CHING PAO P.D. Charitable Foundation Jointly Set Sail to Protect the Ocean! Donation of Ocean Cleaning Work Vessel " Formosa Ocean Guardian"

The ocean is a precious resource of Taiwan, but marine debris is an issue that has always threatened marine ecology, and also indirectly impacted the living environment. Formosa Plastics Group (FPG) and Ching Pao P.D. Charitable Foundation (founder: Yung-Ching Wang) worked together by donating NT$2 million to purchase an ocean cleaning work vessel for the Liuchiu Ocean Volunteers, cleaning the ocean safely to protect the ocean. The donation ceremony was held in Bai Sha Primary School in the morning of September 21. Residents and sponsors were invited to jointly witness the power of ocean protection.

CHING PAO P.D. Charitable Foundation Jointly Set Sail to Protect the Ocean

Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corp. (FCFC) has dedicated its efforts to the recycling and reuse of waste fishing nets in recent years, and was thus acquainted with the Liuchiu Ocean Volunteers. FCFC first sponsored the oxygen cylinder expenses of the Liuchiu Ocean Volunteers, and then it shared information within the group. After Ching Pao P.D. Charitable Foundation, which has been involved in social welfare for years, learned that the volunteer team's philosophy to "insist on doing the right thing," it immediately decided to support this meaningful event, and made up the shortfall in fund raising to purchase an ocean cleaning work vessel. The Liuchiu Ocean Volunteers named the vessel " Formosa Ocean Guardian" to thank the foundation for its support.

Ms. Susan Wang, Director of the Ching Pao P.D. Charitable Foundation and also Executive Member of the FPG Executive Management Committee, said: "The business philosophy of FPG is to make 'positive contribution to society' based on the spirit 'take from society and give back to society.' FPG and Ching Pao P.D. Charitable Foundation have dedicated ef-forts to social welfare for years. After listening to the efforts of the Liuchiu Ocean Volunteers and their persistence in cleaning the ocean, we decided to donate NT$2 million to help the volunteer team purchase a new ocean cleaning work vessel, in hopes that 'FPG Ching Pao Ocean Protector' will accompany the Liuchiu Ocean Volunteers in safely completing each ocean cleaning task. We are grateful to the Liuchiu Ocean Volunteers for sharing the opportunity to let Ching Pao P.D. Charitable Foundation participate in such as meaningful event. In the future, we will further work with the Liuchiu Ocean Volunteers to jointly promote marine education, and start from elementary schools in coastal areas of Pingtung County. This will in-still the concept of caring for the marine environment from a young age, and expand its influence for more people to jointly protect the ocean."

"Formosa Ocean Guardian" Sets Sail with Endless Determination to Clean the Ocean

The donation ceremony was unveiled by lion dance team of Liuchiu Junior High School and the violin team of Bai Sha Primary School. A video describing the original intention of the Liuchiu Ocean Volunteers and the origin of "Formosa Ocean Guardian" was played. The history and results of the Liuchiu Ocean Volunteers were displayed at the venue, along with the results of fishing net recycling and reuse by FCFC. The path to the floating pier where "Formosa Ocean Guardian" is moored was decorated with marine debris cleared from the ocean, so that attendees would experience the discomfort of marine life surrounded by marine debris. This allowed attendees to empathize with the situation of marine life and made them care about the marine environment.

Finally, the drum team of Cyuande Elementary School performed next to the floating pier as Director-General Hsiang-Yuan Yen of Pingtung County Government Environmental Protection Bureau, Director Susan Wang of Ching Pao P.D. Charitable Foundation, Director Chu-Lung Hsu of Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Administration, and Chung-Chen Li, Leader of the Liuchiu Ocean Volunteers, jointly unveiled the "Formosa Ocean Guardian" in hopes of allowing ocean cleaning to navigate safely and add a new force for offshore emergency rescue missions at Xiao Liuqiu.

Lucky You Were There to Save Sea Turtles at Xiao Liuqiu

A group of Xiao Liuqiu residents who loved the ocean saw a dead green sea turtle caught in a hundred meter long fishing net in 2009. They began to reflect on the issue and engaged in numerous discussions. Members of Pingtung Liuqiu Tourism Development Association and local personages took the initiative by forming the Liuchiu Ocean Volunteers in October 2009, and the team began diving to the bottom of the ocean salvage waste fishing nets and marine debris. The volunteer team has not applied for any government subsidies or accepted donations for 14 years.

Except during the peak season of tourism, the Liuchiu Ocean Volunteers sets out on an ocean cleaning mission every Wednesday, and has organized over 400 ocean cleaning events. Thanks to this group of volunteers persistently cleaning the ocean, the ocean has gradually returned to its clean appearance and the number of sea turtles moderately increased. However, the vessel used for ocean cleaning was slowly becoming inadequate and frequently has issues. Hence, the volunteer team organized the first fund-raiser and called on people who love the ocean to jointly purchase a new and safe work vessel for ocean cleaning. This led to the "Formosa Ocean Guardian".

FPG called on the public to pay attention to marine environment issues through the donation, and jointly work for the health of marine ecology, protecting the ocean to keep sea turtles and allow the beautiful marine ecology to be sustainable.