Addressing Climate Change Can Reinvent American Industry

Addressing Climate Change Can Reinvent American Industry

DuPont Chairman Calls for Legislation to Include Cap-and-Trade Program

Washington, D. C. (Vocus) April 22, 2009

Addressing climate change may be the single greatest opportunity to reinvent American industry while putting the United States on a more sustainable path forward, DuPont Chairman Charles O. Holliday, Jr. told the U. S. House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee here today.

"We need sound policy that takes broad, coordinated, economically sustainable actions across the entire economy," Holliday said. "We need clear, strong and workable emission reduction goals that will show us the pathway to a low-carbon economy. And we need a cap-and-trade program that focuses our efforts on the emission reduction opportunities that offer the most environmental benefits for the lowest costs."

Holliday spoke on behalf of the U. S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a group of companies and non-governmental organizations which have come together to forge a consensus view regarding the United States' actions on the challenging issue of climate change. DuPont and other USCAP members believe that there is sufficient scientific evidence on climate change to warrant prudent action.

Between 1990 and 2004, DuPont reduced greenhouse gas emissions 72 percent globally from its operations through a variety of innovative efforts. The company has further committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent by 2015 from a base year of 2004.

"The current economic situation has served as a reminder to the importance of our resources and how efficiently and wisely they must be used, and a federal climate change program must be both environmentally effective and economically sustainable," said Holliday. "At the same time, we cannot allow the current economic conditions to slow our efforts. A federal climate change program has the potential to create real economic growth through innovation."

DuPont - one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 19 years ago - has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

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Indiana Division of Aging Selects Harmony Information Systems

Indiana Division of Aging Selects Harmony Information Systems

On-demand software solution will help state manage nutrition programs for seniors

Reston, VA (PRWEB) March 30, 2010

Harmony Information Systems, Inc. (http://www. harmonyis. com) announced today that the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Aging (http://www. in. gov/fssa/2329.htm) has selected Harmony for Aging to manage nutrition programs associated with the Older Americans Act. Harmony, the leader in integrated health and human services management, will be used by state staff and Indiana’s 16 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs).

“Harmony for Aging will help us automate processes so that we can more efficiently administer our nutrition programs and provide the best service to senior Hoosiers,” said Aging Director Faith Laird.

The Division of Aging will use Harmony to consolidate the management of their nutrition programs including home delivered meals and congregate meals. Harmony will help Indiana streamline processes, provide real-time data access to stakeholders across the state and simplify what has been a largely manual process for National Aging Program Information System (NAPIS) compliance (http://www. harmonyis. com/solutions/oaa-napis-reporting. php).

“Harmony is pleased to partner with Indiana’s Division of Aging to assist the state in providing high quality nutrition programs to seniors,” said Joseph Sander, President and CEO of Harmony. “Trusted by more than 450 organizations throughout the country, Harmony for Aging is a proven, on-demand solution that will help the State of Indiana meet the growing needs of its aging population.”

Harmony for Aging (http://www. harmonyis. com/products/aging. php) is the most widely used solution in the United States for home and community-based Medicaid Waiver management and federal NAPIS and National Ombudsman Reporting System (NORS) compliance. Today more than 35 state-level agencies, including Indiana, use Harmony Information Systems.

For more information on the Indiana Division of Aging, go to www. in. gov/fssa/2329.htm (http://www. in. gov/fssa/2329.htm)].

About Harmony Information Systems, Inc.
Harmony Information Systems Inc., (Harmony), the leader in integrated health and human services management, provides comprehensive solutions that enable organizations to manage growing consumer case loads with existing resources. The company's end-to-end solutions manage the delivery of care for elders and intellectually disabled persons, enabling organizations to maximize outcomes while increasing service delivery efficiency, ensuring compliance with funding requirements, and automating Medicaid waiver processes. Harmony products are used by more than 450 state, local and private provider human service organizations to manage both traditional and consumer-directed models of service. For more information on Harmony products and solutions, visit www. harmonyis. com] or call us at 866.951.2219.

