Enablon, the world's leading provider of Sustainability and EHS Management Software Solutions and CO2Benchmark, a leading provider of Carbon and Greenhouse Gas emissions data, announced today a strategic partnership to provide companies with a seamless solution for Carbon Management. Carbon Management is an emerging discipline and with the issues at stake, it has become essential for corporations to know where they stand, identify their risk areas and begin mitigating them. By joining forces Enablon and CO2Benchmark make this complex field more accessible with one integrated solution to measure, monitor, analyze, compare, manage and ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon and Energy Benchmarking Data is Key for Reduction Projects "As regulatory requirements evolve and public sentiment on climate change become a primary concern for businesses, it is more critical than ever for companies to get hard data and visibility into their energy usage and carbon emissions," said Philippe Tesler, Enablon co-founder and CEO for North America. "Working with CO2Benchmark we are able to deliver the technology and the information for customers to properly manage and mitigate energy and carbon risks across all areas of operation." Enablon ECM is one of the leading carbon management software suites on the market. CO2Benchmark is a leading carbon content provider. As part of the new alliance, the Enablon ECM solution will now integrate the CO2Benchmark database with the most recent official carbon footprints of over 3,000 companies. Using Enablon ECM, companies now have the ability - within a single platform - to measure and report their carbon footprint, benchmark their performance against others companies' results while determining changes needed to reduce energy consumption and improve operations. "At CO2Benchmark we understand that the data we provide our customers is the first step to help them take action to reduce their energy consumption," said Reginald Warlop, Managing Director at CO2Benchmark. "We believe Enablon offers one of the strongest carbon, energy and sustainability platforms on the market and are pleased to help bring to customers the means to assess their carbon performance and follow up on their carbon emissions reduction plans." Enablon ECM, a technological platform that covers the entire Carbon Management Cycle Enablon ECM is the leading carbon management solution for measuring, managing, reducing and reporting emissions using internationally recognized protocols and emissions factors in an intuitive and flexible platform. The solution includes, among others, the following functionalities and benefits:

• Emissions activity data collection via import, database connectors or manual contribution
• Automated emissions factor calculations and consolidation
• Exhaustive international protocol and emissions factor libraries
• Embedded accounting methodologies: Equity Share, Financial Control, Operational Control
• Drill down reports, customizable dashboards and trends analysis
• External reporting to regulatory agencies and voluntary protocols
• Base year recalculation and benchmarking against industry performance
• Audit trail visibility and document repository

About CO2Benchmark CO2Benchmark is a leading carbon data provider, holding the most recent official carbon footprints of over 3,000 companies in their database. CO2Benchmark analysts research footprint data across many sources and apply global standards to classify, normalize and structure the data for comparison. The company offers three services to its customers:

• Online access to their unique database of case studies and carbon footprints
• Bespoke benchmarking reports for industry sectors
• Benchmarking consultancy services

For more information: www.co2benchmark.com About Enablon Enablon is one of the world's leading software providers for Sustainability and EHS software solutions and a recognized expert in Governance, Risk & Compliance. Enablon offers integrated software solutions and on-demand services for:

• Carbon Accounting & Energy Efficiency
• QEHS Compliance and Management
• Sustainability & Responsible Supply Chain Management
• Risk, Internal Control & Audit Management
• Corporate Governance & Legal Management

Enablon software solutions are used by 200,000 users in more than 250 global companies, such as: ANGLO-AMERICAN, ANZ, ARAMARK, ARMSTRONG, BASF, BEIERSDORF, BOMBARDIER, BOSCH, CADBURY, CARREFOUR, CANON, COVIDIEN, CUMMINS, DANONE, DEL MONTE, EATON, GDF SUEZ, GRUPO FERROVIAL, L’OREAL, LVMH, MASCO, OFFICE DEPOT, THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES, RENAULT-NISSAN, SYMANTEC, TEXAS INSTRUMENTS, THE TIMBERLAND COMPANY, TNT, TOTAL, VEOLIA. For more information: www.enablon.com

/PRNewswire/ - Animals in need and endangered species around the world will benefit from more than $1 million in grants awarded by the non-profit SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. Since its creation seven years ago, the Fund has granted more than $7 million to protect wildlife and wild places. The Fund's board of directors approved the 2010 grants to 95 wildlife protection projects including rescue and rehabilitation efforts of endangered manatees and sea turtles, protection of critical habitats such as the Florida Keys, studies of declining shark populations and education programs that inspire people to care for at-risk wildlife. "The challenges and pressures facing wildlife and entire ecosystems are greater than ever," said Brad Andrews, president and executive director of the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund and chief zoological officer for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. "We identify projects with the greatest potential to positively impact conservation so that every dollar we grant works as hard as possible to protect the animals." Just a few of the many projects and organizations supported in 2010 include: Preserving the Florida Keys The Florida Keys are known for sunshine and good times, but the area is also a vital ecological region suffering from environmental degradation. The Florida Keys Wildlife Rescue facility rescues and rehabilitates injured wildlife and educates the public on the importance of keeping the environment safe and clean for present and future generations. San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society The San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society is the only non-profit organization in San Diego that rescues turtles and tortoises of any species. They also provide medical care, foster care and permanent home placements. The Fund's support will help with medical care requirements of the California Desert Tortoise and education of the public concerning the proper care of the tortoise as well as how to help protect species native to California. Safe Guarding Sea Turtle Nesting Sites Cameroon Sea Turtle Society is protecting newly identified green and leatherback turtle nesting sites along the Wole beach in the Republic of Cameroon. This is an important nesting ground for sea turtles threatened by ship building, toxic waste and egg poachers. The Society's efforts include nesting site clean-ups, creating safe zones that would limit access and educating egg poachers in other income-generating trades. Bald Eagle Rescue and Rehabilitation Florida supports one of the largest breeding populations of bald eagles in the continental United States. The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey is the leading raptor rehabilitation facility in the region and works to protect bald eagles and their habitat through its rehabilitation program, nest monitoring program, and educational programs that reach more than 35,000 people annually. Sand Tiger Shark Conservation Due to their unfortunate reputation as a "man-eater," sharks are often not thought of when the public considers wildlife conservation. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries is currently doing a study on the decline of the sand tiger shark population along the east coast of the United States. This information will be integrated into the development of the Coastal Sharks Interstate Fishery Management Plan by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to further the conservation of this threatened species. Conserving the West African Manatee In Africa, the lack of basic knowledge about West African manatees has been a great hindrance to the long-term conservation of the species. The Wildlife Trust is working to create a unified network of African researchers in countries of the animal's range to collect collaborative research on the endangered species. Save the Elephants The Mobile Education and Monitoring Unit is a new project that will double the outreach and education capabilities of the Save the Elephants Education Program in Samburu, northern Kenya. The work being done there includes long-term elephant monitoring and conducting mammal census in the Samburu and Buffalo Springs Reserves. For more information on the Fund, please visit www.swbg-conservationfund.org. To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/seaworld/45295/ A non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund supports wildlife research, habitat protection, animal rescue and conservation education in the U.S. and more than 60 countries. Since its inception, the Fund has awarded more than $7 million, including animal crisis grants that provide rapid response and much-needed funding to animals and habitats in peril due to either natural or human-caused events and catastrophes. 100% of the donations the Fund receives goes to support these efforts.

HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute and the largest volunteer network in the nation, is partnering with Fidelity Investments®, one of the world's largest providers of financial services, to help revitalize the learning environments in 11 middle schools across the United States. The new program, a result of Fidelity's commitment to help middle school students achieve academic success and pursue their own unique path to college and careers, kicks off July 25 in Nashua, NH and ends on September 11 in New York City. HandsOn Network Action Centers in those locations will work with more than 3,000 Fidelity employees to design and create College and Career Zones at locally-tailored "School Transformation Days." This is Fidelity's largest employee volunteer effort and will total more than 30,000 hours of community service, most of which will occur on weekends. "We are excited to partner with Fidelity on this nationwide volunteer effort to design and deliver practical programs that leverage the power of skilled volunteers, caring adults and corporate resources to address America's increasing dropout rates," said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light Institute and Co-Founder of HandsOn Network. "Together we can create significant impact in ensuring that all students can graduate from high school and pursue their dreams." The participating HandsOn Action Centers are Boston Cares, Serve Rhode Island, HandsOn Jacksonville, HandsOn Charlotte, Volunteer Center of North Texas, United Way of Greater Cincinatti, Utah 2-1-1, NM Forum for Youth in Community, and New York Cares. The participating schools are Dearborn Middle School, Roxbury, Mass.; Lowe’s Grove Middle School, Durham, N.C.; Holmes Middle School, Covington Ky.; MS 354K, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Elm Street Middle School, Nashua, N.H.; Thomas Marsh Middle School, Dallas; Bryant Middle School, Salt Lake City; Roger Williams Middle School, Providence, R.I.; Seven Hills Charter School, Worcester, Mass.; Ernie Pyle Middle School, Albuquerque, N.M.; and Alfred I. duPont Middle School, Jacksonville, Fla. "The middle school years play a critical role in keeping students inspired and on track to receive a high school diploma," said Sheila C. Cavanaugh, senior vice president, Fidelity Investments. "While we believe that all kids have the potential to succeed and make this happen, not all of them have the opportunities, environments or support systems to get there. Our aim is to bring renewed energy and enthusiasm to middle school students and help them make a successful transition to high school and, ultimately, to graduation." Nationwide, 7,000 students drop out of school every day and only about 70 percent of students graduate from high school with a regular high school diploma(i). In addition, nearly half of dropouts occur in the ninth grade. As a result, school transformation projects were identified this spring through intensive "Community Design Days" where school administrators, teachers, students, parents, civic leaders, HandsOn Network staffers, and Fidelity employees identified projects that would help support dropout prevention efforts by inspiring students on the importance of college and a life of meaningful work. About HandsOn Network HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute, is the largest volunteer network in the nation and includes 250 HandsOn Action Centers in 16 countries. HandsOn includes a powerful network of more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations that are answering the call to serve and creating meaningful change in their communities. Annually, the network delivers approximately 30 million hours of volunteer service valued at $626 million. For more information, please visit www.HandsOnNetwork.org. About Fidelity Investments® Fidelity Investments is one of the world's largest providers of financial services, with assets under administration of over $3.1 trillion, including managed assets of $1.4 trillion, as of June 30, 2010. Founded in 1946, the firm is a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing and many other financial products and services to more than 20 million individuals and institutions, as well as through 5,000 financial intermediary firms. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit www.fidelity.com. (i) May 12, 2009: Committee on Education & Labor (http://edlabor.house.gov/newsroom/2009/05/high-school-dropout-crisis-thr.shtml)

