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Motto "Save a Tree, Save our Lungs" SIG Supports UNEP International Children’s Conference Both financially and at the practical level, the SIG Group sponsored a conference organised by the UNEP during which 250 children from around 60 different nations presented their visions for a cleaner, more habitable environment. Equally impressive was the commitment of the young participants to protecting and cleaning up the environment. “Tunza” – the word originates from Kiswahili, a sub-regional Eastern African language, and means “to treat with care or affection”. This was the motto chosen by UNEP for its bi-annual International Children’s Conference on the Environment. Located in Nairobi, the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) is the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Together with sponsors, UNEP promotes awareness among children and young people at numerous events worldwide on how to care for the environment and what they can do to contribute to a better world today and for the future. SIG participated at an International Children’s Conference for the first time and enabled 50 children from developing nations to take part at this year’s Tunza Conference. This latest event was held in Malaysia and opened by Her Royal Highness, the Queen of Malaysia at an official ceremony. Environmental projects presented by children from various countries At the end of August, around 250 children-delegates from around the world, 10-14 years of age, convened at Putrajaya, Malaysia’s new federal government administration centre, to participate in the “2006 Tunza International Children’s Conference on the Environment” (ICCE). For the 5th time, this conference enabled children to learn about the environment in plenary sessions, workshops and excursions, while expressing and discussing their own environmental issues and visions. The primary subjects were environmental protection, forest preservation, biological diversity and recycling. Young environmentalists from numerous countries presented concrete projects being undertaken by their communities and schools, with the emphasis on clean water and recycling. Through this year’s motto of “Save a Tree, Save our Lungs” and the related tree-planting programme, the children wanted to increase awareness of the problem of excessive timber exploitation in Malaysia’s forests. In the course of the programme, SIG employees also symbolically planted a tree. The children demonstrated their dismay with a colourful theatre piece that showed many people’s growing awareness of the significance of wood as a renewable resource across the globe. In the closing session, each of the young participants committed to plant at least 20 tree seedlings each year. SIG workshop demonstrates carton recycling to children In addition to its financial engagement, SIG also showed the flag on-site. Within the framework of the conference, SIG employees ran a recycling workshop. This allowed the participating children to experience how quickly and easily new paper can be won from used beverage cartons. With considerable enthusiasm the youngsters helped to separate the cellulose fibres from the composite carton materials in a tub of water, to squeeze out the water and to dry the hand-made sheets of paper. It was clear from the subsequent workshop evaluation that the children had enjoyed themselves: “For me, this workshop was the highlight of this conference. The German instructors were the best – thank you SIG!” wrote Lionel Stoneley from New Zealand. “It was great fun to learn how cartons are recycled. The steps are simple and easy” explained Anisa Yasmin from Malaysia. And Fachil Ahmad Qamur from Indonesia wrote: “This workshop was super! I learned how easy it is to recycle beverage cartons. Thank you SIG!”. SIG promotes awareness of Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations To promote awareness of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of the United Nations, SIG is also participating in the international film project “Echo 4 the World”. In this regard, filming with SIG CEO Rolf-Dieter Rademacher has already taken place at the SIG Holding at Switzerland’s Rhine Falls and in the new extrusion line for beverage cartons at the Linnich production location. Through its Millennium Goals, the United Nations intends to strengthen the worldwide struggle against poverty, disease, oppression and damage to the environment. SIG views sustainability as an integral component of its corporate strategy and fully supports the Millennium Goals. Download Media Release 060913 News overview >> |
