Since the official start of Inspiring Young Minds in China in May 2009, the programme has seen encouraging results by providing basic network infrastructure for forty schools in Qinghai, Ningxia, Yunnan and Jiangxi provinces in south-western China. The programme distributes computers and multimedia equipment as well as providing training programs for local teachers. So far, over 6,600 students and 1,700 teachers have benefited from this programme.

The Inspiring Young Minds programme is a joint initiative between BT and UNICEF. The programme has invested £1.5 million (RMB 15 million) globally with the goal of bringing education, technology and communication skills to children from disadvantaged backgrounds in South Africa, Brazil and China. In China, Inspiring Young Minds is jointly led by UNICEF and the Chinese National Center for Educational Technology, Ministry of Education.

The Chinese programme team began by surveying over 2,000 headmasters, teachers and students in poor regions, which served as a basis for developing a scientific and reasonable program of education. Currently, the programme has provided schools with a range of equipment, including laptop computers, netbooks, modems and multimedia projectors, ensuring that first and second year primary school students have access to 40 hours of computer class time and third and fourth year students will have 80 hours of computer class time.

Kevin Taylor, managing director, BT Asia Pacific, said: 'We are very happy to be able to bring advanced communication and information technology to children in poorer parts of China, giving them the opportunity to experience the world from their own classroom. Strengthening the exchange of information among young people can help them become more confident, better preparing them to cope with future challenges. We will continue to work with more organizations to push the development of education for children in the rural areas of China.'

The efforts by BT Hong Kong and the Chinese National Center for Educational Technology, Ministry of Education, have been strengthened with additional programme support from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In 2010, Inspiring Young Minds will use the University's SMILE Electronic Education System to bridge geographic and cultural gaps between students and teachers from Hong Kong and Mainland China. This will in turn facilitate communication and learning on both sides of the border, and can even be used to send educational materials, increasing understanding and spreading the values of the Inspiring Young Minds programme.

— WebWireID113978 —

TORONTO, Four-in-ten (42 per cent) Canadian families with children under the age of 12 are not taking full advantage of tax savings, including 17 per cent who say they are not aware of what options are available to them, according to a new RBC Tax Planning Poll.

"When you are raising a family, it's important to stretch every dollar and making the most of available tax savings can make a big difference," said Patricia Domingo, Investment & Retirement planner, RBC. "By taking advantage of available tax credits and incentives, parents can maximize their tax returns and put that money toward their saving priorities."

The RBC poll also found that just over half (56 per cent) of young families are currently saving for their child's post-secondary education. Of the 44 per cent who are not currently saving, nine per cent feel they won't need to, but the majority (84 per cent) of the rest said that they would like to, but are unable due to their current financial situation.

The top financial challenges for parents are having money left over from paycheque-to-paycheque (30 per cent), followed by paying down debt (28 per cent).

"It can be challenging for young families to balance savings priorities, but starting with putting aside just a small amount on a regular basis can make a meaningful difference in financing your child's education," said Domingo. "A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a good option for parents to consider as there are tax advantages and government matching programs to help make your child's education goals a reality."

RBC highlights the following tips for young families looking to make the most of tax savings and their financial planning:

Open a Registered Education Savings Plan - RESPs are flexible savings plans that allow money deposited for your child's post-secondary education to grow tax-free until they attend university or college.

The federal government supplements RESPs through the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG), which matches contributions by 20 per cent up to an annual maximum of $500 or $7,200 over the life of a plan. Upon withdrawal, the income is taxed in the child's hands, so there should be little or no tax payable given the child will be in a lower tax bracket. Additional federal grants are available for lower-income families and Alberta and Quebec also offer provincially-based savings incentives to boost education savings.

Open a Tax-Free Savings Account - A TFSA allows you to grow your money tax-free, up to $5,000 per year. Also, room from your allowed unused contribution can be carried forward to future years and any money withdrawn will be added to unused contribution room so you can re-contribute that money starting the following year.

Take advantage of child care deductions - Child care expenses, such as daycare, nannies, summer camp and before and after- school programs are eligible for a deduction against income. The claim amount is actual cost of expenses, up to a specific dollar amount, and is claimed by the parent with the lowest taxable income.

Take advantage of the Child Amount Tax Credit - This credit allows you to claim a tax credit on your income tax return based on an amount of $2,089 for each child under the age of 18. This can also be applied against tax deducted at source by your employer.

Take advantage of the Children's Fitness Amount Tax Credit - This credit entitles you to claim up to $500 per child to cover costs of enrolment in a qualifying fitness program. To claim the credit on your 2009 tax return, payments must have been made on or before Dec. 31, 2009.

Parents can find more information about money management, simplifying finances and helping families achieve their financial goals, by visiting rbc.com/couplesandfamilies. Get the advice you need and download your own personalized Guide to Everyday Finance.

The RBC Tax Planning omnibus was conducted by Ipsos Reid between January 29 and February 5, 2010. This online survey of 517 young Canadian families with children 12 years or younger, was conducted via the Ipsos I-Say Online Panel, Ipsos Reid's national online panel. The results are based on an unweighted probability sample of this size, with 100 per cent response rate. With a representative sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within ±4.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Margins of error for subgroups will be larger.

