KUWAIT: ASEAN Committee in Kuwait (ACK), in collaboration with UN-Habitat, held a beach cleanup on Saturday. Speaking to Kuwait Times, ACK Chairman and the Indonesian Ambassador to Kuwait, Lena Maryana, announced the successful implementation of a beach cleanup activity aimed at raising public awareness about environmental preservation. She stated that although Kuwait is a very clean country, some areas still suffer from littering, and the initiative aims to demonstrate ASEAN’s commitment to protecting the environment, saying “Cleanliness is beautiful, and it is part of our religious teachings.”
The Ambassador explained that the activity included the participation of all ASEAN embassies in Kuwait, noting that the campaign was carried out in cooperation with UN-Habitat, with whom the ASEAN Committee has maintained strong collaboration for many years. Looking ahead, the Ambassador announced that the next major ASEAN activity will be the Winter Market, scheduled to take place at the Indonesian Embassy on December 13, from 9 am to 5 pm.
“The market will showcase culinary items and products from ASEAN countries. We invite the entire community in Kuwait, not only ASEAN citizens or diplomatic corps, but also the general public, to join us,” she said. She concluded by saying that the ASEAN region represents a major global market with a population of nearly 700 million people, highlighting that ASEAN countries are rich in culture, cuisine, and world-renowned tourist destinations, expressing hope that the public in Kuwait will consider exploring Southeast Asia as a travel destination.
For her part, manager of the UN-Habitat Program in Kuwait, Dr Ameera Al-Hassan, explained that the purpose of the campaign goes beyond cleaning the beach, noting that “the municipality is already fulfilling its duties.” Instead, the activity aims to familiarize participants with the types of waste discarded along the shoreline, thereby raising awareness about the importance of reducing littering and preserving the beauty of Kuwait’s beaches. She noted that more than 150 participants will be collecting waste in one hour.
This amount will be compared to what 10 beach-assigned sanitation workers collect daily, highlighting the extensive effort required to maintain clean coastline. Al-Hassan stressed that the ultimate goal of such campaigns is to promote a culture of protecting Kuwait’s environment and keeping public beaches clean and enjoyable for everyone.
Al-Hassan revealed that the office, in cooperation with the ASEAN Group and the oil sector, will carry out several initiatives during the autumn and winter seasons, coinciding with the start of the planting season. These include distributing seedlings, agricultural initiatives, sports activities, competitions, and family-focused awareness events. She also pointed to dedicated recycling programs, particularly those aimed at addressing the global challenge of plastic waste, affirming that initiatives targeting various community groups will continue.
