Pressure on Rahul Gandhi to resolve Lokpal crisis

August 23, 2011 By

MUMBAI: Pressure is building up on Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi from within the party to step in and resolve the crisis over the Lokpal bill, in view of the nationwide response to Anna Hazare's agitation.

“The response is unprecedented. It has caused massive damage to the party. It will have to pay a heavy price in the forthcoming polls in some states. In the last three days, many senior Congress leaders called on Rahul to press for his intervention. We expect him to step in soon,” a senior Congress minister in Maharashtra said

on Monday.

On April 5, Hazare called off his fast following intervention by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. “Sonia Gandhi had written a letter to Hazare and assured him that a joint committee, including his nominees, will be set up. Now, since Sonia is away for medical treatment, Rahul should take the initiative and resolve the dispute,” he said.

Some senior Congress leaders also plan to seek President Pratibha Patil's intervention. “We plan to meet her and we feel that she should appeal to Hazare to call off his agitation,” they said.

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BinckBank and Delta Lloyd set up pension venture

July 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 6 (Reuters) – Dutch online broker BinckBank N.V. (BINCK.AS) and insurer Delta Lloyd (DLL.AS) on Tuesday said they would establish a joint venture to offer group defined contribution pension schemes in the Dutch market.

“This new initiative is a Contributory Pension Institution … a new type of pension administrator that enters the Dutch market, alongside insurers and pension funds,” they said in a statement.

BinckBank and Delta Lloyd said the market for defined contribution pension schemes in the Netherlands is growing rapidly. In 2008 the market volume was 6.5 billion euros ($8.72 billion), according to the Dutch Association of Insurers.

The new entity, “BeFrank”, will actively enter the market after a new pension law comes into force on Jan. 1, 2011.

The start-up losses for the first three years will total 6 million euros, BinckBank and Delta Lloyd said. They expect BeFrank to contribute to the parent companies’ profits from 2014. (Reporting by Harro ten Wolde; Editing by Hans Peters) ($1=.7453 Euro)

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Flutteroo Online Auctions Make Online Bidding Even Easier With Its New Bids Swap Initiative

June 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, Jun 25 (MARKET WIRE) —
Online auctions website flutteroo is delighted to announce the launch of
its brand new Bids Swap initiative making it even easier for customers to
get bids on flutteroo.co.uk. Now, with Bids Swap, if a customer wins a
Penny Auction or from a range of Lowest Unique Bid Auctions , rather than
taking the winning auction product or even cash, players are now
automatically offered the opportunity to take bids instead. These are
instantly credited to the customer’s account meaning they can keep
bidding and winning without the need to top-up separately.

And, because Bids Swap are always offered at a great rate, the number of
bids customers get are very competitive too meaning not only less hassle
for players, but also good value!

Flutteroo, which only last week reached a milestone 50,000 signed up
customers, is continuing to innovate and ensure it keeps on rolling out
new and exciting extras for its bidders. This is all part of its ongoing
upgrade program to the whole site over the coming months, designed to
make it an even simpler and more interactive auction site for all its
customers.

Dave Hobday, CEO flutteroo, commented: “We are really excited about
Bids Swap. It’s a great opportunity to make it easier for our customers
to get bids and win auctions, and offer them more choice and great value
too. It’s another example of where we are trying to respond to the needs
of our players and make bidding on flutteroo ever more fun. Plus, given
the competitive pricing we offer on Bids Swap, it’s also great value too.
By offering Bids Swap as an integrated part of our check-out it’s very
easy for players. It’s their choice whether to take Bids Swap or just bag
the product itself and we are now able to offer whichever they prefer in
a totally seamless and simple way.”

This initiative from flutteroo continues its drive to ensure it’s always
offering bidders what they want and stay one step ahead of the game. With
its unique combination of 3 different types of auction including price
drop auctions flutteroo has become one of the most innovative and
consumer focussed online auction websites. And, with the very latest
products now going under the hammer, including the brand new Apple iPhone
4 and iPad, along with the more established favourites such as Nintendo
Wiis and LCD TVs there’s always amazing bargains to be had.

About Flutteroo.co.uk

Flutteroo launched in 2009 into the rapidly growing market of internet
pay-per-bid auctions. These combine traditional retailing with skill and
strategy. Flutteroo is privately funded and based in west London. Dave
Hobday has a senior management and marketing background from companies
including Sportingbet, HBOS, Telewest and Procter & Gamble. The
management team has successfully raised over one million pounds in first
round funding.