— WebWireID113958 —

As part of the record attempt teenagers across the UK will take a temperature reading for their area at 9.15am and feed the data to the Weather Centre at BBC Television Centre.

The temperature readings, taken in celcius, will then be used to fill in a BBC Weather map for a special broadcast later in the day. Each school taking part has a temperature disc on the map which has been located using the coordinates of the school and the combination of the discs on the map will show the variation of temperatures across the UK. Students in London will also be joined by well known weather icons such as Michael Fish as the event unfolds.

BBC weather forecaster Carol Kirkwood – who will be at Wildern School near Southampton for Breakfast TV on the day – said everyone taking part should have a great time: "The weather is the one thing in our lives which changes on a daily, even hourly, basis. It's hugely interesting and lots of fun."

The record attempt is part of this year's BBC News School Report – a project taking place on the same day to engage 11-14 year olds with news and bring their stories and voices to a wider audience.

This is the fourth year for the RTS [Royal Television Society] award-winning School Report project.

Teachers across the UK have been using resources available on the BBC News School Report website (bbc.co.uk/schoolreport) to help their 11-14 year old students develop journalistic skills and become "School Reporters". More than 50,000 teenagers have been involved over the school year sometimes with practical help from BBC mentors.

This year more than 700 schools across the UK will make and publish their own news stories – on every topic under the sun – including the day's weather. Around 25,000 teenagers will take part, simultaneously creating multi-media news reports, to a deadline of 2.00pm and publishing them on their school websites by 4.00pm.

The BBC News School Report website will link to these websites and will also stream School Report Radio and School Report LIVE for the day.

Many schools have enhanced their foreign news coverage by talking to other schools around the world, and for the first time schools in South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria and Kenya have been involved as part of a joint initiative with the British Council's Connecting Classrooms programme.

Students' reports will also be available on the BBC's Red Button service and there will be coverage throughout the day on the BBC's international, national, regional and local TV, radio and online services.

School Reporters are working on a wide range of stories including interviews with David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Harriet Harman, the war in Afghanistan, the impact of repatriation from Wootton Bassett school, immigration, teenage drinking, the floods in Cockermouth, prospects for the Commonwealth Games, the future of education, fundraising for Haiti, the first interview by young people of the new Children's Commissioner for England and much more.

BBC News presenter and former teacher, Huw Edwards, is lending his support to the project sharing his expertise through a series of short videos.

He says: "I'm involved because I want to give young people the chance to make the news themselves, and I want to share the principles of good journalism."

Helen Shreeve, Editor, says: "Often we see teenagers on the news in stories about crime or education but we don't get to hear their views or other aspects of their lives or interests. School Report gives 11-14 year olds the chance to set the news agenda themselves, and it gives the BBC's audiences the opportunity to see the world from their perspective."
Notes to Editors

School Report is an annual project open to all schools in the UK with 11-14 year old pupils. For more informtion see bbc.co.uk/schoolreport.

Coverage on Thursday 11 March will spread across:

School Report LIVE is a dedicated multi-media channel that will showcase students and their work in a number of locations around the UK. On screen viewers will see a mixture of live TV, live radio, pre-recorded video, audio, graphics, photographs sent in by teachers and text messages and emails sent in by BBC mentors and teachers. This will be hosted at Television Centre in London by political reporter and ex-Newsround presenter Adam Fleming working with a team of School Reporters.

School Report Radio is running for the third year but for the first time you will be able to watch it. The School Report team is trialling a new sort of radio visualisation which will enable audiences to see graphics, photographs and texts whilst listening to radio output. School Report Radio is also working in partnership with 5 Live throughout the day and there will be a two-hour section from Manchester presented by 5 Live presenter Tony Livesey and Heather Stott (weather presenter NW Today) working with a team of School Reporters.

There will be outside broadcasts from Bristol, Edinburgh, and Ammanford in South Wales, with the BBC Bus in Leeds, a newsroom at the Big Bang Science Fair in Manchester plus live internet links with schools across the British Isles and elsewhere in the world.

School Report 2008 won a Royal Television Society (RTS) award for innovation in education in June 2009.

— WebWireID113951 —

In an effort to excite young people about space and NASA's missions, the agency has launched the online Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) simulation, designed to entertain and educate. The interactive simulation offers a virtual 3-D experience to visualize how data travels along various space communications paths.

"The elaborate space communications networks that connect scientists and engineers with NASA's spacecraft is essential to all of NASA's missions and can be a challenging concept to comprehend," said Barbara Adde, a policy and strategic communications manager for the Office of Space Communications and Navigation at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "This simulation helps explain this complex infrastructure in an engaging way by using an interactive 3-D game."

The interactive Space Communication and Navigation simulation allows visitors to select spacecraft and experience a "flythrough," or a tutorial with images and descriptions of NASA's three space communication networks. For example, the Near Earth Network flythrough shows how data originates at an antenna at McMurdo Station, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. The data is then sent to NASA's Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, as it passes overhead.

The Space Network flythrough also shows how data is relayed from NASA's White Sands Test Facility, N.M., to the space station via the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System, a network of communication satellites and ground stations NASA uses for space communications.