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Defending Champions Lleyton Hewitt Plus Mike and Bob Bryan Return for 2008 Tennis Channel Open

Defending Champions Lleyton Hewitt Plus Mike and Bob Bryan Return for 2008 Tennis Channel Open

The 2008 Tennis Channel Open -- the Las Vegas-based ATP tournament owned and operated by Tennis Channel -- announced today that 2007 defending singles champion Lleyton Hewitt and doubles champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan will return for the 2008 event, planned for March 3-9 at the Amanda & Stacy Darling Memorial Tennis Center. Joining these fan favorites will be top-20 players Fernando Gonzalez (World No. 7) and Marcos Baghdatis (No. 16), each in his first time playing in Las Vegas.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 11, 2008

The 2008 Tennis Channel Open -- the Las Vegas-based ATP tournament owned and operated by Tennis Channel -- announced today that 2007 defending singles champion Lleyton Hewitt and doubles champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan will return for the 2008 event, planned for March 3-9 at the Amanda & Stacy Darling Memorial Tennis Center.

Joining these fan favorites will be top-20 players Fernando Gonzalez (World No. 7) and Marcos Baghdatis (No. 16), each in his first time playing in Las Vegas. Chile's Gonzalez reached his first Grand Slam final at the 2007 Australian Open in January, where he lost to perennial champion Roger Federer. Baghdatis, who hails from Cyprus, won a career-high 48 matches in 2007, including a championship in Zagreb, Croatia, and is one of the most popular players on the men's professional tennis tour.

"Having tennis stars of Hewitt's and the Bryans' caliber return to this event each year is an endorsement not only for the Tennis Channel Open but also for the city of Las Vegas," said David Egdes, tournament director and senior vice president, tennis industry relations, Tennis Channel. "Fans have learned to expect great competitors with this tournament, and we're excited to add two more top-ranked newcomers in 2008 with Marcos Baghdatis and Fernando Gonzalez."

After reaching the final of the inaugural Tennis Channel Open in 2006, Hewitt played his way back to the championship in 2007 and defeated Austrian Jurgen Melzer 6-4, 7-6(10). The Adelaide, Australia, native is one of the most consistent performers and recognizable stars in professional tennis, and became the youngest qualifier in Australian Open history in 1997, at 15 years and 11 months. He has since established himself as one of Australia's many tennis legends, winning the 2001 US Open, 2002 Wimbledon, and was a key component of Australia's 1999 and 2003 Davis Cup championship teams. Hewitt finished 2007 as the World No. 21 singles player.

American twins Bob and Mike Bryan will try for their third consecutive doubles championship in Las Vegas in 2008. One of the most lethal on-court tandems in the history of doubles tennis, the Bryans were favored to repeat as champions in 2007 and did not disappoint, reclaiming the title with a 7-6(6), 6-2 win over Israel's Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich in the final. In November the Bryans gave the U. S. Davis Cup team its championship-clinching third point with a win over Russia's Igor Andreev and Nikolay Davydenko, and in doing so helped the United States to its first Davis Cup title in 12 years. That feat is just the latest on a long list of career accomplishments that includes championships at all four Grand Slams and at the year-end Tennis Masters Cup. In 2007 the Bryans won the Australian Open, reached the Wimbledon final and collected championships at five of the nine ATP Masters Series tournaments. They are currently the World No. 1 doubles team.

"Tennis Channel has always been a vocal supporter of the doubles game, and they carried that approach over to their Las Vegas tournament from the very beginning," said Mike Bryan. "Two years ago during the first Vegas event they built one of the night sessions around doubles matches, which is something unheard of in the industry. We've had a great time at the event both years and are looking forward to going back in 2008 and defending our title."

