Environmental protection campaigns launched by the Fatherland Front Committee at all levels have received a proactive coordination of religious organizations and the enthusiastic response of religious dignitaries and lay followers in the province.

Contests on religions and green environment regularly held by the provincial Fatherland Front Committee since 2016 have contributed to help religious dignitaries, deacons and more than 90% of members of religious organizations  to gradually enhance their awareness on the environmental issue and proactively register for practical actions to protect the environment in the locality.

In Chau Thanh A district, the Hoa Hao Buddhist management board in Tan Hoa commune has operated a model "Protecting the environment, adapting to climate change and sorting waste in association with sustainable poverty reduction", which won the first prize of the contest "Religion with green environment" held in 2020. This model has practically contributed to the social welfare and environmental protection in the locality.

Implementing the model, the Hoa Hao Buddhist management board in the commune has provided 2 recycle bins for each of 75 families in the locality  for sorting out organic and inorganic waste.

In addition, during the monthly gatherings for religious practices, the Hoa Hao Buddhist management board in collaboration with the commune Fatherland Front has incorporated exchanges for enhancing people’s understanding and willingness to take practical activities for protecting the environment in residential areas, such as clearing dust dense, making green fences, and digging holes for storing organic waste containers in local households.

Hoa Hao Buddhist followers in Tan Hoa commune keep the landscape clean and beautiful in residential areas

Also in the district, Chieu Minh Long Chau Caodai Church in Tan Phu Thanh commune has established a new rural development club.

Every fortnight or the timetable of local plans, the club has organized hedge pruning, new planting and watering of flowers and ornamental plants on main roads in the commune.

In Phung Hiep district, the Phung Tuong parish council has guided local Catholics to practically participate in environmental protection by sorting out daily waste and bury organic waste in order to reduce pollution.

The Phung Tuong Catholic parish has also launched a plan to ensure each family has one garbage pit for sorting out their own waste and burning organic waste or transforming it into organic fertilizer. Up to now, there has been 120 mini waste incinerators built in the locality.

In addition, parishioners have regularly engaged in cleaning and collecting garbage on their residential area’s roads and around the parish church every week.

Phung Tuong parish church

Environmental protection has been also effectively implemented by the Buddhist community in the province. Lay Buddhists often gather on the full moon day and 29^th of every lunar month at Bao Tinh pagoda located in Ward 7 of Vi Thanh city to listen to propaganda about the harmful effects of waste as well as how to protect the living environment.

An Long Phat Duong pagoda located in Long My provincial city’s Long Binh commune has actively encouraged lay Buddhists and local people to practically engage practical activities for creating a clean and beautiful living environment.

Notably, the pagoda has supported over 5 million VND for the construction of 10 garbage pits so that local people can have proper places to dump their daily waste, contributing to creating a clean and beautiful environment in the locality.

Garbage pit funded by An Long Phat Duong pagoda in Long Binh commune

Dong Phu Evangelical Church in Chau Thanh district’s Mai Dam town has actively participated in the rural construction and environmental protection, contributing to socio-economic development in the locality.

Dong Phu Evangelical Church currently has more than 1,400 members, with 450 members regularly attending masses held at its worshipping church. Every month, in addition to participating in local programs, the Evangelical faithful regularly engaged in cleaning activities around and in the church premises. 

NL