Vestas occupation continues; left-wing political parties voice support

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Morale is “fine” inside the Vestas plant in Newport, Isle of Wight, England, as an industrial occupation of the wind turbine factory finished entered its fourth night, says one of the occupiers.

“Mark,” who prefers not to give his last name for fear of management reprisals, spoke to Wikinews and gave an update on the situation inside the plant, where 30 of the 525 workers whose jobs are slated to be lost at the end of July occupied management offices on Monday evening and issued a call for the British government to nationalise the plant.

A double fence now rings the plant, surrounded by police in riot gear. Five people have been arrested for attempting to enter the plant grounds. According to Mark, while police are now letting food onto the plant grounds, Vestas’ private security have been halting it at the gate; food for the occupiers is now being provided by Vestas management after the occupiers accused Vestas in the press of violating the Human Rights Act; commenting on the quality of the food, Mark said “it’s not been that good”. According to the BBC, the content has been mostly sausage rolls, pasties and crisps.

The occupiers were informed yesterday that if they did not leave the plant by 10:30 p.m. on July 22, they would be fired. They have since been served with papers charging them with aggravated trespass and are seeking legal representation; the court papers give them until July 29 to vacate, but according to Mark, the occupiers have no plans to leave: “we’re going to be in here for a while”.

Vestas has given no comment to the press about the occupation.

Political parties in Britain have begun responding to the Vestas situation, with the Green Party adding its support to the occupation following the early declarations of support, previously reported here, by the Socialist Party and Socialist Workers Party. Green Party Leader Dr Caroline Lucas MEP gave her “full support”, and said in an online statement, “We should be seizing the opportunity to create a renewable energy revolution through a favourable policy environment and massive investment in the new technologies that can see us through a transition towards a more environmentally and economically stable economy. The Government can make a genuine start along this road by pledging financial aid to help keep the Isle of Wight’s Vestas plant open for business”. The Greens held a demonstration in London supporting the Vestas workers on July 22. Environmentalist protesters have established a climate camp with dozens of people outside the perimeter of the fence and a mass demonstration is planned for Friday evening in Newport’s St Thomas’s Square.

In parliament, meanwhile, five MPs of the ruling Labour Party have signed a motion protesting the Vestas plant’s closure and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg stated, “This closure exposes the hollow truth of Labour’s climate change strategy”. Labour Party left-wing veteran Tony Benn is expected to appear with RMT general secretary Bob Crow and address a rally at the factory Thursday night. Opposition leader David Cameron of the Conservative Party has not yet commented on the Vestas situation, but Conservative MP Andrew Turner, who represents the Isle of Wight, held a confidential meeting with Vestas management, after which he said that nationalisation was “not on the table”. Earlier in parliament, Turner said that he found Vestas’s lack of negotiations with its employees “totally unacceptable”.

Late on Thursday, Ed Miliband, the Energy and Climate Change Minister, published an editorial in The Guardian, writing:

[W]e have to win a political argument that environmentally and industrially, onshore wind is part of the solution. In the meantime, there must be a strategy for the Isle of Wight to do all we can to help and there is. Not just support for the workers who are losing their jobs, but a strategy to work with Vestas.

Milliband went on to promise £120 million in government investment in offshore wind power production and £60 million in marine manufacturing.

Vestas attributes its pullout from the UK to difficulty in obtaining planning permission for wind farms. The Independent quotes a senior company executive as saying, “We needed a stable long-term market and that was not there in the UK. We have made clear to the Government that we need a market. We do not need money.” Vestas’s income is up 59% in the last quarter, although its stock has dropped 4.4% on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange since the occupation began.

Meanwhile in the United States, Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick cut the ribbon at the opening of a 300-turbine, 800-megawatt capacity wind farm built by Vestas in Holden, Massachusetts. Vestas is a finalist in a multi-million dollar government contract to build a new offshore wind farm to be constructed in Nantucket Sound by 2012.

Australian Governor-General visits Wagga Wagga

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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Wagga Wagga, New South Wales —Sunday, Governor-General of Australia, Quentin Bryce and her husband, Michael Bryce, visited the city of Wagga Wagga to launch the Junior Teams event and present the awards to the winners at the 2013 Allen’s Coaches World Championship Gumi, meet the North Wagga Wagga residents who were affected by the March 2012 floods and meet a small group of volunteers from the NSW RFS, SES and the VRA at a community barbecue at Wagga Beach.

