Germany's finance minister is rejecting any idea of watering down the diet of austerity and structural reforms being used to combat the eurozone debt crisis.
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Biodesix’ Paul Beresford Joins 2012 BIO Panel for Personalized Medicine Commercialization
BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Biodesix, Inc., a fully integrated molecular diagnostics company dedicated to personalizing medicine, today announced that Paul Beresford, Ph.D., Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Marketing, will join industry veterans on a panel discussing the recipe for the successful commercialization of personalized medicine at the 2012 BIO International Conference being held in Boston, Mass. June 18-21, 2012.
The panel, Commercialization of Personalized Medicine: Stakeholders' Recipe For Success, will take place on Tuesday, June 19th from 3:45-5:00 p.m. EDT. Beresford joins Mara Aspinall, president and CEO of Ventana Medical Systems, a Roche Group; Glenn Miller, Vice President and Head of Personalized Medicine at AstraZeneca; and Ron Andrews, President, Medical Sciences at Life Technologies on the panel. With help from the panelists, who are successfully pioneering diagnostic products for personalized medicine, this session will gauge the power of collaboration to fuel personalized medicine and novel diagnostics, detail early successes, identify major challenges and debate the most attractive models for commercialization.
As personalized therapies continue to see rapid growth from the research side, this is the ideal time to create new business models that optimize the delivery of personalized medicine to patients by providing appropriate incentives to the businesses developing and commercializing these products, said Beresford. I am honored to join this group of innovators in discussing how to best approach this challenge.
Biodesix developed, validated and commercialized VeriStrat, a serum proteomic test currently available to help physicians guide treatment decisions for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The test identifies patients who are likely to have good or poor outcomes after treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs) using a simple blood draw. VeriStrat is based on ProTS, proprietary technology which harnesses the power of mass spectrometry and enables the discovery of specific molecular profiles that characterize a patients condition or likely outcome in response to therapy. Biodesix collaborates with clinical investigators and also partners with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop diagnostics that can determine which patients are most likely to benefit from novel therapies.
About Biodesix: Biodesix is a personalized medicine company focused on the development of diagnostic products that inform treatment decisions and improve patient care. The Companys goal is to give physicians more information about the patient and their disease; understanding the clinically meaningful information contained within each patients molecular profile leads to better care and better outcomes. The Companys unique approach is based on ProTS, proprietary technology which harnesses the power of mass spectrometry and enables the discovery of specific molecular profiles. Biodesix collaborates with clinical investigators to address critical clinical questions, and partners with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop diagnostics to select patients most likely to benefit from novel therapies. For more information about Biodesix, please visit http://www.Biodesix.com.
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Biodesix’ Paul Beresford Joins 2012 BIO Panel for Personalized Medicine Commercialization
American Liberty Petroleum Corp. Provides Progress Update for Nevada-Based Cortez Operation
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
American Liberty Petroleum Corp. (OTCBB: OREO) (herein after "American Liberty" and/or "the Company") is pleased to provide a summary of the Company's recent progress on the Cortez Operation. The operation is located on the 3,840-acre Cortez lease in Gabbs Valley, Nye County, Nevada, and includes two wells: Cobble Cuesta 1-12 and Paradise 2-12.
In early May 2012, work resumed on the Paradise 2-12 well, including a fluid level test that indicated a 1920' fluid column in the well bore above the pump. Following the application of hot water and a new proprietary chemical formula treatment, the well produced additional fluid consisting of an oil/water mix. In total, approximately 29 barrels of crude was shipped to Foreland's Eagle Springs Refinery in neighboring White Pine County, representing the Company's second sale to Foreland. The BLM was also notified of the sale in order that the Company might secure "held by production" status on the Cortez lease.
