Hotels are upping their game in guest offerings – here are some favorites coming in 2023 Heli Skiing with Bode Miller EYOS, the leader in private yacht expeditions, will launch a thrilling new heli-skiing voyage, April 23-30, 2023, hosted by US Olympic alpine ski racer Bode Miller (the most decorated male alpine skier in U.S. history). Guests will head to the island of Maniitsoq on the western coast of Greenland, widely considered one of the most remote places in the world to heli-ski. With the opportunity to book individual cabins on seven-cabin Nansen Explorer (versus chartering the full vessel), this exclusive voyage will be more accessible than ever before. Custom Grecian Perfume xenodocheio Milos in Athens has partnered with neighboring local favorite, Naxos Apothecary, to offer a new experience exclusive for guests to create a signature scent. Hotel guests can choose to do this either in the chic, airy apothecary around the corner or in their own suite. An expert will conduct a “tasting” of scents to distill a perfect, custom perfume, often using local Greek herbs and flowers. High Tech Spa in the Hamptons Shou Sugi Ban House – the first wellness retreat in the Hamptons – will launch Shou Sugi Ban Lab in 2023, unveiling a next-generation wellness space that integrates state-of-the-art Western technologies – including biohacking technology and the latest in rehabilitative innovations like electro-magnetic field therapy – with traditional Eastern healing arts practices. Technologies and treatments target three primary issues: longevity and reverse-aging; performance optimization; and recovery and rejuvenation. To augment the existing healing arts practices and wellness treatments, Shou Sugi Ban Lab will offer a new suite of experiences and modalities incorporating high-tech equipment including red light therapy, cryotherapy, thermo-contrast therapy, pulsed electro-magnetic field therapy (PEMF), neuro-acoustic therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), as well as biometric testing and follow-up led by functional medicine experts. Marine Biology in Paradise Located in the Maldives' North Male Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi takes great strides to protect its rich marine diversity and safeguard its surroundings for generations to come. In early 2023, the resort will launch a new Marine Biology Center, with a dedicated research space and expanded coral regeneration program, where guests can participate in hands-on coral planting, reef cleaning, and study conversation alongside marine biologists. Back in time in Palm Beach Addison Mizner, American resort architect, left a stamp on Palm Beach, and most of South Florida with his Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial revival style. Today, his work continues to inspire the region's architects and designers. The 32-room White Elephant Palm Beach, housed in a landmark building from 1924, is now offering guests a glimpse into the architectural history of Palm Beach. As part of a new two-night package, guests can partake in a 1.5-hour architecture tour of the island led by a representative from the Palm Beach Foundation. Highlights include the 25-foot clock tower at the base of Worth Avenue, Villa Mizner, the architect's last home, and La Guerida, which was owned by the Kennedy family for more than six decades. A night at the theater in London Guests at The Bloomsbury can take advantage of the hotel’s new partnership with The Donmar Warehouse for tickets to the latest shows. When booking the “A night at the Donmar” package, guests get a night in a suite, a three-course dinner with champagne, and two tickets to the latest shows (right now it’s Watch on the Rhine, followed by Trouble in Butetown [a recipient of the Theatre Royal Haymarket Writers Award] from February 10 to March 25, then musical Next to Normal from August 12 to October 7). Also includes a la carte breakfast. Lobster Diving in Panama Nayara Bocas del Toro (the newest addition to Nayara Resorts known for its overwater villas and for having the world’s first aerial beach) is debuting a new experience for guests in 2023 unveiling the traditional way to catch a lobster. In a small wooden canoe called a cayuco, guests go out with a local into the nearby lagoon. Then the local guide dives way down to the ocean floor to pluck a lobster and bring it back to the surface. Upon returning to the property, the lobster is cooked in the traditional way – with lots of wood and smoke – and served