Experts: VN should not limit motorbikes

Viet Nam should improve public transit and road safety rather than limiting the number of motorbikes, as the two-wheeled vehicles will continue to be the country's main form of transport for the foreseeable future, participants said at a workshop on Tuesday in Ha Noi.

Motorbikes account for more than 85 per cent of vehicles nationwide. They are seen as more affordable and offering more flexibility than other vehicles, according to a World Bank study released at the workshop. Therefore, many local people are unwilling to change their habit of traveling by motorbike despite safety concerns.

Vice chairman of the National Committee for Traffic Safety Khuat Viet Hung pointed out that the motorbike was not only the most popular vehicle, but also the least safe. More than 70 per cent of traffic accidents in Viet Nam involve motorbikes.

Moreover, only 26.5 per cent of children wear helmets when traveling with their parents by motorbike. The traffic safety committee plans to launch an action plan to raise that number to at least 70 per cent, first in 13 provinces and then nationwide.

At the conference, experts also suggested ways to improve traffic safety such as improving traffic light systems and developing electric vehicles.

The workshop was co-organised by the National Committee for Traffic Safety and the World Bank.

Broken pipeline causes chemical spill in Hai Phong

A Soft Chemical Corporation pipeline broke near Cua Cam Port yesterday, spilling 300 tonnes of linear ankylbenzene.

The Hai Phong-based company had hired another company to transport 1,100 tonnes of the chemical by barge from Hon Gai in Quang Ninh to Cua Cam Port. The work was completed around 4 am and the incident was reported around 8 am.

The company confirmed that the pipe broke 30m from Ngo Quyen Street. It started draining out the chemicals and will complete this in the next two days.

Deputy chairman of the Hai Phong People's Committee Le Thanh Son instructed the environment department and other relevant agencies, units and residents of May Chai Ward to focus resources on helping with the case's aftermath.

The police are investigating the cause of the incident.

Airliner, military helicopter narrowly escape colliding above HCMC

Relevant agencies will meet on Thursday to discuss a dangerous incident in which two aircraft, one civil and the other military, narrowly missed colliding with each other above Ho Chi Minh City on October 29.

Do Quang Viet, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV), told Tuoi Tre on Wednesday that the agency has received an initial report from the Vietnam  Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) on the incident.

According to the report, two Vietnamese aircraft, an Airbus A321 of Vietnam Airlines (VNA) and a Mi 172/423 helicopter narrowly avoided colliding with each other over HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport on October 29.

It is expected that the CAAV will meet with the management agencies of the helicopter and the plane to clarify the cause of the dangerous incident, Viet said.

In a report sent by the VATM to the CAAV on November 18, the agency said the Airbus had departed the airport for the central city of Hue.

Not long after take-off, at 11:41 am, when the plane was at an elevation of 1,000 feet (304.8 meters), the pilot detected a Mi 172/423 helicopter flying horizontally at the same height, the report said.

Luckily, a collision did not take place.

The helicopter took off from the same airport nine seconds after the Airbus, according to the report.

Meanwhile, according to a VNA report, the elevation at which the two aircraft appeared at the same time was lower, 500 feet (around 152 meters), and the distance between the two at that time was 200 feet (60 meters).

Viet, from the CAAV, initially commented that the military air traffic controller had not complied with flight safety procedures and failed to coordinate with the civil traffic air controller at the airport.

“If he want the helicopter to fly across the flight path of the Airbus, the military air traffic controller must notify the civil air traffic controller in advance, but the former did not do so, leading to the incident,” Viet said.

A similar case happened on June 27, 2014 when two airplanes almost collided at Da Nang International Airport.

That day, intern air traffic controller Truong Nguyen Quynh Anh instructed a Jetstar Pacific airplane to take off from a runway where a Vietnam Airlines plane coming in from Ho Chi Minh City had not left it yet.

Vietnam joins regional conference on gender equality

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Doan Mau Diep, led a Vietnamese delegation on November 17-20 attending the Asian and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Beijing+20 in Thailand.

At the conference, Diep said Vietnam ranks third in ASEAN and 47th overall among the 187 countries implementing gender equality commitments. It still faces violence against women and children and gender imbalance at birth challenges.

Vietnam is committed to boosting gender equality and empowerment of women and girls so as to push economic development, eradicate hunger and reduce poverty, Diep added.

Roberta Clarke, Regional Director of UN Women Asia-Pacific, in turn said so far, no country has gained complete gender equality.

Women are now still facing discrimination on a number of fronts, including inequality in the workplace and in the home, which is a threat to the safety and development of women in society, Clarke said.

