CITY COUNCIL IN FORT MCMURRAY WANTS ALL NEW OIL SANDS PROJECTS TO BE SLOWED DOWN

Citing intensity of growth and lack of adequate infrastructure, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) has gone to extraordinary lengths to slow development of the Athabasca oil sands. In a unanimous decision, the Regional Council voted to apply for intervener status on any and all new oil sands projects coming before Alberta’s Energy Utility Board (EUB).

In an exclusive interview on The Policy Channel, (www.policychannel.com) RMWB Mayor Melissa Blake says Fort McMurray is simply in no position to accommodate any new oil sands project development. “We need to get our house in order before we can proceed too much further with our support for these oil sands plants.” Blake says that, while economic development is important, the future of the community is what’s at stake. “No one on my council wants to stop development, but we do need to get ourselves in a position to welcome it. That means, having the housing, having the infrastructure, having your roads and transportation up to a standard that’s suitable for the population.”

Over the next ten years more than $125 Billion in oil sands projects are expected to take place in the RMWB and across Northern Alberta. The current phenomenal rate of development has led to a population boom in Fort McMurray. The result is: traffic congestion and road strain; inadequate housing; a skyrocketing cost of living; increases in drug use and related crimes; and stress upon schools, health care and other social services.

It is estimated at least $1.9 billion is needed to improve roads, water treatment facilities and other necessary city and local services. Blake says “the intensity of growth is putting pressure on us more than on other place in Alberta. This isn’t a cycle with an end in the near term.”

The RMWB is pushing for more money from the provincial government to help fix capital and social infrastructure needs and shortfalls, now in light of projections to triple oils sands production in the next decade. They hope intervention at the EUB level will ensure community concerns are reviewed and addressed before further development is approved.

To view the entire interview with Mayor Melissa Blake, go to the Policy Channel (www.policychannel.com).

Demystifying Islam in Canada

In the wake of recent terrorist threats on Canadian soil, understanding the truths and myths of the Islamic faith is more crucial than ever. Last week, 17 Canadians were arrested under Canada’s Anti-Terrorism Act, in connection with an alleged plot to bomb targets in Ontario. Each of the arrested men are believed to be Islamic fundamentalists who support al-Qaeda. But the actions of one small group should not be misunderstood to be representative of the Islamic faith as a whole. Islamic expert and scholar Buff Pary says Canadians must understand Islam is a peaceful, “global” religion. Pary is a professor of Geopolitics and Civilization History who serves as an advisor to Canada’s intelligence agencies. A practicing Muslim, he says Islam is not an innately violent religion and that any religion could have a small group of extremists that mar the name of the entire faith. “All religions have the capacity for terrorism.” In fact, rather than being violent, extremist and primitive, Pary says Islam is in fact peaceful, welcoming, and far ahead of its time and that it is the “most charitable religion, by definition, that there is.” Pary adds that most westerners do not understand the extent to which European civilization owes its development to Mid-eastern culture. Perhaps the most destructive assumption regarding Islam, adds Pary, is that aggressive, senseless violence is part of the religion. Pary says the word ’Jihad‘ is “sorrowfully misunderstood” in the West and has become synonymous with terrorism. Pary says that makes for a great sound-bite, but that the truth is a far different matter. “Jihad means ‘struggle’. All of life is a struggle. [It] has to do with rectifying injustice; how to defend yourself if attacked. There’s nothing in the Koran about how to launch a defensive army against the infidel.” Pary says we must be cautious to jump to conclusions without an understanding of Islamic culture and religion. “All that we get in the west is that which enforces the most negative of images…we must focus on what has gone wrong – how we are mutually assaulting each other as people of civilizations.” To view the PolicyChannel exclusive video interview with Buff Pary, please logon to http://www.policychannel.com or thewebvideo.com

East Africa's worst drought in years

East Africa's worst drought in years. Over 5 million people threatened with starvation. decades. Seasonal long rains failed this year and in the northern and eastern regions of the country 80% of the livestock has already died. Many of those affected are pastoralists who graze cattle and goats in the semi-desert scrub. In some parts some people are down to their last goat.
Ethiopia: Nearly 2 million people in Ethiopia’s drought-stricken Somali region and the Borena zone of Oromiya region urgently require food assistance, livestock support, access to safe drinking water and sanitation and health interventions. For further information, visit http://www.thewebvideo.com/.

Alberta Environment and oil sands exploitation

Conversation with Dr. Rich Schneider Director of Conservation, CPAWS. How Alberta environment copes with oil sands exploitation

American Backlash

Video Conversation with Michael Adams on his new book "American Backlash..."

Leadership in Politics

Leadership in Politics - The first video of this series discusses the criteria Albertans are looking for in would-be political parti leaders.

Global Environmental Changes

Conversation with Dr. Barry Smit on Global Environmental Changes -- Barry is a professor at the Department of Geography, University of Guelph. Climate change is "real" and well demonstrated. What are the implications for Alberta, Canada and globally?

The rise of Islam

Conversation with Buff Parry on the rise of Islam Buff is a scholar on geopolitics and civilization history of the world of Islam. In this conversation video, he presents compelling arguments for the rise of Islam today.

SPEAKING UP FOR OUR FORESTS: The Time is Now

The Alberta Forest Usage Survey
The Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA) is sponsoring an independent survey which will help the forest industry better understand public values, perceptions and priorities regarding the development and maintenance of the boreal forest.

Alberta’s forests are the birthright of the citizens of Alberta. The provincial government supervises the forest on our behalf and forest companies are the primary resource stewards in the forest management process.

But the decision as to how our forests should be developed, or even whether our forests should be developed, isn’t getting the kind of attention it deserves from the public. And it’s time to pay attention, because the demands and pressures on this natural resource are growing. When it comes to the forest we can no longer do everything, everywhere, all the time. Because of the growth of all types of industrial activity, including conventional oil and gas, oils sands, forestry and mining, citizens must consider the right balance between growth, conservation and preservation of the forest resource.

Right now, the free market is betting that by the 2040s, Alberta will produce 11 million barrels of oil a day from the Athabasca and Peace Country oil sands deposits. That’s about 10 times as much as Alberta produces today. What is the consequence of such intense development on the forested lands? Do we care? Who will speak for the forest, and ensure it exists for tomorrow’s Albertans? That’s a key question.

Forested lands support local communities, provide habitat for wildlife and are home to a diversity of flora and fauna. Humans rely on forests as a source of food, water and shelter. The forest also serves the spiritual, social and recreational needs of many Albertans. And then, just below the forest floor, lie the various forms of vital energy resources which have come to define much of Alberta’s identity and prosperity. The forest landscape is a complex, diverse, interrelated network of humanity, vegetation, animals, water, soil, air and minerals. We humans have not generally understood the inter-related reality of the forest as a renewable resource. Instead historical forest land use and related public policy has evolved in ways that have been largely uncoordinated.

Governments recognize the pressures being put on the land by the array of resource development taking place in Alberta. Alberta Energy’s Mineable Oil Sands Strategy, the initiative for an Integrated Land Management Strategy, and work done for the province by the Canada West Foundation on land use strategy development, are all evidence of growing policy consciousness about the way public land is managed and needs to be changed. Choices must be made, based on informed public engagement and input. Multi-user land management is simply not feasible if continues to be based on providing access to forest users who are allowed to act unchecked.

