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International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Austin Tang — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 19:37:16 +0000

Liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Red Army, January 1945.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, is an international memorial day on 27 January that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, which resulted in the genocide of one-third of the Jewish people along with countless numbers of individuals of other minority groups, by Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945: an attempt to implement its “Final Solution” to the Jewish question. The choice of 27 January for the annual commemoration aligns with the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Red Army in 1945.

The day commemorates the systematic extermination of 6 million Jews, representing two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population, alongside the deaths of millions of others perpetrated by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.^[1]^[2] It was designated by United Nations General Assembly resolution 60/7 on 1 November 2005.^[3] The resolution was developed following a special session convened on 24 January of that year to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps and the conclusion of the Holocaust.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]

Many countries have instituted their own Holocaust memorial days. Many, such as the United Kingdom’s Holocaust Memorial Day, also fall on 27 January; others, such as Yom HaShoah (27 Nisan on the Hebrew calendar), the commemoration day observed by the State of Israel and much of the broader Jewish community, are observed at other times of the year.

The General Assembly Resolution 60/7

Resolution 60/7, adopted by the General Assembly on 1 November 2005, established 27 January as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The resolution urges every member nation of the UN to honor the memory of Holocaust victims, six million Jews, “one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities,” and encourages the development of educational programs about Holocaust history to help prevent future acts of genocide. It rejects any denial of the Holocaust as an event and condemns all manifestations of religious intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief. It also calls for actively preserving the Holocaust sites that served as Nazi death camps, concentration camps, forced labor camps and prisons, as well as for establishing a UN programme of outreach and mobilization of society for Holocaust remembrance and education.^[3]

Resolution 60/7 and the International Holocaust Day was an initiative of the State of Israel. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, Silvan Shalom, was the head of the delegation of Israel to the United Nations.^[8]

The essence of the text lies in its twofold approach: one that deals with the memory and remembrance of those who were massacred during the Holocaust and the other with educating future generations of its horrors.

The International Day in memory of the victims of the Holocaust is thus a day on which we must reassert our commitment to human rights. […]
We must also go beyond remembrance, and make sure that new generations know this history. We must apply the lessons of the Holocaust to today’s world. And we must do our utmost so that all peoples may enjoy the protection and rights for which the United Nations stands.

— Message by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the second observance of the Holocaust Victims Memorial Day on 19 January 2008^[9]

Commemorations at the United Nations

In 2006, 2007, and 2008, Holocaust Remembrance Weeks were organized by The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme. The programme is part of the Outreach Division of the United Nations Department of Public Information and was established under General Assembly resolution 60/7.

In 2006

On 24 January, the United Nations Headquarters launched Holocaust Remembrance Week with the exhibit “No Child’s Play – Remembrance and Beyond.” Created by Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, the exhibit focused on children during the Holocaust. It showcased toys, games, artwork, diaries, and poems to tell their stories and highlight their struggle for survival amid the horrors of that time. On 25 January, the screening of the movie Fateless by Lajos Koltai took place in the Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium.^{[citation needed]}

On 27 January, the United Nations Department of Public Information held the first universal observance of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day at United Nations Headquarters. In the General Assembly Hall, a memorial ceremony and lecture were held under the theme “Remembrance and Beyond”. It featured welcoming remarks by former Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information Shashi Tharoor; a videotaped message by former Secretary-General Kofi Annan; statements by the permanent representatives of Israel and Brazil to the UN, Holocaust survivor, historian, and author Gerda Weissmann Klein, and the Gerda and Kurt Klein Foundation; narration of photographs of Holocaust victims memorialized on “Pages of Testimony” in the Hall of Names at Yad Vashem;^[10] as well as a performance by the Zamir Chorale of Boston; and a lecture by Yehuda Bauer, an academic advisor to Yad Vashem and the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research.^[11]^[12]

In 2007

On 29 January, the second annual observance of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust was held in the General Assembly Hall at United Nations Headquarters.^[13]

Shasta Tharp, former Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, introduced a programme that began with a video message from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Statements were then made by Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, president of the sixty-first session of the General Assembly, and Ambassador Dan Gillerman, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations.^[14] The keynote “Remembrance and Beyond” address was given by Madame Simone Veil, a Holocaust survivor, president of the Fondation pour la Mémoire de la Shoah and a member of the Constitutional Council of France.

The observance focused on the importance of infusing today’s youth with the lessons of the Holocaust so that future generations may work to prevent hatred, bigotry, racism, and prejudice. Marie Noel, a College of Saint Elizabeth student, shared her experiences visiting former concentration camps in Poland.

The memorial ceremony also focused on the disabled community as one of the many victim groups of the Nazi regime. Thomas Schindlmayr of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs highlighted the importance of education in promoting tolerance and ending discrimination against all minorities, particularly in light of the adoption by the General Assembly on 13 December 2006 of the landmark Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

A musical performance was also given by HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Chamber Choir, a project of the Zamir Choral Foundation founded and directed by Matthew Lazar. Netanel Hershtik, cantor of the Hampton Synagogue, recited the Kaddish.

During the observance the United Nations Department of Public Information also launched a new website and resource for United Nations member states, educators and non-governmental organizations entitled “Electronic Notes for Speakers” developed for the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme by Yad Vashem – the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes Remembrance Authority, Jerusalem, and the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education and the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris.^[15] The electronic notes provide survivor testimony and information materials that will equip speakers with the tools needed to conduct briefings on the Holocaust and lessons to be learned from it.

