BANGKOK, Thailand - Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, showcased its diverse array of new products at the Samsung South East Asia, Oceania and Taiwan Forum 2012 in Bangkok. Embracing its commitment to push the boundaries of innovation and consumer experience, the company shared its strategy to expand its Asian markets.

The company introduced it 2012 product catalogue and its vision to deliver connectivity and content across all of its devices - from TVs to mobile phones, tablets to Notebook PCs and cameras to home appliances.

''The lifestyles and demands of the new age consumer today are rapidly changing. They are looking for innovative products that enriches and accommodates their lifestyle, be it for entertainment, personal or corporate needs,'' said Gregory Lee, President and CEO of Samsung Asia.

''And we will continue to ensure that our products are always one step ahead through new product innovations, continued investment in research and development in Asia including the recently launched Product Innovation Team (PIT) in Singapore.''

In 2011, Samsung Electronics achieved record sales of $143 billion. In Southeast Asia, the company achieved 41% market growth in 2011 and retained its number one position in TVs, monitors, and refrigerators.

It also became the number one brand for mobile phones and smartphones, for the first time.

Additionally, Samsung shared the worldwide launch of its CSR platforms under the banner of Hope for Youth in Southeast Asia. In Taiwan, the company collaborated to create the Hope Classroom after-school program, providing volunteers' time, and 1.5 million digital devices, to give disadvantaged children access to e-learning programs and digital education activities.

Similarly in Vietnam, Samsung has created Smart Libraries in suburban areas, providing laptops, Tabs and Smart TVs loaded with educational content, to help children in need.

In Indonesia, Samsung has partnered with Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB), a non-profit organization, to create an Engineering Academy, providing underprivileged children with industrial skills and training for future employment.

Samsung Smart TV: Ultimate Quality, Content

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Samsung Pushes Boundaries With New Products In Third SEA Forum

A huge propaganda campaign is demonising the Syrian government at the behest of Western interests, writes James Petras*

There is clear and overwhelming evidence that the uprising to overthrow President Bashar Al-Assad of Syria is in fact a violent power-grab led by foreign-supported fighters who have killed and wounded thousands of Syrian soldiers, police and civilians, partisans of the government and its peaceful opposition.

The outrage expressed by politicians in the West and the Gulf states and in the mass media about the "killing of peaceful Syrian citizens protesting against injustice" is cynically designed to cover up the documented reports of violent seizures of neighbourhoods, villages and towns by armed bands brandishing machine guns and planting road-side bombs.

The assault on Syria is backed by foreign funds, arms and training. However, due to a lack of domestic support to be successful direct foreign military intervention will be necessary. For this reason, a huge propaganda and diplomatic campaign has been mounted to demonise the legitimate Syrian government. The goal is to impose a puppet regime in Syria and strengthen Western imperialist control in the Middle East. In the short run, this will further isolate Iran in preparation for a military attack by Israel and the US, and in the long run it will eliminate another independent, secular regime friendly to China and Russia.

SERIAL AGGRESSION: The current Western campaign against the independent Al-Assad regime in Syria is part of a series of attacks against pro-democracy movements and independent regimes from North Africa to the Persian Gulf. The imperialist-militarist response to the Egyptian democracy movement that overthrew the Mubarak dictatorship was to back the military junta's seizure of power and its campaign to jail over 10,000 pro- democracy protesters.

Faced with similar mass democratic movements in the Arab world, the Western-backed Gulf dictators crushed the uprisings in Bahrain, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The assaults extended to the secular government in Libya, where NATO powers launched a massive air and sea bombardment in support of armed bands of mercenaries, thereby destroying Libya's economy and civil society. The unleashing of these armed gangster-mercenaries led to the savaging of urban life in Libya and devastation in the countryside.

The NATO powers eliminated the secular regime of former Libyan leader colonel Gaddafi, along with having him murdered and mutilated by its mercenaries. NATO oversaw the wounding, imprisonment, torture and elimination of tens of thousands of civilian Gaddafi supporters and government workers. It backed the puppet regime as it embarked on a bloody pogrom against Libyan citizens of sub-Saharan African ancestry, as well as sub-Saharan African immigrant workers -- groups that had benefited from Muammar Gaddafi's generous social programmes.

