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May 15, 2010

Fashion at 2010 Cannes Film Festival, France


Renault


Cannes Renault

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Photo: All that Shines. Guests at L'Atelier Renault. French Car Maker Renault, an official partner of the Cannes Film Festival for 27 years, is marking its commitment to one of the world's most important cinema festivals. L'Atelier Renault is taking up residence in Cannes at the Majestic 63 beach. Photo © 2010 Renault.


MontBlanc


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Cannes MontBlanc

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Photos: Elsa Pataky is wearing Montblanc Bouquet Necklace and Eclat Earrings at the Palais des Festivals during the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival in France. Photos © 2010 Montblanc.


Cartier


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Photo: Actress Fan Bing Bin wearing Cartier jewelry attends the "Robin Hood" Premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2010 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images. © 2010 Getty Images)


Swarovski


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Photo: Actress Aishwarya Rai with Swarovski "Mybag", a clutch in Crystal Mesh. "Mybag" features over 700 crystals to give it an incomparable shine.


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Photo: Eva Longoria Parker attends the "Robin Hood" Premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2010 in Cannes, France. Eva Longoria is wearing de Grisogono jewelry. (Photo © 2010 Getty Images)


Emilio Pucci


Cannes Emilio Pucci

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Photo: Aishwarya Rai on the Martinez Terrace -- Actress Aishwarya Rai wearing an Emilio Pucci dress on the Martinez Terrace during the 63rd Annual International Cannes Film Festival on May 13, 2010 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Venturelli/WireImage. © 2010 Venturelli)


Renault


Cannes

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Photo: Actress Fan Bing Bin at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival: May 13, 2010 - 'On Tour' Premiere. As it does every year, Renault is providing more than 100 vehicles to escort stars to the red carpet. (Photo by Stephane Kossmann).

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:41 AM | View the original post



May 12, 2010

CARE's 2010 Conference


CARE CLINTON

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Photo: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks about the importance of empowering women and girls to nearly 1,000 CARE advocates at CARE's Conference in Washington, D.C., May 11, 2010. CARE is one of the world's largest private international humanitarian organizations.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:11 PM | View the original post



May 9, 2010

KODAK Introduces New Consumer Digital Photography Products


Kodak


Eastman Kodak Company has introduced new consumer digital photography products.

"We believe that the real 'KODAK Moment' happens when you share," said Betty Noonan, Director and Vice President, Business to Consumer Marketing, Kodak. "The simple act of sharing a picture can spark an emotion, encourage a smile, ignite a laugh or even elicit a tear. We put this important element at the forefront of our product designs to help people connect with one another, relive special memories and enrich their lives."


KODAK SLICE:

Kodak SLICE

Kodak-SLICE-Back.jpg

Photo: KODAK SLICE Touchscreen Camera Lets You Share and Relive Moments Instantly.

The KODAK SLICE Touchscreen Camera lets consumers carry a personal photo album worth sharing and reliving at all times. With a sleek and intuitive 3.5-inch touchscreen, and the KODAK SLICE Search Feature, consumers can find the pictures they want from up to 5,000 that can be stored on internal memory. Then, they can easily share those pictures right from the back of the camera.

"Kodak knows that consumers want the ability to share life's memories at a moment's notice, whether it's pictures that evoke a tear or just the funny everyday moments," said John Blake, General Manager, Digital Capture and Devices and Vice President, Kodak. "The power of sharing and reliving life's moments drove the development of our new SLICE Camera. It provides instant access to all of your KODAK Moments, and it's right at your fingertips."


KODAK PLAYSPORT:

Kodak PLAYSPORT

Photo: The KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera is specifically designed for consumers with active lifestyles, allowing them to capture full 1080p HD video with the touch of a button.

The KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera is waterproof up to 10 feet and features built-in software and USB cable output so users can edit and easily share with family and friends through sites such as YouTube and Facebook. The KODAK PLAYSPORT also features electronic image stabilization and KODAK Imaging Science for sharper videos with vibrant colors and less blur.


The KODAK EASYSHARE M Digital Camera line makes it simpler for consumers to share their pictures with one touch of the Share Button. The cameras include Kodak's new Face Recognition feature so consumers can find the pictures they want, and Smart Capture feature so they can take the perfect shot in a variety of lighting conditions without worrying about camera settings. KODAK EASYSHARE M Digital Cameras come in a sleek and compact design, and are available in a variety of stylish colors.


KODAK EASYSHARE M530:

Kodak M530

Kodak M530

Photo: KODAK EASYSHARE M530 Digital Camera features 12MP, 3X Optical Zoom Lens, 2.7-inch bright LCD with KODAK Color Science technology, and more.


KODAK EASYSHARE M580:

Kodak M580

Kodak M580

Photo: KODAK EASYSHARE M580 Digital Camera features 14MP, 8X SCHNEIDER KREUZNACH VARIOGON Optical Zoom Wide Angle Lens, 3-inch Bright LCD with KODAK Color Science technology, HD video capture, built-in HDMI connector, and more.


KODAK EASYSHARE Z981:

Kodak Z981

Kodak Z981

Photo: The new KODAK EASYSHARE Z981 Digital Camera is where creativity and versatility come together. It zooms in faster, wider, and closer than ever, giving you sharp, steady shots.

Source: Eastman Kodak Company

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:20 AM | View the original post



May 7, 2010

Daiichi Sankyo and Students 2 Science Help Students Learn Through Hands-On Experience


Innovative Program Encourages Local Students to Excel in Science.


Daiichi Sankyo


DAIICHI

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Photo: Newark Science Park High School students work in a lab alongside a science mentor, Matt Wong, to conduct a series of scientific experiments. Thirty students participated in a day of hands-on learning during Students 2 Science "Supercharged Science" program, sponsored by the Pharmaceutical Company Daiichi Sankyo.


Students 2 Science, Inc. (S2S) hosted students from Newark Science Park High School for a day of hands-on science as part of its year-long "Supercharged Science" program. During the 'day of science,' students worked in a lab alongside mentor volunteers to conduct a series of scientific experiments, including:

• "Copper Electroplating," where students plated an iron nail with copper using electrolysis and compared results against theory;

• "Name that Salt," where students identified six different types of salt using visible spectroscopic flame test;

• "Sulfur identification," where students identified sulfur using an igniter; and a titration in the presence of a color indicator;

• "Molecular Structure identification," where students identified various sweeteners using infrared spectroscopy.

