Social Responsibility
AAPG has placed a strong commitment to social responsibility both globally and in South Africa. For the first time, the local Organizing Committee has created a Social Responsibility SubCommittee with the charge to find ways for the conference to give back to the community, reduce the impact this conference will have on the environment, and be a responsible citizen of both the oil and gas and the local community.
During the conference, there will be several initiatives including space to exhibit the products of local, formerly disadvantaged craftspeople. These spaces will display a variety of local handicrafts and cultural artifacts. Some of these handicrafts will be available for sale, thus creating jobs. Another part of the conference’s corporate social responsibility will be a collection of surplus and unwanted items from delegates and exhibitors. For example, unwanted delegate bags, pens, paper and exhibitors’ illustrative materials will be collected during and at the end of the conference.
All collected material will be distributed to deserving organizations in the less affluent districts of Greater Cape Town. Such material is always well received and put to great use in the townships. Surplus food from the convention center will be collected and distributed to the needy and there will be a recycling effort for exhibitors’ shipping materials.