Finally, in the Deep Space Network demonstration, visitors learn how NASA communicates with the Mars Exploration Rovers, Sprit and Opportunity, by using the Madrid Deep Space Network antenna to send data to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which then relays the data to the rover.

"Making this interactive simulation available to young people is important and may lead them to consider a career in engineering, science or information technology as it relates to space," said Chris C. Kemp, chief information officer at NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif. "NASA is embracing the fact that programs like this help convey NASA's message to people who respond well to virtual and online learning environments."

The space communication network simulation features nine spacecraft to choose from, including the Hubble Space Telescope, the space station, the space shuttle orbiter, the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, Cassini, the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), ICESat and Aura. Once a spacecraft is contacted, visitors can request actions such as "choose an imaging target" and "take pictures" of the Crab Nebula as seen from Hubble, or view videos of the space shuttle docking at the station.

In addition to the Space Communication and Navigation simulation, NASA provides interactive applications and other online educational tools on its Web site.

To explore the Space Communication and Navigation network simulation, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/3d_resources/spacecomm.html

For more information about the Space Communications and Navigation network, visit:

http://www.spacecomm.nasa.gov

For more information about NASA's educational resources, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education

— WebWireID113947 —

Experience the new Hoffman Center for Conservation and Environmental Education, with an all new Nature Store, gallery and classrooms filled with activities

BERNARDSVILLE, March 10, 2010 — Celebrate Spring at the Grand Opening of New Jersey Audubon's Hoffman Center for Conservation and Environmental Education on Saturday and Sunday May 1 and 2, 10 am to 4 pm, at the Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, 11 Hardscrabble Road, Bernardsville. This free, two-day family event features something for everyone -- music and entertainment; hands-on nature activities; live animal demonstrations; and displays from local organizations, all surrounded by 276 acres of scenic woodland, field and floodplain habitat supporting some 200 species of wildlife ready for you to explore. Stop by the registration table and pick up an Event Program that will guide you through the May Days activities.

Several times throughout both days, special kids' radio telemetry classes will take place, which will show how professional wildlife biologists track all kinds of species on their travels around the world by letting kids track 'wildlife' on the grounds of the Sanctuary. There will be fun nature crafts for the little ones, a Natural Treasure Hunt and free face painting provided by local Girl Scout Troops.

The event line-up also includes entertaining and educational indoor presentations by specialists on dragonflies, birds, local history and some great storytelling. And, if a plant only blooms for one day, what good does it do in nature? Find out at a lecture by one of the state's renowned experts on 'ephemeral' plants. Enjoy live music outdoors and visit live animal exhibits by the Raptor Trust and NJ Audubon's Weis Ecology Center, featuring birds of prey and other birds.

Come by and shop for special May Days discounts at the Nature Store, and tour a one-of-a-kind exhibition of indoor and outdoor contemporary art on threatened and endangered birds of New Jersey by award-winning New Jersey artist, Pat Brentano.

Admission is FREE and healthy foods and refreshments will be available both days, for sale by local vendors.

For more information please visit www.njaudubon.org/go/grandopening. As we move closer to the event check back for an event schedule, directions to off-site parking and bike routes to the celebration. Bring your family and friends to this fun, festive event where you'll discover a place where experiencing nature is pure fun.

For more on artist Pat Brentano, visit www.patbrentano.com.

###

New Jersey Audubon is a privately supported, statewide, not-for-profit membership organization.

— WebWireID113801 —

March 9, 2010 - Upper Marlboro, MD - CREATION is a Broadway-style dance production that portrays the six days of creation and seventh day of rest recorded in the Bible. Featuring a cast of over 80 dancers, original musical score and hundreds of costumes, this year's performances will be held at the Bowie Performing Arts Center, Saturday, March 27th and Sunday March 28th at 7:00 pm nightly. Tickets for the event range from $10.00 - $25.00.

Young choreographer Christine Byrams is the visionary behind the production. After seeing the Broadway version of The Lion King in New York a few years ago, she decided to tell the biblical story of creation in similar theatrical fashion. Last year, she along with 80 dancers premiered the work at Washington DC's THEARC Theater in two sold out performances. 'The 2010 production will be much more expansive than last year's,' Byrams noted. 'The costumes, set design, lighting and music have all been modified to reflect the growth of the dancers and of the vision I have been given for this piece.'

The production is a key element in the arts renaissance Clinton Christian School has been experiencing for the past four years. In that time the school has seen its choral music, instrumental music and dance departments increase in size and number of productions. The dance department has grown from just a few members to over 90 student participants and in 2009, began presenting CREATION as its annual production. The production provides an opportunity for dancers to participate in a piece which affirms their faith and values while giving them needed performing experience.

For further information please contact Karla Scott at 240-424-8190.

###

— WebWireID113870 —

NEW YORK, NY - Today, the Coca-Cola system in the U.S. proudly joined with the William J. Clinton Foundation, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and members of the American Beverage Association (ABA) to announce that it has successfully delivered on its three-year commitment to increase the availability of no- and low-calorie beverages to schools across the country. As a result, the industry has driven an 88 percent reduction in total calories from beverages delivered to schools in the first half of the current school year, as compared to the first of the 2004-2005 school year.

