CaribPR Wire

CaribPR Wire, Brooklyn, New York (January 19, 2012). Chronic vitamin D deficiency is a silent epidemic that is taking the lives of countless blacks worldwide. Correcting the Vitamin D Deficiency Epidemic: Strategies to Fight Diseases and Prolong Life for Black People (ISBN 978-0-912444-49-9), is the first book to comprehensively address the under-examined issue of critical vitamin D deficiency among blacks, a major contributor to the health disparities present in Black communities.  

The author, Mrs. Emily Allison-Francis, is a nutritionist, librarian, and educator.

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among dark-skinned people because high concentrations of melanin in dark skin block the production of vitamin D from the sun, the most natural and abundant source of vitamin D.   More than 90 percent of Blacks have critically low vitamin D levels and Blacks also suffer disproportionate illness and mortality rates from major chronic diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency.   

Correcting the Vitamin D Deficiency Epidemic: Strategies to Fight Diseases and Prolong Life for Black People explores the connection between vitamin D deficiency and the high illness and mortality rates among Blacks. It also provides practical steps that dark-skinned people worldwide can take to improve their vitamin D status as well as useful, natural health strategies to help prevent and fight chronic diseases.  Leading scientists in the field of vitamin D research have commented on the book including:

• Dr. Cedric Garland, professor at the School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, who urges “all society, and concerned people of all ethnicities to act upon” the information provided in the book.
• Dr. William B. Grant, director of The Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Center, who advises that the book “should be required reading for every black family in the United States; white and brown Americans could learn much from it as well.”
• Dr. Bruce Hollis, director of pediatric nutritional sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina, who implores “patients and physicians [to] heed [the book's] advice.”
• And Dr. Vin Tangpricha, associate professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, who notes: “This book covers the link between vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D status in African Americans and the diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency.”

Copies of the book may be purchased from amazon.com and outlets posted at the website below.  

Contact www.healthieryounutrition.com, [email protected] or 718.916.8974 for more information.                                    

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, Jan. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Chief Executive Officer Wallace Pond, Ph.D., today announced new roles for executives on the senior leadership team of the EduK Group, the largest provider of private, postsecondary career education in Puerto Rico.

Guillermo Nigaglioni, who previously held the position of President and CEO of Instituto de Banca y Comercio (IBC), will retain the title of CEO and welcomes Jose A. Cordova as the new President of IBC.  Nigaglioni will also now hold the office of President and CEO of Puerto Rico Operations.

The appointment of Cordova will allow Nigaglioni the opportunity to focus his attention toward more strategic planning and development for EduK Group’s three institutions on the island – Instituto de Banca y Comercio (IBC), National University College (NUC) and Ponce Paramedical College (POPAC), which collectively represent 31 locations across Puerto Rico.

Cordova, as the newly appointed President, will be responsible for IBC’s services, operations and business performance. Cordova joined EduK Group eight years ago, most recently serving as Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Administrative Officer. Cordova, a member of the EduK senior leadership team, will report to Nigaglioni.

In announcing the new senior management roles, Dr. Pond stated: “As EduK expands its portfolio and adds more programs to serve the needs of students nationally, the growth of our institutions and current programs in Puerto Rico remains a top priority. Through the leadership and commitment of Guillermo and Jose, we are well positioned to meet our current and future service and growth objectives.”

About EduK Group

EduK Group, one of the leading private education companies offering career-oriented programs, is uniquely focused on Spanish and English postsecondary education. EduK Group institutions offer certificates, associates, bachelor’s and master’s degrees at its campus locations and online in such fields as healthcare, business, information technology, education, culinary arts, cosmetology, drafting and industrial trades. EduK Group’s institutions include Instituto de Banca y Comercio (IBC), National University College (NUC), National University College-Online (NUCO) and Ponce Paramedical College (POPAC) in Puerto Rico and Florida Technical College (FTC), The DAVE School  (Digital Animation and Visual Effects) and LaSalle Computer Learning Center in Florida. For more information on EduK Group, call 787-982-3000.

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Sangart, Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing life-saving medicines specifically designed to enhance the perfusion and oxygenation of ischemic (oxygen deprived) tissues through targeted oxygen and other gas delivery, today announced the initiation of a Phase 1b study designed to evaluate the safety of MP4CO treatment in patients with sickle cell disease. MP4CO is designed to deliver therapeutic levels of carbon monoxide (CO) to patients suffering from a sickle cell crisis. This initial study will involve patients who are not currently undergoing a painful vaso-occlusive crisis. Preclinical studies show that carbon monoxide stabilizes the hemoglobin of patients with sickle cell disease and prevents the sickling of red blood cells.

“We are encouraged by the preclinical data on MP4CO and look forward to evaluating the safety and potential efficacy of this therapy in helping alleviate pain associated with a sickle cell crisis, while also potentially reducing the severity and duration of a crisis,” said Dr. Jo Howard, at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK. “There is currently a dearth of treatments for painful vaso-occlusive crises associated with sickle cell disease, and MP4CO represents a potential treatment option for these patients.”

The clinical trial is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled study that will enroll approximately 32 clinically stable adult patients with sickle cell disease who are not undergoing a painful vaso-occlusive crisis. The trial will be conducted at four sites across three countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Jamaica. The primary objective of the study is to establish the safety of treatment with MP4CO. The study will comprise ascending dose levels in five groups of single dose infusions followed by three groups of fractionated doses.

“This trial initiation is a key step towards providing a treatment to patients suffering from a sickle cell crisis. The strong preclinical data suggest that a clinical evaluation of MP4CO in patients could yield meaningful results,” said Brian O’Callaghan, President and CEO of Sangart. “Along with our other investigational therapy, MP4OX, we remain committed to developing medicines designed to enhance the delivery of oxygen and other gases to tissues and organs.”

Sickle cell disease is an inherited hemoglobin disorder affecting red blood cell circulation in millions of people around the world. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that contain mostly hemoglobin S, an abnormal type of hemoglobin. Due to the presence of hemoglobin S, these red blood cells become crescent or sickle-shaped and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels. When sickle-shaped cells block small blood vessels, less blood circulates through the body, causing severe pain and damage to tissues that do not receive a normal blood flow. This vaso-occlusion is known as a “sickle cell crisis”.  There are currently no approved medications to treat sickle cell crises, and only symptomatic relief is available.

About MP4
Sangart’s product platform is based on the MP4 molecule, an investigational biopharmaceutical product designed to enhance the perfusion of oxygen-deprived (ischemic) tissues and provide targeted oxygen delivery in the capillaries. Using a novel pegylation approach, Sangart produces the MP4 molecule designed at the optimal oxygen affinity, diffusion potential and molecular size to perfuse capillaries and target oxygen delivery to tissues specifically at risk of ischemia. MP4 can bind carbon monoxide for delivery to hemoglobin in red blood cells and heme proteins in tissues to provide anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic (anti-programmed cell death) effects. Once carbon monoxide has been released, MP4 takes up oxygen, when circulating through the lung, for delivery to ischemic tissues.

About Sangart
Sangart is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing life-saving medicines specifically designed to enhance the perfusion and oxygenation of ischemic (oxygen deprived) tissues through targeted oxygen delivery. Based on more than a decade of research, Sangart has refined the pegylation of human hemoglobin to create a molecule, MP4, with the ability to carry oxygen through the circulatory system to prevent and treat ischemia, or carbon monoxide to prevent and reverse sickling and its consequences.

To learn more about Sangart, please visit the company’s website at www.sangart.com.

                                                             The University of the West Indies hosts 3rd Annual Benefit Gala in Toronto

 TORONTO, Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The University of the West Indies (UWI) is hosting its 3rd Annual Benefit Gala in Toronto, on Saturday March 10, 2012. Under the theme:  Light, Learning and Liberty, Canada’s business community will honour award-winning author, Malcolm Gladwell, and Zananda Akande, former cabinet minister, as well as other outstanding Canadians: Dr. Pamela Da Camara, Ms. Artis Lane, Dr. Tony MacFarlane, Mr. Lloyd G. Seivwright, Mr. Howard Shearer, Mr. Suresh Sookoo and Mr. Frank Walwyn. Masters of ceremonies at the UWI Gala are award winning journalist and diversity consultant, Hamlin Grange and award-winning journalist Suhana Meharchand, host of CBC News Now. 