The United Nations bookstore made available ten volumes of autobiographical accounts of Holocaust survivors published jointly by The Holocaust Survivors’ Memoirs Project and Yad Vashem – the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes Remembrance Authority. An initiative of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust Survivors’ Memoirs Project has collected over 900 manuscripts. Its mission is to provide both the victims and the survivors of the Holocaust with the dignity of a permanent historical presence, not as impersonal statistics but as individuals with names, voices, and emotions. The United Nations bookstore also had a discussion by Daniel Mendelsohn about his book The Lost: A Search for Six of the Six Million.

The Department of Public Information also marked Holocaust Remembrance Week with two exhibits in the United Nations visitors’ lobby. The first, entitled “The Holocaust against the Sinti and Roma and Present Day Racism in Europe”, focused on the experience of the Roma and Sinti during the Holocaust. The second exhibit featured artwork created by Holocaust survivors, exploring the meaning and understanding of the Holocaust.^[16]

On 31 January, a special screening of Volevo solo Vivere (I Only Wanted to Live), directed by Mimmo Calopresti, took place. The film tells the moving story of nine Italian survivors of Auschwitz. The following day, Nazvy svoie im’ia (Spell Your Name), directed by Serhiy Bukovsky, was also screened. The film, about the Holocaust in Ukraine, tells the story of local people who escaped brutal execution and those who rescued friends and neighbours during the Holocaust. Both films, produced by the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education, were shown in the Dag Hammarskjold Library Auditorium. On 2 February, the third discussion paper in the Holocaust and Genocide series was published about Hitler, Pol Pot and Hutu Power.^[17]

In 2008

Throughout the week of 28 January 2008, the United Nations Department of Public Information organized a number of events around the world to remember the victims of the Holocaust and underscore the value of human life.^[18] The 2008 observance focused on the need to ensure the protection of human rights for all. It coincided with the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Holocaust Remembrance Day began with the joint launch of a new United Nations Holocaust Remembrance postage stamp issued simultaneously, for the first time, with a national stamp by the Israel Postal Company.^[19] The two stamps bear the same design.

On 28 January 2008, at United Nations Headquarters in New York, the daughter of United States Congressman Tom Lantos, himself a Holocaust survivor, delivered a keynote address, “Civic Responsibility and the Preservation of Democratic Values,” at the memorial ceremony and concert held in the General Assembly Hall.

Other speakers included Srgjan Kerim (Macedonia), president of the sixty-second session of the General Assembly, Ambassador Dan Gillerman, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, and Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information.^[18]

The ceremony also featured a concert with the Tel Aviv University Buchmann-Mehta School of Music symphony orchestra in cooperation with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by maestro Zubin Mehta.^[20]

On 30 January 2008, the first permanent exhibit on the Holocaust and the United Nations was unveiled. Produced by the Holocaust and United Nations Outreach Programme, it presents an overview of the Holocaust in the context of World War II and the founding of the United Nations. It is seen by the 400,000 visitors who visit the United Nations Headquarters annually. In preparation for the exhibit opening, Elizabeth Edelstein, Director of Education for the Museum of Jewish Heritage, briefed the United Nations tour guides on the history of the Holocaust to further their understanding of this watershed event.

Around the world United Nations offices organized events to mark the Day of Commemoration. In Brazil, an observance was held on 25 January with the president of the country, Jose Inacio Lula da Silva, and the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, César Maia. In Madagascar, a permanent exhibit on the Holocaust was unveiled at the United Nations Information Centre.

The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme also coordinated a video conference for students with the United Nations information centres in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Lomé, Togo, and educators at the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris. At the United Nations office in Ukraine, a round-table discussion was organized in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ukrainian Holocaust Study Centre. In Tokyo on 29 January, an educational workshop targeting young students focused on the links between the Holocaust and human rights issues.

Also, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum provided information material in English and Spanish to a number of United Nations information centers for use in their reference libraries.

To help carry out its educational mission, the Department of Public Information participated in a panel discussion with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the afternoon of 28 January to highlight the importance of Holocaust education, organized by B’nai B’rith International.

A second exhibit, “Carl Lutz and the Legendary Glass House in Budapest”, was co-sponsored by the Carl Lutz Foundation and the Permanent Missions of Switzerland and Hungary. Carl Lutz, the Swiss Vice-Consul in Budapest, had issued certificates of emigration to place tens of thousands of Jews under Swiss protection.^[18]

In 2019

In January 2019, the Albanian Ambassador to the UN, Besiana Kadare, on behalf of Albania co-hosted together with the World Jewish Congress and the United Nations Department of Global Communications an event on the theme “A story of humanity: the rescue of Jews in Albania”.^[21] Kadare delivered remarks at the United Nations at a briefing entitled “Holocaust Remembrance: Demand and Defend your Human Rights”, marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day and reflecting on the genocide of six million European Jews during World War Two, and the little-known record of Albanians during the Holocaust in Albania, which took in thousands of Jews who would otherwise have ended up in the Nazi death camps.^[22]^[23]

In 2020

In January 2020, Chelsea FC unveiled a mural by Solomon Souza on an outside wall of the West Stand at Stamford Bridge stadium to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day. The mural is part of Chelsea’s ‘Say No to Antisemitism’ campaign funded by club owner Roman Abramovich. Included on the mural are depictions of footballers Julius Hirsch and Árpád Weisz, who were killed at Auschwitz concentration camp, and Ron Jones, a British prisoner of war known as the ‘Goalkeeper of Auschwitz’.^[24]

Commemorations outside the United Nations

Commemorations are held at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC,^[25] and at Yad Vashem, in Jerusalem.^[26]

In Austria, commemorations of the Remembrance Day are held at the Heldenplatz in Vienna since 2012. The broad platform Jetzt Zeichen setzen! calls for participation of the civil society. Speakers include survivors of the Holocaust, antifascist activists and politicians hailing from parties throughout the political spectrum.

