Archive for October, 2009
In an article in the journal Contraception, Elizabeth Westley, Francine Coeytaux, and Elisa Wells worry about the future of emergency contraception.(While We’re At It)
by admin on Oct.31, 2009, under Uncategorized
First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, November, 2009
In an article in the journal Contraception, Elizabeth Westley, Francine Coeytaux, rectal cancer surgery and Elisa Wells worry about the future of emergency contraception. “Two decades ago,” the authors reminisce, “Dr. Felicia Stewart, then serving as Medical Director of the Planned Parenthood affiliate in Sacramento, California, began her campaign to let out of the closet ‘America’s bestkept secret’–emergency contraception. The method had been suppressed because many providers thought the method was ‘not effective enough,’ or would lead women to use it ‘too much’ (in place of using other more effective methods).”
These early objections were swept aside, however, and emergency contraception products are now available worldwide, with a pharmaceutical company in the United States…
Commentary: Victory far off in health care battle
by admin on Oct.30, 2009, under Uncategorized
Long Island Business News, Oct 29, 2009 by Jerry Kremer
America is engaged in three wars, one in this colorado auto insurance quotes country and two overseas. Whether we will win the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq is a function of time and money. The war at home, the insurance companies against the U.S. consumer, is quickly tilting in favor of the insurance companies.
A week ago it appeared that the consumers had won the first battle when a U.S. Senate committee approved a bill to dramatically overhaul the nation’s health care industry. But like all things in Washington, declaring victory is a dangerous and premature thing.
Within days of the Senate action, the billion dollar insurance lobby turned up the heat, doing every thing it could to kill health care reform. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, trying to placate his liberal senators, added fuel to the fire when he announced that he favored a government company to compete with private insurers.
The idea of a government-run health insurance company has been kicked around since the early 1960’s. The hostility of some members of Congress against a public option is mostly fueled by the insurance lobby which last year spent more than $30 million on political action.
I find it hard to get upset about public competition for the private sector considering that the most successful public-run health insurance plan is already in existence – it’s called Medicare. The Reid announcement triggered the loss of two crucial votes for any plan. Sen. Joe Leiberman, who has often been referred to as the “Senator from Aetna” withdrew his support.
The one truly independent voter, Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, indicated that she couldn’t support any bill that had a public option and without her vote there are slim chances of a reform bill passing.
What’s the real reason behind why there is such strong opposition to any government-run company competing with the private sector? The answer is simple
Improvements swayed judges; Your Say
by admin on Oct.30, 2009, under Uncategorized
0 Comments | Evening Gazette (Middlesbrough, England), Oct 28, 2009
TAKING issue with J Klinger from Middlesbrough in his letter Pier Pressure (23.10.09), Saltburn pier (pictured right) was judged to be the best pier not because Blackpool and Brighton did not come up to standard but because the judges eventually recognised the hard work that has landscape photography gone into continually improving Saltburn pier.
On a more positive note, it was a fantastic piece of Gazette photography by Peter Benn and Dave Charnley to show Redcar & Cleveland Council’’s Odin’’s Glow event on Roseberry Topping and the Newton Under Roseberry village on the front page and pages 4 and 5 of the Gazette. Many thanks to all those concerned especially the staff of Redcar & Cleveland Council, Culture 10 and the residents of Newton Under Roseberry.
Who knows with snaps like that Peter and Dave may well share the Journalist Photographer of the year award? CLLR GEORGE R DUNNING, Leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and cabinet member for rural affairs.
Cash is a big help
by admin on Oct.30, 2009, under Uncategorized
Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Oct 28, 2009
BUSINESSES have benefited from more than pounds 250,000 thanks to a council initiative.
Twenty-seven organisations in North Tyneside have taken advantage of cash support through the retail and town centre property improvement scheme, receiving pounds 103,225.
The initiative brought in an extra pounds 153,696 from the private sector, leading to a total investment of pounds 256,921.
John O’Connor, 37, used his pounds 5,000 grant towards a Whitley Bay photography studio he coowns with his wife Joanne.
He said: “This money has let landscape photography us create a space that’s exactly what we wanted.”
Health tips at chair class
by admin on Oct.30, 2009, under Uncategorized
Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), Oct 29, 2009
WOMEN wanting to improve their health can now benefit from two new classes in Dewsbury.
The “chair classes” are being run at doctors’ surgeries to enable more people to attend.
Sessions will be held on quit smoking advice Mondays 10.30am to 11.15am, at Ravensthorpe Health Centre or Fridays, 12.45 – 1. 30pm at Thornhill Lees, New Brewery Lane Surgery.
Chair-based classes are designed for people who may not have as much movement as others and would benefit from an easy to follow session.
