A note from the editor Vanessa Byrne / Managing Director
A big , warm , and sunny welcome to our July 2023 edition . Phew , is it me , or is it getting warm out there …
June has been a busy month indeed . Green Week Gibraltar was such fun ! We are still recovering from the hype and excitement that was World Environment Day 2023 celebrations ! We are so very proud to have been able to organize such an incredible event for you all to enjoy , from markets , to dance shows , to food stalls , to live music , it was an incredible weekend all round . We enjoyed it so much that we couldn ’ t wait to share this all with you in this incredible Green Week Gibraltar Special edition !
The weekend was full of entertainment and education with talks in so many different areas in environmental awareness . From topics like rewilding , decarbonization of Gibraltar , to cycling activists promoting sustainable transport with EuroVelo . We are so honoured to have been able to bring these most important people to the forefront and share these important areas to the public .
The cherry on the top of the weekend must be that incredible view of so many cyclists taking to the road on Saturday morning in support of World Bicycle Day and the opening of those long-awaited cycle lanes in Gibraltar . It was so freshening to see so many smiling faces all around , enjoying a calm road with the added safety of the police escort .
Finally , we are seeing progress in sustainable transport infrastructure . As it turns out , whilst writing this editorial , the cycle counter placed at the cycle lanes has hit 50,000 cyclists . This means its 50,000 in a month as the cycle lanes have only been active since the beginning of June . Much needed
change indeed .
An incredible amount of gratitude to all who participated and joined our event . Check out from page 51 to page 123 the incredible journey that was our Green Week Gibraltar .
Plans for the OTWO team now that the Green Week is done for the year , well we are focusing on closing off our sustainable transport promotion in our local bus advertisements . Yes , you will be seeing new adverts at the back of the buses coming out soon ! This year we thought to go full throttle , after all , transport accounts for 20 % of fossil fuel emissions in Gibraltar , therefore it is essential to keep our traffic congestion low , the promotion of sustainable alternatives is a must . This year we are going for a total of 3 buses – our message will be clear ; Walk the City , Cycle the City and Share the City ; Our World , Our Responsibility . Keep your eyes peeled for these designs coming out soon .
Our 2nd Eco Festival is also coming soon in September !! I know you all enjoyed last year ’ s festival , pool activities , markets , and sunshine , with good vibes all round . Keep your eyes peeled for more information coming out very soon on this and if you want to get involved pop me an email at otwomagazine @ gmail . com .
We cannot be more grateful for all the support we are receiving throughout our journey from all our collaborators and partners to our readers . Together we will win the fight against climate change and build a better world for our future generations . There is no doubt . Peace and Love always . V x
OTWO 48 / JULY 2023 5