Canon relief efforts for 2008 Sichuan earthquake

Two days after the devastating earthquake that hit China’s Sichuan province on 12 May 2008, displacing an estimated 5 million people, Canon China and its affiliates rallied together to aid in the relief effort through financial donations and a new online campaign.

Hundreds of Chinese troops are working with emergency services to rescue the thousands affected by the disaster, including treating the injured, re-settling the survivors, preventing epidemics and rebuilding infrastructure.

Kyosei philosophy
In-line with Canon’s Kyosei philosophy – ‘living and working together for the common good’, Mr. Hideki Ozawa, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canon China, offered financial support on behalf of Canon China and its affiliates. 1million RMB (Renminbi; Chinese currency) was donated to the Red Cross Society of China shortly after the earthquake. Canon Inc, Japan, soon followed with a donation of RMB10 million.
A further amount of JY10million was also donated by the Canon Group to help the victims of cyclone-hit Burma (also known as Myanmar).

Medical equipment
Canon China also donated RMB 3million worth of medical equipment to the affected areas together with its partners.

Canon employees across the country are also working to provide help and assistance to the people in disaster areas by donating money or blood.

Help with Love campaign
To help individuals across the world pay their respects and send messages of hope to those affected by the disaster, Canon China has launched the ‘Help with Love’ website, a campaign that allows messages to be passed to victims of the tragedy.

Access the Help with Love site to send your message of support.

Madam Peng Peiyun, Chairman of the China Red Cross, has expressed her thanks to Canon: "As a foreign enterprise rooted in China, Canon gave a helping hand to the disaster affected areas as quickly as possible. This has demonstrated Canon's strong sense of Corporate Social Responsibility, and has again proved Canon's attention to and love for China. We appreciate this very much, and I also want to express my sincere thanks to Canon on behalf of the local people."

The Canon group will continue to pay close attention to the affected areas, and will do its utmost to provide support and help.