The increased computerization in U.S. hospitals hasn't made them cheaper or more efficient, Harvard researchers say, although it may have modestly improved the quality of care for heart attacks.

The findings, published in today's [Friday's] online edition of The American Journal of Medicine, contradict claims by President Obama and many lawmakers that health information technology (health IT), including electronic medical records, will save billions and help make reform affordable.

"Our study finds that hospital computerization hasn't saved a dime, nor has it improved administrative efficiency," said lead author Dr. David Himmelstein, associate professor at Harvard Medical School and former director of clinical computing at Cambridge Hospital in Massachusetts. "Claims that health IT will slash costs and help pay for the reforms being debated in Congress are wishful thinking."

The study uses data from the most extensive survey ever undertaken of hospital computerization. Data from approximately 4,000 hospitals for the years 2003 to 2007, including those on a list of the "100 Most Wired," were analyzed for evidence of increased quality, cost savings or improvements in administrative efficiency.

The data came from the authoritative Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytics annual survey of hospital computerization; Medicare Cost Reports that virtually all hospitals submit annually to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); and the 2008 Dartmouth Health Atlas, which compiles CMS data on costs and quality of care.

Although the researchers found that U.S. hospitals increased their computerization between 2003 and 2007, they found no indication that health IT lowered costs or streamlined administration, even in the "most wired" institutions. While U.S. hospital administrative costs increased slightly, from 24.4 percent in 2003 to 24.9 percent in 2007, hospitals that computerized most rapidly actually had the largest increases in administrative costs. (By way of comparison, older studies have estimated administrative costs in Canadian hospitals at 12.9 percent).

The study found no evidence of lagged effects, e.g. lower costs in 2007 resulting from information technology introduced in 2003.

Modest quality gains were noted in the treatment of heart attacks (acute myocardial infarction) in more-computerized hospitals, but even these small improvements may merely represent better documentation rather than actual gains to patients.

Himmelstein said a report from the Congressional Budget Office in 2008 signed by Peter Orszag, now Obama's budget director, expressed skepticism about claims by the RAND Corp. and others that health IT could generate $80 billion annually in savings.

"Part of the CBO's skepticism was based on the limited information available to the RAND study and similar studies," Himmelstein said. "But this new, detailed, national survey of diverse hospitals shows such doubts are well-founded. Information technology can't rescue us from our national health care crisis."

Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, professor of medicine at Harvard and study co-author, said several factors may explain why health IT has failed to reduce administrative costs.

"Any savings may have been offset by the costs of purchasing and running new computer systems," she said. "In addition, most software is designed around the accounting and billing needs of hospitals, not the clinical side."

She noted that a computer success story in recent years has been at the Veterans Administration, where global budgets eliminate most billing and internal cost accounting, allowing physicians to focus instead on delivering care.

"The VA system now has our nation's highest quality and patient approval ratings," Woolhandler said. "Congress should take note: to get the most benefit from our health care dollars and from health IT, we should adopt a single-payer, Medicare-for-all program. Nothing short of that will allow us to reap the full potential of computerization or to provide comprehensive, quality and affordable care to all."

******
"Hospital computing and the costs and quality of care: a national study," David U. Himmelstein, M.D., Adam Wright, Ph.D., and Steffie Woolhandler, M.D., M.P.H., The American Journal of Medicine, Nov. 20, 2009 (online).

Physicians for a National Health Program (www.pnhp.org) is an organization of 17,000 doctors who advocate for single-payer national health insurance. To contact a physician-spokesperson near you, visit www.pnhp.org/stateactions or call (312) 782-6006.

— WebWireID108231 —

The Copenhagen conference aims to lead to a global agreement on energy and climate that will take over from the Kyoto Protocol as of 2013, in the interest of containing the average increase in temperatures to below 2°C.

One of the major priorities of the conference is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for all of the stakeholders, which include both emerging and industrialized nations and economies. The conference will also tackle the issue of adapting to the impacts of climate change, technology transfers and the implementation of mechanisms for financing these initiatives.

All of these issues are of critical importance for the future of our planet and world citizens.

Air Liquide participates in the fight against climate change by developing the innovative technologies that contribute to achieving reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, such as the capture and storage of CO2, and supplies the hydrogen that enables the production of cleaner fuels. The Group is also developing clean alternative energies, such as photovoltaic, second generation biofuels and hydrogen and fuel cells.

Energy and the Environment are part of the five growth drivers of Air Liquide, which invests more than 60% of its R&D budget in solutions aiming to preserve the environment and life.

In Copenhagen, Air Liquide will be present at the Bright Green exhibition on December 12 and 13 (Stand 58 – Energy Zone).

— WebWireID108201 —

The major objection from the CHMP was the lack of a comparator arm without Avastin in the BRAIN study, an investigational phase II trial. The CHMP tends to base its approval decisions on Phase III studies only. Roche decided to submit this data set to regulatory authorities globally based on Avastin's remarkable clinical activity seen in BRAIN. Roche remains convinced that the results of the BRAIN study, which were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in October 20091 are robust and remain valid. Adverse events in the BRAIN study were consistent with those previously seen with Avastin and no new safety signals were reported.1

'We are very disappointed with the CHMP opinion which will result in a delay to patients receiving an important new treatment option. We strongly believe that Avastin is a new treatment option for physicians within the EU which would bring hope to GBM patients and their families as it is today in the US and other countries,' said William M. Burns, CEO of Roche's Pharmaceuticals Division. 'Relapsed glioblastoma is a rare condition and represents a very high unmet medical need. These patients deserve effective additional therapies to manage this devastating disease. We remain committed to bringing Avastin to patients with newly diagnosed GBM in Europe'.

In May 2009 Avastin was granted accelerated approval for the treatment of GBM patients with progressive disease following prior therapy from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on data from the BRAIN study (AVF3708g) and an NCI study (NCI 06-C-0064E). Switzerland and ten other countries have already recognised the significant clinical benefits Avastin offers to GBM patients by giving approval.

Roche continues to further explore the role of Avastin in GBM through various investigator-led studies. In addition, a large phase III study (AVAGLIO) in over 900 patients with newly diagnosed GBM is currently underway with the aim of a global filing5.

Avastin has proven survival benefits across several types of cancer. It is approved in Europe for the treatment of the advanced stages of four common types of cancer: colorectal cancer, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and kidney cancer. These types of cancer collectively cause over 2.5 million deaths each year6,7,8. Over half a million patients have been treated with Avastin so far.
About Glioblastoma

Glioma is the most common type of primary brain tumour, accounting for approximately one third of all cases diagnosed9. Glioma also represents around 80% of all primary malignant brain tumour cases9. Glioblastoma (or glioblastoma multiforme; GBM) is the most common and the most aggressive type of glioma9. The prognosis for patients with GBM is poor. The treatment options for GBM depend on many factors including the location and size of the tumour, and the overall health and age of the patient10.

