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HAIKOU, China, June 13, 2022 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–
 
With the upcoming Cultural and Natural Heritage Day taking place on June 11, the southernmost province of China, Hainan, is now hosting and organizing various forms of intangible cultural heritage activities to celebrate, exhibit, and promote the splendid traditional cultures in three venues set up in Haikou, Sanya, and Danzhou, according to Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province.

On June 7, the Hainan Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Fine Arts Exhibition commenced at the Hainan Provincial Museum, covering a wide variety of categories of art such as Chinese painting, oil painting, printmaking, watercolor painting, wood carving, coconut carving, paper cutting and cotton weaving. A total of 106 works of art embodied the charming intangible cultural heritage and received the appreciation of the audience.

The 2022 Hainan Intangible Heritage Shopping Festival is scheduled to be held in Haikou on June 11. Visitors can not only enjoy shopping for exquisite handicrafts at the intangible cultural heritage fair but also attend festival activities online through Hainan Intangible Cultural Heritage’s TikTok and Little Red Book accounts and on the following website: https://www.hainanfp.com/.

As a world-renowned coastal tourist city, Sanya integrates fashion into intangible heritage at its venue. About 100 craftsmen demonstrate Li Brocade skills and performers present fashion shows featuring Li Brocade costumes on site. Themed performances of intangible heritage are also staged one after another, immersing the audience in the charm of the artistic integration between intangible heritage and modern life.

Danzhou highlights the distinctive features of local intangible heritage with themed celebrations where cities and counties from western Hainan bring their intangible heritage performances to the stage. Residents and tourists alike celebrate at the music carnival together with Danzhou Folk Songs, Danzhou Military Songs, Danzhou Miao Nationality Folk Songs, and Danzhou Cantonese Folk Songs.

Hainan now has 32 representative projects of national intangible heritage, 82 representative projects of provincial intangible heritage, and over 300 representative projects of city-level and county-level intangible heritage.

During 2022 Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, Hainan will host more than 160 online and offline publicity events to raise awareness of the need to protect intangible cultural heritage.

Source: Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province

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Caption: Teachers teaching intangible cultural heritage skills

–BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 (Bernama) — Global Liver Institute (GLI) calls attention to NASH by leading the 5th annual International NASH Day on June 9.

NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) is a serious, progressive condition in which too much fat accumulates on the liver, leading to its inflammation and injury. It is the severe form of NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease).

“With over a hundred million people worldwide already who have NASH and several times more in the earlier stages, people have reason to know about this progressive condition and what they can do today to combat it,” said Donna R. Cryer, president and CEO of GLI in a statement.

“Collective action is imperative to be certain that individuals in each community, no matter their background or environment, are informed and equipped to prevent fatty liver disease. The momentum that we build together today must advance and sustain the global fight against NASH.”

The number of people with this advanced liver disease is expected to double by 2030, but #NASHday aims to prevent this growth.

Join the movement to #StopNASHNow by listening in as 24 expert panelists globally share the latest updates about the disease or adding to the conversation on social media (#NASHday). The movement permeates the globe through many locally-organised events to educate about, screen for, and prevent NASH.

Modern lifestyle and dietary patterns have contributed to increased prevalence of NASH and NAFLD worldwide, and it is becoming the most common cause of liver disease. Given its widespread impact and the possibility of prevention in most cases of this disease, NASH emerges as a global health priority.

This year, GLI and its partners join with the theme to #StopNASHNow: Even as therapies for NASH are being developed, there are many steps that people and their doctors can take today to prevent, reverse, or slow the progression of fatty liver disease.

International NASH Day has garnered the endorsement of prominent organisations globally, with among others, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD); Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH); and, Asociación Latinoamericana para el Estudio del Hígado (ALEH).

— BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 (Bernama) — Global Fishing Watch has developed and publicly released the first ever global map of previously undetected dark fleets, or vessels that do not broadcast their location or appear in public monitoring systems.

Powered by satellite radar imagery and machine learning, the map layer is updated daily within the main Global Fishing Watch map application.