After the Gumi presentations, Governor-General Bryce addressed the media about the Gumi, stating that “It’s so quirky and I love the way it brings this community together, this community that’s known for its fantastic spirit.” She also commented on the floods which affected the suburb of North Wagga in March 2012. Bryce stated that “A very special thing for me was being at North Wagga Wagga this morning, to see people again whom I meet almost a year ago after the devastation of the floods in that part of the city, […] So many people have a long way to recover but their spirit, resilience, courage and determination, what they’ve been though, is a source for inspiration to all of us.”

India struggles with encephalitis outbreak

Sunday, September 4, 2005

Over 400 have died in an outbreak of encephalitis in India‘s northern state of Uttar Pradesh and nearby regions, including neighbouring Nepal. The actual figures are estimated to be much higher, as the current toll only takes into account those that have died at public hospitals, excluding any deaths in villages and private hospitals. A further 1500 or more are estimated to currently be hospitalised with the disease. The majority of the dead and infected are reported to be under 15.

The first cases of the disease this season were reported in late July. The disease is carried by pigs, which then migrates to humans through mosquitos. The outbreak has prompted the Indian government to undertake such measures as deployment of pig catchers in seriously affected areas, distributing thousands of mosquito curtains and spraying pesticides. Several million vials of encephalitis vaccine have also been promised by the government, which will help prepare health agencies for next year. Plans for vaccines to be delivered to the historically most affected areas this year were delayed due to lack of funds and low prioritisation relative to other diseases.

This is not the first time such an event has occurred. Thousands have died of the disease over the past three decades in the region. The most common period for the disease is during the monsoon season (July-September).

Categories
Online Bohemian Fashion

Repairing Or Replacing A Boiler In Bergen County, Nj

byAlma Abell

If your home, residential building or business facility uses a boiler, what you’ll need to understand about these systems is that they are extremely reliable and durable. Boiler systems can last for decades without any major repair. However, as these systems get older, the likelihood of them breaking down becomes more pronounced. For that reason, you’ll find that many buildings in the Bergen County, New Jersey area are using older boilers and these boilers will occasionally need not only regular servicing, but they’ll need repairs when different parts of the boiler system wear out over time. In these cases, if you’re trying to repair an older Boiler in Bergen County NJ, you’ll need a good resource for replacement parts.

You’ll need a resource that has a wide variety of new boiler systems as well as a full complement of replacement parts both common and uncommon for the repair of existing boiler systems. One of the reasons why a resource that offers new boiler systems is so important is because occasionally, your boiler system will be so old that the only option you have is to replace it. While this doesn’t happen all the time, there are situations where a boiler is beyond repair and having a new boiler system that can be integrated into the space allotted for the existing boiler is important. Having a wide variety of boiler systems can help you find the right one for your space and for your requirements.

Of course, there’s also the fact of replacement parts. Since many boiler systems are quite old, you’ll need an excellent resource that offers not only factory original parts put quality aftermarket parts to repair an old and aging boiler system. While some parts may be interchangeable, some boiler systems require specific parts and a quality resource for boiler parts is necessary in these situations.

If you’re trying to repair an old Boiler in Bergen County NJ or you’re looking to replace an existing boiler system, boiler resources like Ramapo Wholesalers are an excellent resource to have. With comprehensive online sales as well as numerous different local outlets and showrooms, Ramapo is your comprehensive resource for a wide variety of different replacement parts and replacement systems for boilers, plumbing systems and a host of other home and business plumbing fixtures.

You can read reviews from our clients and like us on Facebook!

Philippines ferry disaster: ship owner sues over toxic cargo; recovery deadline set & more

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Several new developments have occurred surrounding the loss of Philippine ferry MV Princess of the Stars, which capsized and sank on June 21 during a severe storm. The loss near Sibuyan island during Typhoon Fengshen, known locally as Frank, killed more than 800 of those on board.

Ship owner Sulpicio Lines has sued Del Monte Philippines for failing to declare a cargo of the dangerous pesticide endosulfan that was on board. Sulpicio yesterday sued the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMO) for allegedly making comments contributing to negative publicity surrounding the line and asked a court to stop the body continuing its investigation, saying it no longer had any authority. Today, that request was denied.

Another outcome of today’s proceedings is a deadline for Sulpicio to recover the ship. The company has ninety days to ensure the recovery operation is complete.

