News & News In Spanish
Sept 6
NOAA Reports La Nina Is Developing
Scientists with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, in today's release of its monthly El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic Discussion, say that La Nina is on its way.
"While we can't officially call it a La Nina yet, we expect that this pattern will continue to develop during the next three months, meeting the NOAA definition for a La Nina event later this year," said Mike Halpert, acting deputy director of the Climate Prediction Center in Camp Springs, Md.
La Nina refers to the periodic cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific that occur every three to five years. La Nina originally referred to a cooling of ocean waters off the coasts of Peru and Ecuador. NOAA declares the onset of a La Nina event when the three-month average sea-surface temperature departure exceeds -0.5 degrees C (-0.9 degrees F) in the east-central equatorial Pacific, between 5 degrees North and 5 degrees South latitude and 170 degrees and 120 degrees West longitude.
The development of La Nina conditions is supported by increasing below-normal sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific and stronger than average easterly winds across the west-central equatorial Pacific. "Nearly all operational dynamical models, including the National Centers for Environmental Prediction's climate forecast system and many of the statistical models also favor a La Nina event," said Halpert.
With La Nina developing, seasonal forecasters expect wetter than normal conditions in the Pacific Northwest and drier than normal conditions in the already drought stricken southwestern U.S. this fall.
"These conditions also reinforce NOAA's August forecast for an above normal Atlantic hurricane season," said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., NOAA's lead seasonal hurricane forecaster.
The Climate Prediction Center will publish the next official ENSO diagnostic discussion on October 11. The El Nino/Southern Oscillation diagnostic discussion is a product of the Climate Prediction Center in association with its funded institutions.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 70 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.
Source: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Sept. 4
Safeway Raises Record $7 Million for Muscular Dystrophy Association
Month-Long Fundraising Campaign Culminates in Employee Appearances on National and Regional MDA Labor DayTelethons
Safeway Inc. announced today that it raised a record $7 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) during a month-long campaign at the company’s more than 1,600 U.S. stores.
The annual Safeway fundraising drive for “Jerry’s Kids” is part of a companywide initiative to assist people with neuromuscular disease. The money raised goes to MDA-funded, leading-edge research and treatment programs. Over the years Safeway has raised more than $32 million for MDA through customer donations at checkout and a broad range of store fundraising events, including its participation in the long-standing Aisles of Smiles program. Over the Labor Day weekend, Safeway employees volunteered time and participated in various regional Jerry Lewis MDA telethons presenting checks and staffing phone banks.
“Raising funds for MDA has become an important late-summer tradition at Safeway and a core part of how our company gives back to the community,” said Larree Renda, Safeway Executive Vice President and Chair of The Safeway Foundation. “We are grateful to our customers for their generosity and extremely proud of our employees for their hard work. Our commitment is paying off with research and treatments that are making a difference in the lives of more than one million Americans living with neuromuscular disease.”
Ms. Renda, along with top fundraising store managers and district managers, presented checks totaling $7 million to MDA national Chairman Jerry Lewis on the MDA Labor Day Telethon in Las Vegas. Safeway representatives in 25 other cities participated in regional MDA telethons and presented checks for funds raised locally. In addition, Safeway employees volunteered hundreds of hours in more than a dozen cities staffing phone banks and taking pledges at multiple telethon sites such as Houston, Los Angeles, Baltimore and San Diego. In Chicago, more than 100 employees from Safeway’s Chicago-area Dominick’s stores – clad in red “Dominick’s” shirts – worked on the phone banks at the telethon broadcast from the Chicago Hyatt Regency Hotel from Sunday night through the early hours of Monday morning.
Twice each year Safeway stores nationally mobilize to raise funds and awareness for people with various physical and developmental disabilities. Along with the annual MDA campaign, Safeway also raises funds for Easter Seals to help people with autism, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities and other special needs. Through these efforts the company has helped raise more than $110 million for people with disabilities. Safeway has a long-standing record of hiring and supporting people with disabilities. In early 2007 Safeway received a prestigious award from the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation for its commitment to employing people with disabilities. Safeway currently employs nearly 10,000 people with disabilities in its stores and support facilities.
Safeway supports a range of important causes with funds, informational outreach and volunteer hours. In 2006 Safeway and The Safeway Foundation donated nearly $154 million in food and financial support to education, hunger relief, medical research and other important causes and is on a record pace to set new fundraising records in 2007.
ABOUT SAFEWAY www.safeway.com
Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 100 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America, based on sales. The company operates 1,740 stores in the United States and western Canada and had annual sales of $40.2 billion in 2006. Safeway supports a broad range of charitable and community programs and last year donated more than $154 million to important causes, such as cancer research, education, food banks and programs focused on assisting people with disabilities. The company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY.
August 10
Gore Supporters Form California Draft Gore CommitteeOrganizers Plan to Qualify Al Gore for California Presidential Primary Ballot
- Organizers of a new statewide campaign to put Al Gore's name on the California presidential primary ballot announced today the formation of California Draft Gore, a grassroots political action committee made up of hundreds of Gore volunteers who live throughout the state of California.
The California Election Code requires that in order for a candidate's name to be placed on the presidential primary ballot, a minimum of 500 signatures of registered Democrats must be obtained from each of the state's fifty-three congressional districts. California Draft Gore has been created to take on this ambitious project. In order to succeed, California Draft Gore has begun putting in place a field organization of district volunteer leaders and regional and sub-regional coordinators. Each of the district leaders in turn is recruiting and training as many volunteers as possible to begin collecting signatures on October 8. The signature gathering must be completed by December 4, 2007.
"The people are empowered to make a change in democracy," said Roy Gayhart, the state's campaign organizer. "A draft effort has not been seen since the 1950s and 1960s with Eisenhower and Goldwater. We believe that if we can successfully organize district-by-district, county-by-county, state-by-state, Al Gore will answer the call and become a candidate for president."
Although former vice president Al Gore has yet to declare his candidacy in the upcoming presidential election, a recent poll indicates broad national support for him amongst Democrats. The recent national Gallup poll shows Gore in a virtual tie with Barack Obama with 18% support from Democrats. In California, a recent field poll shows him in second place with 25% of likely primary voters supporting Gore, compared to Hillary Clinton at 38%, Obama at 19.8% and John Edwards at 15%. In the San Francisco Bay Area Gore was the number one choice.
For more information on the campaign or to contribute to Gore's campaign, visit www.california4gore.org.
About California Draft Gore:
California Draft Gore is a grassroots organization. The organization and its website is not affiliated with or authorized by Al Gore, any candidate or candidate's committee.
is a grassroots organization. The organization and its website is not affiliated with or authorized by Al Gore, any candidate or candidate's committee.
Kellogg Strengthens Marketing Practices to Children, Announces Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labeling
-- Kellogg Company today announced that it is undertaking two major initiatives that further strengthen its commitment to meeting consumers' health and nutrition needs by adjusting what and how the company markets to children and through new front- of-pack nutrition labeling.
"The initiatives we're announcing today set a new standard of responsibility and are consistent with our 100-plus year heritage, further strengthening our commitment to helping consumers make informed food choices," said David Mackay, president and chief executive officer, Kellogg Company. "Around the world, Kellogg continues to play an active role in helping consumers successfully manage both sides of the calories in/calories out equation through product choices, in nutrition education, community programs and partnerships promoting the importance of a balanced diet and physical activity."
Shifting the Mix of Products Marketed to Children Under 12
Kellogg will change what and how it markets to children under 12 using nutrition criteria. The company will use its new internal standard, the Kellogg Global Nutrient Criteria (Nutrient Criteria), to determine which products will be marketed to children on TV, print, radio and Internet as well as how those products are marketed, including use of licensed properties, Web site activities directed to children, promotions/premiums, product placement and in-school marketing. Kellogg will continue its practice of not advertising to children under 6.
The Nutrient Criteria set an upper threshold per serving of less than or equal to 200 calories, less than or equal to 2 grams of saturated fat, labeled 0 grams of trans fat, less than or equal to 230 milligrams of sodium and labeled 12 grams of sugar.
"The nutrient criteria Kellogg has adopted are based on a broad review of scientific reports and experts," said James Hill, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and former member of the National Institutes of Health Taskforce on the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity. "I applaud the transparency Kellogg has demonstrated in their approach and believe the changes they are making represent meaningful progress and are a good first step."
Kellogg will apply the Nutrient Criteria to all of its products marketed to children under age 12 around the world. Those products that don't meet the Criteria (almost 50 percent of Kellogg products currently marketed to children worldwide) will either be reformulated to meet the Nutrient Criteria or they will no longer be marketed to children under 12 by the end of 2008. The Nutrient Criteria will also guide targeted future innovation and product development. Over time, the company will work toward providing consumers even more product choices with enhanced nutritional value.
"Today, only 27 percent of Kellogg advertising spending in the U.S. is directed to children under 12 and we've always approached that communication responsibly," said Mackay. "We're taking these steps to address increasing concerns about marketing to children and further strengthen our commitment to responsible marketing. In addition, we plan to increasingly emphasize products with enhanced nutritional value as well as continuing to find ways to emphasize nutrition and healthy lifestyles in our marketing to children."
Wherever possible, implementation of Kellogg commitments will begin immediately. For example, certain brands will feature better-for-you options in their advertisements. We will be making content enhancements to our child- directed Web sites, including adding automatic screen time limits and healthy lifestyle and nutrition messaging, plus limiting depictions of foods that don't meet our Nutrient Criteria in interactive activities like games, downloads and wallpaper. Subject to existing contracts, we also will not be using licensed characters as food forms, on front of pack or in advertisements unless that food meets the Nutrient Criteria. Full implementation of all commitments will be completed by the end of 2008.
Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labeling
Additionally beginning later this year, consumers will see Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) on the front of ready-to-eat cereal packages in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In the U.S., new packaging will feature an easy-to- use labeling system on the top, right-hand corner of cereal boxes, identifying percentages of calories, total fat, sodium and grams of sugar per serving. As a company, Kellogg is responsive to meeting the nutrient needs in the countries where it operates. As such, the front-of-pack labels will also identify the nutrients American consumers need to consume more of including fiber, calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E. The percentages are based on a typical 2,000 calorie daily diet.
The front-of-pack summary gives a quick snapshot of how a food fits into a consumer's daily diet and complements the nutrition label found on the side panel. Kellogg first pioneered the use of GDAs in Europe and Australia, where the labeling approach has been well-received and adopted by the industry. Kellogg is also encouraging other food and beverage companies to join the initiative in the U.S., and is in ongoing dialogue with industry on uniformity in labeling.
Kellogg actively funds and partners with organizations, health agencies and governments around the world to communicate the importance of a balanced diet and physical activity. Over the past year, the company has invested nearly $10 million worldwide in health and nutrition initiatives and is committed to continuing these efforts.
With 2006 sales of almost $11 billion, Kellogg Company (NYSE:K) is the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit snacks, frozen waffles, and veggie foods. The company's brands include Kellogg's, Keebler, Pop-Tarts, Eggo, Cheez-It, Nutri-Grain, Special K, Rice Krispies, Murray, Austin, Morningstar Farms, Famous Amos, Carr's, Plantation, Ready Crust and Kashi. Kellogg products are manufactured in 17 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.kelloggcompany.com/.
Editor's note: Visit the Kellogg Company Media Room (http://kelloggs.mediaroom.com/) for more information including fact sheets, frequently asked questions and a link to the announcement webcast.
Source: Kellogg Company
Web site: http://www.kelloggcompany.com/
Fred Thompson Solidly in Second Place in Republican Preference for President Rudy Giuliani's Once Commanding Lead Beginning to Shrink
-- While Rudy Giuliani is still in first place in the race for the Republican preference for President, he has dropped by eight points from last month and former Senator and television star Fred Thompson is catching up. Three in ten adults who say they will vote in a Republican primary or caucus say they would vote for the former mayor while 22 percent say they would vote for Fred Thompson. Not all of Giuliani's losses are Thompson's gains. Mitt Romney also sees a small rise this month - up from eight percent last month to 11 percent this month. Even with all the discussion of his "2.0 version" of his campaign, Senator John McCain's showing has not changed from last month and is still at 18 percent.
The only other individual to be above five percent is a non-candidate, as eight percent say they would vote for former Speaker Newt Gingrich. The other eight candidates or potential candidates are all at three percent or below.
These are just some of the results of the latest Harris Poll of 3,304 U.S. adults, including 843 adults who expect to vote in a Republican primary or caucus, conducted online by Harris Interactive(R) between June 1 and 10, 2007. Like all polls conducted well before an election, it should not be read as a prediction. Rather, it is a snap shot of the presidential "horse race", at a very early stage in the race. A future column will assess the standing of the leading Democrats.
Who Would "Consider Voting" for Different Republicans?
Early in the survey, all adults were shown a list that included candidates in both major political parties as well as other Republican and Democratic leaders, and asked for whom they would consider voting. Among Republicans, Rudy Giuliani (55%) leads Colin Powell (45%), John McCain (38%), Fred Thompson (38%), Condoleezza Rice (33%), Mitt Romney (32%) and Newt Gingrich (27%). While none of the Republicans have any real support among Democrats, just over one-quarter of Independents would consider Rudy Giuliani (28%) and Colin Powell (27%).
The Next Few Weeks
As the second fundraising quarter of the year draws to a close on June 30th, we may also see some of the smaller campaigns deciding to "re-evaluate" their position. As we head into the summer, it will be interesting to see if our candidate list changes.
TABLE 1
REPUBLICAN LEADERS ADULTS "WOULD CONSIDER VOTING FOR" FOR PRESIDENT
"Although the U.S. presidential election is not until November, 2008, there are a number of people who may run for president. If you were to vote and had
to select from the following candidates, for which of the following people
would you consider voting?"
Base: All adults
Feb Mar Apr May June Republican Democrat Independent
% % % % % % % %
Rudy Giuliani 29 35 32 30 30 55 12 28
Colin Powell 32 30 29 29 28 45 17 27
John McCain 26 26 24 23 21 38 8 21
Fred Thompson N/A N/A 15 17 19 38 6 17
Condoleezza
Rice 19 18 17 16 15 33 3 12
Mitt Romney 7 9 14 12 14 32 3 10
Newt Gingrich 11 11 12 10 11 27 1 6
Mike Huckabee 3 4 3 3 5 12 1 3
Tommy Thompson 4 N/A 4 5 4 10 * 4
Tom Tancredo 3 3 3 3 4 9 * 3
Ron Paul N/A N/A 2 2 4 4 1 6
Duncan Hunter 2 2 2 3 3 7 * 2
Sam Brownback 2 2 2 2 3 8 * 1
Chuck Hagel 3 3 3 2 2 4 1 3
Jim Gilmore N/A N/A 1 1 2 4 * 1
Note: Multiple-response question
*Less than 0.5%
N/A not applicable
TABLE 2
REPUBLICAN VOTERS FIRST CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT
"There are many different people who are, or who may become, candidates for
president in the Republican primaries starting in January, 2008. Based all that you know or have heard up to now about the people listed below, for which
one person would you be most likely to vote?
