FRA backs Pakistan's look into Forestry's Climate change benefits

FRA has welcomed the news that efforts are being made in Pakistan to monitor climate change impacts and scenarios.

Bainbridge Island, WA, May 05, 2012 - Forestry Research Associates (FRA) has welcomed the news that efforts are being made in Pakistan to monitor climate change impacts and scenarios.

The research and analysis consultancy claims that the work being done by the Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI) is a good thing for the country and for the global environment. “The PFI is looking into the different climate change impacts in various regions throughout Pakistan and how this affects forestry resources,” stated FRA’s analysis partner Peter Collins.

The PFI explained to the APP: “It is the first professional attempt to address the emerging issues of climate change and global warming and its overall impact on the environment and weather of the country and region.”

Most importantly, claims the FRA, Pakistan is looking at the ways in which the forestry industry can help to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Mr Collins added, “There are a number of ways forestry can help reduce climate change, by providing habitats and most importantly, by absorbing CO2 emitted by industry.”

FRA claims that developing countries, like Pakistan, can actually benefit financially from simply planting trees and selling carbon credits to industrial countries that emit huge amounts of CO2, like the US.

More and more investors in the West are turning their attention to timber for these reasons, added FRA, which advocates investment in sustainable forestry schemes, such as the ones operated by firms like Greenwood Management in Brazil and Canada.

The research being carried out by the PFI is looking to ascertain the exact forest cover in the country and how this can be utilized or enhanced to try to reduce the effects of climate change in the region.

PFI’s officials added an explanation of the benefits of forestry plantation, “Non Timber Forests Produce (NTFP) is important source of revenue for forests dwellers and plays key role in poverty alleviation.”

Contact:

Peter Collins

Forestry Research Associates

620 Vineyard Lane

Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

(206) 316 8394

info@forestry-research.com

http://www.forestry-research.com

The Women's Institute of Negotiation Joins in Strategic Partnership with the USC Marshall School of Business

Four Premier Hispanic Organizations Join Partnership to Demonstrate their Commitment to Developing Latina Leaders

Los Angeles, CA, May 04, 2012 - The Women’s Institute of Negotiation, led by Founder and CEO Dr. Yasmin Davidds, in partnership with the USC Marshall School of Business and sponsored by Bank of the West, successfully launched THE LATINA NEGOTIATION INITIATIVE. The Initiative launched its program on April 25-27, 2012 and was hosted by USC Marshall’s School of Business at the University of Southern California [USC]. The program trained 25 Latina leaders in the art and skill of negotiating for effective leadership and success. The curriculum of the Latina Negotiation Initiative is designed to address negotiation in the context of leadership - transitioning to a position of leadership and authority requires Latinas to effectively negotiate the conditions for success and the Latina Negotiation Initiative is the only program of its kind to focus on helping to prepare Latina leaders to succeed.

Four Hispanic nonprofit organizations participated in helping launch the LATINA NEGOTIATION INITIATIVE: National Society of Hispanic MBA's-OC, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, Women of the Association of Professional Latinos in Finance and Accounting-OC and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers-LA.

A study previously conducted by the Women’s Institute of Negotiation found that out of 250 professional Latinas surveyed, 97% said their greatest fear is not knowing “How to Ask” for what they want, 92% feared that when they do negotiate, that they may be asking for too much and, almost 90% feared they might be perceived as “too aggressive”. Dr. Davidds, with an extensive training and coaching background, believes that providing focused training in teaching Latinas to have the confidence to ask without fear of being perceived as “too aggressive,” is critical to the development of successful Latina leaders of the future.

Dr. Davidds states, “Latinas seeking to establish themselves in executive or leadership roles must negotiate their way through a number of obstacles and challenges that their male colleagues often bypass. Today's Latina leaders must be equipped with more than just a traditional leadership skill set; they must be able to negotiate in complex, multi-party situations where relationships are of the utmost importance and substance cannot be sacrificed. With the support of our sponsors and partnering Hispanic organizations, I believe the Women’s Institute of Negotiation training has begun to make a difference. We hope that the Latina Negotiation Initiative will continue to grow and evolve as Latinas transition upwards into more powerful leadership roles. We are appreciative and proud that the USC Marshall School of Business and Bank of the West committed resources to spearhead this initiative, recognizing the contributions and value that such a program will yield in the community and the workplace.”

Keith Vaughn, Assistant Dean, MBA Admissions, USC Marshall School of Business states, “The USC Marshall School of Business believes it is imperative that we seek to strengthen our relationship with the fastest growing segment of the US population, the Latino community in California. Our partnership with the Women’s Institute of Negotiation is evidence of our desire to help grow and educate women in business education. Along with Forte and the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, the USC Marshall MBA program actively engages Latinas to support their success in both corporate and entrepreneurial endeavors.