Glioblastoma affects approximately 17,000 people per year in the EU2. Following initial treatment, glioblastoma tumours nearly always return and currently, there are limited treatment options for patients when these relapses occur and their prognosis is particularly poor3. According to historical estimates, less than 10 percent of patients with recurrent GBM respond to treatment and approximately 15 percent will live six months without their disease getting worse1,5. GBM is a compelling therapeutic target for Avastin as these tumours have very high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)11.
About the BRAIN study (AVF3708g)

The BRAIN study was a US based open-label, multicentre, non-comparative phase II study including 167 patients with histologically confirmed GBM that had progressed following initial treatment with temozolomide and radiation. The primary endpoints of the BRAIN trial were progression free survival-6 (PFS-6), (defined as the percentage of patients who remained alive and progression free at 24 weeks) and objective response rate (ORR), (defined as a complete or partial response on two consecutive MRIs obtained 4 weeks apart). Secondary endpoints explored included OS, PFS, duration of response to treatment and safety. The BRAIN study evaluated Avastin at a dose of 10mg/kg every two weeks, as a single agent (BEV), or in combination with irinotecan chemotherapy (BEV-IRI).

The BRAIN study demonstrated that:

* When Avastin was evaluated as a single agent, the study showed that at six months over 40% (42.6%) of the patients were alive without their disease getting worse, as defined by PFS-6. When Avastin was combined with irinotecan, this figure increased to 50.3%1.
* In the study, over a quarter (28%) of patients responded to Avastin as a single agent, meaning tumours decreased in size by at least 50%. When Avastin was combined with irinotecan, 38% of patients responded to Avastin1.
* Patients receiving Avastin alone had a median overall survival of 9.2 months; this was 8.7 months for those receiving Avastin in combination with irinotecan, which was a secondary endpoint in the study1.
* Adverse events in the BRAIN study were consistent with those previously seen with Avastin and no new safety signals were reported1.
* Recent results showed the potential for additional positive impact on patients' daily lives. Of those patients who responded to Avastin-based therapy, a majority had a stabilisation or improvement in neurocognitive function at the time of the response and a reduction in their dose of steroids from baseline4.

About the AVAGLIO study

The AVAGLIO study is an international, multicentre, randomised, double blind, phase III study including over 900 patients with newly diagnosed histologically confirmed GBM which will investigate the efficacy and safety of treatment with Avastin combined with standard of care (temozolomide chemotherapy and radiotherapy) following surgery.

The primary endpoints of the AVAGLIO trial are progression free survival, (defined as the duration for which patient remains alive without their disease worsening) and overall survival. Secondary endpoints that will be explored include one and two year survival rates, safety and health related quality of life.
About Avastin

Avastin is an antibody that specifically binds and blocks the biological effects of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor). VEGF is a key driver of tumour angiogenesis – an essential process required for a tumour to grow and to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Avastin's precise mode of action allows it to be combined effectively with a broad range of chemotherapies and other anti-cancer treatments. Avastin helps to control tumour growth and extend survival with only a limited impact on the side effects of chemotherapy.

Avastin has proven survival benefits across several types of cancer. It is approved in Europe for the treatment of the advanced stages of four common types of cancer: colorectal cancer, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and kidney cancer. These types of cancer collectively cause over 2.5 million deaths each year6,7,8. In the US, Avastin was the first anti-angiogenesis therapy approved by the FDA and it is now approved for the treatment of five tumour types: colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, brain (glioblastoma) and kidney (renal cell carcinoma).

Over half a million patients have been treated with Avastin so far. A comprehensive clinical programme with over 450 clinical trials is investigating the use of Avastin in various tumour types (including colorectal, breast, non-small cell lung, brain, gastric, ovarian, prostate and others) and different settings (advanced or early stage disease).
About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world's largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche's personalised healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In 2008, Roche had over 80,000 employees worldwide and invested almost 9 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 45.6 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

References
1.Friedman H et al. J Clin Oncol 2009; 31 August [Epub ahead of print as doi/10.1200/JCO.2008.19.8721] Last accessed 1 September 2009 at http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/abstract/JCO.2008.19.8721v1.
2.Decision Resources, Cancer Incidence in 5 Continents Version IX, CI5 IX, World Population Prospects, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, National Swedish Brain Tumour Registry
3.Medscape. Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme: Definition of Recurrent GBM. Last accessed 10 August 2009 at: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/540150_2
4.Vredenburgh, J. et al. ECCO 15 ESMO 34 2009; Abstract #8707.
5.Chinot, O. et al. ECCO 15 ESMO 34 2009; Poster #46
6.Garcia M et al. Global Cancer Facts & Figures. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society, 2007
7.WHO Cancer Factsheet N°297 – updated July 2008. Last accessed 24 March 2009 at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/index.html.
8.Parkin DM et al. CA Cancer J Clin 2005; 55: 74-108.
9.Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS). Primary Brain Tumours in the United States Statistical Report.
10.Stupp R et al. Ann Oncol 2007; 18 (supplement 2): ii69–ii70.
11.Takano S et al. Cancer Res 1996; 56: 2185-2190.

— WebWireID108184 —

'HP commends Congressman Jim McDermott for introducing the Conflict Minerals Trade Act, which underscores the need to prevent the purchase of minerals from mines known to fund the ongoing armed conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

'As a long-recognized industry leader in social and environmental responsibility, HP expects HP suppliers to conduct their worldwide operations in a manner that does not result in labor or human rights violations such as the direct financing of armed conflict.

'HP supports the primary goal of the Conflict Minerals Trade Act: the development of an effective, workable, cross-industry solution to meet the unique challenges posed by conflict minerals in the DRC.

'In addition to general support of the Conflict Minerals Trade Act, we will continue our long history of driving supply chain transparency and accountability, and sharing our best practices in order to assist industry and other stakeholders as this legislation proceeds. We look forward to continued collaboration with Congressman McDermott, other industries and impacted stakeholders.'

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world's largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/.

— WebWireID108069 —

Austin, TX, In a joint partnership with the City of Austin, Daimler is launching its groundbreaking car2go pilot project in North America today. The innovative mobility concept makes city driving as easy as using a mobile phone. It offers Austin an easy, flexible, reasonably priced and progressive solution to the growing challenges of urban mobility. Austin becomes the official headquarters of car2go North America LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler. The first pilot phase starts with 200 smart fortwo vehicles and a defined group of users. At some point in 2010, the number of cars will be increased and car2go will be made accessible to all Austin residents and students.

The car2go system is straightforward. 200 smart fortwo vehicles are made available within the city for all registered car2go members. This fleet of vehicles can be accessed 24/7. After a one-time registration process, the customers can use the service on the spot by accessing any available vehicle on the street, or can book in advance through the online reservation process. One significant difference from traditional car-sharing programs is that car2go offers cars on demand and the customers may use the vehicle for as long as they like, without committing to a specific return time. Furthermore, car2go allows users to make one way trips. Charges are not based on distance, but on time – with rates starting by the minute.

'car2go is an innovative answer to current and future mobility needs in urban areas', says Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. 'We are pleased with the success we achieved in Ulm, Germany – the first car2go city - and we are ready for the next logical step on our way to an international rollout.'

Austin becomes first international partner for car2go

The City of Austin is the first North American city to partner with car2go. This launch follows the successful implementation of the first car2go pilot in October 2008 in the southern German city of Ulm.

The 200 smarts of the first pilot are rented 500 to 1,000 times per day and they are used by 15,000 customers which equals more than 15 percent of the citizens who possess a driver's license in Ulm. 90 percent of the participants take advantage of the unique offer to use car2go spontaneously without booking in advance and for one-way trips.

'The City of Austin is committed to identifying and implementing solutions to address the challenges associated with urban growth, mobility and environmental sustainability,' said Mayor Lee Leffingwell. 'This pilot-program partnership between car2go and the City of Austin represents a significant step toward helping us alleviate congestion, reduce emissions and increase the use of public transportation.'