"It was the right thing to do in 2006, and it continues to be the right thing to do today," said Sandy Douglas, President of Coca-Cola North America. "The Coca-Cola system is extraordinarily proud of what we have accomplished and how we are making it easier for schools and parents to help young people make balanced choices."

The Coca-Cola system helped institute the U.S. School Beverage Guidelines in 2006 by voluntarily removing regular soft drinks from U.S. schools. At the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, 98.8 percent of schools and school districts measured were in compliance with the School Beverage Guidelines.

"Coca-Cola recognizes that the world is changing and that Americans are increasingly looking for ways to lead balanced, active lifestyles," said Steve Cahillane, President of Coca-Cola Enterprises, North American Business Unit. "Today's achievement is the latest example of the Coca-Cola system's commitment to being a responsible school partner and to supporting education through active lifestyle programs in schools."

The Coca-Cola system's commitment to schools and education goes beyond the cafeteria. The Coca-Cola Company and its bottlers share a legacy of supporting education through programs like the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. Since 1986, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has awarded more than $53 million in scholarships to more than 10,000 students across a variety of scholarship programs.

Through the popular online loyalty program, MyCokeRewards.com, parents and local school communities can donate their MyCokeRewards points and enable local schools to obtain sports and playground equipment, art and music supplies and resources to supplement their educational programs for students. Since MyCokeRewards for Schools launched in 2008, more than 21 million points have been donated to 4,000 schools throughout the U.S. These schools have then redeemed their points for more than 3,300 rewards valued at $320,000.

Note to Editors:
The Alliance School Beverage Guidelines Final Progress Report can be found at www.ameribev.org. More information about The Coca-Cola Company's commitment to balanced, active and healthy lifestyles can be found at www.livepositively.com.

About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Together with Coca-Cola®, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio includes 14 billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke®, Fanta®, Sprite®, Coca-Cola Zero®, vitaminwater, Powerade®, Minute Maid®, Simply® 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 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.

About Coca-Cola Enterprises
Coca-Cola Enterprises is the world's largest marketer, distributor and producer of bottle and can liquid nonalcoholic refreshment. CCE sells approximately 80 percent of The Coca-Cola Company's bottle and can volume in North America and is the sole licensed bottler for products of The Coca-Cola Company in Belgium, continental France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Monaco, and the Netherlands. For more information on the company, please visit www.cokecce.com. For more information about CCE's commitment to Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, please visit http://crs.cokecce.com.

— WebWireID113860 —

Toys Etc., a family-run business based in Queensland, prides itself on offering complete lines of its toys to fulfill the needs of their customers, carrying hard-to-find items that other brick-and-mortar and online stores simply do not have. Its goal is to become the one place parents need to go to find that special toy for their children.

The company puts a special emphasis on learning toys that help children explore and learn about their world while having fun. Its Lego toy collection, for example, is unsurpassed. And, Toys Etc., has a newsletter to let their customers know when new items are available.

Toys Etc.'s website is easy to navigate, offering customers a fast way to find what they are looking for at a competitive price. Shipping starts at less than $8 per order and the company ships throughout Australia.

For more information and to check out Toys Etc.'s inventory of high quality toys, go to: www.ToysEtc.com.au.

— WebWireID113826 —

Led by Hugh S. Taylor, M.D., professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale, the study is the first to show that BPA exposure permanently affects sensitivity to estrogen.

Taylor and his team used two groups of mice, one exposed to BPA as a fetus during pregnancy and another exposed to a placebo. They examined gene expression and the amount of DNA modification in the uterus. They found that the mice exposed to BPA as a fetus had an exaggerated response to estrogens as adults, long after the exposure to BPA. The genes were permanently programmed to respond excessively to estrogen.
'The DNA in the uterus was modified by loss of methyl groups so that it responded abnormally in adulthood,' said Taylor. 'The gene expression was permanently epigenetically altered and the uterus became hyper-responsive to estrogens.'

Taylor said that exposure to BPA as a fetus is carried throughout adulthood. 'What our mothers were exposed to in pregnancy may influence the rest of our lives. We need to better identify the effect of environmental contaminants on not just crude measures such as birth defects, but also their effect in causing more subtle developmental errors.'

Citation: The FASEB Journal (Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) Vol. 24, Issue 3 (March 2010)

— WebWireID113842 —

Hoping to capture the attention of many youngster LEGO fans, Galaxy Bricks, focuses exclusively on LEGO sets from the Star Wars theme. In 1999 LEGO released the initial sets which coincided with Episode 1, The Phantom Menace. Since then, LEGO has created over 200 sets and becoming their most popular theme.

Brothers Jason and Stephen Forthofer began their building of Galaxy Bricks in September as they noticed how engaged boys ages 5 to 12 were in LEGO Star Wars toys. "Kids would come up to me at church and pull Star Wars mini figures out of their pockets. I was amazed at how well these kids collected these toys" explains co-owner Stephen Forthofer.

Jason Forthofer explains their mission, "We want to create the best LEGO Star Wars guide on the web. Period." Galaxy Bricks includes product videos, mini figure pictures, product descriptions and images that users can zoom into. Popular areas of the website include their LEGO Star Wars mini figures and the most popular of all sets LEGO Death Star.

Forthofer Marketing maintains offices out of Dacula, Georgia and Coral Springs, Florida.

