Archive for May, 2019

8
May

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  • 6 May 2019: Students compete in second international Neurosurgery Olympiad in Tyumen, Russia
  • 5 May 2019: Scientific study suggests dinosaurs flapped their wings as they ran
  • 3 May 2019: Holy Headdress of Christ carried in procession through streets of Cahors, France
  • 30 April 2019: Wikinews attends Maker Faire in Tyler, Texas
  • 28 April 2019: US Department of Justice investigating Ford over emissions testing problems
  • 20 April 2019: California court sentences parents who kept their children in captivity
  • 16 April 2019: Notre Dame in Paris catches fire
  • 11 April 2019: New studies may bring slug-made glues closer to use in medicine
  • 8 April 2019: 540 million private Facebook records found on public Internet
  • 31 March 2019: Turkey’s President Erdogan proposes converting Hagia Sophia Museum to mosque

What’s this? We are currently testing a different format for the latest news section which includes the newest stories from each category. You can also see the Old style. Please do not hesitate to voice your opinion about this layout.

Crime and law Culture and entertainment Disasters and accidents Economy and business
  • US Department of Justice investigating Ford over emissions testing problems
  • California court sentences parents who kept their children in captivity
  • 540 million private Facebook records found on public Internet
  • Holy Headdress of Christ carried in procession through streets of Cahors, France
  • Notre Dame in Paris catches fire
  • Turkey’s President Erdogan proposes converting Hagia Sophia Museum to mosque
  • Notre Dame in Paris catches fire
  • Fire kills nine, injures dozens in Chittagong, Bangladesh slum
  • Hotel fire kills at least seventeen in Karol Bagh, New Delhi
  • US Department of Justice investigating Ford over emissions testing problems
  • President Trump says he ‘can’ and ‘may’ put US into state of emergency to build border wall
  • Investigation of Deutsche Bank headquarters spills into second day
Education Environment Health Obituaries
  • Students compete in second international Neurosurgery Olympiad in Tyumen, Russia
  • Wikinews attends Maker Faire in Tyler, Texas
  • Algeria blocks internet across nation to prevent cheating in diploma exams
  • US Department of Justice investigating Ford over emissions testing problems
  • Study indicates as great white shark disappears, living fossil moves in
  • Report indicates Mexican monarch butterfly population at ten-year high, reasons unclear
  • Students compete in second international Neurosurgery Olympiad in Tyumen, Russia
  • New studies may bring slug-made glues closer to use in medicine
  • Francis D’Souza, former Deputy Chief Minister of Goa, dies aged 64
  • Pioneering oceanographer Walter Munk dies of pneumonia in California
  • Former U.S. intelligence agent Tony Mendez, architect of ‘Argo’ rescue, dies at 78
  • US political pundit Bre Payton, 26, dies suddenly
Politics and conflicts Science and technology Sports Wackynews
  • Thousands march in anti-Brexit protest, London
  • Former Trump advisor, Paul Manafort, receives second sentence in U.S. Federal Court
  • Texas federal judge says drafting only men violates United States Constitution
  • Scientific study suggests dinosaurs flapped their wings as they ran
  • Wikinews attends Maker Faire in Tyler, Texas
  • New studies may bring slug-made glues closer to use in medicine
  • Ross Edgley swims around Great Britain for first time in history
  • Real Madrid agrees with Chelsea FC to sign goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois
  • Football: Manchester City beats Chelsea 2-0 to win English Community Shield
  • Airborne sedan smashes into dental office in Santa Ana, California, US
  • Wikinews interviews producer of horror film ‘6:66PM’
  • India Supreme Court overrules High Court: rivers Yamuna, Ganga no longer living entities
Africa Asia Oceania Central America
  • Zebra stripes may ‘dazzle’ pathogen-packing horse flies, say scientists
  • Study indicates as great white shark disappears, living fossil moves in
  • US warns Spain of Christmas bus ramming plot in Barcelona
  • Students compete in second international Neurosurgery Olympiad in Tyumen, Russia
  • Japan prepares for new emperor by announcing ‘Reiwa’ era
  • Turkey’s President Erdogan proposes converting Hagia Sophia Museum to mosque
  • New Zealand mosque murder suspect appears in court at Christchurch
  • Australia now recognises West Jerusalem as Israeli capital, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces
  • Airplane crashes into ocean in Micronesia
  • Investigation of Deutsche Bank headquarters spills into second day
  • Fifteen states sue United States President Donald Trump for cancelling program for undocumented immigrant minors
  • Gunmen murder Honduran indigenous leader Berta Cáceres
Europe Middle East North America South America
  • Students compete in second international Neurosurgery Olympiad in Tyumen, Russia
  • Holy Headdress of Christ carried in procession through streets of Cahors, France
  • Notre Dame in Paris catches fire
  • Turkey’s President Erdogan proposes converting Hagia Sophia Museum to mosque
  • German migrant rescue charity renames ship after drowned Syrian toddler
  • Block of flats collapses in Aleppo, killing eleven
  • Wikinews attends Maker Faire in Tyler, Texas
  • California court sentences parents who kept their children in captivity
  • New studies may bring slug-made glues closer to use in medicine
  • Male Magellanic penguins pine for pairings: Wikinews interviews biologist Natasha Gownaris
  • State-run bus crashes in Cuba en route to Havana, killing seven
  • Scientists report correlation between locations of Easter Island statues and water resources


