NPO Okinawa O.C.E.A.N.

About us

The Okinawa Ocean Culture & Environment Action Network (NPO Okinawa O.C.E.A.N.) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of Okinawa's marine environment. Our mission is accomplished through education, direct action, public awareness campaigns, and by cooperating with other organizations with similar goals. Okinawa O.C.E.A.N. was founded in 1995 by Okinawa International Clean Beach Club (OICBC) members in order to better address our islands environmental problems. We became a registered "Specified Nonprofit Corporation" on Earth Day 2003.

Activities
• Several times a year O.C.E.A.N. members speak at schools around the island to promote environmental awareness. The Okinawa Junior O.C.E.A.N. Ranger Program, which puts children "in touch" with the sea through activities that are "hands-on and culture-based," has already reached over 600 students and continues to grow today.
• In the future, Okinawa O.C.E.A.N. will introduce international exchange into our educational programs, enabling children to understand the connection between other island communities around the world and the sea. Face to face, via the internet, children will have a chance to "act locally and think globally" with other students from Hawaii, Galapagos, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Canary Islands.
• Along with education, Okinawa O.C.E.A.N. continues to take direct action in trying to solve marine environmental problems and promoting marine conservation. Under the direction and management of O.C.E.A.N., the Okinawa International Clean Beach Club (OICBC) has pulled together over 45,000 volunteers since 1992 to remove marine debris from countless miles of coastline through its annual "I Love Okinawa Campaign" and island-wide "Okinawa Cleanup Yuimaru" beach cleanup events.
• Not only do we remove trash from the island's coastline, but we also record valuable data that is part of a worldwide effort to solve the problem of marine debris. The data is sent to Japan Environment Action Network (JEAN) in Tokyo and to the Ocean Conservancy in Washington D.C.
• Networking is another important aspect of Okinawa O.C.E.A.N.'s agenda.
• Okinawa O.C.E.A.N. directly supports other environment conservation events, such as the FM Okinawa / Okinawa Cosmo "Earth Conscious Act Clean Campaign."
• "Okinawa Adopt-a-Beach/Reef" is an information portal sight to introduce those who are involved in beach/reef cleanup in Ryukyu Islands and promote networking among civil groups, public and private sectors, and academics.

Edo Heinrich Sanchez is the Chairman of The Okinawa Ocean Culture & Environment Action Network (Okinawa O.C.E.A.N).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.