Actively participating in beach cleanup campaigns in Quang Cong.

Spreading the responsibility of protecting the environment.

The small road running through Lai Ha village, Quang Thai commune, is now densely covered with flowerbeds. Every Saturday and Sunday morning, the villagers gather to tend, care for, and prune the flowerbeds, making the village greener and more refreshing. The flowerbeds near the village cultural center are also regularly cared for by the villagers, blooming beautifully. The "Green Sunday" movement has been implemented systematically by the people of Lai Ha village, in a way that suits the local context.

When the flower-planting movement along the village roads of Lai Ha was first launched, a group of women went door-to-door to encourage participation. To date, over a hundred women have joined, aiming to create a green, clean, and bright living environment in their hometown. To achieve these beautiful flower-lined roads, the people of Lai Ha village selected roads that were often polluted and unsightly to conduct trial plantings. From these trial models, the Women's Association of the village has now implemented a "flower road" model nearly 550 meters long with 150 flowerbeds surrounding the village community house.

“Initially, people wanted to beautify their home grounds, so some families pioneered planting flowers in front of their houses, which then developed into flower-lined roads. To date, the entire commune has many rural flower-lined roads managed by women. From the models of the women's associations in the commune, the movement of planting flowers along roads has spread strongly and has been embraced by many people. Not only that, the "Green Sunday" movement has spread the "Green Alley" model associated with flower-lined roads and model roads, contributing to raising awareness about environmental protection and building a civilized lifestyle in the community. That is also the reason why the village was commended by the Provincial Party Committee as a model in the 5 years of implementing the campaign "All people build a bright, green, clean, and waste-free Thua Thien Hue " - Mr. Pham Cong Hung, Head of Lai Ha village, shared.

With this approach, the "Green Sunday" movement has spread strongly in Quang Dien district. With increasingly positive changes, the movement has mobilized the participation of the entire political system and all strata of the population, contributing to changing and raising the awareness and responsibility of each individual in jointly preserving the environmental landscape. Many good models and creative approaches have been implemented by localities and units, thereby creating clean and beautiful roads, while simultaneously forming a civilized lifestyle and spreading the responsibility of maintaining hygiene and protecting the environment among individuals and the community as a whole.

Effective models have been implemented, such as: the "Green Homeland River" model, which mobilized over 300 young volunteers, officials, and people in localities to participate in environmental sanitation, waste collection, eradication of cat's eye plants, and removal of water hyacinths on the river, attracting over 5,000 participants; the "Bright - Green - Clean - Orderly and Safe" road model, implemented in all 11 communes and towns with 93 roads; the "Turning Waste into Money," "Green Saving House," and "Exchanging Waste for Consumer Goods" models, actively launched by the Women's Union of the district; and maintaining 46 flower-lined roads totaling 13,325 meters…

Change perceptions and approaches.

"Green Sunday" is not just a "movement" but has become a beautiful way of life, gradually building awareness and habits among the people. It is a regular and continuous activity in many flexible forms at each agency and unit throughout Quang Dien district. Through this, the face of rural areas has changed, many environmental problems have been partially solved, the number of pollution hotspots has decreased, and the quality of life of the people has improved. The results of implementing the "Green Sunday" movement in the district have made a significant contribution to creating a better living environment and cleaner air.

Chairman of the Quang Dien District People's Committee, Le Ngoc Bao, shared that to continue maintaining the "Green Sunday" movement effectively and sustainably, it requires the involvement of the entire political system, the support and consensus of the people in environmental protection, and most importantly, a consistent awareness from leaders to the people. "The awareness of building a bright, green, clean, and waste-free Quang Dien, and protecting the environment, is clear, but the methods must be practical and effective, avoiding mere formality. The 'Green Sunday' movement must change perceptions and methods; awareness must penetrate deep into every association, the political system, and spread throughout the community."

In the coming period, Quang Dien district will continue to promote awareness campaigns, encouraging people not to litter indiscriminately, to dispose of garbage at the designated times and places; to maintain hygiene of water sources and livestock farms, and to use fertilizers and pesticides according to instructions, contributing to the formation of a more civilized and responsible lifestyle towards the environment. Maintaining the "Green Sunday" movement is a practical activity that contributes to raising people's awareness and forming a more civilized and responsible lifestyle towards the environment.

Text and photos: THAI BINH