Yesterday, an eight-page complaint was filed against Del Monte at Manila City’s regional trial court. It alleges that Del Monte violated the line’s terms by failing to inform Sulpicio that the shipment included edosulfan. The line notes that any toxic cargo should have been declared. Suplicio is seeking PHP5.5 million from the company for alleged negligence.

“Due to Del Monte’s deceit and non-disclosure, plaintiff was led to believe that the subject shipment of Endosulfan was a regular cargo. Had defendant Del Monte disclosed the toxic nature of the cargo, plaintiff would not have loaded the same on board a passenger-cargo vessel, be it MV Princess of the Paradise or MV Princess of the Stars,” said a statement by Suplicio.

The exact total sought as damages is P549,661.11, which accounts for the correct rate for shipping if the toxic cargo had been declared, plus double rates as punitive measures. On top of those damages sought is P3 million to cover specialist recovery required for the chemical, P1 million in moral damges for lost corporate goodwill and damage to Sulpicio’s reputation, P500,000 in moral damages for Sulpicio marketing vice president and shareholder Jordan L. Go, P200,000 in exemplary damages and P300,000 in legal costs.

The discovery that the ship was carrying the endosulfan shipment, which totaled 10 metric tons, led to a ban on fishing in the nearby town of San Fernando and an emergency cessation of search and rescue activities, which were mostly being conducted by divers. The pesticide is banned in many countries and is subject to various regulations in the Philippines. Water samples from the wreck site show that thus far the pesticide has not leaked.

A specialist joint team is set to arrive soon from the European Union and the United Nations Environmental Programme to assist with opearations relating to the pesticide, which is a neurotoxin.

The Philippine Coast Guard yesterday awarded some 42 staff divers and six civilian volunteer divers for their work at the Princess of the Stars. They were particularly praised for being keen to return to work. They are awaiting the results of tests for exposure to endosulfan.

Endosulfan is one of the items set for retrieval in a new deadline set by the government task force overseeing the disaster. Sulpicio must also recover the remaining bodies and the unused fuel on board within 90 days.

Sulpicio had initially offered to have the job done in 164 days, but Transportation Undersecretary Elena Bautista rejected this proposal, saying “Out of humanitarian reasons, I told them not to prolong the agony of the victims’ relatives all the way to Christmas.” Sulpicio was given until Wednesday to name the salvage contractor who would be responsible for recovering the ship, after which they were to submit their retrieval plans to the International Maritime Organisation.

Sulpicio was also given the option of simply towing the ship closer to shore to do the recovery instead of refloating it, which they have opted for. In Bautista’s words: “Based on the Sulpicio report this morning, their plan now is to just tow the vessel to the shore, get the hazardous materials out, get the fuel out, and get the people out and I think that would be more cost-effective and most practical because that can be done, maybe within a month, as compared to refloating, which would probably take three months.”

Sulpicio is currently considering three different potential salvors, which remain unnamed. They have been told that the company needs to have expertise suitable enough to ensure marine life is not harmed and hazardous materials are not spilled. There is a possibility that the planned towing will damage nearby coral. It is already confirmed by the coastguard that oil onboard cannot leak. Most of the 250,000 litres of bunker fuel are in the service tank, which is considered safe. Only the small amount of oil in the base tank may leak but oil spill containment booms are already in place should this occur.

The government has said that, had Sulpicio not made provisions to get the salvage done, then they would have performed the operation themselves. Had this occurred, Sulpicio would have been charged for it, with the bill estimated at P100 million.

One aspect of another legal case was resolved today. Sulpicio had questioned the authority of the BMI to conduct investigations, instead saying only the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) had the right to do so, and pointing to a separate inquiry started by MARINA. However, a hearing today found that the BMI and MARINA serve different roles. The BMI’s role is solely to determine the cause of marine accidents. MARINA’s purpose is more concerned with regulations, and is mainly investigating the role of Sulpicio themselves. “We are looking at why we should not cancel the company’s franchise,” explained MARINA Administrator Vicente Suazo Jr.

Both investigations are ongoing.

Teen charged over ‘bomb attempt’ at US Christmas celebration

Saturday, November 27, 2010

The threat was very real. Our investigation shows that Mohamud was absolutely committed to carrying out an attack on a very grand scale.

A 19-year-old Oregon, U.S. resident has been charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction after a sting operation; authorities say Mohamed Osman Mohamud, born in Somalia, tried to detonate a van bomb using a mobile phone at a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Portland.

