April 24, 2010
Fight against Malaria
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.
• 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 Editor | 7:40 AM | Link to this Post
April 11, 2010
COCA-COLA LAUNCHES POWERADE GLOBAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN VIA 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP
The Coca-Cola Company has had a formal association with Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) since 1974 and an official sponsorship of FIFA World Cup that began in 1978. Coca-Cola has had stadium advertising at every FIFA World Cup since 1950.
Powerade is a brand of The Coca-Cola Company. The Powerade brand will be part of the Company's overall sponsorship marketing activation around the FIFA World Cup.
In the brand's first-ever global integrated marketing campaign, Powerade will give athletes the "inspiration and ability" to "Keep Playing" through a comprehensive campaign highlighted by the presence of Powerade on the pitch during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
FIFA has officially designated Powerade as "Chosen by FIFA to Hydrate 2010 FIFA World Cup Players."
"The campaign theme KEEP PLAYING alludes to the insight that passionate sports players love the game of football and never want a great game to end," says Coca-Cola. "When the world's top footballers compete for the sport's ultimate prize during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, they will be able to reach for a Powerade to hydrate."
"FIFA only chooses the best technical partners to work with and we are delighted to be able to offer all players Powerade during the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament," said Professor Jiri Dvorak, FIFA Chief Medical Officer. "Players know they have to stay hydrated at all times and the effective hydration and energy Powerade gives them will help them perform at their best and hopefully go a long way to achieving an exciting and competitive tournament for all the countries involved."
During the month long tournament Powerade will be pitch side at all 10 venues, hydrating 736 players from 32 countries before, during and after all 64 games, from the opening game between South Africa and Mexico on June 11, all the way through to the Final in Johannesburg on July 10, 2010.
According to Coca-Cola, as little as 2 percent dehydration can seriously affect a player's performance. Powerade, when consumed throughout extended exercise, is designed to provide effective hydration and maintain performance by helping to replace essential fluids, carbohydrates and body salts lost during such exercise.
• Brand Name: POWERADE
• Drink Type: Sports Drink
• POWERADE: POWERADE combines carbohydrates with fluids for energy and hydration. It quenches thirst and replenishes minerals and carbohydrates lost during sports or other intense activities.
• Available in the following flavors: Apple, Berry, Berry Fruit Punch, Blackberry Raspberry, Blackcurrant, Cherry, Cherry Lime, Citrus Blend, Fruit Punch, Grape, Grape Strawberry, Grapefruit, Grapefruit Lemon, Grapefruit Passionfruit, Kiwi, Kiwi Watermelon, Lemon, Lemon Lime, Lemon Strawberry, Lime, Mandarin Orange, Mango, Mango Orange, Orange, Orange Tangerine, Passionfruit, Peach, Strawberry and Tangerine.
• Available in the following locations: American Samoa, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belarus, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Malta, Mariana Islands, Mexico, Namibia, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Northern Ireland, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Republic of Ireland, Republic of Korea, Russia, Samoa, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Turks & Caicos Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, United States, Vanuatu and Venezuela.
Source: The Coca-Cola Company Headquarters, Atlanta
|GlobalGiants.Com|
"Powerade global marketing would make no sense to the audiences in the countries where Powerade is not sold.
But Coca-Cola's supplementary advertising at 2010 FIFA World Cup would be understood by all."
© GlobalGiants.Com. All Rights Reserved.
Edited & Posted by Editor | 8:10 AM | Link to this Post
March 19, 2010
Better City, Better Life: Siemens at EXPO 2010
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.
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.
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.
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 Editor | 2:20 AM | Link to this 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.
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 Editor | 8:20 AM | Link to this Post
December 4, 2009
World Bank: Majority of People Want Action on Climate Change, Even if it Entails Costs
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.
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.
Photo: Horse-drawn cart. Mali. Photo © Curt Carnemark / World Bank.
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.
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.
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.
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|
"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.
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 Editor | 8:32 AM | Link to this Post
November 19, 2009
Bridget Moynahan is the Newest Spokesmodel for Garnier Nutritioniste
Moynahan will be the face of the Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift product collection.
