Oris continues its mission to bring Change for the Better by partnering with Seoul KFEM, part of the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements
The mission continues
Oris’s mission to bring Change for the Better is designed to help clean, protect and restore the world’s water, the source of life. This year, we’re heading east and to South Korea.
It’s a source of great encouragement to us that more and more people are asking how we can work together to reverse the damaging impact mankind has had on the environment over the last 50 years.
At Oris, our Change for the Better campaign is focusing on projects that clean, protect and restore the world’s water. Water is the source of life – our future depends on it.
We now have a network of partnerships around the world with non-profit organisations that are working tirelessly to bring that change. We’ve raised funds and awareness of issues that pose a real threat to the world’s water through a series of limited edition Oris Aquis diver’s watches. We continue to look for partners and projects we can support. It’s the right thing to do.
This year, Oris is partnering with the pioneering Seoul KFEM, part of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements, by issuing the Oris Hangang Limited Edition, a limited edition watch that highlights the plight of the Hangang River in South Korea. The Hangang is South Korea’s second longest but most important river because it supplies water to the 10 million inhabitants of the country’s capital, Seoul. But years of neglect have left it dirty, polluted and in desperate need of restoration.
‘With every passing year, we grow more passionate about our mission,’ says Oris Co-CEO Rolf Studer. ‘Conserving the world’s water is critical; it’s also possible if we work together. That’s the underlying message behind the Oris Hangang Limited Edition and every piece we create with our partners.
Time to clean up
Oris’s new limited edition diver’s watch supports a Seoul-based project to clean up South Korea’s mighty Hangang River.
On our own, no matter who we are or how big we are, cleaning up the world’s waters is too big a task. We have to work together to bring Change for the Better. Oris is delighted to announce a new partnership with Seoul KFEM, part of the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements, South Korea’s largest environmental non-governmental organisation.
One of Seoul KFEM’s projects is to clean up and protect the Hangang River, which runs through South Korea’s capital city. The river is a vital source of water for the 10 million people who live there, but years of neglect have dramatically reduced the quality of the water.
As part of the new partnership, Oris will be supporting a series of clean-up days Seoul KFEM has scheduled for later this year. During these, hundreds of local volunteers will work along the river to pick up litter, plastic and other harmful pollutants. The events will also help raise awareness of the importance of clean water in Seoul.
To support the organisation’s wider mission to protect the river, Oris is also introducing the Oris Hangang Limited Edition. Sales of the 2,000-piece limited edition watch will help fund the Hangang clean-up project.
The watch (see page 11) is based on Oris’s high-performance Aquis diver’s watch and shares the same function and performance profile. It has a 43.50 mm stainless steel case with a uni-directional rotating bezel for safely recording dive times.
The deep green colour of both the ceramic bezel insert and the dial are inspired by creek waters found at the Hangang’s source.
The Oris Hangang Limited Edition is water-resistant to 30 bar (300 metres) and is powered by an automatic movement that provides the watch with a small seconds and a circular date window. The case back is decorated with an engraving of a map of the Hangang’s path across Korea, and the limited edition number.
Changing the flow
Yun Hwan Cho of the Seoul KFEM (Korean Federation for Environmental Movements) explains the bold vision behind the Hangang clean-up project
What is the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement?
The Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (KFEM) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and a grass-roots environmental movement. Our values are ‘Life, Peace, Ecology and Participation’. The Seoul branch of the KFEM opened in 1993.
What does your job involve?
I work at Seoul KFEM, the Seoul branch of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements. Mostly, I produce campaigns that engage the community and get local people working together. We’re also running an educational project working with future generations; planting forests; and using popular music to communicate environmental issues.
How is the Seoul KFEM funded?
Because we’re an NGO we don’t take any funding from the government. Instead, we rely on donations and partnership programmes, such as this one with Oris.
What is Seoul KFEM’s vision?
Our vision is that Seoul will be transformed into a sustainable city. To that end, we have five core initiatives. The first is focussed on the Hangang River. We’re demanding an end to irresponsible development along the river and that a vital waterway is reopened by demolishing a dam blocking it. The second is to save local forests and to encourage biodiversity. Third is to eliminate plastic waste. Fourth is to reverse climate change through the use of safe, clean energy. And the fifth is to clean up our air by reducing traffic pollution.
Why is the Hangang River so important?
Most people think the river only runs through the capital, but it’s the second longest river in Korea and carries more water than any other river in the country. It’s also a natural treasure trove and home to many plants and animals.
Where does the pollution come from?
In the 1980s, underwater dams were built under the Gimpo and Jamsil Bridges, blocking part of the river. The water flow rate decreased significantly, leading to the build-up of green algae. We’re campaigning for these dams to be reopened.
What’s your vision for the Hangang River?
In 2010, Seoul KFEM laid-out a vision: ‘The Hangang River Playground’, ‘A Community for Safe Cycling’ and ‘Urban Gardening’. We’ve also been working on renewable energy, building two solar power plants, and on a number of pollution projects to reduce the amount of fine dust, radon gas, disposable plastic and straw in our environment, which are all closely linked to social issues in Seoul. At the moment, the river is dirty and the water pollution makes the air smell. We want the area to become a safe, beautiful recreational space for the people of Seoul.
What will the Oris partnership involve?
As well as the limited edition watch, which will help raise funds in support of our activities, we’ll also be partnering on the clean-up days later this year. We’re expecting hundreds of volunteers to join us as we gather rubbish from the river. The aim is also to raise awareness of the problem. Most Seoul citizens have no idea how bad rubbish pollution is. After the collection, recycling experts will talk about how to dispose of this waste responsibly. We’ll also be producing environmental-themed campaigns around the partnership. So it’s an important and very exciting moment for Seoul’s future!
How can people take part in the events?
We’re already inviting people to get involved through Seoul KFEM’s digital channels, and on our site we have a volunteer sign-up tool. Everyone’s welcome to join us!
What impact do you expect the Oris partnership to have on your work?
At the moment there aren’t many clean-up events people can get involved in, and awareness of the river pollution problem is low. We’re excited about this partnership because many people know Oris and the association will help us get the message out to Koreans in Seoul and beyond. Longer term, I’m confident it will be a driving force and help us reach a better environmental future for the Hangang River and the city of Seoul and its people.
Oris Hangang Limited Edition
Based on Oris’s high-performance Aquis diver’s watch, this limited edition supports Seoul KFEM’s mission to clean, protect and restore the Hangang River
In detail
Case Multi-piece stainless steel case, unidirectional rotating bezel with ceramic insert
Size 43.50 mm (1.713 inches)
Dial Gradient green
Luminous material Hands and indices with Super-LumiNova®
Top glass Sapphire, domed on both sides, anti-reflective coating inside
Case back Stainless steel, screwed, special engravings of the Hangang River map
Operating devices Stainless steel screw-in security crown with crown protection
Bracelet Stainless steel metal bracelet, security folding clasp with extension
Water resistance 30 bar (300 m)
Movement
Number Oris 743
Functions Centre hands for hours and minutes, continuous seconds hand at 9 o’clock, circular date window with white indicator, date corrector, fine timing device and stop-second
Winding Automatic
Power reserve 38 hours
Limited edition 2,000 pieces, each delivered in a special presentation box
Discover this latest watch collection at Central International Watch Fair 2020 during 18 August – 14 September 2020. For more information, please contact Trocadero Time Tel. 02 163 0555.