October 5, 2007
The Future is Electric for Nissan : GlobalGiants.com
TOKYO, October 5 -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today unveiled the Pivo 2, an advanced electric concept car that will debut at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. Pivo 2 builds on the popularity of the first Pivo, shown at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. Powered by advanced Compact Lithium-ion Batteries and featuring a unique rotating cabin - meaning no reverse gear required - the first Pivo became a cult hit at shows from Beijing to Geneva.
Pivo 2 takes the idea of an environmentally friendly electric urban commuter vehicle and delivers fun, functionality and a unique relationship between the car and driver. Pivo 2 is powered by advanced Compact Lithium-ion Batteries and employs 'by-wire' technologies for braking and steering.
Where the first Pivo, with its fully rotating cabin design, made reversing obsolete, the Pivo 2 takes that easy mobility concept to a new level. Each of the four wheels are powered by Nissan's advanced electric In-wheel 3D Motor and can turn through 90 degrees to allow Pivo 2 to drive sideways as well as forward.
Thanks to the innovative Robotic Agent, you are never alone in the Pivo 2. With conversations possible in Japanese and English, the Robotic Agent has been created to work with Pivo 2 to make every journey less stressful. It provides a unique interface through which to communicate with Pivo 2 on everything from basic vehicle functions through to the nearest available parking.
Pivo 2 will be on display at the Nissan Ginza Gallery in Tokyo, for an exclusive public sneak preview ahead of the Motor Show. Pivo 2 will then be exhibited - together with four other exciting production and concept vehicles at the Tokyo Motor Show, starting October 27. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 8:40 AM | Link to this Post
October 4, 2007
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND: GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVE
Sixteen celebrities have signed World Wildlife Fund "Hotter than I Should Be" t-shirts to be auctioned off on eBay starting today with funds going to support WWF's global climate change and other conservation initiatives. T-shirts have been signed by Kevin Bacon, Candice Bergen, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Gisele Bundchen, Cindy Crawford, Harrison Ford, Scarlett Johansson, Tobey Maguire, Paul Newman, Rachael Ray, Susan Sarandon, Charlie Sheen, Martin Short, Oliver Stone and Betty White.
The WWF "Hotter than I Should Be" t-shirts are made of 100 percent organic cotton and are available for a donation of $50 or more. The t-shirts are part of WWF's campaign to raise awareness about the causes and impacts of climate change. WWF is working to stop climate change by providing cutting-edge science, championing policies to reduce carbon emissions and mobilizing businesses to drive new and innovative solutions. With a team of dedicated experts working in more than 50 countries, WWF is focused on four areas where it can have the most impact: creating responsible global warming policies; working with businesses to reduce carbon dioxide emissions; implementing adaptation plans to help the planet respond to the effects of climate change; and protecting forests that help mitigate climate change.
The largest multinational conservation organization in the world, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 5:07 AM | Link to this Post
September 21, 2007
ZAP Signs Electric Car Joint Venture with China's Largest Luxury Bus Manufacturer : GlobalGiants.com
Youngman Auto Group to Make Electric and Hybrid Cars, Trucks and Buses for Joint Venture.
Photo: JINHUA CITY, Zhejiang, China -- Youngman Auto Group Chairman Pang Qingnian and Steve Schneider, CEO of US electric car pioneer ZAP, have agreed to a joint venture to manufacture, market and distribute electric and hybrid cars, trucks and buses.
JINHUA CITY, China and SANTA ROSA, Calif., Sept. 21 -- In a joint statement released today, USA electric car pioneer ZAP (BULLETIN BOARD: ZAAP) and Youngman Automotive Group, China's number one luxury motor coach and high-quality commercial truck manufacturer, have signed a joint venture agreement to manufacture, market and distribute electric and hybrid vehicles for the passenger car, truck and bus markets. The new joint venture company will also focus on the development and manufacturing of electric charging infrastructure.
Youngman Automotive Group is a private holding company with 12 subsidiaries. Youngman's partnership with Germany's NEOPLAN controls more than 70 percent of the luxury motor coach market in China. Youngman is the supplier to NEOPLAN and MAN, two of Europe's top brands for luxury motor coaches and high-quality commercial trucking. Over the past few years Youngman has also expanded sales in Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Malaysia), The Middle East, Europe and the USA, enjoying significant market growth.