The portal is available for free to anyone in the world with an internet connection, helping arm authorities, researchers and the public alike with the power to monitor vessel activity in all coastal waters, identify dark fleet patterns and build the necessary understanding to quantify threats to the ocean.

The user-friendly new map layer helps create equitable access to marine-related data in time for World Ocean Day on June 8.

“It is surprising how little we have known to date, about the true scale of human activity on the water,” said David Kroodsma, director of research and innovation at Global Fishing Watch in a statement.

“If you combine vessels that intentionally shut off their signal with the significant number of boats that don’t make their whereabouts known in public systems at all, you end up with gaps in data, monitoring and accountability.

“We are using satellite radar imagery to reduce that information gap and put our findings at the fingertips of those who want to ensure our ocean is managed equitably and sustainably.”

The new global map layer draws from a massive data-processing pipeline and uses machine learning to crunch petabytes, or millions of gigabytes, of radar imagery taken by the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 satellites.

By analysing the entire archive of Sentinel-1 radar imagery, Global Fishing Watch has made 20 million detections of sea-going vessels greater than approximately 10 metres in length—and matched these detections to 100 billion GPS points from vessels broadcasting their position on the automatic identification system.

Amplifying the potential of satellite radar technology, Global Fishing Watch partnered with the Defense Innovation Unit in July 2021 to host the xView3 competition. The challenge invited machine learning developers from all over the world to create and submit computer algorithms to help detect dark vessels, drawing 1,900 registrants from 67 countries.

Global Fishing Watch is an international nonprofit organisation dedicated to advancing ocean governance through increased transparency of human activity at sea.

— BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 (Bernama) — In the spirit of Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri, IOI Properties Group (IOIPG) organised a series of Group-wide corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities from April-May 2022 to spread festive joy amongst the underprivileged communities.

Giving back to those in need strongly reflects upon IOIPG as an organisation that cares for local communities and consistently puts effort in making a difference to the lives of the underprivileged. This is in line with the Group’s vision of Trusted. and our mission to create vibrant and thriving communities through positive impacts.

“IOIPG firmly believes in fostering closer communal ties through initiatives to enhance the well-being of local communities in which we operate. This is aimed at achieving the Group’s Sustainability Goal of Developing Sustainable Communities,” said Kristine Ng, IOI Properties Group General Manager, Group Corporate Communication and Sustainability.

In preparation for Hari Raya, one of the group-wide CSR activities initiated by Team IOI was the spring cleaning of Pusat Jagaan Al-Fikrah, an old folks centre in Kajang. Other activities included donations of food items, daily essentials and household appliances to orphanages and welfare homes at Puchong in the Klang Valley; Segamat, Kulai and Kempas in Johor; as well as in Penang.

These CSR efforts by Team IOI included employees from HQ and the business units from 16 Sierra, Bandar Puteri Puchong, Bandar Puchong Jaya, Bandar Puteri Bangi, Warisan Puteri Sepang, IOI Malls, IOI Offices, Putrajaya Marriott Hotel, Le Méridien Putrajaya, Four Points by Sheraton Puchong, Palm Garden Golf Club, as well as Palm Garden Hotel, Putrajaya, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel.

Highlights of the group-wide corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities include:

• A memorable visit to Rumah Amal Limpahan Kasih in Kampung Seri Aman, Puchong, whereby celebrity Chef Naem distributed rice, ‘ayam masak kicap’, fried fish and vegetables, on behalf of Le Meridien Putrajaya.

• Team IOI volunteered and organised a “gotong royong” at Pusat Jagaan Al-Fikrah, Kajang to clean the compound and clear unused items at the home; as well as help the elderly prepare for a meaningful Raya celebration.

• IOIPG’s business units in Johor and Penang contributed Raya goodies and household supplies to the children at Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Islam Daerah Segamat Johor and to families at Sri Merpati low cost flat respectively.

Moving forward, IOIPG remains committed to organising corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in order to create positive impact towards the lives of the communities that it serves.

SOURCE: IOI Properties Group (IOIPG)

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The Africa Business Leaders Coalition brings together CEOs from across the continent to advance Africa’s sustainable growth, prosperity and development

New York, U.S.A., June 1 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Convened by the UN Global Compact, Chief Executive Officers from across Africa today announced the launch of the Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC). 