for dinner in the over-water Elephant House restaurant. Champagne Wishes en francais In May 2023, Belmond will debut the three-cabin Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat, Champagne – the newest luxury river barge in the brand’s Les Bateaux collection. Coquelicot will take guests on a cinematic journey of Champagne in partnership with Maison Ruinart to offer exclusive access to the first established House of Champagne. Activities will include with a private tasting lunch by Chef In Residence Valérie Radou onboard the river – the first time Maison Ruinart’s Chef will be cooking a private ‘four hands’ lunch outside of Maison Ruinart – and guided tours of the historic Taissy vineyard to discover the brand’s latest sustainability initiatives. By ML Staff. Images Courtesy of each mentioned hotel

Refrigerator pickles are quick and easy to make — no sterilizing jars or special equipment required. Photo by Alexandra Grablewski (Chronicle Books, 2018) The kids and I discovered a jar of these homemade refrigerator pickles in my parents’ refrigerator door one day and since then, no deli or store-bought pickles have ever come close. They were made by one of my mom’s oldest and dearest friends, Joanne Biltekoff, who is like an aunt to me. The best thing about Joanne’s pickles is that they’re quick and easy — no sterilizing jars or special canning equipment required. All you do is slice Kirby cucumbers into spears, cover them with brine, tuck them into the fridge, and they’re ready to eat the next day. WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE REFRIGERATOR PICKLES The most important part of the recipe is to start with Kirby or pickling cucumbers. They’re short, squat and sometimes full of warts, but they make deliciously crisp pickles. Don’t be tempted to substitute another kind of cucumber or you’ll end up with soggy pickles. STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS Begin by making the brine. Combine the vinegar, salt and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat and stir until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved. Whisk in the cold water, then chill. When cooking high-acid foods, be sure to use a cooking vessel made of a nonreactive material such as stainless steel, glass, ceramic or Teflon. Pots made from metals like aluminum, copper or cast iron will react with the acid and give your food a metallic taste. Next, stuff the cucumbers into two 1-quart jars. Add the coriander and mustard seeds, garlic, red pepper flakes, dill sprigs to the jars, dividing evenly. Cover the cucumbers with the chilled brine. Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for about 24 hours, then serve. The pickles will keep in the fridge for up to one month. These pickles will disappear quickly and you’ll likely get requests for more. You don’t have to start from scratch. You can use the pickle brine more than once — it should last for another batch or two of pickles! Quick & Easy Refrigerator Pickles By Jennifer Segal Refrigerator pickles are quick and easy to make — no sterilizing jars or special equipment required. Servings: About 24 spears, or two 1-quart jars INGREDIENTS 1¼ cups distilled white vinegar (5% acidity) 3 tablespoons kosher salt 2 tablespoons sugar 2 cups cold water 1¾ to 2 pounds Kirby cucumbers (about 6), cut into halves or spears 2 tablespoons coriander seeds 6 large garlic cloves, peeled and halved 1 teaspoon mustard seeds ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes 16 dill sprigs INSTRUCTIONS Combine the vinegar, salt and sugar in a small non-reactive saucepan (such as stainless steel, glass, ceramic or teflon) over high heat. Whisk until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Transfer the liquid into a bowl and whisk in the cold water. Refrigerate brine until ready to use. Stuff the cucumbers into two clean 1-quart jars. Add the coriander seeds, garlic cloves, mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, dill sprigs, and chilled brine into jars, dividing evenly. If necessary, add a bit of cold water to the jars until the brine covers the cucumbers. Cover and refrigerate about 24 hours, then serve. The pickles will keep in the refrigerator for up to one month. GLUTEN-FREE ADAPTABLE NOTE To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free. Special thanks to Jennifer Segal, for the recipe and images. You can support Jennifer by purchasing her cookbook, "Once Upon a Chef, the Cookbook," featuring over 100 delightful recipes.