Base: Those who would vote in Republican primary or caucus
April May June
% % %
Rudy Giuliani 39 38 30
Fred Thompson 13 18 22
John McCain 18 18 18
Mitt Romney 14 8 11
Newt Gingrich 9 9 8
Tom Tancredo 1 2 3
Sam Brownback 2 1 2
Ron Paul 1 1 2
Mike Huckabee 1 1 2
Duncan Hunter 1 1 1
Jim Gilmore * 1 1
Tommy Thompson 1 2 1
Chuck Hagel * 1 1
*Less than 0.5%
Methodology
This Harris Poll(R) was conducted online within the United States between June 1 and 12, 2007 among 3,304 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
J30279A (June)
Q 492, 2036
About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides innovative research, insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiaries Novatris in France and MediaTransfer AG in Germany, and through a global network of independent market research firms. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com.
To become a member of the Harris Poll Online and be invited to participate in online surveys, register at www.harrispollonline.com
Web site: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/
http://www.harrispollonline.com/
June 5
Sí TV pionera en TV de alta definición (HD) para los latinos jóvenes: la cadena anuncia el lanzamiento de Sí TV-HD en 2008, el primer y único canal de alta definición para la audiencia latina en Estados Unidos
Verizon FiOS TV transmite Sí TV-HD
Sí TV, siendo consecuente con su liderazgo de prestar servicios a la audiencia de latinos jóvenes de Estados Unidos, anunció hoy que lanzará Sí TV-HD en 2008, la primera cadena en ofrecer a la audiencia latina extensa y creciente de esta nación un canal de transmisión 24/7 de contenido cautivador de alta definición diseñado para sus gustos y estilos de vida. El canal estará lleno de programas energéticos grabados en formato original de alta definición, cubriendo música, realidad, comedia y otros géneros. Sí TV se está preparando para este momento desde los inicios de la cadena en 2004, cuando comenzó a producir por primera vez programación de alta definición, creando hasta la fecha más de 200 horas de programación original de alta definición. Verizon FiOS TV, el nuevo servicio de televisión de fibra óptica de Verizon, que actualmente opera en 10 estados y ya transmite Sí TV es su variedad de servicios de la más amplia distribución, espera lanzar Sí TV-HD en 2008.
La audiencia objetivo de Sí TV, los latinos de 18 a 34 años bilingües y que hablan predominantemente inglés, es el principal motor que impulsa el crecimiento explosivo de la población latina de EE.UU., el grupo étnico más numeroso y de más rápido crecimiento en la nación actualmente. La audiencia latina asimilada, por su parte, controla la mayoría de los casi US$900 mil millones en poder adquisitivo actual de los hispanos en EUA, que se proyecta que sobrepase los US$1.2 billones para 2010. La investigación también confirma el concepto intuitivo de que este grupo de consumidores invierte la gran mayoría de sus horas de televisión viendo programas en inglés, que es la base del formato de programación en inglés de Sí TV. Un factor ampliamente ignorado hasta hoy, sin embargo, es que los jóvenes latinos asimilados compran altos volúmenes de sets de HDTV: más de uno de cada tres (35%) de los televidentes latinos de 18 a 34 años que hablan predominantemente inglés tiene HDTV, según el estudio Adult Full Year Study del otoño de 2006 de Simmons NCS/NSC.
"Los jóvenes latinos son una enorme fuerza económica y política en Norteamérica hoy y merecen, al igual que todos los consumidores, la facilidad de disfrutar de los beneficios de la televisión de alta definición creados por ellos y para ellos", dijo Michael Schwimmer, CEO de Sí TV. "La audiencia de Sí TV es una influencia vibrante en nuestro país, y no debería tener que esperar más para tener acceso a HDTV ahora que ésta se ha convertido en algo al alcance de todos. Sí TV fue la primera en servir a la audiencia latina asimilada con una cadena especializada y seremos los primeros en ofrecer a los latinos lo mejor en entretenimiento digital de alta definición".
Sí TV actualmente está en producción de dos nuevas series de alta definición para 2008 que aprovecharán al máximo los beneficios del formato de alta definición. Past Port, en el que los jóvenes latinos de Estados Unidos regresan a los países de origen de sus padres o abuelos, que presenta vídeos escénicos de una variedad de bellísimos lugares de América Latina. Total Combat, una serie de realidad llena de coraje acerca de una pareja de jóvenes latinos que maneja una Liga de Lucha de Artes Marciales Mixtas, llevará la sangre, el sudor y el nivel crudo de intensidad de las artes marciales mixtas a la vida vivamente en alta definición. Otras series nuevas de Sí TV para 2007-2008, tales como Flow & Tell y Home Page, también se presentarán en alta definición en Sí TV-HD.
El contenido auténtico y energético de Sí TV producido por la cadena específicamente para su audiencia de jóvenes latinos asimilados de 18 a 34 años de edad es muy apropiado para el formato de alta definición. La cadena ya presenta más de 200 horas de programación original grabada en alta definición, incluyendo: The Drop, Unacceptable Behavior, The Rub, Dating Factory y Latino Laugh Festival: The Show.
Acerca de Sí TV
Sí TV es la primera empresa mediática de Estados Unidos en llegar a los millones de latinos de 18 a 34 años que prefieren su contenido en inglés y lo buscan a través de todas las plataformas incluyendo, televisión, en línea, vídeo a pedido y dispositivos inalámbricos. Sí TV ofrece contenido auténtico y relevante y una grilla de programación 60% original que varía de exorbitante comedia a música, cine independiente, estilos de vida y opiniones. La cadena está disponible en Dish Network, y en más de 200 ciudades y comunidades a lo largo de Estados Unidos, incluyendo Nueva York, Los Ángeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Detroit, Denver, San Antonio y Las Vegas. Las filiales de telecomunicaciones y cable de Sí TV comprenden AT&T, Cox, Comcast, Insight, Qwest, Time Warner Cable y Verizon, entre otras. Para más información acerca de Sí TV, sírvase visitar, http://www.sitv.com/.
Source: Sí TV
May 26
U.S. Green Building Council and International Code Council Formally Commit to Joint Educational, Business, and Policy Initiatives to Further Green Building Practices
May 25, 2007 -- (Washington, D.C.) – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the International Code Council (ICC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that forges a stronger relationship between the two organizations in order to further green building practices.
“This agreement with the International Code Council and USGBC opens the door to a better quality of life for us all,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “Human health and well-being is a cornerstone of green building practices and of ICC’s work. Joining together in a formal agreement ensures that we will share ideas, education, and opportunities."
ICC’s vision is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of people by creating better buildings and safer communities. This vision is congruent with USGBC’s core purpose: to create an environmentally responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. The MOU recognizes the leadership roles of both of the organizations, while laying out areas of mutual interest, such as advocacy and education initiatives, in which USGBC and the Code Council can work cooperatively to advance their missions. The MOU also addresses exploring and implementing joint business opportunities.
“Signing this agreement with the U.S. Green Building Council reinforces the Code Council’s commitment to the environment and assures that our members play an important role in matters related to green building,” said ICC CEO Rick Weiland. “Green building is going to play an important role in our collective future—not just in the United States but around the world.”
The initial activities pursuant to the MOU will focus on education for code officials. Both organizations will develop a green building education manual on the subject of building codes and sustainability.
Added Fedrizzi, “The foundation for USGBC’s relationship with ICC was helped along by David Eisenberg, former USGBC Board member and chair of USGBC’s Greening the Codes Committee. David is with the Development Center for Appropriate Technology and has been a long time advocate of a greening building code.”
ICC plays a key role in the area of safety for the built environment to create better buildings and safer communities. USGBC is transforming the built environment to high-performance green building practices. USGBC and ICC will work together to advance buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.
###
About USGBC
The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's leading coalition of corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations working together to transform the way buildings are designed, built and operated. Green buildings are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Since its founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 9,000 member companies and organizations, a 90-person professional staff, a broad portfolio of LEED® green building products and services, the industry's popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org) and a network of over 70 local chapters, affiliates and organizing groups.
About ICC
The International Code Council, a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties and states that adopt codes choose the International Codes developed by the International Code Council.
May 18
President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair praised each other's courage and stressed the continuing importance of the U.S.-British partnership
at the White House today in what may be their last joint news conference. Blair will step down June 27 after more than 10 years on the job. "I believe that the relationship between the United States of America and Britain is a relationship that is in the interests of our two countries and in the interests of the peace and stability of the wider world," Blair said. "Sometimes it's a controversial relationship, at least over in my country. But I've never doubted its importance. I've never doubted that it's based on principle, on shared values, and on a shared purpose, which is to make our world a better, more free, more just place in which people of all nations and all faiths can live." Bush echoed Blair's sentiment later in the news conference. "I'm here to make it clear to the people of our respective countries that this relationship is one that is vital to accomplish big objectives," the president said. "It has been vital in the past; it has ... enabled the free world to do hard things. And it's a relationship that I believe is necessary to do the hard things in the 21st century." Bush called Blair "courageous" for his stand against terrorism and support of the United States in the fight against extreme fundamentalism around the world. Bush noted that before the news conference, the two leaders conducted a videoconference with British and American leaders in Iraq. "I remind our people that the best decisions are made when you listen to the commanders, and our commanders have got good, specific advice as to how to achieve our objectives, which I believe we'll achieve -- objectives that I know are necessary for ... peace in the Middle East, peace in the United States and (in) the United Kingdom," Bush said. The two leaders also discussed progress in the NATO mission in Afghanistan. "We strongly support our NATO mission in Afghanistan," Bush said, and he noted that NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will visit Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, this weekend. Actions in Sudan's Darfur region, defense cooperation, global warming and the need to be involved in searching for peace between the Palestinians and Israelis were other topics Bush and Blair discussed today. Blair thanked Bush for his strong leadership. "You've been unyielding, unflinching and determined in the fight that we face together," the prime minister said. Opinion polls in the United Kingdom show that many in the country disagree with Blair's stance on Iraq. But British forces have been key allies since the run-up to Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. More than 7,000 British troops serve in Iraq, mostly as part of Multinational Division Southeast. Blair said he has never doubted his decision to stand with the United States in the aftermath of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. "I'm proud of the relationship between our two countries," he said. "And I think that sometimes in politics there are all sorts of issues where you've got to negotiate and compromise. But when it comes to the fundamental questions that affect our security and the future of the world, you should do what is right. I have tried to do that, and I believe that is what (President Bush) has done as well."
FDA Approves Astrazeneca's Once-Daily Seroquel XR(TM) Extended-Release Tablets for the Treatment of Schizophrenia
-- AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved SEROQUEL XR(TM) (quetiapine fumarate) Extended-Release Tablets, a once-daily medicine for the treatment of schizophrenia in adult patients. The SEROQUEL XR development program was based on the needs of patients and physicians for a wider choice of medicines that offer convenient once-daily dosing. With SEROQUEL XR patients can achieve a dose within the recommended range as early as the second day of treatment.
Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder with symptoms including distorted perceptions of reality, hallucinations and delusions, illogical thinking, and flat or blunted emotions, affecting over 2 million American adults -- about one per cent of the population age 18 and older. (1,5)
The FDA approval was based on clinical trial data showing effectiveness of SEROQUEL XR at doses of 400, 600, and 800 mg/day. The clinical trial was a placebo-controlled study of inpatients and outpatients (n=573) experiencing an acute exacerbation of symptoms of schizophrenia with efficacy assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)* ratings scale. After six weeks of treatment (on day 42), patients recorded a significant improvement in PANSS total scores from baseline for SEROQUEL XR doses of 400, 600, and 800 mg/day, compared with placebo-treated patients. SEROQUEL XR was generally well-tolerated. The most commonly observed adverse reactions associated with the use of SEROQUEL XR (incidence of 5% or greater) and observed at a rate on SEROQUEL XR at least twice that of placebo were dry mouth (12%), somnolence (12%), dizziness (10%), and dyspepsia (5%). (2)
"The once-daily dosing of SEROQUEL XR may help patients by providing simpler and more convenient treatment plans, which can be an important component of overall disease management," said Lisa Schoenberg, Vice President, Specialty Care (Neuroscience, Oncology), AstraZeneca.
"Clinical trial data demonstrate that SEROQUEL XR is a safe and effective treatment option for schizophrenia," said Dr. Charles Schulz, MD, Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School. "For many patients with schizophrenia, SEROQUEL XR may offer a viable once- daily treatment while decreasing the number of tablets needed to be taken each day."
* Schizophrenic symptomatology is measured on 30-item Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scale. Each symptom was rated on a severity scale from 1-7. PANSS positive (7 items), negative (7 items), and general psychopathology (16 items) subscale scores were summarized to give the PANSS total score. (3)
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
SEROQUEL XR is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia. Patients should be periodically reassessed to determine the need for treatment beyond the acute response.
Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk (1.6 to 1.7 times) of death compared to placebo (4.5% vs 2.6%, respectively). SEROQUEL XR is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis. (See Boxed Warning.)
Hyperglycemia, in some cases extreme and associated with ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar coma, or death, has been reported in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics, including quetiapine. The relationship of atypical use and glucose abnormalities is complicated by the possibility of increased risk of diabetes in the schizophrenic population and the increasing incidence of diabetes in the general population. However, epidemiological studies suggest an increased risk of treatment-emergent, hyperglycemia-related adverse events in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics. Patients starting treatment with atypical antipsychotics who have or are at risk for diabetes should undergo fasting blood glucose testing at the beginning of and during treatment. Patients who develop symptoms of hyperglycemia should also undergo fasting blood glucose testing.
A potentially fatal symptom complex sometimes referred to as Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) has been reported in association with administration of antipsychotic drugs, including quetiapine. Rare cases of NMS have been reported with quetiapine. Clinical manifestations of NMS are hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status, and evidence of autonomic instability (irregular pulse or blood pressure, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and cardiac dysrhythmia). Additional signs may include elevated creatine phosphokinase, myoglobinuria (rhabdomyolysis), and acute renal failure. The management of NMS should include immediate discontinuation of antipsychotic drugs.
