Best orangutan sanctuary

Kotare Village, nestled in a fertile, picturesque valley in northern Hawke’s Bay, was supposed to be an eco-village for settlers and families “sharing a dream of a regenerative future through independent village living, local economies and co-evolution”. But that dream has ended in bitter argument, claims of deceit and misrepresentation, unhappy residents and court action. The village was an idea hatched by Bob Corker and his wife Kay Baxter, well known for forming the Koanga Institute, a Charitable Trust, that aimed to protect, develop and share New Zealand's heritage food plants, with an emphasis on regenerative systems. In about 2010 Corker and Baxter took their concept further and set about founding a “living model of life-affirming community that meets people’s needs, in a process that is regenerative of both their environment and their social relationships”. READ MORE: How kaitiakitanga can guide us in our approach to the modern world Residents of Atamai eco village … [Read more...] about Idyllic eco-village dream mired in claims of deception and court action

For most of us, it’s been a pretty weird year. It felt like time slowed to a crawl; yet, 2020 seems to have gone by in a flash. Activities, plans and routines have been displaced. We’ve had to adjust to a “new normal”. Rebecca Lim and Elvin Ng are familiar with that feeling. Even at this CNA Lifestyle shoot, Rebecca said, “it’s pretty surreal” that the Christmas season is here once again, “because where did the year go to”? Turning reflective, she added, “I guess 2020 has been both a gift and a lesson”. Elvin echoed the exact same sentiments. “This whole year has been like a lesson, and we learn to appreciate what’s closest to us, to look at it in a good way,” he said. He chooses to believe that “next year can only be better. I think we can come out tougher from this”. In the meantime, both actors are more than content to stay safely cocooned at home, even if it means missing out on travelling for the holidays. Elvin, whose birthday is two days before Christmas, said he … [Read more...] about ‘A gift and a lesson’: Rebecca Lim and Elvin Ng reflect on 2020 this Christmas season

SINGAPORE: A dog owner who euthanised his pet because of its aggression said he feels "vindicated" after a recently completed four-month investigation found he did not break the law. Christian, who only wanted to be known by his first name, and his wife did not fail in their duty of care or commit animal cruelty after they put down their dog Loki in April, the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) said in investigations findings released on Tuesday (Sep 15). The couple from Denmark adopted Loki in December 2017 from dog welfare group Exclusively Mongrels. Loki grew to become “more confident and confrontational”, with more frequent and severe bite or attack incidents, AVS said. Loki bit and attacked other dogs and people on 12 occasions between 2018 and 2020, AVS stated, adding that his owners had explored various options before euthanasia, including medication, training and rehoming. The case sparked outrage among some netizens who felt euthanasia was not justified. … [Read more...] about Euthanasia of dog Loki: Owner feels ‘vindicated’ by AVS findings, says he lived through hell

NEW YORK CITY: Flaviano Villanueva was in tears last Thursday. It was day five of the “enhanced community quarantine” in Metro Manila, where the priest runs a homeless centre. The sprawling Philippine capital of 13 million people had been sealed off, and police and army troopers were guarding municipal boundaries to prevent entry and exit. Businesses were shuttered, and public transport was scarce. Early that morning, dozens of homeless people lined up on the street outside the Kalinga (Care) Centre, waiting for the doors to open. They stood 1.5 metres apart, in line with the government’s guidance for the quarantine at that time. But the head of the barangay, or village council, who had not been happy having the centre there, ordered it shut and drove the homeless away. “The barangay captain said they were just following the law, no mass gatherings,” Villanueva said. “But the first law is to save lives. These are among the first people who are going to die.” READ: … [Read more...] about Commentary: Still reeling from Duterte’s war on drugs, Manila’s poor hit hardest by COVID-19