Category: International

June 13, 2018Events and Festivals, International

VIVID SYDNEY CELEBRATES TEN YEARS

Vivid Sydney 2018 Precincts

The world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas,Vivid Sydneyreturns in 2018 with a spectacular new precinct at Luna Park, the return of much-loved Customs House, and a fantastical blend of everyday objects and Australian-inspired motifs on the sails of the Sydney Opera House.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events,Adam Marshallsaid, “Vivid Sydney has delighted and inspired people from aroundAustraliaand the world. With the Festival now in its 10thyear, visitors and locals alike can once again expect to be mesmerised by the Vivid Sydney program, with larger installations and a gripping Music and Ideas offering, so I encourage visitors to start planning their trip early to get the most out of this year’s exciting line-up.

“Over 23 nights from Friday 25 May to Saturday 16 June, Vivid Sydney will paint the Harbour City in the colour and spectacle of Vivid Light, take over Sydney stages with Vivid Music’s electric performances and collaborations, and provide a global forum for thought-provoking debate and creative discussion at Vivid Ideas.”

Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW and in 2017, attracted a record-breaking 2.33 million attendees to Vivid Sydney, delivering an incredible$143 millionof visitor expenditure into the NSW economy.

VIVID LIGHT

For the first time, Vivid Sydney’s dazzling Light Walk extends to new precinctLuna Park Sydney,where the iconic amusement park comes alive with a large-scale projection on the facade of Coney Island. The show celebrates the history, magic, creativity, engineering, fantasy and imagination that have come together to create millions of memories on this unique and special site. This year also marks the first time Luna Park’s iconicFerris Wheelwill be lit for the festival following an LED refit, which has included a massive boost in the number of lights adorning the wheel.

Vivid Sydney’s bright lights will illuminate theRoyal Botanic Garden Sydneyagain in 2018, where visitors will follow a pathway that weaves through an exciting nocturnal environment inspired by nature. Here,Parrot Partyinspired by the New Zealand Kea Parrot and the Australian Rainbow Lorikeet comes alive as people gather, breaking into song and radiating colourful light.Aqueouswill dazzle with its interactive landscape of meandering pathways of light, which will flow and glow in full illuminated interactivity, engaging visitors in collaborative play.The Bloom,a giant electric, metallic flower with petals adorned with mirrors that refract and reflect light, puts you in the centre of the flower capturing the perfect photo moment, andHe’e nalugives the joyous sensation of surfing a wave.

In celebration of their 100 year anniversary,May Gibbs’iconic and immortal characters,Snugglepot and Cuddlepieand their stalwart companions come to life on the façade ofCustoms House, as they journey through the Australian Bush and encounter the weird, the wonderful, and things quite unknown altogether. This whimsical piece will be narrated by renowned Australian film and television actressNoni Hazlehurst AM, Patron of the Australian Children’s Laureate, and beloved by Play School devotees far and wide.

All eyes turn to the World-Heritage listedSydney Opera Houseat the centre of the Vivid Light Walk forLighting of the Sails, created in 2018 by award-winning Australian artistJonathan Zawada. Visitors will be captivated byMetamathemagical,a bold and dynamic display of morphing digital sculptures inspired by recognisable Australian motifs across science, nature and culture.

Sydney’s iconic buildings will once again be transformed, including the facade of theMuseum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA)withVirtual Vibration, a highly-collaborative creative work produced in conjunction with MCA Collection artistJonny Niescheand composerMark Pritchard. Interactive lighting displaySkylarkwill let visitors put their own colourful mark on the city, stretching from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the skyscrapers of Circular Quay to the reaches ofSydney Harbour.

Network Ten and MasterChef Australia will bring a magical experience to the facade of the ASN Co. Building in The Rocks, in celebration of both Masterchef and Vivid Sydney’s 10thBirthday withMystery Gateau. Mini construction-worker chefs will guide you on a journey of fun and wonderment, with the famous MasterChef clock ticking down to the final extraordinary surprise.

Popular precincts Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbour, Chatswood, Barangaroo and Kings Cross will return in 2018.

Festival favourites from last year are back along with a whole new mob of fierce, fantastic, quirky and endearing species forTaronga Zoo’s Lights for the Wild.Visitors will discover some new spectacular animal light sculptures, and learn how Taronga is working to help save 10 species from extinction over the next 10 years.

An art-meets-technology water fountain, light and laser experience takesDarling Harbourvisitors into a dream-like dive under the ocean, while the iconic rooftop of the Australian National Maritime Museum will be projected with BBC Earth and SirDavid Attenborough’sBlue Planet II,exploring the fascinating world beneath the waves.

