Going "Green" or Midori

Today's GSE's vocational visits focussed on the "green" theme. To begin the morning, we were treated to a presentation and extremely interesting production line tour at Pulp Mold, a company that manufactures packaging from plant fiber for eggs, fruit and other industrial products. The company recycles magazines, cardboard and newspapers to make its packaging. Interestingly, the company pays schools for paper products that it can then turn into packaging.

After the visit, we were then whisked away to the Anjo Rotary Club where we exchanged club flags and gave our third presentation of the week to an audience of approximately 60 people. The presentation was received very positively.

Before heading to our host families for the night, we also spent a significant amount of time at the Hekinantan Thermal Power Station, one of the world's largest coal power plants, that is designed to look like a series of yachts sitting in the harbour. Our guide and the General Manager who accompanied us on the tour were very patient with us as we asked a number of questions (our sense of awe and amazement shone through). The coal plant, we learned, is extremely clean, efficient and green. To attest to this fact, it has very low sulpher emissions and takes great steps to ensure coal dust does not escape into the environment. Touring the plant, we were able to climb 80 meters to the top of the massive complex which provided great site seeing opportunities.

Overall, our day was a huge success and provided many learning opportunities. It was then off to our host families, where yes, the activities continued. More on those later.