New for Autumn/Winter 2022 are Angled sunglasses, with a curved cat-eye silhouette and tone on tone logo as a subtle signature. Selvedge Cat-Eye sunglasses, a more square, similarly bold variation on a similar theme is continued. From the same, youthful family is the Selvedge Mask – a larger rectangular design in bi-colour acetate. In black acetate again as well as pale pink and dove grey – are Seal Logo sunglasses with the Alexander McQueen seal finishing both temples in metal. Finally, the Skull Hinge family is inspired by the heritage of Alexander McQueen with a square acetate frame combined with delicate metal temples finished with tiny skulls as is the Skull Mask, featuring the iconic McQueen skull again and edged with micro studs. For more info visit www.alexandermcqueen.com. Alexander McQueen store is located at 146 NE 41st St. in the Miami Design District. Telephone: +1 786-857-5100 By ML Staff. Photographed by Paolo Roversi

In celebration of the festive season that precedes both the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit on the lunar calendar and the arrival of Spring, the House presents a vibrant capsule collection full of playful and refined iterations of the rabbit—an animal representing intelligence, health, and longevity. Echoing the joyful mood of the occasion, the collection sees a fanciful use of color, print, and embellishment across ready-to-wear, bags, shoes, accessories, jewelry, and timepieces. Diverse depictions of the rabbit appear across the lineup, woven into knitwear, on embroidered patches, or in a distinctive spray-paint-style version seen on T-shirts, leather loafers, and G-Timeless watches. Womenswear sees a refined selection of printed silk blouses and skirts, along with boldly geometric pieces in contrasting hues. The men’s selection furthers the theme of playful graphic patterns in sporty silhouettes. Shoes conjure the essence of the rabbit with ear-like bows adorning heels and fleece textures enriching loafers. Special renditions of the House’s signature handbags from Gucci Diana totes with hand-painted stripes to Gucci Horsebit 1955 shoulder bags featuring precious leathers, tweeds, and studs, complete the capsule. In the campaign captured by Max Siedentopf, vibrant colors set an exuberant tone, echoing the joyful spirit of the occasion that anticipates Spring’s arrival. To animate the collection, a cast of friends encounter rabbits in a fantastical field of flowers—the uplifting hues of the blooms amplifying the mood. Playful moments alternate with more sentimental ones in this dream-like meadow, with the soft light of the sunrise heralding the dawn of a new year. The collection, launching on December 27, will be available in select Gucci stores around the world and showcased in dedicated window displays and Pop-Ups inspired by the spray-paint rabbit print from the collection. CREDITS Art Director/Photographer: Max Siedentopf Makeup Artist: Daniel Sallstrom Hair Stylist: Ryan Mitchell MUSIC CREDITS “White Rabbit” Lyrics and Music: Grace Wing Slick Publisher: Copperpenny Music Publisher for Italy: Universal Music Publishing Ricordi Srl Recording courtesy of Baltic House Orchestra By ML Staff. Images Courtesy of Gucci

M·A·CStack Mascara by MAC Cosmetics offers endlessly buildable, clump-resistant formula gives you customizable volume from natural to next-level, along with instant length. Mirror your unique mood and reflect your individuality with two brush sizestailored to your lashes and look. M·A·CStack Mascara features the Superstack Mega Brush that’s ideal for longer or upper lashes, while M·A·CStack Micro Mascara features the Superstack Micro Brush that’s ideal for shorter or lower lashes. Magnify your eyes and enlarge your lashes with this major mascara must-have! M·A·CStack Mascara - Mega 95% saw endlessly buildable volume* 24-hour wear Clump-resistant Flake-resistant *Consumer testing on 111 women afterusing Superstack Mega Brush for one week. M·A·CStack Mascara - Micro 95% achieved a custom natural-to-bold voluminous look* 95% said mascara was easy to build* 24-hour wear Clump-resistant Separates and defines lashes Non-flaking *Consumer testing on 110 women after using Superstack Micro Brush for one week. FORMULATED WITHOUT Formaldehyde and its donors Hydroquinone Triclosan Sulfates Sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate (SLS/SLES) Parabens Phthalates Mineral oil Petrolatum Animal-derived ingredients PRO TIPS FOR BEST APPLICATION FOR DRY TO NORMAL SKIN & LIGHT TO MEDIUM CONCEALER Wipe excess product from mascara brush Brush from root to tip wiggling it on each lash Apply another coat Finish by misting face with Fix+ Stay Over Important: don’t pump wand into tube PRO TIP FOR BEST APPLICATION FOR OILY SKIN & HEAVY CONCEALER Start eye look with Prep + Prime 24Hr Extend Eye base, apply with fingers or 242S Brush to your eyelids Wipe excess product from mascara brush Brush from root to tip wiggling it on each lash Apply another coat Finish by misting face with Fix+ Stay Over Important: don’t pump wand into tube PRO TIP TO BOOST VOLUME AND WEAR Apply False Lash Maximizer Wipe excess product from mascara brush Brush from root to tip wiggling it on each lash Apply another coat Important: don’t pump wand into tube For more information visit MACS Cosmetics. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of MACS Cosmetics

