In the framework of the event honoring "50 Most Effective Business Companies in Vietnam" and the talk show "CEO Dialogue - Leadership Style" taking place on the evening of June 7, 2018 in Ho Chi Minh City, the Center of Hands-on Actions and Networking for Growth and Environment (CHANGE) has been honored to be voted as "Vietnam's Best Environment Organization in 2017". On this occasion, the Vietnam Environment Administration Magazine (VEM) had an opportunity to talk with Ms. Hoàng Thị Minh Hồng - Director of the Center on the meaningful activities of the organization.
VEM: Congratulations CHANGE on being voted as the best environmental organization in Việt Nam in 2017. Could you please share your thoughts on the award?
Ms. Hoàng Thị Minh Hồng: On behalf of CHANGE to receive this award, I am deeply touched and proud. We have been honored many times by environmental networks, non-governmental organizations, but this is the first time we have been voted by representatives of the Vietnamese business community. This proves that domestic businesses are increasingly interested in environmental issues and sustainable development. This is also one of the goals of CHANGE's communication activities. In addition, the award is also the community recognition of CHANGE's efforts in environmental protection, response to climate change, wildlife protection and sustainable development. Speaking in front of more than 300 guests who are business leaders, senior economic officials at home and abroad, I feel their love for the environment, as well as the belief in the work we are doing.
VEM: Could you please share something about CHANGE as well as the projects and activities that CHANGE has implemented in the past time?
Ms. Hoàng Thị Minh Hồng: CHANGE is a non-governmental organization, established in 2013, with the mission to build, mobilize resources to raise awareness, develop community capacity in addressing environmental issues, wildlife protection, sustainable development and response to climate change. CHANGE is also the official partner of WildAid - the world renowned organization for the protection of wildlife and of 350.org - Global Movement on Climate Change which is active in 188 countries.
CHANGE can be understood as change. In our opinion, Vietnam's environmental issues can be resolved if each individual changes: from awareness, behavior, habits, to understanding that environmental protection is to protect our health as well as our lives. And only when individuals dare to change, they will have enough inspiration and capacity to make greater, more lasting changes, even to influence the Government's policy-making process.
In Việt Nam, the issue of biodiversity protection has become an urgent need because wildlife species are being seriously threatened by hunting, illegal trade and loss of habitat. Recognizing this, over the years, CHANGE has launched several campaigns such as "Protect the Rhinoceros”, "End the use of Rhinoceros horns", " Rescue the Pangolin ", "Say No to Ivory"... Of these, “Protect the Rhinoceros" is a testament to the effectiveness of CHANGE's communication activities, with 53.2 million turns of information receivers; the participation of more than 100 celebrities such as Miss Universe Vietnam 2015 Pham Huong, the runner-up of Miss Universe Vietnam 2015 Le Hang, MC Phan Anh... The survey results showed that the number of people who believed that rhinoceros horns could cure diseases reduced from 69% in 2014 to 23% in 2016; the number of people who claimed that rhinoceros horns could cure cancer reduced from 34.5% in 2014 to 9.4% in 2016... It can be said that the CHANGE’s campaigns are a practical action, demonstrating its leading role in the nature conservation, environmental protection, raising awareness of the community about the species that are facing the risk of extinction and being illegally consumed in Việt Nam.
In addition, CHANGE is endorsing the global movement on climate change, 350.org, with the participation of more than 10,000 young people. We have organized many campaigns such as "Protect the coral reef", "I cannot", "Warnings from coal-fired thermal power", mural art contest "City 2030"... The biggest thing that we have been able to do through these campaigns is to attract the participation of the community, from the youth to celebrities, who have a great influence on the community. In addition, we have also linked socially responsible businesses to communities that need help so that the movement of environmental protection and response to climate change will be more realistic and sustainable.
In the field of sustainable development, CHANGE has launched many meaningful campaigns such as "Living simple", meaning close to nature, integrating into nature, contributing to environmental protection. Or the program "Stop wasting food", with the aim of raising public awareness about the harmful effects of food waste...
VEM: Could you please tell about the plastic waste reduction campaign iCHANGE Plastics and Put solar on it?
Ms. Hoàng Thị Minh Hồng: iCHANGE Plastics campaign has been newly launched but has got many results that make us so proud. We have built on the Facebook platform a 600-member iCHANGE Community. They are committed to change and take action for a green, clean and beautiful Vietnam. Along with that, many businesses, schools, restaurants, cafés, supermarkets… want to participate in the campaign, and under the guidance of CHANGE, have built their own activities. At the same time, many celebrities are excited about the campaign and together with us spread the message to millions of their fans. In addition, we are launching a social media activity called "3210 Challenge", a 21-day challenge that challenges young people to restrain themselves from the use of plastic disposable items. The challenge has currently received the active participation of more than 400 young people and is spreading around every day.
Việt Nam has a lot of potential for renewable energy, typically solar and wind energy, and there are a lot of businesses and investors willing to invest in it. Put Solar on It aims to promote renewable energy, firstly in HCMC, then nationwide, through the mobilization of households and businesses to install solar panels on their roofs. This is the most ambitious project in the coming time of CHANGE. In order to effectively implement the Project, we will promote communication activities, clip production, and strong propaganda in the media and social networks. We will also work with businesses which are specialized in solar energy and mobilize banks to prioritize investments in solar energy, and to have subsidy policies to help people easily get access to this sustainable energy source.
VEM: Thank you!
Do Huong (Implemented)
(Source: Vietnam Environment Administration Magazine, English Edition II-2018)