Contacts:
Flutteroo
Dave Hobday
CEO
020 84041193
dave@flutteroo.com
www.flutteroo.co.uk

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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GE to Invest $10B More in Ecomagination R&D by 2015

June 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

General Electric is committing $10 billion to ecomagination research and development in the next five years after reaching a $5 billion investment milestone for its portfolio of environmentally sensitive products, services and technology.

GE, the world’s largest industrial company, announced the new goal today with the release of its annual ecomagination report. The 50-page report details the firm’s progress in 2009 toward a series of ambitious environmental goals that were set in 2005 — when the company launched ecomagination — and include increasingly higher benchmarks for performance.

The report highlights the company’s accomplishment of surpassing its goal for ecomagination R&D investment by hitting the $5 billion target in 2009, a year early. The commitment to double the investment in the next five years means that GE plans to put a total of $15 billion toward ecomagination by 2015 when the initiative marks its 10th anniversary.

GE also reported:

* A 6 percent increase in revenue, bringing it to $18 billion in 2009 for more than 90 products. There were just 17 products when ecomagination launched and about 80 were in place by the end of 2008. GE hailed the 2009 sales figure, pointing out that revenue rose despite persisting challenges in the economy. The growth was modest, however, compared to the 21 percent jump recorded in 2008.

For coming years, the company is reframing its stretch goal for revenue, which in 2005 was set at $20 billion in ecomagination sales by 2010 and then was bumped up in last year’s report to $25 billion by 2010. GE says it is well on its way to the $20 billion mark in sales and is now committing that “ecomagination revenue will grow at twice the rate of total company revenue in the next five years, making ecomagination an even larger proportion of total company sales [as illustrated in the chart below].”

* Reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improved energy efficiency of operations. GE reduced its GHG emissions by 22 percent last year compared to 2004. GE improved its energy intensity by 34 percent compared to 2004; its goal was a 30 percent reduction by 2010. GHG intensity also improved by logging a 39 percent reduction compared to 2004. Goals for 2015 include improving energy intensity of operations by 50 percent and reducing absolute GHG emissions by 25 percent when compared against a 2004 baseline.

* Reduced water use. The company cut water consumption 30 percent compared to a 2006 baseline. Its original goal was 20 percent by 2012.

The company also pledged to maintain its engagement with the public and said it will update ecomagination.com to foster the dialogue.

GE summarized its progress and ongoing goals in this chart:

Ecomagination offerings range from energy efficient smart appliances for the home to high-performance engines for industry, and GE investments in projects and technology to generate and save energy span everything from solar power systems to using cow manure to produce biofuel.

The firm’s commitment to boost its ecomagination R&D investment reinforces its strategy to bet big on cleantech as Kevin Skillern, managing director of Venture Capital for GE Energy Financial Services, outlined in a podcast interview with GreenBiz Senior Writer Marc Gunther last fall.

In the report today, the company noted:

“Global energy use continues to grow, while interest in renewable energy is at an all-time high. World demand for electricity is expected to double by 2030, driven in part by the increased needs of developing nations.”

“Ecomagination is one of our most successful cross-company business initiatives. If counted separately, 2009 ecomagination revenues would equal that of a Fortune 130 company and ecomagination revenue growth equals almost two times the company average,” GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said in a statement. “We have made bold investments in ecomagination research and development and it has resulted in strong returns for shareholders.”

The 2009 and previous ecomagination annual reports are available at www.ge.ecomagination.com/report/.

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Singapore bourse signs agreement with India’s HCL

June 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 14 (Reuters) – The Singapore Exchange (SGXL.SI) said on Monday it had signed a five-year IT infrastructure agreement with India’s HCL Technologies (HCLT.BO) for S$110 million ($78.6 million).

Financials | Technology

Under the agreement, HCL will provide the Singapore bourse with infrastructure support and management services under its Reach Initiative, which aims to create the world’s fastest trading engine and seamlessly connect global hubs to Singapore.

“HCL is an important partner for SGX in enabling the Reach initiative to provide customers with the fastest access to Asia and in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations on daily basis,” Bob Caisley, the exchange’s executive vice-president, said in a statement. (Reporting by Harry Suhartono; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

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Al Pacino”s synagogue trip for new role

May 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 21 (ANI): Veteran actor Al Pacino has been preparing thoroughly for his role in an upcoming production of The Merchant Of Venice by visiting a Jewish temple in New York.

