TOP UN ENVOY URGES RESTRAINT AFTER TWO PALESTINIANS KILLED IN ISRAELI OPERATION

TOP UN ENVOY URGES RESTRAINT AFTER TWO PALESTINIANS KILLED IN ISRAELI OPERATION
New York, Aug 1 2011 2:10PM
A senior United Nations envoy today called on Israeli authorities to exercise maximum restraint after two Palestinians were killed during a military operation in a West Bank refugee camp.

Robert Serry, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, voiced his deep concern at the deaths resulting from the operation conducted earlier today by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Qalandiya Refugee Camp near Ramallah.

Five Israeli soldiers were also injured in the operation, which the IDF carried out citing security reasons.

"The Special Coordinator calls upon the Israeli authorities to exercise maximum restraint and thoroughly investigate the incident. He also emphasizes the need for calm from all sides," said a <"http://www.unsco.org/Documents/Statements/SC/2008/Statement%20on%20the%20killing%20of%20two%20Palestinians%20in%20Qalandiya%20Refugee%20Camp%201%20August%202011.pdf">statement issued by his office.

Briefing the Security Council in New York last week, Mr. Serry had warned that the political process to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is in "profound and persistent" deadlock, and called on the parties to work towards a two-State solution.

He added that efforts to find the necessary common ground for resumed negotiations have proven extremely difficult, given the differences and lack of trust between the parties.

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have been stalled since late September following Israel's refusal to extend a 10-month freeze on settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Aug 1 2011 2:10PM
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ISRAEL’S RESTRICTIVE ZONING RULES FORCE PALESTINIANS OUT OF WEST BANK AREA – UN REPORT

ISRAEL'S RESTRICTIVE ZONING RULES FORCE PALESTINIANS OUT OF WEST BANK AREA – UN REPORT
New York, Aug 1 2011 1:10PM
Restrictive planning measures applied by Israeli authorities in the zone of the West Bank known as Area C are forcing Palestinian residents out of the area, mainly because the zoning rules make it virtually impossible for them to obtain building permits, according to a United Nations report released today.

The territory known as "Area C" represents over 60 per cent of the West Bank where Israel retains control over security, planning and building.

Other factors forcing Palestinians to abandon their homes in this area include the construction of the barrier and other movement restrictions, reduced income, home demolitions and difficult access to services such as schools and water, according to "<"http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_area_c_report_august_2011_english.pdf">Displacement and Insecurity in Area C of the West Bank," which is prepared by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

"Irrespective of the motivation behind the various policies applied by Israel to Area C, their effect is to make development impossible for many Palestinian communities," <"http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ochaopt_press_release_01_08_2011_english.pdf">said Ramesh Rajasingham, the Acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory.

"Communities live in a state of pervasive insecurity and daily life has deteriorated to such an extent that some residents are forced to leave in order to meet their basic needs, feed their families or educate their children.

"This pattern of displacement, along with ongoing Israeli settlement activity, undermines the ability of Palestinian communities to maintain their presence in Area C and raises concerns about demographic shifts and changes to the ethnic make-up of Area C," said Mr. Rajasingham.

It is estimated that 150,000 Palestinians live in Area C, which has the most significant land reserves available for Palestinian development, as well as the bulk of Palestinian agricultural and grazing land.

Some 300,000 Israeli settlers live in approximately 135 Israeli settlements and 100 settlement outposts in Area C, with the settler population growing at a significantly faster pace than in Israel.

The report is based on field visits to a geographically diverse group of residents in Area C, representing sedentary villages, and Bedouin and other herding communities, as well as refugee and non-refugee populations.

OCHA called on the Israeli Government, among other measures, to end the displacement and dispossession of Palestinians in occupied Palestinian territory, including immediately ceasing demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures, until Palestinians have access to a fair and non-discriminatory zoning and planning regime.