In 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women, and subsequently endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996. The Beijing Platform for Action has constituted a global framework for realising gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Every five years, progress in implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action has been reviewed by the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

There have been three reviews to date – 2000, 2005 and 2010 – with each review resulting in a declaration that reinforces global commitment to the empowerment of women and girls and outlining priority actions for the subsequent five years.

Forum on enhanced leadership skills support women entrepreneurs held in Hanoi

On November 20, 200 businesswomen from across Vietnam gathered in Hanoi to advance their leadership skills for sustainable business growth and to better understand the business environment during Vietnam´s period of international integration and development. The forum was supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Hanoi Association for Women Entrepreneurs (HNEW).

“Bringing together so many dedicated businesswomen from across Vietnam, highlights the importance of advancing leadership skills for women entrepreneurs nationwide,” said USAID Mission Director, Joakim Parker. “Women entrepreneurs have the potential to drive Vietnam’s development and growth. This forum should help improve their ability to respond to opportunities in Vietnam’s economic transition, including foreign investment, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and engagement with the One ASEAN Economic Community.”

Highlighting Global Women Entrepreneurship Day, the one-day forum provided practical information to senior and up-and-coming women entrepreneurs on improving talent management, change management, and meeting the demand to comply effectively with international business standards, particularly in accounting and auditing. A panel facilitated dialogue between women entrepreneurs, USAID, and industry specialists on ways to help women entrepreneurs to engage in Vietnam’s emerging markets.

USAID regularly partners with government and civil society to promote economic growth and business development, especially among women and other vulnerable groups. The Hanoi Association for Women Entrepreneurs is a socio-professional and non-profit organization established in 2008 to support and connect women entrepreneurs to exchange, learn from, and share business skills, knowledge and know-how for better management and development of the women-led enterprises.

Da Nang sells bio-fuel at 45 filling stations

As many as 45 out of 92 petrol stations in the central city of Da Nang has officially sold bio-fuel E5 and Mogas 95, according the municipal Department of Industry and Trade.

The bio-fuel, which is made up of unleaded gasoline and 5 percent ethanol, replaced the traditional Mogas 92 at all filling stations in Da Nang from November 1.

Da Nang is among seven pilot localities to distribute the environmental-friendly fuel in accordance with the Prime Minister’s recent decision.

Earlier from September 1, the central province of Quang Ngai took the lead in the sale of E5-RON 92.

Hanoi will also officially sell bio-fuel E5 at 42 filling stations from next month.

From December 1, 2015 onwards, the fuel will be sold at all filling stations nationwide.

According to the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), the total consumption of E5-RON 92 nationwide between August 2010 and August 2014 reached 105,940 cu.m. In the first eight months of this year, the volume hit 31,000 cu.m, equivalent to the figure of the whole 2013.

HCM City provides support to migrant children

A project to support vulnerable migrant children in Ho Chi Minh City was launched by the city’s Sponsoring Association for Children on November 20.

The project is funded by the Denmark-Vietnam Friendship Association with more than 9.7 billion VND (455,700 USD) for 2014-2017.

It targets at least 4,000 migrant children and teenagers living in difficult circumstances in District 7, District 8, Tan Phu and Binh Chanh districts, including those who have a parent living with HIV/AIDS.

The project aims to promote the rights of migrant children and teenagers and help them lead better lives by providing basic and vocational education; healthcare services; medical and accident insurance; and sexual health education, including HIV/AIDS prevention, sexual abuse counselling and family planning methods.

Additionally, it will also run training courses for social workers and residents at project benefiting sites.

According to Association President Luong Thi Thuan, Ho Chi Minh City has a large population of child migrants who receive little attention from local communities. The three-year project is expected to change this and lighten the burden of care put on their families and society.-

Vietnam introduces labour rights policy at informal ASEM seminar

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour introduced a range of measures and initiatives to increase the promotion of the rights and interests of workers via corporate social responsibility during the 14th informal ASEM seminar on human rights that concluded in Hanoi on November 20.

The confederation also recommended increasing dialogues and cooperation between businesses and employees.

Under the theme “Human Rights and Businesses”, the three-day event attracted 120 representatives of governments, research institutes, social organisations and enterprises from 53 ASEM member countries.

Participants spoke highly of the host’s role in and contributions to the successful event. They shared their experience and made suggestions to raise businesses’ awareness and sense of responsibility in the field, especially towards vulnerable groups such as women, children and people with disabilities.

The first informal ASEM seminar on human rights was held in 1997 at the initiative of Sweden and France . Its coordination board includes seven members, namely France, Sweden, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, the European Committee and the Asia-Europe Foundation.

This was the first time Vietnam hosted such a seminar.-

More belongings of fallen soldiers returned to Vietnam

Two Australian professors who fought in the US war in Vietnam presented items belonging to fallen Vietnamese soldiers to the Ministry of Defence in Hanoi on November 20.