For the pilot, the pick up and drop off area is limited to the greater downtown Austin area which has an expansion of about 17 square miles where more than 60,000 employees work. The use of a car2go vehicle includes all city-controlled parking fees: No need to feed the meters! car2go is paying a usage fee to the City of Austin in the form of free driving minutes for employees driving on City business.

'Facilitating innovative transportation solutions is integral to the City of Austin's goal of becoming the best-managed city in America,' said City Manager Marc Ott. 'By promoting large-scale car sharing, we can help address mobility challenges in and around our urban core, ultimately reducing the burden on city center traffic and parking.'

More than 13,000 city employees have the opportunity to use the smart vehicles not only for business but also for private use. Billing is handled with the same degree of simplicity and flexibility as every aspect of car2go – the rates are all-inclusive: fuel, maintenance, insurance, miles and parking. Competitive hourly or daily rates apply to longer rental periods. The trademark of car2go is its user friendly system, developed to meet and exceed the needs of customers. A car2go service team on the ground will handle daily maintenance of the vehicles. The service team will also ensure the vehicles are fueled and clean. If customers want to refuel the vehicles by themselves, they can use a pre-paid credit card found in the glove compartment of the car2go. The time for refueling the car will be credited to the customer with 10 minutes of free driving.

'The goal of the Austin pilot project is to gather experience we can use to ensure the public launch of car2go in North America in 2010 is successful,' says Nicholas Cole, CEO of car2go North America LLC. 'In the second phase we will increase the number of cars in Austin and open the service to the public. We are also talking to a large number of cities in North America and Europe about additional rollouts of car2go.'

The smart fortwo vehicles for the Austin pilot phase are provided by the smart USA Distributor LLC. The vehicle size and its maneuverability are perfect for car sharing programs in urban areas.

— WebWireID107951 —

New York, N.Y - Today, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, together with Central Park Conservancy President Douglas Blonsky and Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe announced a $1 million donation from Chase to the Conservancy to restore and replant areas of Central Park that were devastated by an unusually severe storm on August 18, 2009. The Mayor recognized the efforts of several Conservancy workers who worked tirelessly after the storm to secure and remove damaged trees and reopen the very damaged northern third of Central Park. Also on hand was Thomas L. Kempner, Jr., Chairman of the Central Park Conservancy's Board of Trustees.

At the Great Hill - one of the areas most damaged by the August storm - Mayor Bloomberg, Mr. Dimon, Mr. Blonsky and Commissioner Benepe planted a 12 foot-tall sapling to kick-off the restoration process, funded largely by Chase's donation. Thirty local students from Thurgood Marshall Academy and the Young Women's Leadership School of East Harlem took part, and planted flagged stakes in spots on the Hill where trees were lost.

"The August thunderstorm ripped through the city, causing some of the most extensive damage to Central Park in modern memory," said Mayor Bloomberg. "During the three weeks that followed the storm, Central Park Conservancy and Parks Department staff and volunteers worked around the clock to clear the debris. Their dedicated work and this generous gift from Chase will allow us to complete almost all of the post-storm restoration projects that we still have left to do in Central Park."

"New York City is the heart of our operations, and Central Park is the heart of New York," said JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon. "JPMorgan Chase has been a steadfast supporter of the Park for decades. There was no question; we knew we needed to move quickly to restore a place that is such an integral part of New Yorkers' lives."

"The Park is more than 843 acres of historic landscapes, trees and water bodies - it's a part of the fabric of this city and our lives," said Doug Blonsky, Conservancy President. "When thousands of Park friends saw the storm's destruction, they were moved to help. So was Chase, a generous longtime supporter of the Park. With Chase's help, we will create new landscapes that generations of Park patrons will cherish as much as the ones we lost."

"In the space of half an hour on the night of August 18, a freak blast of wind devastated thousands of trees in New York City, knocking down over 500 in Central Park alone. For a while, the north end of Central Park looked like a logging camp," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Thanks to the hard work of the Central Park Conservancy, the road to restoration is well underway but much needs to be done to replant the damaged areas while taking this opportunity to increase plant diversity, encourage wildlife and improve the park's vistas. The City is especially grateful to J.P. Morgan Chase for their extraordinarily generous donation toward this effort."

The severe storm that tore through parts of Manhattan the evening of August 18, 2009 destroyed more than 500 trees in Central Park -some of them older than the Park itself. One thousand more trees were damaged, and landscapes were devastated. Especially in the 275-acre northern end of the Park, downed trees and limbs knocked over light poles, tore through fences and destabilized soil. Conservancy crews swung into action immediately, assessing the damage and beginning the arduous process of carefully cutting down, stacking and chipping damaged trees. In the first three weeks after the storm, the round-the-clock efforts of 26 tree crews dealt with a majority of the damage. A staggering 90 metric tons of wood chips were processed in that time.

Chase's $1 million contribution, the largest of any single donor giving to the restoration process, will restore lost landscapes and plant new trees throughout the Park, especially in the areas of the Great Hill and the Ravine, two areas most profoundly affected by the storm. The bank has a rich history of supporting Central Park and activities in the park, dating back to the first Corporate Challenge race held at the Park in 1977, and began its support for the Central Park Conservancy within the first year of the organization's formation. Today, Chase supports public cultural, educational, and environmental programs in the Park such as the Harlem Meer Performance Festival, the Urban Horticulture & Ecology Training Program, Camp Central Park and the Catch & Release Fishing Program.

Chase, through JPMorgan Chase and its Foundation, has given over $100 million in financial support to non-profit organizations every year in the last five years. In New York City, the bank has been a strong philanthropic supporter of affordable housing, foreclosure prevention and financial education efforts, in addition to significant investments in kindergarten through high school public education.

— WebWireID107950 —

Since childhood, Couri has been a witness to, and victim of, court corruption in New York. His goal is to lay out a concise history of his experiences, to serve as an education and a warning to all those who become entangled in New York's web of unscrupulous courtrooms.

The video series will be released over the coming weeks on YouTube and Scamraiders.com.

For more information and previous Jim Couri video installments, visit www.scamraiders.com.

— WebWireID107864 —

"We are setting a realistic and achievable target for carbon intensity because we are serious about reducing our impact on the environment," Mr Thodey said.

"Our customers, employees and the community increasingly expect us to act, and as the owner of infrastructure that is vulnerable to harsher climatic conditions it is in our interests to do so."

The target requires Telstra to reduce its carbon emissions intensity by at least 10 percent and up to 15 percent by 2015. Carbon emissions intensity refers to the amount of carbon emitted for every dollar earned by a company.

In 2008/09 Telstra emitted 1.52 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, or 64 tonnes per million dollars of domestic revenue. The target requires Telstra to reduce this to at least 58 tonnes per million dollars of domestic revenue by 2015.

Telstra will achieve this reduction by:

* Investing in energy efficient projects and accommodation;
* Undertaking specific energy saving projects in existing facilities, and decommissioning redundant network assets;
* Reducing the energy intensity of purchased products and services;
* Implementing staff training to reduce office and vehicle fleet emissions; and
* Adopting low carbon information and communications technologies (ICT) solutions such as video conferencing and teleworking.

Mr Thodey said the target was ambitious, because it took into account the additional energy required to meet exponential growth in network and data storage capacity.