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International row after Spielberg quits 2008 Beijing Olympics

The U.S. film director stepped down as artistic adviser saying that China, which has close links to the Sudanese government, should do more to address the Darfur situation. » Full story


Featured Story

‘Top Model’ winner Jaslene Gonzalez on her career and being a Latina role model

Wikinews talks with America’s Next Top Model’s first Puerto Rican winner, Jaslene Gonzalez, about her childhood, what makes her a strong individual, and what television show her abuela would want her to go on. This is also the first time one of our interviews can also be read in Spanish at Wikinoticias. » Full story


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Wikinews from May 7, 2008 (More…)

  • Italy: Berlusconi announces new government
  • Floating wreckage of Brazilian plane carrying four UK businessmen recovered
  • Scientology branch in Germany drops legal fight against government surveillance
  • Aid starts to reach Myanmar

Wikinews from May 7, 2007 (More…)

  • Palestinian Islamists attack children’s festival in Gaza Strip
  • Wreckage of Kenya Airways flight 507 found in jungle; All 114 on board killed
  • 15th anniversary of Russian Federation Armed Forces.
  • Wikinews Shorts: May 7, 2007

Wikinews from May 7, 2006 (More…)

  • Australian veteran Nine Network reporter dies
  • UK Government report into UFOs released
  • Michael Schumacher wins the European Grand Prix
  • March against new French copyright law

Wikinews from May 7, 2005 (More…)

  • Chili finger suspect arrives in San Jose, California for trial
  • CARTOSAT-I and HAMSAT satellites launched precisely by PSLV-C6, will have longer life
  • North Carolina church kicks out Democrats
  • Muslim opens first Arab Holocaust museum in Nazareth

  • Venezuela opposition leader considering international military aid
  • Country House wins 2019 Kentucky Derby
  • Thai Buddhist meditation master sounds alarm on Internet induced climate change

  • Police Curfew in Negombo (2019)
  • California Supreme Court rules in Rall v. Los Angeles Times
  • Daimler says it has ‘absolutely no idea how’ Kim Jong Un got its limousines
  • Over 200 dead after attacks in Sri Lanka
  • Sri Lanka bombing 2019 (follow up events)
  • Conservatives win in a two-party parliament in Alberta, Canada
  • New samples may tell if type D killer whale is a unique species: Wikinews interviews Dr. Robert Pitman
  • British Parliment votes “No!” to all four motions

Original reporting First-hand journalism by Wikinews reporters (More…)