According to S2S, these experiments and curriculum taught students the fundamental principles of chemistry and also tapped into problem solving skills.

The "Supercharged Science" program is one of many integrated full-year science education programs offered by S2S that provides students the opportunity to work side-by-side with professional scientists to perform hands-on experiments using sophisticated laboratory instrumentation.

"At a time when our school systems are facing significant resource challenges, we are excited that socially responsible companies such as Daiichi Sankyo are focusing philanthropic initiatives around science education," said Paul A. Winslow, Ph.D., President and Co-Founder of Students 2 Science. "Their commitment underscores the importance of fostering science education among middle and high school students. When students are intrigued by a new idea, they are compelled to discover more. We believe this is an essential component that leads to creativity and a heightened state of exploration and excitement."

Students 2 Science, Inc. is a New Jersey, USA, non-profit corporation inspiring, motivating, and educating students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). While Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of global pharmaceutical innovator Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.

Daiichi Sankyo Company, Ltd., Japan, has subsidiaries in the USA, England, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey, Ireland, China, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Brazil, and Venezuela. Recently, Ranbaxy Laboratories, India's largest pharmaceutical company, became a subsidiary of Daiichi Sankyo.

Source: Daiichi Sankyo

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:43 PM | View the original post



April 27, 2010

FIFA World Cup 2010 Official Song: 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)' by Shakira


SONY FIFA


SONY SHAKIRA

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Photo: FIFA and Sony Music Entertainment select "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" by Shakira featuring Freshlyground as FIFA World Cup 2010(TM) Official Song.


FIFA and Sony Music Entertainment today announced that Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), written and co-produced by global superstar Shakira, has been chosen as the Official Song of the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) in South Africa.

Shakira is a Colombian singer-songwriter, entertainer and record producer who emerged as a musical prodigy in the music scene of Latin America in the early 1990s.

Based in Zurich, Switzerland, FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) is the world governing body of football, comprising 208 football associations grouped into six confederations. While, Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets.

The song will be performed by Shakira together with South African artist Freshlyground at the Closing Ceremony before the FIFA World Cup(TM) Final on July 11 in Johannesburg Soccer City Stadium. All proceeds from the song will benefit FIFA's Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) "20 Centers for 2010."

The song combines Afro-Colombian instrumentation and rhythms with a rousing Soca beat and Southern African guitar. The chorus borrows from a favorite Cameroonian marching chant made popular by the group Golden Voices.


FIFA


"The Official Song is as much awaited by the fans as the Mascot or the Logo. It is part of the identity of the world's most exciting sport's event. This song is the personification of the African rhythm and identity and sets the pace for this unique event. I am looking forward to hear the song throughout the tournament and watch it performed by Shakira and Freshlyground at the Final," said Joseph S. Blatter, FIFA President.

"I am honored that Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) was chosen to be part of the excitement and the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup," said Shakira. "The FIFA World Cup is a miracle of global excitement, connecting every country, race, religion and condition around a single passion. It represents an event that has the power to unite and integrate, and that's what this song is about."

The song will be launched on April 28, 2010.

Sources: Sony Music Entertainment, FIFA

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:34 PM | View the original post



April 26, 2010

World Premiere Of Disneynature's OCEANS


Disneynature's OCEANS opened on Earth Day, April 22, 2010.


Disneynature


Oceans


Oceans

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Oceans

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Disneynature, the studio that presented the record-breaking film "Earth," brought OCEANS to the big screen on Earth Day, 2010.

Nearly three-quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by water and OCEANS boldly chronicles the mysteries that lie beneath. Directors Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud dive deep into the very waters that sustain all of mankind -- exploring the harsh reality and the amazing creatures that live within. Narrated by Pierce Brosnan and featuring spectacular never-before-seen imagery captured by the latest underwater technologies, OCEANS offers an unprecedented look beneath the sea in a powerful motion picture.


Oceans

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Oceans

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Oceans

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Oceans

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Oceans

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Oceans

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All Photos are Copyright © Disneynature.


Oceans

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Photo: (Location: Hollywood, CA, USA.) Maguy Maccario, Vice President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation-USA; Bob Iger, President and CEO The Walt Disney Company; Pierce Brosnan, the film's narrator; Demi Lovato, who sings the film's theme song; Rich Ross, Chairman of the Walt Disney Studios; Alan Bergman, President of the Walt Disney Studios.


The star-studded blue carpet screening of "Disneynature's Oceans" took place at the legendary El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. [El Capitan Theatre is a movie palace at Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. It serves as the venue for many of Walt Disney Pictures' movie premieres.]

Those present were the film's narrator, Pierce Brosnan; the duo who sing the film's theme song, "Make A Wave", Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas; renowned oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, Sylvia Earle; the grandson and granddaughter of famed ocean explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Fabien & Celine Cousteau; the world's foremost ocean artist, Wyland; some of the film's crew members; and high-ranking executives from the Walt Disney Company. Representing the Principality of Monaco was Maguy Maccario, vice president of the US chapter of the Prince's Foundation.


Download Educational Activity Guide. This 8-Page Guide can be used to enhance students' scientific and geographic knowledge of Earth's oceans as presented in the new DisneyNature film OCEANS.


|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:03 AM | View the original post



April 24, 2010

Fight against Malaria


UN Malaria


UN Malaria

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Photo: Public health leaders and dignitaries participate in a reception for the exhibit, Malaria, blood, sweat, and tears held at the United Nations to commemorate World Malaria Day on April 25.

(From left to right)

• Kiyo Akasaka, Under-secretary General, UN Department of Public Affairs;
• Anne M. Veneman, Executive Director, UNICEF;
• Professor Awa Coll-Seck, Executive Director, Roll Back Malaria Partnership;
• United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon;
• HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium, Special Representative of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership;
• Adam Nadel, Exhibition Photographer;
• Sunil Mehra, Executive Director, Malaria Consortium;
• Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, CEO of Vestergaard Frandsen, leading producer of mosquito nets;
• Raymond G. Chambers, UN Special Envoy for Malaria.


