From 5th to 8th, April, 2011, at Panasonic Risupia Vietnam - the sciences and mathematics-themed facility founded by Panasonic in Hanoi, Panasonic Global Eco Learning Program was initiated for Vietnamese secondary school pupils. Correspondent of the Vietnam Business Forum magazine made an interview with Mr Naoki Sugiura, Overseas Planning Group, Panasonic Corporation.
Please tell us why Panasonic Corporation decides to educate pupils on environment?
We take pride of our achievements so far - electronic devices of leading quality that serve production activities and life of consumers worldwide.
Besides, Panasonic Corporation is concerned about general issues that affect the whole society’s development. On the very first days of establishing Panasonic Corporation, Mr. Matsushita - the founder set the slogan “Contribution to the society”.
We realize that in recent years the living environment on earth has been suffering more and more seriously from climate change. Only by taking actions right now can we save our planet in the future.
With that vision, Panasonic has launched the Global Eco Learning Program to inform people and call for actions for environment. The program particularly aims at children, the owner of our planet in the future.
Why is the Program called Panasonic Global Eco Learning Program? Is it designed and taught globally by Panasonic?
That’s right.
Panasonic started Eco learning activity for children at school in Japan from 2008 as trial class, and in 2009 it had been started in full swing. From 2008 to 2010, Panasonic group companies in other countries such as Brazil, China, UK, Germany, Malaysia, Panama, Thailand… also carried out similar Eco learning activities in various methodologies. The Panasonic Global Eco Learning Program (PGELP) was launched in August 2010 to unify all the previous Eco learning efforts into one universal Eco Learning materials. From September 2010 until March 2011, there were about 76,000 students in allover the world attending the PGEL, besides a number of about 34,000 students attending another Eco classes developed in Japan.
Where in Vietnam does the Panasonic Global Eco Learning Program start? Who can attend the program?
Panasonic Global Eco Learning Program is lauched at Panasonic Risupia Vietnam Center in the first week of April, 2011. The Program is attended by pupils from secondary schools of Doan Thi Diem, Dong Da, Duong Xa, Lomonoxop, Ly Thuong Kiet, Marie Curie, and Vietnam International School.
Could you explain the“Green lifestyle” in more details? Is it difficult to practice?
“Green lifestyle” is the good one for environment. According to Panasonic’s initiative, anyone who practises “Green lifestyle” will help to achieve “virtually zero CO2 emission” and contribute to reduction of green house gases on Earth.
“Green lifestyle” includes simple activities that pupils can do easily, such as: turning off lights when they are not neccessary, turning off taps while brushing teeth… There are a lot of ways to make your life friendlier to environment. If you want to know more about “Green lifestyle”, you can join our program.
Everyone who is trained on “Eco lifestyle” can practice it and even create other eco ideas. In that way, the impact of Panasonic’s eco ideas in general and Panasonic Global Eco Learning Program in particular will be multiplied.
Is Panasonic Global Eco Learning Program one of the activities that make Panasonic “a Green Innovation Company”? Could you tell us more about other activities of Panasonic as “a Green Innovation Company”?
Panasonic Global Eco Learning Program is a social project aimed at children. It is just one of several projects of Panasonic in the fields of education and environment.
To deserve being a “Green Innovation Company”, Panasonic pays special attention to environment protection in a comprehensive way - through deployment of ecological ideas that build up “Green Lifestyle” and “Green Business”.
To create “Green lifestyle”, Panasonic has been making clean and green products, which save energy and reduce exhaust fume.
To become “Green Business”, Panasonic has been trying to build Clean factories by researching and using appliances to reduce CO2 emission, save natural resources. Besides, our factories use other measurements to minimize water usage, electricity consumption, reduce waste and chemicals.
At the same time, we give regular training on environment to all of our staff.
Right after staff recruitment and every two months we hold training courses on environment such as waste generation, waste classification, and process of waste collection and treatment. Every year, the staff are re-trained and updated with new knowledge. For example, what types of new waste are being generated? How to deal with it? How to store it? The staff also have lessons on principles of the 3R model introduced by JICA Japan - the three letter Rs stand for Reduction, Reused, Recycle.
Through environment training activities for workers in factories and the Corporation’s staff, Panasonic is buiding profound consciousness of effective usage and saving of natural resources, energy resources; reduction of CO2 emission; and prevention of global climate change.
Thank you very much!
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