Aug 1 2011 1:10PM
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U.S. EPA Go Green! Monthly Consumer Newsletter Aug 2011

GO GREEN!
EPA News You Can Use - August 2011
http://www.epa.gov/gogreen

IN THIS ISSUE:
Enviro-Tip of the Month
What You Can Do, What You Can Use
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
This Month in EPA@40
About This Newsletter

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ENVIRO-TIP OF THE MONTH

Allow grass clippings to stay on the lawn, instead of bagging them. The cut grass will decompose and return to the soil naturally. Get more backyard composting ideas at http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wycd/catbook/tip10.htm

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WHAT YOU CAN DO, WHAT YOU CAN USE

Look for "Most Efficient"!  When shopping for appliance or other products, look for the new Energy Star designation of "Most Efficient." Products with the "Most Efficient" designation demonstrate exceptional and cutting-edge efficiency performance, representing approximately the top five percent of models on the market in that category.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/names/hq_2011-7-14_energystarmostefficient

Be sun sensible! Learn more to protect yourself and your family from the sun's harmful rays. Sun overexposure can cause skin cancer and eye damage during any time of the year.
Check your UV index: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html
Get the UV Index mobile app: http://www.epa.gov/enviro/mobile/

Reduce mosquitos! Around your home you can drain pools of standing water where mosquitoes breed. Drain water from plastic covers, old tires, or other objects. Empty and change birdbaths at least once a week. Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating. Read more:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/mosquitoes/mosquito.htm

Summer is for ... renovating? Protect your family. Make sure you only hire a contractor who is in a Lead-Safe Certified Firm.  At present, almost a million children have elevated blood lead levels as a result of exposure to lead hazards, which can lead to lower intelligence, learning disabilities, and behavior issues. Find a contractor near you:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/flpp/searchrrp_firm.htm

ONGOING:

Apps for the Environment. EPA is challenging the information technology community - students, colleges, professionals - to create applications that use EPA's data and be accessible via the web or a mobile device. Submittal deadline is September 16. C'mon, get appy!
http://www.epa.gov/appsfortheenvironment

Photo project. You can take a photo of the environment "as you see it" and submit it to the State of the Environment Photo Project. Selected submitted photos will be used in a display during Earth Day 2012.
http://www.epa.gov/environmentphotoproject
-Try the "Locations" challenge!
http://www.epa.gov/environmentphotoproject/locations.html

Join the Greenversation - share your thoughts as EPA employees share their unique perspective on environmentalism and personal experiences in protecting and improving our nation's water, land, and air.
http://blog.epa.gov/blog/

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UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

August

National Water Quality Month

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THIS MONTH IN EPA@40

In December 2010, EPA turned 40! Here are some key events and activities from years past that happened this month:

Aug 2, 1978 - Leaking chemical containers found buried in Love Canal, NY. Federal and state authorities respond.
Aug 2, 1996 - President Bill Clinton signs the Food Quality Protection Act to tighten standards for pesticides.
Aug 6, 1996 - President Clinton signs the Safe Drinking Water Act to ensure that all Americans have access to clean drinking water.
Aug 8, 1977 - President Jimmy Carter signs the Clean Air Act Amendments to strengthen air quality standards.
Aug 28, 2005 - EPA monitors air quality in the Gulf after Hurricane Katrina to ensure air is safe to breathe.

More at http://www.epa.gov/40th

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ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

America is shifting to a "green culture" where all 300 million citizens are embracing the fact that environmental responsibility is everyone's responsibility. "Go Green!" is a monthly newsletter from the US EPA with information about activities and events that everyone can use to make a difference in their homes, communities, and offices.
 

Read Go Green! online

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You can view or update your subscriptions or e-mail address at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. All you will need is your e-mail address. If you have any questions or problems e-mail support@govdelivery.com for assistance.  This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Sent by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW · Washington DC 20460 · 202-564-4355

Join the Retail Revolution!