Malaria is a preventable and curable disease. Yet nearly 850,000 people each year, mainly pregnant women and children, die from it, and half of the world's population, some 3.3 billion people in 109 countries, are at risk of contracting the disease.


WHO


• It's also widely recognized that malaria control has a positive impact on all of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Fueled by milestones set by the MDGs in 2000, there has been strong international funding and support for malaria prevention programs throughout 2009. A recent report authored by the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that this effort has yielded significant successes.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:40 AM | View the original post



April 19, 2010

City Traffic Management: IBM Helps Stockholm, Sweden, Predict Better Commuting Options

IBM

IBM Traffic

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IBM

IBM IBM

Photos: IBM SMARTER ROADWAYS: IBM is creating smarter roadways for cities around the world using streaming analytics. While streaming analytics may seem highly complicated, in reality, it is just a way for people to make sense of all the data in the world in real-time. In the case of traffic congestion, this means better commuting and travel options and better traffic management.

IBM

Photo: Dr. Greg Richards, professor of performance management at University of Ottawa Telfer School of Management, discusses the importance of business analytics for the 21st century workforce, Thursday, April 15, 2010, in Ottawa, at the launch of a new international centre of excellence for business analytics announced by IBM and the University of Ottawa.

• IBM has announced a new collaboration with KTH Royal Institute of Technology to give the city of Stockholm residents and officials a smarter way to manage and use transportation.

Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden are using IBM’s streaming analytics technology to gather real-time information from the Global Positioning System (GPS) devices on nearly 1500 taxi cabs in the city. They will soon expand to collect data from delivery trucks, traffic sensors, transit systems, pollution monitors, and weather information. The data is processed using IBM’s streaming analytics software, InfoSphere Streams, giving the city and residents real-time information on traffic flow, travel times and the best commuting options.

For example, a resident could send a text message listing their location and desired destination. The technology would instantly process the real-time traffic, rail, and weather information and provide anticipated travel times via car and public transportation, giving people an accurate and instant view of the fastest way to get to their destination.

For the past year, IBM has worked with the city of Stockholm to monitor traffic flow during peak hours. The congestion management system has reduced traffic in the Swedish capital by 20 percent, reduced average travel times by almost 50 percent, decreased the number of emissions by 10 percent, and the proportion of green, tax-exempt vehicles has risen to 9 percent.

The value of InfoSphere Streams is its ability to analyze and integrate any data input continuously: text, voice, images, video, databases, weather reports, news, sounds, market feeds, and application data in real-time. The software automatically determines what information is relevant to solving a particular problem and continually refines results as new data “streams” in giving organizations instant insights.

Harnessing the power of information with real-time analytics is going mainstream. This year alone, more than 1200 exabytes of digital data will be created. Just one exabyte is equal to one trillion novels. From predicting and managing traffic congestion to determine faster routes for commuters — people are seeking ways to turn this explosion of data from a problem into an opportunity.

Additionally, IBM announced a new version of its streaming analytics software that includes enhanced processing speeds of up to three times faster and real-time Predictive Analysis for Data in Motion.

• Streaming analytics software is a part of IBM’s more than $10 billion investment in business analytics, which includes organic innovation and acquisitions. Also, IBM has assembled 4,000 analytics consultants with industry expertise and opened a network of seven analytics centers of excellence.

• Annual Time Wasted by a Commuter in Traffic Jams:

INRIX Traffic Scorecard for USA’s Top 10 Most Congested Cities

|GlobalGiants.Com|

City Traffic Management

Editorial, Your Comment

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:00 AM | View the original post



April 15, 2010

Nuclear Security Summit 2010


Nuclear Security Summit


Nuclear Security Summit


Nuclear Security Summit


On April 12-13, 2010, President Obama hosted a Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC. President Obama invited over 40 nations to participate, representing a diverse set of regions and various levels of nuclear materials, energy, and expertise.

The Summit focused on the security of nuclear materials, leaving other broad topics such as nonproliferation, disarmament, and peaceful nuclear energy to different forums.


Nuclear Security Summit


Nuclear Security Summit


Key Facts about the Nuclear Security Summit

Communiqué of the Washington Nuclear Security Summit

List of World Leaders and Heads of Delegation attending the Nuclear Security Summit


Nuclear Security Summit

Photo: President Barack Obama talks with President Lee Myung-bak of Korea during the first plenary session of the Nuclear Security Summit at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., April 13, 2010. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina works at right. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy).


Hillary Clinton

Photo: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signed the Plutonium Disposition Protocol on Tuesday, April 13. (State Department Photo by Michael Gros).


The Plutonium Disposition Protocol represents an essential step in the nuclear disarmament process. The Protocol makes arms reductions irreversible by ensuring that United States and Russia will transparently dispose weapon-grade plutonium from their respective defense programs, thereby preventing the plutonium from ever being reused for weapons or any other military purpose.

By updating the 2000 Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (PMDA), each country will proceed to complete and operate facilities that will dispose of at least 34 metric tons of this plutonium by using it as fuel in civil power reactors to produce electricity. Combined, this represents enough material for approximately 17,000 nuclear weapons.

Earlier, the United States and Russia signed the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in Prague, reducing the number of strategic nuclear warheads in their arsenals.

Source: U.S. Department of State

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:34 AM | View the original post



March 30, 2010

BorgWarner Opens New Manufacturing Facility in India


BORGWARNER

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Photo: BorgWarner Thermal Systems has opened a new manufacturing facility near Chennai, India. Dan CasaSanta, President and General Manager, BorgWarner Thermal Systems; Andrew Simkin, Consul General of the United States Consulate, Chennai Office; Tim Manganello, BorgWarner Chairman and CEO; Roger Wood, BorgWarner Executive Vice President and Engine Group President; and V.D. Umashanker, Managing Director, BorgWarner Thermal Systems Chennai, attended the opening ceremonies at the company's new facility in India.


BorgWarner Thermal Systems has opened a new manufacturing facility near Chennai, India. The new 65,000-square-foot (6,000-square-meter) facility is located in a high-tech business park. The environmentally friendly building will provide manufacturing, engineering, sales, and administrative space as well as room for future expansion.