This imperialist policy of ruin and rule in Libya serves as the model for Syria: creating the conditions for a mass uprising led by Muslim fundamentalists, funded and trained by Western and Gulf mercenaries.

FROM DAMASCUS TO TEHRAN: According to the US state department, "the road to Tehran passes through Damascus". Thus, the strategic goal of NATO is to destroy Iran's principal ally in the Middle East. For the Gulf absolutist monarchies, the goal is to replace a secular republic with a theocratic dictatorship. For the Turkish government, the purpose is to foster a regime amenable to the dictates of Ankara's version of Islamist capitalism. For Al-Qaeda and Salafi and Wahabi fundamentalists, a theocratic Sunni regime, cleansed of secular Syrians, Alevis and Christians, will serve as a trampoline for projecting power in the Islamic world. For Israel, a blood-drenched and divided Syria will further ensure its regional hegemony.

It was not without foresight that the Zionist US Senator Joseph Lieberman demanded days after the attacks of 11 September, 2001, that "first we must go after Iran, Iraq and Syria" before considering the actual authors of the deeds.

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A bloody road to Damascus

POULTNEY, Vt., March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Green Mountain College, located in Poultney, Vermont, reaffirmed its commitment to being a leader in sustainability by joining Casella Waste Systems Power of Three closed loop recycling initiative. The Power of Three is Casella's newest solution for its customers who are intent on bringing a new meaning to the term "zero-waste."

The Power of Three is premised off of picking up a customer's recycling, processing that recycling into new products, and then providing those products back to the customer in the form of new hand towels, tissue paper, and toiletry items. The Green Mountain College program is accomplished through a partnership among Casella, SCA Paper, Foley Distributing and UGL Services that redefines closed-loop recycling.

With Zero-Sort, all of Green Mountain College's paper, plastic, glass, and metal will be combined together in one single container. Casella's Zero-Sort processing facility located in Rutland, Vermont mechanically sorts all of the material. Once sorted, the baled paper will travel just 45 miles more to the SCA plant in Glens Falls, New York to be made into 100% recycled paper content products that will then be delivered back to Green Mountain College by Foley Distributing and UGL Services.

Businesses that have converted over to Zero-Sort typically see a 20-40% or more improvement in their recycling efforts, which typically saves them money on disposal costs, time in sorting, and streamlines their collection processes internally.

"The words 'reuse' and 'recycle' are a big part of our vocabulary, and we're always looking for ways to make campus operations more sustainable," states Green Mountain College President Paul Fonteyn. "This project is a great demonstration of how non-profit institutions and for-profit companies can work together to create a greener economy."

Casella is very hopeful for the future of this program and the positive impact it will have on the environment and its customers. "One of our goals as a company is to help our customers ensure that as few resources as possible are wasted," said John Casella, Chairman and CEO of Casella. "We are intent in our mission of taking the things our customers do not want and transforming them back into things that they do. Our partnership with SCA paper and Foley Distributing allows us to do just that."

About Green Mountain College:

Green Mountain College was founded in 1834 by the Troy Conference of the United Methodist Church. Throughout its history, strong teacher-student relationships have been the hallmark of a GMC education, a tradition that continues today.

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Green Mountain College to Adopt Casella Waste System's Zero-Sort® Recycling Program and Power of Three™ Closed Loop ...

To: ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATIONAL EDITORS

POULTNEY, Vt., March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Green Mountain College, located in Poultney, Vermont, reaffirmed its commitment to being a leader in sustainability by joining Casella Waste Systems Power of Three(TM) closed loop recycling initiative. The Power of Three is Casella's newest solution for its customers who are intent on bringing a new meaning to the term "zero-waste."

The Power of Three is premised off of picking up a customer's recycling, processing that recycling into new products, and then providing those products back to the customer in the form of new hand towels, tissue paper, and toiletry items. The Green Mountain College program is accomplished through a partnership among Casella, SCA Paper, Foley Distributing and UGL Services that redefines closed-loop recycling.