The University Health Network, which includes Toronto Western, Toronto General and Princess Margaret Hospitals, is also being honoured as an outstanding institution that facilitates post-graduate training for a number of UWI medical students in Canada, and for providing exceptional care to its communities. Dr. Herbert Ho Ping Kong, a gold medalist in medicine from UWI, is a senior consulting physician at the University Health Network, Chair in teaching of internal medicine at the University of Toronto and co-founder of the Toronto General and Western Hospital’s new Dr. Herbert Ho Ping Kong Centre for Excellence in Education and Practice. “Our internship program provides some of the Caribbean’s best medical students with the opportunity to learn and work at a world-class medical facility. In turn, we benefit from the students’ different perspectives, persistence and determination that are inherent with UWI,” says Dr. Ho Ping Kong. “It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Under the patronage of the Hon. G. Raymond Chang OJ (Order of Jamaica), the UWI Gala is known as a remarkable evening of celebration, embracing Canada’s rich diversity while raising funds to benefit students through the UWI Scholarship Fund and the UWI Haitian Initiative. Dr. Chang is a Director of CI Financial where he recently served as CEO and Chair, and Chancellor of Ryerson University. He is also an honorary graduate of UWI and shares this alumni status with an estimated 1,000 leaders in business, judiciary, medicine, law, engineering, nursing, religion, communications and media sectors throughout Canada.

“This extraordinary evening celebrates UWI and the leadership of the wider Caribbean community in Canada, as well as outstanding students who themselves will one day lead the way in their own communities in the Caribbean, here in Canada and around the world.” Says Chang. He further states, “UWI has a number of sustainable relationships with several universities and colleges across Canada. In fact Ryerson and UWI have collaborated on a number of successful programs.”

The 2012 Luminary award recipients are outstanding leaders in their community and on the international stage. They include Ms. Zanana Akande, the first black woman elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and the first woman to serve as a cabinet minister in Canada and Mr. Malcolm Gladwell, an extraordinary journalist, speaker and author of international bestsellers The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference (2000), Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (2005), Outliers: The Story of Success (2008), and What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures (2009).

This year’s Vice Chancellor’s Awardees are: Dr. Pamela Da Camara, former Chief & Medical Director of Laboratory Medicine at Toronto East General and medical laboratory pioneer; Ms. Artis Lane, an award-winning Canadian sculptor and painter; Dr. Tony MacFarlane, Internal Medicine and Cultural Philanthropist; Mr. Lloyd G. Seivwright, President of the Supreme Council of Independent United Order of Solomon Inc. Canada, a not-for-profit, charitable and fraternal organization and education advocate; Mr. Howard Shearer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hitachi Canada Ltd (HCL); Mr. Suresh Sookoo, Chief Executive Officer of RBC’s Caribbean Banking; and Mr. Frank Walwyn, LLP was recently named as one of Canada’s top lawyers in the area of corporate and commercial litigation.

The University of the West Indies 3rd Annual Benefit Gala will take place on Saturday March 10, 2012 at the Four Seasons Hotel, with interview and photo opportunities available for select honourees. Find additional gala details at http://www.uwitorontogala.com and for more timely updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Building on Success
With such a strong Caribbean community in Canada, UWI has initiated a successful Annual Benefit Gala that will continue to strengthen the relationship between Canada and the Caribbean for years to come. The Gala has become a much-anticipated event on the Toronto social calendar. Over the past two years, over 35 scholarships have been awarded to students who are rising stars in the Caribbean. Former honourees include: Dr. The Honourable Harry Belafonte; The Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Former Deputy Chief of Toronto police Mr. Keith L. Forde; Hon. Michael Lee-Chin OJ; the Honourable Jean Augustine; The Honourable Justice Dr. Irving Andre and Dr. Karl Massiah.

The funds from the 2012 UWI Benefit Gala will assist the Haitian Initiative and the UWI Scholarship Fund.

About The University of the West Indies
The University of the West Indies (UWI) was established in 1948 as a college of the University of London. It achieved full university status in 1962 and today, is the only pan-Caribbean tertiary level institution offering a wide array of diverse and accredited programs to 40,000 students throughout the region, with campuses in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and the Eastern Caribbean.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Haiti’s Civil Protection network received a substantial boost with the presentation of SUVs, trucks, boats, canoes, 11,000 solar radios, tents and other disaster-response equipment presented as gifts to the Government of Haiti by the U.S. Department of Defense. 

In a ceremony held today at the Directorate of Civil Protection in Haiti (DPC) in Port Au Prince, U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, Kenneth Merten, signed over the equipment to Haiti’s Minister of the Interior, Defense and the Collectivities Thierry Mayard-Paul, in support of Haiti’s Civil Protection network and ongoing disaster preparedness.

Lt. General Douglas M. Frazer, Commander of the SOUTHCOM, representing the U.S. DOD, together with U.S. Army Commander John Reed, pointed out that the earthquake not only impacted and changed the lives of the people of Haiti but also every member of the U.S. armed forces who came to give relief.

“Courage, resilience and character are examples of strength the people of Haiti exemplified to the armed forces teams,” said Lt. General Fraser. “It is in all our interests—the government of Haiti’s, SOUTHCOM’s and the international community’s—-to continue supporting Haiti’s capacity to respond to disasters. This equipment, which further enhances the capability of Haiti’s Department of Civil Protection (DCP) for disaster response, is tangible proof of the strong relationship between the government of Haiti and the U.S. The continuing commitment of the U.S. to support the government of Haiti, is unwavering.”

The timing of this event coincides with the second anniversary of the January 12, 2010 earthquake that destroyed much of the nation’s infrastructure.  According to Mayard-Paul, the equipment provided by the U.S. will help reinforce his Ministry’s comprehensive disaster preparedness strategy,  which includes building a network of emergency operations centers, warehouses, disaster and fire stations throughout Haiti in order to help make all parts of the country safer.

“Haiti is in a geographic location that is vulnerable to the variances of nature, including hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes,” said Mayard-Paul. “Our efforts to put this country back on course and to achieve our goals for sustainable economic development are also susceptible to these natural disasters.  Therefore, the valuable contributions of our U.S. friends will help substantially in strengthening our disaster mitigation efforts while we continue to serve our individual communities through job creation and economic growth.”

During the event, Mayard-Paul recognized the ongoing support that the U.S. Southern Command has shown Haiti, particularly during the aftermath of the earthquake.  “SOUTHCOMM was pivotal during that time of national tragedy, particularly because it played various roles, from disaster relief to wide-scale humanitarian efforts,” he said.  “By your example, you have shown us how we can move forward by establishing a new and democratic armed force.”

OFFSHORE AGUIRRE, Puerto Rico, Dec. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Excelerate Energy has executed an agreement with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) to undertake the development and permitting of a floating offshore LNG regasification facility off the southern coast of Puerto Rico. The facility, named Aguirre GasPort®, will provide fuel to the Central Aguirre Power Plant and is a step forward in the island’s strategy to convert power generation from high-cost, high-emissions imported oil to cost-effective, cleaner-burning natural gas.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111202/MM16235LOGO)

The Central Aguirre Power plant has already converted 600 MW of its available 1500 MW to utilize natural gas and has plans to convert the remaining 900 MW prior to completion of Excelerate Energy’s Aguirre GasPort.

PREPA recognizes the urgent need to reduce the dependence on oil and increase the use of natural gas to stimulate economic development, attract industries, improve the quality of life and create more jobs on the island.  “If we want to be competitive at the global level, we must substantially reduce dependence on oil.  The construction of the Aguirre GasPort facility will allow us to reduce that dependency,” a PREPA representative stated.