The Company has continued to work with oil and gas consulting services firm Netherland, Sewell & Associates Inc. ("NSAI") to gather information toward determining next steps in the development of the Cortez operation. In particular, the Company is currently considering options that include:
1) Deepening the Cobble Cuesta 1-12 well
2) Deepening the Paradise 2-12 well
3) Drilling a new well based on information gained to date
4) Performing more seismic surveying prior to further exploration activities
NSAI is assisting the Company's assessment of all possible options by reviewing and evaluating the geological information currently available, and is providing American Liberty with their recommendations of the technical alternatives associated with each of the options, taking care to point out both the merits and potential challenges of each.
As of May 29, 2012, the Company had received an Authority For Expenditure (AFE) to re-enter the Cobble Cuesta 1-12 well, and an AFE to drill a new well in the Cortez lease. The AFEs act as budgetary documents that list the estimated expenses associated with the development activity in question: in the case of the well re-entry, an oil/gas well/re-enter with intermediate casing at 6000' and production casing at 8500', including perforate casing and frac; in the case of the new well, an oil/gas well with surface casing at 850', intermediate casing at 6000', and production casing at 8500', including perforate casing and frac.
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American Liberty Petroleum Corp. Provides Progress Update for Nevada-Based Cortez Operation
Obama says he’ll portray Romney as extreme libertarian
President Barack Obama is previewing his next strategy in the 2012 campaign — an audacious effort to paint former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and the majority GOP as radical libertarians that have abandoned mainstream American politics.
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London eyes Argentine dispute over oil
LONDON, June 5 (UPI) -- The British government said it was studying statements from the Argentine government that plans to drill for oil off the Falkland Islands are illegal.
The Argentine government described exploration activity by British oil and natural gas explorers as "illegal and clandestine," reports British newspaper The Daily Telegraph.
Argentina is at odds with the British government over claims to the Falkland Islands. Buenos Aires maintains the islands are left over from the British colonial area and should fall under Argentine rule.
Argentina invaded Falkland Islands in 1982.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said British oil companies were operating "in a sovereign area" and not authorized to do so under national law.
London said Buenos Aires was working to scupper the economic livelihood of the islands.
"Hydrocarbon exploration in the Falklands is a legitimate commercial venture," the newspaper quoted the British government as saying. "We are studying Argentina's remarks carefully and will work closely with any company potentially affected to ensure that the practical implications for them are as few as possible."
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Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. Declares Third Quarter Cash Dividend
GEORGE TOWN, GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS--(Marketwire -06/05/12)- Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (CWCO) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.075 per share.
The dividend is payable July 31, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business July 1, 2012.
CWCO-D
About Consolidated Water Co. Ltd.
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. develops and operates seawater desalination plants and water distribution systems in areas of the world where naturally occurring supplies of potable water are scarce or nonexistent. The Company operates water production and/or distribution facilities in the Cayman Islands, Belize, the British Virgin Islands and The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Additional information on the Company is available on its website at http://www.cwco.com.
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Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. Declares Third Quarter Cash Dividend
Platypus Populations on Small Australian Islands Show Lack of Genetic Diversity, High Risk of Disease
Last year we learned that climate change could soon make Australia too hot for the cold-loving, iconic platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). Now we have word of a new threat to these unique, egg-laying mammals: inbreeding, which has put the platypuses living on two small Australian islands at enhanced risk of disease.
According to research published March 28 in Ecology and Evolution and May 4 in the Journal of Heredity, the platypus populations on mainland Australia and its island state Tasmania have perfectly normal levels of genetic diversity. But populations on two nearby islands arent in as good shape. University of Sydney doctoral student Mette Lillie, lead author of the Journal of Heredity paper, says platypuses on the 1,100-square-kilometer King Islandlocated off the coast of Tasmania and separated genetically from the mainland by the last ice age 14,000 years agonow show no diversity in their major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene, putting them at high risk of an epidemic disease. If you have lots of variation in the MHC gene, it means the population is better able to resist disease and pathogens, she told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC). Lillie was one of the researchers who sequenced the platypus genome in 2010.