Last week, the Senate of the United States joined with the House of Representatives to adopt legislation reforming financial practices in the Unites States. President Obama signed the legislation on July 21st. Adopted in response to the failure of the financial industry to maintain credit markets in the fall of 2008, the legislation proposed changes in laws and regulation to prevent similar crises in the future. The legislation, important and forward-looking, only partially implements the recommendations of the Caux Round Table proposed in October 2008 and so leaves global capitalism exposed to suffer from similar market failures in the future. In its analysis of the causes of the meltdown in financial markets, the CRT noted as the principal failure inadequate checks and balances on the risks assumed by financial firms. These constraints on irresponsible assumption of risk in speculative frenzies come both from without the industry - from government and consumers - and from within. The more important checks against systematic risk of market failure, frankly, must come from within the industry put in place by enlightened self interest on the part of firms, realistic market pricing of financial instruments, and cultures of prudential governance. In this regard, the CRT recommended: Require board directors to consider interests beyond shareholders, which may affect the company's success, by codifying the principle of "enlightened shareholder value" in company law. Require minimum standards of corporate governance knowledge and expertise for corporate board directors. Require corporate boards to have a dedicated board committee responsible for risk oversight across the full spectrum of risks - financial, governance, social, environmental. Regulate executive remuneration structures to ensure that they are consistent with prudent risk management, align with long-term wealth creation, and do not reward poor performance. The only part of the recent legislation that seems to address these concerns is the establishment of a new regulatory body to set forth rules for consumer financial contracts. The rules, it is presumed, will forestall selling to consumers contracts for borrowing that are unfair, oppressive, misleading, manipulative, hard- to-understand, or which disproportionally place risk of loss on the consumer. Otherwise, the legislation just adopted by the United States chose not to provide rules for such internal governance of financial firms. It chose instead to address first and foremost another consequence of the market's failure: public bailouts of firms that had made stupid business decisions. This problem is that posed by private firms considered "too big to fail." If such firms are allowed to crash, markets will respond with panic and so precipitate economic collapse as asset values fall and credit evaporates. The people at large, especially the most vulnerable, then suffer direct economic harm. Government then must spend public money to support asset prices and keep credit markets open, preventing recession or worse. Financial markets should not be so allowed to fail. When they do, public resources are diverted from other uses, public debts increase to be later funded with higher taxes or inflation. Such public spending is, at bottom, a waste of public money, forced on governments by imprudent private sector behavior to preserve necessary public advantages in open and robust financial markets. The CRT in its recommendations addressed this problem as follows: Implement stronger and globally co-ordinated financial and banking regulatory reforms to prevent systemic risk build-up or market manipulation. Regulate all financial markets instruments and investment activities that materially impact on financial system stability and on superannuation and pension system viability. Reform and adequately resource the IMF and other multilateral institutions to ensure they are effective forces for economic and social justice globally. The recent US legislation takes important steps along these lines. First, it sets up a procedure for prudently closing down failed financial firms. The government is now authorized to step in when large firms overextend themselves and create risk of market turbulence and panic. The government can seize and break up such firms, liquidating their assets slowly so as not to create a fire sale and collapsing asset prices and paying off their debts as best as can be done given the firms' distressed circumstances. Large firms with influence across markets are now required to prepare "living wills" or schedules of assets and liabilities to expedite the process of winding up such firms: selling the assets to pay the liabilities. The costs of closing, such failed firms, including losses in the process, is to be charged to other financial firms and not to the government and the taxpayers. The Federal Reserve Bank is given power to more closely regulate such big firms in advance of their becoming dysfunctional while itself being subject to more public scrutiny. This package of inter-related reforms provides relief consistent with one of the CRT's recommendations. Reforms at the global or international level, as also recommended, are still slow in coming. Second, several practices that led to excessive speculation and "irrational exuberance" in the run-up to the 2008 meltdown have been prohibited: banks will be limited in the extent they can use their own funds for speculative trading in financial instruments. Such trading is to be placed in the hands of firms that can go bankrupt with disrupting credit markets. Their market failures will be costly mostly to themselves. Banking profits will go down as the sanctity of their capital reserves will go up. Trading firms that overextended themselves must not register with the Securities and Exchange Commission and make more public the scope and nature of their buying and selling. The SEC will then, it is hoped, be in a position to use regulations to curb self-serving but risky practices brought to market by such firms. In line with the market management philosophy that knowledge of material facts leads to better pricing, disclosure of transactions in derivatives is now mandated. Financial contracts which are little more than bets on future contingencies must be cleared in a public market so that knowledge of terms, prices, and risks assumed will be widely available to all traders. New requirements for companies that rate financial instruments (Moody's, S&P, and Fitch principally) will bring more transparency to the valuation process used to support ratings. This will constraint the ability of such firms to "sell" ratings which are unsound and misleading to investors about the risks involved in purchasing financial instruments. Finally in this regard the new legislation established a financial stability oversight council which will look for the accumulation of risks threatening market stability. The Treasury will have a new office of research and the Federal Reserve System will have a new vice-chairman to focus on enhanced supervision. These reforms go in the direction recommended by the CRT of changing risk management practices within firms, starting with enhancing board responsibility for comprehensive risk management. Until the risks of enterprise are more fully expressed in valuations of business practices and the financial instruments that permit participation in such practices financial markets will be vulnerable to the growth and the "popping" of asset bubbles as "irrational exuberance," speculation in trading, herd instincts, and other market forces once again push up values beyond where they can be sustained. Forcing more transparency and competition in the rating of debt instruments as the new reform legislation does ill contribute some increased sanity to markets. But as long as ratings are driven by those who sell such instruments, the bias of "hyping" valuations to please sellers and con buyers will continue. Until the problem of valuation is brought under control, global capitalism will be subject to dysfunctional fits of indulgence followed by loss and remorse. We hope progress can soon be made on this agenda as well. Contact for further comment: Stephen Young, Global Executive Director, Caux Round Table Phone: +1 651 223 2852 (office) or +1 651 336-4812 (mobile) About the Caux Round Table The Caux Round Table (CRT) is an international network of business and professional leaders working to promote a moral capitalism since 1986. The CRT advocates implementation of the CRT Principles for Responsible Business through which capitalism can flourish and sustainable and socially responsible prosperity can become the foundation for a fair, free and transparent global society. Uniquely, the Caux Round Table (CRT) Principles for Responsible Business provide strategic ethical guidance which, had it been followed, would have kept those institutions that have triggered the Global Financial Crisis more faithful to their obligations of stewardship, good governance and stakeholder risk management. The CRT Principles for Responsible Business go to the heart of constructive and ethical behaviors that enhance risk assessment and stakeholder management, boosting bottom-line valuations of business success and sustaining responsible long-term wealth creation for society. The CRT Principles for Responsible Business can be accessed at http://www.cauxroundtable.org. The Principle of Enlightened Shareholder Value The Principle of Enlightened Shareholder Value imposes obligation on directors to achieve the success of the company for the benefit of the shareholders by taking proper account of all the relevant considerations for that purpose including:

• a proper balanced view of the short and long term;
• the need to sustain effective ongoing relationships with employees, customers, suppliers and others;
• the need to maintain the company's reputation; and
• the need to consider the impact of the company's operations on the community and the environment.

/PRNewswire/ - Walden University will celebrate the graduation of more than 4,800 students at its 44th commencement ceremony on Saturday, July 24, at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Walden graduates will represent 50 states and 29 countries and include the first to receive degrees in Walden's M.S. in Nonprofit Management and Leadership, Master of Information Systems Management and B.S. in Child Development programs. This year, Walden is celebrating 40 years of serving the higher education needs of working professionals through advanced degrees that encourage positive social change. Cheryl L. Dorsey, M.D., M.P.P. and president of Echoing Green, will give the commencement address. Dr. Dorsey is an accomplished social entrepreneur with expertise in social innovation, next-generation leadership and public policy. Walden and Echoing Green share a commitment to making a positive impact in communities and organizations around the world. Walden will provide live and archived webcasts of the entire ceremony for graduates, family and friends who are unable to attend in person. Starting at 1:30 p.m. Central time, visit www.WaldenU.edu to join the celebration. Among those being honored at the ceremony are:

• Carl A. Eckrode, Ph.D. in Public Health from Milwaukie, Ore., recipient of the Harold L. Hodgkinson Award, an honor given to a Walden graduate whose dissertation meets the highest university standards of academic excellence. Dr. Eckrode's research identified significant gaps in the existing knowledge of invasive pneumococcal disease and identified ways to save lives through increased knowledge and promotion of vaccination.
• Douglas H. Tedford, Ed.D. from Col. Zona Escolar, Distrito Federal, Mexico, recipient of the Outstanding Doctoral Study Award for his research examining the barriers that prevent English teachers in a rural Guatemalan community from taking advantage of free Internet teacher development programs.
• Jack C. Brimhall, Ph.D. in Education from Sheridan, Wyo., recipient of the Contribution to the Profession Award for his research examining the lack of trust in U.S. secondary schools.
• Ivy Garcia Zwicker from New Braunfels, Texas, a 2007 M.B.A. alumna and recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award for exemplifying Walden's mission to effect social change. As the operations director for an autism treatment center in San Antonio, Texas, Zwicker credits Walden with helping her develop the strategic planning skills to manage the financial and daily operations of a clinical facility that is open around the clock.

For more information about Walden, visit www.WaldenU.edu. About Walden University For 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 42,500 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries are pursuing their bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees 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 50 online and campus-based universities in 24 countries. Walden offers more than 45 degree programs with more than 195 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, education, public health, nursing, public administration, technology and engineering. 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.