Global skincare company Garnier Nutritioniste is introducing actress Bridget Moynahan as the latest spokesmodel for the brand. Moynahan will appear in print and TV campaigns for the brand's top-selling Ultra-Lift skincare collection, set to debut July 2010.
Moynahan joins an impressive roster of Garnier spokesmodels, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Bar Rafaeli and Alana de la Garza.
"We are thrilled to partner with the beautiful Bridget Moynahan," says Maybelline New York-Garnier President David Greenberg. "Her class, grace and accessibility make her a model representative of the Garnier brand. Most importantly, she exhibits a likeable, healthy beauty that speaks to our consumer in such a positive way."
Moynahan is an all-American girl raised in the East Coast town of Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Before earning international recognition in films and TV, she had a successful modeling career, appearing on the covers of numerous magazines including Glamour, Vogue, Elle and Self. Moynahan has since appeared in a number of major films, such as Serendipity, The Sum of All Fears, The Recruit, I, Robot, and Lord of War. She is the star of the upcoming 2010 film Ramona and Beezus and is currently shooting the film Battle: Los Angeles.
Source: Garnier
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 6:11 AM | Link to this Post
November 14, 2009
PRINCETON HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Photo: Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and New Jersey Congressman Rush Holt (center) visit a diagnostic imaging suite during a tour of University Medical Center at Princeton today. Speaker Pelosi and Rep. Holt held a press conference at the hospital to discuss the need for healthcare reform in America. Pictured at left is Barry S. Rabner, president and CEO of Princeton HealthCare System. (Photo Credit: Princeton HealthCare System. Photographer: Richard Titus)
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 11:10 PM | Link to this Post
September 25, 2009
New York City Green Buildings Program Launch: Building Owners, Union Leader Joined By Mayor Bloomberg
Labor-Management Program to Train 1,000 Building Supers.
Photo: New York Mayor Bloomberg, along with union president Mike Fishman, launched a green building worker training program at an apartment building in Manhattan on Friday, September 25, 2009. The One Year, One Thousand Supers program, said the mayor, "is a smart, practical, effective way to help make the Big apple green.".
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined Realty Advisory Board President Jim Berg and 32BJ President Mike Fishman today in launching an ambitious green buildings program to train one thousand superintendents and resident managers in one year in the latest energy efficient practices.
The launch of One Year, One Thousand Green Supers, which took place at a downtown apartment building, was attended by Jeff Brodsky, President of Related Management, and James O'Connor, President of Douglas Elliman, two of the first companies to have their employees participate in this labor-management green buildings program.
"By working together, 32BJ and New York's building owners have put into place a smart, practical and effective way to help make the Big Apple green," said Mayor Bloomberg. "One Year, One Thousand Green Supers provides a low-cost way to make our buildings more energy and cost efficient, and our environment cleaner, all while saving our city millions of dollars."
"With 77 percent of our city's greenhouse gas emissions generated by buildings, we must all work together to protect the environment," said Mike Fishman. "Making the Big Apple green starts with recognizing the vital role of building service workers."
• With more than 85,000 members in six states and Washington, DC, SEIU Local 32BJ is the largest property service workers union in the country. The union represents window cleaners, doormen, building maintenance workers, cleaners, porters, and security officers in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Connecticut, Maryland, and Virginia.
• One Year, One Thousand Green Supers is part of the Thomas Shortman Training Fund. The program is a 40 hour class that provides building service workers with the latest, state-of-the-art practices in energy efficient operations. The curriculum trains workers to identify and address wasted energy, create a green operating plan and perform cost-benefit analysis for building owners and managers.
"By learning how to air seal a building, improve heating and air conditioning performance and reduce overall energy use in a building's common areas, graduates can achieve substantial savings at their buildings," said Linda Nelson, Director of the Thomas Shortman Training Fund. The third and final pilot class of building service workers in the program is set to graduate next week.
• The Fund's programs provide 150,000 hours of industry, academic, and computer courses at over 20 locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
• The One Year, One Thousand Supers curriculum combines classes and field exercises with elective courses, including renewable technologies, green roofs and water reuse.