In Israel on International Holocaust Remembrance Day government officials, diplomats and ambassadors visit Yad Vashem^[27] and there are ceremonies throughout the country. Every year the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs presents an assessment of the state of global antisemitism at a cabinet meeting.^[28] The report reviews the main trends and incidents of the last year, in terms of antisemitism and combating antisemitism.

Israel’s main national Holocaust memorial day however, known as Yom HaShoah, is on the 27th day of the Hebrew calendar month of Nisan.

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Dire warnings at Davos, pushed to the periphery

Austin Tang — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:02:31 +0000

https://shorturl.at/ZYsi5

At the Davos forum in recent years, the focus on climate change and stopping biodiversity loss has taken a back seat to issues like cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. Fabrice Coffrini/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Dire warnings at Davos, pushed to the periphery

	By David Gelles

All week at the World Economic Forum’s annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland, talk about climate change and renewable power has been relegated to the sidelines.

That changed on Wednesday, when President Trump used his speech at this gathering of the world’s top business leaders and policymakers to attack clean energy.

“There are windmills all over Europe,” he said. “There are windmills all over the place and they are losers.”

That was just one snippet from a speech in which Trump assailed the “green new scam,” promoted fossil fuels and made inaccurate statements about China’s use of coal.

Trump’s assault on renewable energy struck a discordant note at an event that was once a center for the corporate climate movement. But since Trump’s re-election Davos has strained to retain an idealistic, optimistic spirit.

For years, Davos was where chief executives and heads of state came to make high-minded pledges about how they would use their power to transform the world for the better and reduce dangerous planet-warming emissions.

Recently, however, the focus on climate change and stopping biodiversity loss has taken a back seat to issues like cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence and geopolitics. Instead, talk about sustainability efforts and climate action is now largely relegated to the scientists and activists.

Jennifer Morris, chief executive of The Nature Conservancy, told me that the dialogue in Davos had some glaring blind spots. “We’re not talking enough about oceans here,” she said, citing one example.

“Water is not woke,” she added.

Corporations are suddenly silent

The explanation for Davos’s pivot is simple. Climate change is no longer center stage in Davos because, in large measure, corporations have gone quiet on the issue.

“The Davos programming is a reflection of what chief executives want to talk about, ultimately,” said Sebastian Buckup, who runs the World Economic Forum’s center for nature and climate.

And what C.E.O.s want to talk about has changed.

Six years ago, Larry Fink, the chief executive of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, used his time in Davos to rally Wall Street to combat climate change, promising to “transform finance.”

In an article I published last week, I explained how Fink sparked a movement that came to encompass most of the major banks, asset managers and asset owners in the world, which pledged to used their trillions of dollars to try and blunt global warming.

But in the face of pushback from Republicans, the fallout from the war in Ukraine and the return of President Trump to the White House, Wall Street has largely abandoned its climate pledges. Many of the alliances designed to make finance more sustainable have fallen apart. Investors have withdrawn tens of billions of dollars each quarter from E.S.G. funds.

Even though Fink is now co-chair of the World Economic Forum and took a strong hand in shaping this year’s program, which features hundreds of panels and speakers scattered across giant convention halls and small meeting rooms, discussion of climate change was largely missing from the most prominent programs — with the exception of Trump’s remarks.

Warnings from scientists

On the rare occasions when there was frank talk about the dangers posed by our rapidly warming world, the warnings were more stark than ever.

Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, delivered a presentation on Tuesday in which he showed dozens of ways in which the planet’s natural systems are under severe strain.

“The human pressure on the planet has now reached a crisis point,” he said. “The era where we can continue with economic growth without putting the stability of planet at risk has come to an end.”

Rockström added that “these pressures on the planet are now at risk of causing irreversible, potentially catastrophic tipping points.”

On Wednesday, I moderated a panel about why it was in companies’ own interest to protect nature.

“If you don’t have good land and good soil, you can’t have sustainable supply chains,” Kirsten Schuijt, director general of WWF International told me.

Schuijt said that more corporations were working to address these threats, but not fast enough. “It’s moving way too slow, because we’re losing biodiversity in basically every place we care about,” she said.

Then on Thursday, I hosted a discussion about how much economic activity was tied to the oceans, which are warming rapidly regardless of whether you think talking about it is “woke.”

For much of the conversation, the speakers put forward a rosy vision of continued economic growth that somehow didn’t pollute the planet. Then, during a remarkably candid moment, an executive acknowledged a notion that until recently had been gospel at Davos.

“The biggest adversary to nature might be humans,” said Boudewijn Siemons, chief executive of the Port of Rotterdam, the largest harbor in Europe. “The problem is us.”

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Mayor Adams created a Citation for Good News Corporation, which is read at the 23rd Annual International Day of Peace to Times Square/NY. 9/20/25

Austin Tang — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 14:20:43 +0000

Listen to “Mayor Adams created a Citation for Good News Corporation, which is read at the 23rd Annual International Day of Peace to Times Square/NY…” on Spreaker.

The post Mayor Adams created a Citation for Good News Corporation, which is read at the 23rd Annual International Day of Peace to Times Square/NY. 9/20/25 appeared first on Good News!.

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine Welcomes the 23rd Annual International Day of Peace to Times Square/NY. 9/20/25

Austin Tang — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 13:57:20 +0000

Listen to “Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine Welcomes the 23rd Annual International Day of Peace to Times Square/NY. 9/20/25” on Spreaker.

Dear Friends,

It is a pleasure to join you at Pause the World for Peace and to celebrate the 2025

International Day of Peace.