The actor has travelled to Brooklyn to do his research for his role as a Jewish moneylender Shylock in a Public Theatre showing of the Shakespeare play this summer (10).

He visited a Hasidic synagogue to watch the rituals, and even joined in as the worshippers swayed in prayer, known as shuckling, at the service, reports the Daily Star.

“It was done with complete respect and a true sense of empathy,” Public Theater Initiative Director Barry Edelstein tells The Wall Street Journal.(ANI)

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Agricultural Sciences taught in Bihar school

May 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Bakhtiyarpur (Bihar), May 21 (ANI): Students at a government-run school in Bihar”s Bakhtiyarpur town are being taught Agricultural Sciences as a subject, to revive the interest of youngsters towards farming.

Apart from conventional education, the students in the age group of 10-15 years are getting exposed to various facets of agriculture at a young age, which they are enthusiastically putting into practice in their own backyards as well.

“Earlier, we didn”t know anything about how the green vegetables and rice are grown. But in this school, our teachers taught us how to do farming and grow green vegetables. We gained immense knowledge about agriculture,” said Chandani Kumari, a student.

“We use this knowledge at home as well and we grow vegetables on the roof of our school building as well,” she added.

Shivram Sharma, Principal of the Sabnima Middle School, said the initiative would prepare youngsters to take up farming as a profession.

“Increasing population and decrease in agricultural knowledge will result in the problem of crop deficit in future. So, to prevent this situation we are teaching students about scientific farming,” said Sharma. (ANI)

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Country musicians support CF project

May 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Mogo Zoo on the New South Wales Far South Coast was treated to a night of country music at the weekend, to raise funds for the Red Rose House Project.

It has taken locals five years to build the house at Malua Bay, relying on materials, money and labour donated by the community.

When the house is sold, the proceeds will be donated to Cystic Fibrosis Australia.

Musicians from Bargo and Merimbula joined forces on Saturday to support the initiative.

Organiser Michael Skuse says the project will benefit from the length of time it has taken to complete.

“The market was a bit tough in the last couple of years, and we made a decision that that wouldn’t be the best time to finish it and sell it,” he said.

“If we can sell it for another $50 000 in a better market condition, that’s all going to the charity.”

For more, go to the South East News blog at http://bit.ly/dgL1SN

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Nepal police told to lose weight

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Police in Nepal have been told to lose weight because they “look lousy” and people do not treat them as well, The Telegraph quoted a spokesman at the Nepalese Police Headquarters, as saying.

“When you are fat, you look lousy and it”s obvious that perception of people towards you is not positive. They don”t trust you,” police spokesman Bigyan Raj Sharma said, adding annual tests would be introduced to monitor progress.

Mr Sharma said the initiative was the result of feedback received by the Secretariat of the Inspector General of Police from unhappy members of the public.

He said each of the force”s 56,000 officers will be given an individual regime to help them keep fit, and issued with a target Body Mass Index.

Fitness and yoga sessions will be scheduled, following a successful yoga camp with the renowned Indian guru Swami Ramdev organised for police last month.

Sharma said that junior officers working in desk jobs were the worst affected by weight problems. (ANI)

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Shrinking of Renuka Lake concerns Himachal locals

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sirmour (Himachal Pradesh), Apr 29 (ANI): People in Himachal Pradesh”s Sirmour District are very concerned over the shrinking of the state”s Renuka Lake.

Many feel the lake”s shrinking would affect business, as the area is a major tourist spot.

“A lot of tourists come here to see the natural beauty of this lake. In case it dries up, the business which is generated by this lake will also come to an end,” said Sandeep Sharma, a local photographer.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has said steps are being taken to protect the lake, beginning with a ban on plastic bags.

“In order to protect it, we have banned the plastic bags as wherever there is a river or a lake, people throw plastic bags. This ban should preserve the lake. The society and the government should come together to take the initiative,” said Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Renuka Lake is seen as an embodiment of the Goddess Renuka. It is the largest natural lake in the state, and is shrinking due to silt deposition and dumping of waste materials. (ANI)

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Kokoda stamps commemorate Anzac Day

April 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Post offices in Australia and Papua New Guinea are commemorating Anzac Day with a joint issue of stamps featuring the Kokoda Track.