Tardive dyskinesia (TD), a potentially irreversible syndrome of involuntary dyskinetic movements, may develop in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs. The risk of developing TD and likelihood that it will become irreversible are believed to increase as the duration of treatment and total cumulative dose of antipsychotic drugs administered to the patient increase. TD may remit, partially or completely, if antipsychotic treatment is withdrawn. Quetiapine should be prescribed in a manner that is most likely to minimize the occurrence of TD.
Warnings and Precautions also include the risk of orthostatic hypotension, cataracts, seizures, hyperlipidemia, and possibility of suicide attempt. Examination of the lens by methods adequate to detect cataract formation, such as slit lamp exam or other appropriately sensitive methods, is recommended at initiation of treatment or shortly thereafter, and at 6-month intervals during chronic treatment. The possibility of a suicide attempt is inherent in schizophrenia, and close supervision of high-risk patients should accompany drug therapy.
The most commonly observed adverse events associated with the use of SEROQUEL XR versus placebo in clinical trials for schizophrenia were dry mouth (12% vs 1%), constipation (6% vs 5%), dyspepsia (5% vs 2%), sedation (13% vs 7%), somnolence (12% vs 4%), dizziness (10% vs 4%), and orthostatic hypotension (7% vs 5%).
Please see the full Prescribing Information including Boxed Warning for SEROQUEL XR available at http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/ or by calling 1-800- 236-9933.
About Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder with symptoms including distorted perceptions of reality, hallucinations and delusions, illogical thinking, and flat or blunted emotions. (1) Schizophrenia affects men and women with equal frequency, but the first signs of schizophrenia typically emerge earlier in men (in late teens or early twenties) compared to women (in twenties or early thirties). (4) Over 2 million American adults -- about 1 percent of the population age 18 and older -- suffer from schizophrenia. Medications are important in the management of symptoms. While there is no cure for schizophrenia, it is a highly treatable and manageable illness. Medications are classified into two categories -- "conventional" and "atypical" antipsychotics. (5)
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $26.47 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.
In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $12.44 billion healthcare business with more than 12,000 employees. For nearly three decades, AstraZeneca has offered drug assistance programs side by side with its medicines, and over the past five years, has provided over $3 billion in savings to more than 1 million patients throughout the US and Puerto Rico. AstraZeneca has been named one of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" by Working Mother magazine and is the only large pharmaceutical company named to FORTUNE magazine's 2007 list of "100 Best Companies to Work For." In 2006, for the fifth consecutive year, Science magazine named AstraZeneca a "Top Employer" on its ranking of the world's most respected biopharmaceutical employers.
For more information about AstraZeneca, please visit: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/.
The statements herein include forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements and forecasts involve risk and uncertainty. For a discussion of those risks and uncertainties please see the company's Annual Report/Form 20-F for 2006.
References:
(1) American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). Fourth Edition. Arlington, VA, 2000. 299.
(2) SEROQUEL XR(TM) Prescribing Information.
(3) Kay et al. Schizophrenia Bulletin. 1987;13:261-276.
(4) National Institutes of Mental Health. The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America. NIH Publication No. 06-4584. December 2006. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/numbers.cfm.
(5) National Alliance for the Mentally Ill: About Mental Illness/Schizophrenia fact sheet. Reviewed by Kenneth Duckworth, MD: February 2007.
Source: AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca
Web site: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/
May 17
Agreement reached on immigration reform
Key senators in both parties and the White House announced agreement Thursday on an immigration overhaul that would grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and fortify the border.
The plan would create a temporary worker program to bring new arrivals to the U.S. A separate program would cover agricultural workers. New high-tech enforcement measures also would be instituted to verify that workers are here legally.
The compromise came after weeks of painstaking closed-door negotiations that brought the most liberal Democrats and the most conservative Republicans together with President Bush's Cabinet officers to produce a highly complex measure that carries heavy political consequences.
Bush hailed completion of the deal as a "historic moment," and said he looked forward to signing it into law, according to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who said he called the president to inform him of it.
"Politics is the art of the possible, and the agreement that we just reached is the best possible chance we will have in years to secure our borders and bring millions of people out of the shadows and into the sunshine of America," Kennedy said.
Anticipating criticism from conservatives, Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., said, "It is not amnesty. This will restore the rule of law."
The accord sets the stage for what promises to be a bruising battle next week in the Senate on one of Bush's top non-war priorities. The president has said he wants to sign an immigration bill by summer's end.
The key breakthrough came when negotiators struck a bargain on a so-called "point system" that would for the first time prioritize immigrants' education and skill level over family connections in deciding how to award green cards.
The draft bill "gives a path out of the shadows and toward legal status for those who are currently here" illegally, said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif.
The immigration issue also divides both parties in the House, which isn't expected to act unless the Senate passes a bill first.
The proposed agreement would allow illegal immigrants to come forward and obtain a "Z visa" and — after paying fees and a $5,000 fine — ultimately get on track for permanent residency, which could take between eight and 13 years. Heads of household would have to return to their home countries first.
They could come forward right away to claim a probationary card that would let them live and work legally in the U.S., but could not begin the path to permanent residency or citizenship until border security improvements and the high-tech worker identification program were completed.
A new temporary guest worker program would also have to wait until those so-called "triggers" had been activated.
Those workers would have to return home after work stints of two years, with little opportunity to gain permanent legal status or ever become U.S. citizens. They could renew their guest worker visas twice, but would be required to leave for a year in between each time.
Democrats had pressed instead for guest workers to be permitted to stay and work indefinitely in the U.S.
In perhaps the most hotly debated change, the proposed plan would shift from an immigration system primarily weighted toward family ties toward one with preferences for people with advanced degrees and sophisticated skills. Republicans have long sought such revisions, which they say are needed to end "chain migration" that harms the economy, while some Democrats and liberal groups say it's an unfair system that rips families apart.
Family connections alone would no longer be enough to qualify for a green card — except for spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens.
New limits would apply to U.S. citizens seeking to bring foreign-born parents into the country.
May 7
Guest List for the State Dinner in Honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Commander Heber Ackland, RN, Equerry in Waiting to The Queen, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The Countess Of Airlie, DCVO, DCVO, Lady in Waiting, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The Honorable Leonore Annenberg, Former United States Chief of Protocol, Reagan Administration, FAPE Board Member
The Honorable David Dreier, United States Representative (R/California) (Guest)
The Honorable Anne Armstrong, Former American Ambassador to Great Britain
James L Armstrong (Son)
Mr. Lee M. Bass, Lee M. Bass, Inc.
Mrs. Ramona Bass
Mr. Sid R. Bass, President, Sid R. Bass Inc.
Mrs. Mercedes Bass
Right Honorable Margaret Beckett, MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Mr. Leo Beckett
The Honorable John A. Boehner, Minority Leader, United States Representative (R/Ohio)
Mrs. Deborah Boehner
The Honorable Joshua Bolten, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff
Mrs. Analouise C. Bolten (Mother)
Mr. Calvin Borel, Jockey, 133rd Kentucky Derby Winner (2007)
Ms. Lisa Funk (Guest)
Mrs. Katherine E. Boyd, Katherine E. Boyd Interior Design
Mrs. Eva Elkins, Sister-in-law to Mrs. Katherine Boyd (Guest)
Miss Barbara Bush
Mr. Jay Blount (Guest)
The Honorable John Ellis 'Jeb' Bush, Former Governor of Florida
Mrs. Columba Bush
Ms. Elizabeth L. Cheney
The Honorable Philip J. Perry, Partner, Latham & Watkins
The Honorable Richard Cheney, Vice President of the United States
The Honorable Lynne V. Cheney
Mr. James Click, President, Jim Click Ford, Inc.
Ms. Carrie Click (Daughter)
The Honorable John Danilovich, Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation
Mrs. Irene Danilovich
Mr. Rohan De Silva, Pianists
Mrs. Marta Domingo, Wife of Maestro Placido Domingo
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
The Honorable Donald L. Evans, Chief Executive Office, Financial Services Forum
Mrs. Susan Evans
The Honorable William S. Farish, Former American Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Mrs. Sarah Farish
The Honorable Fred Fielding, Counsel to the President, White House Counsel
Mrs. Maria Fielding
Mr. Brad Freeman, General Partner, Freeman Spogli & Co.
The Honorable Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense
Mrs. Becky Gates
Mr. Christopher Geidt, OBE, Deputy Private Secretary to The Queen, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Sir Martin Gilbert, Author of Churchill and the Americans
Lady Esther Gilbert, London, England
Mr. David Gregory, NBC
Ms. Beth Wilkinson (Spouse)
The Honorable Stephen J. Hadley, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Mrs. Robert Hadley (Mother)
Mrs. Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Host, The View
Mr. Timothy Hasselbeck, Professional Football Player
Mr. Peter Hayes, Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Mr. Steven Holland, White House Correspondent, Reuters
Mrs. Lucie Holland
Mr. Ray L. Hunt, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Hunt Consolidated, Inc.
Mr. Hunter L. Hunt, President, Hunt Power, L.P. (Son)
Brigadier Sir Miles Hunt-Davis, KCVO CBE, Private Secretary to The Duke Of Edinburgh, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The Right Honorable Sir Robin Janvrin, KCVO, CB, Private Secretary to The Queen, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The Honorable Michael O. Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture
Mrs. Stephanie Johanns
The Honorable Clay Johnson III, Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget
Mrs. Anne S. Johnson, Director, Arts in Embassies Program, Department of State
The Honorable Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Interior
Mrs. Patricia Kempthorne
Mr. Richard D. Kinder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kinder Morgan, Inc
Mrs. Nancy Kinder, President, Kinder Foundation
The Honorable Henry A. Kissinger, Trustee, Gerald R. Ford Foundation and, Chairman, Kissinger Associates, Inc.
Mrs. Nancy Kissinger
Mr. Herbert V. Kohler, Jr., Chairman and President, Kohler Company
Mrs. Natalie B. Kohler
The Honorable Trent Lott, United States Senator (R/Mississippi)
Mrs. Tricia Lott
His Excellency Sir David Manning, KCMG, British Ambassador to the United States
Lady Catherine M. Manning
Mr. Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts
Mrs. Ashley Manning
Mr. John Marion, Honorary Chairman, Sotheby's North America
Mrs. Anne Marion
The Honorable Mitch McConnell, United States Senator (R/Kentucky)
The Honorable Elaine Chao, Secretary of Labor
Mr. Charles B. Moncrief
Mrs. Kit Moncrief
Mr. James W. Nantz III, CBS Sportscaster, CBS
Mrs. Ann-Lorraine Nantz
Mr. Joseph J. O'Donnell, Chief Executive Officer, Boston Culinary Group
Mrs. Katherine O'Donnell
General Peter Pace, USMC, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Mrs. Lynne Pace
Mr. Arnold D. Palmer, Professional Golfer
Ms. Kathleen Palmer
The Honorable Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Secretary of the Treasury
Mrs. Wendy Paulson
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, United States Representative (D/California)
Mr. Paul Pelosi
Mr. A. Jerrold Perenchio, Chairman and CEO, Chartwell Partners
Mrs. Margie Perenchio
Mr. Itzhak Perlman, World Renowned Violinist
Mrs. Toby Lynn Perlman
Mr. Boone Pickens, BP Capital, LLC
Mrs. Madeleine Pickens
The Honorable Colin L. Powell, Former Secretary of State
Mrs. Alma Powell
The Honorable Earl A. Powell III, Director, National Gallery of Art
Mrs. Nancy Powell
Mrs. Nancy Reagan
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State
Mr. Gene A. Washington, Director of Football Operations, National Football League (Guest)
The Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr., The Chief Justice of the United States
Mrs. Jane Sullivan Roberts
Ms. Robin Roberts, ABC
Miss Penny Russell-Smith, LVO, Press Secretary to The Queen, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Mr. Michael Sacco, President, Seafarers International Union (SIU)
Mrs. Sophie Sacco
Mr. Gerry Shaheen, Group President, Caterpillar
Mrs. Pam Shaheen
The Honorable George P. Shultz, Thomas W. and Susan B. Ford Distinguished Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Mrs. Charlotte Shultz, Chief of Protocol, California State
Mr. Harold C. Simmons, Chairman, Valhi Inc.
Mrs. Annette Simmons
The Honorable Tony Snow, Assistant to the President and Press Secretary
Mrs. Jill Ellen Snow
The Honorable Margaret Spellings, Secretary of Education
Mr. Robert Spellings
Surgeon Captain David Swain, CVO RN, Medical Officer to The Queen, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The Honorable Robert Tuttle, American Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Mrs. Maria Tuttle, Spouse of the American Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Mr. Mark Vincent, Brother to Mrs. Cheney
Mrs. Linda Vincent, Sister-in-law to Mrs. Cheney
Mr. Richard Wolffe, Newsweek
Ms. Paula Cuello (Spouse)
President Bush Welcomes Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the White House
South Lawn
11:07 A.M. EDT
PRESIDENT BUSH: Good morning. Laura and I are honored to welcome back to the White House Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. (Applause.)
The United Kingdom has written many of the greatest chapters in the history of human freedom. Nearly 800 years ago, the Magna Carta placed the authority of the government under the rule of law. Eighty years later, the first representative assembly of the English people met to debate public policies. Over the centuries, parliaments in Britain established principles that guide all modern democracies. And thinkers from Britain, like Locke and Smith and Burke showed the world that freedom was the natural right of every man, woman and child on Earth.
Our two nations hold fundamental values in common. We honor our traditions and our shared history. We recognize that the strongest societies respect the rights and dignity of the individual. We understand and accept the burdens of global leadership. And we have built our special relationship on the surest foundations -- our deep and abiding love of liberty.
Today our two nations are defending liberty against tyranny and terror. We're resisting those who murder the innocent to advance a hateful ideology, whether they kill in New York or London, or Kabul or Baghdad.
American and British forces are staying on the offense against the extremists and terrorists. We're supporting young democracies. Our work has been hard. The fruits of our work have been difficult for many to see. Yet our work remains the surest path to peace, and it reflects the values cherished by Americans and by Britons, and by the vast majority of people across the broader Middle East.
Your Majesty, I appreciate your leadership during these times of danger and decision. You've spoken out against extremism and terror. You've encouraged religious tolerance and reconciliation. You've honored those returning from battle, and comforted the families of the fallen.