Thanks to the Funding partnership of the City of Miami Beach and in partnership with the CADET HOTEL the Miami International Piano Festival’s internationally acclaimed Piano Academy inaugurates its annual winter residence in Miami Beach, January 2-8, 2023. The Academy is bringing a group of up to 24 students from across the globe to reside and study with some of the world’s greatest classical keyboard masters. Nightly concerts all free of charge will allow residents and visitors to Miami Beach to experience the spectacular talent amassed for the week. All concerts will be captured, and a documentary film will document this important event. All events and the film will be available widely online. Most recently, June 24 through July 6, 2022, the Miami International Piano Festival Academy (MIPFA) hosted a triumphant first of its kind residency in the historic Briosco region in Milan. Villa Medici afforded participants the unparalleled opportunity to experience the unique collection of original ancient fortepianos and pianos (including square pianos), dating from 1760 and located at the villa. Profoundly inspired by the enchanting Italian experience, Dr. Vilma Biaggi, a board member and devoted advocate of our programs, decided to bring the magic of the Villa Medici summer academy to our community in Southern Florida. Bringing this unique program to the intimate and quaint Cadet Hotel in Miami Beach, at the height of tourist season, and just a block away from the Miami Beach Convention Center and Botanical Gardens, will add an unparalleled experience to students as they navigate the exciting world of collaborative creativity. Cadet Hotel Students and faculty will stay at the luxurious Cadet Hotel in Miami Beach, located one block from the beach. It is also the center where most activities will take place, including masterclasses and lectures. Practicing will be possible in a limited number of practice rooms. All meals will also be served at the Cadet, prepared by the excellent hotel staff. Lectures and Recitals Every night one of our distinguished faculty will give a performance at the beautiful Botanical Garden — a ten-minute walk from the hotel. The concert series will culminate with Julien Libeer at the Aventura Arts Center — MIPFA will provide free transportation. One of the recitals will be devoted to a selected number of students. In addition, members of our faculty will offer several lecture/presentations on topics relevant to piano performance. All musical activities will be free to students and residents. Botanical Gardens, Miami Beach FACULTY RECITALS All Performances are at 6:30 PM FREE LIMITED ADMISSION January 3 Francesco Libetta (Italy) "Fury, demonically charged and technically staggering.” Harold Schonberg January 4 Reed Tetzloff (USA) “A musician of great authority.” Richard Goode January 5 Kemal Gekic (Croatia) “Gekic rides the charismatic edge of genius” R. Dyer, Boston Globe “ January 6 (Shared Recital) Jacob Mason (USA) “Mason’s rock-solid technique and attention to detail are aptly demonstrated when he performs.” South Florida Classical Review Luis Urbina (USA) “Urbina is an extraordinary pianist and masterful collaborator” Walter Ponce PATRONS OF EXCEPTIONAL ARTISTS INC. Exceptionally talented pianists devote their entire youth to the development of their skills, abiding by rigid and demanding schedules; focused on achieving a successful career in music. During this arduous process, they find themselves lost without the support and understanding of a benefactor. That is where the mission and purpose of Patrons of Exceptional Artists comes in, an organization that for the last 25 years has exposed the talent of countless deserving pianists to the attention of the public, conductors, and agents. Many of our artists are now in the international circuit represented by top management. In order to further its mission, in 1998, Patrons of Exceptional Artists branched out to create the Miami International Piano Festival, (MIPF), which resulted in highly popular and inspiring summer academies held at Nova Southern University in Florida. This summer, however, MIPF offered students exposure to a most accomplished international faculty in the beautiful region of Briosco, Italy, at Villa Medici Giulini, a historical building that houses an astonishing collection of keyboard instruments. We also expanded our outreach through an online state-of-the-art virtual platform that continues to evolve, creating an archive and visual library of these activities. The goal is to provide global exposure to our artists while allowing music lovers around the world the opportunity to enjoy our concerts, lectures, and masterclasses. Giselle Brodsky, founder, and artistic director of Patrons of Exceptional Artists, spends hundreds of hours listening to innumerable performances of hopeful entries to select the artists that will inspire our audience and students with their passion and commitment to the expression of music. The Miami International Piano Festival concerts are interactive experiences that engage our audiences and enhance their appreciation of music in its infinite prism of ideas and emotions. By ML Staff. Images Courtesy of The Miami International Piano Festival Academy

