SOLVE Partners with Japan-related Organizations to provide cultural and language interpretive services at Beach and Riverside Cleanup on September 22

Oregon's one-of-a-kind Beach and Riverside Cleanup will feature a special partnership between SOLVE and dozens of Japan-related organizations throughout Oregon and southwest Washington through the coordination of the Japan-America Society of Oregon (JASO).  The organizations are partnering to provide cultural and language interpretive services at the SOLVE Beach and Riverside Cleanup, presented by the Oregon Lottery, this Saturday, September 22.

"The Oregon coast regularly receives marine debris from many Pacific Rim countries including, but not limited to Japan.  Debris from the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami adds an additional and very human element," said Briana Goodwin, SOLVE Program Coordinator.  "It is important to recognize that each piece of debris that originated during the earthquake and tsunami is on our beach because of a great tragedy."

The partnership between SOLVE and JASO will help volunteers the human connection of Japan-originated debris and its global path to our shore.

"So many Oregonians have a deep bond with our Japanese friends whose lives and livelihoods were so affected by the tragic disasters of March 11, 2011.  By coming together with SOLVE for the beach cleanup, we now have a committed cadre of volunteers who can support efforts along our Pacific beaches in the months to come," said Dixie McKeel of JASO. "This is also a great opportunity to increase collaboration, dialogue and mutual understanding between the peoples of our two countries."

Volunteers from Japan-related organizations will be available at several sites - with primary groupings at Tolovana, Sunset Beach and Fort Stevens State Park - to help determine if any items found may have originated in Japan.  Any identifiable personal items will be investigated and repatriated, if possible. The organizations have also coordinated over 50 volunteers to help clean up the beach.

The Japan-America Society of Oregon (JASO) is a private, non-profit, membership organization dedicated to promoting business, education, and cultural exchange and enhancing mutual understanding between the people of Japan, Oregon and SW Washington. With almost 1,200 members JASO is the largest and oldest Japan-related organization of its kind in the State of Oregon.  JASO sponsors a variety of business, educational and cultural programs each month. In addition, they serve as an information center, providing advice on Japanese protocol, language and other general information related to Japan.  JASO also administers the Oregon Tomodachi Recovery Fund (www.oregontomodachirecoveryfund.com) which raises money to support job creation and ongoing recovery in the Tohoku region devastated in March 2011.

SOLVE is a statewide nonprofit organization that brings people together to improve the environment and build a legacy of stewardship. For over four decades, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model for volunteer environmental action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers across Oregon to our clean up beaches and rivers and restore watersheds. SOLVE has been planning coast-wide beach cleanups since 1984