On October 30, Kyoto Co-op* held the "Kamo River Clean-up Operation" as an eco-friendly project.

103 consumer co-op members from 39 families participated in the road cleaning activity on the banks of the Kamo River, one of the most famous rivers in Kyoto.

  

Under a clear blue autumn sky, the participants picked up trash in a relaxed mode while feeling the nature of the Kamo River.

As volunteers had cleaned the area on a regular basis, there was not much litter, but it was an important opportunity for members to think about environmental issues and litter problems.

・It was surprising to see that the water of the Kamo River was clearer than I had expected and that there were many living creatures even downstream. As we were at the back of the group, we found only small pieces of trash and picked them up. We couldn't leave even such a small piece of litter behind because we knew it would remain in the environment for years and might be eaten up by fish and birds. The riverbed was covered with a plastic material to preserve the grass (or to protect the soil). Looking at it in the long run, these will gradually be chipped and be washed away by the sea. I felt even stronger in my desire and the need to do something about it. My children commented that today's activity was "fun," and with that motivation, I hope to participate again next time.

・I didn't pick up too much trash, probably because I wasn't looking hard enough for it, but I was surprised to see a huge pile of trash when I arrived at the meeting place. Nonetheless, I felt very refreshed after walking in the beautiful autumn weather.

・I talked with two of the participants, and I felt great to pick up trash while slowly looking out at the Kamo River in the clear autumn weather after a long time. On the way, we talked with people with small babies and children, and it was fun to build a little community among the participants. I think the children were able to understand the importance of being aware of the environment from their surroundings.