With a growing demand for greener buildings, smarter management practices could reduce energy use in buildings by twenty to forty percent, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Source: SEIU Local 32BJ
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 10:46 PM | Link to this Post
September 22, 2009
Clinton Global Initiative: President Barack Obama and President Bill Clinton Address the Opening Plenary Session of the Fifth Annual Meeting
Among others, following are joining President Clinton in Panel Discussion on Global Challenges:
• Michelle Bachelet, President of the Republic of Chile.
• Mike Duke, CEO of Wal-Mart Stores.
• Muhtar Kent, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Coca-Cola.
• Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Photo: President Barack Obama and President Bill Clinton Greet Each Other on Stage at the Opening Plenary Session of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative.
Today, in New York, President Barack Obama joined President Bill Clinton to open the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative.
The meeting is bringing together leaders from the political, corporate, and civil sectors to develop and implement innovative solutions to the world's most pressing problems.
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) brings together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges.
"This week, even as we gather at the United Nations to discuss what governments can do to confront the challenges of our time, even as we're joined tonight by so many presidents and prime ministers - this Global Initiative reminds us what we can do as individuals: that you don't have to hold public office to be a public servant," President Obama said, adding: "That's the beauty of service - anyone can do it and everyone should try."
"In the midst of a global financial crisis, I don't think it's a coincidence that more people are attending this meeting than ever before," President Clinton said. "Since 2005, it has become clear that CGI has found an effective model for addressing challenges around the world. Our members have made more than 1,400 commitments affecting more than 200 million people around the world. Because of their efforts, more than 10 million children have access to a better education, 48 million people have better health care, and more than 12 people million have safe drinking water. But there is still work to be done."
President Clinton announced that more than 60 current and former heads of state, 500 business leaders, and 400 leaders from nongovernmental and philanthropic organizations will be attending the meeting, representing 84 countries.
Photo (Added Sep 23): From left: Diane Sawyer moderates panel including Lloyd Blankfein, chairman and CEO of The Goldman Sachs Group, Merlanne Verveer, ambassador-at-large for global women's issues at the U.S. Department of State, Robert Zoellick, president of The World Bank Group, Zainab Salbi, founder and CEO of Women for Women International, Rex Tillerson, chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, and Edna Adan, director and founder of the Edna Adan Maternity and Teaching Hospital (speaking).
Photo (Added Sept 23): From left to right, Matthew Bishop, New York Bureau Chief and American Business Editor, The Economist, Al Gore, Chairman, The Alliance for Climate Protection, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Managing Director, The World Bank Group, Jack Ma, Chairman and CEO, Alibaba Group, Judith Robin, President, The Rockefeller Foundation, Muhammad Yunus, Founder and Managing Director, Grameen Bank.
Source: Clinton Global Initiative
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 11:44 PM | Link to this Post
September 7, 2009
Nestlé Chocolate Center of Excellence inaugurated in Broc, Switzerland
Nestlé Chocolate Center to combine artistic creativity and cutting-edge science.
Photo © Nestlé S.A.
Nestlé today inaugurated the Chocolate Center of Excellence in Broc, Switzerland, in the presence of Doris Leuthard, Swiss Minister of Economic Affairs, Beat Vonlanthen, Minister of Canton Fribourg, and Stéphane Sudan, Mayor of Broc.
Photo: Nestlé Chocolate Center of Excellence, Broc, Switzerland. Photo © Nestlé S.A.
The Chocolate Center of Excellence builds on Nestlé's chocolate-making heritage and will spearhead its drive in the premium and luxury chocolate segment, which in turn will influence the company's entire chocolate range. The Center combines a team of Nestlé specialists, from fine cocoa bean scientists, sensory experts and chocolatiers to packaging designers and consumer specialists, with the artistic inspiration of a panel of independent chocolatiers.
This spirit of open innovation is further illustrated by the Center's partnership with prestigious external design institutions such as the California Art Center and the ECAL University of Art and Design in Lausanne.
Photo: Nestlé Chocolate Center of Excellence, Broc, Switzerland. Photo © Nestlé S.A.
The investment of CHF 25 million underlines the strategic importance Nestlé attributes to its chocolate business, especially in the premium and luxury segment. In 2008 the chocolate business reached sales of CHF 9.8 billion, with an organic growth of 7.6%.