Encoded in those two simple letters is a storied system of values, and not just for Gucci. Since the 1960s, the monogram of the House’s founder Guccio Gucci has been featured across collections as a nod to its heritage. The initials similarly surface over and over again at the end of multiplayer games as competitors suddenly turn back into companions, saluting each other with the abbreviation for “good game.” This is the point of connection that Gucci Good Game explores, and that is celebrated in a special new capsule collection presented by the House. Embraced in 2019, Gucci Good Game is the motto for the House’s ventures into the world of gaming as it creates hubs for play, self-expression, talent, freedom, and individuality – spotlighting the positive principles that are pivotal in making an enjoyable gaming experience possible. Encompassing the full spectrum of gaming from fun to professional, Gucci’s forays into the arena share a collaborative approach, involving various creators in the development of authentic experiences that aim to establish close and deep connections with gamers. Over the years, the initiatives have seen the brand building a multifaceted presence in a select number of games as well as in immersive gaming platforms, including Roblox, The Sandbox, Zepeto, Hot Wheels Unleashed, Pokémon GO, Animal Crossing, Tennis Clash, The Sims – or partnering with XBOX to offer a limited-edition bundle. The GG initials reworked as the Gucci Good Game logo debuted with the Gucci Gaming Academy – itself a significant manifestation of the House’s principles in this field, and were prominently displayed in Gucci Town on Roblox, the persistent digital space for the Gucci Community on the platform. Now bringing the spirit of Good Game into the House’s foundational landscape—fashion—the collection further celebrates the link between Gucci and gaming. With its double meaning, the GG becomes the defining motif of this casual-minded capsule. From bowling shirts and hoodies to slides and sneakers, metallics combine with rainbow hues to create an iridescent effect across items emblazoned with the monogram. Echoing the exploration of new landscapes and meetings of worlds, the collection takes center stage in a visual narrative envisioned by King Kong Magazine, a collaborative project shot by photographer Piczo. Bringing the audience through a portal, entering another dimension where the elements of club and rave culture blend with those of nature, the images create scenarios that echo spiritual wanderings. In this tale, the collection renders the whole world fantastical, a safe space where gamers can craft their lives with unlimited imagination. The Gucci Good Game collection will be available online at gucci.com, as well as in select Gucci Stores worldwide. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Gucci.

Ring in the New Year in style at Higher Ground while grooving to live beats by DJ Ray, Yuka Mizuhara and Benedek Live, offering an ode to golden era club music with contemporary vision and style. Higher Ground is an indoor-outdoor jungle oasis cocktail lounge at Arlo Wynwood, Wynwood's first hotel. With tasty bites and premium drinks, the party takes place from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Set times for Higher Ground's New Years Eve celebrations are as follows: DJ Ray - 6pm-8pm Yuka Mizuhara - 8pm-10pm Benedek Live - 10pm-11:30pm Benedek/Yuka/Ray Back to Back - 11:30 p.m - 2am Tickets are $40 for non-hotel guests and includes access and a complimentary drink. Purchase tickets HERE.

As the New Year approaches, many people are looking for ways to get outside and celebrate the start of a new year. Luckily in Miami, there are plenty of parks and green spaces to do just that. Here are our favorite parks to visit, , each with its own unique charm and character. Image courtesy of Lumos Solar One of the best parks to visit in Miami during New Year's weekend is Bayfront Park. Located in the heart of downtown, this park offers stunning views of the water and is a popular spot for outdoor concerts and events. On New Year's Eve, the park hosts a massive celebration complete with live music, food trucks, and a spectacular fireworks display. Another great park to visit in Miami during the holiday is the Deering Estate. Located on the edge of the Everglades, this park is home to a beautiful natural preserve and several historic homes. You can take a guided tour of the estate, go birdwatching, or take a hike through the trails. On New Year's Eve, the park hosts a special event with live music, food, and games for the whole family to enjoy. Image courtesy of Fairchild Tropical Garden For those who want to explore Miami's tropical side, the Fairchild Tropical Garden is a must-see. This beautiful garden is home to a wide variety of exotic plants and flowers, and is a great spot for a leisurely walk or picnic. On New Year's Eve, the garden hosts a special event with live music and activities for kids. Image courtesy of Vizcaya If you're in the mood for something a little more formal, you can visit the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. This stunning estate is home to a beautiful Italian Renaissance-style villa and formal gardens, and is a great spot for a leisurely stroll or photo shoot. On New Year's Eve, the museum hosts a special event with live music and activities for the whole family to enjoy. Image courtesy of Miami Botanical Garden Last but not leas, there is Miami Botanical Garden, a beautiful, tropical oasis located in the heart of Miami, Florida. With over 500 species of exotic plants, this 67-acre garden is a haven for nature lovers and a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The Miami Botanic Garden features a wide variety of gardens, including a Japanese garden, a tropical fruit garden, and a butterfly garden. The Miami Botanic Garden also hosts a number of educational programs and events throughout the year. These include gardening workshops, cooking demonstrations, and art exhibits. The garden also has a gift shop and a café where visitors can relax and enjoy a meal or a snack. No matter what park you choose to visit in Miami during New Year's weekend, you're sure to find plenty of fun, adventure and bit of fresh air. By ML Staff.