/PRNewswire/ - Plaid Enterprises, Inc. helps paint a brighter future for children living in poverty. Plaid has donated $2 million in arts and crafts supplies to Children International, a Kansas City-based humanitarian organization. The donations include acrylic paint, blocks, stamps and a variety of items to allow children living in extreme poverty to express themselves artistically. The value of individual expression for children living in the marginalized areas is improved overall well-being. For children living in poverty, many of them lack the language to describe the devastation and hopelessness that poverty hoists upon them. The art supplies also give the children a way to express their hopes and their dreams, as well. This donation from Plaid will be used for the children served by Children International in Guatemala, Mexico, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Chile, Philippines, Colombia, Honduras, India and Zambia. According to a study by the British Columbia School of Art Therapy, many children are comfortable expressing themselves with arts and crafts. Working with Plaid Enterprises' donation will allow children witnessing domestic violence, substance abuse and crime associated with poverty's landscape to enhance a child's self-esteem, and provide them an opportunity to process feelings and emotions such as frustration, anger and defensiveness. By giving children the tools to express themselves, they can distance themselves from poverty and find value in their lives. Children International's President and CEO Jim Cook said, "Children International is grateful to Plaid for their generosity to the children living in crushing poverty. Giving nearly 350,000 children in more than 100 community centers around the world the opportunity to express themselves in a constructive manner is a skill they can use to build self-esteem, which can help them overcome poverty." To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/childreninternational/40375/ About Plaid: Plaid Enterprises, Inc. is one of the world's leaders in the creation, manufacture and distribution of crafts and home decor products. "Crafts provide children of all ages with educational opportunities along with the joy and rewards of self-expression," said Plaid President Mike McCooey. "There is nothing quite like the feeling of 'I made this myself!'" Plaid has nearly 5,000 products on the market at any one time, including time-honored brands such as FolkArt®, Bucilla®, Mod Podge®, Gallery Glass® and One Stroke™. Product information and project ideas can all be found at www.plaidonline.com. About Children International: Established in 1936, Children International is a humanitarian organization with its headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. Children International's programs benefit more than 335,000 children and their families in 11 countries around the world including Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Zambia, Honduras, India, the Philippines and the United States. For more information about Children International or to sponsor a child, visit www.children.org.

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Henry Schein Cares, the global social responsibility program of Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), and Sirona Dental Systems, donated equipment and oral health care supplies to support the operation of the new Diospi Suyana Hospital Dental Clinic in the Apurimac region of Peru. Henry Schein and Sirona are two of the largest donors to the non-profit dental clinic. To meet the needs of many in the community who require urgent and extensive oral health care, the new dental clinic, which includes five consultation rooms, an X-ray room, and a laboratory, will serve as many as 1,000 patients per month. The dental clinic is part of the Diospi Suyana Hospital, which has been completely funded by donations, allowing patients to pay only what they can afford, often in the form of barter. "Henry Schein Cares is privileged to enhance access to oral health care for the Quechua community of the Peruvian Andes through our donation of oral health care supplies to the Diospi Suyana Hospital Dental Clinic," said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein. "We are grateful for the partnership of our supplier partner, Sirona, in this endeavor," continued Mr. Bergman. "Our work together is another excellent example of the effectiveness of public-private partnerships in addressing complex health care issues. By working in collaboration with Sirona; other valued supplier partners; and the Diospi Suyuna Hospital, we are able to use our collective resources to 'help health happen' for this underserved community in the Peruvian Andes." "Sirona's high-tech innovations enable excellent dental care around the globe. The fruitful partnership of Sirona and Henry Schein has now enabled the support of a dental clinic in Peru. We are convinced that the needy patients will benefit from our donation of technologically advanced products to the Diospi Suyana Hospital Dental Clinic," said Jost Fischer, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sirona Dental Systems. The opening of the Diospi Suyuna Hospital Dental Clinic was celebrated at a special ceremony on June 26, which was attended by more than 3,000 people, including the First Lady of Peru, Pilar Nores de Garcia, and many other global dignitaries. About Henry Schein Henry Schein, the largest distributor of health care products and services to office-based practitioners, is a Fortune 500® company and a member of the NASDAQ 100® Index. The Company is recognized for its excellent customer service and highly competitive prices. Henry Schein's four business groups - Dental, Medical, International and Technology - serve more than 600,000 customers worldwide, including dental practitioners and laboratories, physician practices and animal health clinics, as well as government and other institutions. The Company operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, which provides customers in more than 200 countries with a comprehensive selection of more than 90,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 100,000 additional products available as special-order items. Henry Schein also provides exclusive, innovative technology offerings for dental, medical and veterinary professionals, including value-added practice management software and electronic health record solutions. Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein employs more than 13,500 people and has operations or affiliates in 23 countries. The Company's net sales reached a record $6.5 billion in 2009. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com. About Sirona Dental Systems, Inc. Sirona, the dental technology leader, has served dealers and dentists worldwide for more than 130 years. Sirona develops, manufactures, and markets a complete line of dental products, including CAD/CAM restoration systems (CEREC), digital intra-oral, panoramic and 3D imaging systems, dental treatment centers and handpieces. Visit http://www.sirona.com for more information about Sirona and its products.

/PRNewswire/ - DS Waters of America, Inc. announces the acquisition of Athena brand bottled water and other assets from Athena Partners, a non-profit corporation headquartered in Seattle, WA. The brand Athena and the Athena Partners organization were founded in 2003 by Trish May, herself a breast cancer survivor, to raise money for women's cancer research, awareness and education. DS Waters is a U.S. operated bottled water, water filtration and coffee service company with distribution across the United States and is one of the nation's leading companies in home and office bottled water delivery. "The powerful combination of a leading bottled water company and a popular socially responsible brand will enable us to raise awareness and funds for the breast cancer cause on a level never before possible. This is a dream that both Athena Partners and DS Waters share," said May. The transaction will result in a national brand of bottled water that devotes funds throughout the year to find the cures for breast cancer. The Athena brand and other DS Waters' initiatives target a sum of $1 million to be raised over the next three years for breast cancer research, education and awareness. "It's a meeting of the minds and a melding of causes," stated Dillon Schickli, CEO of DS Waters. The Athena brand acquisition will be in addition to the current DS Water's relationship with Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and its promise to end breast cancer forever. According to Tom Harrington, Chief Operating Officer of DS Waters, "In the coming months we plan to make Athena available on a national basis to those who desire to align themselves in support of this worthy cause." "The concept is simple yet powerful," stated May. "By choosing the Athena brand of water with its distinctive pink-ribbon label, consumers and businesses are empowered to join in the fight against breast cancer. Together, we're going to save more lives." The product was named after the Greek Goddess Athena, who is known for her strength, courage and wisdom. The intent was to inspire consumers in pursuing the cause of finding the cures for breast cancer and encourage those fighting the disease on a personal basis. One in eight women will be affected by breast cancer during her lifetime. Non-profit Athena Partners has an impressive record of contributions to the cause; 100% of its net profits have gone to organizations such as the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington Medicine, Swedish Medical Center, Virginia Mason Medical Center and Hospital, Overlake Hospital Medical Center and Evergreen Hospital Medical Center, as well as to such organizations as Gilda' Club and Cancer Lifeline. DS Waters of America, Inc., has been an active partner with Susan G. Komen for the Cure® since August 2009. About DS Waters: Created in 2003, DS Waters is the producer and distributor of home, office, and retail bottled water, water filtration and office coffee products across the United States under the brand names Abita Springs®, Alhambra®, Belmont Springs®, Crystal Springs®, Hinckley Springs®, Kentwood Springs®, Nursery® Water, Sierra Springs®, Sparkletts®, and Roast2Coast®, a coffee delivery service. The company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of leaders in the U.S. home and office water delivery, focusing on three and five gallon, one gallon and single serve bottled water products. The Company's drinking water products are bottled at 37 manufacturing facilities, and then delivered to in excess of a million homes and offices, as well as retail establishments across the country. The DS Waters workforce includes approximately 4,400 associates in 41 states. DS Waters and its associates provide safe drinking water to communities during emergencies such as hurricanes, fires, floods, droughts and other natural disasters. Visit www.water.com or www.nurserywater.com for more information. About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®: Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, we have invested more than $1.5 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