The American people are proud to welcome Your Majesty back to the United States, a nation you've come to know very well. After all, you've dined with ten U.S. Presidents. You helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17 -- in 1976. (Laughter.) She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child. (Laughter.)
You have helped commemorate both the 350th and 400th anniversaries of the Jamestown settlement.
Your Majesty, the United States receives with honor the sovereign of the United Kingdom. We welcome back to the White House a good person, a strong leader for a great ally. (Applause.)
HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II: Mr. President, thank you for your warm words. This is my fifth visit to the United States. And I believe it is important to remind ourselves of the purpose of these occasions, which gives meaning to the ceremonial symbolism and the circumstance.
A state visit provides us with a brief opportunity to step back from our current preoccupations to reflect on the very essence of our relationship. It gives us the chance to look back at how the stories of our two countries have been inextricably woven together. It is the moment to take stock of our present friendship, rightly taking pleasure from its strengths, while never taking these for granted. And it is the time to look forward, jointly renewing our commitment to a more prosperous, safer and freer world.
Last week, I had the pleasure of sharing with you an extraordinary anniversary in our common history. It was a privilege to join the commemoration of the Jamestown landing by that small group of British citizens all those years ago. My two days in Virginia gave me a new insight into those events, which helped to shape this country's development and to lay the foundations of this great nation based on shared principles of equality, democracy and the rule of law.
And now in Washington, we have a further opportunity to acknowledge the present strengths of our relationship. I shall enjoy not only renewing old acquaintances and making new ones, but also recognizing the breadth and depth of the friendship we have shared for so long. We can celebrate the close and enduring associations which thrive between the United States and the United Kingdom at every level, be it government or corporate, institutional or personal.
This visit also gives us a window on the future, both the future of the United States and the future cooperation between our countries. I particularly look forward in the next two days to seeing at firsthand something of how the cutting edge of science and technology can take us to the next phases of discovery and exploration in human endeavor.
Mr. President, thank you for inviting Prince Philip and me to visit your country, to share in the commemoration of the Jamestown anniversary, and to have this opportunity to underline the extent of our friendship -- past, present and future. It is indeed a pleasure for us to be here in Washington again, and to be welcomed back to the White House. (Applause.)
Press Briefing by Tony Snow
12:45 P.M. EDT
12:45 P.M. EDTMR. SNOW: Good afternoon. We have one addition to what I read out this morning. The President had a secure video teleconference this morning with Prime Minister Maliki, 25 minutes with staff in, the remainder -- and I don't know how long that lasted -- was a one-on-one. I can tell you that at least during the conversations in front of staff the President congratulated the Prime Minister on the conferences in Sharm el Sheikh. The Prime Minister, in turn, thanked the President for his support.
Then they proceeded to talk about matters of mutual interest, both regional relations, and also outreach within Iraq. The Prime Minister is working with the presidency council to advance the political process in Iraq, including a lot of the legislation that we've been discussing over the last few months, but issues of communications and reconciliation were at the fore. And also outreach to groups within -- you may recall the Prime Minister went to Ramadi and there he met with Sunni leaders, and the Prime Minister reiterated his determination not only to continue the process, but to work for reconciliation within Iraq. So that was sort of the focal point of those conversations.
Questions.
Q Tony, do you have any readout of what the Queen said to the President?
MR. SNOW: No. No, those are private conversations; we don't read them out.
Q Even on the podium, after the ad lib?
MR. SNOW: That was a good ad lib. (Laughter.)
Q Quality stuff. (Laughter.)
Q Does the President think his drop in the polls, to 28 percent, has anything to do with our occupation and escalation in Iraq?
MR. SNOW: Actually, one of the interesting things is here's a poll where 51 percent of those who responded were either Democrats or -- self-identified Democrats or lean Democratic, as opposed to 34 percent Republican, lean Republican. So you've got a pretty good skew here. And the Newsweek polls do tend to be outliers in that sense.
Q Is that Newsweek?
MR. SNOW: Yes, that's the Newsweek poll. Look, the President certainly understands that Americans don't like war. He doesn't like war, either, but he also does not like the alternative.
Q Does he think it has anything to do with his policies, a drop like that?
MR. SNOW: Well, again, I would counsel against this one, it was a pretty skewed set of response.
Q Tony, I know you said you can't give us the content of their actual conversations, but with Great Britain being our primary ally in Iraq, is it safe to say that might come up, that they might discuss it at some point during her visit?
MR. SNOW: Again, the Queen -- the Queen put it in a wonderful way: This is a time to step back and to take a look at the historic relationship between the United States and Great Britain. She talked about going to Jamestown last week. And she talked about the things that bind us, the principles and aspirations. And my sense is that there will be a lot of pleasant conversation. But, again, I'm not going to try and read out whether they get involved in geopolitics. I'll leave that to the Queen and the President to discuss. And, as usually happens -- especially in events of this sort, where the Queen does not play a political role in Great Britain -- we're certainly not going to draw her into such things. We're going to allow them to go ahead and have very pleasant conversations that reflect the long ties, the deep warmth between the two countries. It's a pretty cool day, you know? I think that the pageantry -- and there you saw the President joking with the Queen -- I don't know that a lot of people joke with the Queen, but the President did. It worked out just fine.
Q You have to say something once he implies she's over 200 years old. (Laughter.)
Q The governor of Kansas, in the wake of the tornadoes, has talked about the fact that she can't get equipment into the areas that have been ravaged because the equipment is now over in Iraq. What type of help is the federal government going to provide?
MR. SNOW: Well, first, take a look at whether such help has been requested. But what I would do is I would ask you to go ahead to DOD for really the specific answers about that. But there's been an enormous amount of help on the scene already, frankly, when it comes to what's been going on with the tornado. FEMA has certainly been actively engaged, and the administration is doing whatever it can. And if there's a need for equipment, it's going to be arrived -- it will arrive.
As you know, there are prepositioning points throughout the country for National Guard and other equipment in the case of emergency. So some of those plans, again, if called upon, are going to be put into motion. But I just can't tell you precisely how it goes. And in order to get -- the best way to get an accurate response is to call DOD on that one.
Jim. Did you have one? Victoria.
Q Given that, as you said, the Queen doesn't play a political role in Great Britain, was there a particular reason why the President gave such a political speech?
MR. SNOW: The President -- was it a political speech, or was it one, in fact, reflecting the closeness and the importance of principle?
Q It was a political speech. (Laughter.)
MR. SNOW: To you it was.
Q I think it was a political speech. It spoke a great deal about the war, the war on terror, the war in Iraq. The Queen's speech reflected something that was not political. When you compare the two, and the tone of the two, one was political and one was not.
MR. SNOW: As a matter of fact, if you take a look -- one, two, three, four, five, six, seven -- eight paragraphs, there are nine paragraphs -- I believe one referred to it, and there was nothing directly mentioning Iraq, although there was talk about democracy, liberty, defending liberty against tyranny and terror. It mentions killing the innocent to advance a hateful ideology, whether it's in New York, London, Kabul or Baghdad.
You may call that political, but that is, in fact, a reflection of what's going on the world. And we have seen evidence of that. And we've also seen evidence of terrorists to continue to do that sort of thing. You saw the Zawahiri tape over the weekend. Well, what did he talk about? He was celebrating in his own view -- what he said was celebrating terrorism. At one point he said, "Fie on moderation, I thank Allah for the bounty of extremism, militancy and terrorism and everything else we are labeled with." And he talked about that in some considerable detail.
What he tried to do is manipulate American political sentiments, a big, long section on Malcolm X that was designed to try to foment hatred within the United States. And he called for a rebellion by minority groups in this country. And at the same time, what he tried to do was to misconstrue democratic debate in this country -- small "d" -- in such a way as to try to take political advantage of statements that Senator Reid has made.
So what you have is you have a determined enemy that, in fact, wants to kill Americans. One of the things he expressed some unhappiness about is that he wants to kill 200,000 to 300,000 Americans. Now, again, if you think it is political to make reference to the fact that that is extremism and it is a live force in our lives and is a real consideration, then you so may label it. But on the other hand, there was nothing in here that tried to draw the Queen into any direct political conflicts in this country other than to remind and thank her for the support of the very principles that are the bedrock of the Anglo American system, which have to do with individual liberties, the rule of law and a long chain of events and innovations that stretch back from the Magna Carta to the present.
Q You would say it's not political.
MR. SNOW: No. No. I would say it is not political.
Sara.
Q Thank you. Is the President happy with the election in France?
MR. SNOW: The President is happy with any democratic election. And he has congratulated President-elect Sarkozy and looks forward to meeting him at the G8 next month.
Q A follow-up on that. Tony Blair is scheduled to step down as head of the Labour Party later this week. Can you talk a little bit about the notion of -- the possibility of the French President-elect becoming the replacement for Tony Blair as the President's best friend in Europe?
MR. SNOW: I believe they represent different countries. (Laughter.)
Q -- best friend?
MR. SNOW: Again, this is -- this kind of trivializes a process that's going on. And I'm not -- we will have comments --
Q But the friendship between Bush and Blair was pretty important.
MR. SNOW: It was extraordinary. And it's very important to try to develop and deepen friendships. And whoever may follow Tony Blair as Prime Minister of Great Britain, we hope to have just as close a relationship. You may recall that there was some question early on, because Prime Minister Blair had such a close relationship with President Clinton, about whether he'd have one with President Bush. Well, he did. And why is that? Because of deep shared interests and values, precisely the sort of the thing that the President and the Queen both made mention of today.
What we're hoping for at all times is closer relations with all our allies.
Q Does it suggest -- given what Sarkozy has said about being there, being at the side when the U.S. needs help -- does that suggest that France might be more willing to do something in Iraq --
MR. SNOW: Again, I think it's very premature to judge these things. What it does mean is that in a hotly contested election with very high turnout, Mr. Sarkozy was elected President.
Q Can I follow up?
MR. SNOW: First, let me get up here and we'll --
Q If that's a follow-up, you can take --
MR. SNOW: Is it a follow-up, Connie?
Q Yes. I just -- on Sarkozy, did the President talk to him --
MR. SNOW: Yes, he did.
Q Okay. Did they speak about this climate change statement?
MR. SNOW: No, they -- it was just a very short two-minute congratulations, and congratulations on a successful free and fair election, and he'll look forward to seeing him in Germany next month.
Q Have they ever met?
MR. SNOW: I don't believe they have, but I'll check.*
Q Tony, back to the President's poll numbers. I know the President says again and again he doesn't govern by polls, and he doesn't really think about them. And yet the polls keep continuing to go down or stay level, they don't seem to rise at all. And he has made a determined effort to try to convince people, he's given many speeches about the Iraq war policy, global war on terrorism, nothing changes. Is he concerned about that, and do you look at ways to try to bring back the will of the American people?
MR. SNOW: I think, as Americans -- you know, what's interesting is that, for instance, you take a look at some of the debate over the weekend, and you've got -- there seems to be a mind-set sometimes among critics that they are not going to acknowledge changes on the ground. They quite often say, stay the course. Well, we do not have a stay the course policy. Or one in which they say, civil war, when the signals -- or the metrics for a civil war fortunately have been going down, but you do have al Qaeda activity.
The question is, why do we not simply give the Baghdad security plan a chance to work? There have been some encouraging early signs that we certainly don't want to oversell, but on the other hand, we don't want to ignore. And General Petraeus is certainly going to be talking about these.
If you take a look at reporting on your network and others, people talk about tangible changes, not only in places like Anbar province, but also in some places in Baghdad, some of the counterinsurgency efforts in Diyala. You do see that there is greater capability and, furthermore, encouragement, at least in the sense of the conversation today with the Prime Minister indicating that there is will and determination to make political progress.
When people start to see that happening, I think they're going to say, okay. Another thing that's going to be interesting is, there may be more opportunities to get -- I know that there's more embedding going on, so people are going to be able to get a better sense, once again, of what's going on, on the ground -- you've had an opportunity to do it in recent weeks -- to gather a fuller picture, because for instance, the headlines this week, eight Americans died, that is true; but on the other hand, you also had the fact that there have been very successful operations against bad guys, and you have had some pretty significant seizures, whether it be in weapons caches, or insurgents, or killers that they've gotten.
All of that sort of stuff also helps balance out the picture. In many cases, Americans don't get that other side of the picture. They're starting to get it in some of the briefings -- I know that the Pentagon is going to start posting some stuff on "YouTube." It's important to make sure that people are able to draw full judgments. And I think when they see that the thing that they most want, which is a competent military pursuing a noble mission, enjoying some success, doing it at personal hazard, and doing it in a way that is consistent with American principles, they're going to say, okay, this is what we want.
Q You don't think they've seen that in the past? I mean, this war has ebbed and flowed, and there certainly has been some good news over the years, and yet, the President's poll numbers are not improving.
MR. SNOW: I understand that, but the President also --
Q And you've tried to make a case over and over. He's tried to make the case over and over.
MR. SNOW: Yes. Well, you know what? Ultimately, again, if -- for instance, I would go back to the Zawahiri tape. What Zawahiri was recommending, for instance, at one point, he started laying out what his ambitions were. And his ambition was, what the President has talked about for some time now, which is a new caliphate, and a caliphate that would extend across much of the world, and it was going to be trying to place much of the world under the kind of oppression -- under the religious oppression that most Americans -- it's not even religious; it is the terrorist oppression that tends to misidentify itself as a religious movement, and to do it in such a way as to terrorize people into surrendering their freedoms.
Then Americans say, ah-ha, you mean Zawahiri really does mean that, that al Qaeda really does mean that. And it's important to realize that the threat is real and ongoing. The President cannot look away from that, and he does not look away from that. It is his obligation as Commander-in-Chief to do whatever is necessary to defend the security of this country.
And that means at times, when it is -- it means at times when people wish the threat were not there, when some political figures say, I'm not going to listen to it, they're telling me something I don't want to hear, I'm not going to listen to it -- and we've heard some of that in the debate. The President says, I have to, because his obligation is to do the right thing. And, sometimes, yes, it will be unpopular, but on the other hand, over time, as people begin to get a stronger sense of what's going on, and they do get a feeling for progress, you can assume that public opinion will follow.
And what's interesting is those who live by the polls better be careful, because if they try to get all their guidance simply from the poll questions, then all of a sudden it turns out that a lot of the things that have been stoutly opposed by some in the political class turn out to be things that have actually provided a basis for hope and success in Iraq -- they'll have to answer for that, too. Polling is not static, and neither are the issues.
