The campaign to go organic is getting the much needed boost as corporations take the lead in campaigning for a change in lifestyle among its employees.
As part of its Earth Day 2009 celebration, Smart Communications, Inc. and its contact center partner, I-Contacts Corporation (I-con) teamed up to launch ‘Green Icon’ at the company’s satellite office along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.
A film production entitled ‘Handa na ba tayo sa pagbabago? Panahon na!’ and ‘Ang Pinoy at ang Hamon ng Climate Change’ was featured during event, which also featured an exhibit dubbed the ‘Green Bazaar’. The bazaar featured green products and initiatives of Smart’s various partner-institutions.
A booth was put up by I-con to collect containers bottled of water and soda cans. For every three bottle containers presented by its employees, they got premium items, such as baseball caps, to encourage employees to recycle, reuse, and reduce waste.
Go Organic! Philippines, a consortium of non-government organizations and organic farming advocates led by the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) and La Liga Policy Institute (LLPI) was also invited to join activity to promote its various eco-friendly products and initiatives.
Roland Cabigas, LLPI managing director and a convenor of Go Organic! Philippines commended Smart and I-con for joining the go organic bandwagon and taking the lead in calling for a change in lifestyle among its employees.
“Our campaign to go organic doesn’t stop in the farms. Consumers will play a very important role in making our campaign to promote organic farming a success by simply buying organically-grown products,” Cabigas said.
Cabigas added that other companies should emulate Smart’s green initiative and campaign for a change in lifestyle among its employees, which will, in effect help boost farmers’ income.
Meanwhile, the invitation to Go Organic! Philippines, Cabigas said, is an offshoot of its effective implementation of the Quad Media Information Education and Communication (Quad IEC) campaign which is being carried out by LLPI.
The campaign recently took part in the 5th holding of the Eco-Products International Fair (Epif 2009) and promoted the country’s indigenous rice varieties, which are uniquely different, because of their color – red, brown, pink, violet, white, and its cancer-fighting Obama rice or black rice.
Mirriam Chico, creative and events management team leader of I-con said the activity specifically aims to raise awareness among its employees about the urgent need to turn green to help fight global warming and climate change. The activity aims to convince its 2,000 employees, particularly those assigned at Smart’s contact center, to start a change their lifestyles by supporting environment-friendly initiatives, such as organic farming which produces agricultural products without harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
“Call center agents or employees are exposed to health risks. That’s why as part of our campaign to help save mother earth, we are calling for a change in lifestyle among our employees, such as enouraging them to eat healthier food free from harmful chemicals,” Chico said. (Go Organic! Philippines)
For reference:
Roland G. Cabigas
Managing Director, La Liga Policy Institute
Mobile # 09209053511