While global brands such as Kit Kat reached sales of over CHF 1 billion, 70% of Nestlé's chocolate business comes from local brands. In the premium and luxury segment, which grows above the category average, Nestlé is leader in dark chocolate and is well known for premium brands such as Nestlé Noir, Perugina, Cailler and Nespresso luxury chocolate.
The Chocolate Center of Excellence is part of Nestlé's research and development network, which comprises 28 Centers and employs around 5,000 people worldwide.
Source: Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland.
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 1:38 AM | Link to this Post
September 2, 2009
Virtuoso Violinist Itzhak Perlman and New York Philharmonic to Join Rotary's Effort to End Polio
Rotary International is joining violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman and the New York Philharmonic, led by Philharmonic Assistant Conductor Daniel Boico, to present the Concert to End Polio. It will be a benefit performance supporting the global effort to eradicate this disabling childhood disease.
The Concert to End Polio will take place on Wednesday, December 2, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York City. Program information will be announced at a later date.
Founded in 1842, the New York Philharmonic is the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States and one of the oldest in the world. The Orchestra is also renowned around the globe, having appeared in 425 cities in 59 countries on five continents.
Polio eradication resonates strongly with Mr. Perlman, who contracted the disease at age four and overcame serious physical challenges to become one of the world's most celebrated musicians. In this historic, one-night-only performance -- his first with the New York Philharmonic in four years -- Mr. Perlman will help Rotary in its effort to raise $200 million to match a $355 million challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. All of the resulting $555 million will fund critical eradication activities in developing countries where polio still threatens children.
Rotary International, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988. Since then, ending polio has been Rotary's top priority, and tremendous progress has been made.
Rotary is an international humanitarian service organization made up of more than 33,000 clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas, with a total membership of 1.2 million business, professional and community leaders.
Source: Rotary International
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 9:04 AM | Link to this Post
August 24, 2009
P&G's Global Pharmaceuticals Business Acquired By Warner Chilcott
The Procter & Gamble Company and Warner Chilcott plc today announced an agreement for the sale of P&G's global pharmaceuticals business to Warner Chilcott for an up-front cash payment of $3.1 billion.
Under the terms of the agreement, Warner Chilcott, a leading specialty pharmaceuticals company, will acquire P&G's portfolio of branded pharmaceutical products, including Asacol HD (mesalamine) Delayed-Release Tablets for ulcerative colitis, Actonel (risedronate sodium) for osteoporosis, and the co-promotion rights to Enablex (darifenacin) for the treatment of overactive bladder, as well as P&G's prescription drug product pipeline and manufacturing facilities in Puerto Rico and Germany. In addition, the majority of the 2,300 employees working on P&G's pharmaceuticals business are expected to transfer to Warner Chilcott. Both companies expect the transaction to close by the end of the 2009 calendar year, pending necessary regulatory approvals.
"The acquisition of the P&G pharmaceutical brands and employee talent is a transformational, strategic move for us," said Roger Boissonneault, president and chief executive officer of Warner Chilcott. "The acquisition transforms Warner Chilcott into a global pharmaceutical company."
"This move enables us to focus singularly on winning in consumer health care - Personal Health Care, Oral Care and Feminine Care," said Bob McDonald, president and chief executive officer of Procter & Gamble.
Warner Chilcott's legal advisor is Davis Polk & Wardwell, LLP and lead financial advisors are J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated. Also advising Warner Chilcott are BofA Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Procter & Gamble's financial advisor is Goldman Sachs and its legal advisor is Covington & Burling, LLP.
Source: Procter & Gamble; Warner Chillcott
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:46 PM | Link to this Post
July 16, 2009
America's Best Hospitals 2009-10 As Ranked By U.S. News Media Group
U.S. News Media Group today announced the 2009-10 publication of America's Best Hospitals, accessible today online and on sale at newsstands Tuesday, July 21.
Now in its 20th year, the multi-platform 2009-10 America's Best Hospitals guide is the most extensive hospital ranking to-date. It includes rankings of 174 medical centers nationwide in 16 specialties -- with full data available online for another 1,500 unranked hospitals. In addition, the Best Hospitals "Honor Roll" highlights 21 medical centers that were ranked at or near the top in at least six specialties.