Aguirre GasPort

The Aguirre GasPort will be located approximately four miles offshore the southern coast of Puerto Rico, near the towns of Salinas and Guayama and will utilize one of Excelerate Energy’s 150,900 m³ floating storage and regasification vessels. The facility will operate year-round, delivering natural gas to PREPA’s Aguirre Power Plant as its primary fuel source, eliminating the use of heavy fuel oil and diesel. Construction of the Aguirre GasPort will be Excelerate Energy’s seventh floating LNG import facility ‒ the most of any company in the industry.

“We are extremely pleased to partner with PREPA in providing Puerto Rico with a reliable, clean fuel source for power generation that will greatly reduce air emissions for the Island. Our experience and expertise in delivering floating regasification solutions in a cost-effective and timely manner ensure that we will provide an efficient and reliable project for PREPA,” said Rob Bryngelson, President and CEO of Excelerate Energy.

The Aguirre GasPort will require authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and be subject to a full public environmental review and analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The facility is expected to be in-service in 2014.

The Aguirre GasPort utilizes proven technology that has been utilized in Argentina, Kuwait, Brazil, the United States and England. The company’s fleet of eight purpose-built LNG regasification vessels is capable of transporting, storing, and delivering approximately 3.0 to 3.2 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas into various markets worldwide. Excelerate Energy is currently constructing the world’s largest FSRU for Petrobras in Brazil, which will have a storage capacity of 173,400 m³. This vessel is expected to enter into service in May of 2014.

ABOUT THE PUERTO RICO ELECTRIC POWER AUTHORITY

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) is a public corporation that was founded in 1941. PREPA owns and operates electric generating and distribution facilities serving all of Puerto Rico, supplying 99 percent of the power consumed on the Island. Dependable generating capacity aggregates approximately 4.4 million kilowatts, and adequately supplies the highly industrialized economy of Puerto Rico. PREPA is directed by a Government Board.

ABOUT EXCELERATE ENERGY®

Excelerate Energy L.P. is a developer of LNG transportation and regasification infrastructure, a provider of LNG storage and regasification services and an importer of LNG. Excelerate leads the industry in the development of innovative, flexible and less capital intensive floating LNG importation solutions based on our dockside (GasPort) and offshore (Gateway) Energy Bridge shipboard regasification technology. In just eight years Excelerate has developed nine Excelerate Energy Bridge FSRUs, two Gateway offshore LNG importation terminals and four dockside GasPort LNG importation terminals. The company has also developed into a global LNG Marketing and Trading organization active in the short-term market. For more information please visit www.excelerateenergy.com.

Haiti’s Minister of the Interior seeks to direct more investments, projects and jobs to the heartland

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Haiti continues to send clear messages that the country is open—wide open—for business.  Speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative – Haitian Action Network Forum (GCI/HAN), Haiti’s Minister of the Interior, Thierry Mayard-Paul, pointed to the abundant investment opportunities throughout Haiti and reiterated the aggressive, positive steps the Haitian Government is taking to make Haiti a “great place to do business” and a favorable place to invest. 

“President Martelly, his administration and I are fully committed to ensuring that companies and organizations can experience success in Haiti,” said Mayard-Paul.  “We want to create an environment where Haitian entrepreneurs can establish new businesses quickly and efficiently and an environment where international companies feel confident that their investments will be profitable and secure.”

Noting that the government of Haiti has already begun to make important adjustments to the nation’s legal framework, the Minister listed democratic governance, rule of law, tax incentives, land reform as key measures designed to help investors realize the most positive results for themselves as well as for the Haitian people.

International fashion-designer, Donna Karan, a participant in the Haiti Action Network forum, openly expressed her enthusiasm about what is happening in Haiti today, “every person in Haiti is full of creativity, so you can have an immediate business.” She also praised the Martelly administration for taking the right path towards a stronger Haiti and commented that sustainable development and job creation is “the only way to do it” and that the best investment in Haiti is in its people. “The opportunities in Haiti are endless,” she concluded.

Within this more positive investment environment, Mayard-Paul encouraged Haitian investors, NGOs and entrepreneurs attending the Haiti Action Network Forum to support  priority projects such as building and modernizing Haiti’s infrastructure and energy grid—and challenged them to shift their focus beyond the capital city to Haiti’s rich interior.

“President Martelly’s new vision of Haiti is to build a socially just, economically free, and politically independent nation; one which doesn’t end with reconstruction but rather, begins with renovation,” said Mayard-Paul as he again called for more social initiatives beyond the gates of the capital of Port-au-Prince.  ”The key to driving sustainable development in Haiti is to map it throughout our entire nation and then drive it through local initiatives and decentralized cooperation.”

Dufirston Neree of the Inter-American Development Bank agrees that the Martelly administration is taking the right approach, “The government of Haiti should continue to do what it is doing to support decentralization and sustainable development. If the government continues on this path, things will improve.”

Several social initiatives are already underway as examples of programs that advance President Martelly’s vision for a decentralized Haiti, including an innovative and cost-effective approach to reduce extreme poverty and improve health outcomes in Central Haiti, which has been implemented by Fonkoze, in partnership with BRAC and Partners in Health. The program has reduced mortality from malnutrition, and increased access to high-quality training and educational opportunities for rural youth.
Another example is the recent partnership by Nestle and the Colombian National Coffee Federation to transfer agricultural, reforestation and cooperative organization best practices to Haitian coffee growers. 

According to Mayard-Paul, “There has never been a better time to get involved in our many territories.  There are co-ops and businesses that are ready to scale up their work, and become players in the global economy. The current Haitian government is committed to facilitating investment, and we have a population that is ready to work hard. Today, the people of Haiti are not looking for a hand-out, we want investments and jobs to restore our dignity and rebuild our nation.”

Haiti has taken aggressive steps to promote private sector investment and social infrastructure programs in order to drive job creation.  A recent investment forum in Haiti, sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Clinton Foundation, attracted a stellar response from the international investors, with more than 1,000 business-minded attendees, including many corporate CEOs, turning out to learn more about how and where to take advantage of Haiti’s myriad investment and development opportunities.  During that conference, several concrete commitments were announced including a joint venture between Digicel Group and Marriott Hotels worth $45 million to open a 168-room hotel in Turgeau.  Minister Mayard-Paul thanked Denis O’Brien, Chairman of Digicel Group, for his continued commitment and support in Haiti that has brought invaluable opportunities to this nation.

GlassPuppy.com launches Magic Keyhole – WORLD

 Multi-platform interactive app educates and entertains

 TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Long car trips with kids just got a whole lot less stressful. Magic Keyhole – WORLD is the first in a series of educational apps for children from Glass Puppy Inc. available for iPad, Kindle Fire, Android tablets, Mac and PC. Designed for pre-readers, young learner, and early readers, it combines the best qualities of classic kids’ books with the latest interactive technologies, and can be enjoyed independently or with the support of parents or teachers. Best of all, kids love it.

For a limited time, Glass Puppy will be making the Magic Keyhole – WORLD app available to schools, kindergartens, libraries, children’s organizations and institutions for free.

Magic Keyhole – WORLD incorporates reading comprehension, vocabulary and basic geography, while providing an enjoyable way for children to learn as they are taken on a virtual journey to 10 unique environments and places from around the world. Each location is named and introduced with an informative rhyme which can be read aloud by an adult, or narrated by the friendly pre-recorded voice, with each word highlighted as it’s spoken.  Included in each scene are interactive representations of people, landmarks and animals. Magic Keyhole – WORLD continually rewards curiosity as kids explore the app, with vivid illustrations, memorable verse and eye-catching animations to stimulate a child’s ability to learn new things, and features hidden treasures and surprises to enhance memory retention and attention span. Fun puzzle games based on the environments help reinforce what’s been learned, while developing spatial awareness.

While most children’s learning software is limited to certain devices, Magic Keyhole – WORLD runs on a wide range of devices that families already own, and has been carefully crafted to be engaging to children and parents alike. The kids and teachers who tested it didn’t want to stop playing with it.