The device, police stated, was fake; he reportedly obtained it from undercover agents during a sting operation. Reports say Mohamud, a US citizen, had been in regular contact with somebody in north-west Pakistan.

Authorities intercepted e-mails they say were between Mohamud and this contact in August 2009. Holton reassured Oregon residents, adding that there was “no reason to believe there is any continuing threat arising from this case”. Mohamud allegededly told an FBI agent “I want whoever is attending that event to leave, to leave either dead or injured.” Dwight Holton, a U.S. attorney, described Mohamud’s “chilling determination” as a “stark reminder that there are people—even here in Oregon—who are determined to kill Americans.”

An FBI agent told reporters “[t]he threat was very real. Our investigation shows that Mohamud was absolutely committed to carrying out an attack on a very grand scale. I want to reassure the people of this community that, at every turn, we denied him the ability to actually carry out the attack.” On the day of the tree lighting ceremony, he drove a vehicle to the area where the event was to be held, and was arrested, prosecutors said, twenty minutes before the tree was to be lit. He kicked at agents as they tried to apprehend him and shouted “Allahu Akbar!” (God is great!).

Court papers indicated that an undercover agent told Mohamud that he was an associate of the Pakistani contact. When the agent and Mohamud discussed the plan, Mohamud said that he wanted a “huge mass that will be attacked in their own element with their families celebrating the holidays”. Mohamud told the agent that he had wanted to carry out a jihad (holy war) against the U.S. since he was fifteen years old.

Categories
Medicine

Before And After Plastic Surgery Experiences And Risks

Before and After Plastic Surgery – Experiences and Risks

by

Eli C. Carrio

A person\’s emotional state (more than the physical) will dramatically switch

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PH0kCqIkzk[/youtube]

before and after plastic surgery

. According to statistics, only a handful of individuals take their time to take into account the sentimental element of their decision to undergo a surgical operation simply to refine or boost way they look. A plastic surgery will result to permanent modification of ones visual aspect; therefore, one should think of it first.

Yes, a plastic surgery can let you feel better about yourself. It can serve as a valuable reinforcement in relation to improving your disposition by providing you more self confidence and self pride. However, a plastic surgery may bring some unfavorable mental effects on the patient. The following post-surgery syndromes are most commonly known: There is actually a big chance for patients to go through post-surgical depression. This is called the unexplained sadness after going under the knife. Usually, the physician has a before and after plastic surgery

briefing incl. checking images, pics / pictures, describing what to expect after the operation. Ironically, according to statistics, only various mds anticipate the possibility of happening of these syndrome, thus, making it hard for patients to manage up with its consequences.

Usually, if you have been put under general anesthesia, it\’s possible to find its consequences even up to four weeks after. The chemicals are supposed to linger inside you for some time resulting in fast exhaustion. Depression may be one of the issues of anesthesia. Caring the episodes of pain that happen after the procedure is very crucial. One should remain on the agenda of intake of pain medicaments given from the Dr. to ease the pain. It can bring much distress on to the patient without these narcotics. Feeling lousy physically can translate o feeling bad emotionally. But we advise you to have a good sense of control over your emotions. Think of extremely pleased inner thoughts to prevent this. Keep important people near and try to get faster healing of your wounds. One helpful advice given by professionals is avoiding looking the mirror particularly if you are about to heal. You might feel dissatisfied at how you look like if you see your physical attributes untimely. Give it time and have patience. Level of allowed physical movements before and after plastic surgery generally differs. There are physical workouts that you can not do once you proceed through a plastic surgery . Chances are, you need to spend most of your time in your bed to make sure rapid healing of woundings and recuperation. Do not worry because this will be for a limited time period only. Always remember that the depression after the reconstructive surgery can be a ordinary stage for all patients. In order to manage it very well, do not be afraid to look for help from family, relatives, and friends.

My name is Elisabeth Calista Carrio, everybody calls me \”Eli\”. I am from Barcelona, Spain – living and writing now in Costa Rica for the Forums

Before and After Plastic Surgery

Forums.

Either way I hope you find the articles I have written of value; if you have any questions or ideas please feel free to get in touch with me.

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

2010 Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure becomes world’s largest Komen race

Saturday, June 12, 2010

The 2010 Susan G. Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure, held earlier today in St. Louis, Missouri, became the world’s largest Race for the Cure, with over 71,000 participants.