"Traffic on Telstra's Next G™ wireless broadband network is doubling every eight months while traffic on the Next IP™ network is doubling every 20 months."

"This means Telstra has to manage its environmental footprint at the same time as meeting our customers' rapidly expanding demand for energy-intensive technology like data capacity and network storage."

"It is important that Telstra manage its own energy efficiency, but we recognise that the greater contribution we can make is to provide services that enable our customers to reduce their own impact on the environment."

Mr Thodey announced the carbon target at the launch of the company's 2008/09 Corporate Responsibility Report in Sydney.

The report shows that Telstra:

* Provided more than $180 million in free and subsidised services to help more than one million disadvantaged Australians maintain a phone service;
* Laid 800 kilometres of optical fibre through Arnhem Land, providing Indigenous communities with high speed broadband for health, education and other services;
* Supported victims of the February 2009 Victorian bushfires with bill waivers, 1000 free handsets, Internet kiosks and 60 free public payphones;
* Contributed more than $65 million in value to community organisations, including more than $3.5 million through the Telstra Foundation; and
* Increased by 29 percent the number of Indigenous employment opportunities.

"As a company that has the privilege of touching the lives of millions of Australians every day, we have an important responsibility to act ethically and responsibly in all that we do," Mr Thodey said.

"Every single action we take has an impact on our company, our customers, our shareholders and the nation, and we want to make sure that our efforts help make Australia a better place to live and work."

The 2009 Corporate Responsibility report provides a comprehensive view of Telstra's performance against planned actions, in line with the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines, an internationally recognised reporting framework.

For more information and to view a copy of the Report online visit: www.telstra.com.au/cr

— WebWireID107843 —

The reasons for the top ranking are Saab's strategic long-term climate work and its investment in new environmental technologies. Saab's goal is to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases by 20 percent by the year 2020, compared with 2007.

"We are delighted that we can contribute with more and more solutions and products that lead to a society with lower emissions of carbon dioxide. Everything from solutions for more efficient transport flows on land and at sea, to Saab's work on the EU Clean Sky programme, which aims to reduce the effects of aviation on climate," says Saab's Environmental Director, Kenth Algotsson.
Saab's investment in new environmental technology

Saab participates in several European projects within environmental technologies:

* Clean Sky - Saab's contribution includes the development of new types of wings, energy-efficient systems for deicing and smarter flights that will make European aviation more environmentally friendly and reduce emissions by 20-40 percent.
* SESAR – a development programme for air traffic control which aims to streamline European airspace, increase safety and reduce the environmental impact. Saab's contribution is i.e. the continuing development of remotely operated air traffic control towers, the ROT concept.

Decreased carbon dioxide emissions

From 2007 to 2008, Saab has reduced its emissions by about 7,500 tonnes, from 55,000 tonnes to 47,500 tonnes. The decrease is primarily due to reduced activity in South Africa and the divestment of Saab Space, but Saab's efforts to reduce emissions from its own operations have also produced results.
About the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is an independent non-profit organisation with the largest database in the world of corporate climate reporting. Every year CDP presents the 20 companies that have shown the most professional handling of corporate governance with a focus on reporting the effects on climate change.

— WebWireID107842 —

ATLANTA, The Coca-Cola Company announced today that beverages in its innovative PlantBottle™ packaging are beginning to arrive on store shelves in select markets throughout the world, initiating the Company's journey toward a goal of producing 2 billion of the special PET plastic bottles by the end of 2010.

PlantBottle PET plastic bottles are made partially from plants, which reduces the Company's dependence on a non-renewable resource -- petroleum. Other benefits are that it is 100 percent recyclable, and preliminary research indicates that from the growing of the plant materials through to the production of the resin, the carbon footprint for the PlantBottle packaging is smaller than for bottles made with traditional PET.

"Today, we are taking a major step along our sustainable packaging journey as The Coca-Cola Company becomes the first-to-market with a recyclable PET plastic bottle made partially from plants," said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company. "From Coke brands in Copenhagen to DASANI water in the Western United States, we are starting to roll out the first generation of the bottle of the future."

Throughout Denmark, Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Light and Coca-Cola Zero in 500mL and 2L sizes are now available in the PlantBottle packaging. A variety of products, including Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fresca and DASANI will be in Western Canada in the PlantBottle beginning in December and for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. And for select markets in the Western United States, including Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles, PlantBottle packaging will be used for sparkling brands and DASANI in several sizes, starting in January. Future launches are being planned in other markets, including Brazil, Japan and Mexico and for China's Shanghai Expo in 2010.

PlantBottle samples also will be featured at the Company's investor event, "A Growing World of Refreshment, A 2020 Vision," which begins later today in Atlanta.

"The PlantBottle is precisely the kind of innovation that demonstrates how businesses can help address climate change and reduce stress on our precious natural resources," said Kate Krebs, Director of Sustainable Resources for The Climate Group. "While Coca-Cola is just beginning to bring its plant-based PET plastic into the mix, this is a revolutionary solution that has the potential for long-term, meaningful benefits."

PlantBottle packaging is currently made through a process that turns sugar cane and molasses, a by-product of sugar production, into a key component for PET plastic. The sugar cane being used comes from predominantly rain-fed crops that were processed into ethanol, not refined sugar. Ultimately, the Company's goal is to use non-food, plant-based waste, such as wood chips or wheat stalks, to produce recyclable PET plastic bottles.

"Coca-Cola is currently sourcing raw materials for its PlantBottle from suppliers in Brazil, where third parties have verified that best-in-class agricultural practices are the norm," said Dr. Jason Clay, Senior Vice President of Market Transformation for WWF. "Preserving natural resources through sustainable agriculture is essential for businesses like Coca-Cola as they search for ways to alleviate environmental challenges."

While the bio-based component can account for up to 30 percent of the resulting PET plastic in PlantBottle packaging, the percentage varies for bottles that also contain recycled PET. For example, Denmark uses recycled content in its PlantBottle packaging. The combined plant-based and recycled content makes up 65 percent of the material, with 50 percent coming from recycled material and 15 percent from plant-based material.

For the PlantBottle packaging in the United States and Canada, up to 30 percent of the content in the PET plastic comes from plants.

"While the PlantBottle introduction and market launch put The Coca-Cola Company on the forefront of bio-based packaging innovation, we are continuing to strive to make an even better bottle," said Scott Vitters, Director of Sustainable Packaging, The Coca-Cola Company. "Our vision is to continue innovating to achieve a bottle that is made with 100 percent plant-waste material while remaining completely recyclable."

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with nearly 500 sparkling and still brands. Along with Coca-Cola®, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 12 other billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke®, Fanta®, Sprite®, Coca-Cola Zero®, vitaminwater, POWERADE®, Minute Maid® and Georgia® Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of nearly 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

— WebWireID107817 —

Do you need a new car but worry about making a big-ticket purchase during tough times? Switch gears and get that new vehicle, says Laurie Asch, Senior Tax Analyst for the Tax & Accounting business of Thomson Reuters. Legislation passed earlier this year to jump-start the economy includes a tax incentive for new car purchases. Asch explains how to 'wheel and deal' this expiring tax break, and various tax credits (two new for 2009) for purchases of new energy-saving cars, to lessen your sticker shock.