In light of a series of suicides at the Foxconn Electronics facility in China, a broad coalition of over 40 European, Australian and U.S. investors have joined their voices to issue a public statement condemning abusive workplace conditions in the global electronics supply chain. Worker abuses such as excessive overtime and supervisor harassment which are endemic in the electronics manufacturing sector have been cited by non-governmental organizations as contributing to excessive stress and grave mental health issues among factory workers. In issuing this statement, the group, led by Boston Common Asset Management, LLC, Trillium Asset Management Corporation, As You Sow and Domini Social Investments LLC, all members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, sends a strong message to the electronics manufacturers in their portfolios urging stricter supply chain compliance. "We believe this is a wake-up call for the electronic industry to intensify its efforts to improve working conditions and the quality of life for workers producing their products. We urge companies, suppliers, governments and investors to focus on building more sustainable supply chains that mitigate risks while building safe and harmonious workplaces" said Steven Heim, Managing Director and Director of ESG Research and Shareholder Advocacy at Boston Common Asset Management. The statement, with 45 investor signatories, urges the consumer electronics companies in their portfolios such as Apple, Dell, and Hewlett-Packard who are leaders in their industry to redouble efforts to strictly monitor the practices of their suppliers to insure safer, less stressful workplace conditions and to promote worker rights. The Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC), a 40-member organization including most global electronics companies, works to enforce supply chain compliance and has developed a code of conduct regarding specific labor and health and safety practices that has been widely adopted by the industry. The investor group supports this industry initiative but believes the EICC needs to go further in promoting worker rights and in demanding full disclosure on supply chain practices. "As members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) we have been pressing for greater supply chain accountability in this sector and other sectors for over 15 years," said Rev. David Schilling, Director of Human Rights at the ICCR, a 275-member coalition of faith-based and institutional investors engaged in shareholder advocacy. "It is important from a human as well as a financial perspective to implement systemic solutions to address the challenges facing workers in complex global supply chains." Jonas Kron, VP, Trillium Asset Management said, "In addition to the human rights implications, we are deeply concerned as institutional investors about the material impact that events like the recent suicides at Foxconn may have on our portfolios. Regardless of where manufacturing is located, companies, investors and governments need to consider the long-term impact of these issues and not focus just on short-term responses." "The Foxconn suicides are the latest reverberations of an alarm that has been ringing for many years now. The foundation of our global manufacturing system is not sustainable. Without strong investor support for meaningful change on the factory floor, we will continue to drift from crisis to crisis" said Adam Kanzer, Managing Director and General Counsel for Domini Social Investments. The group specifically supports efforts which include offering training on worker's rights, limits on overtime, training for line supervisors and managers to eliminate harassment and other forms of abuse and supporting worker’s rights to union representation and collective bargaining. "Failing to provide a decent living wage and safe working conditions is unacceptable for any company in any sector. Consumers understand this. There exists a clear financial opportunity for companies that take a lead, and considerable risks for those who do not," said Neil Brown, SRI Fund Manager, Aviva Investors. For the full text of the statement go to: http://www.bostoncommonasset.com/news/documents/InvestorStatementonWorkingConditionsJuly212010.pdf http://www.iccr.org/news/press_releases/072110InvestorStatementonWorkingConditions.pdf For more information please contact: Steven Heim, Boston Common Asset Management phone - 617-720-5557 phone 2 - 617-785-9527 fax - 617-720-5665 email - sheim@bostoncommonasset.com

(Marketwire) - Greenscape Capital Group Inc. ("Greenscape") (TSX VENTURE: GRN) Announcement Highlights:

• Denver project ahead of schedule and on budget
• Greenscape to contribute $1,000,000 to project this week, increasing the total equity funded by Greenscape to date to approximately $5,000,000
• revised equity contribution schedule increases Greenscape flexibility

Greenscape Capital Group Inc. is pleased to provide the following update regarding the equity contribution schedule for the construction of the 4,200 stall Denver green parking facility. The revised schedule gives Greenscape increased flexibility to strategically fund the remainder of the equity portion of the development. The construction of the facility has been underway since early May 2010 and is ahead of schedule and on budget. Greenscape is completely current and compliant with all material contracts and obligations related to the rapidly progressing development. Under the terms of a revised schedule of payments, Greenscape will be contributing equity to the project by way $1,000,000 on July 22nd, 2010, $1,000,000 on July 29th, 2010, $3,168,151 on August 30th, 2010 and $1,080,016 after August 30th, 2010. To facilitate the $1,000,000 contribution this week, Greenscape is arranging $1,000,000 in funding through various sources. In addition to the equity contributions earmarked for the project, debt of US $8,500,000 has also been arranged for construction. About Greenscape Greenscape Capital Group increases environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and profitability of companies and their operations. Greenscape Capital owns 100% of Green.Switch Capital, a Canadian based company focused on dramatically increasing the profitability of commercial facilities through enhanced energy efficiency and environmental best practices. When marked opportunities arise, Greenscape also invests in other companies that operate in the environmental space, providing strategic capital and business advisory services to assist companies in achieving their environmental and corporate goals. www.greenscapecapital.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Bryan Slusarchuk, CEO and Director Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding future revenues and contracts. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward looking statements will occur, when they will occur, or if they do occur, what benefits the company will obtain from them. Specifically, there can be no assurance that the energy savings or targeted profits from the transaction with Robbins Parking will occur. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