About Glass Puppy Inc.

Glass Puppy Inc. is an independent developer and marketer of original content for every major computing and mobile platform. The product lines range from games and utility applications, to children’s educational & interactive programs. A dedicated team of IT professionals combines great creativity with unparalleled technical expertise. The company focuses on creating fun, exciting and engaging apps that entertain, inform and inspire at the same time, while bringing unique, amazing products to the marketplace.

For further information:

For more information and to download a comprehensive Press Kit, go to www.GlassPuppy.com, email [email protected] or call 1-416-640-3788.

Commonwealth Games Host City to Install Otis’ Energy-Efficient Escalators

GLASGOW, Scotland, Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Otis Elevator Company, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), today announced that its UK affiliate, Otis Ltd., will replace all 28 escalators on the Glasgow Subway network as part of an overall enhancement project by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). The modernized escalators will better enable the Subway to meet the demands of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

(Photo:   http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111215/NE23277 )

SPT Chairman Jonathan Findlay said: “I‘m delighted that we have Otis on board to replace all escalators with a more modern and reliable version, which will also help us meet our 20% targeted reduction of CO2 due to their increased efficiency. The Glasgow Subway is a true icon and SPT plans to deliver a modernized network that will last for generations to come.”

The installation of the new escalators is part of SPT’s Subway Modernization plan which includes the upgrade of all 15 stations on the network and the introduction of smart card ticketing. The Glasgow Subway escalators will be replaced over the next four years and will be provided by Otis’ Breclav factory in the Czech Republic. The enhanced escalators will include environmentally friendly features such as:

• Power standby technology, which uses sensors that detect when passengers are not on the escalator, prompting the escalator to slow down and thereby use less energy
• LED lighting that uses 30 percent less energy than traditional lighting
• High-efficiency lubrication that uses 98 percent less oil than a traditional lubrication system

“The Glasgow Subway honors us by selecting Otis for this critical public transportation project,” said Didier Michaud-Daniel, president of Otis Elevator Company. “Otis escalators will reduce energy usage at the stations while reliably transporting Glasgow’s citizens and visitors for years to come.”

Otis has also been selected for its energy-efficient products by mass-transit locations around the world, including the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York City, Los Angeles International Airport in the U.S., Incheon International Airport in South Korea and metro systems in Germany, Singapore and Taiwan.

The Commonwealth accounts for about a third of the world’s population and an estimated one million tickets will be sold for the 2014 Games in Glasgow. During the Games, 17 sports will be played over 11 days of competition.

Otis Elevator Company is the world’s largest manufacturer and maintainer of people-moving products including elevators, escalators and moving walkways. With headquarters in Farmington, Connecticut, Otis employs 60,000 people globally, offers products and services in more than 200 countries and territories and maintains over 1.7 million elevators and escalators worldwide. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries.

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Saxon Pension Services (Saxon) is proud to announce the launch of the Saxon Investment Club to students in Cayman Brac. This is the first outreach programme to our Sister Island of the successful Saxon Investment Club operating on Grand Cayman over the past three years.

 (Photo: http://www2.prnewswire.com.br/imgs/pub/2011-12-08/original/543.jpg )

The Saxon Investment Club is a unique opportunity for students to learn about investing, develop a better understanding of money, the stock market, the relationship between current events and stock trends, tracking investments and starting and running a business.  They gain exposure to stock markets, whereby it provides the opportunity for students to gain experience in the world of finance. The official launch of the programme was hosted on October 11th at the St. Ignatius Catholic School auditorium while registration remained open until October 31st.

CEO of Saxon Brian Williams took the lead to introduce the Saxon Investment Club to students at Layman E. Scott Sr. High School. Mr. Williams said, “The team at Saxon is excited to expand the programme to eager young students.” and continued, “This is the third year of the Saxon Investment Club and we wanted to extend the experience to students on Cayman Brac.”

“Saxon is committed to investing in our youth as we recognize that there is no better investment in Cayman’s future than instilling young minds with knowledge and wisdom.” said, Mr. Williams. “While this club certainly evokes a healthy level of competition, the most valuable reward is the insight gained from the hands-on experience.”

“Through the careful planning of each group’s portfolio, the students will gain knowledge about sound stock market investing and money management, invaluable to shaping their future.” said, Mr. Williams. “Saxon also hopes that introducing students to these disciplines at this age might spark an interest in a future career in the financial industry.” 

Saxon Pension Services, is a pension services provider in the Cayman Islands powered by dynamic people using superior technology. Delivering client and administrative services to more than 14,500 individual account holders with assets in excess of $300 million, Saxon is capable of providing flexible solutions in both the onshore and offshore pension environment while maintaining a personal approach to client relationships.

 Visit the Saxon website at www.saxon.com.ky, for more information and join us on Facebook for posting and progress on this and other Saxon programs.

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands, Dec. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – The Caribbean Media Exchange’s World Leadership Award 2011 was presented to the nonprofit Counterpart International for its role in promoting sustainable tourism among coastal communities in the region.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110818/DC54764LOGO )

Counterpart was recognized for its work with communities in the Dominican Republic and Honduras that support tourism-related livelihoods and preservation of fragile coastal eco-systems. Joan Parker, President and CEO of Counterpart, accepted the award and said it is Counterpart’s community-driven strategy that ensure that projects are a success.

Bevan Springer, President of the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx), presented the award at the CMEx 10th Anniversary conference here on Dec. 4.

“Dr. Parker brings fresh perspectives on development in vulnerable communities across the world,” he said. “Her passion for community-based development in island and coastal nations inspires us, and we are thankful to both her and Counterpart International for their commitment to CMEx throughout the years. We look forward to an even stronger partnership in the years ahead.”

Parker explained the Counterpart approach at the award ceremony. “The Counterpart recipe is simple: One part community, one part government and one part entrepreneurship and investment.  Introduce people, introduce common cause and introduce information.  It creates a powerful combination.”

In the Dominican Republic, Counterpart works with the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation, supported by Grupo Punta Cana, in coral restoration.  In Honduras, preservation work is led by residents on the island of Utila and is coordinated by Rose Gabourel and community volunteers. Counterpart’s marine biology partner is University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, led by Diego Lirman, associate professor of marine biology and fisheries.

Counterpart’s coastal communities’ work started 47 years ago in the South Pacific.

“We’ve always been about islands,” Parker said. “In the South Pacific, our island partners faced ecological, health, and economic decline.”  That work in the South Pacific – as well as decades of development activities in other parts of the world – helped to refine the community-driven strategy that is now successful in the Caribbean.

About The Caribbean Media Exchange
The Caribbean Media Exchange’s mission is to support and develop the ability of the media, government, the travel and tourism industry and communities to consider the importance of tourism in sustainable development, while lending a hand to the communities involved by sharing relevant expertise, financial and in-kind assistance.

The World Leadership Award is presented to visionary leaders whose support of the Caribbean delivers measureable benefits to the people of the region.

For additional details, visit www.cmexmedia.org.

About Counterpart International
Counterpart International is a global development organization that works in partnership to empower people, communities and institutions to drive and sustain their own development.

Today, Counterpart is working in 22 countries.

For nearly 50 years, Counterpart has been working in partnership with communities in need to address complex problems related to economic development, nutrition and health, humanitarian assistance and strengthening civil society. Learn more at www.counterpart.org.

LANDOVER, Md., Dec. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Twenty five years ago, on December 4, 1986, Walter Wyatt’s plane crashed in the waters of Cay Sal Bank, a remote area between Cuba and The Bahamas. It sank almost immediately.

Walter, who now lives in Enterprise, Alabama, spent a night in the ocean fending off sharks, plugging holes in his leaking life vest, and hoping for a merciful end. The Coast Guard located and saved him the next morning and his harrowing experience made many headlines.

Now, a quarter-century later, his sunken plane has played an important part in a discovery that may help scientists better understand coral reef ecosystems.