A pop-up market inspired by the colourful neighbourhood street markets ofBrazil, built from a scaffold and recycled materials and lit by lasers will transform theChatswoodCBD. The Concourse will take visitors on an immersive, deep dive into space featuring NASA’s amazing imagery and 360-degree projection.

Barangarooglows under layers of light and sound that evoke the surrounding waterways, with the precinct coming to life through the magnificent art of puppetry with a breathtaking, giant luminescent creature venturing along the waterfront in a theatrical display of sound and light.

Precinct contributor Coca-Cola returns to light up the streets of Sydney’s iconicKings Crossand to support another KX program in 2018. The colourful strip along Darlinghurst Road will be transformed with a spectacular display of light and life. The famous Coca-Cola sign comes alive again in 2018 with an array of flair and a creative colour show. Other Vivid KX transformations include the historic Victorian Terrace; World Bar, which will unfurl a multi-story house party, and the renowned Kings Cross Hotel, which will host cutting-edge artists curated by legendary party-crews.

VIVID MUSIC

Vivid Music ups the ante in 2018 with an electric line-up, from noise to jazz, sonic experimentation to the soul. Highlights include a one-night-only performance by Grammy award-winning rock-goddessSt. Vincent,and the return ofCurve Ballheadlined byAlison Wonderland— a large-scale live music and art event created by the team behind Field Day, Harbourlife and Listen Out — both atCarriageworks.

The City Recital Hall returns to the program, tracking the extraordinary rise in jazz with theInnovators In Jazzseries featuring the undisputed king, triple Grammy award-winner saxophonistBranford Marsalis. The world’s finest jazz vocalists includingKurt Ellingand chanteuseMadeleine Peyroux will line up alongsideOrange is the New BlackstarLea Delariain her musical comedy, jazz interpretation show.

Vivid LIVEat theSydney Opera Househosts a stellar line-up of Australian exclusives as part of Vivid Sydney, including several Opera House debuts. Highlights this year include American dream-pop iconsMazzy Star, the godfather of West Coast rapIce Cube,acclaimed 90s indie rock singer/songwriterCat Power, Grammy award-winning artistSolange,and the long-awaited collaboration between iconic Australian artistsDaniel JohnsandLuke Steele.

Now in its 4thyear as part of Vivid Sydney,Heaps Gaystruts uptown to Sydney Town Hall for an unmissable experience, the inauguralQueen’s Ball.Other not-to-be-missed events includeYoung Hearts Run Freeand one ofAustralia’smost exciting breakthrough artists performing at the Enmore Theatre,Vera Blue.

Also returning to Vivid Music in 2018 isX|Celerate, a partnership between Vivid Sydney and theCity of Sydneyto enliven music venues across town. Showcasing grassroots and emerging local music talent, highlights will includePurple Sneakers12thbirthday at The Lansdowne, a fusion of food, wine and music at Cake Wines Cellar Door, andHAPPYandVISIONSat The Lady Hampshire.

You may also like Six must-visit Foodie places in Sydney

VIVID IDEAS

As architects of the future, it’s time to join the masterminds and creative catalysts at Vivid Ideas for inspiration. Vivid Ideas provides a forum to workshop, collaborate and cultivate fresh thinking to drive the creative agenda across tech, design, entertainment and culture. Vivid Ideas returns in 2018 with some of the world’s greatest minds as we explore the future-shaping scenarios that will define our lives.

Vivid Ideas 2018 showcases those who are leading the way in technology, creativity and science. Game Changers and Creative Catalysts this year include film-maker, marine explorer and conservationistJames Cameron.In a Vivid Sydney exclusive, James will explore his passion for science and technology, and how it has influenced his work as a film director and environmentalist. James will be joined in conversation byAdam Spencer,while inSydneyto open theJames Cameron – Challenging the Deepexhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Australian global success storyDare Jennings— founder of Mambo Clothing, Phantom Records and Deus ex Machina — joins his good friendJames Valentineto discuss creating cult brands that cut across age and lifestyles as well the joys of throwing out the rulebook.

Futurist and game developer,Jane McGonigalcan prove games have the power transform our real world lives. She and Artificial Intelligence expertKriti Sharmajoin Vivid Ideas to explore the latest in AI, VR and gaming to ask what kind of society we can create with technology.

Visual strategist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and co-founder of the Museum of Awe,Dan Goodsjoins the Vivid Ideas Creative Catalysts line-up to explore how creativity and science interplay and why NASA has a virtual strategist.

