Fashion

Rainforest Nations In Africa And Asia Join The Amazon Summit To Discuss Rainforest Preservation

Published

1 year ago

2023-08-09

Kiara Grace

Brazil’s Belem: Representatives from the Amazon rainforest nations in Africa and Southeast Asia convened an Amazon meeting in Brazil on Wednesday to define a unified route for preserving ecologically diverse regions critical to combating climate change.

On Tuesday, leaders and ministers from eight Amazonian states signed a proclamation outlining strategies to boost economic development in their respective countries while avoiding Amazon’s continuous decline “from reaching a point of no return.” According to some scientists, destroying 20% to 25% of the forest may result in huge decreases in rainfall, converting more than half of the rainforest to tropical savannah and resulting in massive biodiversity loss.

Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela are members of the newly resurrected Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation, or ACTO, and have expressed hope that a united front will give them a significant voice in global environment talks ahead of the COP 28 climate conference in November.

Several environmental groups voiced disappointment with Tuesday’s joint declaration, calling it a collection of good ideas with few clear goals and deadlines. On the other hand, the region’s major Indigenous organization applauded the inclusion of two of its main demands.

The presidents of the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a representative from Indonesia’s president, and France’s ambassador to Brazil, representing the Amazonian province of French Guiana, joined the Amazon nations on Wednesday. The president of Norway, the country with the highest contribution to Brazil’s Amazon Fund for Sustainable Development, was also there.

Officials from developing rainforest nations were supposed to issue a joint declaration titled “United for our Forests,” according to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s agenda.

“The Amazon is our passport to a new relationship with the world, a more symmetric relationship in which our resources are valued and put to the service of all,” Lula remarked on Tuesday.

The conference underlines Lula’s approach of leveraging worldwide concern for the preservation of the Amazon. He has sought foreign financial backing for forest protection, buoyed by a 42% decrease in deforestation during his first seven months in office.

The Amazon covers an area twice the size of India. Brazil owns two-thirds of it, with the remaining third shared by seven other countries, including the territory of French Guiana. Governments have long considered it a territory to be colonized and exploited, with little concern for sustainability or Indigenous peoples’ rights.

The Amazon countries have all accepted the Paris climate agreement, which mandates parties to set reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions. However, cross-border cooperation has historically been limited, hampered by a lack of confidence, ideological disagreements, and a lack of government presence.

ACTO members, meeting for the fourth time in the organization’s 45-year history, indicated Tuesday that they have differing views on crucial topics.

Commitments to forest protection have needed to be more patchy. And contrary to popular belief, their joint proclamation did not include a mutual commitment to zero deforestation by 2030. Brazil and Colombia have already committed to this.

The lack of precise guarantees in the declaration was criticized by the Climate Observatory, a network of dozens of environmental and social groups, as well as Greenpeace and The Nature Conservancy.

“The declaration’s 113 operating paragraphs have the merit of reviving the forgotten ACTO and recognising that the biome is approaching a point of no return, but it does not offer practical solutions or a calendar of actions to avoid it,” the Climate Observatory said.

“The Amazon is our passport to a new relationship with the world, a more symmetric relationship in which our resources are valued and put to the service of all,” Lula remarked on Tuesday.

Colombian Indigenous leader Fany Kuiru of the Coordinating Body of Indigenous Organisations of the Amazon Basin praised the declaration for meeting two of their primary demands: recognition of their rights to traditional territories and establishing a mechanism for Indigenous peoples’ formal participation within ACTO.

Oil was a major source of contention between governments on Tuesday. Leftist Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for an end to oil extraction in the Amazon, referring to Brazil and other oil-producing countries in the region, and said governments must chart a course towards “decarbonized prosperity.”

Despite the differences, there was evidence of improved regional collaboration and a rising worldwide acknowledgment of the Amazon’s importance in mitigating climate change. A common voice, together with greater funding for ACTO, could help it serve as the region’s representation on the global stage ahead of the COP climate meeting, according to leaders.

On Wednesday, Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, the president of the forthcoming COP meeting, met with Lula in Belem.

“The Amazon is our passport to a new relationship with the world, a more symmetric relationship in which our resources are valued and put to the service of all,” Lula remarked on Tuesday.

SOURCE – (AP)

Related Topics:the amazon the amazon jungle the amazon rainforest the amazon river

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Fashion

New Croc Clogs Mean Matching Togs For Your Dogs

Published

1 month ago

2024-10-13

Kiara Grace

Crocs, the foam footwear company, is known for its quirky designs, which range from cowboy boots to fried chicken-scented charms. Crocs is putting its best paw forward this month with the release of a range of clogs for dogs.