Priority will have to be given to certain uses in specific areas; in other areas, some uses will have to be identified as incompatible. We have already made this kind of decision where the mineable oil sands industry has been given a priority access to a large land base. Once it begins, oil sands open pit mining is the only activity that can effectively occur on the identified landscape. That does not mean there is no obligation for subsequent reclamation. The mineable oil sands industry has this obligation and is required to reclaim the land to some other useful purpose, after the mining operation is completed. That useful purpose may well be forestry related.

The sort of trade off required is better understood in communities closest to the forest, and especially those communities which benefit economically from both forest and energy activities. Yet this awareness is not necessarily true of the larger Albertan public..
Four out of five Albertans now live in urban areas and this majority does not necessarily understand the complexity of the forest or its importance to their daily lives. Nor is this majority particularly aware of their birthright “ownership” of the forest and the role each and every one of us can play in developing, managing, preserving and conserving the forest resource.

So there is a special responsibility upon those Albertans who are closest to the forest, Albertans in communities such as yours, to speak up on the future of our forest heritage. Until November 30th you have the opportunity to take part in the Alberta Forest Usage Survey, an initiative of the Alberta Forest Products Association. Your participation will help the forest industry better understand Albertans values and priorities in relation to the forest. To participate, please log on to www.yourforest.org. It’s your forest, and it is your voice.

Presented by TheWebVideo.com

technorati

Technorati Profile

Chips to be rationed on school menus

DOZENS of fatty foods, fizzy drinks and puddings are to be banned from school menus by the government in an effort to tackle obesity.
Burgers, chicken nuggets and turkey shapes with more than 10% fat will be on a “blacklist” that aims to transform the eating habits of schoolchildren.
There will also be restrictions on chips, sticky puddings and ice cream. They will only be served once a week instead of three or four times as in many schools at present.
The cafeteria-style system currently used in many secondary schools will be phased out because it allows children to “pick and mix” to avoid healthy foods.
Schools will instead be required to provide complete menus, ensuring pupils receive a more balanced diet. So a typical secondary school lunch might include beef curry, brown rice and lentil dahl, followed by fruit salad and crème fraîche, washed down with milk.
Ruth Kelly, the education secretary, will announce the new nutritional standards at the Labour party conference later this month. They will be phased in this year and become compulsory by next autumn.
The guidelines have been agreed by the School Meals Review Panel set up by Kelly in response to a campaign by Jamie Oliver, the celebrity chef.
His television series, Jamie’s School Dinners, broadcast earlier this year, found that some local authorities were spending only 37p per child for lunch. He devised nutritious meals using a similar budget, replacing what he referred to as “crap” food. Under popular pressure, the government said it would give an extra £220m directly to schools from this autumn so that an average 50p will be spent on ingredients for each meal in primary schools and 60p in secondaries.
MORE...

Fifty thousand half naked virgins parade in front of king

Legions of half-naked teenage girls danced outside the royal kraal proclaiming their willingness to become the 13th wife of the last absolute monarch in sub-Saharan Africa.

Yet, in country where 42.6 percent of the adult population is infected with HIV or AIds, the highest rate in the world, critics accuse the king of setting a bad example.
Last year, the 37 year old moniarch spent $18.3 million constructing eight new palaces for his wives. MORE...

No Respite in Africa

The people of Darfur, Sudan, are still suffering. While the genocide there has been sustained, international attention has been episodic. A few apparently positive developments may cause that attention to become even less consistent. The 7,700 African Union monitors expected to be in place by this fall will not be enough to protect 2 million Darfurian refugees. A robust, sustained international presence is needed as well. By Jerry Fowler and John Heffernan - Washington Post, 8/25/2005 MORE…

One in every six children aged 5 to 17 worldwide is exploited by child labour

One in every six children aged 5 to 17 worldwide is exploited by child labour
in its different forms, according to estimates made by the ILO in 2002.
Many of these children are forced to risk their health and their lives and
mortgage their future as productive adults.
More information has raised awareness of the scale of the problem and
given new urgency to developing and financing policies and programmes
to remove children from work situations. More knowledge has also provoked
new questions about the cost of removing children from work, providing
them with education and ensuring them a decent childhood. At the
same time, policymakers are also enquiring to what extent the effective
abolition of child labour will pay off for national development and poverty
reduction, and how children and their families stand to gain.
MORE...

In Niger 32,000 children are suffering from severe under-nutrition

Niger: UNICEF rushes to distribute French-donated live-saving supplies
1 August 2005 – As the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) moves quickly to expand its emergency response to the food shortage crisis in Niger, the French Government has donated to the agency some 1.7 tons of essential drugs and other life-saving supplies to help save tens of thousands of children and their families facing starvation.
According to UNICEF, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Philippe Douste-Blazy, arrived in Niamey, Niger over the weekend accompanying an air-lift, which included antibiotics, anti-malarials and de-worming tablets, as well as special oral re-hydration salts for the treatment of diarrhoea in severely malnourished children.
The French government also airlifted another 35.4 tons of therapeutic milk, therapeutic food and oral re-hydration salts to Niamey. All of these life-saving supplies were donated to UNICEF Niger, along with 2.6 tons of locally-purchased therapeutic food. These essential supplies will be used immediately to help save the lives of vulnerable children affected by the food crisis in Niger.
UNICEF estimates that 160,000 children in Niger are suffering from moderate under-nutrition and another 32,000 children are suffering from severe under-nutrition.
MORE...

Children in Niger are starving to death

In Niger, 10-15 children are starving to death each week. Almost one-third of the country's population has been hit by this catastrophe. In May we sought $16 million to respond to this emergency. Today that figure has risen to just over $30 million. If we do not act soon to help Niger, the numbers of lives lost in a truly preventable crisis will continue to rise. Niger has today become one of the most extreme examples of a neglected emergency, joining the Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Uganda, the Republic of Congo and Somalia. We must act now to end the tyranny of apathy. Every delay increases the human, as well as the financial, costs of this emergency."
Jan EgelandUnder-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairsand Emergency Relief Coordinator

3000 children under five years old die of malaria every day

Globally, around 40% of the population is at risk of malaria. In sub-Saharan Africa, where the problem is greatest, 3000 children under five years old die of malaria every day.Malaria fact file: Senegal

- Total population (2003): 10 095 000*- Reported malaria cases (2000): 1 120 094- Reported malaria deaths (2000): 1337- Malaria parasite species: mainly Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly- Malaria transmission: country-wide. A major concern is the number of malaria deaths in young children. Source: Malaria country profile [pdf 484kb]*Source: The world health report 2005

High tech offers hope to the elderly

By Tan VinhSeattle Times staff reporter
By the end of the decade, Global Positioning System technology may allow Alzheimer's patients to travel alone, and house sensors that give verbal warnings to older persons may be as common as light switches.
Even the routine task of walking may tell doctors whether cognitive skills are deteriorating.
With the pending new computer technology and gadgets, many older persons may avoid nursing homes and live independently or with a little assistance in the near future, many scholars said yesterday.
"There will be significant changes in five years," said Henry Kautz, UW professor of computer science and engineering. "We can't put everybody in nursing homes. There will be more and more of a trend to leave people in their own homes and [in] assisted-living homes."
Technology will play a big role in providing safety and independence for seniors, Kautz said.
Kautz is working on a cellphone with GPS reading that can guide users home if they get lost or ride the wrong bus. MORE...