— WebWireID113812 —

Thirty years after the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), many girls and women still do not have equal opportunities to realize rights recognized by law. In many countries, women are not entitled to own property or inherit land. Social exclusion, "honour" killings, female genital mutilation, trafficking, restricted mobility and early marriage among others, deny the right to health to women and girls and increase illness and death throughout the life-course.

We will not see sustainable progress unless we fix failures in health systems and society so that girls and women enjoy equal access to health information and services, education, employment and political positions.

International Women's Day is also a day to celebrate the achievements over the years to eliminate discrimination against women and girls. For instance, a few days ago, WHO and five UN partners pledged to jointly build a future of gender equality and social justice for adolescent girls. We are convinced that educated, healthy and skilled adolescent girls will help build a better future. They will stay in school, marry later, delay childbearing, have healthier children and earn better incomes that will benefit themselves, their families, communities and nations.

Today we must all join forces to make sure that the health of women and girls is not jeopardized simply because they were born female.

— WebWireID113790 —

PLEASANTON, Calif. - An increasing number of primary and secondary schools are leveraging video conferencing for classroom-to-classroom collaboration as a way to expand their curriculum and give students memorable learning experiences by interacting with students and teachers in other cities, states and countries. Each year hundreds of schools get their first experience through Read Around the Planet, a free, annual video conferencing event sponsored by Polycom, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM), the leading provider of visual communications solutions, and Two-Way Interactive Connections in Education (TWICE), Michigan's K-12 video conference organization. In its ninth year, Read Around the Planet 2010 took place between Feb. 22 and March 5 and involved more than 58,000 students in six countries.

Read Around the Planet is an international video conferencing event designed to promote reading and the opportunities for classroom collaborations in education. The program is timed with, and in celebration of, the National Education Association's (NEA) 13th annual Read Across America Day, which takes place on or near March 2, the birthday of children's author Dr. Seuss; and also timed with World Book Day, which took place March 4.

Each class that registers for the Read Around the Planet program is matched with a class in another state or country based on student age and curriculum interests. The two classes connect by video conferencing and each call is unique with content and activities determined by the teachers. This year, nearly 2,000 classes participated from six countries - the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Schools get involved in Read Around the Planet through a unique professional networking tool for educators called Polycom Collaborations Around the Planet (CAPspace). Sponsored by Polycom and administered by TWICE, CAPspace is a free tool that more than 6,000 educators from 26 countries use to easily find colleagues with similar curriculum needs who also have access to video conferencing equipment. Through CAPspace, educators can register for events like Read Around the Planet, Polycom special events, and TWICE events, or arrange to collaborate with other classes anytime throughout the year to enhance the learning experience and expand cultural awareness.

In addition to CAPspace, Polycom offers a range of programs to help educators get involved throughout the year and make the most of their video conferencing systems. Additional programs including a searchable database containing nearly 250 video-enabled content providers and more than 2,100 active programs such as zoos, museums, authors, experts in a given field, etc.; an assistance program to help new users arrange virtual field trips; free special events; and a grant assistance and E-rate information program to help schools find funding for new equipment.

Supporting Quotes:

* Debbie Huxohl, teacher, Willow Creek Elementary, Houston, Texas

"Video conferencing is helping to open new opportunities in learning and inspire our students. We have participated in the Read Around the Planet program for three years and find the programs very impactful. We have done several collaborations with classes in Canada, which is a great way for our students to learn about another country and culture, and a good opportunity for the students to get additional experience with research, writing and public speaking. Read Around the Planet is an excellent program and something students get excited about."
* Janine Lim, board member, TWICE

"Since launching Read Around the Planet with Polycom nine years ago, the project has grown from 200 U.S. classes to almost 2,000 and now includes classes from six countries. TWICE embraces this project as it continues to grow every year and Polycom's investment in the CAPspace program has been instrumental in our ability to scale the program. Seeing students unite, share, collaborate and learn from each other is a wonderful and memorable experience for everyone involved."
* Elaine Shuck, global market director of primary and secondary schools, Polycom

"CAPspace is a wonderful tool for teachers interested in enhancing the classroom experience through distance learning. It makes it simple for teachers to find colleagues with common curriculum interests, share ideas and then collaborate. Use of video conferencing within schools is expanding from popular virtual field trips with great content providers like NASA and museums to include more direct collaboration between classrooms. Programs like Read Around the Planet are a great way to engage students and expand the possibilities for classroom education."
* Dennis Van Roekel, president, NEA

"Regardless of whether a student's favorite subject is math, science, music or English, the common thread to academic success is reading. NEA's Read Across America cultivates a joy of reading in students at an early age to help create life-long readers and learners."

About NEA Read Across America
The National Education Association's Read Across America Day, which falls on or around Dr. Seuss's birthday, expects more than 45 million readers, both young and old, to pick up a book and read. To honor the good doctor and celebrate the fun and value of reading, NEA and many of America's leading literacy, youth, and civic groups are bringing a nation of readers together to show America's children the joy of reading-on March 2 and every day. For more information visit www.nea.org/readacross. NEA is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, college faculty, school administrators, education support professionals, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers

About TWICE
Two Way Interactive Connections in Education (TWICE) is Michigan's organization for videoconferencing in K-12 education. TWICE promotes and supports collaborative connections for the benefit of all students. To learn about TWICE, visit www.twice.cc

About Polycom
Polycom, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM) is the global leader in telepresence, video, and voice solutions and a visionary in communications that empower people to connect and collaborate everywhere. Please visit www.polycom.com or www.polycom.com/education for more information.