Charlesbank Capital Partners, LLC Acquires Five Consumer Products Brands From McNEIL-PPC, Inc.
by admin on Oct.30, 2009, under Uncategorized
Market Wire, October, 2009
Charlesbank Capital Partners, LLC has announced
the formation of Blacksmith Brands Inc. with the acquisition of five
over-the-counter (OTC) consumer products brands from McNEIL-PPC, Inc.
The brands acquired by Blacksmith include: EFFERDENT denture cleaner;
EFFERGRIP denture adhesive cream; LUDEN’S throat drops; NASALCROM
nasal allergy relief spray; and PEDIACARE children’s cough and cold
medicine and Gentle Vapors waterless vaporizer. The top two natural eczema treatment brands in this
portfolio, EFFERDENT and LUDEN’S, are market leaders in niche
categories, and all five represent meaningful growth opportunities.
Blacksmith Brands intends to invest significant advertising, promotion and
sales efforts behind the brand portfolio and also expects to launch new
items under the well-known trademarks.
Blacksmith is being created in partnership with industry veteran Peter
Mann, who will serve as Chairman and CEO, and with private equity
professional Dana Schmaltz, who will serve as CFO. With more than 35 years’
experience with consumer products, Mr. Mann was most recently CEO of
Prestige Brands. He and his senior team at Blacksmith have worked together
for more than 20 years, building numerous OTC brands. Mr. Schmaltz most
recently was President of J.W. Childs Equity Partners LP.
“With Blacksmith, we have the opportunity to build on the extraordinary
consumer awareness and trust of these market-leading brands, while also
growing them through dedicated support and innovation,” said Mr. Mann. “We
further believe that these five brands will be the foundation for a much
larger company that will ultimately include other significant
acquisitions.”
Mr. Schmaltz added, “We are delighted to have Charlesbank as a financial
sponsor and are confident that, with their support, we can create a truly
important OTC and personal care company.”
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Peter Mann, Dana Schmaltz and their
deeply experienced team,” said Andrew Janower, Managing Director at
Charlesbank. “With this talented group fully dedicated to these brands, we
look forward to building the company into a scale player focused on OTC
drugs and consumer products. We see great opportunity to grow the business
organically, as well as through the acquisitions of additional heritage
brands in need of revitalization.”
Sawaya Segalas & Co., LLC, a leading consumer investment banking firm,
acted as exclusive financial advisor to Blacksmith in connection with the
transaction. Debt capital for the transaction was provided by Ares Capital
Corporation, the lead arranger, along with Keybank Capital Markets and GE
Capital as co-lead arrangers.
About Charlesbank Capital Partners
Charlesbank Capital Partners, LLC is a middle-market private equity
investment firm managing more than $2 billion of capital
Pembina’s top 40 man
by admin on Oct.29, 2009, under Uncategorized
Alternatives Journal, Nov-Dec, 2009
Marlo water filter Raynolds, executive director of the Pembina Institute, is one of Canada’s “Top 40 Under 40.” Raynolds balances his Pembina efforts with his role as adjunct assistant professor of sustainable development at the University of Calgary. The award recognizes 40 young Canadians who have made outstanding achievements in their field.
Raynolds says that this recognition reflects how “important the Pembina Institute has become in helping all sectors–government, corporate, NGO–find practical solutions to the most challenging energy and environment issues of our time.”
DVD burners: Desktop and Portable.(Top Products)(Product/service evaluation)(Table)
by admin on Oct.28, 2009, under Uncategorized
The news that Nokia was suing Apple sony bdp-s560 for patent infringement of its wireless technology was, frankly, surprising. And then when it became clear that Nokia probably only wanted about $200 million total, or 1 to 2 percent royalties, it seemed completely insane, as that is almost petty cash to Apple. But then its easy to [...]
Atrion International and Microsoft Help Businesses Achieve Corporate Green
by admin on Oct.28, 2009, under Uncategorized
Market Wire, October, 2009
Today at Convergence 2009 Europe,
Atrion International announced that it is working together with Microsoft
to help businesses design and distribute greener and safer products (see Microsoft Reveals the Power of Dynamic Business at Convergence 2009
Europe ). Microsoft Dynamics AX and Atrion’s Product Compliance
Solution enable organizations to integrate product compliance into
their business processes so that they can comply with emerging global
regulatory requirements at all stages of the product life cycle and satisfy demands from customers and
supply chain partners for greater transparency.
Atrion’s Product Compliance Solution reduces the risks associated with
hazardous materials and ensures product compliance throughout the supply
chain in a constantly-changing regulatory environment. At the core of
Atrion’s Product Compliance Solution is Atrion’s trusted and up-to-date Managed
Regulatory Content that consists of data on over 300,000 chemical
substances, 15,000 regulatory phrases in over 44 languages, 7,500
proprietary rules, and 100 templates spanning 50 plus countries.