Rod Hillman from the Kokoda Track Authority says the move is a great initiative.

“We’ve got a stamp here celebrating this special relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia, and I think it’s really important that it has been launched in both countries on the same day,” he said.

The stamps portray a short history from 1942 when Australia fought with Japan along the Kokoda Track, to modern day Australian trekkers with their PNG guides.

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Dell et Telefónica forment une alliance stratégique dans le but d`offrir des solutionsinnovantes de connectivité et de communication

April 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

MADRID ET ROUND ROCK, Texas–(Business Wire)–
Dell et Telefónica ont annoncé aujourd`hui avoir formé une alliance stratégique
qui marque le début d`un nouvel effort collaboratif visant au développement de
futurs produits et services conçus pour enrichir les expériences de données qui
permettront à leurs clients d`interagir avec leur famille, amis et contacts
professionnels quand et où ils le désirent.

« La demande pour des appareils omniprésents, instantanés et connectés au Web
s`infiltre partout », déclare Ron Garriques, président, Dell Communication
Solutions Group. « Nous sommes ravis de nous aligner à Telefónica et de
capitaliser sur nos compétences combinées pour créer des produits et des
services offrant à nos clients une expérience simple et transparente. »

« Le nouvel écosystème numérique, en construction, crée des opportunités et des
avantages immenses pour tous les secteurs qui se transforment et s`adaptent au
monde numérique, non seulement en termes de productivité, mais aussi en termes
de nouvelles directions d`initiative, nouvelles applications et nouvelles
opportunités commerciales », explique Vivek Dev, directeur des innovations,
Telefónica. « Et nous sommes ravis de faire équipe avec Dell pour développer ces
solutions. »

L`alliance avec Telefónica cadre avec la cible visée par Dell : la mise au point
de produits et de services mobiles intelligents grâce à des relations à valeur
ajoutée avec des exploitants chefs de file.

L`Alliance s`axe sur trois domaines :

* offrir aux clients les choix qu`ils privilégient dès maintenant ;
* être les premiers à livrer des solutions prochaine génération ;
* potentialiser l`expérience numérique des clients et mener les technologies des
communications de l`information sur le marché.

À propos de Dell

Dell (NASDAQ : DELL) écoute ses clients et utilise les connaissances ainsi
acquises pour simplifier la technologie et créer des solutions innovantes qui
simplifient les activités journalières et aident les gens à rester divertis,
connectés et en contact. Pour en savoir davantage, consultez www.dell.com.

À propos de Telefónica

Telefónica est l’une des plus importantes entreprises de télécommunications au
monde du point de vue de la capitalisation boursière. Ses activités sont
principalement centrées sur les activités de téléphonie fixe et mobile, le haut
débit étant l’outil essentiel du développement de chacune des activités. La
société a une présence significative dans 25 pays et une base clients qui
correspond à 265 millions d’accès dans le monde entier. Telefónica a une forte
présence en Espagne, en Europe et en Amérique latine, où elle concentre une part
importante de sa stratégie de croissance. Telefónica est une société entièrement
cotée en Bourse, avec plus de 1,5 million d’actionnaires directs. Pour en savoir
davantage, consultez www.telefonica.com.

Galerie de photos/multimédia disponible à l`adresse :

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6247987〈=fr

Le texte du communiqué issu d`une traduction ne doit d`aucune manière être
considéré comme officiel. La seule version du communiqué qui fasse foi est celle
du communiqué dans sa langue d`origine. La traduction devra toujours être
confrontée au texte source, qui fera jurisprudence.

Contacts média :
Dell
Matthew Parretta, 512-633-5568
Matthew_Parretta@Dell.com
ou
Telefónica
Javier Garcia, 212-661-8388
jgarcia@telefonica.es
ou
ContactRelations investisseurs :
Dell
Robert Williams, 512-728-7570
Robert_Williams@dell.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

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ICPA supports ag college shake-up

April 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) has welcomed the Queensland Government’s overhaul of agricultural training.

The State Government wants to expand the Australian Agricultural College Corporation from five campuses to 14 by selling farmland.

ICPA state president Lorraine McGinnis says it will mean less travel for some students.

“I think anything that brings courses to where people are looking for them – short courses in areas that people are interested in getting not only credentials but skills in – they’re important and if they can be delivered closer to the students and even the adults, well then it’s making good use of both the skills they have to offer the local facilities,” she said.