The 2008 Tennis Channel Open will continue the "Tennispalooza" tournament theme in place since the event's Las Vegas debut in 2006. Fans will again be treated to a festival atmosphere of tennis and other entertainment activities in addition to the men's tennis competition. This includes women's and juniors tournaments, collegiate tennis, unique qualifier formats, paddle tennis, platform tennis, air hockey, foosball, table tennis, live performances, and "Fabulous Las Vegas Night," among other things.

Individual tickets and ticket packages for the 2008 Tennis Channel Open are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets at 866-641-OPEN (866-641-6736) or www. tennischannelopen. com. In the Las Vegas area, tennis fans can buy tickets at Station Casinos, Fiesta Properties, Galleria Mall and the Thomas & Mack Center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. (UNLV Tickets handles ticket sales for the tournament.)

Tennis Channel (www. tennischannel. com) is the only 24-hour, television-based multimedia destination dedicated to both the professional sport and passionate lifestyle of tennis. A hybrid of comprehensive sports, health, fitness, pop culture, entertainment, lifestyle and travel programming, the network is home to every aspect of the wide-ranging, worldwide tennis community. It also has the most concentrated single-sport coverage in television, with telecast rights to Wimbledon, Roland Garros (the French Open), the Australian Open, US Open Series, ATP Masters Series, top-tier Sony Ericsson WTA Tour championship competitions, Davis Cup and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas, and Hyundai Hopman Cup. Tennis Channel is carried by eight of the top 10 MSOs and has a national footprint via DIRECTV and Echostar's DISH Network.

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Everyday Health is the Fastest Growing Online Health Property in 2007: Maintains Number 2 Spot for Four Straight Months; New comScore Numbers Show Traffic Up 400% Year over Year

Everyday Health is the Fastest Growing Online Health Property in 2007: Maintains Number 2 Spot for Four Straight Months; New comScore Numbers Show Traffic Up 400% Year over Year

Only a year after its launch, Everyday Health, which is operated by Waterfront Media, the largest privately held online health company, reports that year to year traffic has increased over four hundred percent. According to December comScore Media Metrix traffic figures released this week, Everyday Health received more than 12 million unique visitors, making it the second largest online health property for the fourth straight month. In December 2006, the site received just over two million visitors.

BROOKLYN (PRWEB) January 11, 2008

 December's usage figures show Everyday Health attracted more unique visitors than large health information aggregators like Revolution Health Network, AOL Health and Yahoo! Health. The new comScore numbers reinforce a recent independent study by Manhattan Research, LLC, which found that a higher percentage of people visit Everyday Health's flagship site, EverydayHealth. com, on a daily basis than any other health online health site.

"Everyday Health's entry into the marketplace is exciting for both consumers and advertisers," said Ben Wolin, Waterfront Media's CEO. "We appreciate the fact that millions of consumers regularly choose Everyday Health sites, including our flagship site, EverydayHealth. com, whose mission is to help users proactively manage their conditions with our unique tools, expert content, and supportive communities. Our continued exponential growth provides our advertisers a host of opportunities to reach targeted consumers seeking to manage their health."

EverydayHealth. com features unique stage-based condition centers, customizable online tools, more than 20 physician experts, and content partnerships with Harvard Medical and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), to help empower millions of serious health users to manage a variety of health conditions and live healthier lives

About Waterfront Media and Everyday Health

Waterfront Media is the largest privately held online health company and operates Everyday Health. Through its network of health, diet, fitness and pregnancy Web sites, including its flagship EverydayHealth. com, Waterfront Media enables consumers to live healthier lives every day. For more information, please visit www. waterfrontmedia. com.

AWWA, Water Environment Federation Release ‘Competency Model’ to Encourage Water Careers

AWWA, Water Environment Federation Release ‘Competency Model’ to Encourage Water Careers

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF), two of the largest water and wastewater national associations, in conjunction with the U. S. Department of Labor and the Environmental Protection Agency, released the Water Sector Competency Model, which defines the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities, for prospective water professionals and encourages careers in the water sector.