TheNew Horizonsseries explores the mega-trends and micro-developments in technology and innovation and shines a light on experts tackling the biggest issues with creativity in a bid to make our future brighter. Topics includeFuture Fashion, Algae is the New Black, Blockchain DecodedandEvolving Democracy.

Over three successive Wednesdays, Vivid Sydney will take over the Art Gallery of NSW to create an intimate portrait of our better selves. Our special guests dare to ask if we can improve dying, how we can find common ground when and where there’s conflict, and why we should nudge perceptions around female sexuality. These events will be accompanied by curated music fromGold heist, Air Land SeaandHaiku Hands.

The Vivid Ideas Exchange at the Museum of Contemporary Art returns, boasting a diverse line-up of talks presented by creative experts covering topics including the future of work, the ethics of humanizing technology and how to become agents for change.

VIVID SPONSORS

Vivid Sydney thanks its sponsors for their support of Vivid Sydney 2018. Partners include American Express returning for the second year of partnership, and introducing a new partner, Samsung. Supporters includeCity of Sydney, Oracle Liquid, Property NSW, Sydney Opera House, TAFE NSW, Technical Direction Company, Transgrid, Transport for NSW and 32 Hundred Lighting. For the second year, Vivid Sydney’s Access and Inclusion partner is Cushman and Wakefield, Coca-Cola returns as Kings Cross precinct contributor and the festival continues its sustainability partnership with the Banksia Foundation. Also new to Vivid Sydney are Vivid Collaborators, CSIRO, Gateway Sydney, Network 10, ATS Logistics, Kennards Hire andRed Balloon.

Source- Hotel and tourism online

Image source- Vivid Sydney

June 4, 2018Events and Festivals, International

What to do this World Environment Day?

World Environment Day- Plastic pollution

World Environment Day is the UN’s most important day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Since it began in 1974, it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries.

Trashing ocean- World Environment Day
by Ingrid Taylor, Stop Trashing My Ocean …

This year the theme for World Environment Day is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’.

The theme invites us all to consider how we can make changes in our everyday lives to reduce the heavy burden of plastic pollution on our natural places, our wildlife – and our own health.

While plastic has many valuable uses, we have become over-reliant on single-use or disposable plastic – with severe environmental consequences. This World Environment Day join in raising awareness and inspiring action to form the global movement needed to beat plastic pollution for good.

Individuals, the private sector and policymakers all have critical roles to play.

• Plastic pollution is a defining environmental challenge for our time.

• In the next 10-15 years global plastic production is projected to nearly double.

• Avoiding the worst of these outcomes demands a complete rethinking of the way we produce, use and manage plastic.

• Individuals are increasingly exercising their power as consumers. People are turning down plastic straws and cutlery, cleaning beaches and coastlines, and reconsidering their purchase habits in supermarket aisles. If this happens enough, retailers will quickly get the message to ask their suppliers to do better.

• While these steps are a cause for celebration, the reality is that individual action alone cannot solve the problem. Even if every one of us does what we can to reduce our plastic footprint – and of course we must– we must also address the problem at its source.

• Consumers must not only be actors but drivers for the behaviour change that must also happen upstream.

• Ultimately, our plastic problem is one of design. Our manufacturing, distribution, consumption and trade systems for plastic – indeed our global economy –need to change.

• The linear model of planned obsolescence, in which items are designed to be thrown away immediately after use, sometimes after just seconds, must end.

• At the heart of this is extended producer responsibility, where manufacturers must be held to account for the entire life-cycle of their consumer products. At the same time, those companies actively embracing their social responsibility should be rewarded for moving to a more circular model of design and production, further incentivizing other companies to do the same.

• Changes to consumer and business practice must be supported and in some cases driven by policy.

• Policymakers and governments worldwide must safeguard precious environmental resources and indeed public health by encouraging sustainable production and consumption through legislation.

• To stem the rising tide of single-use plastics, we need government leadership and in some cases strong intervention.

You may like to read International Mother Earth Day

UN environment on Twitter- World Environment Day
Show us how you plan to #BeatPlasticPollution as we countdown to # WorldEnvironmentDay

Beat Plastic pollution if you can’t reuse it, refuse it.

****

Every year there is a specially designed theme for World Environment Day which is decided by the host country.

Recalling last year’s theme The World Environment Day 2017, ‘Connecting People to Nature’. The motto of 2017 theme was to drive people to step outside and re-connect with the world and nature once again. The UN believes that people need to enjoy nature once again, so they realise the value of the planet and do their bit in bringing about change.