2010 marks the twelfth year for the race in St. Louis, which raises money for breast cancer research nationwide. Originally brought to the city in 1999, it has raised over US$19 million. It was sponsored by Wells Fargo Advisors, a locally-headquartered brokerage firm of the financial services provider Wells Fargo. Nationally, the Race for the Cure is hosted by Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a non-profit organization supporting breast cancer research.

In 1999, there were only about 10,000 participants in the St. Louis Race for the Cure. In recent years, the number has grown to over 60,000, and today’s 5K race saw over 71,000 runners, walkers, and wheelchair racers. Despite the heat and humidity, 1,090 teams signed up, and over 4,500 breast cancer survivors participated. Overall, the race raised more than US$3.3 million. A phone bank set up by Wells Fargo and local television station KSDK contributed over US$28,000 of that amount in four hours.

Prior to the race, there was a parade of all the breast cancer survivors who had signed up for the race. The actual competition began at 8:30 a.m. CDT (1330 UTC) with the wheelchair race. Following them were the timed runners, the untimed runners, the walkers, and lastly, the “fun walk” participants, who had only opted to walk one mile (1.6 kilometres).

The Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure is only one of many Races for the Cure, which is the largest group of 5K runs and walks in the world. The first Komen race was held in 1983 in Dallas, Texas, but has since spread to over 140 cities throughout the world. Proceeds from today’s St. Louis race will benefit both local institutions and the rest of the United States. At least 25 percent of the money raised will go toward funding national research on breast cancer, while the rest will be given to organizations in St. Louis for breast cancer awareness programs.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia CEO apologies for financial planning scandal

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Ian Narev, the CEO of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, this morning “unreservedly” apologised to clients who lost money in a scandal involving the bank’s financial planning services arm.

Last week, a Senate enquiry found financial advisers from the Commonwealth Bank had made high-risk investments of clients’ money without the clients’ permission, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars lost. The Senate enquiry called for a Royal Commission into the bank, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Mr Narev stated the bank’s performance in providing financial advice was “unacceptable”, and the bank was launching a scheme to compensate clients who lost money due to the planners’ actions.

In a statement Mr Narev said, “Poor advice provided by some of our advisers between 2003 and 2012 caused financial loss and distress and I am truly sorry for that. […] There have been changes in management, structure and culture. We have also invested in new systems, implemented new processes, enhanced adviser supervision and improved training.”

An investigation by Fairfax Media instigated the Senate inquiry into the Commonwealth Bank’s financial planning division and ASIC.

Whistleblower Jeff Morris, who reported the misconduct of the bank to ASIC six years ago, said in an article for The Sydney Morning Herald that neither the bank nor ASIC should be in control of the compensation program.

Categories
Restaurants

Effective Garbage Removal In Providence, Ri Keeps A Business Clean And Attractive

byAlma Abell

Efficient garbage disposal for large scale residential and commercial users often requires a customized solution. The largest dumpster can have trouble handling the load from multiple apartments or a very busy restaurant. The owners of these facilities have turned to individualized compaction systems to handle their Garbage Removal in Providence RI needs. These units can process both dry and wet waste. Compaction reduces the volume of the trash by a 3:1 ratio. This allows unit to hold a lot more waste and reduce the number of waste collection pickups. Business owners and landlords have a wide variety of units to choose from. The smallest unit is 2 cubic yards and the largest is 42 cubic yards.

Apartment owners have to make Garbage Removal in Providence RI convenient and safe for the residents, if they expect them to use it. Usually people have to dump their waste into a compaction unit when they are standing beside it. This can be dangerous or intimidating if it’s outside the building or in a distant basement. A person who is cleaning out their refrigerator late at night is not likely to want to go to either location. Technicians can add a vertical chute to the compaction unit. It will run up to each floor of the apartment building. Residents will be able to safely send their trash down the garbage chute.

When a business relies on a mechanized Garbage Removal in Providence RI solution, they have to know that technicians are available 24 hours a day to repair it. Technicians are trained to quickly identify any problem and fix it. They are sent out with a well-stocked repair van, so that a broken or worn-out part can be replaced as fast as possible. Maintenance plans are available and they will help prevent most unplanned service calls.

Even compaction systems fill up with garbage. Garbage Removal in Providence RI companies provide reliable pick up services to prevent overflowing units. Businesses such as restaurants may see spikes in business on Valentines Day or Mother’s Day. They can work with the garbage removal company to ensure that they receive extra pick up services. This ensures that their outside areas always looks clean and cared for.