Washington, D. C. (Vocus) November 11, 2009

The American Water Works Association (http://www. awwa. org) (AWWA) and the Water Environment Federation (http://www. wef. org), two of the largest water and wastewater national associations, in conjunction with the U. S. Department of Labor and the Environmental Protection Agency, released the Water Sector Competency Model, which defines the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities, for prospective water professionals and encourages careers in the water sector.

The Water Sector Competency Model, posted at http://careeronestop. org/CompetencyModel/pyramid. aspx? WS=Y (http://careeronestop. org/CompetencyModel/pyramid. aspx? WS=Y), is designed to increase the pool of certified and experienced water sector professionals through a variety of training and career advancement solutions.

The U. S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), worked with AWWA, WEF, and EPA to guide and finalize the documentation required to showcase the water sector competency model as a resource for the workforce challenges facing high-growth industries. AWWA and WEF are committed to supporting the competency-based training and certification in the water sector to ensure experienced and certified water sector professionals are available to support public water systems and waste water treatment plants in the future.

AWWA is supporting the initiative by engaging in a three-year research project that supports the improvement of the water sector competency model. AWWA and WEF were both instrumental in the development of the Water Sector Competency Model.

“The release of the Water Sector Competency Model represents an important moment in assuring the water sector has enough well-trained and committed professionals in the years ahead,” said AWWA President Craig Woolard.

“The Water Sector Competency Model is just what we need to attract the new generation of professionals to green jobs necessary for the sustainability of our water infrastructure,” said Peter S. Silva, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Water.

AWWA is the authoritative resource for knowledge, information, and advocacy to improve the quality and supply of water in North America and beyond. AWWA advances public health, safety, and welfare by uniting the efforts of the full spectrum of the entire water community. Through our collective strength, we become better stewards of water for the greatest good of the people and the environment.

WEF is a non-profit association that provides technical education and training for thousands of water quality professionals who clean water and return it safely to the environment. WEF’s 36,000 individual members as well as 75 affiliated member associations have represented water quality professionals who daily proudly protect public health, serve their local communities, and support clean water worldwide since 1928.

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Plymouth Pet Care - Plymouth Dog Training 'Dog Whisperer' Dog Boarding, Dog Walking & Behaviour Specialist's Take Devon by Storm

Plymouth Pet Care - Plymouth Dog Training 'Dog Whisperer' Dog Boarding, Dog Walking & Behaviour Specialist's Take Devon by Storm

Plymouth Pet Care Ltd business provides professional pet care services in Devon. Specialising in dogs, Leonie James is a award winning Plymouth dog trainer. Husband Philip James is a dog behaviour training psychologist 'Plymouth Dog Whisperer' with a combined 35 year experienced team.

(PRWEB) July 26, 2010

Plymouth Pet Care specialise in looking after pets and understand that many of you would prefer your pets to be cared for in their own environment. We recognise that it is often traumatic for an animal to be sent to a Cattery or Kennel. Many of us have difficulty giving a pet the time and attention it needs due to work commitments. Plymouth Pet Care home visits and home from home boarding will put your mind at rest, secure in the knowledge that: 'Your pet is our privilege.'

Specialist Dog Trainers

Plymouth Dog Behaviour Training (http://www. plymouthpetcare. co. uk) (R+ (CANRG) = Pack leader. People argue between Victoria Stilwell Positive Reinforcement (R+) method and Cesar Milan immersion therapy methods. At times people will label a canine issue as requiring dog training or dog behaviour rehabilitation, instead of implementing both. Also using pet care services like our Plymouth dog walking (http://www. plymouthpetcare. co. uk) for regular exercise, or home boarding; Plymouth Dog Boarding (http://www. plymouthpetcare. co. uk) or Plymouth Dog Sitting visits can be less stressful than Kennels or being home all day that lead to many behaviours.