  • Students compete in second international Neurosurgery Olympiad in Tyumen, Russia
  • Holy Headdress of Christ carried in procession through streets of Cahors, France
  • Wikinews attends Maker Faire in Tyler, Texas

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8
May

Standard Operating Procedure changes at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay

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Tuesday, December 4, 2007

In an investigation reported on first by Wikinews, Wikileaks today revealed another chapter in the story of the Standard Operations Procedure (SOP) manual for the Camp Delta facility at Guantanamo Bay. The latest documents they have received are the details of the 2004 copy of the manual signed off by Major General Geoffrey D. Miller of the U.S. Southern Command. This is following on from the earlier leaking of the 2003 version. Wikileaks passed this document to people they consider experts in the field to carry out an analysis trying to validate it. Following this, they set out to assess what had changed between 2003 and 2004; including attempts to link publicly known incidents with changes to the manual.

Wikinews obtained the document and did an in-depth analysis. The American Civil Liberties Union had previously made a request to view and obtain copies of the same document, but was denied access to them.

One of the first notable changes to the document relates to the detainees themselves. Previously they read the camp rules during admission processing. Rules are now posted around the camp in detainees’ languages. The English version of the rules is as follows:

  1. Comply with all rules and regulations. You are subject to disciplinary action if you disobey any rule or commit any act, disorder, or neglect that is prejudicial to good order and discipline.
  2. You must immediately obey all orders of U.S. personnel. Deliberate disobedience, resistance, or conduct of a mutinous or riotous nature will be dealt with by force. Be respectful of others. Derogatory comments toward camp personnel will not be tolerated.
  3. You may not have any articles that can be used as a weapon in your possession at any time. If a weapon is found in your possession, you will be severely punished. Gambling is strictly forbidden.
  4. Being truthful and compliance will be rewarded. Failure to comply will result in loss of privileges.
  5. All trash will be returned immediately to U.S. personnel when you are finished eating. All eating utensils must be returned after meals.
  6. No detainee may conduct or participate in any form of military drill, organized physical fitness, hand-to-hand combat, or martial arts style training.
  7. The camp commander will ensure adequate protection for all personnel. Any detainee who mistreats another detainee will be punished. Any detainee that fears his life is in danger, or fears physical injury at the hands of another person can report this to U.S. personnel at any time.
  8. Medical emergencies should be brought to the guards’ attention immediately.

Your decision whether or not to be truthful and comply will directly affect your quality of life while in this camp.

Of concern to groups such as Amnesty International who campaign for the camp’s closure, or Human Rights Watch concerned about prisoner handling under the prisoner of war aspects of the Geneva Convention, is the fact that policy for newly admitted detainees still allows for up to 4 weeks where access to the detainee by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) may be denied. In addition, guards are not to allow ICRC staff to pass mail to detainees.

A new process has been formed which allows guards to determine whether or not a detainee receives awards, or is punished. The form is called a GTMO Form 508-1 (pictured to the right). According to the manual, the form “is used to determine which rewards the detainee will lose or gain,” but “special rewards” can also be earned, outside of the process. One special reward is time allowed outside. Another special reward is a roll of toilet paper, but the detainee cannot share it with others. Doing so will result in “punishment” and confiscation of the roll. If the detainee already has a roll of toilet paper, he is not allowed to have another.

“Guards need to ensure that the detainee doesn’t receive additional toilet paper when the detainee already has it. The amount given to the detainee will be the same amount as normally distributed to the detainee,” states the manual.

No matter how bad a detainee may act, “haircuts will never be used as punitive action” against them, but they can have hair removed for health reasons. They can, however, be segregated from other detainees.

“If a detainee has committed an offense that requires segregation time, even if a segregation cell is not available, the detainee will receive a shave and a haircut for hygiene and medical reasons. If the detainee is IRFed, the haircut and shave will follow the decontamination process,” adds the manual. Barbers are also part of cell searches.

