Latest news with #GOB
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
Helen Huang Joins Global Women Leaders at UN Event Highlighting Gender Equity and Climate Action
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, June 2, 2025 / / -- Helen Huang, co-founder and creative director of GOB (Gorgeous Beauty), was invited as a featured speaker at a high-level side event during the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in March 2025. The event, titled 'Enhancing Global Women's Leadership in Addressing Climate Change,' was co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Senegal to the UN, the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN), and the World Madam Foundation. As part of a growing global dialogue on women's leadership in climate resilience and sustainable development, the event brought together policymakers, UN agencies, business leaders, and civil society. Huang's participation emphasized the importance of integrating emotional wellness and somatic healing into broader strategies for gender-inclusive climate action. 'True empowerment is not symbolic—it's structural. As women face the frontlines of climate change, we must ensure they are resourced not just to survive, but to lead,' said Huang in her remarks. 'I believe care, empathy, and emotional intelligence must be embedded into the systems we design to build a more sustainable and just future.' Through GOB, Huang champions restorative, design-forward wellness experiences that bridge beauty, emotional health, and self-leadership. Her work aligns closely with the mission of the World Madam Foundation and its EmpowerHER Global Women's Forum, which continues to spotlight women's potential across entrepreneurship, policy, and public health. The event also underscored the international community's renewed commitment to gender-responsive climate policy. It served as a platform for action, urging cross-sector collaboration to uplift women in leadership roles across business, technology, education, and community development. 'I'm deeply grateful to ARDN and the World Madam Foundation for including me in such a meaningful dialogue,' said Huang. 'I look forward to continuing this work with global partners who are equally committed to a more inclusive and emotionally intelligent model of progress.' About GOB GOB (Gorgeous Beauty) is a next-generation wellness brand founded by Helen Huang, focused on emotional restoration, regenerative design, and somatic empowerment. Based in New York City, GOB integrates ancient healing traditions with modern aesthetics to create experiences that support self-leadership, softness, and structural inclusion, particularly for women and underrepresented communities. About Helen Huang Helen Huang is a creative artist whose work spans healthcare, beauty, fashion, theatre, and immersive interactive installations. With a philosophy rooted in the fusion of beauty, functionality, and emotional resonance, her designs invite connection and spark wonder. Inspired by the interplay of light, texture, and space, Helen creates transformative environments that blur the line between reality and imagination. As Creative Director/Chief Strategy Officer of GOB and a core member of the Vermilion Theatre, she brings a multidisciplinary and cross-cultural perspective to her practice. Chloe Zhao Noon Creative email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
How gardening communities enliven Bengaluru's home gardens
THRIVING COMMUNITIES : Sandhya Sourirajan,37, got most of her plants through swaps organized by gardening communities The gardening communities in Bengaluru provide a space for plant parents to exchange seeds and saplings, and troubleshoot together Every time he goes to a gardeners meet up, Kunal Dammala, a software engineer at Infosys carries a bagful of plant cuttings and seeds along. 'Sharing plants brings me immense joy,' says the 34-year-old who is a member of South Bengaluru Gardeners: Share, Swap, Grow, a community of 2,000 gardening enthusiasts. At one swap event, Kunal traded a few marigold saplings for a beautiful Double Delight rose cutting, which has since become a centrepiece in his garden. Kunal grows over 60 varieties of roses on his 400-sqft terrace. His favourites include Pope John Paul II, a hybrid tea rose, and Camouflage, distinguished by its pale green petals. An avid gardener, Kunal believes it is important for every gardener to be a part of a community. 'When I first started gardening, I didn't even know which plants would survive here,' says the Whitefield resident who is originally from Visakhapatnam. His participation in local gardening groups has significantly enhanced his gardening expertise. 'Visiting a friend's rooftop garden filled with hanging orchids and bonsai inspired me to experiment beyond roses,' he recalls. The joy of growing plants multiples when shared with others. Urban gardening communities in Bengaluru provide spaces for plant enthusiasts to connect and support each another, ensuring companionship throughout their journey. Being part of such communities offers numerous benefits—from practical knowledge to emotional support- turning gardening from a solo hobby to a shared passion that continues to bloom with each new connection. Thomas Abraham, a gardener obsessed with orchids and succulents is a regular at the meet ups. 