In April, 2011, researchers from the Global Reef Expedition, a project of the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, stumbled upon Walter’s submerged twin-engine plane. That discovery shed light on the mysterious formation of perfectly circular “meadows” of seagrass.

The Seagrass circles range in diameter from a few dozen meters to hundreds of meters. Some are solid circles and others have a ‘doughnut hole’ in the middle. They are important to the health of coral reefs, because they provide vital nursery habitat and feeding areas to many animal species that live in and around reefs. But their round shape has been baffling.

Scientists from the Global Reef Expedition, a multi year research program to study and preserve coral reefs around the world, discovered filled in sink holes under the solid seagrass circles. And, in every doughnut shaped seagrass circle they found a synthetic object, including Walter Wyatt’s plane.

Research suggests that phosphorous leaching from the sinkholes acts like a fertilizer for the solid circular seagrass beds above. And, for the doughnut shaped seagrass beds another kind of fertilizer is at work.

Underwater observations made during reef surveys revealed that Walter Wyatt’s plane is acting as an artificial reef, providing safe harbor for many fishes and marine invertebrates. This “fertilizer,” the researchers believe, is the waste excreted by the animals that make the reefs home.  To avoid predators, these creatures typically venture just a short distance from the safety of the reefs.  As a result, they fertilize a relatively narrow ring around the ‘reef’ or object.  It’s in this circular ring where seagrass thrives.

The findings of the Global Reef Expedition will help the Bahamian government better manage Cay Sal Bank.  That should lead to improved protection of the coral reefs that are such a vital part of ocean environment.  That’s good news for coral reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean, and for people everywhere.

Walter now feels that he benefited from his terrible misfortune. “It was a life-changing experience for me, and not entirely to the negative,” he said.  “For one thing, I found out I wasn’t the only being in the world.  I found out I was fragile.”

As are coral reefs everywhere.

For the full story and downloadable photos please visit http://www.globalreefexpedition.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=248&Itemid=574

About the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
Founded by HRH Prince General Khaled bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia, the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation was incorporated in California as a 501(c)(3), public benefit, Private Operating Foundation in September 2000. With its headquarters in Washington DC, the Living Oceans Foundation is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of oceans of the world, and champions their preservation through research, education, and a commitment to Science Without Borders®.

For more information, visit http://www.livingoceansfoundation.org and http://www.globalreefexpedition.com.

Science Without Borders® is registered to the Foundation for financial sponsorship of marine conservation programs and scientific research and to promote public awareness of the need to preserve, protect and restore the world’s oceans and aquatic resources.

– HIV stakeholders from across the Caribbean will convene beginning this evening to focus on forging a sustainable response to the regional epidemic

 – Opening ceremony to feature keynote from The Honorable Hubert Alexander Ingraham, Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, and performance by actress, singer, and activist Sheryl Lee Ralph

NASSAU,  Bahamas, Nov. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference: Strengthening Evidence To Achieve Sustainable Action will commence this evening with more than 2,000 individuals from across the region in attendance. These individuals represent a wide range of interests, perspectives, and backgrounds, but they all share a common goal — to take part in forming a collaborative and sustainable response to the HIV epidemic in the Caribbean region.

The 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference will take place November 18–21, 2011, at the Atlantis Conference Center in Nassau, The Bahamas.

Tonight’s opening ceremony will feature a keynote address from The Right Honorable Hubert Alexander Ingraham, Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, as well as a performance by acclaimed actress, singer, and activist Sheryl Lee Ralph of the United States. Best known for creating the role of Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, Ms. Ralph will perform Sometimes I Cry, her one-woman play about women infected with and affected by HIV. 

The opening ceremony also will include:

• Remarks from the three Conference Co-Chairs about the unique opportunity this conference provides; how the conference was developed; and its history, goals, and expected outcomes
• An invocation from The Most Reverend Patrick Christopher Pinder, Archbishop of Nassau
• A performance by the Bahamas National Youth Choir
• Video messages from individuals across the Caribbean speaking about why the conference is needed and why they are taking part
• Achievement awards presented by the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS and the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition
• An award presentation to The Honorable Donna M. Christensen, U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress, for her years of service in the fight against HIV

“This evening’s opening ceremony is designed to provide attendees with an informative, dynamic, and culturally meaningful introduction to the conference,” said Conference Co-Chair Prof. Daisy M. Gely of the Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico. “We are all looking forward to marking the beginning of a collaborative and productive 4 days.”

Focused on Sustainability

The theme for this year’s conference, Strengthening Evidence To Achieve Sustainable Action, focuses on identifying a viable path that can be maintained in the future regional response to HIV. “In the process of identifying the theme for this Conference, we reviewed the Caribbean’s HIV experience over the last three decades or so, and identified two critical and related concepts that we felt should be central to the Conference program — sustainability and the importance of evidence in guiding the strategies that will attain this goal,” said Conference Planning Committee member Roger McLean of the University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. “Sustainability is a key challenge facing the regional HIV response, and, to confront it effectively, we need to carefully evaluate what has and hasn’t worked well previously, share good practices and lessons learned, and work together in their application through more integrated approaches.”

The theme is woven throughout the conference agenda. It is incorporated into each of five program tracks, and it is the focus of the following sessions:

• Sustainability Issues. Sunday, November 20, 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
• Sustainability–Sustainable Caribbean HIV Conferences. Sunday, November 20, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• Ensuring Sustainability: Increasing Funding for Community-Based Organizations To Fight HIV in the Caribbean. Sunday, November 20, 5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
• Small Island States–Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities. Monday, November 21, 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
• Winning the Fight on HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean: How Partnering With Business Can Yield Significant Impact. Monday, November 21, 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

A major objective is that the conference will establish a special committee that will present preliminary recommendations to form the basis for a sustainability action plan. “We see the conference itself as a key component in the future,” said Conference Planning Committee member Osborne Nurse, who will lead the Caribbean HIV Conference’s special session on sustainability. “We see it as an activity that can dovetail into a regional strategic framework and be aligned with one or more of the key strategic objectives of such a plan.”

More About the 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference

This event is the third Caribbean HIV conference in the past decade, and it is designed to build on successes of the previous events, which demonstrated that regional cooperation and collaboration are key to confronting HIV in the Caribbean. Leading political, scientific, and public health leaders are included in the impressive roster of speakers contributing to the agenda.

Visit https://www.2011caribbeanhivconference.org/2011-caribbean-hiv-conference-speakers-announced to view a list of some of the featured speakers and session moderators.

The conference will be conducted in English and Spanish. To view the full conference program, visit http://www.2011CaribbeanHIVConference.org/agenda.

The 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference is sponsored by the Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas; Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico; and the Office of AIDS Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Prof. Gely’s Conference Co-Chairs are Dr. Perry Gomez, Director, National AIDS Programme, Princess Margaret Hospital, Ministry of Health, The Commonwealth of The Bahamas; and Dr. Jack Whitescarver, NIH Associate Director for AIDS Research and Director, Office of AIDS Research, NIH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, United States.

Partners for the conference include: Caribbean Community (CARICOM); Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC); Caribbean Regional Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS (CRN+); Caribbean Treatment Action Group (CTAG); Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC) Coalition; Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS); Kerzner International; National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC); Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO); Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP); U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); Trans-Caribbean HIV/AIDS Research Initiative (TCHARI); and The University of the West Indies (UWI).

 About HIV in the Caribbean

Although it varies from country to country, adult HIV prevalence in the Caribbean is approximately 1 percent, which is higher than that of any region of the world outside of Sub-Saharan Africa (UNAIDS 2010 Global Report). While the overall response to HIV in the Caribbean has improved, other health challenges and the impact of natural disasters affect the available resources for people living with the disease. Unprotected sex between men and women — especially paid sex — is thought to be the main mode of HIV transmission in this region (UNAIDS 2010 Global Report).