The Coalition will provide a platform for African business leaders to have a unified private sector voice as they actively and meaningfully engage to work on the continent’s most pressing issues through an organized, forward-looking, principles-based approach.

The Africa Business Leaders Coalition is a CEO-led initiative emanating from the UN Global Compact Africa Strategy 2021–2023, and is committed to advancing sustainable growth, prosperity and development in Africa by bringing measurable impact to its most pressing issues. The ABLC will work closely with the UN Global Compact Hub in Abuja and 10 Global Compact Local Networks operating across Africa.

Ahead of COP27 to be held in Egypt in November 2022, the ABLC will focus its efforts on sustainable development and ambitious climate action by bringing the perspectives of dozens of leading African CEOs and Board Chairs into the global conversation. This will culminate in an ABLC Climate Statement in support of COP27, anchored in the goals of the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Global Compact Ten Principles. ABLC members will be invited to sign on and announce credible commitments and actions through this Climate Statement.

Welcoming the founding members of the Africa Business Leaders Coalition, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed urged them to use their influence to drive change across the continent.  “This is  an opportunity to establish a holistic dialogue to reconcile the development needs of the continent with the need for ambitious climate action, jumpstart the renewable energy transition, and build resilience across the continent,” she said.

Launching the ABLC, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the UN Global Compact Sanda Ojiambo said: “Climate change presents a $3 trillion investment opportunity in Africa by 2030. But this potential will not be realized unless the private sector is involved. This Coalition has a critical role to play in ensuring the voice of Africa’s private sector is heard on the global stage to ensure the continent’s growth is not only sustainable but also green.”

The 11 founding members of ABLC include Herbert Wigwe, CEO, Access Bank, Nigeria; Brahim Benjelloun Touimi, Chairman, Bank of Africa, Morocco; Hichem Elloumi, Chairman and CEO, COFICAB; Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman, Econet Wireless, Zimbabwe; James Mwangi, CEO and Managing Director, Equity Group, Kenya; Karim Bernoussi, CEO, Intelcia Group, Morocco; Phuthi​ Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO, Naspers, South Africa; Yasmine Mohamed Farid Khamis, CEO and Chairman, Oriental Weavers Carpets Co., Egypt; Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom, Kenya; Fleetwood Grobler, President and CEO, Sasol, South Africa; and Amir Barsoum, Founder and CEO, Vezeeta, Egypt. 

Members of the ABLC commit to upholding the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and becoming a UN Global Compact participant within six months of joining. 

During today’s  launch, the founding members shared their commitment to sustainability across the continent, focusing on potential company commitments, the sustainability efforts they are making across their communities, a move towards more innovative and robust methods of climate finance, and a call to action for the global community.

The virtual launch event was also attended by leaders from the United Nations, including Abdulla Shahid, President of the United Nations General Assembly; Collen Vixen Kelapile, President, United Nations Economic and Social Council; Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations; Cristina Duarte, Under Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa to the UN Secretary-General and Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the UN Global Compact. They  joined together today to launch the ABLC with Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Climate Change High-level Climate Champion for Egypt. 

Boston Consulting Group is providing strategy and implementation support to the UN Global Compact for the Africa Business Leaders Coalition.  Today’s inaugural  meeting was Chaired by Sanda Ojiambo with support from Patrick Dupoux, Managing Director, Senior Partner, and Head of Africa, BCG. 

Today’s  launch will be followed by six regional roundtable meetings in Abidjan, Cairo, Casablanca, Johannesburg, Lagos and Nairobi in June and July to discuss, shape and mobilize principled and sustainable business in Africa.

About the United Nations Global Compact

As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Our ambition is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 15,000 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and 69 Local Networks, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative — one Global Compact uniting business for a better world.

For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit our website at unglobalcompact.org and Africa Business Leaders Coalition | UN Global Compact

Media Contact

Alex Gee

gee@unglobalcompact.org

Dan Thomas
United Nations Global Compact
(212) 907-1301
media@unglobalcompact.org

SOURCE: United Nations Global Compact

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