Something refreshing from Malawi Embassy in Brazil: E-Xmas Cards

A small gesture which attracted my attention, as a news personality and an environmentalist, is a decision taken by Malawi Embassy in Brazil to send electronic Christmas (E-Xmas) cards to all its affiliated dignitaries, government institutions as well as officials during this festive season.

Merry Christmas and happy new year

Accompanying the E-Xmas card, which has gone viral on the social media, is a brief rationale for the decision.

“Embracing the Christmas spirit this year, the embassy of the republic of Malawi has decided to send an e-Christmas card to all our friends and family. Our embassy will use the money that it will save from printing, handling and posting toward a good cause.

It concludes:“We are also mindful of our carbon footprint and sensitive that we need to do our part, as such, please accept our Christmas message and greetings with love. By your understanding, you are helping to keep the world a better and sustainable place.”

Curious of this development, Nyasa Times reporter conducted a quick investigation which has revealed that government spends millions upon millions in communication formalities especially during festive season.

For instance, the investigation has revealed that every Embassy, Ministry, government  sends out physical cards to each other in the traditional spirit of wishing them compliments of the season.

In terms of monetary value, Nyasa Times has found out that one card may cost about $2—that is the whole process of graphic designing to printing.

Then, there is transportation (courier) involved locally and internationally. Imagine from Blantyre to Lilongwe or Lilongwe to Mzuzu or from Malawi to other countries within Africa or Overseas.

Nyasa Times has found out that in such circumstances, Fedex or Dhl, charge A4 envelope approximately $20.

To calculate how many cards are sent by one Ministry to another and other government institutions, the cost is huge.

This approach therefore by Malawi Embassy in Brazil of adopting a new approach of doing things in this era— to minimize as much as possible to transact and eradicate this archaic and exorbitant trend is therefore worthy commendation.

Apart from minimizing costs, it is indeed through such gesture that air pollution involved at industries that manufactures papers can be minimized.

In this day and age, we have email addresses, WhatsApp etc… which we can use to interact effectively, easily and it’s time saving and in this context, it indeed is a cost saving approach which can see funds been saved and put into good use.

This small gesture goes as far as complementing the efforts of President Peter Mutharika, who happens to be a patron and signatory to the fight of carbon emissions. Recently, the President was in Spain @Corp 25 where such issues were under microscope.

The President during the summit in Spain said “Malawi is on forefront fighting against this nightmare”

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SAUNDERS
SAUNDERS
4 years ago

Is the racist and Malawian hater Bowler still in diplomatic mission, we read nasty treatment this man was giving to Malawians in USA and ill treatment of embassy staff. Why is this man still in Diplomatic Mission? why are we Malawian so docile and even the Minister of foreign affairs tolerating this?

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