'I'm part of four gardening communities in the city- Share Green, Bangalore Gardeners, Let's Swap Seeds and Plants and South Bengaluru Gardeners: Share, Swap, Grow,'' says the 42-year-old resident of BTM 1 stage. Visiting gardens maintained by others offers valuable learning opportunities. Gardening communities and clubs often arrange tours of their members' gardens, creating a platform where enthusiasts exchange practical growing tips and expertise while supporting one another. Lending a hand to beginners Beginner gardeners often face numerous challenges. The difficulty in finding affordable seeds, saplings and manure can be discouraging, leading many to abandon their gardening pursuits. Gardeners of Bangalore (GOB) provides help to such individuals. "We give away seeds and plants. One has to pay postal charges only," says Uma Rajeswari of Gardeners of Bangalore (GOB), a group which is part of Organic Terrace Gardening (OTG). The community extends its reach through social media platforms like WhatsApp. When plants succumb to fungal infections or excessive watering, or get damaged by rats or bandicoots, gardeners experience distress. "We hear them out and offer solutions," says Uma, adding as an afterthought that images of blooms members post on the group instantly lift spirits and dispel sadness. Cutting costs, caring for nature Noor, a 56-year-old gardener with a green thumb who specializes in medicinal plants, notes her involvement with OTG transformed her life from the inside out. "I walked out of her Government job to promote the green movement," she says. Through the community, she learnt how collective purchasing could help gardeners save money. Noor notes that gardening is an expensive hobby. The OTGians generally share seeds and cuttings and plants, and this helped in growing a huge variety of plants. The OTG initiative encompasses more than just gardening; it promotes an environmentally conscious way of living, explains the former lecturer residing in Frazer Town. "In the OTG community, we avoid new purchases and emphasize recycling. We repurpose various items like old tubs, buckets, paint containers and water bottles. We make our own compost and handhold new gardeners in both composting and gardening," she says. The OTGians grow more of fruits ,vegetables, greens and medicinal plants and a limited amount of ornamental plants. The community encourages creating habitats for pollinators like butterflies and bees. 'Many of us cultivate plants primarily for nature's benefit rather than personal consumption. There's also a strong culture of sharing amongst members, where harvest is distributed generously. For instance, one might retain a single fruit while distributing five to others in the community,' smiles Noor who dedicates her time to tending to her plants and caring for her pet cat that has undergone several operations. ***** VOICE BOX 'I've a rose garden with over 60 varieties, including some of the rarest ones in India, such as the Masora, Juliet copy, Barista and Bluemoon stone. Seeing them bloom is incredibly rewarding. Being part of local gardening communities has made my gardening journey easier. I learned how to control mealybugs using an organic neem-oil mixture from a fellow gardener, which saved several of my rose plants during the monsoon. Once I borrowed a heavy-duty pruning shear from a gardening community member during rose-cutting season. Kunal Dammala I've also recently started experimenting with hydroponic culture, a soilless growing method. It helps grow stronger and larger rose plants, especially in limited space. Kunal Dammala, SOFTWARE ENGINEER AT INFOSYS AND MEMBER, SOUTH BENGALURU GARDENERS I got 70% of my plants through swap events. We meet at Shri N Lakshmana Rao Parknear Jayanagar Metro Station. Interactions with fellow members have helped me gain insights into effective soil combinations that enable my plants to thrive with minimal care. Thomas P Abraham My gardening journey began 18 years ago with three native roses. Recently, I've had success grafting hibiscus in seven different colours on just two plants. Thomas P Abraham, RESIDENT, BTM 1 STAGE, AND ACTIVE MEMBER OF SHARE GREEN, BANGALORE GARDENERS, LET'S SWAP SEEDS AND PLANTS AND SOUTH BENGALURU GARDENERS We gather mostly at my home in Ramamurthy Nagar. Our most sought-after events include composting demonstrations, workshops on plant care and plant swaps. Recently we had an online session focusing on cultivation techniques for virgin red aloe vera. Uma Rajeswari Additionally, our gardening community facilitates the supply of various gardening materials, including compost, vermi compost and cocopeat. The community extends to our Facebook platform, which currently has approximately 4,000 members. Our WhatsApp group remains abuzz with conversations about plant upkeep. Uma Rajeswari, ADMIN, GARDENERS OF BANGALORE (PART OF OTG) I cultivate various fruits in my garden, including strawberries, Natalie cherries, mulberries, and apples. My garden also features turmeric, sweet potatoes, ginger and garlic, complemented by seasonal flowers that facilitate pollination. Being part of gardening communities allows me to learn, unlearn and relearn, and exchange experiences with fellow gardeners. Ritu Choudhary, TERRACE GARDENER AND MEMBER, CANTT OTG, GREEN GROWERS AND ORCHID AFFAIR WITH HRS
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Mallorca residents urge tourists to stop visiting the island
Mallorca campaign organisations and political groups have sent a strong and clear message to tourists who they say have harmed the island when arriving in their masses: 'Do not come' and 'stay home'. Seven organisations representing residents, such as the environmental association GOB and campaigners Menys Turisme, Més Vida, which was behind the large anti-tourist protest that packed out the streets in Palma de Mallorca last July, have signed an open letter discouraging tourists from visiting the Spanish island. Last summer, efforts materialised in Palma de Mallorca with 10,000 protesters showing up to take part in a large demonstration, with people walking with models of planes, cruise ships and posters reading 'no to mass tourism' and 'stop private jets'. Ahead of the peak summer tourist season this year, the organisations are trying to raise awareness of overtourism impacts and deter the number of visitors flocking to the Mediterranean holiday hotspot. Addressing tourists in a letter published on Saturday, 15 March, the organisations said that until very recently Mallorca's tourism industry was a 'source of pride' but has since become their 'biggest problem'. After becoming increasingly popular over the years, the organisations say: 'The island has been exploited to unimaginable limits, leading to the collapse we are now suffering.' With the island's tourist industry successfully bringing in high amounts of revenue, this has attracted hoteliers, politicians and real estate investors to Mallorca, however, the letter brands them as 'parasites' motivated by 'greed and avarice'. Among the impacts, the letter says that Mallorca's residents therefore are experiencing environmental deterioration, infrastructure issues, overwhelmed public services, transport problems, gentrification and a housing crisis. The organisations also called out politicians for continuing to promote tourism on the island and said that the use of the word 'sustainable' when talking about the industry is 'insulting'. 