— WebWireID113782 —

In the past, family attorneys had few convenient choices for their clients when paternity tests were required. The reason for this was because until recently, how most paternity tests in Arizona were administered did not cater to attorneys or their clients.

Traditionally attorneys with clients needing a paternity test that was court admissible would need to call a paternity test provider, schedule a time to drive to the paternity test provider's office and wait to be sampled. Most of these test providers also administered drug and alcohol, STD and other medical tests. These conditions were not ideal for people dealing with the related conditions and sensitivities that accompany many paternity tests.

Arizona Mobile DNA Services recognized this fact and provides on-site Arizona paternity testing services that occur in homes, attorney offices or even at hospitals, courthouses and jails. Basically anywhere that is convenient or necessary for the client.

Just as important as the convenience factor, is the complete confidentiality and discrete service provided by Arizona Mobile DNA Services for the same cost or less than traditional paternity tests. The Arizona DNA testing company utilizes an AABB accredited reference laboratory that is famous for its DNA testing expertise. The laboratory has been involved in many high profile paternity and forensic cases from across the country.

'Our legal paternity tests have been incredibly popular with family law attorneys across the state,' reported Arizona Mobile DNA Services' President, Ilaiza Perez Cochrane. 'The fact that our paternity testing company brings DNA services anywhere that attorneys, or their clients, need us raises the bar and satisfies the customer.'

Interested individuals, paternity attorneys, doctors' offices, medical labs and other parties can learn more by visiting www.AZMobileDNA.com, emailing info@AZMobileDNA.com or calling (602) 510-5195.

About Arizona Mobile DNA Services
Arizona Mobile DNA Services is committed to providing high-quality, discreet paternity testing services. All testing is performed by an AABB accredited laboratory and this, coupled with the respectful and discreet demeanor of our dedicated staff, ensures the best experience possible for our clients.

— WebWireID113682 —

Every year, an estimated four million children worldwide die within the first month of their lives. Fewer than a quarter of the 68 countries targeted by the Millennium Development Goal 4 (reduction of mortality rate in children less than five years old by two-thirds by 2015) are on track to achieve that goal.

A previous study conducted in Nepal and published by the 'Lancet' in 2004 suggested that participatory women's groups could achieve a significant impact on neonatal health in poorer countries, far more than one-to-one contact with a health worker. To see if these findings could be applied in other countries, the researchers repeated the exercise in Jharkhand and Orissa, two of the poorest states in eastern India. Neonatal mortality rates in the two regions are 49 and 45 per 1000 live births respectively, disproportionately higher than India's national estimates of 39 per 1000. By comparison, in the UK the figures are four per 1000.

Between 2005 and 2008, a team of researchers led by Professor Anthony Costello from the Institute of Child Health, University College London (UCL), and Dr Prasanta Tripathy, from the Indian voluntary organisation Ekjut, evaluated how women's groups affected neonatal mortality and maternal depression in intervention areas as compared to areas where no participatory groups were set up. The groups were evaluated using a cluster-randomised controlled trial, which was funded by the Health Foundation, the UK Department for International Development, the Wellcome Trust and the UK Big Lottery Fund's International funding programme.

The groups were facilitated by women recruited in the local area: non-healthcare professionals with some schooling who tended to be married, respected members of the community. The number of women taking part of in the groups increased from one in six women (17 per cent) of childbearing age in the first year to over a half (55 per cent) in the third year.

The women worked through a 'community action cycle' involving four stages:identifying the problems associated with pregnancy, childbirth and care of newborns; developing strategies to tackle these problems, such as improving hygiene, raising emergency funds and producing their own birthing kits; working with local community leaders, teachers, politicians and others to implement these strategies; and evaluating their success.

"It was crucial that the women were allowed to think thought through the issues and implement their own strategies to tackle them, rather than us telling them what to do," says Dr Nirmala Nair of Ekjut. "We believe that a trained facilitator who supports informed peer-learning is more effective for lasting behaviour change than a traditional instructor/learner approach."

The effects of the interventions were dramatic: by the second and third years of the trial, the neonatal mortality rate in the areas where the participatory women's groups existed had fallen by 45 per cent. These areas also saw a significant fall (57 per cent) in moderate depression among mothers by the third year of the trial.

"What we were seeing was a change in behaviour towards better hygiene practices and improved care for newborns," explains Professor Costello. "There was a move away from harmful practices such as giving birth in unclean environments and delaying breastfeeding. We saw significant improvements in areas such as basic hygiene by birth attendants, clean cord care and women responding earlier to care needs."

The researchers believe that improved social capital - the access the group gave women to a wider support network of peers - was potentially the most valuable aspect of the groups and contributed towards the improved childbirth and childcare practices and the reduction in maternal depression. It may also explain why such groups have had much greater success than direct - even one-to-one - interventions with healthcare workers.

