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Global Times: Species thriving thanks to policy, consensus in China

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BEIJING, Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Under the global framework for biodiversity, more wildlife species are increasing in number and enjoying a better space for living and breeding in China with the help of advanced technology and more popular caring, according to the Chinese delegation from diverse institutes and organizations at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity that is being held in Cali, Colombia.

A prolonged whistle resonated through the sky, prompting visitors to lift their cameras in anticipation of capturing the migratory birds that were arriving. In recent years, tens of thousands of migratory birds such as cormorants fly each autumn to Shenzhen, a subtropical metropolis in South China, making the city one of the most important stops for these birds in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Their numbers are still increasing as the local environment improves. Environmental conservation organizations, including the Mangrove Conservation Foundation (MCF), see the growing population of migratory birds as a signal that urban biodiversity in China is heading in the right direction. 

Only around a few meters away from visitors, a black-faced spoonbill heads down in search of food over the wetlands at the Futian Mangrove National Nature Reserve alongside dozens of its brethren. Meanwhile, in the Futian Mangrove Ecological Park, an Eurasian otter, a species that disappeared from the Shenzhen Bay for nearly 20 years, has re-emerged.  

Chen Yudong, a staff member with the Mangrove Conservation Foundation who focuses on the protection and biodiversity of wetlands, told the Global Times that the Futian Mangrove Ecological Park is currently home to five species listed as National Key Protected Wildlife, including the Eastern imperial eagle, the black-faced spoonbill, and the small Indian civet. 

Additionally, the park has 39 nationally protected wildlife species at the second level (including birds, mammals, and reptiles). From 2015 to 2023, the number of insect species had risen from 109 to 1,224, while bird species had increased from 83 to 220.  

To maintain and improve biodiversity in metropolises like Shenzhen, Chinese environmentalists are exploring the effective application of emerging technologies and analytical methods in biodiversity monitoring, such as bioacoustics, weather radar data, and artificial intelligence, according to Insights for Cities on Biodiversity, an initiative focusing on how to sustain urban biodiversity, published in Shenzhen in September. 

For instance, during the migratory season, weather radar is being promoted to analyze and predict the flight paths of bird flocks, informing the implementation of lighting management strategies. This technology can help reduce accidents involving birds colliding with tall buildings or windows, particularly at night.

The delegation of the conservation foundation brought the initiative to COP16 and shared China’s experience with people who are concerned about how global biodiversity is being impacted by the continuously expanding urban areas around the world. 

Chen said that these projects and technologies are all aimed at speeding up achieving the global target set for 2030 and beyond to safeguard and sustainably use biodiversity, which was clarified in the framework, also known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at the COP15 during the Chinese presidency.

Shenzhen is not the only city that protects wetlands and preserves an international channel for migratory birds. Black-faced spoonbills have also been observed in the wetlands in East China’s Zhejiang and Fujian provinces and South China’s Guangxi.

Li Cheng, founder of the Xizijiang Ecological Conservation Center, has also been encouraged and guided by the biodiversity framework. 

“Since the COP15 was held in Kunming, I have felt the growing emphasis on ecological and biological protection from the public and authorities. More people are aware of the importance of sustaining the populations of each species on the Earth through public outreach programs,” Li told the Global Times, noting growing social consensus on biodiversity conservation seen in his daily work.

The infrared cameras set up by Li’s patrol team around the Wuqinzhang Mountain in Guangdong have recently captured additional pangolin movements, further bolstering Li’s confidence that the population of these endangered creatures is increasing.

Li still remembers the excitement he felt when one infrared camera first captured a pangolin at the end of 2018 and the night when he and colleagues repeatedly checked the pangolin’s photo multiple times. 

Chinese pangolins were assessed as “critically endangered” by the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species in 2019 and was even thought to be functionally extinct at the time of its assessment.

Now more and more people, including local villagers who have joined the patrol team, have begun to devote their lives to protecting pangolins. To improve the efficiency of their conservation efforts, Li noted that in addition to infrared cameras, a mobile application especially developed for patrol personnel has been put into use. The app is constantly updated with real-time information on the pangolins, thereby informing those on patrol of urgent situations.

