Pursuing Activities as a Global Citizen

In fiscal 2008, we began environmental programs in preschools and elementary schools in China. The dual purpose is to increase understanding of our environmental actions and to give children the chance to think about the environment. In Beijing, for example, Hitachi (China) Ltd. held a class at a Beijing elementary school for 244 second-graders to share thoughts through an eco quiz and other events. Showing their commitment to environmentalism, every child signed a banner with the slogan, “Let’s all work together to create beautiful, green homes.” The children showed immense interest. We created an opportunity for youngsters to think about issues such as water and air pollution, reducing waste, and global warming. Through our support of environmental education, such as these classroom visits, we will further contribute to society.

Similar projects are underway in Japan. Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, for example, participates—through the education programs of Kanagawa Prefecture—by introducing into local communities new energy and energy-saving technologies. Every year, there are hands-on environmental projects and other experiences. In fiscal 2008, a food-based theme was chosen: “Let’s all make environmentally friendly curry!” One-hundred children at two elementary schools were taught how eating locally produced food is good for the planet and how to measure the CO2 emissions they generate. They also enjoyed creating household account books that encourage thinking of individual ways to reduce energy consumption.

Since fiscal 2005, Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation planted and cared for 2.3 hectares of national forest (the Hitachi High-Technologies Yasato Forest in Ishioka, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan). In Fiscal 2008, 81 new employees, along with 91 prospective employees and family members, cleared away grass and underbrush.

Commissioning an environmental NGO G-Net, Hitachi Construction Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. began planting the Hitachi Construction Machinery (Shanghai) Forest in the Horqin Desert in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China in 2005. The ultimate goal of this project, which includes local residents, is to improve lives by restoring vegetation to the desert, enabling the sustainable use of the land. For that goal, it is necessary for local people, who contribute to desertification through overgrazing, to change their views and then firmly establish how to improve their lives with afforested land. Ultimately, this problem must be solved by the local people, making it necessary to proceed in stages while changing their awareness. In fiscal 2008, we suggested to local residents with high awareness to cultivate crops between rows of recently planted poplar trees. We also discussed their need to prepare the environment for cultivation by watering and weeding. We will continue providing support for “greening” activities like this one.

To conserve the natural environment in Tokyo, Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd. participates in the Tokyo Greenship Action project, where citizens, NPOs, private companies, administrative agencies, and other entities maintain conservation areas in Tokyo. In fiscal 2008, on three occasions, 89 employees worked to thin trees, mow grass, and harvest rice in green conservation areas and satoyama (natural woodlands near populated areas) conservation areas, under the guidance of a mountain protection NPO. At a satoyama in Akiruno, Tokyo, a habitat for several rare species including northern goshawks, giant flying squirrels, and Tokyo salamanders, people reaffirmed the importance of protecting nature while thinning out trees to restore forests on steep, densely overgrown slopes.

Twenty-seven employees and family members of Hitachi Cable, Ltd.’s Hidaka Plant volunteered to maintain a nearby natural park. The park’s wetlands provide habitat for many small animals and insects. To protect this environment, the volunteers weeded out grass for better exposure, cleaned waterways that support aquatic animals, and removed trash.