The Ecology and Evolution paper, by researchers from the University of Melbourne and other organizations, said the King Island population shows one of the lowest levels of genetic diversity ever found in any vertebrate population.
Platypuses on the 4,400-square-kilometer Kangaroo Island, located off the state of South Australia, arent doing much better. But that population was introduced there by humans in the 1930s and 40s, and Lillie says the lack of genetic diversity is to be expected from such a small population with no influx of new breeding stock.
Lillie told ABC Radios PM news program that genetic diversity problems can often be solved by introducing animals from a different population, but that would be too risky on King Island because any newcomers to the island could bring a new disease for which the existing population would be unprepared.
The most serious disease afflicting platypuses today is ulcerative mucormycosis, a fungal disease affecting the species on Tasmania. The diseasemuch like the devil facial tumor disease that affects Tasmanian devilscauses nasty, ulcerated lesions on animals, which can prove fatal when the wounds become infected. Mucormycosis is caused by Mucor amphibiorum, a fungus native to mainland Australia, where it does not affect the resident platypuses. The disease was first observed on Tasmania in 1982. Experts suspect it arrived on Tasmania via illegally transported green tree frogs.
Platypusesone of five egg-laying mammal species now living in the worldwere overhunted by fur traders until the early 20th century but are now protected under Australian law. They are also the sole living species in their genus and one of worlds only venomous mammals.
Meanwhile, life on small islands may actually benefit another Australian species, the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus), which disappeared from mainland Australia decades ago. The marsupials can now only be found on Tasmaniawhere their populations have declined 50 percent in the past 10 yearsand Tasmanias nearby Bruny Island (362 square kilometers), where University of Tasmania researcher Bronwyn Fancourt has found that they are flourishing. Its too early to say why Bruny has provided a safe haven, but the decline on Tasmania has been linked to feral cats. Ironically, eastern quolls are also known as eastern native cats even though they are not felines. The genetic diversity of the eastern quoll has not yet been studied.
Photos: Platypus by Cha222 via Flickr. Eastern quoll by Matthias Siegel via Flickr. Used under Creative Commons license
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Argentina Plans To Sue British Oil Companies
Argentina has escalated its diplomatic battle with Britain over the Falkland Islands by taking steps to sue five UK oil exploration companies.
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Princess Darien – Carolinas HealthCare System – Video
04-06-2012 09:54 A 0:15 spot with Princess Darien, a cancer patient, sponsored by Carolinas Kids Cancer Research Coalition and Levine Children's Hospital. (0:15)
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Health care reform is topic of June 13 presentation
LEWISTONWhat to expect from the planned changes in health care and what issues will affect peoples care will be discussed at a community presentation called Health Care Reform: What it will mean for our community and small business, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. June 13 in the Community Room of Our Lady of Peace nursing care residence, 5285 Lewiston Road.
The panel discussion and question period will be sponsored by Mount St. Marys Hospital and the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce. It will include a discussion of collaborative efforts to share important clinical information to improve the quality and reduce the cost of medical care.
A continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. will precede the program. Advance registration is required with Fred Caso, St. Marys vice president for community relations, at fred.caso@msmh.org.
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Health care boosts Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH -- While most of the nation is still trying to claw its way out of the deep economic crater left by the recession, this one-time steel capital is already out -- thanks largely to the relentless growth in health care jobs.
Partly because of the outsized ambitions of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the health care industry has replaced manufacturing as the regions powerhouse. About 1 in 5 private-sector employees in the Pittsburgh area today work at a hospital, a doctors office or in some other health services business.
But even as the health care boom sped up Pittsburghs recovery, the economic transformation has left many people worried about the side effects.
Among the concerns: overdependence on a rapidly shifting industry, huge nonprofits that dont generate much in tax revenue, and a business model that exacerbates the disparity in income among workers.
And thats not just in Pittsburgh.