The American Cancer Society Corporate Initiative program has opened its nomination process for the 2010 Corporate Impact Awards Series, which will honor companies for their engagement in targeted efforts to significantly impact cancer's effect in the workplace; to contribute funds to the American Cancer Society to fight the disease; and to address responsible community involvement - all in support of the Society's vision of creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Efforts extended by companies to significantly impact cancer's effect on their workforces will help reduce disease-related expenditures and lost productivity costs, which in the United States total $264 billion annually (Source: National Institutes of Health, 2010). The 2010 Corporate Impact Awards will recognize company excellence in four categories - (1) Tobacco Control; (2) Cancer Control; (3) Employee Engagement; and (4) Employee Giving. Detailed descriptions of each category follow later in this call for nominations announcement. A company may submit a Corporate Impact Awards Series nomination form and an accompanying narrative about its engagement, and submission is permissible for more than one category. Nomination forms and narratives should be submitted by 5 p.m. EDT on Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, to Detra.Oliver@cancer.org. Companies submitting nominations will receive a confirmation email within two business days. The Corporate Impact Awards Series-recipient companies will be recognized on Friday, Nov. 5, 2010, during the Society's national annual meeting in Atlanta. The American Cancer Society, through its Corporate Initiative program, aims to reduce the burden of cancer by helping employers implement scientifically-sound wellness programs and high-quality support for cancer screening and care. The Society offers corporate partners a suite of flexible, evidence-based, scientifically documented services - Workplace Solutions - that targets the key risk factors underlying cancer and other costly chronic diseases. Workplace Solutions also provides companies with opportunities that address employee engagement/volunteerism, cause branding/sponsorship, workplace giving, team building, community recognition, brand enhancement and employee morale. For more information on the Corporate Impact Awards Series, please contact - Jim Hammelev, Senior Director, American Cancer Society Workplace Mission Support Initiatives, (575) 532- 5551 * James.Hammelev@cancer.org. The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; by helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation's largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org. American Cancer Society Corporate Impact Award Series Category Descriptions Corporate Impact: Tobacco Control The recipient of this award implements a company-wide, smoke-free policy which is enforced across all U.S. worksites. One-hundred percent of the company’s domestic employees are offered access to a tobacco prevention/cessation program. All barriers, including employee out-of-pocket expense, have been removed. Corporate Impact: Cancer Control This award-recipient company provides its employees with health information, programs and benefits to address four cancer prevention behaviors - physical activity, nutrition, tobacco and cancer screening. The company also deploys a strategic health communication strategy to increase employee involvement in cancer prevention and control programs, while demonstrating a commitment to tracking and reporting health participation and outcomes. Corporate Impact: Employee Engagement This award is presented to a company which demonstrates outstanding volunteerism in support of the American Cancer Society’s mission of saving lives by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures and by fighting back against a disease that has taken too much. Corporate Impact: Employee Giving The company receiving this award provides, through an employee giving campaign, an opportunity for its workforce to support the American Cancer Society's vision of a world with less cancer and more birthdays. The company's Society-supported campaign embodies a combination of best practices that may include - building a business case for the program; reviewing and assessing performance and practices; branding the campaign; expanding giving options; integrating all employee involvement programs through the campaign; building leadership and an effective organization; marketing the campaign and educating employees; measuring employee satisfaction; and recognizing/thanking donors and volunteers.

/PRNewswire/ - Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) announced it is distributing $125,000 to eligible non-profit organizations through its annual Community Service Awards (CSA) program. Organizations receive a grant based on the volunteer efforts and the commitment of the MassMutual financial professionals who work with them. This year marks the first time a $25,000 Volunteer of the Year Award will be granted along with 10, $10,000 grants to organizations across the country. The Volunteer of the Year grant was awarded to Alberto "Tico" Gutierrez of MassMutual's Miami agency, Linq Financial Group, Inc., for his work with the Switchboard of Miami Inc. The Switchboard is a comprehensive telephone crisis counseling, suicide prevention, information and referral service for Miami-Dade County. The Volunteer of the Year grant is awarded on behalf of a financial professional with an outstanding dedication to volunteerism. "I am surprised and thrilled. The Switchboard impacts so many people in our community. With cuts to social service programs becoming more commonplace, this is a real boost," said Gutierrez, adding that Switchboard programming keeps housebound elderly connected with a hotline and works to eradicate domestic violence, among other social ills. MassMutual's Assistant Vice President of Community Responsibility, Nick Fyntrilakis, said the award matches Gutierrez efforts as an integral volunteer for several years. "At MassMutual we encourage our financial professionals and employees to volunteer and be active members of their community, but we also want to make a point of acknowledging one professional who goes above and beyond for his community," he said, noting that Gutierrez was hauling cases of water to a Switchboard golf benefit when he received the news he had won. "We are proud of all our financial professionals who dedicate their time to charitable organizations and are pleased to contribute these funds to assist the many good works of non-profit organizations across the country." Each CSA award recognizes the many selfless hours of volunteer time members of MassMutual's sales force put in during the year to improve their communities. MassMutual has contributed more than $1 million to charitable organizations across the country since the program’s inception in 1996. The CSA program is just one of many philanthropic programs sponsored by MassMutual in support of non-profit organizations for which its financial professionals volunteer. Last year, MassMutual contributed nearly $800,000 in Community Service Award grants and matching gift donations to organizations across the country in honor of its sales force. The following financial professionals have been awarded grants for their local non-profit organizations: WinnerOrganizationAgencyAlberto GutierrezSwitchboard of Miami, Inc.MiamiWilliam Haycox Jr.Virginia Gentlemen Foundation Inc.Virginia Beach, VADavid HowellAutism Society of Middle TennesseeNashville, TNThomas HayesFamily Promise of Nassau CountyWoodbury, NYJoseph SparacioBreast Treatment Task Force c/o Big Bam FoundationWoodbury, NYJeffrey DollarhideHomeward BoundPhoenixWilliam CostelloHarbor House of Rochester, Inc.Rochester, NYGerald RadicanJill's House, Inc.Vienna, VAAli BarghelameThe Bridge Project/University of DenverDenverRyan PlattArc of Mecklenburg County Inc.Charlotte, NCJim ChapelCHOC FoundationOrange, CA Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyholders. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyholders every year since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company's strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term. MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, Inc., member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB. For more information, visit massmutual.com.

Temple Grandin, Ph.D., professor of animal science at Colorado State University, says the recently opened hog holding facility at the Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) Austin (Minn.) Plant is "as good as it gets." "This facility is at the top for the industry," Grandin said. "I am super happy because everything is wonderful; it's highly managed and perfectly maintained." Grandin conducts research and teaches courses on livestock handling and facility design, and has worked with Hormel Foods for more than 10 years. The $6.2 million facility at Hormel Foods opened in 2008 and incorporates many of her industry-leading practices, such as nonreversal movement, nonslip flooring and circular corrals. "It was an honor to have Temple tour this facility now that construction is complete," said Glee G. Goodner, corporate manager of animal welfare and handling at Hormel Foods. "We were excited to see her enthusiasm for how our animal care efforts continue to provide leadership for the industry through state-of-the art building designs, maintenance schedules and employee training." Recently, Grandin was the subject of an HBO movie that provided insight into her perseverance and determination while struggling with autism. "Temple Grandin" was nominated for 15 Primetime Emmy Awards. She is also one of Time Magazine's Most Influential People for 2010. About Hormel Foods Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. The company leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring quality, value-added brands to the global marketplace. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. Hormel Foods was named one of "The 400 Best Big Companies in America" by Forbes magazine for 10 consecutive years. The company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers, foodservice and industrial customers for products highly regarded for quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value. For more information, visit http://www.hormelfoods.com.