"In India, growing demand for mobility and adoption of global emissions standards is driving growth for BorgWarner's advanced technologies," said Dan CasaSanta, President and General Manager, BorgWarner Thermal Systems. "With our new facility, BorgWarner will have the ability to expand existing product lines and introduce new technologies and products."

Designed as a "green building," the facility is seeking silver certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, a set of standards for environmentally sustainable construction developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Over 30% of the grounds around the new facility are reserved for green space and shaded with trees and plants watered with recycled waste water. In addition, several water- and energy-saving devices have been installed throughout the building.

BorgWarner Thermal Systems in India produces viscous fans and fan drives for customers including Tata Motors, Tata Cummins, Ashok Leyland, Mahindra & Mahindra, and others.

BorgWarner Thermal Systems is a leading designer and supplier of components and systems for thermal management, designed to improve engine cooling, increase fuel economy and reduce emissions.

Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA, based BorgWarner Inc. is a product leader in highly engineered components and systems for vehicle powertrain applications worldwide. The FORTUNE 500 company operates manufacturing and technical facilities in 59 locations in 18 countries. Customers include VW, Audi, Ford, Toyota, Renault, Nissan, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Daimler, Chrysler, Fiat, BMW, Honda, John Deere, PSA, and MAN.

Source: BorgWarner Inc.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:11 PM | View the original post



March 20, 2010

From Russia with Love: That's the Theme of The Netherlands International Flower Exhibition


Flowers Exhibition


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Flowers Exhibition

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Flowers Exhibition

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Photo: Accompanied by HRH Princess Máxima der Nederlanden, Mrs Svetlana Medvedeva, spouse of the president of the Russian Federation, officially opens the 61st Keukenhof international flower exhibition in Lisse, The Netherlands. She was especially invited because this year's central theme is 'From Russia with Love'.

Source: Keukenhof

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:55 AM | View the original post



March 19, 2010

Better City, Better Life: Siemens at EXPO 2010


Siemens Shanghai


Siemens Shanghai


Siemens Shanghai


Siemens Shanghai

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Photos: View of Shanghai


"Better City, Better Life" - that's the theme of EXPO 2010, which will take place in Shanghai from May 1 - October 31, 2010. Siemens is supporting EXPO 2010 with green infrastructure technology.

On the 1st of May, the EXPO 2010 in Shanghai will open its doors to the world. About 70 million visitors are expected in the Chinese metropolis.

It is supposed to be the first green world exhibition in EXPO history.

As a global EXPO partner, Siemens has supplied technology used in more than 40 projects on the exhibition grounds. In addition, Siemens supplied infrastructure including technology for rapid mass transit, clean air, cleaner water and ultra-modern health care in Shanghai.


Siemens Shanghai

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Photo: Siemens won contracts related to the EXPO. These include high-speed trains at a speed of 300 kph from Beijing to Tianjin.


"Our green technology will continue to upgrade the city's infrastructure well after the EXPO. Thus, it is a triple win for EXPO visitors, for the host city of Shanghai and for Siemens," said Richard Hausmann, CEO Siemens Northeast Asia and President and CEO of Siemens Ltd., China.

Siemens was awarded contracts in connection with the Expo with a total value of more than one billion euros. About 90 percent of this amount is related to environmentally friendly products and solutions.


Siemens Shanghai

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Photo: In China, ensuring a supply of clean water is a pressing problem. Shanghai, which is naturally rich in water, suffers from polluted springs. Siemens water treatment solutions help clean up Taihu Lake not far from Shanghai.


Siemens Shanghai

Photo: Shanghai buildings in the evening.


More than 50,000 energy-saving light-emitting diodes (LEDs) produced by Siemens' lighting subsidiary Osram will illuminate the pavilions and boulevards. LEDs consume 80 percent less electricity than conventional incandescent bulbs.

The China Pavilion, with a total surface area of 160,000 square meters, is one of the largest Siemens projects at the Expo.

In addition to solutions for reduced energy consumption, Siemens also supplied infrastructure in advance of the Expo that will assure adequate power supply to the city of Shanghai both during and after the event.

Source: Siemens AG, Berlin

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:20 AM | View the original post



March 15, 2010

Global Institutional Profiles Project: Thomson Reuters Launches Academic Reputation Survey


WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS

THOMSON REUTERS

Thomson Reuters today announced it has launched the highly anticipated Academic Reputation Survey, which will help inform the Times Higher Education's influential World University Rankings.

The survey reflects a new approach to data gathering and analytics to provide a one-of-a-kind resource to the global scholarly community.

A unique feature of the Thomson Reuters Academic Reputation Survey is an opportunity for disciplinary focus: academics will highlight what they believe to be the strongest universities in their specific fields, both in teaching and research.


UNIVERSITY RANKINGS


With the ability to select from hundreds of disciplines and over 6,000 academic institutions, scholars will have great latitude in pinpointing their reputation assessment.

"Researcher engagement is critical to ensuring that this new initiative delivers what the industry has long been asking for -- a more accurate representation of the institutional landscape, from the source," said Jonathan Adams, director of research evaluation at Thomson Reuters. "The survey results, combined with clear methodology, will provide the community with a thorough, accurate, and multi-faceted data source to support institutional assessment, comparisons and rankings."


UNIVERSITY RANKINGS


UNIVERSITY RANKINGS


Participants of the survey have been carefully selected from Thomson Reuters internal databases and supplemented by a third-party source for balanced coverage of disciplines and geographic regions.

The survey will represent thousands of researchers, university administrators, and students worldwide. And their responses will provide the most reliable and accurate representation of academic viewpoints used in the World University Rankings' seven year history, says Thomson Reuters.


UNIVERSITY RANKINGS


UNIVERSITY RANKINGS


The Academic Reputation Survey is part of the Thomson Reuters Global Institutional Profiles Project. The initiative will create data-driven profiles of globally significant research institutions -- combining reputation feedback, scholarly outputs, citation patterns, funding levels, and faculty characteristics across disciplines in one comprehensive database.

• The data can be packaged and analyzed to different specifications, giving organizations custom information for evaluating and benchmarking their performance and supporting efforts to secure research funding.

