Fiji, Oct. 7 -- Kitakyushu is one of Japan's green technology hubs, transformed from a heavily polluted industrial city in the 1960s into a model for green growth and sustainable development.
The southern Japanese city was recognised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for successfully balancing economic growth with environmental protection.
But behind Kitakyushu's transformation is the story of local citizens, particularly a group of mothers who stood up against pollution from the city's coal and steel industries.
The transformation began with about 30 mothers in the 1960s who challenged industries to reduce air and water pollution.
"Their children were coming home from school covered in soot and dust f...