Hirona Iwasaki (participant)

*Group name

Aeon Cheers Club Shimizu

*Country/Region

Shizuoka prefecture, Japan

*Type of Group

Others (business organization)

*Number of total members of your group/project

84 persons

*Number of regular participants in activities

About 40 persons

*Characteristic of members

We are a friendly group of elementary to high school students and their parents. Since there are mountains and ponds nearby, some children have great love for the nature. We create necessary items using vines and chopped bamboos, get acquainted with and care for nature.

*Theme(s) of your group/project

*Nature Conservation, *Wastes and Recycling

*Missions and activities of your group/project

We contemplate what we can do to unburden nature of her load, and take part in activities while familiarizing ourselves with nature.

*Characteristics of the group/project activities

Our activities revolve around protecting the local nature such as Udoyama (mountain) and Kamihara Pond, which are close to Jusco Shimizu, our parent organization. With "Our Living and Waste" as our theme, we study about 4R and volunteer to pick up trash.

*Most importnat way of thinking of your group/project for environment

We believe the accumulative effort by many, even if each step is small, can protect our precious earth. 

*Major publications and articles

A report on previous activities is sent out once a month. We create a newsletter once a year.

*What kind of group/project do you want to exchange for imformation and experience with?

Once a year we get together with a local eco-group, so we would like to interact with groups from other prefectures and groups involved in unique activities.

*Short message for exchange with other group/project

We plant trees in a nearby mountain, maintain the roads, and pick up litter. In order to get familiar with nature, we also make a hide-out with material found in nature such as fallen leaves and vines. It is very fun to spend a whole day in nature.

*Impression of Children's World Summit for the Environment 2005 Aichi

I also participated in the International Children's Conference on the Environment 2 years ago. This time and last, I was impressed by the presentations and activities done by foreigners. Although I take part in environmental activities in Japan, I felt my foreign friends made more pointed remarks about the nature. I was overpowered by their confidence in what they did. During this summit, I participated in workshops and learned of activities in other countries, but the confidence and activeness of foreigners was what left the most impression on me. We, the bearer of the next generation, have a lot to learn from them.

*Others

I became interested in the environment through my participation in an eco musical when I was in second grade of elementary school. Since then, not only have I stayed on as a member of the club but also protect the school environment as the vice chairman of the school maintenance committee. We take out the trash every Wednesday, and separate old handouts and construction paper for recycling. It may not standout as much, but it always refreshes me to see our clean classrooms and school. I would like to do as many earth-friendly activities as possible.

*Contact person

Sachiyo Maikuma

*Contact Address

1-6-16 Uwahara, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka 424-0871,Japan