In a world with so much discord and inhumanity, the International Day of Peace reminds us

that no mater our diﬀerences, every person deserves to live free from violence and fear.

By pausing the world for peace, we create space for reﬂection, healing, and dialogue that

can lead to lasting change. And peace is not merely the absence of conﬂict, but the

presence of justice. For over 20 years, this day has been a call to unite in building a more

compassionate and equitable world.

On behalf of the Borough of Manhattan, I hope that we can all work together to create a

more peaceful future.

Sincerely,

Mark Levine

Manhattan Borough President

The post Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine Welcomes the 23rd Annual International Day of Peace to Times Square/NY. 9/20/25 appeared first on Good News!.

Don’t Miss Our 15th Anniversary Gala!

Austin Tang — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 14:57:15 +0000

We’re thrilled to announce that this year’s 15th Anniversary Fundraising Gala MC will be none other than Emmy Award-winning CBS News correspondent, Alecia Reid! A passionate advocate for sustainability, social equity, and environmental justice, Alecia is dedicated to amplifying the voices of those whose stories too often go unheard.

With a strong commitment to issues like poverty, climate, and human rights, Alecia is a proud alumna of Harvard Extension School’s Global Development Practice program and holds certifications in both social justice and environmental policy.

Join Alecia on June 18th for an unforgettable evening at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum Rooftop. Click the link below to sponsor the event, purchase tables, ads, or individual tickets today!

Get Your Tickets Here

Elyjha Chandler and Christian Perkins Swim for Life

We joined our Families For Safe Cities (FSC) members Aminatu Noah and Kibret Perkins for a press conference with Mayor Adams who announced the city’s $5.5 million dollar investment in the “Swim for Life” program in honor and memory of their sons, Elyjha Chandler and Christian Perkins, who tragically lost their lives at Riis Beach last June. The newly named “Elyjha Chandler and Christian Perkins Swim for Life” program will be held at Erasmus High School in Flatbush, Brooklyn, providing swimming classes to an additional 4,800 youth, bringing the total number over 18,000 youth served by the program to keep families safe during the Summer when their young people are at beaches and pools.

We are deeply shocked and disheartened to share that the Mt. Zion Church of God 7th Day’s church van has been stolen. This van is more than just a vehicle—it serves their community by transporting members to services, outreach events, and vital programs. Its loss is a heavy blow to the work we do and the people we serve.

We are appealing to the conscience of our community: If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of the van, please come forward. Contact 718-284-1097, your tip—no matter how small—could make a difference.

Early Voting: June 14 – June 22

Primary Election Day: June 24

Step 2:Elected officials shape the policies and funding that impact our work and community. When we show that our staff and community members are voters, it strengthens our voice. Visit the GodSquad office to register to vote! For questions, please reach out to Christine at Path@67clergycouncil.org.

Come take part in a dynamic and empowering FREE Boxing & Self-Defense Workshop designed to help our community build confidence, learn practical skills, and stand strong together. Led by experienced trainers, this is your chance to gain valuable self-defense techniques in a supportive and engaging environment.

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Upcoming Community Partner Events

The goal of the project is to reduce hate crime victimization by understanding how hate crime victims and their communities can be better supported and how these crimes can be prevented. The research team would love to hear directly from people who have experienced a hate crime – NOT about what happened during the crime/incident, but about what happened after, who you told, and what kind of support you received. The interview will be around 45 minutes and you will receive a $50 gift card for participation. Participation is voluntary and your answers and identity will be kept confidential. You can skip any questions or stop the interview any time.

Participate In the Survey

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Join Not On My Watch, VIP Community Services, and SBH Health System, in proud partnership with Right To Be and L’Oréal Paris, for an unforgettable evening of empowerment, education, and action! Whether you’re a teen, adult, senior, parent, professional, or just someone who wants to make a difference—this FREE, interactive training will equip you with tools to stand up for yourself and others.

Be BronX Street R.E.A.D.Y.

Street Harassment Awareness Training & Resource Fair

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 | 6:00 PM

SBH Health System – 4422 3rd Ave, Bronx, NY

Click Here to Register

We Will Be Street R.E.A.D.Y., BronX Street READY:

R – Recognize the signs

E – Empower yourself and others

A – Act with confidence

D – Defend your rights

Y – You are not alone

What to Expect:

Learn how to protect your safety in public spaces
Street Harassment Intervention Training using the powerful 5D’s:
Distract. Delegate. Document. Delay. Direct.
Self-defense basics
Access to local resources and support services
Free giveaways & light refreshments
Open discussions with local providers

Key Takeaways:

Understand what street harassment really is—and isn’t
Learn how to safely interrupt or respond when it happens
Discover why reporting matters and how to do it safely
Leave feeling confident, equipped, and never alone

Open to all genders, all ages, all communities. Because safety has no boundaries.

We’re thrilled to announce our 2nd Annual 5K Run/Walk Against the Hate happening on August 9th at 8:00 AM! The race kicks off at Lincoln Terrace Park and finishes at Brower Park. General registration is $40, but don’t miss our early bird 2-for-1 deal on Eventbrite!

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It’s the 6th anniversary of The Great Global Cleanup! Find a cleanup event near you.

Austin Tang — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:15:54 +0000

https://action.earthday.org/r?u=fSgbgI-8gFnntPDz12fW8XsoWIOAnW5XyboEY_KsGs01qpTZGzIEpIWcSiT7JDkj&e=fdd08e43ac3f36c49acc15766f7dfbb7&utm_source=earthday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20250324_ggc_full&n=2

Let’s be real: our world is trashed. The average American produces 4.9 pounds of trash per day, which reaches nearly 1,800 pounds of trash per person every year.¹ Far too much of this trash ends up in our natural environment.