For more information on the Women’s Institute of Negotiation and its public and private training, please visit www.womensinstituteofnegotiation.com.

Women’s Institute of Negotiation

The Women’s Institute of Negotiation is the only professional development organization in the United States specializing in public and private negotiation training exclusively for women. The Institute’s curriculum, developed by women empowerment and negotiation expert Dr. Yasmin Davidds, consists of 70% experiential hands-on training in real-world negotiations. The mission of The Women's Institute of Negotiation is to empower women to ask for what they want and provide them with the tools, strategies and techniques to do so effectively.

Dr. Yasmin Davidds, PSY.D, M.C.C.

Dr. Yasmin Davidds is an international bestselling author, women's empowerment and negotiation specialist and CEO and founder of the Women’s Institute of Negotiation. As one of the top leading female negotiation experts in the U.S. and Latin America, Dr. Davidds has trained and consulted thousands of corporate leaders in over 200 blue chip companies throughout 22 countries in the art and skill of negotiation. Her clients include companies such as Proctor and Gamble, Mattel Inc., General Electric, Wal-mart, Coca Cola, American Express, Johnson and Johnson, Microsoft and Apple among many others

USC Marshall School of Business

The USC Marshall School of Business is dedicated to the improvement of business practices through a global and entrepreneurial perspective that embraces new areas of specialization and technological advances. U.S. News and World Report ranks the school in the top 10 nationwide for accounting, entrepreneurship, international business, and the M.B.A., M.B.A. PM and EMBA programs. With an emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation, collaborative research and social responsibility, the USC Marshall School of Business is ideally positioned to address the challenges of a rapidly changing business environment.

Contact:

Loreena Garcia

Program Assistant

Women's Institute of Negotiation

5042 Wilshire Blvd #17102

Los Angeles, CA 90036

(866) 857-9879

lgarcia@womensinstituteofnegotiation.com

http://www.womennegotiationinstitute.com

AAA support Health care Benefits of Impact investing

A new form of impact investing could lead to a rise in life expectancy by helping to deal with the causes of health problems, according to analysts and AAA.

Boston, MA, May 05, 2012 - A new form of impact investing could lead to a rise in life expectancy by helping to deal with the causes of health problems, according to analysts and Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

A new white paper from researchers at UC Berkeley argues that Health impact Bonds and similar impact investing routes can help save lives in developing countries and at home. The paper, that was also put together with help from Collective Health, suggested that these bonds help to address the underlying social problems that cause people to make unhealthy choices that can affect their long-term health.

The researchers’ white paper follows claims that the majority of increase life expectancy in the US has come as a result of lifestyle, social health care, cleanliness and hygiene, rather than from better care once ill.

It is, then, advantageous to try to deal with the root cause of ill health rather than simply ploughing money into more and more care once people have already become ill.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, explained that impact investing can help in some very straightforward ways. “Money invested into socially and environmentally responsible projects can go towards anything from building clean water wells in Africa to providing education on healthy eating seminars in inner-city America.

“Either way, it’s a lot more ethical than investing in stocks and shares,” added Johnson.

Health Impact bonds can help projects such as the efforts to cut asthma in Fresno, California, through a simple education process, helping people remove mold from their homes and get new air filters and soft furnishings.

AAA claims that impact investing has brought benefits to many areas of the world and that investing in sustainable forestry projects can help communities in developing countries to safeguard their forestry industry for generations to come. “Investing in projects such as the Health Impact Bonds and Greenwood Management’s plantation schemes in Brazil can ensure investments make a real difference,” added Johnson.

Contact:

Anthony Johnson

Alternative Asset Analysis

71 Commercial St

Boston, MA 02109-1320

617-939-9596

info@alternativeassetanalysis.com

http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Living at Your Peak Promises Unparalleled Access to Leading Health, Fitness and Longevity Experts

Exclusive Vail, Colo., health and fitness experience is the nation’s only gathering designed to help health-conscious individuals and influencers learn to live longer and better

Vail, CO, May 05, 2012 - Health enthusiasts from around the country will gather to network with marathon legends, cycling champions, renowned medical researchers and the nation’s leading health and fitness experts at Living at Your Peak (www.livingatyourpeak.org), the Rocky Mountain region’s premier wellness experience. The inaugural summit, to be held September 13-15, 2012, in Vail, Colo., is the nation’s only gathering designed to help health-conscious individuals and influencers discover how to live longer, better and impact the wellbeing of their world.

