Due to my interest in environmental health and ecology, the Branding & Communications Head "borrowed" me from my department to organise and execute ING Malaysia's first ever Green Day. Some leg work had already been done, too bad I was away on holiday else could have had a visit to the Danum Valley in Sabah where ING committed and initiated the planting of 50,000 trees in reforestation to counter its carbon footprint. The ING Green effort would be executed around the world. I am so glad that Malaysia is heritage to the oldest rainforest in the world.
My project began with resourcing whatever I could about carbon points and carbon footprint and to concise the concept into a easily understood flyer for distribution. Then, as the ING Chairman was to plant a tree, I had to identify a suitable tree for this significant landmark. I knew exactly the tree I wanted, the NEEM (Azadirachta Indica) aka Margosa, Semambu, wish I knew at least a Chinese name of it. Anyway, I checked my choice of tree with a very knowledgeable resource from the Malaysian Nature Society, and was given the green light eventhough the tree is not indigenous to Malaysia. It is important to understand that with ecology, not everything imported is harmonious to one's natural surroundings. Fortunately the neem is very ecologically friendly, it's happy to be a good neighbour to its surrounds, unlike the ubiquitous Acacia, imported without a thought to the ecology of Malaysian flora, and now it is just taking over our beautiful landscape, pushing out our indigenous species. Aah... I could go on forever about this.
Keeping in mind that some landscaping would also make the environs around the tree appealing, I chose flowering plants of ING's corporate colours to complement this beautiful tree. I'll add here that the neem is one of the highest oxygen producing trees in the world!!! Well I saw in my mind Chairman planting the neem and division staff representatives embellishing the plot with orange flowering Bauhinia kockiana and blue flowering Plumbago auriculata the perfect finishing touch to the trough.
Next was to figure out some slogans that could be put on A-boards and worn by placard bearers. The usual ones were there of course: Reduce-Reuse-Recycle; Live Clean Go Green; but I just had to think of something that comes from what I practice - composting. One evening while meeting with the Head Honcho Organiser for the event, I was mouthing out loud and then, bang : Compost To Dispose ~ Fertile Aerobics Trim Your Waste. Straight to the drawing board and proudly!!
Then there was the plants give away. We decided on half and half ornamentals and fruit trees. My faithful Pertanian contact got all the green gifts for us together with the neem and flowering ornamentals.
Then figured how were the staff going to carry their bounty home? Solution ~ the ING Go Green campaign reusable bag. Perfect finishing touch to the give-aways.
The big day arrived, and the education campaign began. A-board placard bearers canvassed the lunch-time crowd to answer a questionnaire in exchange for a plant.
I could not imagine the rush for plants, it was exhilarating to the point of madness as the crowd went crazy choosing their plants, asking advice on what and how.
I feared I was going hoarse, but so much fun, the hoarsing throat was worth it.
Then the Big Man arrived. An impressive presence he was. After the necessary formalities in the offices high up, he was presented to the placard-lined stairway to the plot.
A couple of customary speeches, unveiling of the info plaques and planting was underway.
A few of us in the background were deep in feverish prayer as the sky overhead was quickly turning into a giant watering can. As soon as the planting by the Big Man and staff representatives was done, the watering began, and boy oh boy what a watering!
Of course I had to have the opportunity to meet the Big Man himself, and to get his autograph on my Composting placard. Made my day.
Catering after was very organic, even down to the green juice.