National Grid has released its second annual Corporate Citizenship Report covering the company's philanthropic and volunteer activities throughout its U.S. footprint from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010. During that period, the company and its employees supported 1,150 nonprofit organizations in New England and New York with contributions totaling $5.64 million through its Corporate Citizenship programs. "We believe that people and organizations have the will and commitment to create positive change within their communities," said Tom King, president, National Grid U.S. "Part of our company vision states that we provide services that are 'vital to the wellbeing of our customers and communities'. Our role extends beyond being an energy provider; we are part of the fabric of the communities we serve and as such must contribute and volunteer for causes that help them thrive," he added. The company's commitment to philanthropic and volunteer activities is part of its strategic Community Impact Framework, which focuses on three themes: Education and Skills; Energy and the Environment; and Community Investment. "We apply the 'power of action' in how we approach our community investment and philanthropic activities," said Loretta Smith, director U.S. Corporate Citizenship at National Grid. "Through our grants and in-kind and volunteer support we encourage, create, and enhance much needed programs that improve the lives of our customers, our employees, and our future employees," she added. 2009 - 2010 Highlights

• National Grid donated $5.64 million to 1,150 nonprofit organizations;
• 43% of National Grid employees contributed to the 2009 United Way Campaign, for a total of $3.4 million;
• National Grid and the National Grid Foundation donated a total of $820,000 in heating fund relief to individuals throughout the Northeastern United States;
• $280,000 was donated to Haiti relief efforts by National Grid and its employees through employee and corporate donations and the company's matching gifts program;
• Engineering Our Future initiative was launched to inspire youth to choose engineering as a career in an effort to address the shortage of technically trained talent;
• City Year's Whole School, Whole Child program received a three-year, $750,000 grant from National Grid to try to reverse the rise in the student drop out rate;
• National Grid formalized its volunteer program in early 2009 and hired its first U.S. Director of Employee Volunteering;
• More than 1,200 employees participated in 23 projects across National Grid's service region in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

National Grid worked with socially responsible designers and printers and used environmentally friendly material in the production of its Corporate Citizenship annual report. Boston-based Artists For Humanity designed the report. Artists For Humanity's mission is to bridge economic, racial and social divisions by providing underserved youth with the keys to self-sufficiency through paid employment in the arts. Red Sun, which printed the report, uses papers with high recycled and post-consumer content, and keeps its business green by using a bicycle courier service where possible, rather than using car and van services. National Grid is an international energy delivery company. In the U.S., National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. National Grid also owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation that provides power to over one million LIPA customers.

Today the non-profit Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is launching its first-ever regional briefing: "Business & human rights in South Asia - a round-up of recent developments." The nine-page briefing is available here: www.reports-and-materials.org/South-Asia-regional-briefing-Jul-2010.pdf This capsule briefing provides a reality-based snapshot of business & human rights issues in South Asia, with references to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. It highlights key developments reported over the past year, emerging issues, concerns raised by local NGOs and civil society about alleged abuses by companies, responses by companies to allegations, and positive initiatives by companies. Chris Avery, Director of the Resource Centre, said: "We are pleased to be issuing our first regional briefing today, covering the important region of South Asia. The briefing is concise and accessible, not comprehensive. We plan to issue annual region-by-region briefings on business & human rights developments, based on our regional researchers' unique overview of their regions." Companies mentioned in this briefing include: Bahria Town, Ballarpur Industries, Barclays, Bayer, Bayer Crop Science, Bharti Enterprises, Blue Mango, Brandix, Defence Housing Authority, Dell, Depilex beauty salon, Dow Chemical, Forbes Marshall Group, Garib & Garib, GlaxoSmithKline, Green Hotel, H&M, Habib Rafiq, Himagiri Hydro Energy, Hindustan Unilever, ICICI Prudential, Ikea, IndianOil, Jaipur Rugs, La Boulangerie, Lanka Walltile, Merck, Metro Group, OnTime Technologies, People Tree, POSCO, Rahim, Reliance, RL Denim, SammaaN, State Bank of India, Tata Group, Tata Steel, Union Carbide, Vedanta, West Seti. Also today, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre announced the appointment of Dr. Harpreet Kaur as its new South Asia Researcher & Representative, based in India. The announcement is available here: www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/SouthAsiaAppt Business & Human Rights Resource Centre tracks the human rights impacts (positive & negative) of 5000 companies in over 180 countries. The site is updated hourly and receives 1.5 million hits per month. Mary Robinson chairs its 80-member International Advisory Network. Its 22 Academic Partners include leading institutes in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. The Centre has regional researchers based in four regions:

• Aliou Diouf, Francophone Africa Researcher, based in Senegal
• Harpreet Kaur, South Asia Researcher, based in India (starting 2 August 2010)
• Abiola Okpechi, Anglophone Africa Researcher, based in South Africa
• Ella Skybenko, Eastern Europe/Central Asia Researcher, based in Ukraine

Later this year we will appoint an East Asia Researcher (based in Hong Kong). We are seeking funds to establish regional researchers in Latin America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. For further information about the Resource Centre, see the "About us" section of the website. If you have questions about this regional briefing, please contact: Christopher Avery, Director - avery@business-humanrights.org Mauricio Lazala, Senior Researcher - lazala@business-humanrights.org Business & Human Rights Resource Centre 1-3 Charlotte Street, third floor London, W1T 1RD United Kingdom tel: (44) 20 7636 7774 fax: (44) 20 7636 7775 See the Resource Centre website for contact details of additional team members based in India, Senegal, South Africa, UK, Ukraine, USA. SUPPORT THE RESOURCE CENTRE: Please consider donating to Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, to enable us to continue our work in South Asia and internationally, and to offer our website, special portals, Weekly Updates and regional briefings to a global audience without any charge. As we do not accept donations from companies or company foundations, donations from individuals and foundations are essential for our work to continue. Donate online: www.business-humanrights.org/Aboutus/Makeadonation Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is a non-profit organization. In the United States we are a tax-exempt non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. In England & Wales we are a Registered Charity, number 1096664.

KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, today announced it achieved a 26 percent reduction in its carbon footprint from 2007 through 2009, exceeding the firm's stated three-year commitment of a 25 percent reduction in just two years. In 2008, KPMG embarked on an ambitious environmental program in the United States called "Living Green" to support the firm's commitment to reduce the amount of waste it generates, the volume of natural resources it consumes, and to reduce its carbon footprint. When it was announced, KPMG's Living Green program targeted a 25 percent reduction in the U.S. firm's overall carbon footprint by 2010. The firm's 26 percent reduction from 2007 through 2009 is based on the results of a recent analysis by KPMG's Climate Change and Sustainability Services group that shows KPMG reduced its carbon footprint by 20 percent between 2008 and 2009, and 7 percent between 2007 and 2008. "Living Green at KPMG has helped us better understand the need to adapt to climate change and invest in sustainable, eco-friendly business initiatives," says Steve Clemente, KPMG principal and leader of the Living Green program. "Thanks to the commitment of our firm and the support of our 20,000 plus people nationwide, we are helping change the environment in which we live and work for the better." During the course of its Living Green program, the U.S. firm has reduced its electricity consumption by 9 percent and reduced paper consumption by 33 percent, while having increased the percentage of recycled paper used by 85 percent. "KPMG's successful carbon reductions represent the kind of corporate leadership we need at this time of environmental and economic crisis," says Matt Petersen, president and CEO of Global Green USA, a national environmental non-profit organization dedicated to implementing solutions to global climate change. "KPMG is establishing - and beating ahead of time - reduction goals that save money and resources while reducing the carbon pollution that causes global warming." In achieving these results, KPMG is identifying leading practices and establishing new programs and processes at both the local office and national levels. They include:

• Formation of Living Green Teams to harness the passion of KPMG's employees and partners in local offices nationwide. These teams implement the Living Green program at a grassroots level, driving innovation and making a difference through initiatives such as local specialized recycling programs, engagement with city-wide environmental programs, and hosting volunteer events with organizations dedicated to sustainability during KPMG's annual Living Green week which is held each year in conjunction with Earth Day.
• Completion of a KPMG data technology center that uses multiple sources of electrical power, but features gas micro-turbines as its centerpiece. The natural gas-powered units provide exceptional energy efficiency, helping generate more than 70 percent of the power needed to run the facility and produce ultra-low carbon dioxide and particulate emissions.
• Recycling of every laptop, monitor and printer, for both reuse and disposal of toxic materials, while implementing server virtualization, which involves using one computer server to do the work of many. Server virtualization has prevented the emission of over 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide.
• In 2009, KPMG's new Nashville office became the first firm office to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), followed by offices in San Diego and Orange County, California. Recently, firm offices in Boston and Charlotte received gold-level LEED certification.

"Being a responsible corporate citizen is a key driver of KPMG's business, affecting our relationships with clients, shaping the experiences of our people, and inspiring us to be a positive force in our communities," says Kathy Hannan, KPMG national managing partner, diversity and corporate social responsibility. To learn more about KPMG's Living Green initiative and the firm's overall commitment to corporate social responsibility, visit the program's web page at: http://us.kpmg.com/about/livinggreen.asp About KPMG LLP KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.us.kpmg.com), is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"). KPMG International's member firms have 140,000 professionals, including more than 7,900 partners, in 146 countries.

/PRNewswire/ - The sluggish economy, the Gulf Oil Crisis and even proposed tax law changes have created new challenges for non-profit and civic organizations already struggling for survival. The new, green economy is providing opportunity not just for business but for the very survival of non-profits by tapping into the need to reduce, reuse and recycle. A new program offered by eCycleBest (http://www.eCycleBest.com) provides a simple solution to fundraising while decreasing eWaste. "Research shows that laptop computers and similar portable devices fail 10-15% in the first year and more than 30% by year four," states David Costa for eCycleBest. "This is one of many reasons why business leaders plan to replace their laptops and smart phones every two to three years." Smart business leaders depreciate these portable devices quickly to keep pace with technology improvements, and keep staff productive. This provides an opportunity to donate these devices that still have value to others. The donated value is often more than the value to the donor. But there is a problem. Many times these devices end up in landfills. Electronics contain many re-usable and valuable raw materials. But improperly disposed of or illegally dumped, electronics can pose a serious risk to the environment. "We polled many charitable and non-profit organizations," Costa continues. "Many of these organizations have found that businesses are less likely to provide the cash donations to the degree they have in a stronger economy. Traditional fundraisers simply are also not working in this economy." The eCycleBest Fundraiser Program offers a simple solution for everyone. The business can donate their unwanted, unused or otherwise depreciated laptops and smart phones by recycling through eCycleBest. Privacy of data is guaranteed. All of the details of the donation are handled by eCycleBest. Even shipping the devices to the recycling facility are at no cost to the donor or the participating charity. The participating charity gets paid cash for each donated device and the donor is provided complete documentation for their tax professional. The charitable organization receives complete training and marketing assistance throughout the relationship and provides long term benefits to the charitable organization. There is no charge for this promotional support. "We know that we prosper, when we prosper others," says David Costa. "Charitable organizations need our help. This is fundraising, reinvented. We know business wants to remain involved in the good works of these fine organizations. This program keeps all of us involved in community solutions that work." eCycleBest is a company involved in the reducing, reusing and recycling solutions for business. NOTE TO EDITORS: David Costa is available for interviews. Call 775-742-7079 or visit http://www.ecyclebest.com.

GE today released its sixth annual Citizenship Report, entitled Renewing Responsibilities. The report covers GE's worldwide operations for the 2009 fiscal year and is structured around the discussion of three pillars of GE's strategy - energy and climate change, sustainable healthcare, and community building. The report also includes an in-depth discussion on the relationship between business and society, and how GE's people, products, and services help to enable prosperous and productive communities around the world. "This year's report examines GE's partnerships with our employees, business partners and communities--in jointly tackling the world's most complex and pressing problems," said Jeff Immelt, chairman and CEO of GE. "Based on our commitments to integrity, performance and learning, GE is renewing our company coming out of this economic reset." The 2009 report, related performance data and hundreds of pages of additional content are available to users on the company's newly redesigned citizenship website: www.ge.com/citizenship. The focus of the redesign was to provide unique, provocative and dynamic content for users to learn about GE’s citizenship efforts around the world. The site is also home to citizenship feature articles and over 20 perspectives addressing key citizenship issues from the viewpoint of GE employees, customers and industry experts. "This report represents the evolution of GE's effort to continually challenge ourselves to be more transparent, more accessible, and more cognizant of our impact on society and the environment," said Sam Nunn, chairman of the GE Board of Directors Public Responsibilities committee. "GE is making a dedicated effort to develop its business strategy so that its products and services have a positive human impact and produce long-term business success." Highlights in this year's report include:

• An Expert Advisory Panel that offered comments, questions and suggestions for the report and provided an unedited letter of public commentary. Also included is GE's response to last year's panel letter.
• Updates on GE's human rights statement of principles implementation, product innovation in emerging markets, public policy engagement, and reporting on the company's greenhouse gas emissions and water use.
• A letter from Sam Nunn, GE Director and Chairman of the Public Responsibilities Committee (PRC) for the GE Board of Directors.
• Updated metrics and content on all performance areas including Environment, Our Suppliers, Compliance & Governance, Our People, Public Policy, Our Customers, Our Products & Services and Our Communities.

According to the Expert Advisory Panel, "GE's Citizenship Report this year takes the company a further step forward in fulfilling its commitment to transparency about how it does business, and how it impacts on people and the environment. The three pillars that frame the report; environment, healthcare, and community building, together with the foundation of operational excellence, provide a penetrating and insightful window into the core of GE's long-term business rather than a series of separate initiatives." The report will be translated into six different languages. To order a copy of the 2009 GE Citizenship Report, visit https://www.ge.com/citizenship/reporting/order_report.html. To sign up for more information about GE's corporate citizenship initiatives and practices, please visit http://www.genewscenter.com/webuser/register.asp. About GE GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world's toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, health care solutions, and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Website at www.ge.com.