Free ride on sales tax. If you buy a new car, SUV, or light truck by year-end, you can deduct the state or local sales or excise taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price. 'You will get the deduction whether you itemize or claim the standard deduction, and it's allowed for alternative minimum tax (AMT) purposes,' says Asch. 'You may also claim the deduction for more than one car. For example, for a married couple whether filing jointly or separately, each spouse can deduct the taxes for his or her own new car.' However, the deduction phases out if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is between $125,000 and $135,000 (between $250,000 and $260,000 on a joint return).

Note some added benefits: 'You do not have to use the car for business, and it doesn't have to be an energy saver,' says Asch. However, you must buy the car by Dec. 31, 2009, before Congress puts on the brakes. One other potential road block: you cannot take this deduction next April if you elect to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes.

Green light for credits. In addition to the above deduction, if your new car is an energy saver and is certified as meeting applicable environmental requirements, you may be entitled to one of the credits described below, which apply for both regular tax and AMT purposes. (Unlike a deduction, a credit reduces your tax dollar for dollar.)

You do not have to use the car for business, but it must be used predominantly in the U.S.

For certain credits, the amount allowed for a particular manufacturer's cars phases out after a set number of its vehicles is sold. So, even if your new car otherwise qualifies, you may not get the full credit. Ask your dealer, or go to IRS's Web site (www.irs.gov), to find out what you can claim for your new car.

Alternative motor vehicle credit. The AMV credit consists of separate credits for four different types of vehicles:

Qualified fuel cell. The credit equals a base amount ($8,000 for cars and light trucks). Asch advises taxpayers to rev up their purchases now if possible, because the base amount will drop to $4,000 in 2010. There is an additional $1,000 to $4,000 based on rated fuel economy compared to 2002 models.

Advanced lean-burn technology. The credit equals $400 to $2,400 (based on rated fuel economy compared to 2002 models), plus an additional $250 to $1,000 (based on estimated lifetime fuel savings). So, you may be able to claim as much as $3,400 ($2,400 + $1,000)—ask your dealer for specifics. Certain Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz models are certified for the credit. But because of the phase-out, it has been reduced for Ford and Mercury vehicles, and it's not available for Honda, Toyota, or Lexus vehicles.

Qualified hybrid. For cars and light trucks, the credit amount is the same as for advanced lean-burn technology vehicles (see above). Certain Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Saturn, GMC, Nissan, and Mazda models are certified for the credit. But because of the phase-out, it has been reduced for Ford and Mercury vehicles, and it is not available for Honda, Toyota, or Lexus vehicles. Asch points out that you cannot claim this credit if the new-for-2009 qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle credit (see below) is available.

Qualified alternative fuel motor. The credit equals 50 percent of the vehicle's 'incremental cost,' plus an additional 30 percent if it meets certain emissions standards, but not more than $4,000 for a car or light truck.

New-for-2009 qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle credit. For qualifying vehicles, the NQPEDMV credit equals $2,500, plus $417 for each kilowatt hour (kwh) of battery capacity over 4 kwhs (over 5 kwhs, after 2009), not to exceed $7,500. The NQPEDMV credit hasn't been phased out yet.

New-for-2009 qualified plug-in electric vehicle credit. The QPEV credit equals 10 percent of the 'low-speed' vehicle's cost, not to exceed $2,500. The QPEV credit is not allowed if a NQPEDMV credit is allowed.

Cash-for-clunkers program. The Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) Program provided a cash incentive, in the form of a tax-free voucher that reduced the purchase price, to trade in older gas-guzzling vehicles for new, more fuel-efficient ones. This 'cash-for-clunkers' program was scheduled to be in effect through Nov. 1, 2009, but was so popular that all funding for it (including amounts allocated under a special extension) was exhausted before Sept. 1. 'While you really had to be in the fast lane to take advantage of this tax break, don't miss out on the others,' says Asch.

About Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare and science and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 50,000 people and operates in over 100 countries. For more information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.

The Tax & Accounting business of Thomson Reuters is the leading provider of technology and information solutions, as well as integrated tax compliance software and services to accounting, tax and corporate finance professionals in accounting firms, corporations, law firms and government. Tax & Accounting includes the Professional Software & Services, Corporate Software & Services, and Research & Guidance business groups.

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RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. - Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a leader in creating the latest innovations in the consumer electronics and telecommunications industries, has added a leading recycling program to its growing list of successes as a leader in environmental stewardship. This month, Samsung collected and recycled its 12 millionth pound of e-waste in 2009. Samsung Recycling Direct©, launched in October 2008, is the company's 50-state recycling program, which allows consumers to drop off their consumer electronics products at over 200 permanent drop-off centers in the U.S.

The recycling milestone comes on the heels of a bevy of sustainability achievements and successes from Samsung. As companies get ready for National Recycling Day on November 15th, the U.S. EPA 'PlugIn To e-Cycling' project gave Samsung an honorable mention for covering the cost of recycling for more than 2 million pounds of TV waste without a mandate or funding e-waste recycling programs. The company has also received state recognition awards in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and New Hampshire for its recycling efforts, and recently received three Eco-Design honors from the Consumer Electronics Association.

At a global level, the Korea-based manufacturer in September ranked tenth globally and first in Asia among corporations on the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, which assesses corporate policies and activities companies engage in to respond to climate change. Samsung also announced recently its collaboration with Microsoft involving efficient energy usage in computers utilizing Microsoft's Windows 7 Operating System and Samsung's 40 nanometer class DDR3 DRAM, which decrease energy usage, reduce energy demands and the amount of electricity that must be generated, therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

'Samsung has always been known for our top consumer electronics. Now we are utilizing our expertise in cutting-edge technology to make our products greener, increasing their energy efficiency, as well as improving the manufacturing and distribution processes behind them,' said David Steel, SVP of Strategic Marketing, Samsung Electronics America. 'Our sustainability commitment is holistic in our 360 degree approach, addressing the impact of our products from creation to discard.'

Samsung's 360-degree approach is part of a 2009 launch of Eco-Management 2013, a company-wide environmental sustainability initiative that emphasizes a commitment to making environmental guardianship a priority across the business. The initiative, announced in July this year, includes a $4.3 billion pledge to eco-management, a 50 percent reduction target for greenhouse gas emissions normalized by sales from global manufacturing facilities, an 84 million ton reduction of indirect greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing products, and a promise to make 100 percent of Samsung products eco-friendly over the next five years.

Fifty-two percent of Americans say they want to be more green or environmentally conscious, ranking that as a priority over dieting, exercise and changing jobs in 2009, according to Roper Green Gauge 2009.

Samsung is passing its greener ways onto consumers, allowing them to choose products that operate more sustainably once at home. Earlier this year, the company launched its line of LED HDTVs that are mercury free and consume up to 40 percent less energy than similarly sized 2008 LCD HDTVs. Samsung's 2009 plasma HDTVs consume 39 percent less power than 2008 models of similar sizes, and the Samsung ReclaimTM, the company's first eco-friendly U.S. mobile phone is built using bio-plastics from corn and made up of 80 percent recyclable materials. The Reclaim includes a virtual user manual and packaging made from 70 percent recycled materials printed with soy ink. Additionally, a portion of the ReclaimTM mobile phone sales are donated to the Nature Conservancy's Adopt an Acre program, which supports land conservation across the U.S.