With Zero-Sort(R), all of Green Mountain College's paper, plastic, glass, and metal will be combined together in one single container. Casella's Zero-Sort processing facility located in Rutland, Vermont mechanically sorts all of the material. Once sorted, the baled paper will travel just 45 miles more to the SCA plant in Glens Falls, New York to be made into 100% recycled paper content products that will then be delivered back to Green Mountain College by Foley Distributing and UGL Services.

Businesses that have converted over to Zero-Sort typically see a 20-40% or more improvement in their recycling efforts, which typically saves them money on disposal costs, time in sorting, and streamlines their collection processes internally.

"The words 'reuse' and 'recycle' are a big part of our vocabulary, and we're always looking for ways to make campus operations more sustainable," states Green Mountain College President Paul Fonteyn. "This project is a great demonstration of how non-profit institutions and for-profit companies can work together to create a greener economy."

Casella is very hopeful for the future of this program and the positive impact it will have on the environment and its customers. "One of our goals as a company is to help our customers ensure that as few resources as possible are wasted," said John Casella, Chairman and CEO of Casella. "We are intent in our mission of taking the things our customers do not want and transforming them back into things that they do. Our partnership with SCA paper and Foley Distributing allows us to do just that."

About Green Mountain College:

Green Mountain College was founded in 1834 by the Troy Conference of the United Methodist Church. Throughout its history, strong teacher-student relationships have been the hallmark of a GMC education, a tradition that continues today.

Green Mountain College has a climate neutral campus and was named the second greenest school in the country in 2011 by Sierra magazine.

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Green Mountain College to Adopt Casella Waste System's Zero-Sort(R) Recycling Program and Power of Three(TM) Closed ...

For the past couple of years, a street cleaning vehicle has been washing, brushing and vacuuming the streets of Basel in northwest Switzerland. While there's nothing unusual about that, what is noteworthy is that the vehicle, known as the CityCat H2, is powered completely by hydrogen. The street sweeper is part of a project to practically test the feasibility of hydrogen-powered vehicles under real-world conditions and the results from the trial indicate that, although hydrogen-powered vehicles can save energy, are environmentally friendly, and technically feasible, the prices of fuel cells, pressurized storage tanks and electric drives must all drop significantly before such vehicles are cost-effective.

The project is being conducted by a team consisting of researchers from Empa, the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), vehicle manufacturer Bucher Schoerling, electric drive specialist Brusa, hydrogen manufacturer Messer Schweiz, and the city of Basel Environment and Energy Department. The CityCat H2 first took to the streets of Basel in 2009 after 18 months of development and ran into problems early on.

"It became clear relatively quickly that the fuel cell system, which had been developed as a one-off specially for the project, was not yet ready for use in a real-life setting," explains project leader Christian Bach, head of Empa's Internal Combustion Engines Laboratory. "On top of that, the various safety systems kept interfering with each other and bringing everything to a halt."

The team replaced the initial fuel cell system with a more mature unit and fitted the vehicle with a single centralized safety module. Shortly after these initial repairs, the voltage converter between the fuel cell system and the battery died, and the electric motor drive and two cooling water pumps had to be replaced. Since these components were tailor-made for the vehicle and took some time to be delivered, the vehicle was off the road for some time.

However, since returning to the streets in the Swiss summer of 2011, the team says the vehicle has been much more reliable and has only needed to be taken out of service once, due to a defective water pump. In fact, the vehicle has been running so reliably for the past three months that Basel's city cleaning services have been able to use it on an everyday basis just like a "normal" vehicle.

According to the project team, over the course of the trial the CityCat H2 consumed less than half the fuel of its diesel-powered contemporaries. Instead of 5 to 5.5 liters of diesel per hour - which equates to energy consumption of 180 to 200 MJ per hour - the hydrogen-powered vehicle consumed only 0.3 to 0.6 kg of fuel per hour - or 40 to 80 MJ per hour.