The items, returned by Bob Hall and Derrill De Heer from the University of New South Wales , included a diary, learning material, a New Year’s greeting card with a poem by the late President Ho Chi Minh from 1969, a wallet, some photographs, two certificates of merit, and a wristwatch.

They were handed over to the Vietnam Military History Museum , which will coordinate with relevant agencies to investigate the artifacts, identify the original owners and return them to the soldiers’ families.

In recent years, delegations from the Australian university have carried out a number of humanitarian projects to help Vietnam locate the burying grounds of fallen Vietnamese soldiers.

They also returned a number of similar items to agencies under the Ministry of Defence.

Workshop on decent work from gender equality perspective

A workshop on decent work from gender equality perspective are taking place in Ho Chi Minh City on November 19-20 for reporters and officials working in the labour sector in the south.

The event, co-organised by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs in collaboration with the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID), is part of the Vietnam-Spain project on integration of gender equality in decent work legislation and policies in Vietnam.

At the workshop, participants were provided with basic knowledge on decent work and gender equality amidst global integration, and discussed decent work, policies and regulations towards the concept as well as media solution on the decent work and gender equality.

The AECID-funded project is being carried out in three years from 2013. It aims to promote building and implementing services, policies and laws on labour, social welfare, insurance and vocational training.

Workshop on methadone maintenance treatment

Only 22,000 patients from 38 cities and provinces received methadone maintenance treatment by November 15, 2014, Nguyen Hoang Long, head of the Ministry of Health’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Department said in a workshop on the implementation of methadone maintenance treatment in Hanoi on November 20.

The event, aiming to assess the reality of drug use and access to methadone programmes, is part of a project run by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) and the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Long said this late implementation was due to local reliance on the Central agencies’ support, as well as a lack of local concern and human resources development. He added that relevant agencies should mobilise and encourage social organisations to get involved.

Administrative processes should be simplified to create favourable conditions for patients, he highlighted.

Most of the interviewed patients spoke highly of the methadone programme; however, treating addiction faces a number of problems, such as the increasing number of people using synthetic drugs, and lacking access to methadone programmes in some localities, a representative from Hai Phong said.

A number of issues were discussed at the workshop which included the legislative framework for alternative treatment using methadone, addiction treatment in the community and barriers in the access to methadone treatment.

Methadone, primarily used in World War II to relieve pain, is a long acting synthetic opiate with pharmacological effects similar to morphine. It was discovered as a treatment to help drug addicts stop using heroin by Dr Marie Nyswander and Dr Vincent Dole in 1964.

Swedish experts share experience in natural disaster prevention

A seminar on up-to-date technology in natural disaster risk reduction and adaptation was jointly organised on November 20 by the Embassy of Sweden and the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment in Ho Chi Minh City.

The event is part of a series of activities to commemorate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Sweden (1969-2014).

Speaking at the seminar, Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Camilla Mellander said Vietnam has to frequently cope with natural disasters, which harm humans, businesses and the environment.

Helping Vietnam protect itself against and prevent future natural disasters is a top concern for Sweden, and the seminar paved the way for the two countries to collaborate in this field, the ambassador added.

At the event, Swedish experts and businesses presented new technology in search and rescue and adapting to natural disasters, such as marine monitoring airplanes, off-site hospitals, early warning systems and temporary toilets or houses for use in natural disaster affected areas.

Lieutenant General Pham Ngoc Minh, Deputy Chief of the Vietnam National Committee for Search and Rescue (VNCSR), hailed the support of Sweden in the field. He added that Vietnam should implement more initiatives and apply specialised equipment in search and rescue operations.

Two Brazilian parliamentarians receive insignia for peace

Vietnam Ambassador to Brazil Nguyen Van Kien on November 19 awarded the “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” insignia to two Brazilian members of parliament.

Jô Moraes, President of the Brazil-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Group and Inácio Arruda, President of Brazil-Vietnam Friendship Association were lauded for their contributions to strengthening Vietnam-Brazil ties.

Ambassador Kien highly appreciated efforts in boosting the friendship between the two countries while believing they would make greater contributions to propelling Vietnam-Brazil cooperation and diplomatic ties forward.

The two Brazilian officials pledged their maximum efforts to foster the friendship and cooperation between the two countries in the future.

Vietnamese Talent Awards honours winners

The awards presentation ceremony for the Nhan Tai Dat Viet (Vietnamese Talent Awards) was held in Hanoi on November 20.

The awards have been organized as an annual event by VNPT Group, Vietnam Television (VTV) and the Dan Tri online newspaper to honour talents in the fields of information technology (IT), science, medicine and environment.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee President Nguyen Thien Nhan said the awards help to acknowledge the contributions of young talents to the national development.