Despite these changes, a great deal of effort has gone into ensuring the furore over detainee abuse does not recur. Rules governing the use of pepper spray (Oleoresin Capsicum, or OC) appear at an earlier point in the manual with considerable expansion. Infractions such as spitting, throwing water at, or attempting to urinate on guards appear as explicitly listed cases where pepper spray may not be used. Extensive decontamination procedures are included in the document, including immediately calling for a medical check on any detainee exposed to pepper spray. This was not previously present.

As a counter to the clearer instructions on use of pepper spray, Wikileaks asserts that many of the stricter rules for guards (referred to as Military Police or MPs in the 2003 manual) aim to reduce fraternisation that may improve detainee morale and adversely influence any interrogation process. Guards are informed in the manual not to take personal mail and parcels within the detention blocks or at any other duty stations. All electronic devices except issued materiel are prohibited, and guards may face disciplinary action should they keep detainees apprised of current affairs or discuss issues in their personal lives.

Additional restrictions on the detainees’ chaplain are included in the revised document. Wikileaks speculated that many of these changes might have stemmed from the widely publicised case of James Yee. Captain Yee, a West Point graduate, served at the Guantanamo Bay base as a Muslim chaplain to the detainees and received two Distinguished Service medals for his work. Following discovery of a list of detainees and interrogators by U.S. Customs in Florida Yee was charged with sedition, aiding the enemy, spying, espionage, and failure to obey a general order. Eventually all charges were dropped with national security concerns being raised should evidence be released.

The most notable changes surrounding the role of the chaplain include its removal as a permanent position on the facility’s Library Working group and its exclusion from the decision process on appropriate detainee reading material. Wikileaks contacted lawyers representing detainees in the camp to perform their own analysis. Their opinion of the changes were that the library operation had been considerably tightened up. Duplicate books are required for the individual four camps to prevent covert use of books to communicate between camps. Periodicals, dictionaries, language instruction books, technology or medical update information, and geography were additions to the prohibited material. Instructions indicate such books must be returned to the source or donor.

The revised SOP manual makes considerable progress on documenting procedures, even those that are remote possibilities. A lengthy addition details rules to follow in the event of an escape or escape attempt. Laced throughout this procedure is an emphasis on having any such incident fully documented and – wherever possible – filmed. The procedure is explicit in how to recapture an escaped detainee with minimal use of force. One additional procedure covers the admission of ambulances to the main base area. A detailed security protocol to ensure only expected and authorised traffic gains access is included, as is a procedure streamlined to ensure the ambulance arrives on the scene as quickly as possible.

Unchanged from the 2003 manual is the set menu of four ready-to-eat meals (Meal, Ready-to-Eat or MRE) issued to detainees. However, additional steps are to be taken for “MRE Sanitization”; supply personnel must remove anything that can damage waste disposal systems— presumably a military term for toilets. Under normal camp conditions, detainees should be fed hot meals as opposed to MREs, but no details on the variety of menu are included.

Wikinews attempted to get feedback on this. US Southern Command passed a query on to Rick Haupt (Commander, U.S. Navy Director of Public Affairs, Joint Task Force at Guantanamo) who responded that “questions were forwarded along with a request to authenticate the leaked document; a response is pending.” At this time no response to emails has been received from the ICRC or Human Rights Watch.

The Pentagon has requested that the document be removed from Wikileaks because “information with the FOUO (For Official Use Only) label is not approved for release to the public.” They then state that the document can be “made available through a Freedom Of Information Act request through official channels.”

 This story has updates See US military confirms authenticity of Standard Operating Procedures for Guantanamo Bay 
8
May

Rower Tuijn halfway across Pacific in record attempt

   Posted by:    in Uncategorized

Monday, July 9, 2007

Dutch adventurer Ralph Tuijn has reached the halfway point of his attempt to be the first person to row across the Pacific Ocean unaided.

The 16,000 kilometre journey from the coast of Peru to the seaside city of Brisbane, Australia, the widest section of the Pacific, has never been crossed absolutely unaided by a rower, and Tuijn says just nine people have rowed it even with assistance.