Trash that isn’t disposed of properly carries toxic chemicals that contaminate waterways, harm wildlife, and put human health at risk.² But, together, we can help clean it up.

EARTHDAY‍.ORG launched The Great Global Cleanup six years ago to fight for a world where cleanups are no longer necessary. We are still working towards this goal, highlighting the need for policies that hold polluters accountable, focusing on the detrimental effects of plastic production, and protecting human health.

You can be part of the effort by joining a cleanup this spring. Find one near you on our map, or organize and register your own.

FIND A CLEANUP

Less than 10% of our plastic is actually recycled, the rest incinerated, sent to landfills, or ending up in other environments.³ For this reason, and the harmful effects plastic production has on human health, EARTHDAY‍.ORG is demanding a 60% reduction in plastic production by 2040. In the meantime, we are making an effort to clean up all the plastic waste that hasn’t been disposed of properly.

We are getting closer to our goals every day because of people like you. Find a cleanup near you, or register your own to make our planet a better place to live.

See you at the cleanup,

The team at EARTHDAY‍.ORG

Footnotes:

1. Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials

2. Environmental Protection Agency: https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/trash-free-waters/impacts-mismanaged-trash_.html

3. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: https://www.oecd.org/environment/plastic-pollution-is-growing-relentlessly-as-waste-management-and-recycling-fall-short.htm

https://action.earthday.org/r?u=fSgbgI-8gFnntPDz12fW8XsoWIOAnW5XyboEY_KsGs2iRPh7eZRXpY-sDULpM2I6&e=fdd08e43ac3f36c49acc15766f7dfbb7&utm_source=earthday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20250324_ggc_full&n=11

The Great Global Cleanup

Learn more about cleanups and how to get involved.

Find a Cleanup Near You

No cleanup in your area? Organize and register your own!

https://action.earthday.org/global-plastics-treaty?e=fdd08e43ac3f36c49acc15766f7dfbb7&utm_source=earthday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20250324_ggc_full&n=17

Sign the Petition: Global Plastics Treaty

Have you signed?

https://donate.earthday.org/?e=fdd08e43ac3f36c49acc15766f7dfbb7&utm_source=earthday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20250324_ggc_full&n=19

Support EARTHDAY.ORG

Since 1970, we’ve been mobilizing over 1 billion people annually on Earth Day, and every day, to protect the planet.

Make a direct and positive impact on the environment today by donating to help fight climate change, plastic pollution, deforestation, and the scourge of fast fashion.

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World Madam 2024 International Culture Week Ended in New York Chan Laifong from MACAO Won World Madam 2024 Global Overall Champion

Austin Tang — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 19:07:54 +0000

World Madam International Culture Week, hosted by World Madam Foundation and jointly presented by World Madam Group, took place from December 10th to 15th locally in New York. UN ambassadors, elites from all walks of life and candidates from all regions attended the event ceremoniously in batches.

On December 12, Dr. Djibril Diallo, the former United Nations General Assembly Press Secretary served as World Madam 2024 chairman of the annual review committee; Daniel del Valle Blanco, Chairperson of the Youth Advisory Committee of UN-Habitat, led World Madam Global Authentication Officer representatives and the former World Madam Global Winner representatives formed the 13-member jury. After reviewing of videos and live speeches, talents, Chan Laifong from Macao and Liora Michelle Green from America tied for first place as World Madam 2024 Global Overall Champion. At the same time, nominated by the Chair of judges, ? was awarded the honor of World Madam 2024 Global Honorary Champion; and Shayana Rex from Canada won the title of World Miss 2024 Overall Champion, Helena Hou from New Zealand claimed the victory of World Junior 2024 Overall Champion. More than 20 candidates from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Guyana, Bolivia, EI Salvador and other countries and regions, as well as their families and friends added color to the culture week activity.

The award ceremony was held in Oheka Castle, the largest private castle in New York. The attendees were over 200, including: Anni Huang, founder of World Madam Foundation and World Madam Global Brand, Lisa Chen, Global Authentication officer, Cici Zhang, Europe Authentication officer, Fei Fang, U.S. Authentication Officer, Adem Erol, Turkey Chief Executive, Xuefen Mo, New Zealand Chief Executive, Alice Liao, Canada Chief Executive, Lily Yan, Northern California Chief Executive, Alan Yang, Director of World Madam Group, Zaozao Wang, 2021 World Madam Global Audience Choice Champion, Lili Han, 2022 World Madam Global Overall Champion, Sepideh Behboudi, 2023 World Madam Global Overall Champion, World Madam regional organizing committee representatives and people from fields of art, education, finance, diplomacy, media, etc..

At the award ceremony, World Madam Global Organizing Committee presented Star Organizing Committee Award to New Zealand Organizing Committee, and World Madam Lifetime Achievement Award to Xuefen Mo. Peter Cheng, director of Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) Fushou Senior Center which was sponsored by World Madam Foundation for many times, expressed sincere gratitude and awarded honorary medals.

On the afternoon of December 13, World Madam representatives attended the UNCA 2024 Annual Ceremony, which was supported by World Madam Foundation. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Ambassador representatives had a cordial talk with Anni Huang, World Madam representative and took a group photo.

On December 14, part award winner representatives and their friends and relatives shared their New York experience with honor on reception party held by Anni Huang. Finally, accompanied by the blessings of all representatives and award winners, World Madam 2024 International Culture Week wrapped up.

