Spanish) or kiyan@okinawaocean.org (Japanese)