The 16 ranked specialties are cancer; diabetes & endocrine disorders; digestive disorders; ear, nose, and throat; geriatric care; gynecology; heart and heart surgery; kidney disorders; neurology and neurosurgery; ophthalmology; orthopedics; psychiatry; rehabilitation; respiratory disorders; rheumatology; and urology.
"When the stakes are high, you want the best care you can get for someone close to you," said Avery Comarow, health rankings editor. "These are hospitals that are used to getting the sickest patients."
The 2009-10 Best Hospitals guide also includes a web video series on USNews.com where visitors can watch HealthiNation Chief Medical Editor Dr. Holly Atkinson interview Comarow and Dr. Bernadine Healy, U.S. News health editor, to capture their expertise and insight into the Best Hospitals ranking process. The videos take viewers behind the scenes of the rigorous selection process, include profiles of top winners across categories, and reveal what it takes for a hospital to be named one of "America's Best."
"Over the past two decades, America's Best Hospitals has proven to be an essential resource for consumers facing difficult healthcare decisions," said Brian Kelly, editor of U.S. News & World Report.
Of the medical centers ranked in the 2009-10 America's Best Hospitals, 21 earned Honor Roll status, demonstrating excellence and breadth of expertise by ranking at or near the top in at least six specialties.
The top hospitals in the 2009-10 Honor Roll are:
1. Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore
2. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
3. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles
4. Cleveland Clinic
5. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
6. New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell
7. University of California, San Francisco Medical Center
8. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
9. Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University, St. Louis
10. Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston
10. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.
12. University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle
13. UPMC-University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
14. University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers, Ann Arbor
15. Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Stanford, Calif.
16. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville
17. NYU Medical Center, New York
17. Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Conn.
19. Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York
20. Methodist Hospital, Houston
21. Ohio State University Hospital, Columbus
In addition to the hospitals that appear in one or more specialty rankings in the print magazine, the 2009-10 America's Best Hospitals package includes an online consumer guide where readers can find information on more than 1,500 hospitals that qualified for rankings, but did not score high enough to be ranked.
Source: U.S. News Media Group
|GlobalGiants.com|
"The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm."
-- Florence Nightingale
Edited & Posted by Editor | 11:05 PM | Link to this Post
June 17, 2009
A Comfortable Office Climate: Siemens Sensors for Buildings
• Sensors are to become the sensory organs of buildings.
• Siemens scientists are working to unite as many detection and measuring functions as possible on a single chip.
Photo: Siemens Corporate Technology is working on sensors which can monitor the climate in buildings and make it comfortable. The scientists develop sensors not only for measuring light and temperature but also for detecting odors and measuring different gases, such as CO2. (© Siemens AG)
The goal of the Siemens researchers is to develop sensors which act as the sensory organs of buildings and pass on their information to a building management system. These tiny watchmen make the management system know, for example, where aggressive substances have leaked or simply where the lights are to be switched off or the windows opened due to too high a CO2 level in the air.
Today, room climate sensors, air quality sensors and presence sensors can already control the air and light conditions in offices in relation to the number of persons present. And, using optimized control technology, they thus save up to 30 percent more of the energy consumption for heating, ventilation and air conditioning than that is done by any conventional control and regulating technology.
Photo: A lab technician of Siemens Central Research measuring the acidification, impedance and respiration rate of the cell sensors. (© Siemens AG)
In addition to sensors for measuring light and temperature as well as for the detection of different gases, the scientists are currently developing cell sensors which are to be used as an early warning system for contaminated water or bad air. The cells of these "living" sensors react to deviations by changing their metabolism which can be measured. They live in a nutrient on a silicon chip. The chip evaluates the data and sends them to a master process control system. The advantage over chemical sensors: Living cells react to all toxins.
Photo: CAR KEY -- Just how flexibly the tiny measuring instruments can be used is demonstrated by an alcohol sensor in an Automobile Key developed by Siemens. After the driver has blown into the sensor, it measures the level of alcohol in his breath by means of a conductive metal oxide which reacts to the gases. If the value exceeds the limit of 0.5 per thousand, for example, the key switches off and the engine will not start. (© Siemens AG)
This patented electronics system of the Siemens researchers is currently being tested in the field by a vehicle manufacturer.