I recently came across an interesting book titled ‘The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert. She has won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize in General Non-fiction.

Over the last half a billion years, there have been five mass extinctions, when the diversity of life on earth suddenly and dramatically contracted. Scientists around the world are currently monitoring the sixth extinction, predicted to be the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. This time around, the cataclysm is us.

In The Sixth Extinction, two-time winner of the National Magazine Award and New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert draws on the work of scores of researchers in half a dozen disciplines, accompanying many of them into the field: geologists who study deep ocean cores, botanists who follow the tree line as it climbs up the Andes, marine biologists who dive off the Great Barrier Reef. She introduces us to a dozen species, some already gone, others facing extinction, including the Panamanian golden frog, staghorn coral, the great auk, and the Sumatran rhino. Through these stories, Kolbert provides a moving account of the disappearances occurring all around us and traces the evolution of extinction as concept, from its first articulation by Georges Cuvier in revolutionary Paris up through the present day. The sixth extinction is likely to be mankind’s most lasting legacy; as Kolbert observes, it compels us to rethink the fundamental question of what it means to be human.

The environment on Earth has been deteriorating, which is often referred to as the planet is ‘dying’. As the number of trees keeps depleting and the pollution rates reach sky-high, there are simple steps that each person can take to protect and save the environment.

Our cosmic oasis, cosmic blue pearl
the most beautiful planet in the universe
all the continents and the oceans of the world
united we stand as flora and fauna
united we stand as species of one earth
black, brown, white, different colours
we are humans, the earth is our home.

Our cosmic oasis, cosmic blue pearl
the most beautiful planet in the universe
all the people and the nations of the world
all for one and one for all
united we unfurl the blue marble flag
black, brown, white, different colours
we are humans, the earth is our home.

~ Abhay K

sources http://worldenvironmentday.global/

http://www.pulitzer.org/winners/elizabeth-kolbert

April 21, 2018Events and Festivals, International

International Mother Earth Day

Mother Earth Day

We have termed earth as our mother, as she has stood by us for centuries as a source of belief and guidance. You don’t have to be a religious person to spiritually feel and come to terms with our part in the universe, the Earth, our only home.

It is very important to know where we came from, as it will make it clear for us to know where we will go. We have prospered due to our technological genius, but at the same time has also alienated us from the world of Nature.

The International Mother Earth Day, this year in 2018

The issues are many – we live in an environment that works hard to put us under stress, the pace at which we are going is often at times faster than our lives, noise levels are far beyond bearable decibel levels, the pollution higher and the environment beyond conducive.

Earth Day
Earth Day, Land, Environment, Women
Image credit- Pixabay

The International Mother Earth Day is being observed on the 22nd of April every year reminding us that it is the Earth and its ecosystem that provides us with life and sustenance. It calls to recognize a collective responsibility to encourage and promote harmony with nature and thereby the Earth.

This year in 2018, the focus is on to “End Plastic Pollution”, to create support for a global effort in order to eliminate the use of plastic and regulate means in plastic use and plastic waste disposal. This awareness is aimed to convey and educate people around the globe to about the numerous health and other risks associated with the use and disposal of plastics which includes pollution of oceans and water resources, dangers to wildlife and other related serious global health issues.

Motivating People to save the Earth

Mother Earth has her needs too. Here are some campaigns that we can collectively participate in to support, protect, nurture and motivate our environment. Let’s take steps to do our bit. Although believing that every day of the year should be Earth Day, let’s ourselves take the first step forward.

  • Clean out Your Wardrobes and Donate to a Charity: do you really know that manufacturing new clothes needs more energy and water? And at the same time, there are many in this world who don’t have the resources to buy new ones and even have one also. It is a great idea to empty your closets and donate the ones to the local charity which you might not have even seen for years.

Do this and for sure you will feel good about it, and also who receive them will be thankful and bless you for this action of yours.

  • Educate and initiate people on Compost: just imagine how much trash we individually make every year. Composting is a great way to use the things in your refrigerator that you don’t use and therefore eliminating waste. Keep a container or a bin at your home or in the garden and collect items like fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, plant clips, dry leaves, newspapers shredded and straws, and the outcome is a soil conditioner that is rich in nutrients, and can be used for gardens, landscaping, horticulture, urban agriculture and organic farming.
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Trust Basket Trustbin (Set Of Two 14 Ltrs Bins)-Indoor Compost Bin For Converting All Kinds Of Kitchen Food Waste Into Fertilizer

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Do this yourself and encourage others to do it. A great and valuable way to get rid of wastes.