Presenting sponsor, Baccarat, is a luxury brand internationally renowned for products symbolizing the excellence of the French Art de Vivre. The Pegasus World Cup will feature the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Turf Invitational, featuring hand-crafted championship trophies by Baccarat. Established as the leading luxury sports and lifestyle event of the year in South Florida, the Pegasus World Cup offers a premier experience for avid racing fans and event enthusiasts alike. Guests are sure to feel the thrill of action-packed horse racing, elite entertainment, and iconic fashion as Pegasus sets the stage for everyone. With historic wins from some of the most celebrated names in thoroughbred horse racing, including Arrogate, 2021’s Knicks Go, and 2022’s Life Is Good Champion, Pegasus continues to draw the best in racing and entertainment through a continued focus on innovation. Kygo and OneRepublic will headline the Pegasus World Cup afterparty at Carousel Club. These entertainers will take the stage after the horse races on Saturday afternoon, performing trackside at the Gulfstream’s Carousel Club, which will be transformed for the weekend by racing and gaming company 1/ST, along with Groot Hospitality, owners of the legendary Miami nightclub, LIV, and restaurants like Swan, Komodo and more. Groot also partnered with Palm Tree Crew to curate the day’s entertainment and hospitality. Make plans to experience extraordinary at Gulfstream Park with a range of ticketing options, whether it is a trackside experience, Carousel Club, Ten Palms, Flamingo Room, or a Private Luxury Suite. To purchase tickets, click here Luxury Suites and Ultra VIP packages are available by contacting premiumseating@pegasusworldcup.com By ML Staff. Image Courtesy of Gulfstream

“I was a school dropout and we’re still killing creativity and risk” The Entrepreneur Says Our System Needs To Change At school Richard Branson would sit at the back of the class “doing my own thing”, baffled by the lessons. “I was a dyslexic school kid who had very little understanding about what we were being taught and what was going on on the blackboard,” he says. “Bizarrely for a dyslexic, I started planning a magazine to try to get young people to campaign for a change in the education system to make it more relevant to people, and also to campaign against the Vietnamese War and the Biafran War and other injustices that were going on in the world at the time.” Omaze CEO and co-founder Matt Pohlson, Sir Richard Branson, Omaze winner Keisha, and Space For Humanity Executive Director Rachel Lyons congratulate Keisha at her home in Antigua One day the headmaster at Stowe, his independent boarding school, gave him an ultimatum. “He said to me, ‘Richard, I know you’re starting this magazine. You’ve either got to leave school and do it or stay at school and do your formal education.’ I was 15 years old and so I said, ‘Great — I’m off.’ There was so much about education that I and other fellow students were really frustrated about, and the frightening thing is that in 50 years not a lot has changed.” On Branson’s last day the head told him that he’d either end up a millionaire or in prison. That turned out to be prescient. By the age of 22, the entrepreneur had not only set up his magazine, Student, but had also opened a chain of record stores, Virgin Records, and founded the brand that would make his fortune. The Virgin Group now controls more than 400 companies, running trains, planes and even a rocket as the entrepreneur goes into battle with his fellow billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos to conquer space. Yet as he looks back at his career at the age of 71, Branson points out that he would still be considered a failure by an education system that defines success purely in academic terms. “I once did an IQ test as an eight-year-old. I don’t think I filled in anything,” he tells me. “Go forward 30 or so years, I was running Europe’s largest private group of companies. I didn’t know the difference between gross and net [profit], but it didn’t matter . . . what mattered was my character, whether I was good at inspiring people and motivating people, whether I wanted to make a real difference in the world.” Branson still cannot do crosswords and is hopeless at spelling, but is convinced that the dyslexia that held him back at school has been an advantage in his business career. “I think by being dyslexic, I learnt to become a good delegator, which is a really important thing in life if you’re becoming an entrepreneur and building businesses. Richard Branson Touchdown in Tampa Bay, Image by Virgin “I surrounded myself with wonderful people who were better than me at a lot of things. I think I’m more creative at certain things. If [dyslexics] are able to concentrate on things they’re good at, they will really excel at them.” Getting letters in the right order is, by contrast, “so unimportant really”. I am speaking to the businessman on Zoom as chairwoman of The Times Education Commission, which publishes its interim report tomorrow. I’m in cold, wet Hackney, he’s in the sun-soaked Caribbean, where he has been giving his grandchildren the sort of education he wishes he had had as a boy. “Yesterday I took my grandkids around Necker Island and we said, ‘There’s a scarlet ibis over there,’ and then we went on the internet and found out all about scarlet ibis and how they’d been wiped out in the British Virgin Islands a hundred years ago, then recently reintroduced, and how if a scarlet ibis breeds with a white ibis you get a pink ibis. Then we moved on to flamingos and giant tortoises. We were just getting out and about looking at things which are relevant and exciting. And sadly the conventional school educational system doesn’t really do that.” Branson insists there must be a total transformation in education to