She says the overhaul means rural students will be able to achieve the education they desire.

“Most of our students now are going to year 12 and then often off to higher education and many of the children when they do go away to boarding school really enjoy being able to take horses and cattle with them,” she said.

“To handle those when they’re at schools that offer those programs currently are very popular, so I think this is an interesting initiative.”

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In Collaboration with Worldwide Government and Industry Organizations, The Green Grid Advances Global Harmonization of Data Center Energy Efficiency Metrics

April 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Consortium Creates EPA ENERGY STAR Program Management Office; Demonstrates
Ongoing Momentum as Recipient of Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Award
PORTLAND, Ore.–(Business Wire)–
The Green Grid, the IT industry`s leading voice for advancing energy efficiency
in data centers, today announced that in an unprecedented global effort, the
consortium along with the U.S. Department of Energy`s Save Now and Federal
Energy Management Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency`s (EPA) ENERGY
STAR Program, European Union Code of Conduct, Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade
and Industry`s (METI) Green IT Initiative, and Japan`s Green IT Promotion
Council (GIPC) have collectively reached an agreement on the guiding principles
of data center energy efficiency metrics. This agreement represents a
significant achievement, as these organizations continue working to ensure data
center efficiency metrics, measurements and reporting conventions can be applied
with clarity and consistency at the global level.

“The ultimate goal is to create a set of globally accepted metrics for data
center energy efficiency. One of the first, and perhaps most important factors
to successfully achieving this aim is establishing a unity of communication,”
said Tom Brey, IBM representative and Secretary of The Green Grid. “The Green
Grid is working with organizations around the world to develop a clear and
well-defined language for the way we communicate about energy efficiency
metrics, which will give us a common measuring stick for all data centers
regardless of their location. With that type of consistency, we can start
driving behavioral changes in the industry.”

As the basis for these guiding principles, The Green Grid and the aforementioned
organizations have designated Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) as the industry`s
preferred energy efficiency metric. The group will leverage the guiding
principles to help drive a universal understanding of energy efficiency metrics
and generate dialogue to improve data center efficiencies. A global task force
with representatives from each of the above mentioned organizations will
continue to move this initiative forward and reconvene later this year to
evaluate progress.

The Green Grid Establishes EPA ENERGY STAR Program Management Office

In support of the U.S. EPA`s ongoing efforts to reduce energy consumption in
servers, storage devices and data centers as a whole, The Green Grid today
announced that it has established an EPA ENERGY STAR Program Management Office.
This office, headed by members of The Green Grid`s Board of Directors, aims to
position the consortium as a trusted technical advisor to the U.S. EPA`s ENERGY
STAR program. The Green Grid supports the EPA in its efforts to lead IT industry
collaboration in the development of ENERGY STAR efforts, including standards for
servers, storage, UPS and data center systems and related component level
equipment.

The Green Grid Receives Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Award

In recognition of its successful endeavor to educate the industry on data center
efficiency, The Green Grid`s “Measures and Metrics” online course has received
the Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Awards` Silver Medal. This prestigious
award, recognizing exceptional work in the use of learning technology, is
presented annually by Brandon Hall Research, a leading training and development
firm.

The “Measures and Metrics” custom course, offered through The Green Grid
Academy, is designed for data center managers and features 3D avatars that guide
viewers through a virtual data center environment, while presenting ways to
effectively measure energy consumption and improve energy efficiency. The course
was selected as the silver medal winner based on the strength of its content,
effective navigation and engaging interactive elements.

About The Green Grid

The Green Grid is a global consortium of companies, government agencies and
educational institutions dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data
centers. The Green Grid does not endorse vendor-specific products or solutions,
and instead seeks to provide industry-wide recommendations on best practices,
metrics and technologies that will improve overall data center energy
efficiencies. Membership is open to organizations interested in data center
operational efficiency at the Contributor, General or Associate member level.
Additional information is available at www.thegreengrid.org.

Porter Novelli for The Green Grid
Brandon Brunson, 512-241-2234
Brandon.Brunson@porternovelli.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

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Get ready to follow ‘Romeo and Juliet’ on Twitter!

April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Apr 1 (ANI): Shakespeare””s Romeo and Juliet will soon make their way on Twitter, with the classic love story to be “tweeted” in a joint project between Channel 4 and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The broadcaster also said it would double its commissioning budget for arts programmes on Channel 4 to 6 million pounds a year, and set up a new arts board.

