Monday September 13
As the global population expands from 6 billion to 9 billion over the next 40 years, sustainability will become both a societal and business imperative in the 21st century. How will the sustainability imperative transform companies, industries and countries? Speakers * Hari S. Bhartia, Co-Chairman and Managing Director, Jubilant Bhartia Group, India; President, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII); Mentor of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2010 * Bernardo Gradin, Chief Executive Officer, Braskem, Brazil * Caio Koch-Weser, Vice-Chairman, Deutsche Bank Group, Deutsche Bank, United Kingdom; Global Agenda Council on Climate Change * James E. Rogers, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Duke Energy Corporation, USA; Mentor of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2010; Global Agenda Council on the Role of Business * Shi Zhengrong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Suntech Power, People's Republic of China
Chaired by * Nik Gowing, Main Presenter, BBC World News, United Kingdom
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Tianjin 2010 - Sustaining a Shrinking Planet
Tuesday September 14, 2010
As population and prosperity grow globally, natural resources such as water and land are under mounting pressure, threatening food production and economic growth. How can water and land best be managed to ensure food security, economic growth and environmental sustainability?
Speakers * Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman of the Board, Nestlé, Switzerland; Member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum; Mentor of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2010; Global Agenda Council on Water Security
* Bram Klaeijsen, President and Regional Director for Asia Pacific, Cargill Asia Pacific Holdings, Singapore
* Thomas G. Searle, Group Chief Executive and President, International, CH2M HILL Companies, USA
* B. S. Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Karnataka Udyog Mitra (Government of Karnataka Organization), India
Moderated by * Michael J. Elliott, Editor, Time International, and Deputy Managing Editor, Time Magazine, USA
As population and prosperity grow globally, natural resources such as water and land are under mounting pressure, threatening food production and economic growth. How can water and land best be managed to ensure food security, economic growth and environmental sustainability?
Speakers * Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman of the Board, Nestlé, Switzerland; Member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum; Mentor of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2010; Global Agenda Council on Water Security
* Bram Klaeijsen, President and Regional Director for Asia Pacific, Cargill Asia Pacific Holdings, Singapore
* Thomas G. Searle, Group Chief Executive and President, International, CH2M HILL Companies, USA
* B. S. Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Karnataka Udyog Mitra (Government of Karnataka Organization), India
Moderated by * Michael J. Elliott, Editor, Time International, and Deputy Managing Editor, Time Magazine, USA
Ten States Where Pensions Are Running Out Of Money
http://247wallst.com/2011/04/29/ten-states-where-pensions-are-running-out-of-money/
10. Pennsylvania
> Pension Liability: $111 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 81% (17th highest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $2 billion
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 31% (lowest)
9. Maryland
> Pension Liability: $53 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 65% (11th lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $1 billion
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 84% (16th lowest)
8. Colorado
> Pension Liability: $55 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 69% (17th lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $1 billion
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 66% (5th lowest)
7. Massachusetts
> Pension Liability: $61 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 68% (16th lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $2 billion
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 66% (5th lowest)
6. Kansas
> Pension Liability: $21 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 64% (10th lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $660 million
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 68% (7th lowest)
5. Oklahoma
> Pension Liability: $35 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 57% (3rd lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $1 billion
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 77% (11th lowest)
4. New Jersey
> Pension Liability: $135 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 66% (12th lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $4 billion
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 36% (2nd lowest)
3. New Hampshire
> Pension Liability: $8 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 58% (4th lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $263 million
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 75% (10th lowest)
2. Illinois
> Pension Liability: $126 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 51% (lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $4 billion
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 71% (8th lowest)
1. Kentucky
> Pension Liability: $36 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 58% (4th lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $965 million
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 58% (3rd lowest)
> Pension Liability: $111 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 81% (17th highest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $2 billion
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 31% (lowest)
9. Maryland
> Pension Liability: $53 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 65% (11th lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $1 billion
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 84% (16th lowest)
8. Colorado
> Pension Liability: $55 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 69% (17th lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $1 billion
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 66% (5th lowest)
7. Massachusetts
> Pension Liability: $61 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 68% (16th lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $2 billion
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 66% (5th lowest)
6. Kansas
> Pension Liability: $21 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 64% (10th lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $660 million
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 68% (7th lowest)
5. Oklahoma
> Pension Liability: $35 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 57% (3rd lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $1 billion
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 77% (11th lowest)
4. New Jersey
> Pension Liability: $135 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 66% (12th lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $4 billion
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 36% (2nd lowest)
3. New Hampshire
> Pension Liability: $8 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 58% (4th lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $263 million
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 75% (10th lowest)
2. Illinois
> Pension Liability: $126 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 51% (lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $4 billion
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 71% (8th lowest)
1. Kentucky
> Pension Liability: $36 billion
> Percent of Pensions Funded: 58% (4th lowest)
> 2009 Actuarially Recommended Contribution: $965 million
> 2009 Actual Contribution: 58% (3rd lowest)
The Politics of Sugar
We -- Americans, and ever more of the global population -- eat too much sugar, and eating too much sugar is bad for us. ("Too much" of anything is bad for us, hence the name.)