This is the U.S. in a microcosm, Eileen Appelbaum, a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, said about the rise of health care and the issues that has wrought.
Through April, health care services have added about 770,000 to their payrolls since the start of the economic recovery in June 2009 -- about one-third of all new jobs, according to the U.S. Labor Department.
But, spending for medical care is nearing one-fifth of the U.S. economy, much more than in other developed nations and beyond what governments, businesses and consumers can afford.
Health care has fueled job growth for a generation. When Pittsburghs steel industry began its collapse in the early 1980s, health care employment was a third of manufacturings.
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Verizon Provides Tips to Help the Transition to Electronic Health Records
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- To help the nation's health care providers move from paper-based records to digitized data, Verizon has outlined tips for transitioning to electronic health records. A digital collection of a patient's medical history, EHRs enable faster, more accurate exchange of patient information among payers, providers and patients while enhancing portability of the information.
"We are committed to empowering the health care ecosystem to embrace heath IT and EHRs as the means to improving patient care while controlling costs," said Peter Tippett. "EHRs serve as the fundamental building blocks to digitizing all future health care data. This digital age will help reduce medical errors and redundant patient testing, while improving access and storage of patient information."
The following tips can simplify the navigation process for health care professionals moving to EHR system.
1) Put the Patient First: By focusing on what will improve patient care, you will be able to receive returned benefits. For example, EHRs can reduce the chances of patients receiving medications they are allergic to, which in turn can prevent lengthened hospital stays or lawsuits.
2) Maintain Security of Patient Information: Protect patient information from hackers. According to the "Verizon 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report," health care and social assistance industry groups represented more than 7 percent of the total breaches Verizon analyzed in 2011.
3) Be Mindful of Compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act: Compliance teams must be aware of the challenges in protecting the privacy of patient information once it goes digital. While smart device users are used to accessing and sharing any information they please, HIPAA requirements must be addressed within the digital transition. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has a helpful resource page for health care providers, with information about EHR privacy and security: http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/privacy-security.
4) Evaluate Workflow Integration: Health care organizations must evaluate the impact of EHR integration into their clinical administrative work flow. Typically, not enough time is devoted to the upfront planning with end users to help with continuous work flow.This step will help keep costs and time projections on target.
5) Communicate and Educate: Communicate your EHR program goals to the entire staff. For many, embracing a new technology can be a difficult and unwelcomed challenge. Knowledge is power, and the more staffers know about EHR benefits, the more likely they will be to embrace the technology. Consider hosting training seminars, and establish staff resources such as a frequently-asked-questions sheet.
6) Influence the Influencers: Work with your entire staff, and help early adopters and IT leaders set examples and build proof that the EHRs help improve processes, efficiencies and patient care.
7) Embrace the Consumerization of IT: Various physicians prefer different smart devices. Supporting the devices they prefer can help with the transition to unfamiliar EHR software.
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Verizon Provides Tips to Help the Transition to Electronic Health Records
Health-care venture fund raises $157M, makes first two investments
A venture fund targeting strategic investments in companies that aim to improve delivery of health-care services has made its first two investments after recently raising $157 million.
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Health-care venture fund raises $157M, makes first two investments
Pathway Genomics Selected as a “Cool Company” by San Diego Venture Group
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Pathway Genomics Corporation, a clinical genetic testing laboratory and results interpretation service based in San Diego, has been selected by San Diego Venture Group as one of 30 cool companies to be featured at its 10th Annual Venture Summit on June 6. Selected from a field of over 150 applicants, Pathway Genomics and the other 29 companies will be a prominent part of the event, which draws more than 100 venture capitalists and 500 attendees.
The selection is a reminder that companies like Pathway are at the forefront of a major shift in the way medicine is practiced throughout the world, said Jim Plante, Pathways founder and CEO.
Pathway provides genetic tests for drug responses, nutrition and exercise response, inherited genetic conditions, and risk of many diseases. Pathway consists of more than 40 scientific and medical professionals, including medical doctors, molecular geneticists, and genetic counselors, as well as a world-leading scientific advisory board.