Crocs has partnered with pet supply provider and subscription service BARK to develop Pet Clogs as part of their annual “Croctober” campaign, which features a fan-inspired product.

New Croc Clogs Mean Matching Togs For Your Dogs

Companies frequently release promotional or limited-time merchandise to increase brand awareness. Special flavors of sodas or candies, collaborations with influencers or other brands, and even items that aren’t meant to be taken seriously can all help a company gain attention and stand out in a crowded marketplace among shoppers fighting inflation and looking to stretch their dollars.

“(The market) is returning, from my perspective, to what it was before the pandemic, which is that key promotional periods are extremely important,” CEO Andrew Rees told analysts during an earnings call in August. “We believe you have to participate in those promotional periods to get your fair share of consumer spending.”

Americans have spent more money on their pets during the last decade. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pet expenses climbed by 77.9% between 2013 and 2021.

Pet owners spent a total of $147 billion on pet-related expenses in 2023, with that figure expected to rise to $150.6 billion this year, according to the American Pet Products Association.

However, observers believe Crocs’ entry into the pet industry is more than simply another eye-catching marketing stunt; it is a show of the power of its devoted fan base.

The Power of Fandom
Despite — or perhaps because of — regular ridicule from fashionistas, Crocs has carved out a niche for themselves in mainstream culture. Its meme status and proclivity for going viral are aided by star-studded collaborations from Justin Bieber to Bad Bunny.

And sales of the footwear brand skyrocketed in 2020, owing to the increase of casual fashion during the pandemic.

“Crocs has a very strong base of fans, and it is very good at engaging with them via social channels and marketing campaigns,” said Neil Saunders, a retail analyst at GlobalData.

New Croc Clogs Mean Matching Togs For Your Dogs

If you need proof of the power of its fans, look at how rapidly limited-edition releases sell out. In 2021, a pair of adult clogs modeled by the Disney/Pixar character Lightning McQueen from the film “Cars” sold out in less than an hour after debuting on the Crocs website.

Crocs’ continued success with its fans, which Saunders described as “cult-like,” may be due to its active interaction with its consumers, making even the most seemingly ludicrous fan requests a reality (see: Crocs inspired by the DreamWorks movie character “Shrek”).

According to Saunders, the introduction of Pet Crocs, which the business describes as “one of the most highly requested products in brand history,” is another move aimed at younger, more social media-savvy consumers.

“In many instances these will be fun purchases which people will share on social media, helping to amplify the Crocs brand,” according to him.

SOURCE | CNN

Fashion

Exploring the Best Mechanical Watches in Today’s Market

Published

2 months ago

2024-10-02

Geoff Brown

Curiously enough, despite the arrival of the smart watch with all its multitasking allure and its flashy functionality, mechanical watches have grown a lot in popularity over the past few years.

And though the Quartz revolution has made watches so much more affordable and accessible to everybody, the advance in manufacturing technology has brought to us in recent decades some outstanding mechanical timepieces that rival the affordability of higher-end Quartz ones.

If you’re looking for a mechanical watch that is worth it and is also affordable, you’ve come to the right place because today, we’re going to be listing the best mechanical watches in 2024.

Best Mechanical Watches

Seiko Recraft

The Seiko Recraft is a wacky collection, out of which we prefer the SMK P27 with its lovely green dial and the rectangular case shape with slightly curved edges. It’s a rarity in the watch world, a vintage-inspired timepiece, reminiscent of the 1970s. The watch comes with only 50 meters of water resistance, an automatic movement without hacking function and without hand winding, and just a mineral crystal hard lex protecting the dial, but it’s an impressive timepiece nonetheless, and it costs a humble $275.

Tissot Everytime Swissmatic

An elegant and affordable piece that costs around $400. It’s one of the best mechanical timepieces you can get for the money. The simplicity of its dial, the clean and minimalistic esthetic with that lovely contrast between the stark the dial and the silver hue of the case, hands and indices, really make for a stunning watch. And inside, there’s a reliable Swiss automatic movement with a hearty power reserve of 70 hours with an accuracy of plus or minus 10 seconds a day, proving to be quite a capable mechanical caliber, especially for that price.

Citizen NJ0100 Automatic

One of the big Japanese names in affordable watches is Citizen and their NJ0100 Automatic proves to be quite a sight, powered by a Myota 8210 automatic movement with a water resistance of 50 meters. The price doesn’t exceed $150, so it’s perfect, but the fact that it’s an older model and not in production anymore makes it a little harder to find. But if you look around the internet, you should find plenty.