Consumers Are Anxious, Investors Are Confident This Month

Consumers Are Anxious, Investors Are Confident This Month
According to the overview of the BIGresearch Consumer Intentions & Actions Survey in early in mid-July, consumers are anxious and conservative. In summary, their major findings are:

• Consumer confidence drops 2 points from June
• Practicality among consumers rises just slightly in July
• Consumers fearing a rise in layoffs over the next six months
• Shoppers continue to tell their retailers (and gas station attendants) to charge it
• Price-conscious consumers continue to head to Wal-Mart for Women's and Men's Clothing Shoes, shoes, and more shoes
• Six month purchase intentions down in July for most big-ticket items
• Batman is back

Some of the significant analysis includes these observations:
With rising gas prices and the recent London terror bombings on minds, consumer confidence drops to 43.7%. As can be expected, worry over political and national security issues increases two points to 18.0% in July, which ends a two month decline...still lower than one year ago (24.3%), says the report. MORE...

First published by http://www.bigresearch.com/

Is a Shift to E-Medical Records Imminent?

Published: July 25, 2005. Although privacy concerns are still an issue, a new survey finds that many consumers are coming around to the idea of electronic medical records.

In January, President Bush called on doctors and hospitals to move their medical records from paper to electronic files, a change he said would improve medical care while significantly reducing the nation's spiraling health care bill. Quoting health experts, he said that shifting to e-medical records could reduce medical costs as much as 20% and save lives.

In fact, in his 2004 State of the Union address, President Bush challenged the nation to completely eliminate paper medical records within 10 years.

Political rhetoric notwithstanding, it has long been held by many authorities in the medical industry that migrating to e-medical records — essentially making patients' medical histories available online — would be impossible due the overwhelming privacy concerns of health care consumers. But a Medical Internet, which would allow the confidential transmission of patient records instantly between health care facilities and doctors' offices, may not be as fantastical as once thought.

Consumers seem to be changing their minds.
In a survey of more than 500 US health care consumers, conducted by Accenture, a majority of consumers now believe that e-medical records can provide valuable benefits — especially during medical emergencies — and improve overall medical care.

"Our research indicates that consumers have become aware of the potential benefits of electronic medical records, and we believe this shift creates opportunities for health providers and health plans to take steps toward implementing electronic medical record systems," said Lewis Redd, a partner in Accenture's Health & Life Sciences practice. "This awareness is relatively new, and we see the potential for an environment where consumers will begin to exert more influence over the speed at which these systems are adopted across the health care arena."

In a reversal of prior attitudes, the survey found that privacy and cost issues related to electronic medical records are not as great of a concern to consumers as previously thought. Surprisingly, while 54% of the respondents said they were concerned about the privacy and security of their paper records, about the same number (55%) said they believe that electronic records are more secure than paper. In addition, more than half (52%) of survey respondents said they would be willing to pay at least $5 per month to have their medical records stored in an electronic format.

In addition, the survey found that:
93% believe e-medical records would improve the quality of care
92% believe e-medical records would reduce the number of treatment errors in hospitals
75% believe e-medical records would lower health care costs overall
78% believe e-medical records would reduce the amount of time patients spend waiting in doctors' offices and emergency rooms

If corroborated, these figures represent a significant shift in attitudes, and they may signal the beginning of a nationwide move toward e-medical recordkeeping.
For more information on this subject, read eMarketer's report, US Physicians: Technology and Trends.

Report Finds Wired Hospitals Are Safer

Hospitals that have invested significantly in health information technology have lower mortality rates than other hospitals.
"There are three key differences in how hospitals apply and use information technology to improve care," said Alden Solovy, executive editor of Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association. "The 'Most Wired' use a wider array of IT tools to address quality and safety, they have a significantly larger percentage of physicians who enter orders themselves and they conduct a larger percentage of clinical activities via information technology."
And they are safer environments for patients. According to Hospitals & Health Networks' annual "100 Most Wired" survey, the top wired hospitals have, on average, risk-adjusted mortality rates that are 7.2% lower than other hospitals. MORE... or visit US Physicians: Technology and Trends

Supreme Court In Canada Rules Private Health Care a Basic Human Right

In a victory for consumers north of the border, the Supreme Court in Canada recently struck down a Quebec law that prohibited the sale of private health insurance and medical services. This decision is expected to have nationwide implications for Canada, which has long held to a publicly financed national health care system.

Projected Winner

July 6, 2005—If Hollywood fails to reverse its box-office slump, the Optoma MovieTime DV10 should bear some of the blame (or is it credit?). Not only can the DVD player-projector turn your living room into a screening room for $1,500, it's the first to handle the 16-to-9 widescreen format. As for sound, the device's 5-watt speakers are passable, but its optical audio output enables you to hook up the Dolby 5.1 surround system of your choice. What to project onto? Displays cost around $200, but also consider Screen Goo, a highly reflective acrylic paint that turns any flat, stiff surface into a movie screen—as big as you want, provided you've got the wall space. For a 60-inch picture, place the DV10 six feet back; move the unit 30 feet away, and you've got a whopping 25 feet of flick. MORE...

New Blogs Today

We have entered new blogs today on the following topics:
Health
Alberta
Politics
Travel
Cooking

Consumer Guide

Consumer protection remains an important part of the federal, provincial and territorial governments' agenda. In a spirit of cooperation and to improve efficiency on the consumer front, the Consumer Measures Committee (CMC) was created under Chapter Eight of the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT).
The Consumer Measures Committee has a representative from the federal government as well as every province and territory. The CMC provides a federal-provincial-territorial forum for national cooperation to improve the marketplace for Canadian consumers, through harmonization of laws, regulations and practices and through actions to raise public awareness.
The AIT identifies three consumer areas requiring the committee's attention:
§ direct selling;
§ cost of credit disclosure; and
§ upholstered and stuffed articles measures.
The Agreement also encourages the harmonization of consumer standards in other areas. The CMC has been given the responsibility to identify any substantive measures to be included in future negotiations and to act as a forum for discussions among governments on consumer related issues. MORE…

One of the world’s foremost heart institutes is being built

In this video interview, Dr. Dennis Modry, a leading cardiologist and heart transplant specialist, discusses the unique concept of the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute.
Edmonton, Canada - In 1985, Dr. Modry implemented Western Canada's first heart and lung transplantation program. Today, the Capital Health Authority’s Heart and Lung Transplantation Program is the largest and most successful in Canada, and one of the largest in North America. The success of the Heart and Lung Transplant Program set the stage for the implementation of the very successful Liver Transplantation Program, which facilitated the subsequent development of the renowned Islet Cell Transplant Program known as the Edmonton Protocol.

The longest survivors of the cardiac transplant program have received their new heart almost 20 years ago. “We’ve transplanted individuals from 12 hours of age to 79 years of age, including the oldest person in the world to have had a transplant. So, I think we have a record at both ends of the age spectrum … the youngest and the oldest” says Modry. He expects that as the Alberta Heart Institute’s reputation grows and its outcomes become better known, even more people will come to the Institute.

The Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute is a new centre of cardiac excellence dedicated to cardiology, cardiac surgery, transplants, diagnostic testing, research and education. The Alberta Heart Institute’s location is uniquely positioned to draw upon the interdisciplinary specialities of the Stollery Children Hospital, the University of Alberta Hospital, and a the new Alberta Cardiovascular Stroke Research Centre (ABACUS). The ABACUS will open later this year, leading to the opening of the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute in 2007. The Alberta Heart Institute will serve the Edmonton region, Alberta, Western Canada, the Canadian North and many other regions as it is being built with an excess capacity in mind.

With $156 million from the Alberta government and more than $35 million in private donations raised through a capital campaign, the Institute will cut waiting lists for heart treatment and ensure access to leading edge technology. Dr. Modry emphasizes that this will eventually lead to new research discoveries and will take us into the tomorrow.

The Institute has a major focus on prevention of heart diseases and the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. “We believe that this concept will make the most dynamic heart institute in the world because we will be able to transfer our research in prevention, in diagnostic and in therapeutic immediately to clinical care” says Dr. Modry. “This will benefit patients as they will be exposed not only to leading edge and state of the art technologies, but will receive high degree of interdisciplinary clinical care.”

Dr. Modry suggests that pretty much everything can be transplanted, except “we’re not there with respect to brain, teeth, whole eyes… but specifically, skin, bones, joints and limbs could be and have been transplanted, even faces. Organs such as lungs, hearts, kidneys, liver, intestine, heart valves and many other organs can be transplanted. We’re pretty much recyclable.”

The mapping of the human genome has engendered a whole new field of research focused toward gene therapy and rebuilding hearts. Dr. Modry believes that at some point, we won’t need to place mechanical devices in the heart as or even doing heart transplant in the future … “maybe it’s just going to be a matter of gene therapy”.

It’s exciting to contemplate how this institute will no just foster research, education and clinical care, but will also be an economic engine for the region. It will attract a high degree of skills and employment, and as it has been build for excess capacity, the institute will be able to provide care for patients from Canada and other areas of the world.

"It's a team work building on the success of the Capital Health and the University of Alberta's cardiac programs” says Dr. Modry.

- 30 -
Media enquiries may be directed to:
Julien Lambert
MyHealthVideo.com
Ph: 780-498-6306
julien@thewebvideo.com

AGREEMENT BETWEEN SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT AND LTTE ON RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

CANADA WELCOMES AGREEMENT BETWEEN SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT AND LTTE ON RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and International Cooperation Minister Aileen Carroll today welcomed the signing of the Post-Tsunami Operations Management Structure. This joint agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will serve to facilitate the identification, approval and monitoring of reconstruction projects in selected districts of Sri Lanka’s north and east.
“We recognize the considerable challenges that the Government of Sri Lanka has faced in going ahead with this agreement and commend President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga for taking this bold step,” said Minister Pettigrew. “We also commend both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE for agreeing to include equitable Muslim representation in the management of the structure. Canada hopes that, with the goodwill of all parties, an effective structure will foster an environment conducive to reinvigorating the stalled peace process.”
MORE... http://www.theworldtv.com http://www.thewebvideo.com

CANADA MARKS UN INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE

CANADA MARKS UN INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today expressed Canada’s support for the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Each year, on June 26, the date in 1987 that the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment entered into force, thousands of people from around the world speak out against torture.
MORE... http://www.theworldtv.com http://www.thewebvideo.com

CANADA'S POSITION ON INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRAQ

STATEMENT BY MINISTER PETTIGREW ON INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRAQ
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today issued the following statement on the International Conference on Iraq:
“I am pleased that Canada is participating in this important international discussion on Iraq. The participation of so many countries testifies to the broad desire to support a democratic, prosperous and stable Iraq. At today’s conference, Canada speaks both as a strong supporter of Iraq’s reconstruction and democratic transition, and as Chair of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq.
“This conference occurs at a critical juncture. A new, democratically elected government has taken up its duties and a permanent constitution is to be drafted and put to the people for their assent.
“Iraqis have already demonstrated an impressive commitment to a democratic future. Their courage and resolve needs to be sustained as they take on the challenge of drafting a constitution. We expect Iraqis to be guided by the principles of respect, reconciliation and compromise in the weeks ahead, and we welcome the recent agreement to reinforce the participation of Sunni Arabs in the constitutional process. We pledge our support to help build the capacities and institutions that will help Iraqis to sustain their democracy. Canada has already committed $300 million to Iraqi reconstruction efforts, supporting programming to train Iraqi police, to develop Iraqi electoral capacities and to strengthen human rights. We are now exploring how we might provide technical expertise to support the constitutional process.
“The democratically elected parliament and representative government deserve support and recognition. To this end, we are working actively to enhance our bilateral relations with Iraq. We are committed to deepening our engagement with the new Iraq, and are moving to re-open our embassy in Baghdad as quickly as possible, security permitting.
“As important as each donor country’s bilateral efforts are, we can multiply our impact by working together more effectively. Central to Canada’s engagement in Iraq is the belief that the multilateral system offers an excellent channel for reconstruction funding. Our actions reflect this conviction. Early on, we committed $100 million—one third of our total contribution—to the support of the multilateral trust funds, the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq, in order to make the multilateral effort in Iraq more effective.
“Earlier this year, Canada assumed the role of Chair of the Donor Committee overseeing the multilateral trust funds. We bring a number of important goals to this task, and we are pleased to see many of these priorities reflected in the statement endorsed by participants at this conference.
“As Chair, we want to build on the work done by the UN, the World Bank and our predecessor, Japan. Now that Iraq has a sovereign and representative government, which is soon to be underpinned by a permanent constitution, we want to enhance Iraqi ownership of the reconstruction process. We need to move toward a model where reconstruction efforts are centred in Iraq, led by Iraqis, and based on clearly articulated, country-wide Iraqi priorities.
“We want to strengthen donor coordination and demonstrate accountability for the multilateral effort both to the Iraqis and also to the donor community. We also hope to mobilize more support from the donor community for Iraq’s reconstruction through the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq.
“I hope that we can build on the success of today’s discussion next month in Amman, Jordan, at the Donor Committee meeting. This meeting will provide a valuable opportunity to move the reconstruction agenda forward, and to capitalize on the momentum we have generated today.
“At this meeting, we want to show that progress has been made. We will receive reports from the UN and World Bank and we will discuss the review of operations by the UN. We also want to address concerns about the pace of implementation through an examination of lessons learned from both bilateral and multilateral channels. Understanding what has worked and what can be improved upon will help us to better address the pressing needs of Iraqis and the priorities set by the Iraqi government.
“We have confidence that these discussions will show that the trust funds are working and deserve the confidence of donors.
“Canada is strongly committed to a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Iraq, one that is responsible to both its citizens and its neighbours. We reflect this conviction through our engagement with Iraqis, through our bilateral reconstruction program, and through our support for multilateral efforts.”
http://www.thewebvideo.com/
http://www.policychannel.com/
http://www.international.gc.ca

Report on gambling in Canada

Canada West Foundation to release report on gambling in Canada
CALGARY, June 20, 2005 - Gambling has exploded in Canada. There are now 87,000 gambling machines, 33,000 lottery ticket centres, 60 permanent casinos, 250 race tracks and teletheatres and 25,000 licenses to run various bingo, temporary casinos, raffles, pull tickets and and other activities.
Gambling in Canada: Statistics and Context, to be released on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 at 9 a.m. MST, represents the Canada West Foundation's third significant effort to introduce some clarity and understanding of the issues which the growth of gambling are having on our society.
While the role of gambling in filling provincial coffers is well-documented, the societal costs of raising revenue from gambling remains largely unknown. Gambling's human impact on family stress, financial well-being, lost work productivity and addiction are only just starting to be measured and tracked.
It is against this backdrop that Gambling in Canada is being released. Using statistics for the 2003-2004 fiscal year and historical trend analysis, the main gambling policy issues are given a numerical context.
The report will be available for download at www.cwf.ca at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 21, 2005.
Sincerely,
Gary SlywchukCommunications OfficerEmail: slywchuk@cwf.ca
Canada West Foundation

WebMysteryShoppers.com delivers objective actionable insights to companies about their Web site.

