IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Huaneng releases report

China Huaneng Group, the country's top power producer, has released its 2007 corporate social responsibility (CSR) report. The report covers as safety, energy conservation and environmental protection.

According to the report, Huaneng lead China's power industry in energy savings and environmental protection efforts in 2007. The company also donated 144.5 million yuan to charity last year.

Lake preservation funding

To help counter the environmental damage to Baiyangdian Lake in North China's Hebei province, the Asian Development Bank is providing a loan of $100 million to the $273 million Integrated Ecosystem and Water Resources Management in the Baiyangdian Basin to preserve Baiyangdian Lake - one of the most important and vulnerable ecosystems in China.

It is helping to improve water quality and quantity of the lake. Additionally, the project will include training for ecosystem management and eco-tourism. The development of non-timber forest products will also be encouraged.

Lujing's good works

The private Shenzhen-based real estate Lujing Group has set up a charity foundation - the first by such a business in Shenzhen. It plans to donate 15 million yuan for public welfare in earthquake and poverty-stricken areas.

Lujing Group says that it has been committed to charities in China since its establishment and has donated to social education, road construction, public health, medical treatment and poverty projects in Guangdong, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces.

Carrefour cares

Carrefour raised over 6 million yuan via its "Love 1+1" program carried out from June 26-July 26 in its 116 stores around China, and the money has been sent to the China Children and Teenagers' Fund for relief work for Sichuan earthquake orphans.

"Love 1+1" program is that when a customer buys goods in a Carrefour outlet, 0.10 yuan is for charity, meanwhile Carrefour also donates 0.10 yuan to the fund.

Union Life helps students

Union Life Insurance, together with the China Youth Development Foundation, has begun a three-month campaign to help poverty-stricken students to pursue or finish their studies.

From August 1 to October, Union Life will donate 10 yuan for each policy sold, except for those accident insurance policies, to the foundation. Meanwhile, they will cover the education fees for orphans of the Wenchuan earthquake and the snow disaster in southern China earlier this year.

(China Daily 08/04/2008 page8)