Tuijn reached the central point of his crossing, an insignificant point of water in the ocean, 111 days after setting off from Peru in March. He has been making good progress, and has since cut his estimated time of arrival in Brisbane by a month.

The Dutchman, who now expects to reach his destination on October 20, has kept in touch with those tracking his movements through daily internet postings from his laptop computer, including his wife Winnie. His boat, the Zeeman Challenger, is a seven-metre custom plywood vessel.

Tuijn has overcome a variety of obstacles to reach the halfway point. He is suffering from the constant attention of sharks, who often bump his boat and disrupt his attempts at sleep. One particular shark, dubbed ‘Gomulka’ by Tuijn, has been trailing the adventurer’s boat for extended periods.

He has also accidentally burnt himself when he spilled hot water on his foot whilst trying to make coffee, apparently also from a shark ‘bump’. He is also forced to manually pump water for cooking and drinking after his automatic water pump broke down not long into his journey.

“Physically everything feels great and I can’t help feeling that I could do this for 500 days, but mentally it’s still hard to be on your own for such a long time”

His vessel has no motors or sails, but relies on his physical rowing power to move. The boat does have a solar power system to provide energy for his laptop, a telephone and a global positioning system.

Tujin, who is raising money for a children’s home in Mumbai, India, is rowing at an average speed of 58 kilometres each day. His diet consists of freeze-dried foods and fish, which are keeping him physically well-conditioned despite tiring mentally.

Tuijn is a serial adventurer and experienced rower. He has rowed across the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, as well as cycled across Russia and the icy terrain of Greenland.

7
May

Tornado kills 19 in Florida

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Saturday, February 3, 2007

At least 19 people have been killed in central Florida in the city of Lady Lake and Paisley after severe storms and a tornado ripped through the cities in the middle of the night. Eleven of those killed were in Paisley and three were in Lady Lake.

The death toll is expected to rise as rescue crews resume tomorrow morning.

Volusia, Sumter, Lake and Seminole counties have all been declared a state of an emergency as dozens of houses, mobile homes and a church were destroyed. Clothes and furniture are scattered around the wrecked houses and pieces of trees are scattered about. Cars are reported to have been turned over or thrown around in the air.

“Our priority today is search and rescue,” said Gov. of Florida, Charlie Crist. Rescuers are still looking through the wreckage to find survivors of those who might have been killed.

A spokeman for the emergency response team of Lake county, Chris Patton calls the damage “devastating” and worse than “hurricanes in 2004.”

“We have complete devastation of homes, of businesses, religious institutions. It was unlike even perhaps the hurricanes of 2004 when we had minor roof damage, screen damage, pool damage. This is way far more devastating,” said Patton.

The storms hit at about 3:15 [EST] a.m. on Friday morning. At least 20,000-30,000 people are without power.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Wayne Simmons is running for the Freedom Party in the Ontario provincial election, in the Don Valley East riding. Wikinews’ Nick Moreau interviewed him regarding his values, his experience, and his campaign.

Wayne did not answer “Of the decisions made by Ontario’s 38th Legislative Assembly, which was the most beneficial to your this electoral district? To the province as a whole? Which was least beneficial, or even harmful, to your this riding? To the province as a whole?”

Stay tuned for further interviews; every candidate from every party is eligible, and will be contacted. Expect interviews from Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, New Democratic Party members, Ontario Greens, as well as members from the Family Coalition, Freedom, Communist, Libertarian, and Confederation of Regions parties, as well as independents.

7
May

Most Important Skills Court Reporters Must Have

   Posted by:    in Arts

byAlma Abell

If you’re going to a court hearing you’ll see a court reporter in DC there and court reporters are responsible for recording the events that take place at the hearing. Court reporters obtain training for this field by attending stenography school and once they do this, they can apply for court reporting jobs through the courts in their counties. Here are some skills that court reporters must have.

Strong Listening Skills

Court reporters must have strong listening skills because as the court hearing happens, the court reporter in DC needs to be able to quickly record the details without distraction and while making minimum mistakes. The reporter needs to listen carefully during the hearing and be able to understand what is being said.