"I hate to shop! That's why I was so excited when the Web promised to make shopping malls and stores something I could avoid forever. But soon my eagerness turned to disappointment," says Tema. "for instance, some sites froze as I tried to move from one part of the online store to another; on another site, I wanted to make a purchase, but there would be no information about the shipping costs."
Tema Frank, the founder and president of Web Mystery Shoppers, has long been keen to push the user-friendliness of the Internet. Not a techie by nature, what excites her is the Internet's potential to make life easier. Now she's helping business clients turn that potential into a reality, for themselves and their customers.
http://www.albertashow.com

The Alberta Heart Institute brings the most advanced prevention and therapeutic options available in health care today.

This centre of excellence will become one of North America's leading heart institutes, and will play a prominent role in the prevention and treatment of heart. The institute, developed by Capital Health and the University of Alberta, will bring together world-class cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, cardiac care professionals, researchers, educators and the most advanced therapeutic options available in health care today. MORE at http://www.thewebvideo.com/

New Music Videos

Roots Manuva
Asked to explain the title of his new record he offers that “it’s me and my fascination with the deeper, darker sonic resonance and sentiments. Dark shapes and sonic pictures. I’m just an awfully deep kind of guy.”

Diplo Rhythm Featuring Sandra Melody
Ever since it made a very limited appearance on white label in the UK, Diplo's signature rhythm has been causing a stir. Indescribable and irresistable, the rhythm left people scratching their heads while they danced, the added attack of Sandra Melody and her "Newsflash" turning it into an underground anthem on London dancefloors. Now it's time to unleash the beast and let it breath.

Herbalizer
It’s not every day that you come across a duo like Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba. They’ve been working together for over a decade and continue to progress and improve, to excel in the competitive world of hip hop production and beyond.
MORE... http://www.thewebvideo.com

High Gas Prices Affect Consumer Spending

Consumers continue to alter their spending to compensate for high numbers at the pump. According to the NRF 2005 Gas Prices Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey survey:
68.5 million people (31.2% of consumers) have decreased vacation or travel plans
25.2% have been dining out less frequently
23.7% spending less on clothing
17.3% spending less on groceries
More... http://www.thewebvideo.com

Help for high heel hell

New for spring/summer 2005, Airplus for her(TM) - clear insoles designed for the sexiest of stilettos and skimpiest of sandals. Airplus for her is available in Canada at London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmaprix, and Wal-Mart as well as leading drug and discount stores nationwide. Prices range from $5 - $15.
Insoles, a product that once fostered visions of old men in tube socks mowing their lawns, now have women taking a collective sigh of foot pain relief. Airplus Footcare, one of the leading footcare accessory manufacturers, is launching Airplus for her products in Canada - proving fashion and function don't have to be mutually exclusive. Airplus for her are clear insoles designed especially for women's shoes. Narrower and thinner than regular insoles, Airplus for her take the pain out of wearing high heels, sandals and boots. And most importantly they are clear, so you won't have inserts hanging out and you can still see the ever-important shoe label through them (you paid a lot, so show off those shoes). MORE...
http://press.arrivenet.com/pro/article.php/645815.html

Improving Environmental Performance Through Voluntary Measures

Improving Environmental Performance Through Voluntary Measures
by karen wilkie
Policy Analyst
Environmental public policy is moving away from its traditional focus on government regulation toward a more diverse set of approaches. This shift stems from growing resistance to command-and-control regulation as well as growing demand for alternatives that stimulate innovation, add flexibility, increase cost-effectiveness, and provide incentives for going beyond minimum levels of environmental performance. More at http://www.policychannel.com

Unveiling Carbon Nanotube Technology to Hockey World

EASTON Chalks Up Another First By Unveiling Carbon Nanotube Technology to Hockey World -- Exclusive Molecular Composite Stick Technology Launched with new Synergy SL
VAN NUYS, Calif., - Easton Hockey, the industry leader in manufacturing technologically advanced hockey equipment, has raised its game with the introduction of Zyvex’s NanoSolve™ carbon nanotube technology. The revolutionary new composite stick technology increases strength while reducing weight. Using a new manufacturing process that incorporates the strongest and most flexible molecular material ever, Easton is taking hockey equipment to yet another level, according to the vice president of Easton Hockey, Ned Goldsmith. MORE at http://www.thewebvideo.com

Canada Japan

May 27, 2005 Canada Japan -- Canada and Japan to sign memorandum of understanding on investment cooperation

Weight Loss for beginners

Getting into a weight loss program or any type of dieting is intimidating for a beginner. Better health is something that we should all work towards, and be bold about. With the right preparation and attitude we can all get into and achieve success in Weight Loss. Provided below are some tips that can help you get into Weight Loss, and help you progress along the way.

Seek Advice - When first starting out there is no sense trying to learn everything for yourself! Take some time to talk to others who are more experienced, and learn what you can from them. It can take time to really work out what works for your body, and your lifestyle, and by talking to others you can save a lot of the time in experimenting, and see the results you want, faster

Exercise - When getting into a weight loss plan, make sure you are after one that is interested in the general well being of your body, rather than one that will just pull the pounds off the fastest. Understand that someone who is a bit overweight can be a lot more physically healthy than someone who is lean. I strongly believe that any good Weight Loss program should have an exercise program to go along with it. This will help promote a healthier lifestyle, increase the speed of your progress, give you a strong heart and lungs, and will make you feel mentally fresh, and full of energy.

Diet - Just as important as exercising throughout a weight loss program you need to make sure to find a diet that will work for your lifestyle and your goals. Be reasonable, and be persistent. One of the biggest flaws in diet programs, is that users will follow them for 5 out of 7 days of a week, and on the other 2 binge on foods that work negatively towards the progress of the whole program. Be mentally strong and take the steps necessary to make this as easy as possible. It can be simple things like not buying junk foods, and staying out of Coffee/Donut shops that can make all the difference.

Set Goals - Set goals that are attainable. Out of reach goals only set yourself up for failure. Take it one step at a time, and enjoy/celebrate your success all the way up the ladder. Whether it’s taking it pounds at a time or making sure you stick to your diet and exercise program 100% of the time, you need to set goals! Life gets busy and without goals and marks to work towards it’s easy to lose focus, and fall off.