'Politicians tell us they want to promote the deseasonalisation of the tourism industry,' they wrote. 'This would mean reducing the number of tourists during peak season by spreading them throughout the year. 'However, what is actually happening is exactly the opposite. 'Mallorca is not the paradise they are selling you,' the letter continues. 'The local population is angry and no longer hospitable because the land we love is being destroyed and many of us have to leave the island because it is uninhabitable. Put yourselves in our place!' The organisations then ask tourists to help them by not coming to the island: 'We do not need more tourists; in fact, you are the source of our problem'. 'Locals say: ENOUGH. STAY HOME!' the letter signs off. The letter comes over a month since Menys Turisme, Més Vida called on its members to 'regroup' and 'redouble' its efforts against the impacts of the tourist industry ahead of the peak tourist season. The campaign group said it would 'intensify' its actions in response to an announcement of a billion-euro investment into the tourist sector, the rise of real estate and luxury tourism speculation while the housing crisis continues to worsen. However, it was just two weeks ago that the Balearic Government proposed a tightening on 'tourism containment measures' by offering up plans to raise the 'Sustainable Tourism Tax' from €4 (£3.36) to a maximum of €6 (£5) per person, per night in high season. The government has also proposed the banning of new tourist accommodation in residential apartment buildings and will now be negotiating the proposals for approval in parliament. The Independent has contacted the Balearic government for comment.
The Independent
18-03-2025
- The Independent
Mallorca residents urge tourists to stop visiting the island
Mallorca campaign organisations and political groups have sent a strong and clear message to tourists who they say have harmed the island when arriving in their masses: 'Do not come' and 'stay home'. Seven organisations representing residents, such as the environmental association GOB and campaigners Menys Turisme, Més Vida, which was behind the large anti-tourist protest that packed out the streets in Palma de Mallorca last July, have signed an open letter discouraging tourists from visiting the Spanish island. Last summer, efforts materialised in Palma de Mallorca with 10,000 protesters showing up to take part in a large demonstration, with people walking with models of planes, cruise ships and posters reading 'no to mass tourism' and 'stop private jets'. Ahead of the peak summer tourist season this year, the organisations are trying to raise awareness of overtourism impacts and deter the number of visitors flocking to the Mediterranean holiday hotspot. Addressing tourists in a letter published on Saturday, 15 March, the organisations said that until very recently Mallorca's tourism industry was a 'source of pride' but has since become their 'biggest problem'. After becoming increasingly popular over the years, the organisations say: 'The island has been exploited to unimaginable limits, leading to the collapse we are now suffering.' With the island's tourist industry successfully bringing in high amounts of revenue, this has attracted hoteliers, politicians and real estate investors to Mallorca, however, the letter brands them as 'parasites' motivated by 'greed and avarice'. Among the impacts, the letter says that Mallorca's residents therefore are experiencing environmental deterioration, infrastructure issues, overwhelmed public services, transport problems, gentrification and a housing crisis. The organisations also called out politicians for continuing to promote tourism on the island and said that the use of the word 'sustainable' when talking about the industry is 'insulting'. 'Politicians tell us they want to promote the deseasonalisation of the tourism industry,' they wrote. 'This would mean reducing the number of tourists during peak season by spreading them throughout the year. 'However, what is actually happening is exactly the opposite. 'Mallorca is not the paradise they are selling you,' the letter continues. 'The local population is angry and no longer hospitable because the land we love is being destroyed and many of us have to leave the island because it is uninhabitable. Put yourselves in our place!' The organisations then ask tourists to help them by not coming to the island: 'We do not need more tourists; in fact, you are the source of our problem'. 'Locals say: ENOUGH. STAY HOME!' the letter signs off. The letter comes over a month since Menys Turisme, Més Vida called on its members to 'regroup' and 'redouble' its efforts against the impacts of the tourist industry ahead of the peak tourist season. The campaign group said it would 'intensify' its actions in response to an announcement of a billion-euro investment into the tourist sector, the rise of real estate and luxury tourism speculation while the housing crisis continues to worsen. However, it was just two weeks ago that the Balearic Government proposed a tightening on 'tourism containment measures' by offering up plans to raise the 'Sustainable Tourism Tax' from €4 (£3.36) to a maximum of €6 (£5) per person, per night in high season. The government has also proposed the banning of new tourist accommodation in residential apartment buildings and will now be negotiating the proposals for approval in parliament.