• Get the Report: New Outlooks on Institutional Profiles

Source: Thomson Reuters

|GlobalGiants.Com|


World University Rankings 2009: TOP 200 WORLD UNIVERSITIES


Our Opinion

"Soon, any Academic Institution with Higher Global Ranking would be an Automatic Candidate for Grants, Funds, and Investment."

© GlobalGiants.Com. All Rights Reserved.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY


Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:09 PM | View the original post



March 11, 2010

U.S. Postal Service Honors Abstract Expressionists

Ten Revolutionary Works of Art Make Debut as Postage Stamps.

United States Postal Service

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The U.S. Postal Service today honored the artistic innovations and achievements of a group of artists who moved the United States to the forefront of the international art scene with the release of the Abstract Expressionists commemorative postage stamps.

The vibrant stamps feature works by Hans Hoffmann, Mark Rothko, Clyfford Still, Barnett Newman, Robert Motherwell, Adolph Gottlieb, Arshile Gorky, Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock and Joan Mitchell.

"These bold artists used art to express complicated ideas and primitive emotions in simplified, abstract form," said Linda Kingsley, USPS senior vice president, Strategy and Transition. "Although these stamps can't compare in size to their real-life canvases, they bring the passion and spirit of abstract expressionism to an envelope near you. The Postal Service is proud to pay tribute to the legacy and unique perspectives of these revolutionary artists."

Abstract expressionists believed that art no longer depicted experience but became the experience itself. They emphasized spontaneous, free expression and allowed personal intuition and the unconscious to guide their choice of imagery. Other shared traits include the use of large canvases and an emphasis on paint texture and distinctive brushstrokes.

"The abstract expressionists began one of the most important art movements in the last century, placing New York and American art at the very center of the art world for the first time," noted Louis Grachos, director of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, NY, home of four of the works featured on the stamps.

Source: U.S. Postal Service

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:07 PM | View the original post



March 4, 2010

The Plastiki Expedition

An 11,000 nautical mile journey-with-a-message from San Francisco, California, to Sydney, Australia, setting sail March 2010.


PLASTIKI

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Photo: Eco-Friendly Catamaran, The Plastiki, Made From 12,500 Reclaimed Plastic Bottles Prepares to Embark on Transpacific Voyage From US to Australia. February 25, 2010. San Francisco, CA. (Photo: Luca Babini).


The Plastiki, an eco-conscious catamaran made from reclaimed plastic bottles is embarking on transpacific journey to raise awareness of ocean pollution problem by showcasing plastic debris as a resource and demonstrating real world solutions through its design and construction.

The goal of The Plastiki Expedition is to draw attention to the massive amounts of plastic debris in the world's oceans, and to showcase re-thinking waste as a resource by demonstrating real world solutions to this pressing problem.

The legacy of The Plastiki Expedition will be its capacity to shift public thinking and perception from plastics as the enemy to how plastic can become part of the solution. To solve the marine debris and waste issues at large will require a reprogramming of how the global community currently uses, re-uses and ultimately disposes of plastics.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:20 AM | View the original post



December 20, 2009

Electric Drive: First Electric 'smart fortwo' Handed Over to Customers in Berlin


Smart Electric Car

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Smart Electric Car

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The first smart fortwo electric drive vehicles were handed over to customers in Berlin on December 17.

The compact two-seater is the first emission-free vehicle in the world with state-of-the-art lithium-ion technology and an intelligent charging management system on board. This makes the smart fortwo electric drive the first environmentally and customer-friendly electric vehicle.


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The very first drivers of the electric smart will be Rolf Bauer (artist and owner of a film dubbing studio) and Lutz Tamaschke (owner of a dental technology company). "I've always been a fan of smart and am proud to be able to set a new trend once again by driving the electric smart. Thanks to the smart fortwo electric drive, I can make my own contribution to preserving the environment," commented Rolf Bauer.

With the smart fortwo electric drive, these two men now own a vehicle that is suited to urban mobility and offers driving pleasure, while being locally emission-free at the same time. "I allow myself and my car a rest for the night, so that we can both recharge our batteries. After a few hours sleep, we're both good to go," said Lutz Tamaschke.


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The first two vehicles were handed over on December 17 in Berlin by Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, and Harald Schuff, Executive Vice President Mercedes-Benz Sales and Marketing Organization.


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"Environmental compatibility and latest functionalities have been defining features of the smart fortwo ever since it was launched more than ten years ago. Since then, its innovative concept has combined pioneering technology with individual, urban mobility. The smart fortwo electric drive is just as convincing as its siblings with conventional drive when it comes to suitability for everyday use, safety and driving pleasure. In terms of environmental compatibility it sets a new benchmark with its emission-free electric drive. In addition, with just 12 kwH consumption and its purely electric drive system, it is the most economical and environmentally-friendly way of driving," stated Dr. Thomas Weber.


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The electric smart will be delivered to selected fleet, business and private customers around the world as part of various "e-mobility" projects. These customers will receive a complete service package for their vehicle. "Beside state-of-the-art vehicle technology, we also want to provide our customers the best service possible - for us, this is an integral part of the concept of groundbreaking mobility," commented Harald Schuff.

Key objective of these projects is to evaluate customer behavior and specific support services. In addition to Germany, the electric smart will also be made available to customers in Italy, Spain, England, France, Switzerland, as well as the USA and Canada.


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A 30 kW electric motor operates in the rear of the smart fortwo electric drive, which ensures good acceleration as soon as the car is started. When fully charged, the highly-efficient lithium-ion battery guarantees a range of 135 kilometers. In order to charge the battery if required, the smart can either be hooked up to a public charging station, a wall box in the garage or simply to any standard household socket.


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The smart fortwo electric drive is equipped with an intelligent charging management system. The on-board electronics allow for the permanent exchange of information with the grid. As such, electricity billing, for example, can be arranged in a very convenient, simple and secure way. Irrespective of where and from whom the smart fortwo electric drive has obtained electricity, the customer will only receive one electricity bill from his own energy supplier. By using a smartphone or other internet interfaces, he can also check the charging status and the current range of his electric smart in any place and at any time.


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With the smart fortwo electric drive, smart is continuing its success story as the founder of the intelligent city vehicle. The new electric smart has redefined urban mobility by focusing on a purely emission-free way of driving.

|GlobalGiants.Com|


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Hybrid/Plug-In/Electric Battery Development for Detroit.

