Diageo helps rebuild water facilities in quake zone

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-05-15 14:24

Diageo, one of the world's leading premium drinks businesses, announced that through its "Water of Life" project, access to safe drinking water at the Longxi-Hongkou national nature reserve in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, have been restored as part of its commitment to help the earthquake victims rebuild their homes on May 8, 2009.

Under the "Water of Life" project, Diageo will fund the reconstruction of 18.5 kilometers of water pipes and a total of 20 cisterns at four national nature reserves in Sichuan, which were destroyed by the Wenchuan Earthquake a year ago. It is working with World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) to reconstruct the water supply systems at Longxi-Hongkou, Baishuihe, Baodinggou and Wolong by diverting water from sources higher in the mountains to families and plants living downstreams.

The project, which was kicked off in March 2009, is expected to be completed to directly or indirectly benefit around 10,000 local residents by the end of this May, ensuring that communities in the four national nature reserves have access to safe drinking water and to safeguard the livelihoods of local people who mainly depend upon farming.

"Diageo is committed to actively supporting efforts to help local communities affected by the earthquake rebuild their lives and help make sure they have access to safe drinking water," said Lu Haiqing, Corporate Relations Director in China, Diageo. "This program is yet another significant milestone in the development of Diageo's 'Water of Life' program in China, a program which is making a real difference to the quality of life and economic prosperity of local communities in the country."

Longxi-Hongkou, Baishuihe, Wolong and Baodinggou national nature reserves are among the key reserves where precious wild animals such as the giant panda are protected and the natural environment is preserved in Sichuan Province.

Main sources of income in the area are leisure and tourism projects, as well as the planting and harvesting of industrial crops. All of the water supplies in the reserves were badly damaged by the earthquake, which brought difficulties to the daily lives of local people and stagnated economic development.

Diageo joined hands with the WWF after learning about the details of this situation, and worked together with local communities to rebuild water diversion facilities, so as to help villagers regain their domestic and animal husbandry water supply as quickly as possible.

In a bid to help improve the quality of production and life, Diageo has also invited experts to provide training to local residents, promoting the knowledge of upstream water resources and ecological conservation, as well as the science and technologies needed for sustainable development of local kiwi fruits plantation. Moreover, volunteers from Diageo also entered the disaster-struck areas to work with local villagers on water facility reconstruction and irrigation.

"For Diageo, corporate social responsibility is part of our core business operations and we encourage employees to participate in activities that enrich the communities," said Kenneth Macpherson, Executive Managing Director in China, Diageo.“As a global leader of premium drinks, Diageo will continue to honor its long-term commitment to China, and dedicate itself to China's sustainable development.”

Following the Wenchaun Earthquake on May 12, 2008, Diageo, together with Chinese white spirits producer Shuijingfang, donated 12 million yuan to disaster relief efforts, in addition to a total of 100,000 yuan in employee contributions and a sum of 50,000 pounds contributed by the Diageo Foundation. Diageo began working with the WWF in June 2007 on its "Water of Life” project in China to preserve the water resources at East Taihu Lake in Jiangsu Provice.

About Diageo in China

Diageo is one of the world's leading premium drinks businesses with an outstanding collection of beverage and alcohol brands covering spirits, wine and beer. These brands include:

Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Baileys, J&B, Captain Morgan and Tanqueray. Headquartered in London, Diageo is a global company trading in over 180 markets around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO).

Established in Shanghai in 2002, Diageo China (the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao) has grown to become a leading international premium drinks company in the region. Through its acquisition of a 49 percent stake in the Sichuan Chengdu Quanxing Group Co., Ltd. the company hopes to accelerate the globalization of premium Chinese white spirits for the enjoyment of consumers around the world.

Diageo is also a responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs in China such as "Responsible Drinking", "Water for Life" and other enriching community initiatives, as well as supporting the Shanghai World Expo 2010 through its sponsorship of the British National Pavilion. In December 2008, Diageo was awarded "China's Best Corporate Citizenship Award" by 21st Century Business Herald and 21st Century Business Review, two leading Chinese business publication.