Fast Typing Ability

Court reporters must also be able to type court hearing details in a quick way because the hearing goes quickly and the reporter must be able to keep up with the fast pace of the hearing. Most courts require court reporters to be able to type at least 40 words per minute. If you’re not skilled in fast typing it would be a good idea to take typing classes.

Knowledge of Second Language

Since today’s court system is filled with people who speak a language other than English, it’s important that court reporters understand a second language in order to succeed at court hearings where either the defendant or plaintiff speaks a second language. This language could be Spanish, French or Arabic. Some second languages are more necessary in certain cities than others based on the type of immigrants living in a certain area.

Strong Communication Skills

Court reporters not only have to accurately type and record what happens during a court hearing but they must also be able to communicate well. This is because court reporters need to sometimes ask questions for clarity about certain things that are said during the hearing and they may have to read over the data after the hearing for lawyers.

The court reporter spends much of his day recording and transcribing data from court hearings and they’ll need the above mentioned skills in order to succeed in this field. You should also buy some instructional books on proper court reporting skills so that you can do well with this job. Continuing education is also important for court reporters because it helps them stay abreast of the latest trends.

When you obtain the training and practice you need, you’ll be able to do your best.

If you want to learn more about what a court reporter in DC does, you can contact Gore Brothers at http://www.gorebrothers.com or at 800-734-5292.

6
May

Experts: obesity is a bigger threat than AIDS or bird flu

   Posted by:    in Uncategorized

Friday, September 8, 2006

From September 3 to 8, experts gathered at the 10th International Congress on Obesity in Sydney, Australia, to discuss what they call the worldwide “obesity epidemic”. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 billion people in the world today are overweight, and 300 million of those are obese. “Obesity and overweight pose a major risk for serious diet-related chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms of cancer“, a WHO fact sheet states. According to AP, experts at the conference “have warned that obesity is a bigger threat than AIDS or bird flu, and will easily overwhelm the world’s health care systems if urgent action is not taken”.

Of particular concern is the large number of overweight children. Dr. Stephan Rossner from Sweden’s Karolinska University Hospital, a leading obesity expert who was present at the conference, has warned that as a result of the increasing number of overweight children, “we will have, within a decade or two, a number of young people who are on kidney dialysis. There will not be organs for everybody”. UK-based International Obesity Task Force has said that junk food manufacturers target children, for example, through Internet advertising, chat rooms, text messages, and “advergames” on websites. Politicians are not doing enough to address the problem of obesity, including childhood obesity, the experts said.

According to Wikipedia, examples of junk food include, but are not limited to: hamburgers, pizza, candy, soda, and salty foods like potato chips and french fries. A well-known piece of junk food is the Big Mac. The US version of just one Big Mac burger contains 48% of calories from fat, 47% US Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of fat, 52% RDA of saturated fat, 26% RDA of cholesterol, 42% RDA of sodium, and little nutritional value. It also has 18% of calories from protein. According to WHO, most people need only about 5% calories from protein. Staples such as rice, corn, baked potatoes, pinto beans, as well as fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, oranges, and strawberries, provide more than this required amount of protein without the unhealthy amounts of fats or sodium, without cholesterol, and with plenty of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Both WHO and the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define overweight in adults as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or above, and obese as a BMI of 30 or above. To combat overweight and obesity, WHO recommends that, among other things, people should be taking the following steps

  • eating more fruit and vegetables, as well as nuts and whole grains;
  • engaging in daily moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes;
  • cutting the amount of fatty, sugary foods in the diet;
  • moving from saturated animal-based fats to unsaturated vegetable-oil based fats.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Wikinews interviewed author Nancy Many about her book My Billion Year Contract, and asked her about life working in the elite Scientology group known as the “Sea Org“. Many joined Scientology in the early 1970s, and after leaving in 1996 she later testified against the organization. Published in October, Many’s book has gone on to become one of the top selling new books on Scientology at Amazon.com.