The United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC) is seeking Requests For Proposal information (RFPIs) for four projects related to advanced battery development for hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric and electric vehicles.

USABC (United States Advanced Battery Consortium) is a consortium of USCAR (United States Council for Automotive Research). Enabled by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy, USABC's mission is to develop electrochemical energy storage technologies that support commercialization of fuel cell, hybrid and electric vehicles.

USABC's four RFPIs, for consideration of contracts that will include a 50 percent minimum cost share by developers, are for:

1. Development of advanced high performance batteries for electric vehicle (EV) applications;

2. Development of advanced energy storage systems for high-power, lower energy-energy storage system (LEESS) for power-assist hybrid electric vehicle (PAHEV) applications;

3. Development of advanced high-performance batteries for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) applications; and

4. A technology assessment of proposed advanced battery technologies for EV applications.

--- Statement issued on December 23, 2009 by USCAR (United States Council for Automotive Research). [USCAR is the collaborative automotive technology organization for Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Company.]


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GM Announces Battery Assembly Production:

"On Thursday, January 7, 2010, exactly three years to the day the Chevrolet Volt concept car was revealed, General Motors takes another historic step in mass production of the vehicle and a giant leap for the auto industry from a petroleum-filled past to a potentially gas-free future.

At 10:00 a.m., GM Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre, along with Gov. Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, leading government officials and honored guests will witness the start of battery production at the GM Brownstown Battery Assembly Plant. The plant, located in Brownstown Township, Michigan, is the first lithium ion battery pack manufacturing plant in the U.S. operated by a major automaker."

-- General Motors (January 5, 2010).


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Batteries for Electric Cars: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Outlook to 2020. (New Study by The Boston Consulting Group).

"For years, people have been saying that one of the keys to reducing our dependency on fossil fuels is the electrification of the vehicle fleet. The reality is, electric-car batteries are both too expensive and too technologically limited for this to happen in the foreseeable future..."

"Although electric-car battery costs are expected to fall sharply over the coming decade, they are unlikely to drop enough to spark widespread adoption of fully electric vehicles without a major breakthrough in battery technology..."

"The long-term cost target used by many carmakers in planning their future fleets of electric cars--$250 per kilowatt-hour (kWh)--is unlikely to be achieved unless there is a major breakthrough in battery chemistry that substantially increases the energy a battery can store without significantly increasing the cost of either battery materials or the manufacturing process..."

(Despite this cost challenge, the report projects steady growth for electric cars and batteries.)

"Under the most likely scenario of the industry's evolution, it is estimated that 26 percent of the new cars sold in 2020 in the major developed markets (China, Japan, the United States, and Western Europe)--or approximately 14 million cars--will have electric or hybrid power trains. That same year, the market for electric-car batteries in those regions will reach $25 billion..."

"This burgeoning market will be about triple the size of today's entire lithium-ion-battery market for consumer applications such as laptop computers and cell phones..."

"Beyond costs, other key challenges facing the electric-car battery market are energy storage capacity, charging time, and infrastructure needs..."

(Of the roughly 14 million electric cars forecast to be sold in 2020 in China, Japan, the United States, and Western Europe, the report projects that some 1.5 million will be fully electric, 1.5 million will be range extenders, and 11 million will be a mix of hybrids.)

--- The Boston Consulting Group. (The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and is an advisor on business strategy. Founded in 1963, BCG is a private company with 67 offices in 39 countries.)

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:11 AM | View the original post



December 17, 2009

Mergers and Acquisitions -- Strategic Deals and 'Mergers of Productivity' to Drive M&A in 2010: PricewaterhouseCoopers


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There have been signs of life in the deal market during the second half of 2009, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity is expected to pick up in 2010, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC) Transaction Services practice.

While credit markets are easing for some participants, financing will remain the dominant challenge to M&A activity next year, increasing the pressure on middle market deals. Strategic buyers with strong balance sheets and robust cash reserves will be well-positioned for strategic M&A opportunities. As these strategic buyers take advantage of their ability to maneuver in the face of a challenging deal environment, PwC predicts they will pursue deals with a focus on synergies - including enhancing productivity, providing cost-savings and adding revenue volume to their businesses.


Mergers and Acquisitions


"Those who have built their balance sheets for a rainy day might come out of last year's storm to find the rainbow, and at the end of it, nicely-valued acquisition targets that provide opportunities for revenue growth and enhanced productivity," said Bob Filek, Partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers Transaction Services. "As a result, M&A activity in 2010 will be driven by strategic buyers who have access to capital and the strategic vision to capitalize on some of the best values we have seen in recent times."

"Companies have taken aggressive actions on costs; the low hanging fruit is gone, and to drive further efficiency they will look to combine with similar players to drive scale and enhance productivity. The 'merger of productivity' will be a driving force in 2010 as companies look to drive revenue growth and enhance margins," continued Filek.


Mergers and Acquisitions


Through the first eleven months of 2009, there were 6,772 deals worth a total of $614 billion, compared with 8,890 transactions worth a total of $1 trillion during the same period last year, according to financial data provider Thomson Reuters.

The credit freeze has impacted transactions across the board, including private equity (PE) and middle market transactions.

"There is still in excess of $1 trillion of capital committed to alternative investment funds sitting on the sidelines, waiting for the appropriate opportunities. The diversified private equity players have been bulking up their debt, hedge and distressed funds to take advantage of opportunities in distressed, reflecting their ability to evolve and successfully navigate choppy waters," said Greg Peterson, Partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers Transaction Services.

Regarding private equity exits, "we expect to see more IPOs coming to market in 2010 from private equity as the markets continue to firm up," noted Peterson. More the half of the IPOs completed during 2009 were by financial sponsor-backed (primarily private equity) companies, a trend expected to continue through the remainder of 2009 and 2010.


Mergers and Acquisitions


Sectors that continue to present opportunities include:

Consumer Products:
As retailers continue to pressure margins and growth through private label strategies, consumer product companies are accelerating trade spend at the expense of margins. Watch for high-profile combinations as branded companies look to gain scale and negotiating leverage with retailers, while enhancing their scale to drive productivity. A focus on high-growth categories and emerging markets will also be in vogue in 2010.

