Bangkok--28 Sep--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
“Follow The King’s Path” theme addresses the growing national challenge of improving water, waste, and energy management to win The King’s Cup
The Honda Group of Companies in Thailand, under the advisory of Dr. Sumet Tantivejkul, and in conjunction with the Office of The Royal Development Projects Board and the Ministries of Education; Natural Resources and Environment; Energy; and Agriculture and Co-operatives, today officially rolled out the fourth Honda School Environmental Challenge project for 2006-2007.
Under the “Follow The King’s Path with Honda” theme, the Honda School Environmental Challenge IV aims to encourage Thai people to address issues that are increasingly affecting Thailand in three areas: water pollution and conservation; waste management and reduction; and energy management and conservation. Schools nationwide are invited to submit a project proposal from today until October 31, 2006. The most promising projects will be selected to receive funding from Honda so they can be implemented and qualify for the grand prize of the H.M. The King’s Trophy.
A signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding between Honda and its partner agencies took place today. Participants in the ceremony included Cherdphong Siriwit, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy; Dr. Charuaypon Torranin, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education; Apichai Chawacharoenpan, Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Suthiporn Chirapanda, Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives; and Adisak Rohitasune, Chairman of the Honda School Environmental Challenge Project.
According to Adisak Rohitasune, who is also Senior Vice President for Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd., the company initiated the Honda School Environmental Challenge in 1999 to honor H.M. The King. The project has gone through three rounds over the past seven years, during which time Honda granted more than 21 million baht in funding to 540 schools nationwide.
“This essence of the project is to encourage schools to act as a center for community initiatives that use local wisdom and innovative thinking to address environmental problems and save energy. The school that demonstrates the most outstanding results will receive the H.M. The King’s Trophy. It will join the previous three winners of the Royal trophy, which were schools in Surat Thani, Chiang Rai and Sakhon Nakhon.
“The Honda School Environmental Challenge IV builds upon the ongoing success of this project. It marks two special royal occasions — the 60th Anniversary of H.M. The King’s Accession to the Throne in 2006 and His Majesty’s 80th Birthday in 2007. By using the theme of ‘Follow The King’s Path with Honda,’ the Honda School Environmental Challenge IV aims to find home-grown solutions for increasing environmental concerns such as water, waste and energy management,” explained Adisak.
Dr. Sumet Tantivejkul, President of the Sirindhorn International Environment Park Foundation, expressed his opinion about taking on environmental issues in line with Royal initiatives: “His Majesty The King said that solutions for the environment must start from the heart. People must be aware of the problem. Environmental challenges are all around us, whether it is energy, waste or polluted water. These problems gradually become more severe, which makes it necessary for everybody to pay closer attention and take bold action to solve them”.
“It is good to see such close collaboration among the various parties and ministries to drive this project. By uniting and working seamlessly together, they can help address environmental problems through schools, students and communities nationwide. This can bring us back our little planet that balances nature in a sustainable manner,” said Dr. Sumet.
Adisak added: “Honda’s mission is to drive the project by creating a network of links that bridge knowledge from experts to local communities, using the Royal initiatives as a model. The Honda School Environmental Challenge IV also encourages community members and local organizations to get involved in the project to ensure it meets local geographic and social requirements. This will deliver the greatest benefits to the community over the long term.”
In addition to its strong network of government agencies, the Honda School Environmental Challenge IV project also enjoys the support of Khunying Chodchoy Sophonpanich, President of the Thai Environment and Community Development Association. She has worked closely with Honda since the first school environmental challenge in 1999 and still serves as an advisor to the project.
Interested schools at all levels nationwide can submit their project proposal related to any of the three categories of water, waste or energy management from today until October 31, 2006. A judging committee will review the project proposals.
In December, they will announce the 60 schools whose proposals have been selected to receive funds ranging from 10,000 to 60,000 baht so they can actually implement their projects.
Field trips to inspect the school project implementation sites will take place periodically throughout next year. The winner of the King’s Cup, awarded to the school with the most successful project implementation, will be announced in December 2007. Three additional awards will be given to schools that are outstanding in each of the three categories of water, waste and energy management. The teachers who advised the four schools that make it to the final round will also receive an award.
For further information, please contact the Project Co-ordination Center at 0-2752-7697 or 0-2751-8166, or visit www.hondagreenschool.com .
Media information, please contact:
Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Chutimont Jaidee Tel. (0) 2236-0256 ext 1553 Email: [email protected]
Piyamart Angkhathayart Tel. (0) 2236-0256 ext. 1557 Email: [email protected]
Media information, please contact:
Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Jaruwan Vorarakthananune Tel. (0) 2252 9871 Email: [email protected]
Satida Srithunyatorn Tel. (0) 2252 9871 Email: [email protected]