Colombo, Sri Lanka, 08 January 2009
Transparency International Sri Lanka expresses deep sorrow and dismay at the assassination of Lasantha Wickramatunga, the Editor of the Sunday Leader. Mr Wickramatunga was a pioneering journalist who bravely battled corruption through the media, even when his life was under threat.
In 2000 Mr Wickramatunga's work was appreciated internationally when he was a recipient of the first ever Integrity Award from Transparency International.
The assassination of Mr Wickramatunge is a terrifying blow against the freedom of expression in the island. Free media is a key component of a democratic state and an absolute prerequisite for good governance. Any attack on journalists and their institutions will only further erode good governance in this country, ultimately resulting in an unsafe environment for all Sri Lankans.
The assassination of Mr Wickramatunge and last Monday's attack on the MTV/MBC studio complex paint a dark future for democracy in Sri Lankan. The continuation of such events places the burden of responsibility firmly on state machinery and only a speedy and impartial investigation can absolve the Government of guilt or complicity.
Friday, January 9, 2009
New Electronic Gadgets
They may be smaller, slimmer, slicker and faster…but are they greener?
Las Vegas, International, 8 January 2009 – The greenest consumer electronic products on the market today have a smaller environmental footprint than those sold a year ago but the industry as a whole still has plenty of room for improvement, according to a new survey released by Greenpeace. (1)
“We’re on the hunt for a truly green product that is free from toxic chemicals and excels in energy efficiency and durability,” said Casey Harrell, Greenpeace International toxics campaigner. “We’re pleased to say that the electronics industry has taken encouraging strides towards increasing the green features on some gadgets over the past year but none stand out in all environmental categories (2). The race for the green winner is still on.”
“Green Electronics: the search continues” assesses the progress made over the past year by consumer electronic companies on their public commitments to green their products. Fifteen major electronics brands (3) submitted 50 of their most environmentally friendly new products - mobile and smart phones, televisions, computer monitors, notebook and desktop computers, and game consoles. Greenpeace assessed and scored each of these products against a set of environmental criteria. (4)
Greenpeace found that fewer electronic products on the market contain harmful PVC plastic and fewer hazardous chemicals are being used in products. LED displays, which save energy and avoid the use of mercury in backlights, are more commonplace. Manufacturers are using larger quantities of post-consumer recycled plastic in TVs and monitors and producers have established more comprehensive voluntary take-back and recycling programmes. Most companies have also adapted quickly to the new requirements of Energy Star, a well recognised benchmark for energy efficiency.
The Lenovo L2440x wide computer monitor scored highest with 6.9 points (on a 10 point scale) and is far ahead of the competition in the monitor category. Other product category leaders include the Sharp LC-52GX5 television (5.92), the Samsung F268 mobile phone (5.45), the Nokia 6210 Smart phone (5.2) the HP Elitebook 2530P laptop (5.48) and the Lenovo ThinkCentre M58 Desktop (5.88).
“The scores are higher and closer together this year, suggesting a more competitive race to green gadgets, but consumers are still having to choose between gadgets that are green in one way but grey in another,” said Harrell.
Greenpeace also combined the top scores of each product category to make a composite score for the industry. These ‘best practice’ scores, ranging as high as 8.6, demonstrate that there is environmental know-how available now to produce electronics that are significantly greener than anything on the shelves today.
“The electronics industry is heading in the right direction. To stay in the race, each company needs to put its foot on the accelerator, applying any progress it has made across all of its product lines and adopting each other’s best practices. We’re confident that, as part of the most innovative industry on the planet, these companies can step up to this green challenge,” said Harrell.
Las Vegas, International, 8 January 2009 – The greenest consumer electronic products on the market today have a smaller environmental footprint than those sold a year ago but the industry as a whole still has plenty of room for improvement, according to a new survey released by Greenpeace. (1)
“We’re on the hunt for a truly green product that is free from toxic chemicals and excels in energy efficiency and durability,” said Casey Harrell, Greenpeace International toxics campaigner. “We’re pleased to say that the electronics industry has taken encouraging strides towards increasing the green features on some gadgets over the past year but none stand out in all environmental categories (2). The race for the green winner is still on.”