Members of the media are invited to visit the conference Web site and Flickr gallery throughout the event; updates and new photos will be added each day:

 Web Site: https://www.2011caribbeanhivconference.org/

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/2011caribbeanhivconference/

Haiti’s Minister of the Interior Launches First International Coffee Summit to Identify Best Practices in the Development and Promotion of Haitian Coffee

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Haiti was once a major global supplier of coffee and now, the Government of Haiti and its partners are determined to help the industry regain the luster of years past. The outlook is positive. According to a recently-published article in The Miami Herald, beans from the Gwo Chwal region once sold for US$.30 a pound. Now, Japanese roasters are buying these quality beans for US$5.50. In addition, Cafe COCANO farmers from Port-de-Paix are expecting to double the exports of their organically-grown coffee, already selling on the Internet and in Italian espresso shops.

In order to take advantage of this renewed enthusiasm for Haitian coffee, Haiti recently hosted its first International Coffee Summit, organized by the Clinton Foundation. The event aimed to support local growers and discuss ways to promote and expand the Haitian coffee industry abroad. 

During the Summit’s opening speech, Haiti’s Minister of the Interior, Thierry Mayard-Paul emphasized coffee’s ties to the country’s history and culture. Minister Mayard-Paul further reaffirmed agriculture’s strategic importance in President Martelly’s plan to invigorate the economy: “Coffee is one of the many areas where we are looking for partnerships, joint ventures and other collaborations, and we are ready to do everything we can to help facilitate this important engagement.” The Minister also addressed how, as part of a larger agricultural plan, Haitian coffee could play a significant role not only in economic development, but also in promoting decentralization and job creation in rural areas.

“An expansion of this industry could mean more jobs and better living conditions in areas with minimum community development,” added Minister Mayard-Paul.

Also in attendance were representatives from Haiti’s National Coffee Association, Haitian cooperatives, growers associations, and companies as well as international stakeholders who provided expertise and collaboration to gain access to new markets and promote Haitian coffee globally.

“Having this kind of event is crucial, since we hope this is the beginning of putting things into action,” said Dr. Jorge Arias, Global Aqua Director for Alltech, a leading animal health company based in Kentucky which is also a major buyer of Haitian coffee. “We need to produce more coffee in Haiti but we have to reassure producers that their coffee will continue to sell internationally. Our role as investors is important. We, along with financers, growers and producers, all have a very important role to play.”

According to Fritz Francois, president of COOPCAB, a co-op in Thiotte, which currently works with more than 5,000 coffee farmers in southeastern Haiti, renewed coffee fields can also contribute to reforestation and a reduction in the impact of natural disasters, such as landslides. “It is almost impossible to find anyone today in Thiotte cutting down a tree to make charcoal. Today, because coffee means money, farmers are motivated. They are leaving the trees because to cultivate coffee, you need shade.”

Minister Mayard-Paul, whose Ministry carries out President Martelly’s vision to drive sustainable development through local initiatives and decentralized cooperation, was pleased with the Summit’s attendance and encouraged by both national and international interest. “The government is committed to facilitating investment, we have a population that is ready to work hard, and a wide variety of opportunities,” he stated.

Acquisition solidifies Pan-American Life Insurance Group’s presence in the Life and Health insurance segments in the Andean, Central American, and Caribbean Regions (ANCECA)

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Pan-American Life Insurance Group (PALIG), a leading provider of life and health insurance in Latin America and the United States, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire select businesses and assets from MetLife (NYSE: MET). PALIG plans to acquire MetLife’s American Life and General Insurance Company (ALGICO) unit in Trinidad & Tobago, along with American Life Insurance Company (ALICO) branches in Barbados, Cayman Islands and the majority of the Leeward and Windward Islands, and the ALICO operations in Panama and Costa Rica.  Upon closing, this transaction expands Pan-American Life Insurance Group’s size and extends its geographic footprint. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Through this transaction, PALIG adds to its strong existing businesses in Panama and Costa Rica and expands its presence in the Caribbean. In total, the businesses being acquired by PALIG represent more than $125 million in 2010 premiums and $675 million in assets.

“Post close, Pan-American Life Insurance Group will have more than $625 million in revenues, $2.8 billion in assets and more than 1300 employees,” said Jose S. Suquet, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Pan-American Life Insurance Group. “The acquisition of the MetLife businesses and the establishment of our new operation in Mexico expand our geographic footprint, give us greater diversification and economies of scale, and reinforce the commitment our founders made 100 years ago to providing trusted financial security to customers in Latin America and the Caribbean.”

In addition, in connection with the transaction with MetLife, the parties anticipate that PALIG will become the MAXIS Global Benefits partner in these markets, and also in Central America and Ecuador. MAXIS Global Benefits Network is a worldwide pooling arrangement created to deliver optimal local insurance coverage to multinational companies through their own operations as well as independent carriers.

“This transaction expands Pan-American Life’s product offerings within the Life and Health segments by adding Personal Accident and Health lines, making Pan-American Life the number one, two or three life and health carrier in nearly all markets in which we compete outside of the United States,” added Mr. Suquet.

Both MetLife and PALIG have received their required internal approvals, and the transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2012. It is subject to certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

“ALICO has a long history of being a formidable company and respected competitor. Their success has been driven by their talented employees and we look forward to adding them to the Pan-American Life team as we expand into 22 countries in the region,” said Mr. Suquet. “We believe this transaction allows us to grow profitably and bring value to our customers, distributors, employees and the communities we serve. We will work closely with MetLife to ensure the smoothest possible transition for employees and uninterrupted service for customers.”

Morgan Stanley served as principal financial advisor to Pan-American Life Insurance Group.  Debevoise & Plimpton LLP served as principal legal advisor to Pan-American Life Insurance Group. Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP served as principal legal advisor to MetLife.

About Pan-American Life

The Pan-American Life Insurance Group is a leading provider of insurance and financial services serving nearly half a million customers throughout the Americas. New Orleans-based Pan-American Life Insurance Company, the Group’s flagship member, has been delivering trusted financial services since 1911, employing more than 800 worldwide, providing top-rated life and health insurance, worksite benefits and financial services in 47 states, the District of Columbia (DC) and Puerto Rico. The Group’s member companies offer individual and/or group life and health insurance throughout Latin America. The Group has branches and affiliates in Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and the Cayman Islands. For more information, visit the Pan-American Life Web site at www.panamericanlife.com

The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership recognizes four exceptional teachers making a difference

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — As part of its continuing global education efforts, Walden University’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership announced today that it awarded four $5,000 scholarships to teachers who are members of a member unit of the Caribbean Union of Teachers. The scholarship program was created to recognize exceptional teachers in the region who seek to make a difference in their schools and communities.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110112/CL29101LOGO )

Among other criteria, scholarships were awarded based on recipients’ essays describing how their education will help them reach personal goals and effect positive social change. The recipients of the Caribbean Union of Teachers scholarships are:

• Shenile Daniel, English teacher at Boca Secondary School, Grenada, who is enrolled in the M.S. in Education (M.S.Ed.) program with a specialization in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (Grades K–12). Daniel is a member of the Grenada Union of Teachers.
• Andrew Haynes, sciences information technology coordinator at St. Ambrose Primary School, Barbados, who is enrolled in the M.S.Ed. program with a specialization in Integrating Technology in the Classroom (Grades K–12). Haynes is a member of the Barbados Union of Teachers.
• Kenny James, vice principal at St. Rose Modern Secondary School, Grenada, who is enrolled in the M.S.Ed. program with a specialization in Teacher Leadership (Grades K–12). James is a member of the Grenada Union of Teachers.
• Ezra Jonah Fostin-Greene, principal at Clare Hall Secondary School, Antigua, who is enrolled in the M.S.Ed. program with a specialization in Integrating Technology in the Classroom (Grades K-12). Fostin-Greene is a member of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers.

“It is an honor to recognize these educators who understand the importance of leadership and social change, both in their schools and communities in the Caribbean,” said Dr. Kate Steffens, dean of Walden’s Riley College of Education and Leadership. “Our students have the opportunity to not only make a difference but to also inspire and prepare future generations.”