Source: Siemens AG, Munich, Germany.
|GlobalGiants.com|
• GlobalGiants.Com is Member of the Boxxet Network Mixxed Green (Green and Sustainability)
Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:22 PM | Link to this Post
May 28, 2009
Microsoft Introduces New Search Engine: BING
Bing Helps People Make Better Decisions, says Microsoft.
Microsoft Corp. today unveiled Bing, a new Decision Engine and consumer brand, "providing customers with a first step in moving beyond search to help make faster, more informed decisions".
According to Microsoft, Bing is specifically designed to build on the benefits of today's search engines but begins to move beyond this experience with a new approach to user experience and intuitive tools to help customers make better decisions, focusing initially on four key vertical areas:
• Making a purchase decision.
• Planning a trip.
• Researching a health condition.
• Finding a local business.
This new approach is a beginning for a new kind of search service, which Microsoft is calling a Decision Engine that is designed to empower people to gain insight and knowledge from the Web by moving more quickly to important decisions.
The explosive growth of online content has continued unabated, and Bing was developed as a tool to help people more easily navigate through the information overload that has come to characterize many of today's search experiences, explains Microsoft.
"Today, search engines do a decent job of helping people navigate the Web and find information, but they don't do a very good job of enabling people to use the information they find," said Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO. "When we set out to build Bing, we grounded ourselves in a deep understanding of how people really want to use the Web. Bing is an important first step forward in our long-term effort to deliver innovations in search that enable people to find information quickly and use the information they've found to accomplish tasks and make smart decisions."
Based on the customer insight that 66 percent of people are using Internet search more frequently to make complex decisions, Microsoft identified three design goals to guide the development of Bing:
• Deliver great results.
• Deliver a more organized experience.
• Simplify tasks and provide insight, leading to faster, more confident decisions.
"The new service, built to go beyond today's search experience, includes deep innovation on core search areas including entity extraction and expansion, query intent recognition and document summarization technology as well as a new user experience model that dynamically adapts to the type of query to provide relevant and intuitive decision-making tools," claims Microsoft.
The new service, located at http://www.bing.com/, will begin to roll out over the coming days and will be fully deployed worldwide on Wednesday, June 3, 2009. It is only then that one can find out whether Bing is really a "Decision Engine" as Microsoft proclaims.
Source: Microsoft Corporation
"Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life."
-- Immanuel Kant
[Added June 25, 2009]
"Bing is overtaking Google. But Google has the Best Database."
© GlobalGiants.Com. All Rights Reserved.
|GlobalGiants.com|
• GlobalGiants.Com is Member of the Boxxet Network Techshrine (Technology)
Edited & Posted by Editor | 8:42 PM | Link to this Post
April 26, 2009
Whooping Cough: "Sounds of Pertussis" Campaign Spokesperson Jennifer Lopez Kicks Off March of Dimes March For Babies In Miami
Photo: Jennifer Lopez, Honorary Chairperson of the March of Dimes March for Babies 2009, and spokesperson for the organization's new public service announcement (PSA) campaign on the need for adult pertussis immunization, supports walkers at the March for Babies walk in Miami on April 25. (Sanofi Pasteur)
The March of Dimes and sanofi pasteur have launched a U.S. national education campaign to raise awareness about pertussis and help parents learn how they can help protect themselves and reduce the risk of spreading pertussis to their babies, for whom this disease can be potentially deadly.
As part of the Sounds of Pertussis campaign, actress, singer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and mother Jennifer Lopez has kicked off the March of Dimes March for Babies 2009 season as honorary chairperson for this year's event. While in Miami she continued to advocate the campaign's goal to educate families about getting vaccinated with the adult pertussis booster, which can help to protect adults from getting pertussis and transmitting the disease to their babies.
Commonly known as "whooping cough," pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease characterized by severe coughing. Pertussis is particularly dangerous for babies who have not yet been fully vaccinated against the disease. Infants are more vulnerable to severe pertussis and face the possibility of serious complications, including death. Researchers looking at how infants have caught pertussis have found that in about half of the cases where a source could be identified, the disease was transmitted by a parent. Parents can help protect themselves from pertussis and reduce the risk of transmitting pertussis to their babies by getting a Tdap booster.