Samsung Sustainable Facts
• End of Life
o 12 million pounds of recycled e-waste in 2009
o No-fee recycling of all Samsung products (except appliances)
o 200+ drop-off recycling locations
o 50-state coverage
o Strict enforcement of recycling principles
o Committed to Basel Ban Amendments: Hazardous electronic waste will not be incinerated; be placed into solid waste landfills; or be exported to developing countries
• Processes
o All 37 global manufacturing facilities are ISO 14001 certificated
o 100% of new facilities are OHSAS 18001 certified (by 2010)
o More seals of approval from the top six environmental certifications than any other CE company globally—for more than 1,900 models (as of January 2009)
o EPA Green Power Certification for its Austin semiconductor facility powered with wind-generated electricity
o EPA SmartWay™ Transport Partner
• Products
o As the leader, Samsung has the most ENERGY STAR qualified TV models amongst all CE Brands
o 100% of HDTV's are ENERGY STAR 3.0 qualified; including LED, LCD & PDP TVs
o 100% of dishwasher and clothes washers are ENERGY STAR qualified
o 100% of monitors, printers, notebooks are ENERGY STAR qualified
o 100% of monitors and notebooks are EPEAT Silver rated or higher
o 100% of our mobile phone chargers are ENERGY STAR qualified
o More EPEAT™ rated monitors than any other monitor brand
o No. 1 among IT manufacturers in EPEAT rated notebooks

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), based in Ridgefield Park, NJ, is a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. The company markets a broad range of award-winning consumer electronics, information systems, and home appliance products, as well as oversees all of Samsung's North American operations including Samsung Telecommunications America, LP, Samsung Semiconductor Inc., Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Mexico, Inc. As a result of its commitment to innovation and unique design, the Samsung organization is one of the most decorated brands in the electronics industry. The company was ranked #6 in the Electronics Industry segment in Fortune Magazine's 'Most Admired Companies 2008,' and named as one of Fast Company's 'Fast 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2008.' Among popular BusinessWeek rankings, the company ranked #26 in the publication's 'Most Innovative Companies of 2008'.

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WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union today demanded that the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) release all records in its possession related to attempts by prison officials to purge from federal prison chapel libraries any religious material arbitrarily deemed to be unacceptable.

The demand, articulated in a letter sent to the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Information and Privacy, follows the failure by BOP officials to adequately respond to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed last spring by a California graduate student writing a thesis on the censoring of religious materials in federal prisons.

"The refusal of prison officials to provide a full accounting of their rationale for banning religious material is just the latest example of an ongoing effort to secretly and unconstitutionally censor material they consider to be unacceptable," said David Shapiro, staff attorney with the ACLU National Prison Project. "To deny prisoners their constitutional right to access religious materials is bad enough. But to attempt to do so in a way that skirts transparency and prevents the public from knowing what they are doing is entirely unacceptable."

In order to complete his master's degree in religion at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California, the student, Joshua C. Harris, is writing a thesis on the 2007 implementation of the Standardized Chapel Library Project (SCLP), which authorized BOP officials to purge from prison chapel libraries any material that was not on a list of "acceptable" publications that the libraries could maintain. Among those titles banned at the time were Maimonides' "Code of Jewish Law."

In order to obtain information about how it was decided what materials would be placed on the list of "acceptable" publications, what materials would be left off and who was charged with making those determinations, Harris filed a FOIA request in April asking for "any/all documents that detail the reasoning behind, and implementation of, the [SCLP]." The SCLP was a major undertaking that surely generated a substantial amount of records, but the BOP's September response to Harris' FOIA request included only four documents.

"The lack of information provided to me by BOP officials has certainly impeded my ability to complete my thesis, but that is only part of my concern," Harris said. "My research is motivated by a general concern for the rights of prisoners, particularly their religious freedoms. Incarcerated populations are especially vulnerable to abuses of power, in part, because prisoner issues, such as the censorship of religious materials, are largely invisible to the public. I'm concerned that policies directly impacting federal prisoners are being devised and implemented without any public awareness or debate."

The 2007 implementation of the SCLP sparked harsh criticism from lawmakers and religious leaders across a broad ideological spectrum and, in 2008, prompted Congress to pass a provision of the Second Chance Act that allows BOP officials to restrict only those materials "that seek to incite, promote or otherwise suggest the commission of violence or criminal activity" or "any other materials prohibited by any other law or regulation." The Act explicitly forbids any further attempt "by whatever designation that seeks to restrict prisoners' access to reading materials, audiotapes, videotapes or any other materials made available in a chapel library."

Despite the existence of the Act, however, BOP earlier this year proposed a new rule that seeks to restrict prisoners' access to materials in defiance of the law. The watered-down standard in the proposed rule would allow any book to be banned if it is determined that it "could…suggest" violence or criminal activity, regardless of whether there is any intent to cause violence or even a reasonable possibility that violence will result. Works such as the Bible, the Qur'an and Martin Luther King's "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" could be left vulnerable because, theoretically, they could suggest violence or criminal activity to a reader.

The proposed rule would also allow BOP to ban books that are seen as "advocating or fostering violence, vengeance or hatred toward particular religious, racial or ethnic groups" or books that are deemed to advocate "for the overthrow or destruction of the United States."

In March, the ACLU filed formal comments with BOP's Office of General Counsel opposing the proposed rule. The comments were signed by a diverse coalition of religious organizations including the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, the American Jewish Congress and Muslim Advocates. BOP has yet to decide whether it will implement the rule.

A copy of the ACLU's demand letter sent today to the Department of Justice is available online at:
www.aclu.org/prisoners-rights/aclu-demand-documents-related-standard-chapel-library-project

A copy of the ACLU's comments on BOP's proposed rule is available online at:
www.aclu.org/prison/restrict/39036res20090317.html

Additional information about the ACLU National Prison Project is available online at: www.aclu.org/prison

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In a recent blog post on www.dennistubbergen.com, Tubbergen explains why reports of a housing market recovery are being viewed by many with skepticism.

Tubbergen cites a recent article written in September by Chris Martenson, a writer and commenter on economic matters.

Martenson explains that when a prospective homeowner wants to purchase a home, he or she typically needs to get that loan from a mortgage lender. That lender, after loaning the new homeowner the needed funds, typically sells the mortgage to another institution who sells it to yet another. This process continues until at some point there is an 'end holder' of the mortgage.

The lending bank rarely holds the mortgage. Instead, the modern banking model is far more profitable making loans and selling them, freeing capital to make additional loans instead of holding them as part of the bank's portfolio.

According to Martenson, year to date through August of 2009, 3.2 million existing homes were sold at an average sale price of $217,000, and 263,000 new homes were sold at an average price of $264,000. Assuming all of these properties were purchased with a 20% down payment, there was new mortgage volume through the first 8 months of the year of about $611,066,000,000, or $611 billion.

The Federal Reserve's website reports the central bank purchased $624 billion worth of mortgage backed securities so far in 2009.

What does this mean? The Federal Reserve isn't just playing a role in the housing market – it HAS BECOME the housing market. It appears the government is spending more money than it's taking in.

Where does the Fed get the money to do this? The Federal Reserve holds a portfolio of US Treasuries, or government IOU's. So basically the US Government, or rather the US Taxpayer, is behind the housing market recovery, Tubbergen explains.

Which makes any rejoicing about the Housing Market 'Recovery' premature.

To learn more about Tubbergen's views on the market, read www.dennistubbergen.com.