Technology:
The headline transactions of the past year - transformative deals - will continue as the battle over the data center and end-to-end services continues to drive the larger players. The large, mature players will also continue to absorb smaller companies who provide intellectual property that can be leveraged - at an array of multiples - as some will be seen as desirable by multiple players and others are made attractive by a higher bar to access in the public markets. At the other end of the scale, there is more consolidation to come amongst weaker players, especially in semiconductors.

Energy:
The opening of the capital markets window (both debt and equity) will pave the way for increased M&A activity in 2010. The seller/buyer expectation gap is slowly narrowing. Large-cap exploration and production companies and Master Limited Partnerships have strengthened their balance sheets considerably and are ready to fuel growth again via the M&A route. PwC expects natural gas to continue to be a particular bright spot for acquisitions.

Financial Services:
As the FDIC continues to take actions with troubled banking institutions, watch for consolidation among the regional banks at the hands of the FDIC to be a key theme of 2010. One key question is if private equity will take more seats at the banking deal table. PwC expects the asset management sector will also continue to be popular in this space.

Automotive:
With the U.S. automotive industry remade, it will be time for the suppliers to resize and adjust their business models to the new paradigm. Watch for a realignment of product portfolios and manufacturing footprints as tier-one suppliers adjust to the new reality. Low-cost country sourcing will be a continued theme, while Asian acquirers may start to acquire more U.S.-based assets.

Healthcare:
Once healthcare reform has run its course, look for the industry to ratchet up M&A activity. Consolidation will accelerate in the services, managed care and pharma sectors, driven by the need to reduce costs and increase productivity. Watch for seasoned leaders to embark on new ventures to shake up the business-as-usual model. The pharmaceuticals sector will continue pursue smaller acquisition targets, and explore areas less dependent on government, such as consumer product applications, animal health, vaccines, and biologics.

Entertainment and Media:
Despite a sluggish economy, the Entertainment and Media sector still managed to pull off several high-profile entertainment deals in the second half of 2009. Look for strategic buyers to focus their efforts on content- and distribution-oriented acquisitions, both domestically and internationally, in response to favorable pricing in the market, as well as continuing to explore new media opportunities.


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Other factors influencing M&A activity in 2010 may include the following scenarios:

Private equity's ability to exit through Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) or acquisitions:
The IPO market has been re-established as a viable exit vehicle for private equity investments. IPO activity in Q4 of 2009 is expected to be the strongest quarter since 2007, with PE-backed deals contributing the majority of the volume in this deal channel. Assuming the equity markets do not experience a significant correction, PwC expects IPO activity to continue to increase in 2010.

The "Wild Card":
How much would an economic double-dip rain on the M&A party? "We see continued weakness in key fundamental indicators, not the least of which is consumer demand," said Filek. "However, while we may see some challenges and market disappointments in 2010, the underlying fundamentals will outweigh the short-term stress, and companies will stay committed to their strategic vision and complete a lot of transactions in 2010."

Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Transaction Services

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 11:50 PM | View the original post



December 16, 2009

TIME Names United States Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke 2009 Person of the Year


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TIME has named United States Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke the 2009 Person of the Year.

TIME's Person of the Year issue has the first full, on-the-record print interview with Bernanke since he became Chairman of the Federal Reserve.

IN A SERIES OF THREE INTERVIEWS, BERNANKE TELLS TIME:

On the financial crisis:
"We came very, very close to a depression...The markets were in anaphylactic shock. I'm not happy with where we are, but it's a lot better than where we could be...Of course there were things we could have done better, but this was a perfect storm."

On unemployment:
"The additional steps aren't as obvious or clear as the ones we've already taken. It's an enormous problem. There aren't easy solutions."

On questions about his handling of Lehman, AIG and Bear Stearns:
"It's the price of success: people start to think you're omnipotent. We say we didn't have the authority, and it's 'Oh, you're the Fed. You could've come up with something.'"

Bernanke tells TIME that major financial crises generally cost nations 5% to 20% of their national output. This panic seems likely to cost the U.S. a fraction of 1%. "How much would you pay to avoid a second Depression?" Bernanke asks. "I mean, this is a pretty good return on investment."

On his background:
"I'm not one of those people who look at this as some kind of video game. I come from Main Street, from a small town that's really depressed. This is all very real to me."

On banker pay:
"I think that bankers ought to recognize that the government and the taxpayer saved the financial system from utter collapse last year. And in recognizing that, I would think that bankers ought to look in the mirror and decide that perhaps there should be some more restraint in how much they pay themselves, given what the government and the taxpayer did to protect the system."

Source: TIME

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:24 AM | View the original post



December 6, 2009

Volvo Ocean Race: Legs 9 & 10: From Marstrand to Stockholm, From Stockholm to St Petersburg


The Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 was the 10th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain, on 4 October 2008, it took in Cochin, India, Singapore and Qingdao, China before finishing in St Petersburg, Russia for the first time in the history of the race. Spanning some 37,000 nautical miles, visiting 11 ports over nine months, the Volvo Ocean Race is the world's premier ocean yacht race for professional racing crews.


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Photo: Telefonica Black, skippered by Fernando Echavarri (ESP) finish first on leg 10 in St Petersburg. © Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race.


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Photo: Telefonica Black, skippered by Fernando Echavarri (ESP) finish first on leg 10 in St Petersburg. © jiang yongtao / Volvo Ocean Race.


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Photo: A Swedish Navy ship accelerates on front of Green Dragon at the start of leg 10 from Stockholm to St Petersburg. © Sander Pluijm/Team Delta Lloyd/Volvo Ocean Race.


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Photo: Spinnakers up for the downwind leg of the in-port race in Stockholm. © Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race.


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Photo: PUMA Ocean Racing at dawn on leg 9 from Marstrand to Stockholm. © Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race.


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Photo: Delta lloyd passes the finish in IJmuiden --- It took skipper Bouwe Bekking just 5 hours 23 minutes and 18 seconds to sail the Delya Lloyd 105 miles from Lowestoft to IJmuiden. © Volvo Ocean Race.


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Photo: The fleet get under way at the start of leg 10 from Stockholm to St Petersburg. © Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race.


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Photo: PUMA Ocean Racing, skippered by Ken Read (USA) at the start of leg 9 from Marstrand to Stockholm. © Sally Collison/PUMA Ocean Racing.