“WORLD MADAM” is an international brand with global influence. The term “madam” in WORLD MADAM is derived from the French “madame.” It is a polite and formal form of address for women in both English and French languages, pronounced as “ma dame.” It’s registered and initiated by Anni Huang in Canada, later, it operates globally in the way of China- America double headquarters by World Madam Group with support of World Madam Foundation. The aim of World Madam is to establish more female role models, promote the training of female talents, maintain social stability, help the underprivileged women and child, so as to facilitate the world peace and development. With the concept of “One Small Step for Madams, One Giant Leap for the World”, it has become a comprehensive service platform providing empowerment for women from all over the world. Through cultural activities that show female charm and spread their inspirational stories, World Madam aims to push forward the commercial layout and operation for global female entrepreneurship and employment.

Over the years, the brand has been considered as symbol of modern women fashion culture, even been called by people in this field as “Oscar” in women’s world. Since its foundation, hundreds of international activities have been taken place, which attracted millions of women from different countries and regions. These women not only demonstrated their personal talents and charm, but interpreted the core value of the brand World Madam and further enhanced the brand’s depth and connotation.

According to De Wet, World Madam Group Global Secretary, as of December 2024, World Madam brand has got 80+ independent intellectual property rights around the world, established over 100 city meeting rooms and partner agencies, held more than one hundred large-scale series events and made charitable donations exceeding 100 times. Nearly 1 million women participated in its activities directly or indirectly, and once set a data record of more than 2 million people online watching worldwide, attracting over 700 mainstream media’s follow and report. In 2024, World Madam launched “Double 100” activity (100 madams endorse 100 brands) to build stronger connections with other international brands. Looking ahead, World Madam will continue to create diversified, open and inclusive career development platform for all women by means of brand cooperation and connection; pass positive energy and make greater contribution for our society with continuous innovation and cross-cultural development strategies.

After years of development, World Madam has shaped into a pattern that taking international cultural activities as their main axis, gradually cooperating with the global female and household consumer goods supply chain, and using a modern network operation mode combining online and offline. Besides, it also created salary incentive mechanism to assist global female in their entrepreneurship and employment, so as to form version 1.0 World Madam brand commercial closed-loop layout. This year (2024), keynote speeches and series of activities conducted by Anni Huang, the founder of World Madam, have repeatedly pushed its brand influence to a new high.

In 2025, World Madam Group will accelerate it’s brand upgrade to version 2.0 and expand the education and multimedia field. In the future, it will take advantage of the platform to build global live video streaming system, making the unemployed women caused by family issues or postpartum reasons as priority, and help them return to work or start new businesses. These initiatives will further strengthen the brand’s influence and appeal worldwide and present it’s social responsibility and global leadership perfectly.

WORLD MADAM List of winners of the 2024 Global Annual Selection

I. WORLD MADAM GROUP：

1、 World Madam 2024 Global Honorary Champion

Rokhaya Niang ｜SENEGAL

Nonhlanhla Jiyane ｜SOUTH AFRICA

Saran Somparé ｜REPUBIC OF GUINEA

2、World Madam 2024 Global Overall Champion:

Chan Laifong|MACAO

Liora Michelle Green| AMERICA

3、World Madam 2024 Global Audience Choice Champion：

Xiangling Huang|CANADA

Naomi Parisette|AMERICA

4、World Madam 2024 Global Wisdom Champion：

Chen Yun|CANADA

5、World Madam 2024 Global Talent Champion：

Cheng Zou|AMERICA

6、World Madam 2024 Global Elegance Champion：

Yelin Liu|KOREA

7、World Madam 2024 Global Runner-up：

Jocelyn Bullock|VIETNAM

Haixiang Wang|CHINA

8、World Madam 2024 Global Third Place：

Xiaoying Wu|CHINA

Weiyan Huang|CANADA

9、World Madam 2024 Global Charity Ambassador：

Xu Ling|CANADA

10、World Madam 2024 Global Best in Family Harmony：

Chum Yee Yan|SINGAPRO

11、 World Madam 2024 Global Most Inspirational ：

Sophia So|THAILAND

II. WORLD MISS GROUP

1、World Miss 2024 Global Overall Champion:

Shayana Rex|CANADA

2、World Miss 2024 Global Audience Choice Champion：

Xiaojing XU |CHINA

3、World Miss 2024 Global Elegance Champion：

Aislinn Evans|AMERICA

4、World Miss 2024 Global Wisdom Champion：

Haitong Huang|CHINA

5、World Miss 2024 Global Talent Champion：

Desseri Dubhnath|GUYANA

6、World Miss 2024 Global Best in Vitality：

Maria Belen Paz Soldan De Ugarte |BOLIVIA

Daniela María Vasquez Segovia|El SALIVADOR

7、World Miss 2024 Global Most Fashionable：

Jasmine Metivier |FRANCH

III. WORLD JUNIOR GROUP

1、 –World Junior 2024 Global Overall Champion：

–World Junior 2024 Global Best Wisdom Award：

Helena Hou|NEW ZEALAND

2、 -World Junior 2024 Global Audience Choice Champion：

–World Junior 2024 Global Most Talent Award：

Tiffany Chen|AMERICA

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Allen & Co. Sun Valley Conference Will See Annual Influx Of Media And Tech Moguls, But Economic Climate Freezes Major Dealmaking

Austin Tang — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 17:41:32 +0000

Idaho’s Friedman Memorial Airport, where execs from media, tech, sports and other sectors will arrive this week for the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference.Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Allen & Co.’s annual Sun Valley Conference is known for drawing an A-list roster of execs from across the media and tech realms, with a generous sprinkling of sports commissioners, politicos and other notables added to the mix.