USA Wealth Management, LLC, is a federally registered investment advisory company. The opinions expressed herein are those of the writer and not necessarily that of the above noted company. This update may contain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements as to future events that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those that were forecasted. Information obtained from third party resources is believed to be reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

This information is educational in nature and, therefore, is not intended to constitute investment advice and should not be interpreted as a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a particular security. Prior to making any investment decision, the services of an appropriate professional should be sought as investment related recommendations are dependent upon the personal situation of each individual investor. Investing in market related securities involves a risk of principal loss.

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The LDA has been tasked under the Mayor's leadership and within the framework set out by the London Skills and Employment Board (LSEB) with cutting the number of long term workless in London and helping London's low paid to progress in work.

Under the new Government Skills Strategy, released today, the LDA and LSEB have responsibility for developing an effective plan for London. We will be working with a number of local and national agencies to deliver on this objective and simplify services for London's people and its employers.

We are investing £75 million in employment and skills programmes, this includes £48 million through the Mayor's Economic Recovery Action Plan:

* £24 million is being invested over the next two years in programmes like the the West London Employability Project and East London Works to address structural employment issues, long term worklessness and support businesses
* £24 million is being invested through the LDA's ESF programme to tackle youth unemployment and its causes through programmes to provide training, apprenticeships and jobs to assist young people to make the most of the opportunities available in London.
* The LDA expects more than 20,000 people to benefit from these new programmes and of those, 10,000 are expected to take up further training or jobs.

The LDA is also maximising the employment benefits of the 2012 Olympic Games by using the opportunities they provide to assist people into training and provide support with accessing work opportunities. This includes an £7.5 million investment in Personal Best a London-wide volunteering programme which gives people the skills they need to get into jobs.

To help inform the LDA's strategic investment strategy going forward, the agency has commissioned a suite of five research reports to assist it and its partners better understand London's labour market and identify new and innovative ways of getting more value from its investments.

The first of these independent research reports commissioned by the LDA is published today. Entitled Staying In, Moving Up: Employment Retention and Progression in London, the report shows that, despite significant progress made, too many Londoners still are trapped in a 'low pay, no pay' cycle with one in two out of work Londoners back on benefits within six months of leaving benefits.

Stephen Evans, Director of Skills and Youth at the London Development Agency says:

"The research released today will enable the LDA and our stakeholders to make improvements to our programmes and projects and ensure we are getting better value from our investments in this area. Many of the findings will be used to inform the development of our projects in 2010 and 2011, including post-employment support, skills training and career advancement.

"To address many of the employment problems faced by out of work Londoners and those in low-paid work we have shifted the value of the LDA's investment in employment and skills investment to focus on sustained jobs and progression into better paid work.

"The report outlines the scale of the challenge we face in ensuring that Londoners are not only helped into work, but supported to stay in employment and progress into better jobs and careers. Too many Londoners cycle between low pay and no pay. The highly paid are five times more likely to get training than the low paid, which limits their progression. These are challenges the LDA and our partners are committed to tackling."

The independent report, commissioned by the LDA, focuses on the barriers Londoners face to get into sustainable employment and move into better jobs. The report also sets out the challenges and barriers London faces in achieving this and brings together best practice from across the UK and the rest of the World.

These findings will now be used to inform the design of the London Development Agency's programmes and projects in 2010 and 2011 to ensure we better address the employment and skills needs of Londoners in the future.

Other key findings in the report include:

* Two in five Londoners of working age are either out of work or in low paid jobs
* Nearly one in ten low-skilled, low-paid Londoners receives job-related training whilst in work, compared to one in two working in lower managerial and professional occupations
* Certain groups experience disproportionately high levels of unemployment such as disabled people (45%), young people (46%), Bangladeshi/Pakistani ethnic minorities (47%) and lone parents (43%)
* People who experience long-term barriers to sustained employment and wage rises are more likely to be female, have certain disabilities, work part-time or be in low-paid occupations.

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In his new book, Not Invited to the Party: How the Demopublicans Have Rigged the System and Left Independents Out in the Cold, George Mason University professor James T. Bennett explores the rise of the two-party political system. His book reveals how:

• The U.S. founding fathers distrusted political parties.

• By the end of the Civil War, the two parties had cemented their power and developed policies to help protect their duopoly.

• The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 was sold to the public as a nonpartisan act of good government, but further blocked independent political parties in favor of Democrats and Republicans.

Not Invited to the Party includes a foreword by American attorney and political activist, Ralph Nader, and an afterword by Libertarian National Committee Chairman, William Redpath.

About the author:

James T. Bennett is Eminent Scholar and William P. Snavely Professor of Political Economy and Public Policy at George Mason University and Director of the John M. Olin Institute for Employment Practice and Policy, both in Virginia, USA.

James T. Bennett
Not Invited to the Party: How the Demopublicans Have Rigged the System and Left Independents Out in the Cold
211 pages. Hardcover. $24.50; €24.95; £22.99
ISBN 978-1-4419-0365-5

The author is available for interview.

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San Francisco - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP, will defend the Yes Men and other activists in a lawsuit filed against them by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over political criticism of the Chamber's stance on climate change legislation.

In mid-October, the activists staged a "press conference" in which the Chamber of Commerce ostensibly reversed its position and promised to stop lobbying against strong climate change legislation -- a stance that has caused numerous Chamber members to leave the organization. As has been widely reported, before the press conference was even completed, a Chamber of Commerce representative rushed into the room and revealed that the Chamber's position on climate change legislation had not in fact changed.

"The action was a brilliant piece of political theater, but it had a serious purpose: calling attention to the Chamber's political activities," said EFF Senior Staff Attorney Corynne McSherry. "This is core political speech, protected by the First Amendment. We're very pleased that Davis Wright Tremaine -- with its long, successful history of protecting free speech rights of Americans -- has joined us in helping these activists battle a transparent attempt at censorship."

"U.S. courts have recognized that political parody lies at the heart of the First Amendment," said Davis Wright Tremaine LLP partner Bruce Johnson. "Even if the party parodied refuses to giggle--or even panics and sues--free speech will ultimately triumph. We look forward to a prompt dismissal of this case and a reaffirmation of the rights of all Americans to poke fun at the pompous and powerful."

The Chamber has pulled out all the stops in its effort to silence the activists. First, it sent an improper copyright takedown notice to the Yes Men's upstream provider, demanding that a parody website posted in support of the action be removed immediately and resulting in the temporary shutdown of not only the spoof site but hundreds of other sites hosted by May First/People Link. Next, the Chamber filed suit against the activists in federal court, claiming among other things the activism infringed their trademarks.

"Trademark rights do not encompass the right to silence criticism," said EFF Senior Staff Attorney Matt Zimmerman. "It is our hope that the Chamber will rethink its lawsuit and take a position more consistent with its past support of First Amendment rights."

A response to the Chamber's complaint is due later this month in the U.S. District Court for District of Columbia.

For more on this case:
http://www.eff.org/cases/chamber-commerce-v-servin

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SEATTLE, Wash. - Msnbc.com and Onvia are partnering to open a window into the world of stimulus funding. Consumers can go to stimulustracker.msnbc.com, a visually compelling and interactive destination, and search American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) spending data in real-time based on geography, state, county and city. Consumers can also search based on the status of projects as allocated, advertised or awarded. Powered by Onvia, the information is the most comprehensive, accurate and timely data on stimulus spending available. In addition to the interactive map, there is an analysis of ARRA spending progression and specific details for top projects by cost, geography and spending category.