Visualize Success - It’s important to see yourself succeeding before begin any program. This winning mind will set yourself up for success and help you stay positive and motivated throughout your entire program!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ryan Fyfe is the owner and operator of Weight Loss Area. Which is a great web directory and information center for Weight Loss and related topics like Dieting and exercise.
Link to more videos: http://www.myhealthvideo.com

Alberta Economic Development Minister sells investing in Alberta to Texans

Dunford sells investing in Alberta to Texans
Edmonton... Alberta's oil industry, its capacity, production, attractive investment opportunities and the province's ability to excel at adapting its technologies for extreme environments will be on display as Alberta's Economic Development Minister Clint Dunford joins a mission to Texas and Colorado May 2-6.

No more health privatization on the radar

No more health privatization on the radar -- Health Minister Evans says $1.3-million symposium failed to produce any interesting new ideas... MORE

TSN SPORT Headline NEWS

NEW feature.
Check TheWebVideo's TSN SPORTS Headline NEWS updated every hour.

World Expo in Edmonton?

2015 World Expo in Edmonton?
Councillor Mike Nickel and groups of business people are examining the idea of applying for the 2015 World Expo in Edmonton, Alberta.
In this video interview, Councillor Nickel explains the reasons for attracting this world class event. He also presents his innovative ideas on the role and financial power of cities.... More..

Online Hotel Customers Getting More Demanding

Online Hotel Customers Getting More Demanding
April 19, 2005, Edmonton, AB -- Hotel and online travel agency sites have improved since 2003, but customer expectations are rising even faster. A recent study by Web Mystery Shoppers International Inc. of 23 hotel and travel agency web sites saw a significant drop in the number of shoppers who were willing to continue beyond the sites’ home pages (from 93% in 2003 to 89%). There were also fewer respondents willing to recommend the sites they visited to friends (down from 4.32 out of 5.0 in 2003 to 4.10). MORE...

GOVERNMENTS TO INVEST MORE THAN $120 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE

GOVERNMENTS TO INVEST MORE THAN $120 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IN ISLAND COMMUNITIESSLEMON PARK, Prince Edward Island – April 27, 2005 – Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Joe McGuire, and Shawn Murphy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, together with Premier Pat Binns and Elmer MacFadyen, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs, today announced a five-year infrastructure governance framework that will ensure a focused approach to the management of three infrastructure funds on Prince Edward Island. As well, the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) agreement was signed concurrently as the first concrete action of this enhanced management approach.

Filling the skills shortage in Calgary

Skill shortages are becoming a chronic problem in Canada.
To address the situation in Calgary, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce joined other leading-edge organizations to form The Talent Pool Development Society of Calgary.
The Talent Pool Project began ..MORE at http://www.policychannel.com

early-booking deal from Gate1Travel

http://www.thewebvideo.com presents ShermansTravel BULLETIN: An outstanding offer from Gate1Travel
RELEASED -- Thursday, April 21, 2005 -- We've found a stellar early-booking deal from Gate1Travel that will have you spending six days in two popular Italian cities this winter from a super-low $599 -- so long as you book by May 6.
Gate1Travel's "Two Italian Cities for Less" offer is by far the best deal we've seen to Italy for this time period. For this bargain price, you'll not only get airfare, but also your hotel stays, train tickets, daily breakfast, and more -- all for what you'd usually pay just to fly to Italy.
What's more, the available city combos feature Italy's best cities: choose to visit Rome and Venice; Florence and Rome; or Venice and Florence and you'll get two nights in the first city and three in the second, all in comfortable, centrally-located three-star hotels that far exceed our expectations at this price point. You'll also get daily breakfast. No matter which package you choose, you'll get the following from $599: More at http://nl.shermanstravel.com/ck/?s=1&c=128&u=442092&t=4254

TV commercials online, on demand

TV commercials online, on demand -- TheWebVideo Ltd, of Edmonton, is evolving brand advertising on the Web. After eight months of tests, it went live in July with nine online TV-on-Demand channels covering such topics as health, travel and politics. A program set to air this week will invite visitors to the political channel to rate politicians and write reviews about them.
Surfers find the site thewebvideo.com through search engines when looking for information on a topic such as back pain. TheWebVideo, which counts six Alberta provincial government departments, Nashville record labels and the Alberta Association of Chiropractors among its clients, might show a video on back pain, how chiropractors work and tips on how to find a good chiropractor, then the viewer can click on a link to the AAC's site. Or, if the client wishes, the viewer can be automatically sent to its site when the video is finished.

The service is a step forward for brand advertising on the Net, says producer Julien Lambert. Advertisers can reach consumers who have demonstrated interest in a given product or service, thereby putting the focus not on the product but on the consumer who has sought out the information videos about brands, products and companies. TheWebVideo integrates branding video-on-demand with the creation, promotion, delivery and reporting on of rich media video campaigns. There is no fee, no downloads necessary and no pop-ups. Reporting metrics include video plays, date, time, IP address and intercept survey data. About 50,000 to 100,000 video pages are viewed each month, with 50% of the audience being 16- to 49-year-old influencers.
MORE at http://www.thewebvideo.com

Skills shortage: West facing limits to growth

April 19, 2005 Skills shortage: West facing limits to growth: part of the Building the New West Project by todd hirsch, chief economist
A business owner in Alberta I've talked to sees it all the time. His employees, sitting outside on their lunch breaks at the construction site, are regularly approached by poachers from other companies. They say to these young workers: "Bring us your pay stubs -- we'll match that, plus give you a signing bonus." More...

Meeting the challenges of growing urban areas

Meeting the challenges of growing urban areas: Around the world, a new consensus is emerging that national and regional governments should not retain direct control over the planning and management of urban areas. Instead, national governments should act as enablers, creating legislative and administrative environments in which a wide range of local governments, private-sector firms and community organizations can deliver infrastructure and services to urban areas. Decentralizing power, authority and responsibility from national to local governments can enhance local participation and encourage democratic practices. More...