This year’s event, which gets under way Tuesday, looks to be no exception to the rule, though the atmosphere is likely to be subdued given the general M&A climate. (On the plus side: No N95 masks required in all that fresh air!) Media chiefs including Disney’s Bob Iger, Warner Bros Discovery’s David Zaslav and Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish and non-executive chair Shari Redstone are expected, as are Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Apple’s Tim Cook and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella.

Members of the press making the trek to Idaho are kept at a distance from the goings-on inside the Sun Valley Resort, and event organizers frown on participants doing any media relations beyond waving at cameras and briefly chatting at the valet line. CNBC has typically established a remote set a safe distance away, drawing a few guests, though not to spill any details of what happened inside. This year’s labor situation — with the WGA already out on strike and SAG-AFTRA facing a deadline with the AMPTP on Wednesday — will only add to the incentive to hunker down out of the reach of zoom lenses.

Because of the sheer tonnage of potentates in attendance, and perhaps because of the clampdown on press access, the presumption is that dealmaking dominates attendee agendas. Reports about the annual confab often cite major tie-ups whose roots can be traced back to Sun Valley, though the list is getting a bit long in the tooth. The most often-cited roster includes Disney-Capital Cities/ABC (1995); Comcast-NBCUniversal (2009) and Jeff Bezos-Washington Post (2013).

Even when the economy is humming, the conference isn’t the hotbed of M&A transactions many press depictions make it out to be, though it does provide neutral and luxurious ground where conversations can begin. Still, plenty of massive deals — Disney’s $71.3 billion acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox, the $43 billion merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery — have been negotiated without any river rafting being involved.

Whatever the topics of the day both inside the official sessions and on clandestine coffee runs and power walks, a few factors are casting a long shadow over the deal market. Inflation is the primary economic issue, while the regulatory environment and tighter oversight during the Biden Administration has also emerged as a disincentive.

According to PitchBook, venture capital deals amounted to only $85.6 million through the first half of 2023 and fell by half during the second quarter compared with levels of a year ago. The tally through the first two quarters was the lowest since 2014. Overall M&A deal volume and values have slumped to their lowest levels since the onset of Covid in 2020.

A recent report from PwC suggests that dealmaking could return in the second half of 2023 as long as sellers are realistic about pricing. Still, interest rates are making financing expensive, which is an obstacle to many transactions. “It’s a buyer’s market out there now, especially for cash-rich corporate acquirors and middle-market deals,” said Brian Levy, global deals industries leader and partner at PwC. “It’s essential for sellers to work harder to prepare for upcoming sales—or risk losing out.”

Traditional media companies are in the process of shaving more than $10 billion in costs from their respective operations and streamlining their structures. The prior embrace of direct-to-consumer streaming, which has burdened companies with costs and no clear path to consistent profitability, has given way to new attempts at austerity. The main question, in terms of M&A, is how would they be able to shed legacy assets? Paramount has been exploring the sale of BET Networks and Warner Bros Discovery reportedly had preliminary conversations about offloading CNN but it’s easier said than done.

Until recently, minority investors like private equity firms didn’t have an avenue to allow them to get a piece of film and TV assets. TPG attained 30% of DirecTV when AT&T spun out the pay TV operator in 2021. Last year, Nexstar Media Group used its own estimable balance sheet to move in on The CW, taking on the broadcast network’s debt in exchange for a 75% equity stake. What reshuffling could be next? Lionsgate has said by this fall it will separate its studio business from Starz and the streaming side of the company. Hasbro is in the process of shedding eOne and Paramount has re-engaged in the process of selling Simon & Schuster, with a year-end closing target.

One transaction with ramifications for many entertainment players isn’t technically in the realm of open-market M&A. Disney and Comcast are coming down the home stretch with their put-call negotiations for Hulu. Disney is expected to buy out Comcast’s remaining 33% stake in the streaming service early next year after both sides flirted earlier this year with the idea of Comcast being the buyer. The final price is to be determined, though the floor valuation has been set at $27.5 billion.

Craig Moffett, in a recent MoffettNathanson note about the Disney-Hulu dance, reflected the general sense of restlessness in the media business, which has reached the halfway point of a grueling year amid a lot of unanswered questions. In the case of Comcast, the company’s apparent decision not to go all-in on buying the two-thirds of Hulu it does not already own puts more focus on the company’s larger strategy. “If not Hulu, what then?” Moffett wondered. “Will they simply move on to something else to buy instead?”

As the Magic 8-Ball would say, signs point to yes.

Original site: https://deadline.com/2023/07/sun-valley-conference-media-tech-moguls-economic-climate-freezes-major-dealmaking-1235433357/

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Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center’s 15th Annual Get Wild Benefit!

Austin Tang — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 14:58:59 +0000

Listen to “Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center’s 15th Annual Get Wild Benefit!” on Spreaker.

Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center’s
15th Annual Get Wild Benefit!

Saturday, June 24, 2023
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Hosted at Sagaponack Sculpture Field
Wilkes Lane, Sagaponack

Honoring
James Hunter
Fred W. Thiele, Jr.