Sources: March of Dimes & Sanofi Pasteur
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 9:15 AM | Link to this Post
February 25, 2009
Gatorade G2 Everyday Athlete: Tennis Star Serena Williams Selects Her Match
Five Semi-Finalists -- All Named Serena -- Share Their Inspired 'Everyday Athlete' Stories For Chance To Appear Next to Serena Williams in G2 Low- Calorie Sports Drink Campaign.
Photo: #1 World Ranked Tennis Player Serena Williams congratulates Serena Cuevas, 23, from San Diego for being selected to appear alongside Williams in the new national "Everyday Athletes" campaign for Gatorade G2 low-calorie sports drink. Emceed by Access Hollywood host and upcoming Dancing with the Stars competitor, Nancy O'Dell, The G2 Everyday Athlete Search selected Cuevas among five semi-finalists - all named Serena.
Top world ranked tennis player Serena Williams -- who just came off winning her 10th Grand Slam Singles Title at the 2009 Australian Open -- teamed up with Gatorade G2 today at Hollywood's famed Roosevelt Hotel to select who will appear alongside her in a new national "Everyday Athletes" ad campaign for the Gatorade G2 low-calorie sports drink.
Emceed by Access Hollywood host and upcoming Dancing with the Stars competitor, Nancy O'Dell, The G2 Everyday Athlete Search featured five semi-finalists -- all named Serena -- who traveled to the event from around the country to discuss their personal stories of how sports and exercise have helped them overcome a challenge or allowed them to reach and accomplish a significant, personal goal.
A casting panel consisting of Serena Williams, and representatives from Shape Magazine and Gatorade G2 selected winner Serena Cuevas, 23, from San Diego, Calif. based on Cuevas' story of growing up with a passion to dance that was sidetracked by a horrific car accident at the age of 17. She was told by the doctors she may never dance again. With determination and passion, Cuevas recovered and went on to compete in national and international salsa competitions, as well as establish her own dance company -- Deseo Dance Company -- in San Diego.
Cuevas will appear with Serena Williams in the national ad campaign beginning this spring that will help draw attention to the Gatorade brand's broadened definition of what it means to be an athlete. If your body is moving, Gatorade considers you an athlete.
The Gatorade Company is a division of PepsiCo.
Source: Gatorade
|GlobalGiants.com|
"Ill-health, of body or of mind, is defeat. Health alone is victory. Let all men, if they can manage it, contrive to be healthy."
-- THOMAS CARLYLE
Edited & Posted by Editor | 7:44 AM | Link to this Post
June 10, 2008
Dr Pepper Snapple Group Strikes Energy Drink Market With Venom
Venom Introduces New Re-sealable Aluminum Bottle.
Dr Pepper Snapple Group today introduces Venom, an energy drink for those wanting to experience "thrill seeking adventures". Venom is supposed to provide "hard-core energy" and is available in Black Mamba, regular, and Mojave Rattler, low-carbohydrate/calorie.
"Venom will accelerate Dr Pepper Snapple's entry into the fast growing energy drink market by delivering a jolt of energy in new killer packaging," said Charlotte Dimery, director of marketing for Venom. "Its piercing energy that strikes back in a new re-sealable bottle delivers something new and functional in the competitive energy landscape."
Photo: Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. Makes a Splash on the New York Stock Exchange -- May 7, 2008; Beverage business separated from Cadbury Schweppes plc to become stand alone company.
Venom's 16.9 ounce re-sealable aluminum bottle allows consumers to enjoy the product during multiple occasions, unlike most energy drinks in cans.
The Venom energy blend contains caffeine, l-carnitine, guarana, ginseng and taurine, the hard-core ingredients that consumers are looking for in their energy drink.
Venom Black Mamba and Mojave Rattler will be available at retailers nationwide USA for a suggested retail price of $2.29.