And although the hydrogen used to power the vehicle was produced using fossil fuels, the vehicle still boasted a 40 percent reduction in CO2 emissions when compared to similar diesel-powered vehicles. This would obviously be further reduced if the hydrogen were produced using energy from renewable sources.

The trial also showed that the vehicle was user-friendly and safe, with drivers refueling it themselves at a mobile hydrogen fuel station. These refueling stations, along with the garage where the vehicle was parked, were fitted with a hydrogen monitoring system, which detected no leaks throughout the trial. The vehicle also proved much quieter than a diesel vehicle - even with the suction system and brushes operating.

According the to project team, the only real practical disadvantage of the hydrogen-powered vehicle was that there wasn't enough waste heat generated by the fuel cell and electric motor to keep the driver's cabin warm on cold days. A heater unit was fitted to the driver's seat to address this.

The other big downside was the cost, with the team saying a hydrogen-powered vehicle of this sort is around three times as expensive as a conventional diesel-powered vehicle. However, they point out that the cost of fuel cell systems alone have dropped by a factor of ten in just the past few years, and that this trend is continuing.

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Street sweeper tests real-world feasibility of hydrogen-powered vehicles

Amerlux, Inc. 23 Daniel Rd., East Fairfield, NJ, 07004, USA

New LED Luminaires offer unparalleled performance in compact, architectural styles

FAIRFIELD, N.J. -- Providing the same unparalleled performance and architectural elements that lighting professionals enjoyed with the original Evoke family, Amerlux debuts high-performance, energy saving Evoke 2.9 G2 LED Downlights in round and square profiles for a sleek, contemporary inconspicuous appearance. A leading provider of task-specific, energy-efficient lighting solutions, Amerlux offers Evoke 2.9 G2 LED Downlights for inclusion in sustainable strategies recognized by organizations such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and The U.S Green Building Council. The new generation offers an array of compact, architecturally styled luminaires for a wide variety of applications.

"The second generation of Evoke 2.9 Downlights is the result of many years of research and development combining LED energy efficiencies and cost savings without compromising appearance or performance," said Frank P. Diassi, Chairman and Founder of Amerlux. "The family is ideal for upscale residential, retail and a variety of commercial applications in North America and on a global scale as well."

Specifically engineered around the latest LED light sources, the 12-watt Evoke combines uncompromising energy efficiency and superior aesthetics with a miniature 2.9-inch aperture. Evoke offers architects and lighting designers the flexibility to create complete sustainable lighting schemes including general, accent, task and wall washing applications.

"Harnessing the power of LED, Evoke luminaires combine the robust features, fit, finish and details with the latest sustainable lighting technology," explained Chuck Campagna, CEO and President of Amerlux. "Engineered using the highest quality world-class diodes and ceramic circuit boards, Evoke delivers superior efficacy, light output and lamp life."

The family offers warm 2700K, crisp 3000K, bright white 3500K and cooler 4000K LED sources that can be used in highly switched areas or applications requiring dimming capabilities. Consuming just 12 watts, Evoke LED is capable of producing over 670 net lumens of uniformed light in 15- to 60-degree beam spreads. Tightly binned LEDs ensure excellent fixture- to-fixture consistency and a superb CRI (color rendering index) of 82 to 90.

To maximize their rated life, Evoke 2.9 G2 LED Downlights combine conduction, convection and radiation elements to divert damaging heat away from the LEDs with a multi-faceted thermal management system. A patented ceramic circuit board ensures that the LEDs are driven to their optimal performance while the highly engineered heat sink conducts heat away from the diodes above the ceiling line. This unique combination provides additional thermal protection, allowing for a tight cluster of high output LEDs to be used in this discreet aperture size. The result is a long lasting fixture capable of significantly reducing operation costs by maximizing energy efficiency and minimizing maintenance.

The patented heat sink reduces fixture temperature for an unparalleled LED rated lamp life of 50,000 hours at 70 percent initial output. The compact LED module produces over 670 net lumens of light while consuming just 12 watts of energy. A unique slide mechanism offers easy access to the LED driver to simplify inspection and maintenance. The luminaire boasts a precise beam spread range from 15- to 60-degrees that makes it ideal for lobbies, conference rooms, private offices and elevator banks.

