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Renowned environmentalist Julia Butterfly Hill calls on leaders to end deforestation and back community-centered REDD+ projects

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LONDON, Nov. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ —

 

EMBARGOED until 17.00 UK / 12.00 ET / 9.00 PT 27 November 2023

As world leaders gather for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), renowned environmentalist Julia Butterfly Hill speaks out for the first time in a decade, to call on governments to meet their commitment to end deforestation and to highlight the crucial role community-centered REDD+ projects can play in this mission.

“It is so clear that people around the world are begging and calling out for forests to be protected, for people to care and take action.”

Julia Butterfly Hill gained worldwide recognition in the 1990s for her action to protect California’s ancient and ecologically significant forests from clear cutting. Most famously, Julia lived for 738 days in a giant 1,000-year-old redwood tree known as Luna. Julia’s historic act of civil disobedience saved the tree and the surrounding grove from loggers.

For the past ten years, Julia has purposefully been out of the spotlight but is now adding her voice to the swell of public demand for ambitious government and corporate action to protect forests: one of nature’s strongest weapons against climate change.

Amongst the actions she sees as vital, Julia is calling for companies to invest more into community-centered REDD+ projects.

“It is so clear that people around the world are begging and calling out for forests to be protected, for people to care and take action. Our leaders, all of us, have to be more than just talking about solutions. We absolutely need to be taking action and living these solutions. I was talking about implementing ideas similar to how REDD+ works almost 25 years ago while I was doing my direct action living in Luna,” said Julia Butterfly Hill.

“Through my experience involved in this and other efforts, I learned it’s important to stand against, but while we do, it’s even more important to stand for something. REDD+ projects do that. They stand for ending deforestation, which is vital for the survival of our species. They stand for reducing emissions into our atmosphere, for protecting wildlife, and for a better life for some of the world’s most disenfranchised communities and for future generations.”

REDD+ was envisioned by the UN as a way to help reduce carbon emissions from deforestation. Today REDD+ projects protect over 3 million hectares of forest and reduce emissions by more than 63 million tons a year.

Also as part of her call for action on deforestation, Julia has collaborated with Everland on an animation of her poem Where have all the humans gone? – written during her tree-sit.   

“I was sitting on a branch of Luna just hanging and looking out over everything when it came to me. I grabbed my pad of paper and started furiously scribbling it down because the words were coming to me so fast. The poem is both sad and poignant, and given it was written all those years ago, it’s very foretelling of where we are today,” said Julia Butterfly Hill.

Media contact: Will Richardmedia@everland.earth

About Julia Butterfly Hill

Julia Butterfly Hill is a prominent American activationist and author who played a pivotal role in the late 1990s environmental movement. Stepping away from a successful business career, she gained worldwide recognition for her tree-sit protest in California’s ancient redwood forests. From December 1997 to December 1999, Julia lived on top of an ancient redwood tree she affectionately named “Luna”, from where she addressed both the United Nations and the US Congress. Her courageous action serves as a powerful statement against the unsustainable practices that threaten invaluable forest ecosystems. 

About Everland 

Everland is a specialised conservation marketing organisation in the climate change mitigation business exclusively representing the Voluntary Carbon Market’s largest portfolio of high-impact, community-centered, forest conservation (REDD+) projects. Everland brings together forest communities and corporations in a common cause to protect some of the world’s most important and vulnerable forests.

www.everland.earth

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SOURCE Everland

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UnionPay International Partners with HFC Bank for First Local ATM Acceptance in Fiji Driving Financial Inclusion

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SUVA, Fiji, April 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, UnionPay International announced that its card is now accepted at ATMs operated by HFC Bank, Fiji’s only 100% locally owned commercial bank. HFC Bank has officially launched UnionPay card acceptance at its ATMs, becoming the first domestic financial institution in the country to partner with UnionPay International.

This milestone collaboration expands UnionPay card ATM coverage in Fiji to an impressive 96%, signaling a significant leap forward in the localization of UnionPay International ‘s services in the South Pacific and injecting fresh momentum into the development of inclusive financial services in the region.

HFC Bank was established as a fully-fledged commercial bank in 2014, the bank is dedicated to becoming Fiji’s bank of choice by providing innovative, competitively priced financial solutions designed to improve customer wellbeing, create wealth for future generations, and contribute to the nation’s economic development.

The partnership between HFC Bank and UnionPay International is not only a technical upgrade—it is a strategic step toward empowering local institutions and advancing financial inclusivity in Fiji.

UnionPay International first entered the Fijian market in September 2010, making Fiji the first South Pacific nation to accept UnionPay cards. Today, 99% of POS terminals and 96 % of ATMs in the country accept UnionPay, with broad acceptance across hotels, supermarkets, duty-free shops, restaurants, and the tourism sector. Mobile payments via UnionPay App are also widely supported.

Prior to this new collaboration, UnionPay International’s local partnerships were primarily with international banks.

The new alliance with HFC Bank highlights UnionPay International’s commitment to deepening localization by working closely with local institutions to build a more inclusive and resilient payment ecosystem.

As UnionPay International’s footprint continues to grow, its focus remains clear: building accessible, inclusive, and innovative financial solutions that benefit local communities and global travelers alike.