Plymouth Dog Training (http://www. plymouthpetcare. co. uk) leadership program is a effective training approach that establishes and enhances communication, by calm assertive energy (CANRG) leadership, positive reinforcement (R+) but in the appropriate circumstances with structure, setting rules and boundaries. We personally feel long term use of treats or lures to keep a dog's attention actually demonstrates a lack of these things as nothing in life is free. That's not a healthy human/dog relationship.

Your dog like us is required to work for anything he/she needs or desires (food, toys, attention, access to the outdoors etc.). In effect he must "earn" all valued resources by first obeying a command, such as SIT or DOWN and NO means NO. The objective is to have the dog follow the owner's directives and correction as and when issued. If owners are consistent with this approach, the dog will learn that he must look to them to obtain anything he needs or wants, such as food, freedom, play, and social interaction. If the dog learns to respect and trust his owners in this way, he will be more likely to turn to them for direction when he's feeling challenged or fearful and will be more likely to need directions or you can also stop unwanted behaviour by command.

Dog Behaviour mostly come from a lack of exercise, and dominance from a lack of leadership calm-assertive energy (CANRG). Plymouth Pet Care will show you how you how to be pack leader with Positive Reinforcement (R+) & (CANRG). Effective rehabilitation of your dog will also require commitment and willingness from you the owner. "Dog & Owner trained " Nothing in life is free (R+ (CANRG) = Pack leader. We only use non-harsh methods "Not punitive" (no punishment) no gimmicks, specialising in all behaviours all breeds. How to Control Problem Dog Behaviours Read More (http://www. plymouthpetcare. co. uk/dog-behavior. htm)

More information is available by calling Plymouth Pet Care Ltd
CONTACT: Leoine and Philip James on Office Line: 01752 294361 (Mon-Sat)
Or visit http://www. plymouthpetcare. co. uk (http://www. plymouthpetcare. co. uk)
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Mitretek Healthcare National Recall Forum Stimulates Collaboration Across the Healthcare Industry

Mitretek Healthcare National Recall Forum Stimulates Collaboration Across the Healthcare Industry

Patient safety concerns drive leaders to focus on improving the medical product recall process.

Falls Church, VA (PRWEB) June 21, 2006

Mitretek Healthcare, a division of Mitretek Systems, hosted a leadership forum in which participants called for standardization, coordination, and continued dialog about healthcare product recalls. The forum, held in Washington DC, provided an environment in which manufacturers, distributors, healthcare providers, and FDA representatives could identify problems in the recall process, and work toward finding constructive ways of overcoming them.

A key problem identified was the lack of standardization? in terminology, data presentation, and processes. Recall notification processes vary among manufacturers, and hospitals have different mechanisms through which they respond. "There is no standard address or delivery method by which recall notices are sent to hospitals," said Cindy Kilgore, Assistant Vice President of Materials Management in the Virginia-based Inova Health System. These inconsistencies delay responses by healthcare providers and undermine patient safety.

Forum participants were unanimous in their support for improved coordination among stakeholders in the recall process. "We recommend that the industry work together to develop consistent notification and response processes," said Kilgore.

Participants also highlighted a need to identify best practices. They suggested that stakeholder groups contribute ideas about what has worked for them in managing recall issues and suggested they incorporate those ideas into a repository of best practices. For example, Cardinal Health puts a hold on product shipments when a potential problem arises. "If we get a report about a possible problem," noted Claude Grant, Senior VP for Quality and Regulatory Affairs at Cardinal Health, "we take the product out of the pipeline until the question is resolved, rather than continuing to ship."

"Part of closing the loop means closing the knowledge gap," said Lydia Thomas, President and CEO of Mitretek Systems. "We’ve made a good start today, but it will take the full suite of people to solve this." Forum participants agreed that future interactive meetings focused on the recall process would be fruitful, and voiced their intent to follow up.

About Mitretek Systems :

Mitretek Systems is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), scientific research and engineering corporation that operates in the public interest. Our expertise in conjunction with our objectivity and independence allows us to effectively address challenges of national significance.

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