Evoke 2.9 G2 LED Downlights are designed with a reflector trim that sits flush with the ceiling line, for a minimal edge detail. A trimless fixture is also available with a perforated plaster ring that mounts to the aperture for the application of drywall compound, which is applied directly to the plaster ring and feathered away for an even cleaner installation and look. High performance lighting applications are effectively achieved from above a smooth, uninterrupted surface, for a clean, unobtrusive aesthetic.

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LED Downlights/Luminaires create sustainable lighting schemes.

STEUBENVILLE - Those shale jobs the Ohio Valley has been waiting for are beginning to find their way here.

Power Torque Services will operate out of a portion of the old DiNovo building on North Third Street, creating more than a dozen jobs to start, while Heavy Duty Industrial Services is already working out of leased space in the Wintersville area. A third company, Environmental Management Specialists, is buying property in the South End of Steubenville and expects to be operational by April 1, bringing roughly 15 jobs to start.

Jefferson County Commissioner Thomas Graham said the business activity "is a tribute to our economic development team," adding that the behind-the-scenes efforts to attract business and jobs are "starting to pay off."

"We help fund them through taxpayer dollars and it's great to see the fruits of their labor being demonstrated," he said. "These announcements are good for the future of Jefferson County and I know there are more to come."

PTS, founded in 2002, has leased 8,000-square feet of warehouse and apartment space in the DiNovo building, which means roughly 14,000-square feet are still available for other potential tenants.

Wayne LeCompte, who will oversee PTS's Jefferson County operations, said the company runs casings on oil wells.

"We isolate the well bore so you can flow the well without risk of contamination," he said.

PTS is in the first wave of shale-related businesses to set up shop in Jefferson County, but LeCompte said they "wanted to get the jump" on the drilling buildup locally.

Until now, drilling activity had focused on Marcellus shale fields in Pennsylvania and parts of West Virginia, but mild winter weather meant declining demand for natural gas. With prices falling, drilling giants like Chesapeake and Hess are reducing their Marcellus activity and instead shifting their focus to the more profitable liquids-rich Utica shale.

LeCompte figures that means the empty commercial properties sprinkled across Jefferson County aren't going to be empty for long.

See the article here:
New business to operate in old DiNovo building

By LINDA HARRIS For The Intelligencer , The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

STEUBENVILLE - The shale jobs local residents have been waiting for are beginning to find their way to the Ohio Valley.

Power Torque Services set up shop in a portion of the old DiNovo building on North Third Street in Steubenville, creating more than a dozen jobs to start, while Heavy Duty Industrial Services is working out of leased space in the Wintersville area. A third company, Environmental Management Specialists, is buying property in the south end of Steubenville and expects to open by April 1, bringing about 15 jobs.

Jefferson County Commissioner Thomas Graham said the business activity "is a tribute to our economic development team," adding that the behind-the-scenes efforts to attract business and jobs are "starting to pay off."

Photo by Linda Harris Power Torque Services, a Louisiana-based company, is leasing a portion of the former DiNovo building in downtown Steubenville, bringing more than a dozen jobs to start.

"We help fund them through taxpayer dollars, and it's great to see the fruits of their labor being demonstrated," he said.

PTS, founded in 2002, has leased 8,000 square feet of warehouse and apartment space in the DiNovo building, leaving 14,000 square feet available for other potential tenants.

Wayne LeCompte, who will oversee PTS's Jefferson County operations, said the company runs casings on oil wells.

"We isolate the well bore so you can flow the well without risk of contamination," he said.

PTS is in the first wave of shale-related businesses to come to Jefferson County.

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New Business Moves Into DiNovo Building

STEUBENVILLE - Those shale jobs the Ohio Valley has been waiting for are beginning to find their way here.

Power Torque Services will operate out of a portion of the old DiNovo building on North Third Street, creating more than a dozen jobs to start, while Heavy Duty Industrial Services is already working out of leased space in the Wintersville area. A third company, Environmental Management Specialists, is buying property in the South End of Steubenville and expects to be operational by April 1, bringing roughly 15 jobs to start.