Q Are you saying we want this war, the American people want this war?
MR. SNOW: No, the American people don't want this war, but they --
Q Well, you say the will -- they had the will?
MR. SNOW: Helen, the American people also do not want the Middle East in flames. They do not want millions of people dying. They do not want the economic dislocation, the geopolitical danger that would be ignited should, in fact, Zawahiri and others get their way. Americans still remember September 11th; they remember the fear it inspired --
Q But the Iraqis had nothing to do with it.
MR. SNOW: I understand that. But on the other hand, al Qaeda now has decided to make Iraq the central front. And it's pretty clear --
Q We decided that.
MR. SNOW: No, I don't think so. But --
Q Historically.
MR. SNOW: We've gone through this many times.
Q Tony, two quick questions. One, elegant ceremony for the Queen I have witnessed in a long time. My question is that as far as Prime Minister Tony Blair step down as Prime Minister of England, do you think when Her Majesty was carrying any kind of special message from the British --
MR. SNOW: Again, I'm not going to comment or speculate about conversations. But keep -- the President talks to Tony Blair all the time. I don't think he needs to have anybody channeling. And as far as trying to do retrospectives on the Prime Ministership of Tony Blair, let's just wait until he's made his announcements. We're not going to get involved beforehand.
Q Second, on Afghanistan. The Afghans are saying really now that the message for the President, that they are saying that they hope, after their freedom from the United States (inaudible), that the President or the United States has not forgotten them because of the attention elsewhere, and they are asking President's help because they feel that NATO so far has failed in many areas of Afghanistan as far as tapping down al Qaeda and Taliban.
MR. SNOW: Well, I'm not going to get -- number one, that's too vague a charge when you label something to "the Afghans." Number two, the government of Afghanistan certainly understands our commitment. Part of the debate on the supplemental, keep in mind, was not merely about Iraq, but also ongoing operations in Afghanistan, including boosting presence there and boosting capability.
Q Tony, what are we to read into the Pentagon opting for "YouTube" as part of its communication?
MR. SNOW: I don't know. You'll just have to ask -- that was something they announced last week. I don't know.
Q We're you part of that --
MR. SNOW: No, but I think it's a good idea.
Q Why?
MR. SNOW: Because it's important sometimes to be able to get -- it's important to get images out that are going to portray a fuller picture of what's going on, on the battlefield.
Q What kind of images would you like to see on "YouTube"?
MR. SNOW: I'd like to see a little bit of everything, wouldn't you?
Q Is the White House going to use it, too, or are you satisfied with your own web --
MR. SNOW: I don't know. I don't -- we have no immediate plans for using "YouTube."
Q On Friday I asked Dana why the President opposes broadening the hate crimes law to cover gays and lesbians. She pointed me to the statement of administration policy saying: We would oppose it solely on the grounds it would federalize law enforcement of crimes already being addressed in the states.
Why is that okay in the case of race and religion, and not in the case of sexual orientation?
MR. SNOW: Well, no, I don't think -- I think you're asking a question that's not relevant. The President of course believes in prosecuting crimes of discrimination against anybody. In fact, that is a proper responsibility of states, and many states have already enacted such statutes. And we have a Civil Rights Division to take a look into charges of discrimination on any basis. The fact is that you try to prosecute the laws so that in a society like ours, the law is equally applied to everybody.
On the other hand, if you try to -- what this law would do is create maybe an unparalleled increase in federal police power, and that is something that we do not welcome, especially because the states already have the authority to do this, and furthermore, we feel confident that the rights of all Americans are going to be protected. We have a -- our government is based upon equal protection under the law. If you suddenly start getting into sort of a situation where you start trying to tick off each and every class that may think it's aggrieved, what you're going to do is create an endless cycle where somebody else wants inclusion. But the fact is, the law already covers everybody.
So this should not be construed as an attempt to say that we do not care about acts of violence against individuals. We care about acts of violence against all individuals, and we think they ought to be prosecuted fully and completely.
Q Tony, I have a definitional question.
MR. SNOW: Oh, good.
Q Is it possible that some of what the colonists did might be construed by some as terrorism and insurgency?
MR. SNOW: I don't know, you'll have to ask them. (Laughter.)
Q Do you have their email? (Laughter.)
Q Funny man.
Q You were saying that Prime Minister Maliki is committed to making political progress, that he and the President discussed that. Can you outline, in any general sense, what the President conveyed to the Prime Minister about his expectations for what political progress is by this fall?
MR. SNOW: No, I'm going to -- no. Again, I'm going to allow the two of them to have -- they have private conversations for a reason, and many of those remain confidential.
Let me just tell you again what Prime Minister Maliki was talking about, which is to assemble the council of presidents, which do include members of all the major groups, and to sit down in a very practical way and say, let's get this stuff fixed. That was what he laid out. We'll also leave it to him to be a little more specific, because he is the Prime Minister, and it is certainly his prerogative to announce whatever initiatives he may be wishing to put together.
But, again, what you got was a very clear sense from the Prime Minister that it was important to be making progress. And I think he felt a little -- he felt somewhat encouraged by Sharm el Sheikh, because it does create even a better sense of confidence and standing, and it allows him to continue to move forward in a way that says, because a result of this -- as a result of the meeting in Sharm el Sheikh, we're going to be on sounder economic footing, we've got people who have made commitment, and we have people who are committed to the success of this country. And we now have to work together even more closely on things like oil law and constitutional reform and so on. So he mentioned a lot of that, but I don't want to get too specific beyond that.
Q Can I follow up? By the time that General Petraeus comes back to the President at the end of the summer/early fall, and says, here's where we are, can you say that the President feels confident after talking to the Prime Minister that there will be achievement to point to on the political side by that time?
MR. SNOW: Again, as The Washington Post pointed out this weekend, the Democratic Congress can't even meet its benchmarks. So what you have is a situation where I don't want to be prejudging what's going to happen, but it is very clear that the Prime Minister, and I think others in the Iraqi political system, realize that they want to get things accomplished. And it's not simply because of impatience in Washington, although that's clearly -- clearly exists, but because of their own national necessity. In order to succeed as a country, they have got to find a way to build that sense of shared economic obligation and cooperation through an oil law. They've got to deal with the constitutional issues to build greater confidence between groups. And the Prime Minister has made it clear that as the Prime Minister of all Iraqis, he is committed to defending the civil rights of all, and building on that. So I think that that's -- that was the tenor that was struck in the meeting.
Q I understand all that. I just am asking you --
MR. SNOW: I know, but I'm not going to tell you.
Q You cannot say today that the President feels confident that those things are achievable by the fall? I just want to clarify.
MR. SNOW: Again, no, because you're asking me a crystal ball question that I just think -- I'm not going to bite.
Q Who initiated the conversation?
Q Is Maliki confident?
MR. SNOW: Again, Maliki is determined. What you have is a situation where he is reaching out to the other major political leaders. They're going to sit down, they're going to talk it through. What he's doing is what leaders do, which is to try practically to work with everybody who is involved so that you can come to accommodation, and we'll just have to see.
Q Thank you, Tony. Two questions. Congressman Tom Davis and 17 other Republican House members have called on Attorney General Gonzales, Department of Justice, to administer the polygraph test that Sandy Berger agreed to in paragraph 11 of his plea agreement. And my question, could you give us a substantial answer to these Republicans' request of the Bush administration?
MR. SNOW: No. But I will study it.
Q At a press conference, Senate Majority Leader Reid, when asked about the Vice President's announcement that he changed his position on Iraq three times in five months, responded, "I am not going to get into a name-calling match with someone who has a 9 percent approval rating." And my question, what is the President's reaction to this, and does he believe that the Vice President's rating is really lower than the now Democrat-controlled Congress?
MR. SNOW: Again, I don't think the President -- President doesn't have a comment on either of those formulations.
Q Mr. Snow, (inaudible) democracy include the (inaudible) under threat by the military, in the light of the (inaudible)?
MR. SNOW: Run that last part by me again -- the democracy threat by military in what way?
Q It's under threat by the military.
MR. SNOW: I think that's probably an argumentative question and I don't want to get involved, as there's a debate about the presidency in Turkey -- that it is a democracy, continues to function as a democracy. And we will let the democratic process work itself out.
Q One question on the supplemental. Do you guys have any reaction -- the House leadership apparently is preparing some kind of bill that would give you guys half the money right up front, and wait for the other half for the President reporting on benchmarks and so forth.
MR. SNOW: Again, we've said that that sort of general approach provides a kind of uncertainty that really is not helpful to commanders. But on the other hand, I'm not going to respond in detail to every trial balloon, because we tend to get a lot. What we're doing is we're working with both Houses to try to come up with an acceptable way to provide a flow of funding that is going to enable the troops to have funding and flexibility, the phrase we've used many times. And at this juncture, you got to ask yourself what guarantee you have that, again, something is going to meet that deadline.
So I think the most important thing to do is to pass a supplemental that gets us through this year.
Q Did Josh go up to the Hill today to talk to Obey?
MR. SNOW: No, I don't think so. No.
Q Tomorrow?
MR. SNOW: Don't know. We'll let you know.
END 1:10 P.M. EDT
*The President dropped by a meeting between National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and Mr. Sarkozy at the White House Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006
May 2
USGBC’s LEED® Green Building Rating System Awards “Innovation in Design” Credit for Applying Cradle to CradleSM Product Certification
Aim to foster innovation, educate about product life cycle impact,
and complement the LCA into LEED process
May 1, 2007 (Washington, DC) – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced that projects seeking certification under the LEED® Green Building Rating System ™ can now earn "Innovation in Design" points by using the Cradle to CradleSM program for certified building products, as well as products certified by other established systems. Cradle to Cradle (C2C) assesses products on a number of criteria, such as the use of safe and healthy materials; design for material reuse and recycling; efficient use of energy and water throughout production; and instituting strategies for social responsibility. The Cradle to Cradle design paradigm was developed by William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart, and the certification program is administered by their firm, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC).
“Awarding LEED innovation points for Cradle to Cradle LCA education is the latest example of USGBC's dedication to continuous improvement,” said Tom Hicks, Vice President of LEED, USGBC. “C2C is in harmony with our guiding principle of reconciling human activities with nature, and cuts a trail for exciting new directions in LEED to address the impacts of materials in the building industry in a much more sophisticated scientific manner.”
"We are delighted and honored the USGBC now recognizes MBDC's Cradle to CradleSM Certification program for LEED innovation credits. This helps expand LEED's environmental focus to what's being used, reused or recycled and not just on the amount of recycled content," commented William McDonough, managing principle of MBDC.
Innovation in Design points are awarded to LEED projects that develop new solutions, employ new technologies, educate, or realize exemplary performance in another area. USGBC pioneered the achievement of innovation points for using the criteria of the cradle to cradle program during the certification of its own new LEED Platinum headquarters in Washington, DC. While reviewing USGBC's submission, the Materials & Resources Technical Advisory Group noted that future projects could also pursue points for using other existing, established product certification programs.
The publication of the “Credit Interpretation Review” of the Cradle to Cradle Innovation in Design award, USGBC is publishing all Innovation in Design Credits that have been awarded to LEED certified projects on the organizations website, www.usgbc.org.
"The goal of the innovation in design category is to inspire new ideas and solutions," noted Scot Horst, chair of the LEED Steering Committee. "By sharing this information, we'll drive further innovations and help to advance the practice of green building."
Recognizing C2C in an Innovation and Design Credit complements the recent recommendations by USGBC’s Life Cycle Assessment Group for incorporating life cycle assessment (LCA) into LEED. LCA is a scientific methodology that evaluates the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials through processing, manufacture, installation, use, and ultimate disposal or recycling. In addition to examining a material’s effect on the environment, C2C addresses human health and other impacts not directly addressed by LCA.
For information on LEED and USGBC: www.usgbc.org
To view the USGBC’s Guiding Principles: http://communicate.usgbc.org/usgbc/2006/08.15.06_guiding_principles/guidingPrinciples/index.html
About USGBC
The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's leading coalition of corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations working together to transform the way buildings are designed, built and operated. Green buildings are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Since its founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 8,500 member companies and organizations, an 85-person professional staff, a broad portfolio of LEED® green building products and services, the industry's popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo and a network of over 70 local chapters, affiliates and organizing groups.
April 24
Championing Environmental Legacies
Athletes, there’s a new winner on the podium.
Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was recently declared a “Champion of the Earth.”
At a ceremony in Singapore on April 19, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) honoured Rogge as a “ Champion of the Earth 2007”, a nod to the IOC’s remarkable success in implementing rigorous environmental standards for Olympic bid and host cities. Rogge was one of seven award recipients, a group that also included Al Gore, former US Vice President, Senator and presidential candidate.
Linking sport and environment
According to IOC Sport and Environment Commission chairman Pál Schmitt, the IOC’s earth-friendly mandate can have immense trickle-down influence. Indeed, the state of the environment in a Games host city affects athletes, volunteers, the worldwide audience of spectators and citizens alike.
As quoted by Schmitt in the IOC Guide on Sport, Environment and Sustainable Development, “Sport and sustainable development are deeply interlinked and increasingly need to be addressed jointly.”
“The Olympic Movement and the [IOC] in particular therefore have a role to play in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development to ensure that present and future generations will be able to enjoy sports activities in a preserved socio-economic, healthy and natural environment,” said Schmitt.
Sport and Culture are the two traditional pillars of the Games. Interest and concern for the environment was addressed by the Olympic Movement during the 1994 Centennial Olympic Congress, Congress of Unity meetings (regular consultative meetings convened by the IOC and attended by Olympic Movement parties’ representatives) in Paris when, for the first time, the International Olympic Committee formally acknowledged environmental and sustainable development as part of its overall mandate.
These discussions evolved and resulted in the creation of the IOC Sport and Environment Commission in 1995. By 1999, the IOC had adopted its own version of the UN’s Agenda 21 for Sustainable Development. It called for a program of action aimed at using sport to advance sustainable development and established a formal collaboration between the IOC and the UN Environment Program (UNEP) upon its implementation. One of the objectives of adopting sustainable development into the Olympic Movement includes improving Games-based practices on environmental conservation and impact on natural resources.
Minimizing the environmental footprint
Vancouver’s bid to host the 2010 Winter Games integrated environmental, social and economic sustainability as part of its Games planning. On the environmental platform, the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation committed, if successful in its bid, to building and operating Games facilities that would ensure a minimal environmental footprint.
