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Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Two Miyawaki forests launched
Mangaluru: World Environment Day saw the launch of two Miyawaki Forests—one by Nitte (Deemed to be University) and another by the Young Indians (Yi) Mangaluru chapter, on Thursday. Nitte (Deemed to be University) launched the Nitte Miyawaki Forest. Pratap Lingaiah, state NSS officer, youth empowerment and sports department, govt of Karnataka, inaugurated it by unveiling the plaque and planting a sapling. The Miyawaki method, developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, is a proven technique for creating dense, fast-growing native forests using only indigenous plant species. It involves high-density, multi-layered planting that mimics natural forest ecosystems, resulting in rapid growth and self-sustainability within 2-3 years. Native species such as neem, benga, kadamba, mango, golden shower, Ashoka tree, Indian blackberry, kokum, monkey jack, surahonne, jackfruit, red sandalwood, and cinnamon were planted in a 6,534 sqft dedicated to developing the Nitte Miyawaki Forest. These activities are part of the ongoing mission of Nitte to promote green initiatives. Yi Mangaluru chapter achieved a green milestone with the launch of a Miyawaki forest at NorthernSky Greenfield Meadows, Surathkal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Spearheaded by the chapter's climate change vertical, this initiative stands as an example of youth-driven environmental stewardship and community-led climate resilience. The land measuring 1,900sqm for the Miyawaki forest was provided by NorthernSky properties, while the saplings were procured from the Karnataka forest department, reinforcing public-private collaboration in environmental restoration. The event was graced by Anthony Mariappa, deputy conservator of forests, Mangaluru division. M Athmika Amin, immediate past chair of Yi Mangaluru and regional mentor for the climate change vertical SRTKKA, addressed the gathering and emphasised the importance of the Miyawaki method. She reaffirmed Yi's commitment to launching many more such urban forestry projects in the near future. Addressing the gathering, Mariappa highlighted the pressing need for civil society to support afforestation efforts. With growing urban development leading to tree loss, particularly from road widening and infrastructure projects, community-led plantation drives are crucial to restoring ecological balance. He also emphasised the role of urban forests in mitigating climate change impacts. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Korea Herald
23-05-2025
- Korea Herald
Korea's UNESCO cultural heritage through foreign eyes
Culture ministry to carry out 'Unlock Korea's Treasures' tours for foreign content creators between June and November The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is launching a series of cultural heritage tours designed for foreign national content creators living in Korea. The program, which runs June to November, invites participants to explore Korea's UNESCO-listed heritage sites through a two- or three-day trip and share their experiences globally through digital content. To raise global awareness of the value and excellence of Korean cultural heritage the MCST launched the program in 2014. This year, the series kicks off under the theme of 'Unlock Korea's Treasures' in June with tours in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, and Busan. These are followed by tours in Gwangju and Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, in September; Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, in October; and Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, in November. 'Anyone who creates digital content, professional or non-professional, could apply for the trips,' an official told The Korea Herald. The ministry will select foreign residents who are active in online content creation and offer them immersive tour opportunities. Participants will document their experiences through video and social media posts, helping to spread Korean heritage content across the globe. 'Even for foreign residents who have lived in Korea for years, there are limited opportunities to explore the country's cultural heritage in depth. Through this program, we hope participants will not only experience Korea's invaluable treasures firsthand, but also act as cultural ambassadors who help introduce them to the world,' the official said. In Jeongeup, participants will visit Museongseowon Confucian Academy to learn about Korea's neo-confucian legacy, and the Donghak Peasant Revolution Memorial Park, which commemorates the spirit of grassroots resistance and reform. In Busan, they will trace historical landmarks from the Korean War era when the city served as a wartime capital, and capture the vibrant scenery of Gamcheon Culture Village. The Gwangju and Suwon leg includes visits to Namhansanseong Fortress and Hwaseong Fortress, where participants will uncover the historical figures and pivotal events tied to these iconic sites. In Yeosu the tour will center around the Nanjung Ilgi (War Diary of Admiral Yi Sun-sin), a UNESCO Memory of the World document. Participants will learn about Yi's naval battles during the Joseon dynasty, while also experiencing the romantic coastal nightscape and a tidal flat eco-tour. The program concludes in Pyeongchang where participants will take part in a kimchi-making event, experiencing kimjang, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage tradition. They will also visit the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty Museum and Gwangcheon Seongul Cave, deepening their understanding of Korea's historical and natural heritage. UNESCO-designated heritage represents assets of "Outstanding Universal Value" that all humanity must work to preserve. As of 2024, Korea boasts 16 World Heritage sites, 23 items of Intangible Cultural Heritage and 20 entries in the Memory of the World Register. Each regional tour will be documented and uploaded to official YouTube channel. In addition, the ministry plans to produce specially curated videos centered on Korea's UNESCO heritage, expanding the global reach of Korean culture through online media.