Jefferson County Commissioner Thomas Graham said the business activity "is a tribute to our economic development team," adding that the behind-the-scenes efforts to attract business and jobs are "starting to pay off."

"We help fund them through taxpayer dollars and it's great to see the fruits of their labor being demonstrated," he said. "These announcements are good for the future of Jefferson County and I know there are more to come."

PTS, founded in 2002, has leased 8,000-square feet of warehouse and apartment space in the DiNovo building, which means roughly 14,000-square feet are still available for other potential tenants.

Wayne LeCompte, who will oversee PTS's Jefferson County operations, said the company runs casings on oil wells.

"We isolate the well bore so you can flow the well without risk of contamination," he said.

PTS is in the first wave of shale-related businesses to set up shop in Jefferson County, but LeCompte said they "wanted to get the jump" on the drilling buildup locally.

Until now, drilling activity had focused on Marcellus shale fields in Pennsylvania and parts of West Virginia, but mild winter weather meant declining demand for natural gas. With prices falling, drilling giants like Chesapeake and Hess are reducing their Marcellus activity and instead shifting their focus to the more profitable liquids-rich Utica shale.

LeCompte figures that means the empty commercial properties sprinkled across Jefferson County aren't going to be empty for long.

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New business to operate in former DiNovo building

Brace yourself for the most maritally divisive piece of news you'll hear all week: married women do more housework than their husbands. Analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research thinktank shows that eight out of 10 married women do more household chores, while just one in 10 married men does an equal amount of cleaning and washing as his wife.

Just over one in 10 women 13% say their husbands do more housework than they do, while only 3% of married women do fewer than three hours a week, with almost half doing 13 hours or more.

In short, the gender imbalance is alive and thriving in the British household, according to the IPPR, which says its research shows that, for real equality, society needs to see men to pick up the vacuum cleaner and do their fair share.

Patterns of housework have changed only slightly. More than eight out of 10 women born in 1958 said they do more laundry and ironing than their partner, while seven out of 10 women born in 1970 agreed.

"The revolution in gender roles is unfinished business," said Nick Pearce, director of IPPR. "Women still shoulder the overwhelming burden of household tasks, particularly after they have had children. When they earn more, their bargaining power with their partners increases, so closing the gender pay gap would help. Universal childcare, rather than tax relief for nannies or cleaners, is also the best way forward for a family-friendly, more equal Britain.

"On most key issues, the route to modern feminist goals must pass through fathers. Men should work more flexibly, take greater responsibility for caring for their children and their homes, and have the right to reserved parental leave," says the IPPR.

Last month David Cameron said that tax relief for people paying domestic staff, what critics call the "butler tax break", was "an interesting idea I want to look at further". The Swedish and Finnish governments allow people to deduct half the cost of household services such as cleaning, cooking, lawn-mowing and babysitting from their tax bills. It is said to have created more than 5,000 jobs in Sweden.

But the IPPR says that just entrenches gender injustice and only universal childcare can help beleaguered parents from being forced into traditional "breadwinner and homemaker" roles.

"Whenever we ask women about the most stressful thing in their lives, housework is at the top," said Siobhan Freegard of Netmums. "Nobody lies on their deathbed thinking, 'I wish I'd kept up with the housework', but it is a serious issue dividing couples and we have to ask why it comes back time and again. Are we really genetically programmed to be keeping the cave tidy while the man goes off to hunt? We're educated women, does housework really matter? Why do we care about it so much? Is it natural instinct or the root of inequality? Our kids see us arguing about it all the time and what are we saying to them about equality for women?

"For a long time it has been unfashionable to say that some women want to stay at home, to the point where women are now asking what happened to choice? Well, choice is gone for most women now. If you can afford to outsource cleaning and childcare, then you can keep your career, but we find it hard to outsource those roles. Maybe we disempower men. Women just get so fed up having to nag to get their partner to wash up that they do it themselves. We see women discussing what tricks to use withholding nookie is popular!"

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Forty years of feminism but women still do most of the housework