In 2004, with the support of the Chinese government, Youngman was awarded a license to manufacture automobiles. Earlier this year Youngman made auto industry headlines by awarding Lotus Engineering a number of vehicle development projects, and more recently by signing a vehicle distribution and technology licensing agreement with Proton (the Malaysian national car company), estimated to be worth several billion US dollars. The strategic partnership with ZAP will allow the joint venture company to bring highway capable electric and hybrid vehicles to the market like the ZAP-X crossover SUV.
"I applaud ZAP and Youngman for bringing the next generation of mass-produced electric vehicles to California. Our state is leading the nation and world in opening the market for alternative fuel vehicles and this move is another example of bringing high-quality, high-paying jobs to California," said Governor Schwarzenegger. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 10:03 AM | Link to this Post
September 18, 2007
BMW Hydrogen 7 On U.S. Roadways : GlobalGiants.com
Jay Leno joins Actor Will Ferrell and Other High Profile Individuals as One of the First to be given a BMW Hydrogen 7.
Photo: Jay Leno drives a BMW Hydrogen 7 -- the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan.
WOODCLIFF, N.J., Sept. 18 -- BMW has announced that Jay Leno became the latest person to receive keys to a BMW Hydrogen 7 -- the first hydrogen-powered luxury sedan. The Emmy-winning comedian and host of The Tonight Show received his BMW Hydrogen 7 at his famed car garage in Burbank, California, which is fittingly a "green garage" that receives a great deal of its energy from steam power.
"As an avid car enthusiast I'm always interested in the future of automotive technology. With the BMW Hydrogen 7 I can experience all the fun and great features of a performance car, yet know that I'm being environmentally friendly at the same time! I look forward to driving the Hydrogen 7 and learning more about hydrogen as a fuel for our future."
Running in hydrogen mode, the BMW Hydrogen 7 essentially emits nothing but water vapor, representing a major step in reducing harmful CO2 emissions. It is not a concept car, but a production model vehicle that has successfully completed the entire Product Development Process. While the BMW Hydrogen 7 is not for sale, it is considered to be a milestone in bringing forward hydrogen as the sustainable fuel for individual transportation.
BMW believes that hydrogen will replace petroleum as the long-term alternative to fossil fuel, and hopes the Hydrogen 7 will play a pioneering role in driving forward the hydrogen technologies that will ensure our mobility in the future. Through a program dubbed the Hydrogen 7 Pioneers Program, BMW is giving industry leaders and prominent figures in entertainment, politics, business and more a BMW Hydrogen 7 for their daily use.
While Leno and BMW's hydrogen pioneers will be the first group to be given access to the BMW Hydrogen 7 in the U.S. for a longer period of use, a number of entertainers, politicians, business leaders and more have opted for a BMW Hydrogen 7 as their energy-efficient ride of choice. Those who have recently chosen the vehicle include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the "Ocean's 13" premiere in Hollywood; Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Liguori at the FOX All-Star Party in Santa Monica; Richard Gere and Sharon Stone at the Cinema for Peace Gala in Berlin; and "An Inconvenient Truth" producer Davis Guggenheim (Oscar(R) for the best Documentary Feature) and Best Foreign Language Film Oscar(R) winner, director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck at the 2007 Academy Awards; among others. The vehicle has also made an impact oversees, with luminaries such as Michael Glos, German Federal Minister for Economy and Technology, and Gunter Verheugen, Vice President of the European Commission, world renowned soprano Anna Netrebko and many others covering more than 1.3 million miles worldwide till now. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 6:07 AM | Link to this Post
September 13, 2007
Ethical Fashion Show(R) Paris
The World's Leading Sustainable Fashion Event 4th Edition: October 11th-14th, 2007.
PARIS, September 13 -- Now in its fourth year, Ethical Fashion Show(R) is keeping with the spirit that made the event a success.
Designers coming from all over the world share common values : production in a safe and socially responsible environment, an emphasis on Fair Trade, the use of organic, sustainable fibers and recycling.
Event founder Isabelle Quehe declares, "This year, Ethical Fashion Show(R) Paris will display designers coming from all five continents: countries like France, Switzerland, the UK, Canada, The United States, India and the Netherlands, but also Australia, China, Senegal, Peru, Brazil, the Philippines, Chile, Columbia, Indonesia and Azerbaijan ! What sets us apart from other fashion events is that, in addition to featuring eco-fashion, we insist on paying homage to ancestral textile traditions, very often threatened by globalization."
Founded in 2004 by Isabelle Quehe, Ethical Fashion Show(R) champions the emergence of global awareness and desire for fashion that is ethically and ecologically responsible. The show offers valuable insights about the latest developments and special challenges facing ethical fashion in the design and textile industry. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 1:52 PM | Link to this Post
September 5, 2007
Fisker Automotive -- A New Green American Premium Car Company : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: Fisker Automotive Logo.
IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 5 -- Quantum Technologies (NASDAQ:QTWW) and Fisker Coachbuild, LLC announce the launch of a joint venture in Fisker Automotive, Inc. -- a green American premium car company. Fisker Automotive will offer a range of environmentally friendly premium cars -- with the first production car to make its Worldwide North American debut at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January. Initial production is anticipated to be 15,000 vehicles annually with pricing to start under $100,000.
Design and technology development are already underway for the first production car. All models will feature cutting-edge plug-in hybrid technology penned as Quantum Drive, developed by Quantum Technologies exclusively for Fisker Automotive. This all-new plug-in Quantum Drive chassis layout will allow Fisker to design innovative luxury cars with uncompromised proportions. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 10:29 AM | Link to this Post
August 9, 2007
GREENPEACE GE CORN FIELD : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: Greenpeace activists have created a 200-feet crop circle in a corn field in British Columbia, Canada. The field contains Monsanto's NK603 genetically engineered (GE) corn, which scientists recently linked with liver and kidney toxicity in rats. Greenpeace is calling for mandatory labeling of GE foods around the globe. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 10:14 AM | Link to this Post
July 23, 2007
No Relief from Floods in China
A paramilitary policeman, standing in the water, rescues residents trapped in a flood in Hami, in China's northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Tuesday, July 17, 2007. Floods triggered by heavy rains hit parts of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region early Tuesday morning, leaving more than 300 vehicles and 1,000 passengers trapped, according to sources with the local meteorological department, Xinhua News Agency said. (EyePress) |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 1:28 PM | Link to this Post
July 16, 2007
Deadly Earthquake Rattles Japan : GlobalGiants.com
Cracks appear on the Hokuriku expressway in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, on July 16 after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 rocked a wide area of the prefecture and its vicinity earlier in the day. (Kyodo)
The impact of a strong quake Monday in northwestern Japan caused the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant -- the world's largest – to leak water containing radioactive materials, a company spokesman said.
At least seven people were killed by the quake, which destroyed hundreds of homes, buckled seaside bridges and caused a fire at the nuclear power plant.
Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:41 PM | Link to this Post
July 13, 2007
Typhoon Hits Japan; Thousands Without Power : GlobalGiants.com
A meteorogical chart with a typhoon course forecast is displayed over an automatic check-in counter at the Fukuoka Airport, in Japan's southern Kyushu island 13 July 2007. A powerful typhoon lashed Japan's southern island of Okinawa, cutting power to nearly 100,000 homes, grounding hundreds of flights and injuring at least 17 people. (AFP)
Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:32 PM | Link to this Post
July 9, 2007
DaimlerChrysler's 'smart' is supporting The Live Earth concerts against global warming : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: smart provides the official VIP shuttle for the Live Earth concert.
Photo: Lily Cole, UK model at the Live Earth concert.
Photo: Live Earth, London.
Photo: Jasmin Wagner experienced the low emission smart fortwo.
The Live Earth concerts against global warming are offering life music for a period of 24 hours across eight cities and on all continents. From Bon Jovi and Genesis over Jennifer Lopez and Madonna to Shakira and The Police – more than 100 top international acts are mobilising against the threat of climate change. With smart, DaimlerChrysler is the only car manufacturer supporting the “Save Our Selves – SOS” initiative launched by Kevin Wall and Al Gore and is the official partner of all eight concerts. smart is accompanying the climate protection initiative with a range of activities and is providing the official shuttle service for the concerts. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 6:39 AM | Link to this Post
July 6, 2007
Giant Pandas are Part of Chinese Gift to Hong Kong to Celebrate Anniversary : GlobalGiants.com
Giant pandas Ying Ying and Lok Lok are seen inside the new giant panda habitat at the Hong Kong Ocean Park June 30, 2007. The two giant pandas are the latest gifts from China to Hong Kong to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to Chinese rule. (Eyepress)
Edited & Posted by Editor | 8:43 AM | Link to this Post
July 5, 2007
PEPSICO LIVE EARTH CAN : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: A commemorative Live Earth Pepsi can designed by musical artist and producer Pharrell Williams will be distributed at the Live Earth New York concert at Giants Stadium this Saturday. There are currently 500 million Pepsi Live Earth cans available in stores across the USA. (PepsiCo)
PepsiCo will shine a spotlight on recycling at the Live Earth New York concert this Saturday at Giants Stadium. The company will make it easy for people to recycle their bottles and cans while offering information about how they can make recycling a part of their everyday lives.
