For a green and clean environment
By Binh Nguyen in HCMC
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| Ascott staff plant mangrove trees in Soc Trang Province last year to contribute to climate change mitigation - Photo: Courtesy of The Ascott Limited |
Leaders and associates of the Ascott-managed serviced residence buildings in HCMC went to provinces near and far last year to plant trees and clean and upgrade facilities and surrounding areas of primary schools, and their actions have been rewarded with a good response from the community.
This year they will repeat their good deeds as part of a Green Campaign,
which was launched in 2009 to create a better environment for people of all ages.
Nguyen Chi Nam, residence manager of Somerset Chancellor Court in HCMC, confirms that preparations are underway for tree planting and other activities this year in line with the green initiatives of CapitaLand, whose serviced residence business unit is The Ascott Limited.
Nam told the Daily on Wednesday that the areas for green coverage and the schools to be cleaned and upgraded this year would be named soon, as staff of Somerset-branded properties in the city is eager to take part in these activities.
Tree planting is not only an outdoor activity for Ascott staff to enjoy but also conveys the important message that simple actions can help protect and expand the greenery which is so beneficial to the environment and the community.
Nam recalled that Ascott leaders and associates traveled by car for 300 kilometers to the Mekong Delta’s Soc Trang Province to plant 20,000 mangrove trees on two hectares in Hoa Lac Commune in Vinh Chau District.
With the same purpose in mind, they also hopped into a car for a journey to the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau in 2009 to grow trees in the national reserve area of Binh Chau. Nam said all the young trees were provided by responsible local agencies with the cost covered by The Ascott Limited.
In addition to helping mitigate the increasing impact of climate change, the tree planting exercise is to support the Government’s efforts to protect and expand the acreage of mangrove trees. The practice also helps raise the staff’s awareness of the need to be environmentally conscious and instills in them a sense of ownership towards the environment outside the office.
Having recognized the importance of children’s role in the country’s development, The Ascott Limited spent S$26,000 last year upgrading infrastructure and facilities and building a library of more than 5,000 books and entertainment VCDs and DVDs, and a clean water system for 400 pupils at Tan Hung A Primary School in Soc Trang Province.
In the north, The Ascott Limited has injected a large sum into clean water facilities, lights and learning equipment and materials for students at Nang Yen Primary School in Phu Tho District.
The Ascott Limited has made schools throughout Vietnam better places for students to learn, play and grow into qualified future contributors to the country.
The initiatives of the Green Campaign are not limited to tree planting and school facelifts, but extend to whatever activity the Ascott-managed properties in Vietnam can do to benefit the community in which they operate.
Nam says this year all five operational Somerset properties in Vietnam will again join the Earth Hour initiative, which calls on individuals and businesses around the world to turn off their lights for one hour as part of the fight against global warming.
In 2009, Somerset Grand Hanoi, Somerset Hoa Binh and Somerset West Lake in the north, and Somerset Chancellor Court and Somerset HCMC turned off their façade lights and 75% of their lobby lights during Earth Hour. In addition, they encouraged residents, office tenants and retail tenants to participate in the event by switching off their facade lights and non-essential lights and electrical appliances.
This year, the Somerset properties will switch off their non-essential lights for ten hours, from 8:30 p.m. on March 27 till 6:30 a.m. the next morning as CapitaLand’s support for the global Earth Hour initiative of the World Wide Fund for Nature.
Nam says the Somerset Chancellor Court in HCMC is also ready to present a slide show featuring the effects of climate change on the environment, water sources and flooding in Vietnam and elsewhere in the world.
This presentation will take place in the lobby on the evening of March 27 for residents and staff. Through this activity, the property wants to call for their action on countering the impact of climate change.
The Earth Hour participation is one of the regular environmental protection activities conducted by the Somerset properties for the welfare of the community. They also provide pots and plants for residents to grow in their apartments and encourage them and staff to turn off lights and appliances when not in use and to reuse bath towels.
The properties also give their tenants and residents tips for energy saving and maintain an internal environmental awareness program for employees. Nam says environmental protection and contribution to the community are what Somerset employees have to learn and practice after their admission into the company.
Nam says new employees are equipped with not only skills to serve guests but also knowledge of how to contribute to building a green and clean environment for them and the community.
The Saigon Times Daily