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Photo: Ericsson 3 chasing Telefonica Black at dawn, as the fleet pass the Orsund Bridge on the way to Stockholm. © Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race.


Volvo Ocean Race was run for the first time in 2001-02.

During the nine months of the 2008-09 Volvo, which started in Alicante, Spain and concluded in St. Petersburg, Russia, the teams sailed over 37,000 nautical miles of the world's most treacherous seas via Cape Town, Kochi, Singapore, Qingdao, around Cape Horn to Rio de Janeiro, Boston, Galway, Goteborg and Stockholm.

Each of the seven entries had a sailing team of 11 professional crew, and the race required their utmost skills, physical endurance and competitive spirit as they raced day and night for more than 30 days at a time on some of the legs. They each took on different jobs onboard the boat. About two sailors in each team had medical training. Also, each team consisted of a sailor trained as a sailmaker, a sailor trained as an engineer, and a sailor trained as a media specialist.

During the race the crews experience life at the extreme: no fresh food is taken onboard and they go through temperature variations from -5 to +40 degrees Celsius.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:35 AM | View the original post



December 4, 2009

World Bank: Majority of People Want Action on Climate Change, Even if it Entails Costs


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Photo: View of lakes and mountains. Photo © Curt Carnemark / World Bank.


A new poll of 15 nations, most of them in the developing world, finds that majorities of the people canvassed want their governments to take steps to fight climate change, even if that entails costs. People signaled they would support public measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions and step up adaptation measures. For example, respondents would support higher fuel efficiency standards for cars, preserving or expanding forests, and extending funding to vulnerable countries so they can develop hardier crops suited to more severe climates.


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Photo: Fishing. Photo © Alex Baluyut / World Bank.


"The poll's findings shed light on global attitudes at a particularly important moment: the run-up to the conference on climate change to be held December 7-18 in Copenhagen. Hearing from people in the developing world offers a new lens on this issue," says Katherine Sierra, World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development.


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Photo: Horse-drawn cart. Mali. Photo © Curt Carnemark / World Bank.


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Photo: Mali. Photo © Curt Carnemark / World Bank.


Carried out by WorldPublicOpinion.org and commissioned by the World Bank, the poll questioned 13,518 respondents in 15 nations -- Bangladesh, China, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Russia, Senegal, Turkey, the United States, and Vietnam.

Other key findings include:

• Public concern about climate change is high worldwide, but it's generally higher in developing countries.
• Publics, particularly in developing countries, believe climate change is already having negative effects.
• In most countries, wealthy and poor alike, large majorities are willing to pay to fight climate change.
• Support for increased adaptation funding to poor countries is widespread worldwide.


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Photo: View of river and mountains. Bhutan. Photo © Curt Carnemark / World Bank.


"It is encouraging indeed to see strong across-the-board support for committing to emissions limits in both developed and developing nations, since behavior change and attitudes will help determine whether we succeed or fail in addressing this global issue," says Marianne Fay, World Bank Chief Economist for Sustainable Development and Co-Director of the World Development Report 2010: Development and Climate Change.

Ms. Fay explained that the poll was commissioned as a follow-up to the recently released WDR. The aim was to gain a better understanding of how the recommendations of the Report to invest substantially and immediately to manage climate change ("Act now, act together, and act differently") resonate in a cross-section of countries.

In the low-income country of Vietnam, for example, 98% say their government should commit to limiting emissions as part of a deal, and 93% support the same course in the absence of a deal. At the other end of the wealth spectrum, the people of France express 97% support if an agreement is reached at Copenhagen, and 87% if no agreement emerges.


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Photo: View of road before storm. Ghana. Photo © Curt Carnemark / World Bank.


Majorities in 14 of 15 countries are willing to pay to fight global climate change.

Majorities in most countries also support measures that would raise costs for energy and transportation.


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Photo: Portrait of children. India. Photo © World Bank / Curt Carnemark.


Similarly, majorities in 12 countries support "gradually increasing the requirements for fuel efficiency in automobiles, even if this raises the cost of cars and bus fares." Majorities in 11 countries support "gradually reducing government subsidies that favor private transportation, even if this raises its cost." Majorities in all countries polled support "preserving or expanding forested areas, even if this means less land for agriculture or construction."

WorldPublicOpinion.org operates as a collaborative project involving research centers from around the world that is managed by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland. The margins of error for each country range from +/-3 to 4 percentage points. The surveys were conducted across the different nations in September and October 2009.

Source: World Bank

|GlobalGiants.Com|


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"We, the Heads of the MDBs and the IMF, appeal to the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to agree in Copenhagen the foundations for an ambitious, comprehensive, and equitable global climate change regime that enables all countries to achieve sustainable development along climate-resilient and low greenhouse gas emission-intensive paths. We recognise the primacy of the UNFCCC, whose principles and process we have supported from the start. We endeavour, in accordance with our organizations' respective mandates, expertise, and resources, to further coordinate our financing and analyses of climate change actions and enable our client partners to maximise the effective use of new financial flows."

-- Joint statement by the heads of the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund.


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The International Climate Science Coalition (ICSC) has released the names of over 140 leading climate experts from 17 countries who are asking the United Nations and other supporters of this month's Climate Change Conference to produce convincing OBSERVATIONAL EVIDENCE for their claims of dangerous human-caused global warming (AGW) and other changes in climate.

"With revelations that critical temperature data used by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change appear to have been intentionally distorted to increase warming trends, national representatives to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference must demand a thorough re-examination of the scientific evidence supporting proposed mitigation actions. This should not be limited to simple temperature data auditing but must also include a re-evaluation of many of the climate-related assertions uncritically accepted by politicians and media worldwide."

-- Dr. Tim Patterson, ICSC Chair and Professor of Earth Sciences at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.

"While policies designed to conserve energy, reduce pollution and help vulnerable peoples adapt to climate change are important to pursue, proposals to severely curtail GHG emissions in an effort to control climate make no sense, given the current state of scientific knowledge. Instead we need to focus on environmental issues we know we can positively impact - air, land and water pollution being primary examples."

-- Dr. Wibjörn Karlén, Professor Emeritus, Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Sweden.


Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:32 AM | View the original post



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