In addition to Venom, the beverage portfolio of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. includes the flagship Dr Pepper, Snapple, 7UP, Mott's, A&W, Sunkist Soda, Hawaiian Punch, Canada Dry, Schweppes, Squirt, RC Cola, Diet Rite, Penafiel, Rose's, Yoo-hoo, Clamato, and Mr & Mrs T. Based in Plano, Texas, Dr Pepper Snapple Group operates 24 bottling and manufacturing facilities and more than 200 distribution centers across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Source: Dr Pepper Snapple Group
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 11:06 AM | Link to this Post
June 4, 2008
P&G's Folgers Business to Merge into The J. M. Smucker Company
Photo: Co-CEOs Richard & Tim Smucker welcome Folgers into the Smucker family of brands. (The J.M. Smucker Company)
The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE:SJM) and The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) announced today the signing of a definitive agreement to merge the Folgers coffee business ("Folgers") into The J. M. Smucker Company in an all-stock reverse Morris Trust transaction valued at approximately $3.3 billion, including the assumption of an estimated $350 million of Folgers debt. As part of the transaction, Smucker will issue a one-time special dividend of $5 per share to Smucker shareholders as of the record date, prior to the merger, a clear indication of the strength of the combined businesses. Following this one-time special dividend, P&G shareholders will receive approximately 53.5 percent of Smucker in a tax-free stock-for-stock merger.
Folgers is the leading producer of retail packaged coffee products in the United States with a 150 year history. Folgers' broad portfolio of products are sold primarily under its flagship Folgers(R) brand. This brand joins a widely recognized portfolio of brands that include Smucker's(R), Jif(R), Crisco(R), Pillsbury(R), Eagle Brand(R), Hungry Jack(R), Robin Hood(R) and Bick's(R). The proposed transaction creates a powerful portfolio of brands and an even stronger Smucker Company with annual sales approaching $5 billion, and greater scale that will benefit all of its businesses. With the addition of Folgers, the total size of the categories in which Smucker participates increases to approximately $15 billion as compared to $1 billion in 2002. The addition of Folgers, a billion dollar brand, is consistent with Smucker's strategy to own and market number one food brands in North America.
"Folgers is a perfect strategic fit within our portfolio of leading and iconic North American food brands," said Tim Smucker, Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Smucker. "Folgers will become our tenth number one brand in North America and will further enhance the high quality, great tasting, diverse product offerings that consumers expect from Smucker. We are proud to welcome the talented Folgers employees to the Smucker Company where brands and people are about more than making and marketing products. We believe the many common values shared by our organizations represent a great foundation for a smooth integration."
Source: The J. M. Smucker Company; The Procter & Gamble Company
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 8:13 PM | Link to this Post
April 9, 2008
Gerald Genta Creates a One-of-a-Kind Model in Support of the Theodora Foundation
As a partner of the Theodora Foundation for the past two years, Gerald Genta will be contributing to the charity auction organised by Christie's on April the 16th by donating a one-of-a-kind watch. The unique model is a sophisticated and amusing timepiece that plays on the colors of the foundation.
The Theodora Foundation was born in Switzerland, in 1993, at the initiative of Andre and Jan Poulie. It is named in tribute to their mother, Theodora, who brightened Andre's childhood days during an extended hospital stay. The mission of its Dream doctors is to care for sick children through laughter. They currently operate in over 40 institutions around Switzerland and the concept has been taken up in eight other countries. In all, around 30 specifically trained professional artists pay regular visits to 95 hospitals or specialised institutions some 220,000 times a year and adapt their clown shows to the situation of each child they meet..
Gerald Genta, an Haute Horlogerie brand with a fine appreciation for the humourous, supports the Theodora Foundation. For the second year running, it is donating a one-of-a-kind watch to the auction. This self-winding ladies' watch displays the hours and the minutes by central hands, and the seconds on one of the brand's typical retrograde counters, appearing at 6 o'clock. The particularly entertaining dial features a richly colourful and complex composition set against a white-lacquered background. The thirteen individual rings appear on various levels and are individually coloured using a sophisticated technique. This enchanting decorative effect is further magnified by a circle of diamonds set on the bezel of the white gold case.
The "Magnificent Jewels Auction" to be organised by Christie's, will take place in New York in April the 16th and will be preceded by several exhibitions around the world.
Source: Gerald Genta
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 1:45 AM | Link to this Post