'Msnbc.com's stimulus tracker lets consumers track billions of dollars of recovery act contracts with a visually rich map at the national, state and county level,' said Jim Ray, Studio development team manager at msnbc.com. 'We'll continue to expand on our data to include the recently released data from the federal government as well as new layers of relevant data over the coming weeks and months until all of the recovery act money has been spent.'

The information in msnbc.com's stimulus tracker comes from Onvia and is updated monthly. The data links back to Onvia's Recovery.org site for more detailed information about individual projects.

'This partnership with msnbc.com is an incredible opportunity to provide a meaningful context to our recovery project data,' says Mike Pickett, Onvia CEO. 'One goal of this partnership is to make stimulus spending information available to everyone, especially the businesses who will benefit from this growing market.'

Msnbc.com allows users to delve into how and where stimulus funds are being distributed and what projects are slated for their area. This is an incredible resource for businesses as the public sector continues to grow at an incredible rate. Onvia is able to track and present federal, state and local government projects in real-time and provide a clear overview of spending.

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New Delhi, India – Top executives from Indian and international financial institutions endorsed the capital market reforms proposed by Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, during his keynote address yesterday at the India Economic Summit. 'We do need to do the things mentioned by the prime minister,' said Ashok Jha, Chairman, MCX Stock Exchange, India. Jha and other financial leaders spoke in a session entitled Financial Aftershock: Resuscitating the Flow of Private Capital.

In his address yesterday, the prime minister said, 'We need to develop long-term debt markets and to deepen corporate bond markets. This, in turn, calls for strong insurance and pension sub-sectors.' He added: 'We need to improve futures markets for better price discovery and regulation. We also need to remove institutional hurdles to facilitate better intermediation.'

The prime minister's proposals for the bond market 'will facilitate capital flows [from abroad] in an environment where there is no longer excess capital,' said Jim Quigley, Global Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte, USA; Global Agenda Council on the Skills Gap. Robert Morrice, Chairman and Chief Executive, Asia Pacific, Barclays, Hong Kong SAR, noted: 'The insurance bill will be a good start in the asset management area.'

In general, the financial executives on the panel were upbeat about India's future. 'I have worked all over the world for 29 years with Merrill Lynch,' said Kevan V. Watts, Country Head, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, India. 'There is a reason why I am in India.'

The World Economic Forum is celebrating 25 years of active engagement in India at its annual India Economic Summit, taking place in New Delhi from 8 to 10 November. This year's Summit has set a new record for total participation with over 800 leaders from industry, government, civil society and academia from over 40 countries. The theme for this year's Summit is 'India's Next Generation of Growth.'

The six top industry leaders serving as Co-Chairs for the Summit are: Shumeet Banerji, Chief Executive Officer, Booz & Company, United Kingdom; Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Renault, France; President and Chief Executive Officer, Nissan, Japan; William D. Green, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Accenture, USA; Baba N. Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Forge, India; Chanda Kochhar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, ICICI Bank, India; and Indra Nooyi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, PepsiCo, USA.

Note to Editors:
For information on the Summit go to the Forum's website: http://www.weforum.org/india2009
Plenary sessions will be streamed live on Livestream: http://livestream.com/worldeconomicforum
Videos of the plenary sessions will be also available at http://www.youtube.com/worldeconomicforum
All Press Releases are at http://www.weforum.org/pressreleases
Watch webcasts from India: http://www.weforum.org/india2009/webcasts
Join the Davos Debates in India (http://youtube.com/davos)
Download free high-resolution photos from Flickr: http://www.weforum.org/india2009/photos
Follow the Forum on Twitter at http://twitter.com/davos
Twitter users kindly use the hashtag #WEFIndia for all tweets about the event. Here is a list of tweeps attending the India meeting: http://twitter.com/davos/WEFIndia The short URL is http://tr.im/WEFIndia
The official host broadcaster for the India Economic Summit is New Delhi Television (NDTV)

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests (http://www.weforum.org)

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GENEVA -- Despite considerable progress in the past decades, societies continue to fail to meet the health care needs of women at key moments of their lives, particularly in their adolescent years and in older age, a WHO report has found.

Launching the report, entitled Women and health: today's evidence tomorrow's agenda, WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan called for urgent action both within the health sector and beyond to improve the health and lives of girls and women around the world, from birth to older age.

"If women are denied a chance to develop their full human potential, including their potential to lead healthier and at least somewhat happier lives, is society as a whole really healthy? What does this say about the state of social progress in the 21st century?" asked Dr Chan.
Women provide the bulk of health care, but rarely receive the care they need

Worldwide, women provide the bulk of health care - whether in the home, the community or the health system, yet health care continues to fail to address the specific needs and challenges of women throughout their lives.

Up to 80% of all health care and 90% of care for HIV/AIDS-related illness is provided in the home - almost always by women. Yet more often than not, they go unsupported, unrecognized and unremunerated in this essential role.

When it comes to meeting women's health care needs, some services, such as care during pregnancy, are more likely to be in place than others such as mental health, sexual violence and screening and treatment for cervical cancer.

However, in many countries, sexual and reproductive health services tend to focus exclusively on married women and ignore the needs of unmarried women and adolescents. Few services cater for other marginalized groups of women such as sex workers, intravenous drug users, ethnic minorities and rural women.

"It's time to pay girls and women back, to make sure that they get the care and support they need to enjoy a fundamental human right at every moment of their lives, that is their right to health," said Dr Chan.
Women live longer than men but these extra years are not always healthy

HIV, pregnancy-related conditions and tuberculosis continue to be major killers of women aged 15 to 45 globally. However, as women age, noncommunicable diseases become major causes of death and disability, particularly after the age of 45 years.

Globally, heart attacks and stroke, often thought to be "male" problems, are the two leading killers of women. Women often show different symptoms from men, which contributes to under diagnosis of heart disease in women. They also tend to develop heart disease later in life than men.

Because women tend to live on average six to eight years longer than men, they represent a growing proportion of all older people. Societies need to prepare now to deal with the health problems and costs associated with older age and anticipate the major social changes in the organization of work, family and social support.
Despite some biological advantages, women's health suffers from their lower socio-economic status

Lack of access to education, decision-making positions and income may limit women's ability to protect their own health and that of their families. Though major differences exist in women's health across regions, countries and socio-economic class, women and girls face similar challenges, in particular discrimination, violence and poverty, which increase their risk of ill-health.

For example, in the case of HIV/AIDS the risk posed by a biological difference is compounded in cultures that limit women's knowledge about HIV and their ability to negotiate safer sex.

"We will not see significant progress as long as women are regarded as second-class citizens in so many parts of the world," Dr Chan said. "In so many societies, men exercise political, social and economic control. The health sector has to be concerned. These unequal power relations translate into unequal access to health care and unequal control over health resources," she added.
Policy change and action is needed within the health sector and beyond

The report seeks to identify key areas for reform, both within and outside the health sector. These include identifying mechanisms to build strong leadership with the full participation of women's organizations, strengthening health systems to better meet women's needs throughout their lives, leveraging changes in public policy to address how social and economic determinants of health adversely impact women, and building a knowledge base that would allow a better tracking of progress.

Strategies to improve women's health must also take full account of gender inequality and address the specific socioeconomic and cultural barriers that prevent women from protecting and improving their health, the report points out.

— WebWireID107284 —