NDTV
20-05-2025
- NDTV
Surrogacy Racket, Exploiting Chinese Speech-Impaired, Disabled Women, Busted
Authorities have launched an investigation into a surrogacy racket in a Chinese village where speech-impaired and disabled women were used as surrogate mothers. Anti-trafficking activist Shangguan Zhengyi exposed the racket on May 12. Zhengyi spent days observing a suspicious cottage in Changsha, Hunan province, central China, before alerting the authorities, the South China Morning Post reported. A three-story residential building reportedly served as the headquarters for the racket. During their raid, police found 16 hospital beds used for treatments related to surrogacy. The first floor served as the primary operating centre and housed the operating room, laboratory, and patient wards. The building's windows were all covered with blue film so that no one could see what was happening inside, the report added. The operating area was equipped with shelves that held needles and other specialised tools and equipment for surgical procedures like embryo transfer and egg retrieval. Several vehicles, including an unlicensed white van, were parked near the entrance. The vehicles were assumed to have been used to carry the women. Nine women were saved during the investigation and brought to Changsha Women and Children's Health Care Hospital for medical examination. A 41-year-old speech-impaired surrogate mother from Shaanxi province informed Zhengyi via sign language that she had received 280,000 yuan (US$39,000) for an embryo transfer. Another 29-year-old Yi woman, from the southern Chinese province of Sichuan, claimed to have received 190,000 yuan (US$26,000) for an embryo transfer. Later, these women were handed over to the government officials and their family members. Local health officials announced on May 12 that the issue would be handled strictly in compliance with the law, that the facility in question had been sealed, and that the necessary staff were now under official control. The authorities also said that 18 people, including the person in charge, an anaesthesiologist, and a private hospital nurse, have been arrested for their involvement with the illegal surrogacy racket. In November 2024, a 22-year-old Chinese woman's story of being tricked into an illegal surrogacy business and then miscarrying went viral.
The Star
20-05-2025
- The Star
Chinese village at centre of illegal surrogacy probe, exploiting deaf-mute, disabled women
BEIJING (SCMP): A Chinese village at the centre of an illegal surrogacy racket in which disabled women were used as surrogate mothers has sparked public outrage and an official probe. The racket was exposed on May 12 by an anti-trafficking activist called Shangguan Zhengyi, who has more than 424,000 followers on social media. The activist alerted the authorities after spending several days monitoring a suspicious cottage in Changsha, Hunan province, central China. Police raided the property and discovered 16 hospital beds set up for surrogacy-related procedures. Nine women, including surrogate mothers and egg donors, were found inside the facility. One of the surrogate mothers, a 41-year-old deaf woman, from Shaanxi province in northwestern China, used sign language and told Shangguan that she had undergone an embryo transfer for which she was paid 280,000 yuan (US$39,000). She said intermediaries had brought her to the facility, though she could not recall how long she had been there. Another woman, a 29-year-old from the Yi ethnic minority originally from Sichuan province in southwestern China, said she underwent an embryo transfer for 190,000 yuan (US$26,000). She said that the procedure was performed without anaesthesia, but claimed she felt no pain. The racket was run out of a three-storey residential building. The first floor served as the main operational hub and included an operating room, a laboratory, and patient wards. The operating room was fitted with shelves which were stocked with medical tools and equipment, including syringes, and other specialised devices used for procedures such as egg retrieval and embryo transfer. All the windows of the building were covered with blue film to prevent anyone from seeing what was going on inside. Several cars were parked at the entrance, including an unlicensed white van which is believed to have been used to transport the women. During the investigation, a total of nine women were rescued and taken to the Changsha Women and Children Health Care Hospital for medical assessment. They were later released into the care of government officials and their families. At present, China does not have a specific law that outright bans surrogacy, but various government regulations prohibit the practice. On May 12, local health authorities reported that the facility involved had been sealed, relevant staff had been placed under official control, and the case would be handled in strict accordance with the law. The authorities have also confirmed the detention of 18 individuals linked to the surrogacy ring, including the person in charge, an anaesthesiologist, and a nurse from a private hospital. Later, Shangguan received a call from a man claiming to be in charge of the surrogacy operation, who offered to meet him and said: 'Whatever requests you have, I will fulfil them.' Shangguan angrily responded: 'How dare you exploit disabled people? Do you have any humanity left?' The case, reported by Elephant News, has sparked condemnation across mainland social media platforms. 