As part of Channel 4””s new arts line-up, Such Tweet Sorrow will tell the story of one of William Shakespeare””s best-loved plays via the social networking website Twitter, reports The Telegraph.

Production company Mudlark is also involved in the project, which goes live on April 12.

People behind the initiative are not revealing further details about the project, including exactly how the play will be tweeted, until nearer the time of launch. (ANI)

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Swansea seniors in cyberspace

April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Tasmania’s first internet cafe for seniors has opened in Swansea on the east coast.

The May Shaw Health Centre has opened the internet cafe with funding from the Rudd Government’s Broadband for Seniors initiative and donations from the local community.

The centre’s business manager Mike Hannon says getting older people online helps them remain active and productive.

“It gives older people a bridge back to the younger generation because they then have a common interest in the technology that enables them to communicate.”

“We consider it vitally important that we can offer our residents, who generally are well into their 80s, something that takes away the disadvantage of being old and gives them the advantages of [being] anyone and anything they want to be on the internet,” he said.

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Park opening celebrates Indigenous culture

April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The significance of Wiradjuri culture is being celebrated with the official opening of a park in Griffith today.

The Three Ways Cultural Park is on former channel reserve land on Kennedy Street.

It is a joint initiative of Griffith City Council, Murrumbidgee Irrigation and the Indigenous community.

Murrumbidgee Irrigation’s executive manager of environment, Rob Kelly, says it comes after 18 months of work.

“We did some fairly extensive engagement work with the local Indigenous community to really understand what they would value in a park in terms of not only providing them with the resources that they need for their own community but also how we could use that to teach the younger generation about the cultural significance of the Wiradjuri people to this area,” he said.

Mr Kelly says there are also plans for an Indigenous interpretive centre at the park.

“The design of the park includes a Wiradjuri feature through a goanna in it,” he said.

“It also has a bush tucker garden and it has a ceremonial fire pit that will be used by the local elders to educate some of the children.

“It’s a day to celebrate the achievements for community participation in what they’ve achieved in terms of development of the park and to essentially give people a tour and understanding of the park and why it’s significant.”

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Noisy planes banned from major cities

March 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Noisy freight planes will be banned from operating out of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth airports later this year.

The Federal Government has announced that from September older freight aircraft such as Boeing 727s will no longer be able to run services in the four cities under a plan to reduce aircraft noise.

Transport Minister Anthony Albanese says freight operators have known about the changes for some time.

“This is an important initiative in order to ensure that these noisy aircraft are unable to be used over densely populated suburbs in our capital cities,” he said.

“We’re giving the companies a period of time to adjust.”

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Students petition for more police

March 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A petition has been started to draw attention to the low staffing levels at the Sawtell police station.

Coffs Harbour MP Andrew Fraser says the station is critically understaffed and it is concerning the whole community.

At a recent education forum, Mr Fraser was approached by Kiara Greenway and Grace Hayward from Toormina High School, who asked what they could do about the problem.

Mr Fraser says the girls have taken the initiative to circulate the petition in the Sawtell/Toormina area.

“There is a high level of lawlessness in the community and these young people have recognised that,” he said.

“They’re saying ‘we want a police presence here to ensure that this lawlessness does not continue’.

“Kiara and Grace will be going door-to-door but the petition is also available to sign at my office.

“It will be presented to the Premier, the Minister and the Parliament.”

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Google to hand out Internet guide leaflet

March 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, March 29 (ANI): Google is set to encourage more people to turn to cyberspace with plans of producing an Internet guide in a leaflet.

The search giant will hand out the information on how to work basic online tasks, such as communicating with friends, and not promote its own services.

“Well, if you”re trying to get people who are not on the internet to be interested in the internet, then realistically you”re probably going to have to do something offline,” The Guardian quoted a Google spokesman as saying.

The Simple Guide to the Internet was said to be a part of Google’s commitment to Race Online 2012, an initiative started by the UK government”s digital inclusion champion, Martha Lane Fox.

The co-founder of Lastminute.com was keeping her fingers crossed to reach 10,000 British businesses and charities signed up to her campaign, designed to put everyone in the UK online by the end of 2012.

Google will also create a complementary website, with hopes that both the leaflet and site will reach a million people by 2012. (ANI)

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