IN BRIEF (Page 10)

Conservation call

Over 20 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Beijing have issued an open letter calling on the public to pay more attention to water conservation efforts during the drought affecting many areas of northern China.

In the letter, the NGOs called on the public to save water by turning off taps when brushing their teeth or washing their hands, flushing toilets or cleaning the floors with recycled water, and reducing the time taken for bathing.

Rural StanChart branch

UK-based Standard Chartered Bank has opened its first village bank, Inner Mongolia Helingeer Standard Chartered Village Bank, in a bid to provide direct services to local farmers and contribute to poverty relief in underdeveloped rural areas.

Standard Chartered Bank is the first foreign bank to enter China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Through this rural bank, the company expects to provide financial services needed by farmers, and also to firms involved in farming or rural activities.

Ctrip CSR report

Ctrip.com International Co Ltd, one of China's leading online travel firms, recently released its first corporate social responsibility (CSR) report.

The firm reviewed its recent achievements, contributions to charitable activities and assistance in disaster-relief efforts in China last year.

UNICEF donation

UN children's agency UNICEF recently donated 4.86 million yuan to support reconstruction efforts in areas of northwestern Gansu province hit by the May 12 earthquake.

The money will be mainly used to renovate local hospitals, as well as to build environmentally friendly toilets and rubbish-collection stations.

Green farming course

Non-governmental environmental organization Global Village of Beijing recently joined hands with the Red Cross Society of China to launch organic farming training courses in Pengzhou county, Sichuan province.

The program aims to help people in the quake-hit area rebuild their farms in a sustainable way, as well as boost their income by increasing the value of their products.

(China Daily 02/23/2009 page10)