Continuing its commitment to providing broad access to quality higher education, Walden recently partnered with the Caribbean Union of Teachers to provide its members with the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree online at Walden. The educational partnership prepares educators for emerging opportunities and leadership positions that focus on expanding knowledge and meeting learning needs in early childhood and preK-12 education.

The Riley College of Education and Leadership offers students the opportunity to connect with nationally recognized education experts, researchers, and scholars through programs that emphasize practical skills and analytical tools that educators can immediately use in their classrooms. For more information about degree programs in the Riley College of Education and Leadership, visit www.WaldenU.edu/education. For more information on Walden University, its programs and its educational partnership opportunities, visit www.WaldenU.edu/partnerships.

About Walden University

For more than 40 years, Walden University has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making a greater impact in their professions and their communities. Today, more than 46,500 students from all 50 states and more than 120 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees online at Walden. The university provides students with an engaging educational experience that connects them with expert faculty and peers around the world. Walden is the flagship online university in the Laureate International Universities network — a global network of more than 55 campus-based and online universities in 28 countries.

Walden offers more than 60 degree programs with more than 300 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, education, public health, nursing, public administration and information technology. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org.

Conference provides multidisciplinary forum for HIV stakeholders in the Caribbean to learn and exchange ideas about the most pressing issues facing the region

 NASSAU, The Bahamas, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference: Strengthening Evidence To Achieve Sustainable Action, November 18–21, will bring together approximately 2,000 individuals from across the Caribbean to review research findings, to learn about best practices and skills-building tools, and to participate in networking opportunities. The program also will address regional cross-cutting issues, including:

-          Capacity-Building

-          Gender Issues

-          Human Rights

-          Research To Inform Action

-          Sustainability

-          Youth

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/52865-2011-caribbean-hiv-conference

“By focusing our agenda on these issues, we’ve created a program that’s relevant to multiple stakeholders and will allow participants to build on their learnings as they attend different conference sessions,” said Conference Co-Chair Prof. Daisy M. Gely of the Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico. “Presenters close to the issues facing the HIV community in the Caribbean will share expertise and research findings with reproducible results to provide a rich experience that will help us move forward collectively to best address the regional epidemic.”

These cross-cutting issues are woven throughout five program tracks:

-          Track A: Special Populations

• The conference has multiple sessions discussing the unique considerations for populations such as MSM (men who have sex with men), substance users, youth, children, women, and sex workers, among others.

-          Track B: Legal, Ethical, Cultural, Spiritual, and Leadership Issues

• Cultural, spiritual, and societal factors affect HIV stakeholders across the region. Conference-goers will have an opportunity to attend sessions highlighting the importance of these issues in the community. This track also seeks to promote leadership and sustainability at the national, regional, community, and individual levels.

-          Track C: Epidemiology, Basic Science, and Vaccine Research

• The conference will explore the latest techniques, research findings, and management of HIV, which include considerations for coexisting infections, a significant public health concern in the Caribbean.

-          Track D: Treatment, Care, and Support

• Treatment, care, and support are all vital components of achieving good outcomes for individuals with HIV. The conference will explore new approaches, best practices, social and economic influences, and other aspects of treatment, care, and support for individuals of various demographic backgrounds across the region.

-          Track E: Prevention: Social, Behavioral, and Biomedical Change

• HIV prevention is a regional and global priority. Attendees will discuss social, behavioral, and biomedical research and strategies to reduce transmission.

Leading political, scientific, and public health leaders are included in the impressive roster of speakers contributing to the agenda. Visit https://www.2011caribbeanhivconference.org/2011-caribbean-hiv-conference-speakers-announced to view a list of some of the featured speakers and session moderators.

This event is the third Caribbean HIV conference in the past decade, and it is designed to build on successes of the previous events, which demonstrated that regional cooperation and collaboration are key to confronting HIV in the Caribbean. The multidisciplinary forum is designed to support local interests and education and is open and free of charge to anyone who would like to attend.

The conference will be conducted in both English and Spanish. To view the full conference program, visit http://www.2011CaribbeanHIVConference.org/agenda. To register, go to https://www.2011caribbeanhivconference.org/Registration.

Members of the media are also invited to attend. For information about how to register as a media representative, visit https://www.2011caribbeanhivconference.org/Media%20Information.

Please Note: Media members must create an account prior to submitting a registration form. Additionally, media interested in attending must register with the Bahamas Information Services office. More information can be found at: https://www.2011caribbeanhivconference.org/Media%20Information

More About the 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference

The 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference will take place November 18–21, 2011, at the Atlantis Conference Center in Nassau, The Bahamas.

The conference is sponsored by the Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas; Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico; and the Office of AIDS Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Prof. Gely’s Conference Co-Chairs are Dr. Perry Gomez, Director, National AIDS Programme, Princess Margaret Hospital, Ministry of Health, The Bahamas; and Dr. Jack Whitescarver, NIH Associate Director for AIDS Research and Director, Office of AIDS Research, NIH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Partners for the conference include: Caribbean Community (CARICOM); Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC); Caribbean Regional Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS (CRN+); Caribbean Treatment Action Group (CTAG); Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC) Coalition; Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS); Kerzner International, National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC); Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO); Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP); U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); Trans-Caribbean HIV/AIDS Research Initiative (TCHARI); and The University of the West Indies (UWI).

About HIV in the Caribbean

Although it varies from country to country, adult HIV prevalence in the Caribbean is approximately 1 percent, which is higher than that of any region of the world outside of sub-Saharan Africa (UNAIDS 2010 Global Report). While the overall response to HIV in the Caribbean has improved, other health challenges and the impact of natural disasters affect the available resources for people living with the disease. Unprotected sex between men and women—especially paid sex—is thought to be the main mode of HIV transmission in this region (UNAIDS 2010 Global Report).

Michael Basiden

CaribPR Wire, Dallas, Texas, Tues. Oct. 25, 2011: Radio personality,  best-selling author, filmmaker, and leader of the successful civil rights march in Jena, LA, Michael Baisden not only talks the talk afternoons on his nationally syndicated “The Michael Baisden Show,” he also walks the walk. On Monday, October 24, Baisden announced his plans to give away a half-million dollars to small businesses and non-profits via a “Million Dollar Business Pitch” campaign. Listeners must tune into the radio show, Twitter, or FaceBook on November 28th for submission details.

“It’s time for those of us who have done well because of the people, to give back to the people,” expresses Baisden. “While we relax in our comfortable homes driving our expensive cars, families are being destroyed.  I understand that I can’t save the world, but I can reach back and help as many people as I can and hopefully inspire others to do the same!  It’s time to pay it forward in a big way!”

From author to radio personality, to filmmaker and now social and political activist, Michael Baisden is committed to advancing the global community to a better place. Baisden’s contribution for the campaign is not from corporate sponsors, but is coming directly from his wallet. “”You see that’s our problem, if we can’t make a profit off helping people, we don’t do it. While I welcome corporations and others to support us, I can’t wait for their budget cycles to make a decision,” he cites.

Over the past eight years, the outspoken and sometimes controversial radio pioneer has advocated for civil rights issues, campaigned for voter registration, supported free health clinics, and promoted mentoring with a 70-city bus tour. Most recently Baisden took his microphone to Occupy Wall Street in New York, engaging his listeners up close and personal with protesters from the site.

“As President Obama said, we can’t wait fourteen months; some of my listeners won’t survive another fourteen weeks. We have to do something now!”

In addition to his Million Dollar Business Pitch campaign, he continues to break boundaries with the release of his new  e-novel  entitled, “Never Satisfied: Do Men Know What The Want?” on Baisden Publishing and  his new film  “Do Women Know What They Want?” on TimeLife slated for release later this year.  Baisden’s other popular titles, “Men Cry in the Dark,” “The Maintenance Man,” and “God’s Gift to Women,” can be found on Amazon.com. 