One of the reasons we eat too much sugar is because high-fructose corn syrup can be derived inexpensively from subsidized corn. An inexpensive sugar source makes it economical for food manufacturers to add copious amounts of sugar to our diets. The more sugar we get, the more we eat, and the more we want. So high-fructose corn syrup is an important reason we eat too much sugar, and eating too much sugar is bad for us. That, in turn, is why high-fructose corn syrup is bad for us; because it contributes to our excessive sugar intake. What makes HFCS bad is far more about quantity, than quality.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-katz-md/no-sugar-coating_b_854711.html
One of the reasons we eat too much sugar is because high-fructose corn syrup can be derived inexpensively from subsidized corn. An inexpensive sugar source makes it economical for food manufacturers to add copious amounts of sugar to our diets. The more sugar we get, the more we eat, and the more we want. So high-fructose corn syrup is an important reason we eat too much sugar, and eating too much sugar is bad for us. That, in turn, is why high-fructose corn syrup is bad for us; because it contributes to our excessive sugar intake. What makes HFCS bad is far more about quantity, than quality.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-katz-md/no-sugar-coating_b_854711.html
TOP 5 THINGS PEOPLE BUY ONLINE
http://news.discovery.com/tech/top-five-things-people-buy-online-110428.html
Music
Although the music industry was nearly left for dead at the dawn of the digital age due to illegal downloading, people buy singles and records online more than any other type of online media. According to Pew data, 33 percent of Internet users have bought music online.
Last year, digital music sales in the United States stalled after two years of double-digit growth, but downloads were by no means puny. iTunes sales topped $1 billion, and when the Apple music super store released the Beatles catalog for the first time in November, people gobbled up 450,000 virtual albums in a week.
Software
To keep our Internet workhouses running handily, computers often require additional software. While people might not brag about their newest media player download like they might their epic iTunes library, an equal amount of folks -- 33 percent -- buy software online as digital music, Pew finds. The type of software we buy depending on whether we opt for a Mac, PC, or mobile device, in addition to our operating systems. Interestingly, PC users download a host of virus protection software, while more inoculated Mac users spring straight for the media players.
The most popular software download of all time? Instant message service ICQ, which costs exactly nothing.
Apps
Slinging birds at pigs: There’s an incredibly popular paid app for that and just about anything else you can fathom. Although the Economist magazine named 2010 the Year of the Paywall, the Year of the App would’ve been a more accurate tech forecast.
And while there are thousands of free apps people can download to their iPhones, Androids, BlackBerrys and other mobile devices, an estimated 21 percent of Internet users have paid for them as well. Early last year, analysts projected the app market to reach $15 billion by 2013, just including smartphones, and the Apple App Store has already served up more than 10 billion downloads.
Games
During the first half of 2010, more people downloaded digital games than bought physical games in stores for the first time. Considering that milestone, it’s hardly surprising that 19 percent of Internet users have paid to play online. The gaming industry wasn’t kicking up its heels, however, since the shift to buying game access and downloads indicates thriftiness on the consumer’s part.
Overall, digital games cost much less to create than console games, providing a lower price for the gamer. In fact, a study from market research firm NPD Group declared that online gaming was one of the rare entertainment segments that didn’t suffer from recession-induced consumer spending losses.
Newspapers, Magazines and Journals
Pew statistics on the percentage of people who have paid to read newspaper, magazine and journal articles seems like an encouraging sign for online subscription sites like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Times of London. Eighteen percent of Internet users have bought access to online publications before, but that’s where the good news ends.
An April 2011 survey conducted by Harris Poll found only 20 percent of respondents willing to pay for online news, down 3 percent from 2009. This isn’t a case of Americans being a bunch of online misers, either. Canadian Research Consortium found only 4 percent of adults who’d buy online news, and 92 percent said they’d simply find another free news outlet.
Although the music industry was nearly left for dead at the dawn of the digital age due to illegal downloading, people buy singles and records online more than any other type of online media. According to Pew data, 33 percent of Internet users have bought music online.
Last year, digital music sales in the United States stalled after two years of double-digit growth, but downloads were by no means puny. iTunes sales topped $1 billion, and when the Apple music super store released the Beatles catalog for the first time in November, people gobbled up 450,000 virtual albums in a week.
Software
To keep our Internet workhouses running handily, computers often require additional software. While people might not brag about their newest media player download like they might their epic iTunes library, an equal amount of folks -- 33 percent -- buy software online as digital music, Pew finds. The type of software we buy depending on whether we opt for a Mac, PC, or mobile device, in addition to our operating systems. Interestingly, PC users download a host of virus protection software, while more inoculated Mac users spring straight for the media players.
The most popular software download of all time? Instant message service ICQ, which costs exactly nothing.
Apps
Slinging birds at pigs: There’s an incredibly popular paid app for that and just about anything else you can fathom. Although the Economist magazine named 2010 the Year of the Paywall, the Year of the App would’ve been a more accurate tech forecast.
And while there are thousands of free apps people can download to their iPhones, Androids, BlackBerrys and other mobile devices, an estimated 21 percent of Internet users have paid for them as well. Early last year, analysts projected the app market to reach $15 billion by 2013, just including smartphones, and the Apple App Store has already served up more than 10 billion downloads.
Games
During the first half of 2010, more people downloaded digital games than bought physical games in stores for the first time. Considering that milestone, it’s hardly surprising that 19 percent of Internet users have paid to play online. The gaming industry wasn’t kicking up its heels, however, since the shift to buying game access and downloads indicates thriftiness on the consumer’s part.
Overall, digital games cost much less to create than console games, providing a lower price for the gamer. In fact, a study from market research firm NPD Group declared that online gaming was one of the rare entertainment segments that didn’t suffer from recession-induced consumer spending losses.
Newspapers, Magazines and Journals
Pew statistics on the percentage of people who have paid to read newspaper, magazine and journal articles seems like an encouraging sign for online subscription sites like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Times of London. Eighteen percent of Internet users have bought access to online publications before, but that’s where the good news ends.
An April 2011 survey conducted by Harris Poll found only 20 percent of respondents willing to pay for online news, down 3 percent from 2009. This isn’t a case of Americans being a bunch of online misers, either. Canadian Research Consortium found only 4 percent of adults who’d buy online news, and 92 percent said they’d simply find another free news outlet.
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