Seiko Presage Cocktail Time Blue Moon

The Seiko Presage Cocktail Time Blue Moon is a real stunner. It may be a little more expensive at $440, but still on the affordable side, and it’s worth all those bucks. It comes in a 40.5 millimeter stainless steel case with an automatic four R-3-5 movement as it’s ticking hot, reliable, and with a 41-hour power reserve. But the most captivating part of this timepiece is that dark blue sunburst style, giving the watch an artistic and captivating look.

Tufina Sahara Mechanical

The Tufina Sahara is among the most popular mechanical watches out there, one with a dressy look and plenty of variants to choose from. Our favorite is the rose gold one, which boasts a remarkable silver dial with an intricate skeleton composition, playing with light in such a way that it creates a mesmerizing show. On the technical side, it comes powered by a mechanical movement with 17 rubies, a 3 ATM water resistance, rhodium plated case, Alpha photoluminescent hands and a superb sapphire coated lens protecting the dial. The thin bezel and classic guarded crown gives this watch a very elegant look, and the fact that you can find it for about $990 makes it that much more appealing.

Orient Kamaso

The Orient Kamaso is a worthy divers watch, bringing some impressive features for less than $300. The sapphire crystal glass, for example, is a rare feature on affordable watches. Then there’s the rugged stainless steel case that is depth rated for 200 meters, another feature that usually comes with higher price tags. When it comes to appearance, the Kamaso has a stunning black, blue, red, or green sunburst dial, complemented by the rotating vessel, finished in the same color. Under the dial, there’s an automatic Orient Calibur F692, a movement that’s said to be reliable and accurate.

Dan Henry 1970 Automatic Diver

Remaining in the diving watch world, the Dan Henry 1970 Automatic Diver, a tribute to the Compressor case dive watchers that were the thing back in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It comes with the Seco NH-3 five automatic movement, water resistance of 200 meters, and in two case sizes, 40 millimeters and 44 millimeters. What we’re most impressed with is the beautiful and refreshing dial. It’s a classic, but it’s also one that departs from the similar designs that most divers have.

Fashion

Shein Faces Scrutiny In Italy Over Possible Greenwashing

Published

2 months ago

2024-09-26

Kiara Grace

Italy’s antitrust police are looking into Shein, the online fast fashion behemoth, for potentially making false statements about its environmental efforts.

The country’s independent competition commission said in a statement that the greenwashing investigation would focus on Infinite Styles Serves Co. Limited, a Dublin-based company that manages Shein’s website and app.

Shein Faces Scrutiny In Italy Over Possible Greenwashing

Shein was started in China and is now headquartered in Singapore. It has risen to prominence in the retail industry, thanks to a business model that enables it to produce garments in real-time and deliver it straight to clients from factories mostly in China.

That has allowed the company to sell things at extremely low prices and attract customers who can go to its website and buy $11 sweaters, $2 cellphone cases, and other items from a constantly updated range of stuff.

However, Shein’s detractors have long contended that the company’s tactics foster overconsumption and environmental waste, both of which the retailer claims it is attempting to address.

However, Italian regulators accuse the corporation of misleading customers with statements about the environmental sustainability of the apparel it sells. Environmental organisations have claimed that similar deceptive methods, known as greenwashing, occur throughout the corporate sector.

Italy’s anti-trust office, known in Italian as AGCM, claims that some of the environmental references on Shein’s Italian website are misleading or omit information. Images advertising Shein’s garments as sustainable are also made “through generic, vague, confused, and/or misleading environmental assertions,” according to the authority.

The watchdog specifically mentioned information from Shien’s “evoluShein” line, claiming that it may have misled consumers into believing that the clothing they purchased could be recycled.

AGCM also claimed that Shein’s website’s declared commitment to decarbonisation was in “apparent contradiction” with the increases in greenhouse gas emissions listed in Shein’s sustainability reports for 2022 and 2023.

The online shop stated that it would assist with the Italian probe.

Shein Faces Scrutiny In Italy Over Possible Greenwashing

“We would also like to take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to complying with the laws and regulations in the markets where we operate and to maintaining transparency with our customers,” Shein said in a news release.

Shein has also faced issues in other parts of Europe. Critics and advocacy groups, including Amnesty International UK, have protested the company’s potential listing on the London Stock Exchange due to labour and environmental issues.

SOURCE | AP