“Green Electronics: the search continues” assesses the progress made over the past year by consumer electronic companies on their public commitments to green their products. Fifteen major electronics brands (3) submitted 50 of their most environmentally friendly new products - mobile and smart phones, televisions, computer monitors, notebook and desktop computers, and game consoles. Greenpeace assessed and scored each of these products against a set of environmental criteria. (4)
Greenpeace found that fewer electronic products on the market contain harmful PVC plastic and fewer hazardous chemicals are being used in products. LED displays, which save energy and avoid the use of mercury in backlights, are more commonplace. Manufacturers are using larger quantities of post-consumer recycled plastic in TVs and monitors and producers have established more comprehensive voluntary take-back and recycling programmes. Most companies have also adapted quickly to the new requirements of Energy Star, a well recognised benchmark for energy efficiency.
The Lenovo L2440x wide computer monitor scored highest with 6.9 points (on a 10 point scale) and is far ahead of the competition in the monitor category. Other product category leaders include the Sharp LC-52GX5 television (5.92), the Samsung F268 mobile phone (5.45), the Nokia 6210 Smart phone (5.2) the HP Elitebook 2530P laptop (5.48) and the Lenovo ThinkCentre M58 Desktop (5.88).
“The scores are higher and closer together this year, suggesting a more competitive race to green gadgets, but consumers are still having to choose between gadgets that are green in one way but grey in another,” said Harrell.
Greenpeace also combined the top scores of each product category to make a composite score for the industry. These ‘best practice’ scores, ranging as high as 8.6, demonstrate that there is environmental know-how available now to produce electronics that are significantly greener than anything on the shelves today.
“The electronics industry is heading in the right direction. To stay in the race, each company needs to put its foot on the accelerator, applying any progress it has made across all of its product lines and adopting each other’s best practices. We’re confident that, as part of the most innovative industry on the planet, these companies can step up to this green challenge,” said Harrell.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Motorola Unveils World’s First Mobile Phone Made Using Recycled Water Bottle Plastics and New 3G Touch Tablet with Customizable Home Screen
Latest devices to be displayed at 2009 International CES in Las Vegas
January 06, 2009
Las Vegas – CES – Jan. 6, 2009 – Today Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) announced two new mobile devices that will make social responsibility and social connectivity even more accessible to people everywhere. MOTO™ W233 Renew is the world’s first mobile phone made using plastics comprised of recycled water bottles, and MOTOSURF™ A3100 – a high-speed touch tablet with a fully customizable home screen – will debut this week at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Central Hall Booth #8545).
MOTO W233 Renew: Environmentally Responsible Design with Uncompromised Quality
MOTO W233 Renew delivers the quality you expect from a Motorola device while empowering you to reduce your carbon footprint. Not only is the plastic housing of Renew made from plastics comprised of recycled water bottles and 100 percent recyclable, but it is also the world’s first carbon neutral phone. Through an alliance with Carbonfund.org, Motorola offsets the carbon dioxide required to manufacture, distribute and operate the phone through investments in renewable energy sources and reforestation. The phone has earned Carbonfund.org’s CarbonFree® Product Certification after an extensive product life-cycle assessment.
“Today, natural resources, energy and time are more precious than ever before,” said Jeremy Dale, corporate vice president, global marketing, Motorola Mobile Devices. “From the product’s design, to the packaging to our partnership with Carbonfund.org, we wanted to ensure that this device makes the right impact with consumers and the environment.”
When designing the packaging, Motorola was able to reduce its size by 22 percent and the box and all of the materials inside are printed on 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper. In addition, a postage-paid recycling envelope in box makes it easy to return your previous mobile phone for recycling at no cost.
Renew was designed for eco-conscious consumers as well as the millions of people who put making phone calls as their number one priority in a mobile phone. With nine hours of talk time, CrystalTalk technology and messaging capabilities, Renew makes environmental responsibility affordable for consumers everywhere. Renew will first be available at T-Mobile USA in Q1 2009.