Soft drink bottles and cans are the most recycled packages in America. Since 1990, more than 150 billion Pepsi containers have been recycled. According to the Aluminum Association, Can Manufacturers Institute and Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, recycling 40 aluminum beverage cans has the energy-saving equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. In 2006, Americans recycled enough aluminum cans to conserve the energy equivalent of over 15 million barrels of oil.
Live Earth is a monumental music event that will bring together more than 2 billion people on July 7, 2007 to combat the climate crisis. Live Earth will stage concerts in New York, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg, Hamburg, and will feature a mix of both legendary music acts like The Police, Genesis, Bon Jovi and Madonna with the latest headliners like Kanye West, Kelly Clarkson, Black Eyed Peas and Jack Johnson.
Live Earth's 24 hours of music across 7 continents will deliver a worldwide call to action and the solutions necessary to answer that call. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 11:18 AM | Link to this Post
July 4, 2007
AMERICAN RED CROSS & FLOOD : GlobalGiants.com
July Fourth Holiday Week Brings No Vacation From Disasters.
American Red Cross Workers, Community Members and Emergency Responders Band Together During this Holiday Week.
Photo: Oliver Luero shows a Red Cross worker how high the water rose in his home. (American Red Cross, Michelle Tanner)
As the July Fourth holiday approaches, American Red Cross workers are helping those driven from their homes by massive flooding in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas and wildfires in the western United States. Hundreds of people will spend this holiday sleeping in shelters and cleaning up thousands of damaged homes and businesses throughout the Midwest and Southwest.
"People affected by this rash of floods have lost property, livelihoods and, in some cases, cherished people and pets." said Joe Becker, Senior Vice President of Disaster Preparedness and Response at the American Red Cross. "Their strength and spirit of community is clear; at American Red Cross shelters and disaster service centers we hear stories every day of neighbors going above and beyond to help others. But, the scale of these floods tells us that people in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas are going to need extra help, a lot of extra help." Becker added the Red Cross will be there every step of the way to ensure disaster victims have food, shelter and emotional support.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 3:51 AM | Link to this Post
July 3, 2007
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND: GREY-SHANKED DOUC : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: A critically endangered grey-shanked douc. Scientists have just discovered in Vietnam the world's largest population of these creatures, raising hopes that the species will survive. (World Wildlife Fund, Tilo Nadler)
Edited & Posted by Editor | 2:33 AM | Link to this Post
June 28, 2007
Texas Floods Claim 11 Lives : GlobalGiants.com
More Rain Expected Today.
Photo: Megan Eubanks holds out her hand to Meadow Hemphill, 2, who struggles to climb over flood debris after floodwaters ripped through the Granbury Harbor neighborhood on Tuesday, June 27, 2007, in Granbury, Texas. (MCT)
Edited & Posted by Editor | 10:04 AM | Link to this Post
June 21, 2007
Summer Solstice
The sun sets on the last day of spring as a boat sails up the Hudson River in New York June 20, 2007. The summer solstice will be celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere on Thursday. (Reuters)
Edited & Posted by Editor | 2:08 PM | Link to this Post
June 20, 2007
June 20th is 'American Eagle Day' : GlobalGiants.com
The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a special resolution naming June 20, 2007 "American Eagle Day".
The bald eagle was selected as America's national symbol on June 20, 1782 during the Second Continental Congress, and is scheduled to be removed from the Endangered Species Act around June 20th of this year. It has been protected under federal law since Congress passed the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act in 1940 and this protection was reinforced by the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
Photo Credit: AFP
Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:22 PM | Link to this Post
June 14, 2007
INTERNATIONAL TIGER COALITION SUPPORTERS : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: A crowd gathers in front of a two-story high mosaic of a tiger that is made up of photos of thousands of tiger supporters from around the world. The mosaic sits out side of the 14th gathering of the CITES convention in The Hague, The Netherlands. (International Tiger Coalition) |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 7:52 AM | Link to this Post
June 11, 2007
Flooding Leaves 600,000 Homeless and at least 18 Dead in China : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: A woman and her child wait for rescue on a raft in the flash flood in Meizhou of south China's Guangdong Province Sunday, June 10, 2007. (Color China)
Heavy rains have killed 18 people and left four missing, 5,843 houses collapsed by 3:00 p.m. on Sunday in Guangdong, according to local authorities. At least 66 people have been killed in flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains in China and nearly 600,000 have been left homeless, a state news agency reported Monday. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:23 PM | Link to this Post