To learn more about Pathways genetic testing services, visit http://www.pathway.com. For more information about San Diego Venture Groups Cool Companies 2012 and its 10th Annual Venture Summit, visit http://www.sdvg.org/venturesummit.
About Pathway Genomics
Pathway Genomics owns and operates an on-site genetic testing laboratory that is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), accredited in accordance with the U.S. Health and Human Services Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988, and licensed by the state of California. Using only a saliva sample, the company incorporates customized and scientifically validated technologies to generate personalized reports, which address a variety of medical issues, including an individuals carrier status for recessive genetic conditions, food metabolism and exercise response, prescription drug response, and propensity to develop certain diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. For more information about Pathway Genomics, visit http://www.pathway.com.
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Pathway Genomics Selected as a “Cool Company” by San Diego Venture Group
Transgenomic Launches Breakthrough Blood-Based Cancer Gene Testing Technology at 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting
OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Transgenomic, Inc. (TBIO) today announced the commercial launch of its ICE COLD-PCR mutation detection technology, a breakthrough technology enabling unmatched sensitivity and complete DNA mutation detection using the standard sequencing equipment already installed in laboratories around the world. The launch coincides with the 2012 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
ICE COLD-PCR is capable of identifying mutation frequencies as low or lower than 0.01% which surpasses the limits of currently available mutation detection tests. This extremely high sensitivity enables detection of mutations from virtually any sample type including tissue biopsies, blood, and circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Mutation profiling from blood and CTCs may benefit cancer patients because it avoids the risks of additional surgical procedures while providing an up-to-date picture of any additional mutations the cancer may have acquired throughout treatment.
An ICE COLD-PCR kit for enrichment of KRAS mutations is now available worldwide to molecular diagnostic laboratories for use with standard DNA sequencing equipment. Transgenomic plans to expand the ICE COLD-PCR testing platform to include other therapeutically relevant mutations including BRAF, EGFR, and PIK3CA.
The broad use of ICE COLD-PCR has the potential to revolutionize cancer screening, diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy selection said Craig Tuttle, Chief Executive Officer of Transgenomic. It offers us the ability to accurately perform safer, less invasive, and more frequent assessments of a cancer and its mutations, all through a simple blood draw. Ultimately, the goal is to provide real-time monitoring of cancer progression, resistance mutations and response to therapy. With the proliferation of targeted anti-cancer drugs now available or in clinical trials, ICE COLD-PCR will help determine the right path for each patient at every step of his or her treatment, making precision medicine even more precise.
Mr. Tuttle added: ICE COLD-PCR provides extreme sensitivity and coverage to ensure that mutations are not missed, both are needed for reliable mutation profiling from blood, CTCs, and small sample sizes. Because it is used with the sequencing equipment already installed in labs around the world, we expect broad and sustained adoption of this technology, with kit sales beginning this year. Each of the markets addressed by ICE COLD-PCR diagnosis, monitoring, and disease recurrence is substantial, providing a significant value-creation opportunity for Transgenomic.
ICE COLD-PCR technology was developed in collaboration with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and is supported by multiple validation studies confirming reproducible mutation detection at very high sensitivity up to 1,000 times more sensitive than traditional PCR techniques. The technology is also being evaluated in an ongoing study with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to analyze DNA isolated from CTCs.
About Transgenomic, Inc.
Transgenomic, Inc. (www.transgenomic.com) is a global biotechnology company advancing personalized medicine in cancer and inherited diseases through its proprietary molecular technologies and world-class clinical and research services. The Company has three complementary business divisions: Transgenomic Pharmacogenomic Services is a contract research laboratory that specializes in supporting all phases of pre-clinical and clinical trials for oncology drugs in development, Transgenomic Clinical Laboratories, which specializes in molecular diagnostics for cardiology, neurology, mitochondrial disorders, and oncology, and Transgenomic Diagnostic Tools which produces equipment, reagents, and other consumables that empower clinical and research applications in molecular testing and cytogenetics. Transgenomic believes there is significant opportunity for continued growth across all three businesses by leveraging their synergistic capabilities, technologies, and expertise. The Company actively develops and acquires new technology and other intellectual property that strengthen its leadership in personalized medicine.
