Poverty and impoverished environment linked
Update: 02/02/2009
Public awareness regarding the relationship between poverty and the environment has been on the rise recently, thanks to the tireless campaigning efforts of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment over the past three years.
Deputy Minister Tran Hong Ha, speaking at a meeting on January 19, 2009 made it clear that, as a result of launching a project regarding this relationship in 2005, the ministry has managed to change public perception from widespread ignorance to high levels of concern over the problem, stemming from an understanding that they are two sides of the same coin.
Research into the project has revealed that the majority of poor people live their daily lives with a pervading dependence on natural resources, thus considerably depleting or reducing the quality of these resources. This leads to a situation whereby the poor are the most vulnerable to an impoverishment of these natural resources and any environmental damage due to phenomena such as flooding and other natural disasters.
The project has also conducted in-depth research into the relationship between policies and legal documents regarding the environment and the poor, such as access to a safe water supply and sanitation, and the relationship between environmental, gender issues and migrations and the poor.
All of this research has highlighted the challenges facing poor families, particularly an impoverishment of the natural resources that the poor depend on, just to live their lives.
French agency funds Hue lake improvement project
The French municipal authority responsible for the management of the Parisian sewerage system (SIAAP) has granted EUR 130,000 to help improve Ho Ve and Thanh Hoang lakes in Hue Imperial Citadel, a local official said.
According to Vice Chairman of the municipal Hue People’s Committee, Nguyen Van Thanh, Ho Ve and Thanh Hoang lakes in Thuan Hoa ward are connected to Ngu Ha River that flows into the Huong (Perfume) River. They help to regulate the citadel drainage system. However, the build-up of alluvium deposits in the lakes has recently led to flooding in the Citadel.
Once completed Ho Ve Lake will cover almost 10,000 square metres, whilst Thanh Hoang lake will cover an area of just over 3,000 square metres.
Denmark launches environmental protection campaign
The Danish Embassy in Hanoi launched a “Green Embassy” campaign on Jan. 19, 2009 to raise the awareness of the importance of environmental protection, in anticipation of the effects of climate change.
In order to reduce its power consumption by two percent and cut down on its use of paper by 10 percent, the embassy plans to install energy-saving lights and electronic devices, as well as recycling batteries and shutting down all office equipment that is not in use.
According to Danish Ambassador Peter Lysholt Hansen Vietnam is said to be one of the five countries to suffer the most from the effects of global climate change.
Danish Minister of Development Ulla Tornaes suggested that people raise their awareness of energy-saving measures and adopt more environmental protection measures in order to ensure the planet is both greener and cleaner.
The campaign is part of a series of joint activities by the Vietnamese and Danish governments to protect the environment.
Vietnam is the first country to receive Danish funding of almost USD 40 million to implement a national programme for climate change, which runs from now until 2013.