Event chairs
Ingrid Edelman • Jane Gill
Missy Hargraves • Jonathan McCann

Emcee
Joseph Shaw, Express News Group

Hosted at Sagaponack Sculpture Field, Wilkes Lane, Sagaponack

Great Horned Owl sponsors
Max, Beau, Bubba, Elliot and
Willow Colle
Leslie L. Alexander Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Edelman
Linda Lambert
Andy Sabin Family Foundation
Lisa Baron Schenker and
Gregg Schenker
Penni Ludwig

Red Tailed Hawk sponsors
Tracey Broxmeyer
Howard Marton
Linda and Russell Munson

Great Blue Heron sponsors
Dorothy Lichtenstein
Louise and Len Riggio
Ellen and Chuck Scarborough

Snowy Egret sponsors
Christine and Randall Blank
Ron Delsener
Susan Dusenberry
Pat Garrity, The Corcoran Group
Debora Jacques
The Law Office of John J. Leonard
Maryann and Robert Marston
Jonathan W. McCann
Roberta J.M. Olson and
Alexander B.V. Johnson
Shinnecock Animal Hospital

eastern screech owl sponsors
Jane Gill
Kimberly Kleinbaum Tsesarsky

Benefit committee
Dorothy Frankel
Elena Gibbs
Linda Lambert
Jessica Mackin
Eileen Miller
Jill Rappaport
Leesa Rowland
Ellen and Chuck Scarborough
Lisa Baron Schenker
Renee Schlather

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In The Hamptons: Philanthropist Jean Shafiroff Hosts Launch Party for 14th Annual Unconditional Love Gala at El Turco Hamptons

Austin Tang — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 16:46:29 +0000

Jean Shafiroff, Carmen D’Alessio, Rebecca Seawright (Photo credit: Patrick McMullan / Michael Ostuni)

Philanthropist and event chair Jean Shafiroff hosted a kickoff party in honor of the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation’s (SASF) 14th Annual Unconditional Love Gala at El Turco Hamptons.

Friends and supporters of the Foundation and event chair Jean Shafiroffgathered at El Turco Hamptons with Cagri Kanver to celebrate the Summer campaign in support of the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF).

Jean Shafiroff, Cagri Kanver (Photo credit: Patrick McMullan / Michael Ostuni)

Notable Attendees included: Jean Shafiroff, Cagri Kanver, Jordan Lippner, Nicole Tumilowicz, Dr. Jennifer Jablow, Jessica Mackin, Eugenia Valliades, Fred Devito, Elizabeth Halfpapp, Carmen D’Alessio, Rebecca Seawright, Aisha Christian, Amy Green, Missy Hargraves, Sara Shala, Diana Cochran, Jennifer Allsop, Leesa Rowland, Larry Wohl, Bradford Rand, Lee Fryd, Mar Morosse, Alexandria LaFata, Erica Appleman, Arezou Naderi, Jackie Collins, Maria White, Soren White, SASF Alumni Bam Bam.

The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation’s 14th Annual Unconditional Love Gala is returning to the Hamptons and will take place on Saturday, July 22nd, 2023, at The Muses in Southampton, NY. The grand soiree will be the highlight of this summer season out east.

Jordan Lippner, Jean Shafiroff (Photo credit: Patrick McMullan / Michael Ostuni)

Chaired by Jean Shafiroff, this year the shelter will honor Mr. Jon Ledecky, Co-Owner of the New York Islanders and Mr. Matt Meeker, Co-Founder and CEO of BARK. The annual event is the most important fundraiser for the shelter for over a decade.

The Summer gala will feature cocktails and a delicious, seated dinner, as well as dancing. In addition, a live and silent auction will help raise much-needed funds for the work of the SASF, supporting the more than 5,000 animals who enter our doors each year.

To Download selected high-resolutions images, visit: https://bit.ly/3MG2dhw

Photo Credit: Patrick McMullan / Michael Ostuni

To view the Full Gallery by Patrick McMullan: https://bit.ly/3N5r1Rz

Photo Credit: Patrick McMullan / Michael Ostuni

To view the Full Gallery by Getty Images: https://bit.ly/3MAK84c

Photo Credit: Michael Ostuni / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is supported exclusively by donations and grants from the community. From caring and finding homes for stray and abandoned animals to providing low-cost veterinary care and dog training so that animals can remain in their homes, the shelter has become a vital resource in our community.

To donate to the SASF, please visit: General Donation – Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation

For more information and Tickets for the 14th Annual Unconditional Love Gala, please visit https://bit.ly/42w3f5L

About Jean Shafiroff:

Jean Shafiroff is a philanthropist, humanitarian, TV host, writer, and the author of the book “Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life By What You Give”. Jean works extensively as a volunteer fundraiser and leader in the philanthropic world. She serves on the boards of 8 charitable organizations and each year chairs upwards of eight to 9 different charity galas. Among the many causes she champions are those involved in women’s rights, rights of the underserved, health care, and animal welfare.

Jean serves on the boards of the American Humane, Southampton Hospital Association, NYC Mission Society, French Heritage Society, Couture Council of the Museum at FIT, Global Strays, New York Women’s Foundation, Casita Maria, and Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation Honorary Board. A Catholic, she served on the board of the Jewish Board for 28 years and now is one of their honorary trustees.

I: @JeanShafiroff @JeanShafiroffAtWork | F: jean.shafiroff | T: @JeanShafiroff

About the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF):

The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that relies on the generosity of our donors and volunteers to care for the homeless animals in our community and place them in loving “forever homes.” The number of animals in need of our help is growing every day. The overpopulation of pets on Long Island is a major issue and sadly more amazing animals are ending up homeless. Whether caring for strays found wandering the streets, rescuing neglected and abandoned animals, or saving dogs from the horrors of the puppy mill industry, the shelter is a safe haven for all animals and for some, the last resort. Without SASF, these animals would not be able to survive. The shelter provides a steppingstone for animals to find loving homes. It offers them housing, food, medical treatment, training, and rehabilitation when necessary.

For additional information, please visit www.sasf.org

PRESS CONTACT (Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, Jean Shafiroff):

Norah Lawlor | Lawlor Media Group | www.lawlormediagroup.com

Norah@lawlormediagroup.com | Tel: (212) 967-6900

Instagram: @lawlormedia | Facebook: LawlorMediaGroup | Twitter: @lawlormedia

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