This is the first time prizes were awarded in IT sector, quite different from awards from previous years which only selected one first prize or no first prize.

Pham Hong Diep-an outstanding environmental protection activist- was honoured for his efforts to encourage the locals to build a green residential area in Haiphong City’s Thuy Nguyen district.

Dr Hoang Duc Thao and his colleagues were honoured for their research on reinforced concrete structures and technologies which greatly contributes to the national economic development.

Temperature decreases rapidly in mountain Northern areas

Because of influence of cold front, temperature in the area of mountain and midland Northern provinces is reducing rapidly, reported the Central Hydrology Meteorology Forecast Center on November 20.

In Sa Pa, the moutaint district of Lao Cai province, the temperature was measured at 8, 8 degree Celsius yesterday. Meanwhile, frost shouldered in Hanoi and the northern provinces, causing the temperature reduced under 16 degrees Celsius in the early morning.

In this year's winter, cold spells are predicted to come soon in the Northern provinces. Thus, the Livestock Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development urged local authorities in the northern mountain and midland central provinces  to instruct people to protect cattles during winter time.

Germany helps clear unexploded ordnances

The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs has funded a project to help the central province of Thua Thien-Hue disarm unexploded ordnances (UXOs) left over from the war, according to the provincial People's Committee.

The ministry pledged EUR257,911 (US$359,940) to clear bombs and mines in A Luoi district and build a mine action database and information management system for the province, where many fierce battles took place during the American War.

In 2012, the German ministry funded similar projects in A Luoi and Quang Dien district, which turned nearly 220ha contaminated by UXOs into farming land. It also supported locals in agricultural activities and raised their awareness of UXO risks, according to Nguyen Thanh Binh, director of the provincial Department for External Relations.

Truong Sa islanders get access to fresh water

Inhabitants of the island district of Song Tu Tay, off the coast of Khanh Hoa province, will have access to fresh water now that a solar energy-generated desalination system is complete, director of the HCM City-based Bach Khoa Solar Investment Company (Solar BK) Nguyen Minh Vu said yesterday.

The system will supply 15 m3 of fresh water for the island each day.

"It's a pilot project that will be expanded to other islands in the Truong Sa Archipelago. It is part of a clean energy project for the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands that also includes solar and wind energy systems," Vu explained. "The nano-technology Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems will provide drinkable clean water for daily use, while also generating solar and wind power."

Vu said the system would replace water from wells and tanks, which is often limited during the dry season from May to August.

Almost all the islands in the archipelago benefit from a recently developed hybrid power system that provides solar and wind power 24/7, replacing diesel generators, which provided power only for six hours.

Cham Island, off the coast of Hoi An city in central Quang Nam Province, recently piloted a solar-powered seawater filter system that provides fresh water to people on the island and islets.

Viet Nam faces CSR challenges

While some countries, such as Japan and Korea, have implemented corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies in most sectors, other Asian nations including Viet Nam are still facing numerous hurdles.

More than 80 experts from Asia met at a conference held in HCM City on Wednesday to analyse the challenges of implementing CSR in the country.

They discussed the Asian corporate sector's stance towards CSR, as well as the Asian media's role in communicating CSR-related issues to the public.

Paul Linnarz, resident representative for Japan at Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, an independent German political foundation, said: "In the past decades, the concept of CSR has been recognised as a fundamental component for sustainable development among businesses around the globe."

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) defined CSR as "the way through which a company achieves a balance of economic, environmental and social imperatives, while at the same time addresses the expectations of shareholders and stakeholders."

Key elements within the "Triple Bottom-Line Approach" were identified as non-discrimination, fair wages, accountability, stakeholder engagement, environmental sustainability and the implementation of labour standards.

Against the backdrop of continuous economic growth in Asia, CSR has become an important factor considered by Asian corporations.

However, the adoption of CSR in Asia is not of a homogenous character, but varies highly, depending on the respective national business systems.

Nguyen Quang Vinh, general secretary of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development, said there were still many businesses in Viet Nam that view CSR as only charity or PR and consider it unnecessary.

Barriers for businesses to implement CSR include financial shortages and a legal framework.

Vinh said that single CSR efforts could not achieve sustainable development of society.

"Conglomerates, NGOs and governments in Asia should jointly set priorities to tackle common challenges across Asia such as climate change, corruption and poverty through CSR activities," he added.

CSR includes environmental protection, contributions to communities, assurance of benefits and safety for customers, responsibility to suppliers, care of company staff, and assurance of benefits for stakeholders and investors.

The conference was co-hosted by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

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