engage children in the digital age and prepare young people for the modern world. His family foundation Big Change, set up by his daughter Holly a decade ago in the wake of the London riots, is launching a campaign for a radical reshaping of learning in the wake of the pandemic. The entrepreneur says that he was lucky to have had parents who could support him when he dropped out of school, but too many children, particularly the most disadvantaged, are being failed by the “one size fits all” education system in Britain. “There are some people who need a particular way of being taught and there are others who definitely don’t need that way of being taught, and at the moment, everybody gets taught the same way,” he says. “So much emphasis is put on exams and that precludes schools from being adventurous. They’ve just to concentrate on exams, exams, exams. Creativity is stifled by the exam system.” The focus on grades is increasingly at odds with what employers want, he says. “At the Virgin Group now, for most jobs we don’t ask for test results. We look for character. It’d be hypocritical for me, who left school at 15, to be judging people based on exam results. “I would love to see a situation around the world where standardised testing is replaced by continual assessment, and people have a sort of education passport populated with everything wonderful that kids are doing, from academics to sports to how kind or how confident they are. For most jobs, you don’t need to be assessed in the formal, boring way which puts everybody in the same box.” Virgin Galactic | Images by Virgin Galactic Branson warns that schools, colleges and universities are failing properly to prepare young people for the workplace. “You definitely don’t need all that rote learning and memory skills,” he says. “I went to David Cameron in the first year that he was in office and said, ‘You know, as far as I’m concerned, if people want to become entrepreneurs, we’d almost prefer that they’d left school at 16.’ School is so irrelevant. Let them have the university of life by being out there learning from doing things.” Virgin has started to offer loans to young people to start a business instead of going to college or university. “In running those businesses they are learning much more about life than they would ever learn in school or college,” Branson says. The education system also, in his view, inculcates a fear of failure and “stamps out” the willingness to take risks, which is essential in business. Branson is calling for a radical overhaul of the curriculum, with a greater focus on creativity to foster an entrepreneurial spirit. “The most successful people around the world are creative people — creative musicians, creative entrepreneurs, creative artists — they’re the people that make a real difference in this world, and the education system is not designed for them at all. Unless they quit school early, a lot of that creativity can be completely stifled. There are a few lucky ones that have managed to get through that and stay at school, but if I talk to Bill Gates or Larry Page or pretty well every successful person I know, they quit formal education early.” The businessman insists that the pandemic is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change course. A survey by Big Change and the Institute for Public Policy Research found that 79 per cent of young people, 74 per cent of parents, 77 per cent of teachers and 78 per cent of employers believe that now is the time to rethink the purpose of education and to change the system for the better. “Through the pandemic, families have had to learn to teach their kids differently than they would have done in formal education and I suspect that for many kids they found that a blessing,” Branson says. “I think reform should not just come from teachers, it should not just come from politicians. It should come from young people. “I remember my frustration being young and not being listened to, and I think I had every right to be frustrated. I was wasting my time sitting in a classroom doing completely irrelevant things that I had no interest in whatsoever, when I wanted to be inspired, and I had to effectively create my own education for myself.” Richard Branson at Caribbean Climate Accelerator By ML Staff. By Rachel Sylvester, The Times, The Interview People

In London, youth activists threw soup at Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers,” asking, “Is art worth more than life? More than food? More than justice?” In Melbourne, Australia, two protesters superglued themselves to Picasso’s “Massacre in Korea” to highlight the connections between climate change and future conflict and suffering. Others have engaged in similar protests, targeting a Boticelli at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy; an ancient Roman statue at the Vatican; a Klimt in Vienna; and a mummy exhibit at Barcelona’s Egyptian Museum. Two young protesters were arrested after throwing soup on the glass covering Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ at the National Gallery in London.Just Stop Oil/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Their actions have incited mixed responses around the world. Some people praised the activists’ daring and ingenuity; others lambasted the groups for polarizing the fight for climate justice, sending mixed messages and using plain poor logic. But tactics like these draw media attention and make a lasting impression, and that’s the point – especially right now. A few small pop-up protests appeared at the COP27 venue in Egypt, rather than the usual mass street marches.Gehad Hamdy/picture alliance via Getty Images Normally in November, tens of thousands of climate activists converge on the United Nations climate summit, with noisy street theater and large marches that can be counted on to draw media attention and light up social media feeds. This year’s summit is in Egypt, where the government effectively bans public protests and has cracked down on political dissent. Small pop-up rallies have appeared briefly in U.N.