MOTOSURF A3100: Putting the World One Touch Away
Managing your social and work life just got easier with the MOTOSURF A3100. The touch tablet’s customizable home screen is layered on top of the familiar Windows Mobile 6.1 software and has many applications that can be accessed with the tip of a finger, a stylus or an omni-directional trackball. The home screen icons can be personalized to give ‘live’ feeds on weather, news, personal and work e-mail, messaging and calendar events1. WiFi1 and 3G connectivity make the experience seamless and fast.
“We developed the MOTOSURF A3100 as a true social smartphone,” said John Cipolla, senior vice president, product development, Motorola Mobile Devices. “Home screen personalization and access to a whole host of applications gets the info you want – fast, and at your fingertips.”
Whether toggling back and forth between documents while on the go, listening to MP3s, video conferencing on the run, updating your Facebook status or using aGPS to navigate from point A to B, MOTOSURF puts every aspect of your life, personal and professional, just a touch away1.
MOTOSURF A3100 will be available in multiple regions beginning in Q1 2009, including Asia and Latin America.
Motorola Recycling Program for Mobile Phones and Accessories
Motorola is committed to environmental responsibility and accepts any mobile phone or accessory for recycling, which helps recover valuable materials for reuse and reduces environmental impact. Simply print a postage-paid label at www.motorola.com/recycle to return older products to Motorola. A portion of the proceeds generated from returned mobile phones is distributed to schools participating in Motorola’s Race to Recycle program. To learn more visit www.racetorecycle.com. Motorola’s recycling program is part of the company’s overarching commitment to sustainability.
Certain mobile phone features may not be activated by your service provider, and/or their network settings may limit the feature’s functionality. Contact your service provider for details. All features, functionality and other product specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation.
1 Network and/or SIM card dependent feature, not available in all areas. Airtime, data charges, and/or additional charges may apply.
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © Motorola, Inc. 2009. All rights reserved.
About Motorola
Motorola is known around the world for innovation in communications. The company develops technologies, products and services that make mobile experiences possible. Our portfolio includes communications infrastructure, enterprise mobility solutions, digital set-tops, cable modems, mobile devices and Bluetooth accessories. Motorola is committed to delivering next generation communication solutions to people, businesses and governments. A Fortune 100 company with global presence and impact, Motorola had sales of US $36.6 billion in 2007.
HALLIBURTON ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE SOLIDS CONTROL EQUIPMENT FROM DERRICK EQUIPMENT
HOUSTON – Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) has entered into an agreement with Derrick Equipment Company to expand Baroid Fluid Services’ offering of solids control equipment and services. Derrick Equipment will serve as the exclusive supplier of its full range of products, including shale shakers, centrifuges and screens to Baroid.
“We are pleased to be working with Derrick Equipment, a recognized industry leader in the manufacturing of quality solids control equipment and customer satisfaction,” said Jeff Miller, vice president, Baroid Fluid Services. “Halliburton’s agreement with Derrick Equipment demonstrates our continuing commitment to deliver best in class engineered solutions and services to our customers.”
Baroid Fluid Services is a leading supplier of engineered and customized drilling fluid, completion fluid, solids control, and drilling waste management solutions for oil and gas drilling, completion and workover operations.
About Halliburton
Founded in 1919, Halliburton is one of the world’s largest providers of products and services to the energy industry. With more than 55,000 employees in approximately 70 countries, the company serves the upstream oil and gas industry throughout the life cycle of the reservoir – from locating hydrocarbons and managing geological data, to drilling and formation evaluation, well construction and completion, and optimizing production through the life of the field.
About Derrick Equipment Company
Derrick Equipment Company is based in Houston, Texas where it serves the worldwide oil and gas drilling market. The parent company, Derrick Corporation, is a family owned and operated company based in Buffalo, New York, where it manufactures and distributes a wide range of high-speed screening machines and centrifuges used for various sizing processes in drilling, mining, chemical, food, and other industries. Derrick is clearly focused on their commitment to both customer service and product development.