“We have begun to shift our priorities and are more focused on restoring the pangolins’ habitat and making more creative use of conservation technologies,” Li noted.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-times-species-thriving-thanks-to-policy-consensus-in-china-302293621.html

SOURCE Global Times

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Donors Give a Record-breaking $37 Million During Minnesota’s Annual Give to the Max Day

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November 22, 2024

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The statewide giving day raised money for 6,556 Minnesota nonprofits and schools

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Tens of thousands of donors from Minnesota and around the world gave more than $37 million to 6,556 organizations during Give to the Max Day yesterday, the 16th annual statewide giving event for Minnesota nonprofits and schools. This year’s giving total surpassed last year’s $34.2 million, setting a new record, previously held in 2021.

Organizers at GiveMN are delighted with the outcome, particularly in light of national trends suggesting that donations may remain flat or decline again this year. This remarkable display of generosity bolsters the resilience of nonprofits and schools across Minnesota, many of which depend on Give to the Max as their largest annual fundraiser.

Give to the Max Day 2024 drew donors both within Minnesota and around the world. Contributions and participation spanned all 87 Minnesota counties, every U.S. state, and 36 countries worldwide.

Originally conceived and launched in 2009 as a one-time campaign to raise awareness for the new GiveMN.org fundraising platform, Give to the Max Day has since evolved into Minnesota’s yearly celebration of generosity and a powerful demonstration of support for organizations throughout the state and the 11 Native nations that share the same geography. Donors have given more than $365 million to more than 10,000 organizations since the inaugural Give to the Max Day in 2009, making it one of the first and largest giving days in the nation.

“While more than $37 million raised is an incredible achievement, it’s just the beginning of the story,” said Jake Blumberg, executive director of GiveMN. “The true power of yesterday’s generosity lies in the countless lives and communities that will be transformed across Minnesota. Thanks to the support of thousands of donors, nonprofits and schools are equipped to create lasting change in our state.”

GiveMN distributed over $100,000 in prize grants to Minnesota organizations with “Golden Ticket” drawings every 15 minutes, adding a surprise element of generosity for more than 150 donors. This year, the grand prize Super-Sized Golden Ticket awarded a $10,000 bonus to Our Justice in Minneapolis.

Give to the Max Day was presented with support from sponsors at the Bush Foundation, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Initiative Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Southwest Minnesota Initiative Foundation, and West Central Initiative.

GiveMN.org is online and available year-round as a central hub for generosity in Minnesota. Donors may create a free account to set up monthly gifts, set up fundraisers for their favorite causes and download reports of their giving history. Visit GiveMN.org to learn more.

About GiveMN
GiveMN is an independent nonprofit organization working to ignite generosity and grow giving through GiveMN.org, Minnesota’s giving marketplace, and RaiseMN, a fundraising coaching and training program.    

Since 2009, more than 770,000 donors have made gifts with ease and enthusiasm through givemn.org to make a difference for causes in their communities. Through this online marketplace for generosity, and giving events like the annual Give to the Max Day, GiveMN has helped to generate more than $430 million for more than 14,000 nonprofits and schools.

RaiseMN serves Minnesota nonprofits through individualized coaching and programs to transform nonprofit fundraising. Focusing on small- to medium-sized organizations, RaiseMN builds more healthy and sustainable fundraising practices so nonprofits can continue to pursue and expand their mission in their communities.

Launched in 2009 by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, GiveMN is supported by many generous foundation and corporate partners, contributions from individual donors, and revenue from its programs.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/donors-give-a-record-breaking-37-million-during-minnesotas-annual-give-to-the-max-day-302313997.html

SOURCE GiveMN

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Bendable Labs Honored as a Winner in Responsible Technology in the Fourth Annual Anthem Awards

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November 22, 2024

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Bendable Labs announced today that it has been named by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences as a bronze winner in the fourth annual Anthem Awards.

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Bendable Labs announced today that it has been named by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences as a bronze winner in the fourth annual Anthem Awards.

“Technology is at its best when it’s used to connect people to people, not just people to platforms.”

The company was recognized in the “Responsible Technology – Partnership or Collaboration” category for a project in Carlsbad, California, which equipped the local public library with a digital job-readiness platform for its patrons. Goals included helping the library play a more effective role in the local workforce ecosystem, fostering economic mobility for entry-level job seekers and providing insights to successfully scale the model to other communities.

