OTWO Magazine July 2024 | Page 8

A note from the editor Vanessa Byrne / Managing Director

Welcome to the July edition of OTWO magazine , our 60 th edition !
In this editorial , I remind ourselves of the reason OTWO was created , our company ’ s focus , and beam our gratitude to all who have connected with us on this journey .
Yes , incredibly , this edition marks our 60th publication — five years of creating a monthly report on our environment , nature , environmental issues , sustainable development , and helping continuous creative initiatives to protect our world .
OTWO Magazine was created out of pure love . The love for our children and grandchildren . Aspiring to give them the best future possible .
When children are young and cannot fend for themselves , a mother will always do whatever it takes to help them grow , thrive , and become the best version of themselves .
That care doesn ’ t stop when they grow up . Now that you have helped them become individuals and guardians of their own future , we must carry on helping your child and our families by giving them the very best opportunity for a stable planet . This can only be done by protecting the environment in which they will live and raise their own families .
As the world continues to warm up and we face new challenges , we must confront them head-on . Becoming involved and creating this platform with my incredible team , gives me so much hope . As I meet a growing number of companies , individuals , and teams , all focused on improving and solving the environmental challenges we face I also grow in confidence and purpose .
This is what OTWO Magazine has always been about — sharing ideas , bringing positive change to the forefront , and creating solutions to improve our world . Every small step in the right direction is a huge leap for future generations .
Here ’ s a bit about our journey so far . OTWO magazine launched its first edition in August 2019 . Soon after , COVID hit . We reacted by evolving and building our online platform and network . We didn ’ t miss a single monthly publication even through that nightmare ! Post-COVID , we realized just how much and how quickly our environment cleaned up . Remember those days when there was no congestion , when the roads were calm and clear of pollutants ? This inspired us to start cycle events , raising awareness and encouraging Gibraltar to embrace cycling . A healthy and sustainable form of transport that could help reduce the road madness we have to fight through almost every day . The Good Friday Cycle 2021 was our first event , followed soon after by the World Bicycle Day event in June 2021 .
In 2021 , with COVID still a significant threat , we acquired the brand EcoPassion to bring sustainable products to our local and international markets , easing access to household sustainable options .
In 2022 , besides the second Good Friday Cycle , we started an EcoFestival in September to celebrate our shared vision , bringing collaborators , contributors , and readers together . We also started our Sus-
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