On Saturday, May 5th 2012, a youth event on "Say NO to Plastic Bags - Reducing plastic bag usage to save our planet!" was organized by Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (RLS) with the support of
the Vietnam Green Generation Network and Centre of Live&Learn. Following the Earth Song Concert in mid-March, this event further strengthens youth's awareness and action to protect our environment and to respond to climate change. It brought together above 50 participants, including college students, NGO staff, government officials, journalists and individuals interested in waste management and climate change issues. The three guest speakers invited were Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tuan – Head of Planning Department, Nam Son Waste Management Enterprise (URENCO 8); Mr. Kieu Cong Thuoc – Deputy Managing Director of High Technology Investment Joint Stock Company and Mr. Hoang Duc Minh – Group leader of "I hate Nylon Project"
To celebrate the 10th year of cooperation, RLS and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under Vietnam National University – Hanoi (USSH HN) co-organized a series of activities from 19th to 20th April 2012 to highlight the achievements gained so far. The first brick of cooperation – the policy project – was signed in 2002, initiating not only a long-term and mutually fruitful relation but also the entry of RLS to Vietnam. After 10 years, the cooperation has born fruits for both sides. For USSH HN, it is the Center for Policy Studies and Analysis (CEPSTA) – the first and leading center in the policy field in Vietnam - and the major in Policy Science - established on the ground of RLS-funded policy projects. For RLS, the representative office has been established in Vietnam in 2009, currently having partnerships with around 20 local institutions from central government agencies to grassroots CSOs. Moreover, RLS and its affiliated ideas and visions lay a concrete foundation in Vietnam. The press meeting co-chaired by Mr. Khanh – USSH HN Rector – and Ms. Nadja Charaby – Country Representative of RLS in Vietnam – commenced the opening of the two-day anniversary. Reporters from more than 20 newspapers and TV channels were present to cover the anniversary.
On 17 March, the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung in Vietnam, in collaboration with the VNGO Live&Learn, took action for the Earth Hour 2012 "You and I, we act together" campaign by organizing this year's Earth Song event at L'Espace in Hanoi. More than 300 young people from Hanoi participated in this event which also marked the start of a series of RLS activities in support of Climate Change projects.