Can't see content of this e-mail? Click here for browser version. Join the Retail Revolution at the Daily Deal Media Conference 2011 The 2011 conference will be held September 8-9 in Chicago, and is expected to draw the movers and shakers in the daily deal market, as well as up and coming companies and influencers. The conference is the place where news will be made and the industry direction for the next year will be set. As the #1 daily deal news source, Daily Deal Media invites you to join the Retail Revolution!   The Chicago Hilton will be transformed into Daily Deal Media news nerve center as we go on location with our interview studio, pundit panels, media booths and roving reporters. Chicago Hilton’s biggest room will be filled with journalists and major media looking for what’s next! All attendees who have an announcement or would like to be interviewed by a Daily Deal Media journalist and other national media can schedule their interview slot and get advance preparation services from Daily Deal Media PR staff. Welcome to Daily Deal news central in Chicago!   The two-day Daily Deal Media Conference will look at the retail revolution currently underway and include sessions on:   State of the Industry—The conference will kick off with a state of the industry panel that will also take a look at the numbers behind the industry. This Panel will include Andrew Moss, Founder - BuyWithMe, Gary Lipovetsky, President - DealFind, David Sinsky, Yipit Data, Jere Doyle, CEO - Eversave, Ghassan Halazon, CEO - TeamBuy.ca, and Kenneth Kalb, CEO - EverSave. Technology Developments—Sessions will look at new technologies and how they can be leveraged by companies, as well as the pitfalls to avoid with new platforms. Additional breakout sessions will look at mobile, NFC and other topics. Legal Landscape—Sessions will examine top legal issues for Daily Deal companies as well as potential pending regulations and the impact fraud is having on the industry. Panel includes Jay Edelson from Edelson, McGuire in Chicago and Steve Wernikoff from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Emerging Markets—With more than 1,000 daily deal companies in China,more than 900 in Europe, and more than 600 in South America, what opportunities do these markets represent and where is their still untapped potential. State of Venture Capital—What are investors looking for in Daily Deal companies? What causes a VC pitch to fail? These and other topics will be highlighted in a series of practical sessions from venture capitalists and those companies who have successfully secured funding. Panelists include Phin Barnes, Principle at First Round Capital and Ben Black, Managing Partner of Akkadian Ventures.   David Sinsky from Yipit Added to the DDM Conference Lineup David Sinsky, General Manager of Yipit Data has joined the stellar lineup at the DDM Conference and will participate in the “State of the Industry” panel and contribute in the “Daily Deals: Behind the Numbers” presentation.   Yipit is North Americas the leading aggregator of daily deals and aggregates deals from over 500 daily deal sites including Groupon, Living Social, OpenTable, Travelzoo, Gilt City and many more. Yipit Data provides leading daily deal sites, investors and other interested constituencies with comprehensive industry data as well as market insight and intelligence. Mr. Sinsky previously worked at Mill Road Capital (a hybrid private equity/hedge fund) and Lazard’s Investment Banking Group. Daily Deal Expo Joins Forces with Daily Deal Media Daily Deal Media today announced that the 2011 Daily Deal Media Conference in Chicago will be expanding to include the speakers and sponsors from the Daily Deal Expo. The Daily Deal Expo is no longer scheduled, and this reinforces the 2011 Daily Deal Media Conference as the premier industry event for companies and investors in the Daily Deal market.   JIllian Jacobson from Daily Deal Expo is now part of our growing team and will be helping us rock out this conference. DealNation to Release "U.S. Daily Deal Buyer Report" in Chicago Our newest sponsor will be releasing the first edition of the “U.S. Daily Deal Buyer Report” at the DDM Conference in Chicago. This presentation will provide a unique snapshot of over 1,000 daily deal consumers in the U.S.   DealNation will reveal the demographics, purchase habits, influences, and communication preferences of individuals that have made the transition from subscriber to buyer. The report will address the concern of “deal fatigue” and discuss the value of your website user interface, customer service and how these factors contribute to the conversion of a casual shopper to a repeat customer.   All DDM Conference attendees will receive a complementary copy of the report after the presentation ($395 Value)   Official Sponsors Sponsors Daily Deal Media LLC 700 Tower Dr Suite 500, Troy MI 48098 Direct: (248)247-3580 Email: info@dailydealmedia.com Web: http://dailydealmedia.com Be a fan on Facebook Follow us on Twitter RSS Feed

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UN’S MESSAGE TO MOTHERS: BREASTFEEDING CAN SAVE YOUR BABY’S LIFE

UN'S MESSAGE TO MOTHERS: BREASTFEEDING CAN SAVE YOUR BABY'S LIFE
New York, Aug 1 2011 12:10PM
The United Nations and its partners are promoting the use of all possible means of communication, including social networking, blogs and even flash mobs, to get the message out on the benefits of breastfeeding beyond clinics and delivery rooms to the wider public.

