Big Apple Beautifiers Stop littering! New York Street Cleanup Volunteers POLISH THE BIG APPLE! CREATE A HAPPY HEART!!

Keep coming to the monthly cleanup might be a challenge for some of you.  Cleaning bathrooms, or taking the leadership role in your group could be another challenge.  Let's take this anniversary as a chance for you to grow, why don't you put yourself up to whatever you have never done before.  You would create infinite possibilities in your life by doing so.

Thanks again, for your wonderful challenge and support to make our environment clean and positive.

Terry Sato

Big Apple Beautifiers (BAB) Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of its Foundation.

Big Apple Beautifiers (BAB) has been actively cleaning the litter on the streets in the West Village, NY for last ten years. The community hardly accepted the idea and activity at the beginning; however, observing their long time consistent selfless contribution people around the area now started acknowledging them, and loving to help and support them.

It is BAB's appreciation to have this anniversal celebration with those who have been supportive and helpful. This party is also an opportunity to show their refreshed commitment of creating a happy heart in the community on this historical milestone.

Anyone interested in this idea and activity are welcome to join. The celebration will be held soon after their regular cleaning activity.

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Date & Time: Sun. Sep. 18th, 9 am -12:30 pm
　　　　　　
Place: “Hakata Tonton”
　　　 (61 Grove St. New York, NY）Bleecker St. ＆ 7th Ave.

Bring：Plastic bags, and gloves, 

Fee: $10

HOST： BIG APPLE BEAUTIFIERS (BAB)

What to do：Cleaning Streets around West 4th & Cleaning bathrooms at the restaurant

＜Please contact: ＞
soujiny@gmail.com　ask Terry 

“Polish the Big Apple! Create a Happy Heart!!”

<History>

Big Apple Beautifiers was established in 2006 by highly motivated Japanese volunteers, environmentalists and Japanese restaurant owners as a community building project with the intention of beautifying the city of New York (Big Apple) by sweeping street litter and cleaning public restrooms.  The slogan is “Polish the Big Apple! Create a Happy Heart!”  On September in 2015, BAB will celebrate its 9th anniversary. Read more about BAB’s 8th anniversary here:

http://nysouji.seesaa.net/article/406261149.html?1431046752

The BAB volunteers meet monthly, every third Sunday. The joyous and careful cleaning activity lasts from 9am to 11:30am, focusing on the area adjacent to West 4th Street and Christopher St. subway stations. Approximately 20 - 30 volunteers pitch in.  Hakata Tonton, a celebrated Japanese restaurant in the West Village of NY, is the base of activity. The main BAB website is:

http://nysoujienglish.seesaa.net/

Reflecting upon the early days, BAB had difficulty being warmly accepted by the neighborhood. The community did not immediately understand BAB. People gave the volunteers weird looks, and even sometimes intentionally threw away cigarette butts in front of the nose of volunteers.  

Continuing the activity patiently and with enthusiasm, however, BAB gradually began to receive friendly attention and positive feedback. BAB naturally attracted other volunteers who share the same values and intentions for society.  Some American neighbors who care about the environment and community have recently joined and continued supporting the activity.  

The media took notice of BAB’s happy and committed activity.  In 2012, a school textbook publishing company contacted the group, and the episodes of BAB’s activity were introduced in an English textbook for students studying English at junior high schools in Japan. For coverage see: 

http://nysouji.seesaa.net/article/272341951.html?1431046998

In July, 2009,“Japan Times,”one of the major English newspapers in Japan, covered BAB’s story.  A free-community Japanese paper in NY called “Japion”picked up the cleaning activity in their article on October 5, 2007.  Also, Fuji TV, one of the major Japanese broadcasts, introduced BAB’s activity on the TV program called “Mezamashi-Doyoubi (Early Morning Saturday News)”on March 1, 2014.

<Three Main Objectives>

1. Protect the environment, especially fish in the ocean by removing litter.

It is a fact that the amount of garbage daily produced from NYC is about 50,000 tons, equivalent to the frame of the Empire State Building.  Much of it goes to other States of America, such as Virginia, and some of it is shipped all the way to our neighbors in South America.  It is reported that the litter directly going from the streets to the ocean is mistakenly swallowed by fish in ocean, and it suffocates the fish to death.  We all should be aware of these facts about the environment.  We would like to, therefore, create a possibility of building a prototype of zero-garbage emission society by practicing 4Rs (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), particularly, sweeping litter away from the streets which helps reducing and recycling the garbage.

2. Share the Japanese traditional value that can change your life.

It is believed that in the Edo Period (1600-1867), all the public streets in the Edo City (Tokyo) were like corridors connected to the Edo Castle, thus people living in the town should keep it clean all the time.  This belief became tradition and Japanese people habitually clean the public streets even today.  Also, in Japan, cleaning is a way of spiritual training for Buddhist monks and Shinto priests, and it is a beautiful way of changing your life.  Through BAB’s cleaning activity, the participants told amazing stories such as encountering a person to be married, or opening up a great business chance…etc.

3. Create a totally new, happy life in NYC

Street cleanup can contribute to the creation of a totally new, safe environment in your neighborhood that makes you feel emotionally uplifted and happy.  A correlation between cleanliness and reducing crime rates has been studied.  There is also a connection with community cleanliness and serenity of mind in inhabitants.

All of this is done in the spirit of collaboration and community building.  Simply IT IS FUN!!  

Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bigapplebeautifiers/