Murata supports the promotion of culture and sports, particularly in the Kyoto area, where the Head Office is located.
During fiscal 2006, as part of our cultural promotion support activities we held the Murata Innovator Cup Elementary School 9 x 9 Go Championship for pupils in Kyoto and Shiga prefectures. Approximately 60 participants gathered to battle over Go, a strategic board game. A second event is planned for fiscal 2007.
As part of its sports promotion support, Murata has sponsored the Wakaba Cup (National Elementary School Student Badminton Championship) every year since 1992 in Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto, and the Lake Biwa University Ekiden relay race on the shores of the lake. We also support sports for the disabled, including the All Japan Wheelchair Ekiden relay in Kyoto City.
The Murata Science Foundation was established in February 1985, with the objective of contributing to society through science promotion. Basing its activities around the electronics industry, the Foundation strives for the improvement, development and globalization of science and technology and aids research that contributes to the resolution of problems in the fields of humanities and the social sciences. In fiscal 2006, the Murata Science Foundation provided financial aid totaling ¥70 million for 66 research projects, 12 study groups and 7 overseas dispatch programs.
Murata's policy toward its various contributions is underpinned by the desire for “our presence to be a source of joy and pride in the communities in which we operate.”
During fiscal 2006, we contributed disaster relief for victims of the Java earthquake in Indonesia through the Japanese Red Cross Society. In Japan, through Ishikawa Prefecture authorities we contributed relief support for Noto Peninsula Earthquake victims, who also sought refuge in Murata's facilities in the region.
The Company cooperates every year in HIV/AIDS prevention activities in Thailand, donating funds through People's Hope Japan, an authorized NPO that provides international medical support.
As part of our drive to foster economic growth in the Asia-Pacific Region, we contributed to the 40th Asian Development Bank Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors in Kyoto in May 2007.
Tree planting activities by employees of Murata Electronics Trading (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd (China)
Murata has established a groupwide greening policy and has set greening programs for each factory, so as to actively promote measures to enhance the natural greenery of factory grounds. (For further details, see “Feature 3: Murata' s Activities for Nature” on page 17.)
Izumo Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., opens its grounds to the public while the cherry and camellia are in blossom. Furthermore, our Yokaichi and Yasu plants organize group viewings for their resplendent rhododendrons. In addition to these annual events, Komatsu Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Iwami Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and the Miyazaki Plant of Fukui Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and other factories carry out activities to enhance greenery inside and outside their grounds, such as establishing flower beds around local stations and alongside train lines.
Environmental education for residents in the neighborhood of Wuxi Murata Electronics Co., Ltd. (China)
Children on a guided factory tour at Himi Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Employees of Azumi Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Murata and family members participated in the All Japan Water Quality Survey in cooperation with an NPO.
Murata communicates with residents around its various facilities as a means to contributing to regional societies. In fiscal 2006, we targeted residents of the Nanxingyu housing estate in the neighborhood of Wuxi Murata Electronics Co., Ltd. (China), in an environmental education initiative.
With the primary goal of enhancing understanding of policies promoted by the Chinese government, the agenda spanned separation of waste and energy conservation and other environmental themes, and included explanations of environmental problems, corporate responsibilities and Wuxi Murata Electronics' environmental policies. In the future, we will continue to conduct such environmental education programs as part of our contribution to society.
In fiscal 2006, we conducted factory tours for local elementary school students and residents at eight of our manufacturing facilities.
Moreover, Fukui Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Komatsu Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Sabae Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Okayama Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and other sites made presentations at local environmental events to introduce Murata's environmental initiatives and to impress the importance of environmental preservation on visitors.
We aim to continue and expand such types of activities.
I still sense the difficulties in raising awareness of environmental consideration in China through environmental education for local residents. Standards of living in Chinese society are rising, but at the cost of a deteriorating environment. Very few people at a grass-roots level view the environment as a problem that they themselves have to tackle.
Monitoring of corporations by governmental departments has become increasingly strict, but the gist of this scrutiny is pollution control, with very little said about reducing environmental burden or CO2 emissions. Issues of this scale cannot be addressed by Murata's measures alone, but only through educating local society, too. |
Chu Guei LiAdministration Department, Environmental Management Section,
Wuxi Murata Electronics Co., Ltd. (China) |
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