“What this project in San Diego County demonstrated is that technology is at its best when it’s used to connect people to people, not just people to platforms,” said Sarah Zaner, co-president of Bendable Labs, a social purpose corporation that designs, builds and tests solutions in the areas of lifelong learning, workforce development and job quality. “We’re grateful to all of our local partners, especially the Carlsbad Department of Innovation & Economic Development and the Carlsbad City Library, for helping us realize this vision.”

The fourth Annual Anthem Awards was the most competitive yet, with more than 2,300 entries submitted from 34 countries.

“As a startup, it’s both exciting and validating to see us being honored alongside such outstanding organizations as AARP, Samsung and the United Nations Development Programme, and UNICEF USA,” said Rick Wartzman, Bendable Labs co-president. “These are challenging times, and we’re all trying to make a difference in our own way.”

Wartzman and Zaner noted that the library-based workforce development model that was piloted in Carlsbad is now being rolled out in west Tennessee, where Ford Motor is building a $5.6 billion “mega campus” to assemble an expanded lineup of electric F-Series vehicles. Bendable Labs is partnering with the Tennessee State Library to create job-readiness pathways at 18 libraries throughout the region. Entry-level job seekers will be able to earn a library-backed microcredential, signaling that they have in-demand skills and are ready to go to work or acquire more advanced training.

About Bendable Labs

Bendable Labs aims to improve economic stability, mobility and opportunity for people across the United States Spun out of the Drucker Institute at Claremont Graduate University, we are registered in California as a social purpose corporation. For more, please visit bendablelabs.com.

About The Anthem Awards

Launched in 2021 by the Webby Awards, a program of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, the Anthem Awards honors the purpose and mission-driven work of people, companies and organizations worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, we’re defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their own communities. The Anthem Awards honors work across seven core causes: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Education; Art & Culture; Health; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Responsible Technology; and Sustainability, Environment & Climate. This season’s partners include Ms. Magazine, The Female Quotient, Sustainable Brands, NationSwell, and TheFutureParty. The Awards were founded in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, Glaad, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF and XQ.

Media Contact

Phalana Tiller, Bendable Labs, 1 3238960626, phalana@bendablelabs.com, https://bendablelabs.com

Twitter, LinkedIn

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/bendable-labs-honored-as-a-winner-in-responsible-technology-in-the-fourth-annual-anthem-awards-302313513.html

SOURCE Bendable Labs

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PetSafe® Unleashes Early Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals – Big Savings on Must-Have Pet Essentials!

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14 minutes ago

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November 22, 2024

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Exclusive Discounts on GPS Tracking, Automatic Litter Boxes, Cat Toys, Booster Seats, and More

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — PetSafe®, a trusted leader in pet care products and solutions, is excited to announce its early Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, starting November 17th. Pet parents can now score exclusive discounts on a wide range of popular products to keep their furry companions healthy, happy, and safe this holiday season.

Among the standout deals, pet owners can save $100 on the PetSafe® Guardian® GPS + Tracking system, reducing its original price of $399.95 to just $299.95. Additionally, pet fountains, such as the Outlast model, will be available at 15% off, providing a refreshing solution for pets at an affordable price. Select ScoopFree® Litter Boxes, known for their self-cleaning technology, will feature discounts of up to $80, making them an even more appealing choice for cat owners.

Furthermore, PetSafe® is offering a range of items at 15% off, including cat doors, Busy Buddy® toys, select cat toys, and booster seats, allowing pet owners to upgrade or replace essential pet care items while enjoying fantastic savings. These deals can be found on the PetSafe® website, with additional discounts available in Costco stores for added convenience.

This early holiday shopping event presents the perfect opportunity for pet parents to stock up on high-quality products that support their pets’ well-being, comfort, and entertainment. From innovative GPS tracking solutions to interactive toys, PetSafe® offers something for every pet this season.

For more information on PetSafe’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, visit PetSafe.com or follow PetSafe® on social media for the latest updates.

About PetSafe®
PetSafe® is the flagship retail brand of PetSafe Brands™, the world’s leading cat and dog products supplier. As a family of consumer brands that also includes Invisible Fence Brand®, SportDOG®, Kurgo® and Premier Pet®, PetSafe Brands™ is dedicated to unleashing joy for pet families everywhere by keeping pets healthy, safe and happy for a lifetime.

Contact:
Janna Chollet
917-826-8511
JChollet@PetSafe.net

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/petsafe-unleashes-early-black-friday–cyber-monday-deals–big-savings-on-must-have-pet-essentials-302313706.html

SOURCE PetSafe®

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