-controlled areas. And the U.N. allowed a march of several hundred people on Nov. 12, 2022, but it had to be inside the conference venue. The Egyptian government agreed to arrange a designed protest space – but it’s several blocks away from where negotiators and heads of state are meeting, and is monitored by Egyptian security. Instead, activists have been working from the inside, and using audacious actions in their home countries, to draw public attention to the cause. Inside COP27, young activists like Luisa Neubauer spoke to the media to press their case. Photo by Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images I study the role of disruptive politics and social movements in climate policy and am in touch with activist groups at the summit. With governments slow to act on the rising climate risk, young activists in particular are growing in number and organizing globally over social media. They aren’t necessarily more aggressive than in the past, but they are finding creative ways to make their voices heard. A brief history of protest and division Environmental activist groups have always had differences of opinion on policies, different visions of the future and different approaches, from family-friendly actions to more radical and destructive acts. In the first part of the 20th century, the division was between preservationists, who wished to keep ecosystems pristine, wild and untarnished by humans, and conservationists, such as President Theodore Roosevelt, who believed natural resources should be extracted for human use but at a rate that would preserve them for future generations. Activists today use social media to reach a global audience. One young activist walks through some of the history of environmentalism. In the 1970s and 1980s, following the success of the first Earth Day and the signing of the landmark U.S. Clean Air and Clean Water acts, many environmental nonprofits professionalized. They invested time in lobbying, set up offices in Washington and began courting corporate partnerships. Other environmentalists accused them of selling out and called them “light greens,” or “shallow environmentalists.” From that mindset emerged “deep” or “radical” environmentalism, which argued that the only way to save the world from irreversible damage was to challenge political and economic systems rather than work from inside them. Groups like Earth First! embraced radical tactics, such as sabotaging oil pipelines and blocking logging forests. Earth Liberation Front went further, claiming several acts of arson in the 1990s. Tamer but more global protests today Recent years have seen an uptick again in confrontational actions that draw attention, like shutting off oil pipelines, staging standoffs to block oil infrastructure and throwing soup on multimillion-dollar paintings. But the movement is known better now for peaceful mass protests that draw hundreds of thousands of people with witty signs, theatrics and chanting. The rise of youth climate activism. What is unique today is the transnational character of environmental activism, and how young activists have become the face of the climate movement. Rather than “thinking globally, acting locally,” environmentalists have taken their fight worldwide, often coalescing around key events like U.N. climate summits. With the help of social media, their messaging quickly goes viral. Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg launched the global school strikes for climate, and within months had encouraged over a million schoolkids to walk out of class to demand action on climate change. Still, for every noisy protest, thousands of climate activists are busy quietly working behind the scenes, lobbying lawmakers, pressuring governments and industries with lawsuits and influencing international negotiations, especially during the U.N. conferences. Activism behind the scenes at COP27 While the U.N. climate conference in Egypt has meant fewer opportunities to demonstrate, activists are still making their voices heard. For example, members of the Climate Action Network, one of the largest global climate advocacy networks, get their messages to delegates inside the talks by writing white papers on technical aspects of the talks, offering sample text for consideration and publishing a daily newsletter geared toward negotiators called “The ECO.” The group, credited by scholars for influencing the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, is pushing for action this year on “loss and damage” – compensation for developing countries hit hard by climate change. From the inside and the outside, activists have been a major force in recent years in getting the world to adopt a 1.5 degree Celsius target for limiting global warming and introducing language on “climate justice” and human rights in the 2015 Paris Agreement. For groups of activists often fighting oppressive, hierarchical structures, the horizontal form of organizing, with fluidity and lack of structure, is the very ethos they are trying to emulate and support. So, looking at the young protesters throwing soup on a Van Gogh, given the lack of progress in nearly 30 years of global climate negotiations, broken promises on climate finance and the disinformation in some media coverage of climate change, more provocation may be exactly what is needed to draw attention to the problem. And so is the tough work you don’t see that’s influencing the negotiations. Words By Shannon Gibson Associate Professor of International Relations and Environmental Studies, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Special thanks to The Conversation for republishing permission.