“In the Bid Phase, in recognition of the regional environment, and with the focus on green buildings, both in Vancouver and the Sea-to-Sky corridor, we wanted to live up to the expectations of what was going on around us,” said Tina Symko, a sustainability coordinator with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). “We wanted to play a role in leading the way in green building design and standards.”
Leading the way
VANOC is on track and working hard on its environmental goals and objectives, but the organizing committee can’t do it alone. In efforts to achieve
From the atrium (top), to the workstations (middle), to kitchen and eating areas (bottom), Campus 2010 is VANOC’s first completed LEED project. (photo courtesy Ed White Photographics)these objectives, VANOC has had early coordination with its government partners which include Canada, British Columbia, Vancouver and Whistler. There is great commitment from all partners to ensure venue siting, construction and operation, selection of equipment and transportation, consumption of energy and water, pollution and waste management, species and habitat conservation are all considered in the planning, design and construction of its venues. Because of this partnership, the Games is able to minimize much of its environmental footprint by utilizing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building design principles for new and existing venues.
LEED incorporates design, construction and operational practices that combine healthy, high-quality and high-performance advantages with reduced environmental impacts. The LEED green building rating and certification program provides an opportunity for third party validation of green building design and operational practices. Improved building performance is certified with ratings (certified, silver, gold or platinum) based on the total number of points earned by a given project.
Aiming for silver, striking gold
VANOC committed to certify its new sport venues to a minimum LEED Silver level standard of certification. This past March, however, the Vancouver 2010 headquarters achieved gold-level LEED Commercial Interiors (CI) certification.
Much effort was made from many parties to achieve this certification. The City of Vancouver showed great support for this initiative and contributed to the Gold rating by improving the water efficiency with upgrades to the washroom, improving the thermal monitoring in the replacement of building controls and optimizing energy performance with the installation of daylight-responsive controls in areas close to the windows.
VANOC sponsors also played a very important role. Energy performance was further optimized with the selection of Top Sponsor GE Energy Star-rated equipment and appliances in the kitchenettes on each floor. Official Supplier Haworth provided some systems furniture and office seating that was Green guard indoor air-quality certified.
Other office renovations included: increased natural light, reducing the demand for lighting fixtures by 40 to 50 per cent; installation of energy-saving fixtures; use of recycled materials; and a carpet “tile” system that allows for the replacement of only certain tiles as needed, rather than re-carpeting entire rooms.
Elaine Lester, Vancouver 2010’s director, administration and facilities, holds VANOC’s recently awarded gold-level LEED-CI certificate.Finally, in addition to the renovations and furnishings, there are recycling and compost streaming systems on every floor, where VANOC staff have contributed to this gold level through their waste management efforts and cleaning systems. From partners to sponsors to staff and volunteers, everyone involved is very proud of the success of their efforts in achieving LEED-CI Gold.
The Vancouver 2010 offices are VANOC’s first completed LEED project to date, but the eco-initiatives don’t stop there.
Many of the Vancouver 2010 competition and non-competition venues are being constructed and upgraded to minimize environmental impacts. The Whistler Olympic and Paralympic Village will be strategically situated adjacent to a former municipal landfill to allow for the capture and re-use of methane gas. Heat produced by the nearby municipal wastewater treatment system will also be captured for re-use. At the City of Vancouver’s Hillcrest/Nat Bailey Stadium Park curling venue, waste heat from the refrigeration plant will be used to heat other building spaces and the nearby aquatic centre. Also, at the Richmond Oval, rainwater will be re-used for irrigation, ice-making and toilet flushing. There are also plans for the construction of an onsite wetland for storm water treatment at the site.
Going Green in Beijing
Beijing, host of the 2008 Olympic Summer Games, is also striving for eco-innovation. As with any event of this magnitude, hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games could be seen as a strain on Beijing’s infrastructure and resources. According to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), however, hosting the Games is a prime opportunity, and yet another good reason, for the city of Beijing to change its environmental practices for the better.
Beijing is a rapidly developing city and home to approximately 15 million people. Despite obvious challenges, the Beijing Organizing Committee has successfully expanded its environmental initiatives and the City of Beijing has joined in efforts to improve the city with better transportation, more green space and moving some industry out of the city core.
Admittedly the biggest test for BOCOG is to help the city of Beijing reduce air pollution produced by the city’s high proportion of coal consumption and rising popularity of automobile use. In efforts to minimize additional air pollutants, the Beijing municipal government, with assistance from BOCOG, has enacted phase-by-phase measures including improved dust control at construction sites and public awareness campaigns about the benefits of tree planting. Slated for completion by late 2007, Beijing has a campaign to plant 12,000 hectares of trees in an effort to increase the green coverage of the urban area to 43 per cent.
BOCOG’s Construction and Environment Department has also adopted significant innovative technologies during Games preparations. At the Olympic Village, for example, builders installed 6,000 square metres of solar heat collectors on building roofs; they’ll supply hot water to all apartment bathrooms and support facilities at Games time. The Olympic Village will also use recycled water from the Qinghe River Wastewater Treatment Plant to meet the needs of air conditioning systems for all Olympic Village apartments. And when it comes to recycling, construction of the roadbed within Beijing’s Olympic Village used 8,000 tonnes of waste steel scraps.
Greening the Future
Beyond creating healthy legacies for the people of Beijing, the Beijing Organizing Committee hopes to live up to its slogan of ‘One World One Dream’ by setting an example for the world to follow.
For future host cities, living up to their environmental aspirations from bid to Games ensures healthy environmental legacies long after the Torch is passed. Ideally, values such as the Games spirit will spread throughout the world’s nations, instilling a respect for the environment that binds us all together as strongly as the passion for sport
April 23
House Speaker and Majority Leader Announce Plans to Green the U.S. Capitol
USGBC Commends the House Complex move to reduce its Carbon Footprint
(Washington, DC) – Earlier this week House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer announced they will begin a project to green our Nation’s Capitol. The United States Capitol is a symbol to all American’s and greening the operations of the Capitol building complex sends a strong message about the importance of green building. As the Nation's most recognizable government building and an important emblem of democracy, the Capitol complex will inspire current and future generations to join in the commitment to environmental protection.
“Buildings in the U.S. account for 39% of CO2 emissions, and are a major contributor to global climate change,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, USGBC. “The good news is that green building reduces emissions by 30-50%. The U.S. Green Building Council applauds the Greening of the Capitol project as a showcase for sustainable practices that will inspire other projects around the country and the world to make an immediate and measurable impact on climate change by building green."
The preliminary Greening of the Capitol Report outlines a series of six recommendations in an effort to help the Capitol complex reduce its carbon footprint. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimated the operations of the House as being responsible for 91,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions in fiscal year 2006 – equivalent to the annual carbon dioxide emissions of 17,200 cars.
The recommendations include:
- Operating the House in a carbon neutral manner
- Shifting to 100 percent renewable electric power
- Aggressively improving energy efficiency
- Adopting sustainable business practices
- Continued leadership on sustainability issues
- Offsets to ensure carbon neutral operations
“Reducing energy consumption and energy dependence must be priorities,” said Sandy Wiggins, Chairman of the Board, USGBC. “Changing the way we think about the design, construction and operations of our buildings is key to achieving those goals, and the Greening of the Capitol project is an important step in the right direction."
The recommendations are a first step in creating a green Capitol and more sustainable House operations. A final report will be issued on June 30 to provide a framework for guiding future decisions.
About USGBC
The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's leading coalition of corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations working together to transform the way buildings are designed, built and operated. Green buildings are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Since its founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 7,700 member companies and organizations, an 85-person professional staff, a broad portfolio of LEED® green building products and services, the industry's popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo and a network of over 70 local chapters, affiliates and organizing groups. For more information: http://www.usgbc.org.
April 18
TRANSCRIPT: NBC NIGHTLY NEWS/PRESIDENT BUSH AND FIRST LADY LAURA BUSH
"NBC Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams continues reporting tonight from Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va. In a special one-hour edition tonight, Williams talks to President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. Transcript is below. If used, please courtesy "NBC Nightly News." Thank you.
BRIAN WILLIAMS INTRO:
We are back on this sad Tuesday night, here at Virginia Tech, you saw the President visited here earlier today and just before he departed capus -- we were able to spend some time with President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush -- and we talked about what happened here, also about dealing with this kind of loss.
WILLIAMS/PRESIDENT BUSH/FIRST LADY LAURA BUSH:
BRIAN WILLIAMS: You have all too much experience in dealing with grieving families going back to 9/11 and the nation's two wars. How is this different?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I think what makes this different-- is that a parent or a loved one thought their child was, learning, to-- to enrich their lives, and the next thing is they're dead. And it's just the shock and suddenness and the location that makes this a very traumatic experience. Virginia Tech is a viable, strong community. And-- it's going to require this viable, strong community to help-- help people recover.
BRIAN WILLIAMS: You have two daughters who are now out of college. I have a daughter who's a freshman now. With-- with that as context, how do-- what do we do about these guns?
PRESIDENT BUSH: My attitude is-- you know, there's going to be plenty of time for debate and a political discussion and a policy discussion. And I-- now is not the time. I'm-- I'm-- I'm more interested in helping people heal right now. And that's why we're here.
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Mrs. Bush-- Columbine had an incalculable effect on children the age of our--
MRS. BUSH: This--
BRIAN WILLIAMS:--our daughters.
MRS. BUSH: This will have an-- huge effect too, and on little children. We really need to listen to their concerns and-- and try to let them know that they're loved, and that many people are working to make sure they're protected.
April 17
Universities React to Virginia Tech Disaster by Implementing Emergency Notification Latest Communication Technology Immediately Notifies Employees, Students, Parents and First Responders During Crises on Multiple Types of Communication Devices
-- Many universities and schools throughout the country are pursuing immediate measures today in reaction to yesterday's Virginia Tech tragedy. In addition to grief counseling and safety briefings, administrators are researching and implementing high-speed emergency notification systems to address the need for immediate information during natural and manmade disasters.
Margi Schmidt, a spokesperson from MIR3, a San Diego-based business that provides emergency notification technology, commented: "We're receiving many phone calls from educational institutions that want to modernize their communication infrastructures to better handle emergency situations, including weather-related and other disasters. We are working with these organizations to implement emergency notification systems within 24 hours."
The MIR3 communications platform was designed for ease of use and to cut overall response time so that in the heat of an emergency the system is set to go with minimum effort. Schmidt said, "In real time, you can see who has received and responded to your critical message. In the event of natural and/or manmade disasters, all students, parents, and campus/local police can be contacted in a matter of minutes with information and instructions either by landline or cell phone, email, PDA, TTY, fax, pager, SMS, or other communication device."
The MIR3™ Intelligent Notification™ system is already in use at hundreds of corporations, government agencies and educational organizations.
April 9
Northern Forests May Increase Temperatures by 10 Degrees by 2100, New Study Says; Deforestation Could Cool the Planet
-- Forests on certain parts
of the planet may actually warm the Earth, according to researchers from
the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in a study released today.
According to the study, forests in mid- to high-latitude locations --
such as boreal forests of Canada, Scandinavia and Siberia -- may actually
create a net warming. The study concludes that by the year 2100, these mid-
and high- latitude forests may make some places up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit
warmer than would have occurred if the forests did not exist.
The research, led by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory atmospheric
scientist Govindasamy Bala, appears in the April 9-13 online edition of the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Forests affect climate in three different ways: they absorb the
greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help keep the planet
cool; they evaporate water to the atmosphere and increase cloudiness, which
also helps keep the planet cool; and they are dark and absorb sunlight (the
albedo effect), warming the Earth. Previous climate change mitigation
strategies that promote planting trees have taken only the first effect
into account. "Our study shows that only tropical rainforests are strongly
beneficial in helping slow down global warming," Bala said. "It is a
win-win situation in the tropics because trees in the tropics, in addition
to absorbing carbon dioxide, promote convective clouds that help to cool
the planet. In other locations, the warming from the albedo effect either
cancels or exceeds the net cooling from the other two effects."
"If we really want to do something about global warming," said
JunkScience.com's Steve Milloy, "providing chainsaws to Canadians, Swedes
and Russians would seem a better investment than greenhouse gas emissions
reductions."
For more information on the study and global warming, visit
JunkScience.com.
More Than Just a Story About Sales Growth
Stringent Federal, State and Industry Standards Help Ensure Safety, Quality
and Good Taste
-- The International
Bottled Water Association (IBWA), in conjunction with Beverage Marketing
Corporation (BMC), today released bottled water statistics for the year
2006, compiled by BMC. These numbers show that U.S. bottled water sales and
consumption continue to rise, as consumers increasingly choose bottled
water over other beverages.
The latest upward trend was reflected in 2006 when total bottled water
volume exceeded 8.25 billion gallons, a 9.5 percent increase over 2005, and
the 2006 bottled water per capita consumption level of 27.6 gallons
increased by over two gallons, from 25.4 gallons per capita the previous
year. Additionally, the wholesale dollar sales for bottled water exceeded
$10.8 billion in 2006, an 8.5 percent increase over the $10 billion in
2005. These statistics demonstrate continued consumer demand and
appreciation for the convenience and good taste of bottled water brands
consumed on-the-go, during exercise, at restaurants or meetings, and at
home or the office. However, consumers should also know that bottled water
safety and quality result from multiple layers of regulation and standards
at the federal, state and industry levels.
Bottled water is comprehensively regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) as a packaged food product, and has issued stringent
standards for safety, quality, production, labeling, and identity. Along
with the FDA's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), which are required of
all foods, bottled water must comply with several other applicable
regulations, including Standards of Identity, Standards of Quality and
additional, specific bottled water GMPs. Being a packaged food product,
bottled water is also bound by the Nutrition Labeling Education Act (NLEA)
and the full range of FDA protective measures designed to enforce product
safety and protect consumers. States also regulate bottled water
inspections, sampling, analyzing and approving bottled water sources.
Testing laboratory certification is another area where states may regulate
bottled water. As part of the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice, IBWA
members voluntarily utilize the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Point (HACCP) for a science-based approach to bottled water
production and safety. FDA recognizes HACCP as a key component of food
safety and consumer protection.
"While all beverages have their role in a marketplace with an abundance
of drink choices," says Stephen R. Kay, IBWA Vice President of
Communications, "consumers are choosing bottled water as a refreshing,
hydrating beverage and as an alternative to others that may contain
calories, caffeine, sugar, artificial colors, alcohol or other ingredients,
which they wish to moderate or avoid. For instance, during 2006, individual
servings of bottled water in sizes of 1.5 liters and smaller accounted for
57.1% of the volume of bottled water sold, indicating that consumers are
choosing bottled water in lieu of other bottled drinks."