“Living at Your Peak is designed to promote life-long health and fitness through customized experiences in an intimate setting,” said Jamie Stone, Living at Your Peak event champion and a board member of the Vail Symposium, a nonprofit organization responsible for Living at Your Peak.“With exclusive access to proven experts and peak performers in the fields of fitness, nutrition, cognitive and emotional health, medicine and cutting-edge research, our guests will gain valuable insight into the changes they can make in their daily lives that will affect their future health.”

Jenna Wolfe, co-anchor of NBC News’ Sunday TODAY show, will emcee the event, which is intended for individuals who are interested in learning how to maximize their health, as well as corporate, non-profit and government leaders. The summit offers guests unparalleled access to accomplished world champions; internationally recognized trainers, coaches, researchers and doctors; top chefs, nutritionists and world-class restaurants; and peer networking opportunities.

Among others, confirmed presenters include:

* Ellen Miller, coach of the U.S. Olympic women’s running team, Mount Everest climber and adventure racer;

* C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, director of the Women’s Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai, trailblazer and leader in preventive heart health;

* James Hill, MD, executive director of the Colorado Center for Health & Wellness, leading expert and author on nutrition; and

* Scott Small, MD, professor of neurology, Columbia Neuroscience, nationally renowned expert on brain health.

Additional presenters will be announced as the event nears. Visit www.livingatyourpeak.org for details.

Living at Your Peak sessions will offer interactive components to engage guests beyond a traditional presentation environment. Session themes include:

* Health: Guests will better understand their own health through preventive health checks, learn what causes injuries during an interactive session at the nation’s leading orthopedics laboratory and master healthy eating practices with top nutritionists and chefs.

* Fitness: Guests can bike, hike and golf with world-class athletes and discuss the physical and psychological aspects of training with leading fitness experts.

* Longevity: Guests will learn how to extend their physical wellbeing with wellness, cardiac and nutrition experts. They will also discover how to extend their mental acuity as they complete brain challenges and examine meditation’s physiological effects with leading researchers.

Guests will complete a pre-attendance survey to create an individualized agenda and establish physical and mental goals to be addressed through specific programming. A personal concierge will manage guests’ event needs, including session scheduling and weekend activities planning. Follow-up coaching, an interactive online community and a winter series will empower guests to take home their Living at Your Peak experience and positively impact their personal networks.

"We want Colorado to be the healthiest state in the nation because healthy living is a strong driver of economic and tourism well-being," said Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. "Conferences like the Vail Symposium's Living at Your Peak can move us in that direction through their commitment to physical, intellectual and emotional health and well being."

Living at Your Peak registration is $1,000 until June 30 and $1,200 beginning July 1, and includes priority access to event sessions, event coordination with a personal concierge, exclusive access to VIP events and gourmet meals prepared by Vail’s internationally renowned chefs. Spouse passes are $300 and individual session fees start at $50 per session.

The summit is organized by the Vail Symposium, a grassroots, non-profit organization providing thought-provoking, diverse and affordable educational programs to the Vail Valley community. Event sponsors include Vail Valley Medical Center, HealthONE, the Town of Vail, The Steadman Clinic, Vail Summit Orthopedics, Triumph Development, The Vail Daily, Antlers at Vail, Vitality Center, Udi’s, The Biegler Foundation, Colorado Access and Wendy and Paul Raether.

For more information about Living at Your Peak, please visit www.livingatyourpeak.org.

About Living at Your Peak

Living at Your Peak is a two-and-a-half day summit designed to help individuals learn how to live longer, better and influence positive change in the wellbeing of the world around them. The event is designed to promote lifelong health and fitness through customized experiences in an intimate setting. Program presenters are proven experts and peak performers in the fields of fitness, nutrition, cognitive and emotional wellbeing, preventive medicine and cutting-edge research. Living at Your Peak is organized by the Vail Symposium. For more information, please visit www.livingatyourpeak.org, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/LivingatYourPeak, follow us on twitter at @LivingaturPeak or follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/living-at-your-peak.

About the Vail Symposium

The Vail Symposium is a grassroots, non-profit organization that has been part of the life and history of Vail since 1971. Its mission is to provide educational programs for the Vail Valley community that are thought-provoking, diverse and affordable. A (501)(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Symposium is almost entirely donor-funded. For more information, please visit www.vailsymposium.org.

Contact:

Shannon Fern

Communications Strategy Group

3225 East 2nd Avenue

Denver, CO 80206

303.433.7020

sfern@csg-pr.com

http://www.csg-pr.com