About HFC Bank
HFC Bank is Fiji’s only locally owned commercial bank, committed to delivering personalized and innovative financial services that exceed customer expectations. With a strong foundation in governance and ethical practices, the bank offers a full range of competitively priced financial products that aim to improve customer wellbeing, create long-term value, and support national economic development. HFC Bank upholds values of humility, excellence, accountability, respect, and trust, and is dedicated to serving individuals, families, and businesses across Fiji with integrity and care.

About UnionPay International
With more than 260 million UnionPay cards issued in 83 countries and regions outside the Chinese Mainland, UnionPay International is committed to enhancing the online payment experience for its global cardholders. Accepted in 183 countries and regions, UnionPay International offers high-quality, cost-effective, and secure cross-border payment services to the world’s largest cardholder base, while delivering convenient local support to a growing network of international users and merchants. For more information, please visit: https://www.unionpayintl.com/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/unionpay-international-partners-with-hfc-bank-for-first-local-atm-acceptance-in-fiji-driving-financial-inclusion-302439023.html

SOURCE UnionPay International

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Yutong Bus Launches EnRoute+ Service Innovation and Tech-Driven Solutions to Redefine Commercial Vehicle Value Standards

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Six-Point Service Framework Elevates Efficiency and Customer Value

ZHENGZHOU, China, April 26, 2025 /CNW/ — Yutong Bus (“Yutong”, SHA: 600066), a commercial vehicle manufacturer in Asia, recently hosted the Central Asia Customer Value Exploration Tour in Zhengzhou, marked the debut of Yutong’s EnRoute+ service platform, designed to refine industry benchmarks by prioritizing technology-led solutions and fostering long-term partnerships over transactional pricing.

“Amid intensifying competition in the globe wide, Yutong is committed to transitioning clients from a ‘price-first’ mindset to a comprehensive value partnership rooted in technology and service excellence,” said Li Haifeng, CEO of Central Asia of Yutong Bus.

EnRoute+: Six Pillars of Unwavering Support

The EnRoute+ framework delivers comprehensive solutions tailored to fleet needs:

Direct Manufacturer Support: Yutong personnel are stationed locally 365 days a year, delivering professional, efficient, and reliable “butler-style” support throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle.Swift Response, Efficient Solutions: Customers can instantly connect with Yutong via the LINK+ platform or service hotline for emergency assistance, ensuring swift and effective resolution.Full Transparency: Real-time tracking of service requests, progress updates, and post-service evaluations via the Link+ digital ecosystem.Genuine Parts Assurance: A two-tier spare parts network (central warehouse + front warehouse) ensures rapid delivery of authentic parts, backed by a 15-year worry-free supply and comprehensive quality assurance.Critical Event Assurance: Specialized service teams, tailored contingency plans, and rigorous protocols are deployed to ensure flawless operations during critical events or competitions.Tailored Maintenance Plans: Proactive, tailored solutions optimize fleet uptime, reduce operational costs, and provide end-to-end support through preventative maintenance and zero-distance service management.

Yutong’s localized service approach has already delivered  measurable success. In Astana, Kazakhstan, the city’s public transit operator manages 620 Yutong buses, including 120 EVs. Concerns over post-sale support were alleviated through Yutong’s Overseas Service Package, which leverages smart diagnostics to predict faults, and slash operational costs. In Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Yutong’s electric buses withstood extreme summer temperatures exceeding 40°C while maintaining stable performance. Tailored lifecycle solutions and round-the-clock technical support enabled Tashkent’s transit authority to expand its EV fleet.

Yutong leverages decades of expertise in connectivity and new energy to deliver data-driven service solutions. By integrating global networks, advanced analytics, and intelligent platforms like LINK+, OVAS, and Intelligent Vehicle Cloud, it creates lifecycle-focused ecosystems that boost efficiency, innovation, and customer-centric excellence worldwide.

For more info, please visit https://en.yutong.com/.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yutong-bus-launches-enroute-service-innovation-and-tech-driven-solutions-to-redefine-commercial-vehicle-value-standards-302439014.html

SOURCE Yutong Bus

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World-Famous Master Craftsman Completes First-Ever Auto Show Build in Front of Thousands

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NEW YORK, April 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In a two-day, jaw-dropping high-intensity live performance, that made international headlines and lit up social media, legendary Porsche builder Akira Nakai, completed his first-ever auto show build at the 2025 New York Auto Show. The completed vehicle is now on display and can be seen through Sunday, April 27.

Flying in from Japan, Nakai transformed a 2006 Porsche Carrera S into one of his iconic wide-body creations right on the show floor, attracting huge crowds, major media coverage, and going viral across social media. The build took place over April 23 and 24 in the R2XPO Exhibit, where visitors watched, photographed, and filmed the master craftsman in action. From the moment he started cutting to the final bolt, the atmosphere was electric.

The activation quickly went viral, racking up millions of views across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube within hours. Photos and footage of Nakai San deep in the build process spread like wildfire, turning the R2XPO Exhibit into one of the most talked-about attractions at this year’s Show.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/world-famous-master-craftsman-completes-first-ever-auto-show-build-in-front-of-thousands-302438994.html

SOURCE New York International Auto Show

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