Air India bombing trial

March 27,2005 OpEd for Edmonton Journal on Air IndiaBy Gurcharan Bhatia and Satya Das
The unresolved search for guilt in the worst mass murder in our country's history leaves uncomfortable questions that affect us all, questions that may be illuminated if not fully addressed in the context of a public inquiry.
The Air India bombing trial told us that our peaceable Canada was unable to gauge the potential for evil within our midst, and to confront that evil with the full powers and instruments at our disposal.
It is necessary to recall the evil that was done -329 people killed on one aircraft, and a similar number of lives spared on another only because it landed first in Japan before its bomb exploded, killing two baggage handlers.
As Canadians who reject hyphenation, labels, or other means of framing us in a stereotype, we are dismayed by the response of some members of the media that this is an "Indo-Canadian community" issue, pitting victims' families against the Canadian state. More...
This sort of division and isolation is antithetical to who we are as Canadians, and the Canadian values to which we all adhere. This is not about one "community," it is about the Canadian community - why and where we failed, and what lessons we can draw from that failure. It is easy and convenient for media to label most of the victims with an ethnic pigeonhole - as though the "Indo-Canadian" label is somehow a dilution of who and what we are as Canadians, as though this label alone is enough to divide and separate us from "unhyphenated" Canadians who don't have such terrible things as mass murder in "their" community. This is tragic, short-sighted and wrong. And it is absolutely no justification for the delusion that this is an ethnically-limited problem to be swept under the rug, or to think that it is simply a question of the families "moving on" or "finding closure" or any of the other means of arguing that we should look the other way while evil prevails, unpunished and unconfronted.
Indeed, an inquiry may shed light on troubling and persistent question:
" After the attack on holiest temple of Sikhs in Amritsar by the Indian Government in 1984, and the subsequent murder of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, was there any sort of criminal conspiracy in Canada to plot retaliatory measures? What credibility did Canadian authorities give to warnings from the High Commissioner of India of threats to Air India planes? Did Canadian authorities take any steps to stop possible terrorist attacks?
" With tensions within the Canadian Sikh community and among Canadian Sikhs and Hindus -- threats of violence were evident in Vancouver, Toronto and many other cities -- did the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service respond appropriately and adequately? Did they have the means, the resources and the intelligence data required to assess and contain any deleterious consequences? The tensions resulted in the shooting of community newspaper editor Tara Singh Hayer. There was a savage assault on a courageous Vancouver lawyer who dared to say that communal violence has no place in Canada. The lawyer's name was Ujjal Dosanjh, who as Canada's Minister of Health sits today in the federal cabinet that apparently does not see the need for a public inquiry into these matters.
" After the news of Air India plane's disappearance over the Irish sea, what action did the the Canadian government take? Prime Minister Brian Mulroney phoned Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to offer condolences. Yet nearly everyone on the flight was a Canadian. Did our government fail to accept that Canadians - not Indians - were murdered?
" When did the RCMP and CSIS began their investigation? How much time was lost? How did it come about that crucial evidence apparently was destroyed or disappeared?
" Was there an attitude of "ethnic profiling" in the investigation, with the mass murder of Canadians treated as an "Indian" problem, as evinced in Mulroney's response? Would these agencies and the Canadian Government have taken a different attitude had they fully accepted the fact that this was a Canadian disaster, not something limited to one particular community?
With due respect to the federal government, these are questions we must confront and consider. Particularly in this age of post-2001 security and the use of secretive state power, we need to reaffirm that our Canada is a grand inclusion where the violation of any one citizen's humanity and dignity is the violation of us all.
It is absolutely clear, without pointing fingers at any one arm of government, that we were complacent in the face of evil and 329 of our compatriots paid with their lives. We owe it to ourselves as Canadians to ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain. The search for truth through a public inquiry might not be conclusive, but search we must.
Gurcharan Bhatia, a retired citizenship court judge, and Satya Das, a retired Edmonton Journal editorialist and columnist, were pioneers in defining, advocating and promoting the concept of "Canadian values" in the 1970s and 1980s.

Female Boomers Hungrry For Life's Next Challenge

February 10, 2005 Re: http://www.GettingOlderIsCool.com
Female Boomers Hungrry For Life's Next Challenge
When a woman hits middle age, advertisers urge her to hide her years by using Botox injections and anti-wrinkle creams. While marketers tell her she is past her "best-before date," McGill nursing professor Laurie Gottlieb says her message would be, "You come to this period with unbelievable strengths. You can take charge of your life and you can identify something that's meaningful for you to do. Life can be great at this age."... More http://www.mcgill.ca/reporter/37/09/gottlieb/

FOOD & WINE

THE CURRENT ISSUE OF FOOD & WINE is all about Spain - Spanish cuisine, top restaurants in Madrid and Barcelona, along with travel recommendations for visiting the Spanish countryside. And readers, particularly those of us in the frigid Northeast, will likely want to book a ticket as soon as they put the issue down (or at least start cooking).

Designs for the 'real woman'

Designs for the 'real woman'

Juli Lee has a mission. She wants women to feel not only comfortable, but pampered, when they slip into her line of lingerie and pajamas.
Not everyone looks like supermodels. She knows this. Most women out there know this too.
When she founded her business Julianna Rae, she sought to fill a void in the women's apparel market she believed was under serving a huge population of women. These are women who are suburban, active, independent, most likely college-educated and upper income, as well as self-rewarding and self-confident. The bulk of women she designs for are ages 30 to 60, although younger and older customers purchase her items.
"She's independent. She isn't waiting for life to happen - she's in there. She says, 'OK, life is here, let's embrace it,'" Lee, 36, said of her client profile.
These are the type of women who walk into Victoria's Secret, survey the thongs and impractical panty and bra sets, and leave discouraged because nothing suits their own lifestyle. These are the same type of women who may walk into department stores, take one look at the undergarments and think of their grandmothers.

Getting Personal

One size no longer fits all as automakers scramble to design models for every niche.
The days of the mass-market car are fading further in the automotive industry's rear-view mirror with each new model year.
For every buyer, there's a niche that takes into account their personality, income and lifestyle.
An estimated 50 new automotive nameplates will be introduced in the United States over the next five years, bringing to 277 the number of separate and distinct vehicle choices by 2009, according to a new analysis by the research firm AutoPacific Inc.
Like media, fashion and consumer companies, the increasingly competitive auto industry is getting personal with their clientele.
To hit any target, automakers need to know their market. And that market, like the demographics of the U.S. population, is changing rapidly. The baby-boom generation is growing older and demanding cars and light trucks that fit their advancing age and evolving lifestyles.
"The future is diversity," said Jim Lentz, group vice president for marketing at Toyota. "And the key to the future is flexibility."
http://www.detnews.com/2005/specialreport/0501/09/B01-54328.htm

Stopping Spam?

A FEW WEEKS AGO HISTORY was made in Iowa when Robert Kramer, whose company provides e-mail services, was awarded $1 billion in damages from spammers who hit the companies inbound mail servers up to 10 million times a day during parts of 2000.Kramer filed suit against 300 spammers using an Iowa law that allows plaintiffs to claim damages of $10 per spam message received. Under RICO (Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) the judgments were tripled.
While the Iowa verdict stands as a victory for the foes of Spam, I can't help but wonder if it really provides a disincentive to spammers to cease their wicked ways. While a billion dollars is a great deal of money, not having to pay it because a spamming company no longer legally exists seems like a nice loophole and there would be little to keep any former spammer from relocating and starting again.

Report: Big boost for blogs in 2004

Re: http://www.policychannel.com

The emergence of politically oriented blogs helped spur blog readership, the Pew study found: about nine percent of Internet users said they read political blogs during the 2004 U.S. presidential campaign.


-->But despite the rise in usage, "blog" still is not a household word. Only 38 percent of Internet users know what a blog is, while the rest are not sure what the term means. (Web surfers' curiosity about the term prompted dictionary maker Merriam-Webster to list "blog" as its word of the year for 2004.)
Blog creators tend to be young men who have broadband and are Internet veterans. Fifty-seven percent of bloggers are male and are relatively well off financially, with 42 percent living in households with income of over $50,000.
Blog readers are more "mainstream" than bloggers themselves, the study found. The majority of people who read blogs are male and younger. But the past year has seen greater-than-average growth in blog readership among women, minorities, people aged 30 to 49, and those with a dial-up connection.

An act of God or an act of poor administration?

Re: http://www.terranotes.com
The poor fellow from Banda Aceh who was reported in the newspapers around the world saying “It was God’s destiny” might have been right.

Geoscientists have a good understanding of the tectonic science taking place in the Indian Ocean and other areas around the world. Over the years, the scientists have warned the administration, the officials, and the politicians of the “possible” dangers and devastation that earthquakes can create on humans, on hospitals, airports, hotels, houses, pipelines, or railways to cite just a few. The earth scientists have done their job.