"Many of the women in these groups would have been relatively young, living in arranged marriages with only their mother-in-law or a very limited network of friends for support," explains Dr Audrey Prost from UCL. "The groups empower the women to take preventive measures and to deal with problems more effectively when they arise.If you've been to a group and a problem arises, you've got a ready-made network that you can go to for help and support."

The researchers estimate that the additional cost of introducing support to these groups per newborn life saved was around US$910. However, this raises questions over who would pay for supporting these groups: federal or state government, non-governmental organisations, or a combination of the two.

The 'Lancet' today also publishes a second study carried out by Professor Costello and colleagues using the same approach - women's groups - in Bangladesh. The study failed to reproduce the benefits of the India trial. However, in this case, the researchers believe that there were a number of issues that may have affected the outcome, including a failure to achieve the same coverage of women's groups and recruitment of pregnant women as the India trial.

"Improving maternal and child health is amongst the greatest challenges facing global health workers. Every year, an estimated four million children worldwide die within the first month of their lives and progress in reducing this terrible number is desperately slow," says Sir Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, which helped fund the trials. "Women's community groups in India and Nepal set up as part of this study provided many benefits: there was a very significant improvement in neonatal survival and in addition the groups provided women with improved social and support networks. However a parallel study in Bangladesh did not show the same benefits and there is much still to learn."

All images: Women's support groups in Jharkhand, India. Credit: Sudharak Olwe
Reference

Tripathy P et al. Effect of participatory intervention with women's groups on birth outcomes and maternal depression in Jharkhand and Orissa, India: A cluster-randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2010 [Epub ahead of print].

Notes for editors

The Wellcome Trust is a global charity dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health. It supports the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities. The Trust's breadth of support includes public engagement, education and the application of research to improve health. It is independent of both political and commercial interests.

University College London - Founded in 1826, UCL was the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, the first to admit students regardless of race, class, religion or gender, and the first to provide systematic teaching of law, architecture and medicine. UCL is the fourth-ranked university in the 2009 THES-QS World University Rankings. UCL alumni include Marie Stopes, Jonathan Dimbleby, Lord Woolf, Alexander Graham Bell, and members of the band Coldplay. UCL currently has over 12 000 undergraduate and 8000 postgraduate students. Its annual income is over £600 million.

The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery. BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since June 2004. The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.

— WebWireID113743 —

Parents often go to great lengths to protect their childrens' skin from sun damage, but not often enough do they provide their children with a pair of "quality" sunglasses. Sunwear may be a fashion statement to some, but sunglasses have a function infinitely more important- protecting our eyes from permanent problems.

UV protection is a year- round concern, and we know that the sun's effects on the eyes are cumulative over our lifetime. "Proper" sunwear limits damaging UV rays to the eyes, and damage that does occur can contribute to the development of cataracts, macular degeneration, retinal problems, as well as skin cancers around the eyes.

Children must wear lenses that block at least 99% UVA&UVB rays and are polycarbonate. Be wary of sunglasses that say "blocks UV" or "provides UV protection" without specifying exactly what percentage of UV rays the product blocks. Check the frames also- many, particularly the inexpensive types can be a breakage or an injury hazard, and many childrens' frames contain lead, which has been a leading cause of many recent recalls.

For more information, visit eyescreamshades.com or thekidssunglassexpert.com.

— WebWireID113725 —

The first place donation is a check for the amount of $5,000. The second, third and fourth place donations are each worth $1,000. The following charities received donations on behalf of the Snausages Man Sled Race teams – Second Change League, Friends of Pets, Alaska SPCA and Alaska Dog & Puppy Rescue.

Snausages®, a popular dog snack, is part of the Del Monte pet product line.

For more info and video, please visit www.snausagesmansledrace2010.com.

— WebWireID113678 —

Fort Worth, Texas: A-Animal Clinic & Boarding (http://www.a-animal.com/boarding.html) has officially put the Fort Worth kennel industry on notice: A-Animal Clinic & Boarding Kennel is designed to provide a healthy, fun and safe environment for each pet.

'Rest Assured That Your Pet's in Good Hands,' says Newley Spikes, owner of A-Animal Clinic & Boarding, 'Our Fort Worth Kennel's, boarding facility and hospital has become the choice of pet owners and leader in the Fort Worth kennel industry. We've got the longest indoor/outdoor run in all of Fort Worth. We offer boarding, day camp, playschool and medical services in case your dog has special medical needs to be met while staying in our care... We are devoted to the health and wellness of your pets.'

A-Animal Clinic & Boarding Kennel:
Website: http://www.A-Animal.com

* Voted '2009 Best Doggie Day camp Award' by Fort Worth Texas Magazine.
* A-Animal Clinic has the longest indoor/outdoor run in each kennel and each pet has their own 'personal doggy door' to come and go as they please!
* One stop shop for client convenience – Animal hospital available for pet surgical care/preventative care, boarding facility, Doggie Day camp, Playschool, and beauty shop.

Pets will feel relaxed and rejuvenated after their stay at this caring Fort Worth Kennel.

For more information, visit http://www.A-Animal.com/boarding.html, email info@a-animal.com or call 817-731-1494 to set up a reservation.