For an overview of bottled water regulations and standards and other
bottled water information, visit the IBWA web site at
http://www.bottledwater.org.The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the authoritative
source of information about all types of bottled waters. Founded in 1958,
IBWA's membership includes U.S. and international bottlers, distributors
and suppliers. IBWA is committed to working with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water as a packaged food
product, and state governments to set stringent standards for safe, high
quality bottled water products. Additionally, IBWA requires member bottlers
to adhere to the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice, which mandates
additional standards and practices, that in some cases, are more stringent
than federal and state regulations. A key feature of the IBWA Model Code is
an annual unannounced plant inspection by an independent, third party
organization. .
SOURCE International Bottled Water Association
Reid Welcomes Bush Engagement on Immigration, Cautions on Need to Clarify Details
-- Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid released the following statement on President Bush's speech on
immigration today.
"Senate Democrats agree with President Bush that we must pass a
comprehensive immigration reform bill this year. The overwhelming majority
of Americans want to reform our broken immigration system so that we can
improve our border security and bring millions of undocumented workers out
of the shadows of our society.
"While preliminary discussions with the White House have revealed many
areas of bipartisan agreement, Democrats do have concerns about the
workability of several elements of the administration's recent draft
proposals to members of Congress. To win the support of Senate Democrats, a
comprehensive immigration bill must be tough, fair, and practical.
"We look forward to working closely with the President on this issue of
mutual concern when the Senate takes up legislation the last two weeks of
May."
SOURCE Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
MGM e Atriz/Produtora/Diretora nomeada para o Oscar Salma Hayek criam o novo nome Ventanazul
Empreendimento conjunto irá produzir projetos com influências latinas para o público universal
A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) entrou em uma parceria com a produtora/diretora e atriz nomeada para o Oscar Salma Hayek e seu parceiro Jose Tamez para o desenvolvimento, produção e compra de entretenimento filmado que tenha tema ou talento latino, na frente e por trás das câmeras, e que atraia o mercado em massa em todo o mundo.
Ventanazul e esta parceria totalmente igual entre a Sra. Hayek e a MGM, segue o modelo do estúdio de dar para o talento comprovado o controle criativo do conteúdo, e ao mesmo tempo se concentrar na experiência de distribuição e marketing do estúdio. A Ventanazul ficará localizada dentro da MGM, e pretende obter financiamento para as produções da companhia da MGM e de outras fontes de financiamento estruturadas externas. Esta declaração foi feita em conjunto pelo COO da MGM Rick Sands e pela Sra. Hayek.
A Sra. Hayek será a Presidente e CEO da Ventanazul, e o Sr. Tamez ocupará o cargo de Presidente da Produção. A companhia pretende lançar de dois a quatro projetos de filmes no mercado por ano, sendo a MGM responsável pelo marketing e distribuição mundial. A Ventanazul irá aproveitar uma grande fonte de talentos latinos e não latinos, incluindo artistas, cineastas e escritores de vários tipos definidos e reconhecidos: drama, comédia, suspense, horror, filmes para jovens, filmes para a família e filmes de prestígio. Em muitos casos, os projetos serão buscados na vasta e diversa herança latina, mas realizados de forma moderna e acessível, para um público principal doméstico e internacional.
"Minhas conversas com Rick Sands e com a equipe da MGM têm sido extremamente estimulantes", disse a Sra. Hayek. "Há meses estamos desenvolvendo um plano para a criação de uma identidade para a companhia que seja especializada no mercado latino sem isolar o resto do público. Tenho certeza de que, com a ajuda e apoio da MGM, a Ventanazul tem uma visão específica que a diferenciará de alguns dos trabalhos estereotipados do passado.
O importante para nós é a integração, e não a separação. Este acordo proporciona uma tremenda oportunidade para o aproveitamento das várias formas com as quais o mundo latino pode contribuir para o setor de filmes. Cada projeto tem um elemento diferente: do apoio ao nosso incrível talento por trás das câmeras, a maneira de contar histórias latinas únicas como a de Frida Kahlo, até a criação de personagens inesquecíveis - que acontecem de ser latinas - como Betty a Feia. Queremos que estes filmes atraiam a todos e que dêem orgulho para o público latino".
"Após trabalhar com Salma em vários filmes durante anos, ficou rapidamente muito claro para mim que ela é a pessoa certa para a criação deste empreendimento marcante que irá identificar, desenvolver e produzir filmes que se enquadrem na missão da Ventanazul", disse Sands. "Além de ser uma excelente atriz, como produtora e diretora Salma contribui uma profunda e acessível compreensão do mundo multicultural em que vivemos hoje em dia. Estamos muito contentes desta parceria com ela e com a sua equipe".
A parceria da MGM com a Sra. Hayek dá continuidade à estratégia do Chairman e CEO da MGM Harry Sloan de criar oportunidades com comprovados talentos de produção e criação, como as recentes parcerias com Tom Cruise e Paula Wagner no renascimento da United Artists.
O acordo entre a Sra. Hayek e a MGM foi negociado por Jonathan Bader, EVP de Business Affairs da MGM, e Bill Sobel, CAA e Management 360.
Sobre a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., através de suas subsidiárias operacionais participa ativamente na produção e distribuição mundial de filmes, programas de televisão, home vídeo, mídia interativa, música e merchandise licenciada. A companhia é proprietária da maior biblioteca do mundo de filmes modernos, com cerca de 4.000 títulos. Suas unidades operacionais são: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Worldwide Digital Media, MGM Consumer Products e MGM Interactive. Além disso, a MGM tem participação de proprietária em canais de TV internacionais, atingindo quase 110 países. Os percentuais de participação da MGM são os seguintes: Providence Equity Partners (29%), TPG (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) e Quadrangle Group (3%). Para mais informações, acesse http://www.mgm.com/.
April 5
Americans Doubt Safety of Nation's Food Supply in Wake of Pet-Food Contamination
JWT survey reveals people feel food supply is vulnerable to attack
Nearly 7 in 10 Americans (68 percent) agree that the recent contamination of pet food with rat poison shows how vulnerable the U.S. is to an attack on its food supply, while only 12 percent disagree, according to a survey released today from JWT.
The random and representative survey of 1,172 Americans 18 or older was conducted the week ending March 31 to gauge Americans' perception of the safety of the nation's food supply in the wake of the recent pet-food contamination. The research builds on JWT's legacy of tracking anxiety in the post-9/11 environment. (Sixty-three percent of the respondents have children, 75 percent own pets, and 3 percent said the recent pet-food contamination affected their pets.)
According to the survey, 60 percent of Americans agree strongly or somewhat with the statement "I'm starting to believe that the food supply in the U.S. isn't as safe as it used to be." Nearly half (47 percent) do not believe that the U.S. government is adequately prepared to respond quickly to an attack on our nation's food and/or water supply (only 24 percent do). Forty-four percent do not believe that the U.S. government has adequate measures in place to prevent deliberate attacks on our nation's food and/or water supply, compared to a quarter who do. And 74 percent and 71 percent of respondents agree that safety measures at food/beverage manufacturers and farms, respectively, need to be heightened to prevent a deliberate attack on our food supply.
"The American public clearly sees vulnerabilities in our nation's food supply. The recent pet-food scare compounds an already flagging Consumer Confidence Index, which fell last month as a result of rising gas prices, falling home values and a volatile stock market," says Bob Jeffrey, chairman and CEO at JWT, the largest advertising agency in the U.S. and the fourth largest in the world. "The U.S. government and food and beverage manufacturers need to reassure their public that preventative steps are being taken to safeguard them, their families and their pets. That kind of informative outreach will go a long way toward increasing consumer confidence."
Indeed, consumers are willing to listen, the survey found. If a food product that they bought consistently was to have an issue with contamination, only 20 percent of respondents say that they "would never buy it again." A significant 63 percent say that they would "consider buying it again if the brand presented strong evidence that it had removed the contaminants from its supply and put measures in place to prevent future contaminations," and 17 percent simply say that they "would buy it again; it could happen to any brand."
Despite all the concerns about vulnerabilities in the U.S. food supply, only 14 percent believe agriterrorism (when terrorists contaminate food, water, or anything that may be a danger to agricultural resources) would be the most likely form of terrorism if a terrorist attack were to occur again on U.S. soil. The highest percentage (36 percent) believe bioterrorism (or terrorism by intentional release or dissemination of biological agents) would be the most likely; 19 percent believe suicide attacks to be the most likely; 13 percent, bombings; 11 percent, cyber-terrorism; and 8 percent, nuclear terrorism.
Among the survey's other findings: -- 45 percent agree that "food bought at the grocery store is safer than food bought at a fast-food restaurant." -- 60 percent agree that "while organic foods might be healthier for me, I'm not sure they're safer from contaminants." -- 50 percent agree that "recent food contaminations are isolated incidents" (24 percent disagree). -- 67 percent "believe the USDA can still protect the U.S. food supply" (19 percent agree strongly, while 48 percent agree somewhat) -- 58 percent agree that "fruits and vegetables grown in the U.S. are safer from contamination than those grown in other countries." -- 61 percent agree that "I'm finding it more and more difficult to know which foods are safest for my family. -- 47 percent believe that children are terrorist targets (21 percent do not); 15 percent believe that people's pets are terrorist targets ( percent do not). About JWT
JWT ranks as the largest advertising agency brand in the United States and as the fourth-largest full-service network in the world. Its parent company is WPP (NASDAQ:WPPGY) . JWT's heritage of brand-building excellence extends back to 1864, making us the world's oldest advertising agency brand. In 1939, JWT pioneered the first national consumer research panel. In 1988, we created the first research study of consumer lifestyles, "Life Stages." We believe in being anthropologists first, advertising people second.
Source: JWT
Web site: http://www.jwt.com/
April 4
Hispanic Yellow Pages Network lanza segunda edición de Directorio en Español - Phoenix
-- El jueves 5 de abril de 2007, Directorio en Español de HYP Network lanzará la segunda edición para la zona metropolitana de Phoenix en el Restaurante Tradiciones. La portada del directorio tiene una reproducción de la obra ganadora del segundo "Concurso Arte de América Hispana" que se realizó desde el 1 de septiembre de 2006 hasta el 12 de enero de 2007. Esta competencia artística promueve y rinde homenaje a la riqueza y a la diversidad del Legado Hispano por toda la zona de Phoenix. Artistas locales y estudiantes de arte mayores de 18 años compiten por el gran premio que consiste en US$3,000, enviando una obra original que es la interpretación del artista del Legado Hispano en la ciudad.
Un destacado panel de jueces compuesto por dignatarios del área, directores de galerías de arte locales, clientes del directorio y representantes de la TV eligieron el cartel ganador.
"El proceso de decisión fue tarea difícil para todos los jueces que tuvieron que evaluar las bellas obras presentadas este año", dijo Marianne Avila, Gerenta General de Ventas en Phoenix.
El especial evento presentado por HYP Network tendrá el apoyo de los patrocinadores de título de Arte de América Hispana: Law Offices of Michael Cordova, The Art Institute of Phoenix, La Campesina, Azteca América, State Farm, la ciudad de Phoenix, la Cámara de Comercio Hispana de Arizona, La Voz, y TV y Más. Durante el evento, los principales 3 artistas serán premiados y recibirán premios en efectivo cuando se dé a conocer la nueva edición de Directorio en Español Phoenix con la obra de arte ganadora en su portada.
Acerca de HYP Network (http://www.hypnetwork.com/)
HYP Network es la principal editorial independiente de directorios de páginas amarillas en español en los Estados Unidos. En la actualidad, la compañía publica directorios en Atlanta y North Georgia, Georgia; Tampa, Orlando, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale y Sarasota/Ft. Myers, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; ciudad de Nueva York/Westchester, Nueva York; Dallas y Houston, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; Washington D.C., Maryland y Virginia. La compañía es propiedad mayoritaria de ABRY Partners of Boston, Massachusetts.
Acerca de ABRY Partners
ABRY Partners, radicado en Boston, Massachusetts, es uno de los mayores y más antiguos fondos de capital privado en América del Norte, con inversiones exclusivamente en compañías de medios, entretenimiento y comunicaciones. ABRY tiene US$3,000 millones de capital en cartera, y desde el año 1989 ha completado más de US$16,000 millones de adquisiciones de apalancamiento financiero y otras transacciones de capital privado en el sector de los medios.
Source: HYP Network
Luminary Micro y Keil anuncian los ganadores del concurso de diseño DesignStellaris2006
- "Handheld Multifunction Scope" de Jingxi Zhang ganó el concurso de diseño utilizando microcontroladores ARM(R) Cortex(TM)-M3 con herramientas ARM RealView
Luminary Micro (http://www.luminarymicro.com ), una legendaria compañía de semiconductores que diseña, comercializa y vende microcontroladores basados en el procesador ARM(R) Cortex(TM)-M3, junto con Keil (una compañía ARM) y la revista Circuit Cellar, nombra a Jingxi Zhang el ganador del concurso de diseño de 10.000 dólares DesignStellaris2006 para la familia de microcontroladores Stellaris(R) - la primera aplicación de silicio del mundo del procesador ARM Cortex-M3.
El primer premio de 3.000 dólares fue para el proyecto "Handheld Multifunction Scope" de Zhang basado en la placa de evaluación Stellaris EKK-LM3S811. El "Handheld Multifunction Scope" puede operar en modo autónomo con tres pilas AAA. También puede ser cargado a través de un PC USB, y en este modo, la pantalla del PC es usada para mostrar el osciloscopio y los valores de medida. La herramienta flexible de Zhang funciona como un osciloscopio de rastro de canal dual; un AC/DC voltímetro, ohmiómetro, medidor de capacitancia e inductancia; contador de frecuencia; una sonda lógica; y un generador de pulso.
"He disfrutado empleando el maravilloso chip Stellaris de Luminary Micro para la competición Circuit Cellar DesignStellaris2006," dijo Jingxi Zhang, arquitecto de sistema de Jupiter Systems. "Los periféricos ricos en chip y llenos de pins GPIO de LM3S811 hacen posible construir esta herramienta multifuncional con pocos componentes externos."