The real problem is that they have not been heard by the administration, on the one hand, and by real estate developers on the other.

In many areas of the world, resorts developers have simply refused to implement any earthquake or tsunami warning system. The reason? In some areas, such as off Sumatra, small size earthquakes are common occurrence and the large number of such false alarms would be a deterrent to tourism in their resorts. Remember how the developers were critisized after the Kober earthquake?

As for the Administration, politicians are only fed what the Administration gives them. And the Administration has been warned by scientists of the dire consequences on earthquakes. Unfortunately, the Civil Servants have often decided to ignore the science and do nothing about “the remote probabilities of such acts of God.”

This lack of familiarity with the basics of science and technology does not only occur in far away Administrations. It also happens here, in North America. For instance, the Canadian Administration said that the reason why they did not react quickly to the Asian catastrophe was because they “needed to assess the situation.” Well, they did not have to wait for CNN’s reports. The extent of the catastrophe could have been easily “assessed” within 12 hours on Boxing Day by simply looking at satellite imaging of the area. Either the Administration is ignorant, or negligent, overworked, or just wanted to cover up for the lack of decision.

This slowness in doing what’s right based on scientific evidence is not only characteristic of earthquake related issues. It is also manifest in many other areas affecting citizens, including water management, air and underground toxic management. May this Asian act of God remind the Administration of its true responsibilities toward the people.
Julien

New Luxury Kitchen Appliance for Paper Towels

Re: http://www.enjoycooking.com
Introducing the first no-touch automatic paper towel dispenser for home use. The Point and Cut is manufactured in stainless steel, mounts under cabinets to save valuable counter space, and reduces cross-contamination in the kitchen. URL: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/10/prweb163962.htm

Peace in Senegal

Re: http://www.TheWorldTV.com

An agreement of peace in Senegal would put an end to 22 years an old conflict
The signature, Thursday, of a peace agreement between the Senegalese government and the independent movement lead by Augustin Diamacoune Senghor should end this old conflict.

Youth Travel Market Research

Re: http://www.iTravelVideo.com

Based on WTO estimates youth travel now accounts for between 20% and 25% of all international tourist trips. The market is growing, though with falling birth rates in much of the developed world, this is not as a result of demographic change. Growth has been prompted by increased participation levels in tertiary education, labour mobility and overseas study programmes, the emergence of backpacking as an element of global youth culture and changing concepts of youthfulness. The blurring of distinctions between work, study and travel are leading to a hybridisation of youth travel motives. The cultural aspects of youth travel and backpacking including the desire to mix with other like-minded people is an aspect that merits particular attention by destinations interested in this market. Published by: Mintel International Group Ltd.

World First in Medicine

Re: http://www.MyHealthVideo.com

For the first time, an unlimited quantity of human red blood cells can be produced from stem cells.

A team of French specialists announced, Sunday December 26, on the site of the journal Nature Biotechnology, to have, for the first time in the world, succeeded in manufacturing in vitro very great quantities of mature and functional human globules red. This result marks an important stage in the history of the science of blood. It opens considerable prospects in the field off blood transfusion. See details in http://www.nature.com/nbt/

YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH

YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH
This is pretty neat. DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST! It takes less than a minute....... Work this out as you read. Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out! This is not one of those wastes of time things, it's fun.
1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate. (More than once but less than 10)
2. Multiply this number by 2 (Just to be bold)
3. Add 5. (For Sunday)
4. Multiply it by 50 I'll wait while you get the Calculator...............
5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1754.... If you haven't, add 1753.
6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born. You should have a three digit number... The first digit of this was your original number (i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).
The next two numbers are YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)
THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2004) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS.

World, take notice.

The electoral process in Ghana bears testimony to how important the respect for democracy and the institutions it creates is in ensuring peace and good governance in Africa. The government and the Electoral Commission (EC) worked hard to ensure a successful voting process that allowed the will of the electorate to prevail. This is one of the great success stories for humanity and Africa. It was barely mentioned by the world media.
Merry Xmas all.

TheWebVideo Blog

Re: http://www.theworldTV.com

Press conference ON ‘HUMAN RIGHTS LEARNING'
NGO Press Conference on Human Rights Learning, New York, 10 December 2004
The transformative power of human rights learning must be seen as an integral part of building a global community based on a culture of human rights, correspondents were told at a Headquarters press conference today.
Asked to provide specific accounts of the recent achievements in human rights education, Ms. Koenig noted that when Bangladesh had ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women it had also entered four reservations to the Convention. As women began to learn about their human rights, the number of reservations had been cut in half. Human rights had to be understood as a way of living with dignity. Human rights were protected by law and must be seen in relationship with governments and people.

For full article please email us at editor@thewebvideo.com

TheWebVideo Blog

Re: http://www.enjoycooking.com

A GREAT wine: Domain Nalys Chateau Neuf

Yesterday I went for lunch with my friend Satya Brata Das. He is a connoisseur. He ordered a very special wine. One of the rare estates to grow the 13 different traditional varieties, the Domaine de Nalys Chateauneuf du Pape is a powerful and harmonious red which is great with game, red meats and strong cheeses.

The Châteauneuf du Pape is the most famous Côtes du Rhône wine. The "Coteaux" (slope) of Châteauneuf du Pape is between Orange and Avignon cities, in one of the most beautiful landscapes of Provence. The Popes used to have their summer residence there in Châteauneuf du Pape (Pope in french).

The Châteauneuf du Pape wine is thick, harsh, powerful and richly colored. Red wine only, it is elaborated with 13 authorized and controlled grape-varieties among which Syrah, Grenache and Clairette.
By the way, we had lunch at Renoir's Table, which is owned by the great grand son of the famous painter.

TheWebVideo Blog

Re: http://www.theworldTV.com

Diane Francis at the front line of democracy in Ukraine
I have posted a new video of world reknown journalist Diane Francis' recent experience in Ukraine.
You can watch and comment on the Ukraine Democracy issue at http://www.theworldtv.com
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TheWebVideo Blog

Re: http://www.theworldbeat.com

Brad Johner Canadian Country Music

Brad Johner is one of the most recognizable figures in Canadian Country Music. A veteran of the scene for more than 12 years, Brad has continually set the bar for excellence in performance and song writing.
See his video at http://www.theworldbeat.com or http://www.thewebvideo.com
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Kidnapped Brides in Kyrgyzstan

A young woman in the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan calmly waits for the school bus. She does not suspect that the man hanging out on the curb has made a plan to take her. But the next moment, he pushes her into a passing car and kidnaps her to become his bride. "I don't want to be late for school," she shouts. "Your classes are over," he dryly responds.In a country that, for centuries, has been overrun by Mongols, Muslims and Russians, kidnapping brides has become a way for Kyrgyz men to recapture what they believe to be their traditional culture and to define their manhood. Kyrgyz women, for their part, are expected to submit to this practice if they are "real Kyrgyz women" and want to take part in rebuilding their nation. Canadian filmmaker Petr Lom, in his travels in the former Soviet state, documented this strange, sometimes desperate, form of courtship that has come to be understood as "authentic Kyrgyz tradition."

Recent studies estimate that about half of all marriages in Kyrgyzstan today are conducted through kidnapping, and that in half of these cases a woman is forced into a marriage against her will. Kidnapped Brides is produced and filmed by Petr Lom.
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