2015 “Green Volunteers 18th Cohort” Report
The Green Volunteers, dispatched to China by the Fujifilm Workers’ Union, is a symbolic social contribution activity that has continued for 18 years. In 2015, the 18th year, reforestation activities were carried out in the same area as the previous year, the Horqin Desert, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, from August 1 to 5 (4 nights, 5 days).
Three members from the Fujifilm Workers’ Union, one from the Fujifilm Cooperative, and following with the previous year, two joined from the company-based union affiliated with the Group Workers’ Union. This year, the group of six people spent two days that overlapped with a group dispatched from FUJIFILM (China) Investment Co., Ltd. (FFCN), who are also conducting reforestation activities in the Horqin Desert, and the two groups collaborated on work such as pruning poplar, desert tour, and weed removal from pine trees that had been planted in the past.
After finishing work for the day, the participants were able to get to know each other even more at the traditional Mongolian welcome dinner at the hotel, in addition to experiencing the nightlife in Kanchika afterward. This fostered a sense of cross-border unity among these colleagues of the Fujifilm Group.
With 150 newly planted pine trees in the background
Horqin is called the “Sandy Land,” and is a desert dotted with greenery
Pruning poplars carefully
Working together in a bucket relay
With local NPO staff members before returning to Japan
VOICES
Medical Systems Business Division
QA Group, Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs Division
Toru Nishida
This was my first time participating in the Green Volunteers.
This time, there were only five people from Japan, and we were outnumbered by the Chinese teams, however, we were able to become friendly after the get-together.
We could see the fruits of the labor of those who participated before us and see the gradual progress of the reforestation. I hope that the activities continue to flourish in the future.
Synthetic Organic Chemistry Laboratories
Akihiro Hakamada
This was my first time participating in the Green Volunteers.
I had learned about desertification in areas around the world when I was in elementary and junior high school, but it was not an issue that I could relate to.
However, seeing the massive desert with my own eyes, gave me the opportunity to once again feel a sense of crisis and responsibility toward the global environment, and it was a wonderful opportunity for me to think about what I can do for the earth.
Sales Management Division
Tokyo Area Sales Division
IT Solutions Center
Kentaro Miura
I think there are many things that you do not notice as you go about your daily life.
This includes a wide range of things from common practices to eating habits, and you have to step outside your normal life to notice.
This activity has made me notice a variety of things.
Accounting and Finance Division (at the time)
Shunya Tanaka
This is my second time participating, the first being in 2011.
The trees that we previously planted have been growing and the townscape has also developed, so I could really feel the passage of time.
I was also able to drink with the Chinese team including FFCN and the local NPO staff and got to know them better, so it was a more fulfilling experience than the previous time.
I would like to study Chinese and participate again!!
Fujifilm Workers’ Union (Fujinomiya Branch)
Taku Yoshiyama
I participated in the 18th cohort as a staff member of the workers’ union division.
Previously, I had participated as a general union member during the 14th cohort, and I was surprised to see that the roads leading to the area and the facilities had been revitalized in the few years. Only four years had passed, but I could feel the momentum of development in China. I was also deeply moved to see that the pine trees that I had previously planted were growing nicely.
The 18th cohort had fewer people than in previous years, so we were uncertain about whether the reforestation work would be successful, but with the high motivation of the participants and the cooperation of the local people who look after the forest, we were able to plant 150 pine trees!
In addition, we worked with the FFCN team, who were on site on almost the same schedule, to prune poplars, go on desert tours, and a friendship was formed between the two groups as a result of these activities and the social gathering at the hotel. Although it was a short time, I found the experience to be fulfilling.
We will continue to carry out union volunteer activities for environmental conservation, so I hope many people will participate!