  • Plant Trees: might sound like a bit melancholic, but is perhaps one of the best ways to appreciate mother earth and the environment. The fact is that global warming is a result of the buildup of greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere thereby trapping heat. Trees have great abilities to suck up these gasses and making the environment cooler and conducive.
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Root Bridges Indoor Golden Money Plant

Plant a tree and encourage others to do it, and just imagine a tree a person – how much difference can it actually make to the atmosphere.

  • A day without your Car: make a choice today to leave for work or any other activity without your car and taking other means of public transport, biking or even cycling. Just imagine how much will you alone can contribute to the atmosphere by relieving it from pollution and higher greenhouse gas emissions. Your health and the environment will both benefit.

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Go Green
  • Say no to Plastic Bags: a symbol of the disposable consumer society, single-use plastic bags are a major threat to the environment and all water bodies. Plastic bags once thrown in the ground takes centuries to degenerate and never decomposes into the soil.
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Multipurpose Shopping Bag – Cotton Tote Bag with Zipper Closure & Double Handles

Keep a bag made out of jute or cotton and never insist for a plastic bag if you don’t need one. If you have purchased a single item, carry by hand and never throw away the old plastic bags carelessly.

‘Civilization is rooted in nature, which has shaped human culture and influenced all artistic and scientific achievement, and living in harmony with nature gives a man the best opportunities for the development of his creativity, and for rest and recreation.’

– By the World Charter of Nature.

Rajiv Seharawat is a man who wears many feathers on his hat. He is a one-man army and runs the whole show. He is in his Diet Clinic Health Care Pvt. Ltd. He is visiting his Franchise outlets and happily giving time to his friends and others and motivating everyone to do the best in their life.

You may like to read Mother Earth – Best Places of Interest

April 18, 2018Events and Festivals, International

World Heritage Day

Cambodia, World Heritage Day

World Heritage is the shared wealth of humankind. Protecting and preserving this valuable asset demands the collective efforts of the international community. This special day offers an opportunity to raise the public’s awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as draw attention to its vulnerability.

On 18 April 1982 on the occasion of a symposium organised by ICOMOS in Tunisia, the holding of the “International Day for Monuments and Sites” to be celebrated simultaneously throughout the world was suggested. This project was approved by the Executive Committee who provided practical suggestions to the National Committees on how to organise this day.

The idea was also approved by the UNESCO General Conference who passed a resolution at its 22nd session in November 1983 recommending that Member States examine the possibility of declaring 18 April each year “International Monuments and Sites Day”. This has been traditionally called the World Heritage Day.

ICOMOS, the International Council for Monuments and Sites makes a number of suggestions on how to celebrate the World Heritage Day:

  • Visits to monuments and sites, and restoration works, possibly with free admission
  • Articles in newspapers and magazines, as well as television and radio broadcasts
  • Hanging banners in town squares or principal traffic arteries calling attention to the day and the preservation of cultural heritage
  • Inviting local and foreign experts and personalities for conferences and interviews
  • Organising discussions in cultural-centres, city halls, and other public spaces
  • Exhibitions (photos, paintings, etc)
  • Publication of books, post-cards, stamps, posters
  • Awarding prizes to organisations or persons who have made an outstanding contribution to the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage or produced an excellent publication on the subject.
  • Inaugurate a recently restored monument
  • Special awareness raising activities amongst school children and youth
  • Promotion of “twinning” opportunities between organizations, defining areas for co-operation; exchange of speakers; organisation of meetings and seminars, or the editing of joint publications.

There are over 1000 UNESCO World Heritage Sites as been recognized so far. However, among these sites, there is top 10 most beautiful and attractive sites that you must see.

1) ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA

2) ACROPOLIS, GREECE

3) GALÁPAGOS ISLAND, ECUADOR

4) GOREME NATIONAL PARK AND THE ROCK SITES OF CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY

5) GREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA

6) HAMPI, INDIA

7) IGUAZU NATIONAL PARK FALL, BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA

8) LOS GLACIARES NATIONAL PARK, ARGENTINA

9) MACHU PICCHU, PERU

10) MONT-SAINT-MICHEL, FRANCE

Source- Did you know that 18 April
is World Heritage Day?

Image Credit: WikiPedia http://www.wikipedia.org/

For more info see http://www.heritagedaily.com/2014/08/…

To get more amazing pictures, go to http://www.goamazing.net

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