“We are pleased to be working with Derrick Equipment, a recognized industry leader in the manufacturing of quality solids control equipment and customer satisfaction,” said Jeff Miller, vice president, Baroid Fluid Services. “Halliburton’s agreement with Derrick Equipment demonstrates our continuing commitment to deliver best in class engineered solutions and services to our customers.”
Baroid Fluid Services is a leading supplier of engineered and customized drilling fluid, completion fluid, solids control, and drilling waste management solutions for oil and gas drilling, completion and workover operations.
About Halliburton
Founded in 1919, Halliburton is one of the world’s largest providers of products and services to the energy industry. With more than 55,000 employees in approximately 70 countries, the company serves the upstream oil and gas industry throughout the life cycle of the reservoir – from locating hydrocarbons and managing geological data, to drilling and formation evaluation, well construction and completion, and optimizing production through the life of the field.
About Derrick Equipment Company
Derrick Equipment Company is based in Houston, Texas where it serves the worldwide oil and gas drilling market. The parent company, Derrick Corporation, is a family owned and operated company based in Buffalo, New York, where it manufactures and distributes a wide range of high-speed screening machines and centrifuges used for various sizing processes in drilling, mining, chemical, food, and other industries. Derrick is clearly focused on their commitment to both customer service and product development.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
The People’s Republic of China Appoints its Ambassador to ASEAN
The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, welcomed the appointment of Xue Hanqin as the People’s Republic of China’s first Ambassador to ASEAN.
Expressing delight with the news, Dr Surin said, “Over the years since the start of the ASEAN-China dialogue relations in 1991 and its formalisation in 1996, we have cultivated an extensive and strategic partnership spanning from political and security, trade and economic to social and cultural cooperation. With this appointment, China once again demonstrates its strong commitment and enthusiasm to strengthen ties and work more closely with ASEAN.”
China is currently ASEAN’s fourth largest trading partner and both enjoy close economic ties. “The ASEAN-China Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and the Trade in Goods Agreement were signed in 2002 and 2004 respectively. Both are currently negotiating on the further liberalisation of their services markets under the Trade in Services Agreement which was signed in January 2007. Negotiations on an Investment Agreement have also just been concluded,” said Dr Surin.
In recent months, ASEAN has forged closer relations with China’s provinces, specifically the provinces of Guangdong, Hubei and Shaanxi, to cooperate in areas of mutual interest. “Now, with Ambassador Xue’s appointment to ASEAN, I am confident that the ASEAN-China relationship will be further deepened and widened,” Dr Surin added.
China becomes the sixth ASEAN Dialogue Partner to appoint its Ambassador to ASEAN, after the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
Friday, January 2, 2009
LIEUTENANT GENERAL NOBLE THAMBURAJ TAKES OVER AS VICE CHIEF OF THE ARMY STAFF
Lieutenant General Noble Thamburaj assumed the office of Vice Chief of The army Staff today. Lieutenant General Noble Thamburaj a 1969 batch officer had a distinguished career spanning 38 years. Associated with the Services right from childhood, this second generation officer is an alumnus of King George's Military School Chail, Sainik Schools Amravati Nagar and Jamnagar, and the 34th NDA Course, before he was commissioned into the Bombay Sappers.
An alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the General has done his Senior Command, Higher Command and NDC Courses. He is also accredited with higher Technical qualification, M Tech (Bldg Sc) from IIT Delhi and M Phil (Defence Studies) from Indore University.
During his illustrious career the General has held many important assignments to include a Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade, command of 411 Parachute Field company, command of his parent unit 109 Engineer Regiment in High Altitude Area in the Eastern region. Commanded a Rashtriya Rifle Sector in Counter Insurgency environment during 'Operation VIJAY' and an Infantry Division during 'Operation PARAKRAM', in deserts. Besides, he has been an instructor in Defence Services Staff College Officers Training Academy Chennai. A paratrooper, the General still participates in the para drops whenever opportunity comes his way.
For his distinguished service, the General has been awarded Sena Medal and Chief of the Army Staff Commendation Card twice in his career.
In his chequered career spanning 39 years, the General has seen action during Indo-Pak War, Counter Insurgency in North East and Jammu & Kashmir.
The General is married to Mrs Anita Thamburaj and has two daughters.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
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