2
May

Calls for bottled water bans grow in Canada

   Posted by:    in Uncategorized

Saturday, August 23, 2008

London, Ontario is the latest in a string of Canadian cities to have acted on increasing public demand to ban bottled water. On Monday, the decision to eliminate bottled water sales in city-run facilities was passed by London’s city council with a vote of 15-3 in favour. The move was driven by a desire to reduce waste and shipping, have a lower impact on the environment and promote tap water as a cheap and safe alternative.

London’s new restrictions will be implemented over the next several months in buildings that are already equipped with water fountains. Bottled water will still be permitted at many city-run events, such as upcoming summer festivals. Privately-owned retailers will not be affected by the ban.

Other cities, such as Vancouver, Ottawa and Kitchener, that are already engaged in debate on the issue, may now be watching London carefully for how the ban plays out. Other areas have already begun to phone London with questions on the details of its new regulations. Toronto has begun taking a look at bottled water packaging as part of its waste diversion strategy, and its public school board is looking into the possibility of a total restriction on bottled water sales.

In recent years, an awareness of the energy that is required to manufacture, transport and recycle the product has spread nation-wide. Proponents of the ban point to the fact that it can produce as much as 150 times the volume of greenhouse gas when producing bottled water as compared to supplying the same volume of tap water. They also point out that the water that goes into bottled water products is not inspected as frequently as tap water in Canadian cities.

Some have taken this cause to heart more than others, such as British Environment Minister Phil Woolas, who called the use of bottled water “morally unacceptable.” Restaurant critic Giles Coren of The Times of London criticizes those who use the product as “the new smokers.”

Canada’s beverage industry has come down with criticism on the increasing opposition to bottled water. Spokesman Scott Tabachnick for Coca-Cola Co., which produces Dasani brand bottled water, commented on the convenience of the product: “It’s hard to bring your kitchen sink with you.”

It’s hard to bring your kitchen sink with you.

Vancouver City Councillor Tim Stevenson thinks that bottled water’s time has come and gone: “Bottled water companies have had a fabulous ride on an unnecessary fad.” Vancouver officials are still determining how bottled water restrictions, which have been voted for by the City Council, can be phased in.

Next month, the city is planning to initiate a marketing campaign encouraging Vancouver residents to choose tap water and to remember to carry reusable drinking containers whenever possible.

Renowned environmental activist Dr. David Suzuki has praised London’s decision, saying that it represents a turning point for people’s perceptions on the issue: “I’m really delighted that London has done this because it really makes us focus on some fundamental issues.” He hopes that someday people will “look at anyone who hauls out a bottle of water and say, ‘What the hell’s wrong with you?'”

1
May

Penske Auto selected to buy General Motors’ Saturn unit

   Posted by:    in Uncategorized

Friday, June 5, 2009

General Motors Corporation (GM), an American automaker which has filed for bankruptcy protection, announced on Friday that the Penske Automotive Group (PAG) was selected to purchase Saturn Corporation. The transaction should be completed in October.

The purchase includes rights to the Saturn brand, its five current models and its dealership network. Two models would be discontinued, the Sky and Astra. GM would continue building the Aura sedan, the SUV’s, Vue and Outlook for at least two more years.

Saturn has 350 dealers across the United States. The dealers employ more than 13,000 jobs and sell only the Saturn autos. Canadian Saturn dealers are not included in the deal.

According to Penske future Saturn vehicles will be fuel economy focused. An expert indicated that this would move Saturn back to its roots of a entry level car company. PAG is in talks with several international automakers to replace GM after 2011. Automotive News reports that Renault Samsung Motors of Korea is the most likely candidate.

Penske wants Jill Lajdziak, Saturn’s general manager, and Tom LaSorda, former Chrysler President to head up the company when it is independent of GM.

Serra Automotive in Grand Blanc Township, Genesee County, Michigan, is in talks to take a partial ownership in a new Saturn lead by Penske.