En segundo lugar estaba "RF NimbleSig" de Thomas M. Alldread, un generador de señal RF y medidor de potencia, que es módulo de un generador sintetizador digital directo compacto (DDS) / medidor de potencia RF que proporciona una ágil frecuencia RF de fuente de señal de salida y un bajo nivel de medida de potencia RF. Jake Gunderson se hizo con el tercer premio por su "Squawk Box," un instrumento de usuario de Voz sobre protocolo de Internet (VoIP) que conecta el ampliamente aceptado interruptor de teléfono de fuente abierta Asterisk.
Los premios de menciones honorables fueron para: Ilya Mamontov (Stroboscopic Pocket Tuner), Alexandre Guimaraes (Not Just Another SMD Reflow Controller), James Koehler (Audio Noise Figure Meter), Lindsay Meek (Uninterruptible Solar Power Supply), Naubert Aparicio (ArmExe: an RTOS for Luminary Micro Stellaris Cortex-M3 microcontrollers), Jeffrey Berezin (Bicycle Simulator), Fabian de la Fuente (Timecode generator), Henry Pfister (Multitone Music Keyboard), Peter Baston (AIS Decoder), Alex Wolfing (PGKey), Benjamin Wolpoff (Shock-N-Awe), Andrew Sterian (Coil Gun Controller), Hoa Phan (Automatic Antenna Positioner), Fernando Jordan (Swissjazz), Robert Papp (StellarisGfx), y Sylvain Davaine (Large LCD Screen Driver).
Miles de ingenieros compitieron por el premio
Para ganar el primer premio, Zhang compitió frente a los principales ingenieros del mundo por más de 10.000 dólares en efectivo en premios utilizando la familia Stellaris de Luminary Micro de controladores basados en el procesador ARM Cortex-M3 con ARM RealView(R) Microcontroller Development Kit. Para permitir a los diseñadores desarrollar aplicaciones para el concurso de forma más rápida, Luminary Micro y Keil desarrollaron específicamente el Stellaris LM3S811 Evaluation Kit con el software de evaluación RealView Microcontroller Development Kit (número de pedido EKK-LM3S811). Miles de ingenieros de todo el mundo respondieron al llamamiento y obtuvieron los kits de evaluación para el concurso.
"Estamos muy impresionados con los diseños tan diversos y creativos que salieron de todo el mundo," dijo Jean Anne Booth, responsable de marketing de Luminary Micro. "Con la arquitectura ARM y el apoyo al desarrollo, la familia Stellaris proporciona la entrada al ecosistema más fuerte de la industria, con un código de compatibilidad que va desde 1,00 dólar a 1 GHz. Esas inventivas aplicaciones demuestran que Stellaris es de verdad el desarrollo de producto para las aplicaciones serias de microcontroladores."
"La respuesta al concurso de diseño DesignStellaris2006 fue fenomenal," dijo Steve Ciarcia, director editorial y fundador de Circuit Cellar. "Muchos ingenieros de diseño de todo el mundo estuvieron entusiasmados por trabajar con los MCUs de Luminary Micro y las herramientas de Keil que yo sabía que serían un éxito en este concurso."
"ARM ha estado muy impresionado con el número y calidad de los participantes en la competición DesignStellaris2006," dijo Alistair Greenhill, director de herramientas de mercado de masa de ARM. "Creemos que esto ilustra el fuerte momento del mercado para pasar a la próxima generación de microcontroladores ARM 32-bit basados en el procesador ARM Cortex-M3, con dispositivos que entregan un funcionamiento y facilidad de uso excepcionales a precios competitivos."
Desarrollado específicamente para las aplicaciones de microcontrolador, la implementación de Luminary Micro del procesador Cortex-M3 en la familia Stellaris MCU incluye las siguientes características:
-- Siempre acceso flash de ciclo único para rendimiento máximo
-- Procesamiento determinista, de rápida interrupción - nunca más de 12
ciclos, solo 6 ciclos con encadenamiento de cola
-- Toda la base de código de software es escrita en C/C++ -- no se
necesita lenguaje ensamblador, incluso en el código de comerciantes de
servicio de arranque e interrupción, haciendo los dispositivos fáciles
de programar
-- Ocupa tan solo la mitad del tamaño de los código flash de la familia
ARM7(TM) - basada en aplicaciones MCU
-- MCU GPIOs real integrado-todo puede generar interrupciones, todo puede
tener fuerza de unidad programable y control de tasa de giro
-- No pin multiplexing funcional - los pins están dedicados a un
periférico, respaldado por GPIO, y el uso simultáneo de un chip
periférico no está limitado por compartir pin, por eso los ingenieros
no están forzados a elegir entre periféricos en chip
El Stellaris LM3S811 Evaluation Kit usado para DesignStellaris2006 es tanto una plataforma de evaluación para Stellaris LM3S811 como una interfaz de ajuste sucesivo en circuito en serial para cualquier placa basada en el microcontrolador Stellaris, extendiendo el espectro del diseño desde la evaluación al prototipo a la aplicación específica del diseño. El kit también incluye una copia de evaluación de las herramientas de software RealView Microcontroller Development Kit en un CD empaquetado con hojas de datos, esquemas, notas de aplicaciones y ejemplos de programación. La placa es cargada mediante USB (cable incluido), y también contiene pin de encabezamiento protegidos por seda que pueden ser poblados por el usuario con pin de encabezamiento de poste para uso en el prototipo de hardware.
Información de pedido
El RealView Microcontroller Development Kit está disponible a través del canal de ventas global de Keil detallado en http://www.keil.com/distis/ . El desarrollo del microcontrolador de Stellaris y los kits de evaluación, incluyendo el EKK-LM3S811 Evaluation Kit, están disponibles a través del canal de ventas global de Luminary Micro detallado en http://www.luminarymicro.com/sales .
Acerca de Luminary Micro y Stellaris
Luminary Micro, Inc. diseña, comercializa y vende microcontroladores basados en procesadores ARM Cortex-M3 (MCU). Luminary Micro, con sede en Austin (Texas), es el principal socio para el procesador Cortex-M3, que brinda la primera aplicación de silicio del mundo del procesador Cortex-M3. La introducción de Luminary Micro de la familia de productos Stellaris(R) ofrece un rendimiento de 32 bits por el mismo precio que los actuales diseños de microcontroladores de 8 y 16 bits. Con precios de entrada de 1,00 dólar estadounidense para un MCU basado en tecnología ARM, la línea de productos Stellaris de Luminary Micro permite la estandarización que elimina futuras actualizaciones de arquitectura o cambios de las herramientas de software. Contacte con la compañía en el teléfono +1-512-279-8800 o a través del email press@luminarymicro.com si desea más información.
Acerca de ARM
ARM diseña la tecnología que se encuentra en el corazón de los productos digitales avanzados, desde inalámbricos, redes y soluciones de entretenimiento de consumo a dispositivos de imágenes, automóviles, seguridad y almacenamiento. La amplia gama de oferta de productos de ARM incluye microprocesadores 16/32-bit RISC, motores de datos, procesadores gráficos, bibliotecas digitales, memorias incrustadas, periféricos, software y herramientas de desarrollo, así como funciones analógicas y productos de conectividad de alta velocidad. Combinado con la amplia comunidad de socios de la compañía, proporcionan una solución de sistema total que ofrece un camino rápido y fiable para vender para compañías de electrónica líderes. Más información sobre ARM disponible en http://www.arm.com .
Stellaris es una marca registrada y el logo de Luminary Micro es una marca comercial de Luminary Micro, Inc. o sus filiales en Estados Unidos y otros países. ARM y RealView son marcas registradas de ARM Limited. Cortex, CoreSight, NEON y Embedded Trace Macrocell son marcas registradas de ARM Limited. Las demás marcas o productos pertenecen a sus respectivos propietarios.
"ARM" suele representar a ARM Holdings plc; su compañía operativa ARM Limited; y las filiales regionales ARM INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan; ARM France SAS; ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.; ARM Belgium N.V.; AXYS Design Automation Inc.; AXYS GmbH; ARM Embedded Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; ARM Physical IP, Inc.; y ARM Norway AS.
April 3
Pending Home Sales Show Effects of Weather, Possible Subprime Impact
-- A forward-looking index based on pending home sales indicates that bad weather, and possibly the loss of some subprime lending, will dampen sales closed in March and April, according to the National Association of Realtors(R).
The Pending Home Sales Index,* based on contracts signed in February, stood at 109.3 -- down 8.5 percent from February 2006 when it reached 119.4, but is 0.7 percent higher than a downwardly revised reading of 108.5 in January. Earlier, mild weather caused the index to spike at 113.3 in December.
David Lereah, NAR's chief economist, said there has been a steady narrowing from year-ago readings since last July. "If it wasn't for the unusually bad weather in February, we'd be seeing a better performance in pending home sales," he said. "We also may be seeing some fallout from a decline in subprime lending, but a slight improvement in the more volatile month-to-month index is encouraging -- the data suggests an underlying stabilization is taking place in the housing market, but it will take another month or two to clarify."
"Problems in the subprime mortgage market will become more apparent over time, and they will modestly depress the overall level of improvement in existing-home sales we expect as the year progresses," Lereah said.
The index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing.
An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, the first year to be examined and the first of five consecutive record years for existing-home sales. There is a closer relationship between annual changes in the index and actual market performance than with month-to-month comparisons. As the relatively new index matures and seasonal adjustment factors are refined, the month-to-month comparisons will become more meaningful over time.
The PHSI in the South rose 4.5 percent in February to 121.9 but was 8.0 percent below a year ago. The index in the Midwest increased 2.9 percent from January to 103.0 but was 9.7 percent lower than February 2006. The index in the Northeast slipped 1.3 percent in February to 99.1 and was 8.2 percent below a year earlier. In the West, the index fell 6.0 percent from January to 104.1 and was 8.2 percent lower than February 2006.
The National Association of Realtors(R), "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
* The Pending Home Sales Index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20 percent of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity from 2001 through 2004 parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months. There is a closer parallel between annual index changes (from the same month a year earlier) and year-ago changes in sales performance than there is with month-to-month comparisons.
The forecast will be revised April 11, and existing-home sales for March will be released April 24. The next Pending Home Sales Index will be on May 1.
Information about NAR is available at http://www.realtor.org/. This and other news releases are posted in the News Media section. Statistical data, charts and surveys also may be found by clicking on Research.
NOTE: REALTOR(R) is a registered collective membership mark which may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS(R) and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. Not all real estate agents are REALTORS(R). All REALTORS(R) are members of NAR.
Source: National Association of Realtors
Web site: http://www.realtor.org/
April 2
FDA Approves Accelerated Dosing Schedule for GlaxoSmithKline's Twinrix(R)
New Vaccine Schedule Offers Protection Against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Twinrix® [Hepatitis A Vaccine (Inactivated) and Hepatitis B (Recombinant) Vaccine], for an accelerated dosing schedule that consists of three doses given within three weeks followed by a booster dose at 12 months. The approval means Twinrix, the only hepatitis A and hepatitis B combination vaccine available in the United States, is now available on a dosing schedule at 0, 7, 21-30 days, followed by a booster dose at 12 months. The vaccine was first approved for adults over age 18 years by the FDA in May 2001 on a 0, 1, 6-month dosing schedule.
"Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are serious liver diseases which can be prevented through vaccination," stated travel medicine specialist Bradley A. Connor, M.D., Past President, International Society of Travel Medicine and a principal study investigator. "Twinrix's new accelerated dosing schedule offers an option that could benefit individuals such as those preparing to travel internationally to high-risk areas. It may also benefit emergency first care responders, especially those deploying to disaster areas overseas, as well as others at risk for hepatitis, such as people with sexually transmitted diseases and those who are HIV positive."
Many regions throughout the world are endemic for hepatitis A and hepatitis B, such as Africa, Asia, South America and parts of the Caribbean. Worldwide, approximately 1.5 million cases of hepatitis A are reported annually. In addition, hepatitis B has infected 2 billion people -- one-third of the world's population. Millions of Americans travel each year to countries where hepatitis A and hepatitis B are endemic. An overwhelming majority of these international travelers are not vaccinated before the trip. Therefore, international travelers may be at risk for contracting both hepatitis A and hepatitis B. They should consult their health care provider prior to traveling abroad.
The FDA approved the new dosing schedule after reviewing the safety and immune response of Twinrix given to 250 healthy adults (aged 18 years or older) at 0-, 7-, and 21- to 30-day schedule, followed by a booster dose at 12 months, compared to separate vaccinations with monovalent hepatitis A vaccine (HAVRIX at 0 and 12 months) and hepatitis B vaccine (ENGERIX-B at 0, 1, 2, and 12 months) given to 246 healthy adults as a control group. The study demonstrated that the individuals who completed the series of Twinrix on the accelerated dosing schedule had an immune response comparable to those individuals who received complete vaccination with separately administered hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines.
About Vaccine-Preventable Hepatitis (VPH)
Vaccine-Preventable Hepatitis includes hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Hepatitis C is not vaccine preventable. Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. This virus is found in the stool of persons with hepatitis A and is spread by close personal contact and by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A can be easily passed between people within the same household. About one in five people with the disease has to be hospitalized. Hepatitis A can be fatal. Symptoms of the disease can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) and dark urine.
Hepatitis B is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. The virus is passed through infected blood or body fluids. Approximately 50 percent of people with hepatitis B do not notice signs or symptoms. Those who do may experience diarrhea and vomiting, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle and joint pain, and jaundice. Hepatitis B can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. An estimated 1.25 million Americans are chronically infected with Hepatitis B. Estimates show that tens of thousands of people (mostly young adults) are infected each year.
About Twinrix®
As with all prescription medications, please talk with your healthcare provider to see if Twinrix is right for you.
In clinical trials with Twinrix, the most common side effects included pain and redness at the injection site, headache, and tiredness. These effects were mild and did not last more than 48 hours. (See Adverse Reactions section of the Prescribing Information for Twinrix for other potential side effects.) As with any vaccine, there is a small risk of allergic reactions. If you notice any problems following vaccination, or if you are allergic to any component of the vaccine such as neomycin, yeast, or latex, please inform your healthcare provider.
For more information on Twinrix visit www.gskvaccines.com.
GlaxoSmithKline - A Leader in Vaccines
GlaxoSmithKline -- one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies -- is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For company information, visit GlaxoSmithKline at www.gsk.com.
GlaxoSmithKline Forward-Looking Statements
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements under the safe harbor provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: the company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by the company, including those made in this Announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that may affect the Group's operations are described under 'Risk Factors' in the Operating and Financial Review and Prospects in the company's Annual Report 2005.