To get more information on how you can win a share of his Million Dollar Business Pitch, follow The Michael Baisden Show on Facebook (on Baisdenlive) and Twitter (@BaisdenLive).  Details on how to submit your business will be announced live on The Michael Baisden Show on November 28^th between 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. ET. Log onto www.Baisdenlive.com to listen to the live stream or download the TuneIn radio app and search Michael Baisden show.  

 About The Michael Baisden Show

The Michael Baisden Show is an entertaining four-hour afternoon drive radio program airing Monday through Friday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. ET and combines the best in music, comedy and social commentary to inspire real change across America. Heard in 22 of the top 25 Urban radio markets, The Michael Baisden Show reaches more than seven million listeners each week and is syndicated by Cumulus Media Networks.  Baisden has been recognized as one of the most influential men in radio. He is also a TV talk show host, film-maker and New York Times best-selling author with nearly two million books in print.  His “One Million Mentors: National Campaign To Save Our Kids,” implemented via his The Michael Baisden Foundation, lead to him being awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation “Keepers of The Dream” Award.

Governor Edward G. Rendell, Congressman Christopher P. Carney and Senator Lynn P. Holowesko bring years of experience and expertise to OTE Corporation’s advisory board

LANCASTER, Pa., Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation (OTE Corporation) today announced the appointment of three distinguished public servants to its Advisory Board: Governor Edward G. Rendell, Congressman Christopher P. Carney and Senator Lynn P. Holowesko. “Our Company is delighted to be able to draw upon the tremendous experience and varied expertise of these three visionaries, who have each shown commitment to the general public welfare,” said Jeremy P. Feakins, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer at OTE Corporation. “Their willingness to lend their support to OTE Corporation’s goal of bringing clean energy and fresh drinking water across the globe reflects the depth of that commitment.”

As Governor of Pennsylvania from 2003-2011, Ed Rendell served two terms as chief executive of the nation’s 6th-most-populous state and oversaw a $28.3 billion budget. Committed to make government more responsible to the public and more responsive to the public’s needs, Governor Rendell cut wasteful spending, improved efficiency to save more than $1 billion, and pursued a legislative agenda that included commonsense political reforms to put progress ahead of partisanship. As a long-time supporter of renewable energy, Governor Rendell understands that the development of clean energy alternatives enhances environmental stewardship and promotes substantial job creation along with economic development. “I am pleased to lend my advice and strong support to a company with such great potential for extensive job creation and stimulation of our economy,” said the Governor.

Congressman Carney served in the House of Representatives from 2007-2011 and was a past member of the Homeland Security Committee, in which capacity he reviewed Department of Homeland Security operations, plans, and its future direction. Congressman Carney has served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy for over 15 years and currently holds the rank of Commander. He was also a tenured professor of political science specializing in international relations at Penn State University, where he wrote, published, and presented dozens of academic papers pertaining to international political economy and power relationships.

With extensive expertise in security issues and international relations, Congressman Carney understands the close link between reducing global demand for oil and maintaining international security. He is also keenly aware of the need to bring fresh water supplies across the globe to avoid resource-based wars as well as for humanitarian purposes. “The future of national and international security will be greatly impacted by global availability of renewable energy and potable water,” remarked Carney. “I am eager to help OTE Corporation’s efforts to ensure that future is a safer one for all people.”

Lynn Holowesko has a life-long record of public service and a steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable uses of natural resources. She has faithfully served the people of the Bahamas for twenty years in a variety of governmental posts, as Founding Chairperson of the Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology Commission (BEST); Ambassador for the Environment; Senator; and most recently, in her current position as President of the Bahamian Senate. Senator Holowesko’s passion for environmental concerns reaches far beyond the borders of the Bahamas and has cast her in a prominent role on the international stage of conservation and environmental progress. Her talents have been utilized by the United Nations in several notable appointments, including as the Bahamas Representative to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development; and as Co-Chairperson of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) Panel of Experts on the Montevideo Program. “We owe it to future generations to be responsible stewards of the environment they inherit from us,” said Holowesko. “I take pride in supporting a company with a core commitment to such stewardship.”

Governor Rendell, Congressman Carney, and Senator Holowesko will offer their considerable expertise and talents to support OTE Corporation in its immediate commercialization of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) and the globalization of this competitively priced renewable energy resource. The core mission of OTE Corporation is to bring the clean baseload (24/7) electricity of OTEC and fresh water production to the nearly 100 tropical regions around the world where land-based commercial OTEC power plants are now an economically viable solution.

About OTE Corporation

Based on its proprietary power plant designs, OTE Corporation offers a range of innovative products and services. The Company’s multidisciplinary team of experienced corporate executives, scientists and ocean engineers, together with strong strategic corporate alliances, enables it to provide solutions to address today’s toughest energy, resource and environmental problems.

 www.otecorporation.com

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

Jeremy Feakins

https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=103808

Conference provides free venue for HIV stakeholders in the Caribbean to network and to hear from some of the most well-respected names in HIV

 NASSAU, The Bahamas, Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Distinguished experts, public officials, and HIV community members will come together at the 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference (November 18–21) to focus on HIV in the Caribbean, where adult HIV prevalence is higher than in any region in the world outside of Sub-Saharan Africa (UNAIDS 2010 Global Report). Individuals from across the Caribbean are invited to attend this free conference to hear directly from authorities on the medical, social, and socio-political factors influencing the HIV epidemic in this region. Featured speakers and session moderators will include, among others:

-          The Honorable Hubert A. Ingraham, Prime Minister of The Bahamas

-          The Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams, Prime Minister of St. Maarten

-          Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, United States

-          Dr.  Jean William Pape, Weill Cornell Medical College, Les Centres GHESKIO, Haiti

-          Dr. J. Peter Figueroa, The University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica

-          Dr. Ernest Massiah, Caribbean Regional Support Team, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Trinidad and Tobago

-          Dr. Farley Cleghorn, Futures Group, United States

-          Ms. Geeta Sethi, United Nations Population Fund, Jamaica

 This event is the third Caribbean HIV conference in the past decade, and it is designed to build on successes of the previous events, which demonstrated that regional cooperation and collaboration are key to confronting HIV in the Caribbean. The multidisciplinary forum is designed to support local interests and education and is open to anyone who would like to attend, including:

• people living with HIV
• members of vulnerable groups
• researchers and clinicians
• allied health care professionals
• caregivers
• patient advocates
• advocates for social justice and health parity
• members of community- and faith-based organizations
• regional and international governmental representatives
• policy analysts and decision makers
• civil society and regional media representatives

 ”The conference provides a unique opportunity for attendees with diverse perspectives and backgrounds to share, learn, and network,” said Conference Co-Chair Daisy M. Gely, Professor, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico. “It provides a venue in which to examine the many factors influencing HIV in the Caribbean in order to move forward collectively in our effort to prevent the spread of HIV, mitigate its impact in the region, and improve our overall response.”

 The conference will be conducted in both English and Spanish. To view the full conference program, visit http://www.2011CaribbeanHIVConference.org/agenda; to register, visit https://www.2011caribbeanhivconference.org/Registration.

 More About the 2011 Caribbean HIV Conference:

The 2011 Caribbean HIV conference will take place from November 18–21, 2011, at the Atlantis Conference Center in Nassau, The Bahamas.

 The conference is sponsored by the Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas; Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico; and Office of AIDS Research, NIH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to Prof. Gely, Conference Co-Chairs are Dr. Perry Gomez, Director, National AIDS Programme, Princess Margaret Hospital, Ministry of Health, The Bahamas; and Dr. Jack Whitescarver, NIH Associate Director for AIDS Research and Director, Office of AIDS Research, NIH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Partners for the conference include: Caribbean Community (CARICOM); Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC); Caribbean Regional Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS (CRN+); Caribbean Treatment Action Group (CTAG); Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC) Coalition; Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS); Kerzner International, National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC); Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO); Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP); U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); Trans-Caribbean HIV/AIDS Research Initiative (TCHARI); and The University of the West Indies (UWI).