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Romantic Glamour, A New Interior Design Aesthetic By Cuoco Black, Combines Classicism With Modernism In Designs From …
When interior designer Cuoco Black was asked to design the Gin Lane restaurant in Manhattan's Meat Packing District he suggested that his clients reject the boutique design aesthetic and go for Glamour. When asked to travel to Paris to design a new lounge for three young entreprenuers he carefully blended elements of French culture with accents of futurisim. His goal is to create interiors which ...
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Thoughts From Shawn Rogers of EMA on the Hybrid Data Ecosystem – Video
04-06-2012 15:53 Thoughts from Shawn Rogers of EMA on the Hybrid Data Ecosystem.
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Thoughts From Shawn Rogers of EMA on the Hybrid Data Ecosystem - Video
Green bag 'gift' at zoo on World Environment Day
Kumar added: "We have ordered for adequate number of eco-friendly carry bags. The revenue would depend on the number of people visiting the zoo every day."
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Sustainable Food Leader Alter Eco Joins CommonKindness.com to Create Sustainable Funding for Nonprofits
Alter Eco proudly adds coupons to CommonKindness to help generate new funding for America’s favorite nonprofit organizations. Alter Eco is a world class sustainable food importer that works only with producers who employ contemporary and traditional fair trade and organic farming practices to bring the world wholesome, unique flavors.San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 05, 2012 Alter Eco has joined ...
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Stop bauxite mining to save eco-system, says expert
The Hindu conducts awareness programme sponsored by Srinivasa Sales and Service
Ecological balance is crucial to sustainable development and unless the government and people themselves stick to stringent norms of not violating the eco-norms, it will be a planet difficult to live on said speakers at awareness programme for faculty members of PVP Institute of Technology.
The programme, sponsored by the Srinivasa Sales and Service Private Limited in association with The Hindu, brought out some interesting facts that made the teachers think about the environmental issues on the college campus on Monday. The worst part of reducing pollution is not adhering to the implementation schedule or norms, said Acharya Nagarjuna University Department of Environment Head A.V.V.S. Swamy. The government, instead of looking after the benefit of people, was allowing unhindered exploitation of material like bauxite, which acts as a sponge to retain water while it rains and releases slowly, flowing into the perennial rivers.
Bauxite mining would destroy many rivers, he opined. I strongly demand stopping of bauxite mining, the professor said. While 2.5 lakh engineers are produced every year from the state, only 1 per cent work for the State and none bothers about the ecology and does not make a research for sustainable development, he said.
Producing alternative energy is the need of the hour and year-after year the annual environment days come and go and promises are made, but dependence of Petroleum and Coal reserves has not reduced, said Regional Environmental Engineer S. Venkateswarlu. Change in lifestyle has given boost to the GDP, but at the same time it has led to global warming, affects of which the entire world is facing, he opined. The environmental engineer pointed out that massive food wastage at marriages and at home will lead to loss of energy and also production of large amount of garbage. Vast plastic waste was also acting against the protection of nature, he opined. The human lifestyles were moving away from the nature to a large extent and though an effort was being made, it was not sufficient, he opined. The Groundwater Department Deputy Director A. Varaprasada Rao made the faculty members to take an oath to protect the eco-system and conserve water in all possible ways. He gave a PowerPoint presentation on the various aspects of water conservation taking the help of photographs published in The Hindu and other vernacular dailies. Others who attended included Srinivasa Sales vice-president operations commander Gopi, and PVPSIT principal P. Venkateswarlu.
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