Dr. Karen Spikes, DVM and owner has been with A-Animal Clinic since May of 2005. She graduated with honors from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University. Newley Spikes, owner and Practice Manager, also graduated from Texas A&M University and earned his MBA from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. Dr. Spikes and Newley own a 4 year old boxer name Rosie, a 19 year old Chihuahua named Speedy Gonzalez, and cat named Preston. A-Animal Clinic & Boarding was voted #1 by Fort Worth Texas Magazine for their amazingly interactive Doggie Day Camp.

# # #

— WebWireID113598 —

Auto Insurance Rates Direct offers parents and teens advice and information about how they can reduce the cost of car insurance while at the same time making teens safer, better drivers. For example, many insurance agencies offer discounts to teen-agers who have taken a driver's education course in school, as well as those who have good grades.

The site suggests parents know state laws pertaining to teen-age drivers. Every state is different; some have laws restricting the number of passengers teen-agers are allowed to have and others restrict the times teen-agers are allowed to drive.

Adding a teen-age driver to an auto insurance policy can result in an increase of 50 to 200 percent. And when a teenager gets into a car accident, the premium can double. Auto Insurance Rates Direct's advice can help parents keep those increases to a minimum.

The accident rate for 16-year-olds is nearly three times that of 19-year-olds, making it vital for parents to do all they can to keep their young drivers safe.

For more information about ways to keep teen-age driver insurance rates down, go to: www.autoinsuranceratesdirect.com/teenagers/.

— WebWireID113597 —

Flower Mound, TX - FUNimation® Entertainment has acquired digital, broadcast, home video and merchandise rights to the fantasy anime series 'Baka and Test - Summon the Beasts' (known in Japan as Baka to Test to Shōkanjū) and the supernatural action anime series 'Dance in the Vampire Bund' and the from Media Factory. The agreement gives the American anime leader exclusive rights to the online streaming and simulcast of both series in the U.S.

Starting this month, FUNimation will deliver high-quality, free, original Japanese dialogue accompanied by English subtitles, streaming episodes of 'Baka and Test – Summon the Beasts' and 'Dance in the Vampire Bund' via www.funimation.com, just days after airing on Japan's TV Tokyo and Chiba TV, respectively.

This week on Friday, March 5 at 10:00 a.m. CST FUNimation will stream the first two episodes of 'Baka to Test – Summon the Beasts' and episodes 1-4 of 'Dance in the Vampire Bund.' In addition to the episodes already aired in Japan, starting March 10 and 12 a new episode will be rolled out weekly as both series continue their television run.

FUNimation will also offer a download-to-own option for these episodes through www.funimation.com at $1.99 per episode.

'Baka and Test - Summon the Beasts' is a 13 episode series produced by Silver Lake and directed by Shin Oonuma (Pani Poni Dash!, Negima OAV's) and adapted from the light novel series written by Kenji Inoue and illustrated by Yui Haga.

About Baka and Test - Summon the Beasts
Fumizuki Academy's students can summon Avatars, pint-sized versions of themselves that battle using special powers. The students are grouped by skill level, and those in Class A are the brightest. Then there's Akihisa Yoshii's group – lowly Class F. They're the worst on campus, and they're about to take on the school's best.

'Dance in the Vampire Bund' is a 12 episode series produced by the Japanese studio SHAFT and directed by Masahiro Sonoda (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood) and based on the manga by Nozomu Tamaki.

About Dance in the Vampire Bund
When Mina Tepes – queen of the vampires – suddenly appears in Japan to establish a colony for her blood-sucking brethren, Akira Kaburagi's world will never be the same. As a boy, Akira vowed to serve the ruler of the night, and now he must fulfill his destiny by protecting Mina from those who would dethrone her!

Visit the Baka and Test – Summon the Beasts and Dance in the Vampire Bund official web sites for updates.

About FUNimation Entertainment
FUNimation® Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, is the leading company for home video sales of Japanese animation in the United States. FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands, and manages a full spectrum of rights for most of its brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution. For more information about FUNimation Entertainment and its brands, visit www.funimation.com.

— WebWireID113634 —

'I am excited about the ability to share my experiences and knowledge with those who have a heart for fashion, beauty or modeling,' said Jai Matthews, founder of Jai Productions and Jaiwalk!

'The programs and events are designed to teach life skills, while at the same time, build self esteem for students and participants,' Matthews added.

Jai Productions will produce, coordinate and sponsor special fashion and talent shows across South Florida. Age ranges for the events will vary and offer young women the chance to showcase their passion for fashion and modeling. All aspects of the events will be tactful and non-exploitative for those involved.

Jaiwalk will also offer specialized training in homes, schools or summer camps. Participants will learn about fashion, beauty, modeling and attire.

'I encourage parents, teachers and camp coordinators to look into these programs,' said Jai Matthews. 'The training is very educational and also a lot of fun for participants.'

For more information, visit http://www.jaimatthews.com or call 305-781-6529.

About Jai Matthews

Jai Matthews has been a runway model for 25 years and an actress for 10. Jai was born and raised in Washington DC and attended Howard University, majoring in political science. Matthews has modeled for every major designer around the world, including Haute Couture and was the first African-American to model for Neiman Marcus, Virginia. She is actively involved with Women in the Church, an outreach at First Presbyterian Church in Florida.

# # #

— WebWireID113568 —