The Kuwaiti Society for Environmental Protection, in cooperation with the Japanese Society in Kuwait, organized the 26th edition of the “Sea Turtles” operation at Shuwaikh Beach, under the patronage of the Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait, Kenichiro Mukai, and in the presence of the Director General of the Environment Public Authority, Professor Nouf Behbehani, the Assistant Undersecretary for the Projects Sector at Kuwait Municipality, Engineer Maysaa Boushehri, and the representative of the Capital Governorate, Mashael Al-Kulaib, with the participation of many representatives of government agencies, civil organizations, volunteer teams, and a remarkable attendance from the general public and school students. At the opening of the event, Dr. Wajdan Al-Aqab, President of the Environment Society, delivered a speech in which she emphasized that “the annual Sea Turtle Campaign, launched in 2000 and organized by the Kuwaiti Society for Environmental Protection in cooperation with the Japanese Society in Kuwait, and now in its 26th edition, is an effective model of international partnership in marine environmental protection. It aims to raise community awareness about the importance of preserving Kuwaiti coasts as natural habitats for endangered marine creatures, especially sea turtles. This awareness campaign seeks to elevate the level of environmental consciousness among members of society regarding the importance of maintaining the cleanliness of the marine environment and to highlight the harmful effects of waste and debris that reach water bodies and negatively impact biodiversity in the marine environment.” Dr. Al-Aqab further noted… Al-Aqab explained that “the campaign aims to identify the types of waste that find their way into our marine environment and their harmful effects on natural habitats and marine life.” She added, “Your participation in today’s cleanup is the best way to learn about this. You will notice that most of the waste is single-use plastic, and environmental projections for the future indicate that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans.” She continued, “Studies have shown that 801 TP3T of waste and debris in the seas and oceans originates primarily from land. This waste is carried by floods and currents from beaches and coastlines into the water, and then transported by water currents to distant locations, even reaching some uninhabited islands and impacting their biodiversity.” In the same vein, she expressed her gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency Engineer Abdul Latif Hamed Al-Mashari, Minister of State for Municipal Affairs, for his support of the awareness-raising objectives of this campaign and for the efforts of Kuwait Municipality in all its sectors to maintain the cleanliness of the State of Kuwait, its facilities, streets, and beaches at all times. She also commended the keenness and efforts of Her Excellency Dr. Amthal Al-Huwayla, Minister of Social Affairs, for launching the national initiative "This is Your Role," which aligns with the goals of the Sea Turtle Campaign in raising awareness among members of society about their role in protecting the environment by preserving it, so that we are not part of the problem but rather part of the solution. She added, "Thanks are also due to our annual partners, the Ministry of Interior, Public Security Sector, and the Environmental Police, for their presence in maintaining security, and to our brothers in the Emergency Medical Services at the Ministry of Health for their concern for your safety. We urge those accompanying our young children to take precautions and supervise them closely." Dr. Al-Huwayla concluded by saying... Al-Aqab emphasized that “cleaning the beaches is not just a voluntary activity, but rather an environmental awareness message that reflects our commitment to the environment. Preserving the marine environment does not begin with cleaning campaigns, but rather with not throwing trash and waste on the beaches while visiting them and throwing it in the designated sites that the Kuwait Municipality, thankfully, provides everywhere,” hoping that “the event will leave a green environmental mark on our blue beaches.”.
For her part, Assistant Undersecretary for Projects at Kuwait Municipality, Engineer Maysaa Boushehri, noted that “Kuwait Municipality, thanks to a generous donation, recently inaugurated the Shuwaikh Beach project. This integration between government agencies and the private sector aims to improve services provided to citizens and residents by offering a healthy, clean, and recreational environment supported by essential services on one of Kuwait’s most important beaches.” Boushehri added, ”Today, I stand with you to play another equally important role: participating in the 26th Sea Turtle Conservation Operation at Shuwaikh Beach. Today, government agencies and public benefit associations are working together to raise awareness and emphasize national responsibility in protecting and preserving the environment. The municipality, through its environmental, investment, and service projects, is committed to implementing sustainability to protect the environment by safeguarding natural resources, reducing pollution, achieving long-term economic and social development, and improving the quality of life.” She affirmed the municipality’s support for the commendable efforts of the Kuwait Environment Protection Society and the Japan Society in Kuwait, which aim to showcase the beauty of our nation and the purity of its land, sea, and air.
The Japanese ambassador: Your commitment to rehabilitating the coastal environment gives us hope that the turtles will one day return to these beaches.
In his address, Japanese Ambassador Kenichiro Mukai said, “I am delighted to inaugurate this year’s “Operation Turtle Rescue” beach cleanup campaign, organized by the Japan Society in Kuwait in collaboration with the Kuwait Environment Protection Society. I thank each and every one of you for dedicating your time to participate in this important volunteer event. Your good spirit and commitment to restoring the coastal environment give us hope that the turtles will one day return to these beaches.” He added, “I extend my special thanks to the entities that supported this campaign this year: the Environment Public Authority (EPA), Kuwait Municipality, the Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS), the Kuwait Scouts Association, and Arabica Coffee Company. We appreciate your deep and ongoing cooperation.” He noted, “This campaign was first launched by the Japan Society in 2000, and since then it has become a symbol of the enduring friendship between Japan and Kuwait. Every year, environmental enthusiasts of all ages come together to work side by side to protect and preserve our natural environment.” The Japanese ambassador said, “Taking care of our planet contributes to improving the quality of life for future generations, which is why we continue to see inspiring volunteer efforts from cleaning beaches to planting and caring for plants in the desert. We are also witnessing a growing awareness of the importance of energy and water efficiency, and the importance of recycling.”.
Al-Salem: The Importance of Community Participation in Preserving Biodiversity. Sharifa Al-Salem, representing the Environment Public Authority, delivered a speech, saying, “It is a pleasure to be with you today on this beautiful beach, at an environmental event that embodies many meanings of awareness and responsibility towards our marine environment, as part of the annual Sea Turtle Campaign.“ Al-Salem explained, ”This campaign stems from our deep belief in the importance of community participation in preserving biodiversity, especially marine life, which is an essential part of our ecosystem, foremost among them sea turtles, which today face increasing challenges due to pollution and plastic waste scattered on beaches.“ She added, ”Our participation today in cleaning the beach is not limited to removing waste, but rather expresses a genuine commitment and shared responsibility towards our environment, and a clear message that we are all partners in protecting marine life and preserving our natural resources, and consequently, wildlife.“ To preserve the right of future generations to a clean and sustainable environment.” Sharifa Al-Salem expressed her gratitude to Dr. Wajdan Al-Aqab, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Kuwaiti Society for Environmental Protection, for “organizing this event, and to all participants, volunteers, and the entities and institutions that contributed to the success of this campaign.” She called on “everyone to continue this positive approach, which reflects our love for our country and our commitment to ensuring that our environment remains vibrant and full of life.”.