Catalyst legislations such as REACH , GHS and RoHS and customer demand are making
environmental responsibility an increasingly important factor in everything
from materials procurement to distribution. Noncompliance creates
substantial financial and safety risks that impact the entire supply chain,
including the inability to import and export, sell globally, and meet
customer demand. Product compliance is essential to profitable growth.
“At Microsoft, we are committed to technology innovation that helps
organizations around the world better manage their impact on the
environment,” said Mike Ehrenberg, distinguished engineer, Microsoft
Business Solutions. “We look forward to collaborating with Atrion to
satisfy our customers’ needs in the area of product compliance.”
“As a part of rent generator our continued commitment to environmental improvement and
providing sustainable cleaning solutions, we knew that we needed to
integrate product compliance into our product life cycle and supply chain
processes
California’s climate change program: lessons for the nation
by admin on Oct.28, 2009, under Uncategorized
UCLA Journal of Environmental Law & Policy, Winter, 2009 by Mary D. Nichols
I. INTRODUCTION
II. THE IMPERATIVE OF STATE CLIMATE ACTION
A. Exercise of a State's Police Powers to Protect
Public Health and Its Natural Resources
B. Exercise of the State's Policy Prerogative:
Laboratory of Democracy
C. Future National Climate Policy Framework: A
Federal-State-Local Partnership
III. CALIFORNIA'S MODEL OF POLICY DEVELOPMENT:
LEADERSHIP, CROSS-AGENCY ENGAGEMENT, AND
STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT
A. Consistent Leadership
B. Efforts by California's State Agency Climate
Action Team
C. Stakeholders: Local Governmental Agencies,
Industry, NGOs and Individuals
IV. MULTIPLE CHALLENGES, MULTIPLE TOOLS
A. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Climate
Change Executive Orders
B. California's Assembly Bill 32 Framework:
Markets and Mandates
C. California's Upcoming Development of a Cap-and-Trade
Program
V. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY EXAMPLE:
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
A. California's Passenger Vehicles Greenhouse Gas
Regulation: The Parley Standards
B. California's Low-Carbon Fuel Standard
C. Senate Bill 375: Land Use, Vehicle Miles
Traveled, and Greenhouse Gas Reductions
Through Incentives
VI. CALIFORNIA'S HARD-WON CLIMATE CHANGE
LESSONS FOR THE NATION
A. Demonstrate Clear and Determined
Leadership
B. Act Now
C. Set a Specific, Declining Emissions Cap
D. Engage Government and the Private Sector at
f80 treadmill All Levels and in All "Silos".
E. Federal Policy Must Engage the Effort of
Stakeholders and Citizens from Across the
Political and Economic Spectrum
I.
INTRODUCTION
Climate change is a real and urgent threat to our communities, our states and our nation. California, like many other states, is already experiencing its impacts. Over the past 100 years, the Golden State has seen a seven-inch rise in sea level, eroding our coastal communities and threatening critical infrastructure. (1) In the winter, more of our precipitation now falls as rain rather than snow, leading to less water availability in the critical spring and summer months–an impact that threatens one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world and a pillar of the nation’s export economy. (2) Climate change is also a major factor in California’s longer and more severe wildfire season–an impact dramatically illustrated in 2008 when over 1 million acres burned and air quality monitors were overwhelmed in efforts to measure record-breaking levels of particulate matter. And these effects are merely a preview.
It is predicted that without major efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, in this century California will see an additional one- to two-foot rise in sea levels, a doubling in the frequency of drought years, a 55 percent increase of large forest fires and a 75 percent loss in California’s snowpack, our state’s biggest natural reservoir. (3) These threats are mirrored around our nation and around the globe. I emphasize them to underscore my contention that the nation must follow California’s lead by taking swift, decisive and comprehensive action to address climate change.
Not only is climate change an urgent and dire threat, it is also a complex one. The combustion of fossil fuels is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, but by no means the only one. Sources as diverse as agriculture, forestry and industrial processes also contribute to climate change. Cutting emissions from these sources will require a multifaceted response that includes a variety of regulatory, market-based and voluntary actions undertaken at all levels of government, industry and society. And, like the diversity of sources that contribute to climate change, the opportunities to reduce emissions–and the economic opportunities to create new, clean technologies–vary between different industries, regions and individuals.
California has responded quickly and decisively to the threat of climate change with a comprehensive set of actions to cut emissions and transition our economy to one driven by clean, efficient and sustainable energy sources. Like the rest of the world, we have a long way to go, but we have already faced many of the difficult issues that the nation must face in developing a program that is both effective and cost-effective. While we don’t pretend to have all the answers for a federal climate policy, we do have many lessons to share. And indeed, many of the programs that California and its partners in other states have pioneered will remain critical tools in the constellation of policies we use to tackle this urgent threat.
In this article, I will describe the comprehensive approach that California is taking to address climate change
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