Breastfeeding is directly linked to reducing the death toll of children under five, yet only 36 per cent of infants below the age of six months in developing countries are exclusively breastfed, according to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

"With so much at stake, we need to do more to reach women with a simple, powerful message: Breastfeeding can save your baby's life," UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake <"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_59435.html">said on the occasion of <"http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/">World Breastfeeding Week, which is celebrated from 1 to 7 August.

"No other preventive intervention is more cost effective in reducing the number of children who die before reaching their fifth birthdays," he stated.

Among the benefits of breastfeeding, UNICEF pointed out that the practice could lead to a 13 per cent reduction in deaths of children under five if infants were exclusively breastfed for 6 months and continued to be breastfed up to one year.

"Breastfed is best fed, whether the baby is born in Uganda or England, China or Canada," said Mr. Lake.

However, while breastfeeding rates in the developing world are on the rise in two-thirds of countries with data, millions of infants are not benefiting from this life-saving practice.

Therefore, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and their partners are using the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week to spur new and creative ways to raise awareness and reach a larger audience with the message of the benefits of breastfeeding.

The theme of this year's World Breastfeeding Week, which is an initiative of the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, is "Talk to Me! Breastfeeding – a 3D Experience." It emphasizes the importance of communication at various levels and between various sectors to promote breastfeeding.

"Communication is key to attain progress," <"http://www.who.int/child_adolescent_health/news/archive/2011/29_07_2011/en/index.html">said Flavia Bustreo, WHO Assistant Director-General for Family, Women's and Children's Health. "This year's theme for the World Breastfeeding Week highlights the opportunity of new communication technologies for making qualified support accessible to health care providers, mothers and families…

"Protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding is important because, even though breastfeeding is natural, it is also a learned behaviour," added Dr. Bustreo.

Aug 1 2011 12:10PM
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UN INVESTIGATING EXCHANGE OF FIRE ALONG ISRAELI-LEBANESE BORDER

UN INVESTIGATING EXCHANGE OF FIRE ALONG ISRAELI-LEBANESE BORDER
New York, Aug 1 2011 10:10AM
The United Nations said it has opened an investigation into the exchange of fire that occurred early Monday morning between Lebanese and Israeli forces along their common border.

The incident between the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) took place around 7 a.m. local time along the so-called Blue Line that separates the two countries, in the general area of Wazzani, according to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

"UNIFIL peacekeepers immediately responded to the location in order to contain the situation and prevent any escalation," said Neeraj Singh, spokesperson for the mission.

"The firing has since ceased and the situation in the area is quiet. No casualties have been reported," he added.

UNIFIL Acting Force Commander Brigadier General Santi Bonfanti is in contact with the command of both the LAF and the IDF, urging restraint by both sides.

Respect for the Blue Line is one of the key provisions of Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the conflict that erupted in 2006 between Israel and the Lebanese group Hizbollah.
Aug 1 2011 10:10AM
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NEW REGULATIONS TO REDUCE MARINE POLLUTION IN ANTARCTIC ENTER INTO FORCE – UN

NEW REGULATIONS TO REDUCE MARINE POLLUTION IN ANTARCTIC ENTER INTO FORCE – UN
New York, Aug 1 2011 9:10AM
A ban on pollution from heavy grade fuel oils in the Antarctic region goes into effect today, the United Nations maritime agency reported.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) said that amendments to International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships (MARPOL) detailing specific densities of crude oil which should not be used in the Antarctic mean that ships plying that area with lower grade fuel will have to switch to a higher fuel while in the area.

MARPOL has 136 parties, representing 98 per cent of the world's shipping tonnage.

"This means, in effect, that ships trading to the area, whether passenger or cargo ships, would need to switch to a different fuel type when transiting the Antarctic area, defined as 'the sea area south of latitude 60 degrees south'," IMO stated in a press release.

IMO also said MARPOL will formally establish a North American Emission Control Area (ECA), in which emissions of sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter from ships will be subject to more stringent controls than the limits that apply globally. The ECA will take effect 12 months after the amendments enter into force on 1 August 2012.

There area currently two designated ECAs, both on sulphur oxides in the Baltic Sea area and the North Sea area.

Last month IMO adopted MARPOL amendments to designate certain waters adjacent to the coasts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands as another ECA. The MARPOL amendments are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2013, with the new ECA taking effect 12 months later.
Aug 1 2011 9:10AM
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