November 26th 2007, the Green Pathfinders Forum, a green career lecture series jointly organized by Friends of the Earth (HK) and Green Point Guangzhou, staged the second chat show titled "Green Product, Creative Career". Four guests were invited. Mr. HOO BOON CHOON and JOHN DAVIS, the directors of the international environment friendly stationery brand O'BON, joined Mrs. Mei Ng, UN Global 500 Laureate, veteran environmental advocator and Yuan Shuwen, the Representative from Guangzhou Environmental Education Center,engaged in a lively dialogue on green creative product design and marketing. FRESH Environmental Protecting Association of South China University of Technology and Green Point Guangzhou played host to the evening's program.
At first, the two student MC kicked off a green debate with Mrs. Mei Ng on "Should we charge for plastic bags?" The students think "We shouldn't charge for plastic bags because encouragement is better than punishment. Raising awareness of the public is what we should do." However, Mrs. Mei Ng emphasized environmental fairness and collective responsibilities: who use who pay. Reduce the usage of plastic bags is just a part of the 3R principles. In the end, they reached a consensus: BYOB=Bring your own bag.
Then, our two specially invited guests shared their green business vision with the audience. Their humorous dialogue attracted laughters and applause. The story of O'bon's eco-pencils and folders, made from recycled newspapers, has also attracted students' curiosity and questions.
How can environmentally friendly products be competitive in a world market? How did you establish a market niche? How did you build your brand? Why did you spent so much time to research and improve the glue and product quality? Who are your target customers? Why so much packaging? Will you consider producing pencils out of used plastic bags in addition to using old newspapers?
Winning support from local governments and consumers, O'BON's eco-stationery has established markets in US, England, Malaysia, Singapore and 15 countries. The secret to their success is their continuous commitment to quality and innovation. Five years' research to improve the glue and one year for re-inventing the brand! Mr. HOO and Mr. DAVIS emphasized that bussiness as well as young people should be more responsible to think for the society, and to pay more attention on environment protecting.
The 350 university students in the audience were inspired and enlightened by the green business vision and insights of Mr. HOO and Mr. DAVIS.
Question time has arrived. Many hands shot up. Some students raised technical questions such as waste recovery from production process and the toxicity of the ink from the old newspapers. Mr. Hoon and Mr. John Davis patiently replied with details. At times, Mr. Hoon invites input from our anchor Mrs. Mei Ng.
The climax of the evening was the mock job interview conducted by our Guest Speakers. Two undergraduates confidently walked on stage. But the two young interviewers had failed to pass through the test. The O'BON directors, HOO BOON CHOON and JOHN W. DAVIS, decoded the secret of a successful job interview. The audience, particularly graduates-to-be, benefited from the exercise.
Forum FeedbackThrough the spot check, we found that 100% audiences satisfied with our forum.
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The Green Pathfinders Forum (GPF), launched on October 29, 2007, is a monthly green career lecture series which aims to inspire and empower Guangdong university students.
Through dialogue with green leaders, thousands of green career aspirants will be enlightened. Through green English debates and mock job interviews, thousands of budding environmental job seekers will be empowered. It is about China youth empowerment. It is about investing in the future of a Greener China.
Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong) and
Green Point-Guangzhou are the co-organizers of the Green Pathfinders Forum.
Friends of the Earth (HK) is a registered environmental charity in Hong Kong since 1983. It's mission: "Friends of the Earth (HK) is dedicated to protecting the environment locally and regionally by engaging government, business and society in promoting solutions to create environmentally sustainable public policies, business practices and lifestyles."
Green Point-Guangzhou focuses on promoting the social environmental consciousness, especially leading the undergraduate volunteers to operate activities in the campus and cultivating more youth to concern with the natural environment.
Website:
Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong):
www.foe.org.hkCun Cao Xin:
www.cuncaoxin.orgGreen Point Guangzhou:
www.gpaction.net================================================
Acknowledgement:
Guangzhou Environmental Education Center, The Dunwell Group Hong Kong, O'BON, (Zhujiang Environment News), (Nanfang Daily), Guangzhou TV, FRESH Environmental Protecting Association of South China University of Technology.
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Event Sponsor:
The Dunwell Group Hong Kong
Website:
www.dunwellgroup.com================================================
The next forum information: The third forum of Green Pathfinders Forum(GPF) will be in Mar, 2008. Know more information, please click
www.gpaction.net,
www.foe.org.hk,
www.cuncaoxin.org
Taking lessons on hospitality and courtesy
Guest Speaker Mr. Hoo signed on the souvenir T-shirt
Let's support the Green Pathfinders Forum
Volunteers briefed in preparation for the event
Enthusiastic audience responded with laughers and applause
Yeah, the Green Pathfinders Forum's second lecture was a success. It's worth all the hard work.