'Even disabled individuals were involved. This is completely beyond the boundaries of morality,' one commenter wrote. Another person said: 'Is there a flow of illicit benefits behind this? The big boss must be thoroughly investigated and severely punished.' - South China Morning Post
Korea Herald
17-05-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
A day of reflection in city of enlightenment
UNESCO-listed Dosanseowon, village of art stand out in Andong ANDONG, North Gyeongsang Province — Andong was a city of scholars. The southeastern city was home to those studying to further Neo-Confucianism, a school of Chinese thought that had undergirded Korea during its Joseon era from 1392-1910. Dosanseowon, a private Confucian school in the city, testifies to how committed Joseon was to see the philosophy permeate everyday life. The school was established as a tribute to Yi Hwang, a prominent Confucian thinker whose contribution to expanding the thought led Joseon to launch the institution in 1576, six years after his death. The academy complex, which grew out of a small hall Yi built in 1561 to teach Confucianism, comprises separate halls for reading, dining and sleeping. A shrine was added later by his students to pay respects to Yi. 'The entire ground is secluded and serene,' said Kim Myeong-ja, a 66-year-old Seoul resident who stopped by the Confucian academy on her tour of the two Gyeongsang provinces. Trees that surround the premise, punctuated by ponds and flowers, make for a natural setting where thinkers could do what they did best, Kim observed. Pyo Hyun-soo, born and raised in Andong, said he frequents the complex because 'each trip conjures up old memories.' 'I had a lot of school field trips that included stops here,' said Pyo, a retailer in his 40s who said he planned to take his 8-year-old with him on the next visit once the child becomes 'ready to soak in' the view and ambience. 'This is the perk of living close to a UNESCO site, isn't it?' Pyo said of the world body's 2019 decision to name Dosanseowon a World Heritage Site, a designation given to a group of eight Confucian academies around the country. Yekki Village A 10-minute drive away from Dosanseowon is Yekki Village, settled by people whose homes were flooded when the nearby Andong Dam began operations in 1976. Yekki, literally meaning 'artistic talent,' is one of many travel destinations in the Gyeongsang provinces seeing an increasing number of visitors, thanks to cultural spaces dotting the village including galleries, workshops, book cafes and walkways with a view. One of the must-see spots is Seonseongsusang-gil, a 1.2-kilometer floating bridge over Lake Andong that connects to Andong Hoban Nature Forest, a bucolic retreat in verdant woodlands. The bridge is submersible depending on water levels and swings from side to side. That's some unexpected thrill, said Min Hyun-jung, 31, who traveled from Incheon alone for a 'contemplative stroll down the deck' while taking in panoramic views of the lake. 'Other than the fact the bridge is actually a bit narrower than what I saw on Instagram, it's worth a trip. The sweeping views have done it for me,' Min said of her satisfaction with the trip that took almost three hours by car, while taking selfies. Confucian museum For others like Song Soo-jin, a native Andong with two elementary students, a village tour is only complete with a stop at the Korean Studies Institute, a think tank that runs the Confucian Culture Museum, less than a 10-minute walk away from the village. 'It's not just about the philosophy,' Song said of the museum's latest exhibition 'Eohwadongdong.' Running through July, the special exhibition explores how children are viewed and understood with artifacts spanning from 18th century Joseon to today. Books and documents on display are mostly written in Chinese characters, which means children visiting can barely decipher what is shown. But that's all the more reason kids have to see such exhibitions, under parental guidance, according to Song. 'Kids have to burn off energy to get the movement their bodies physically and desperately need,' Song said. 'After that, they need to do the same for their mental faculties. What's better than to keep them asking questions?'
