Daily Archives: June 22, 2012

Art, Entertainment

Call for Entries – Animals Online Art Competition

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Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery announces their 2rd Annual “Animals” Online Art Competition for the month of July 2012.

Jupiter, Florida – June 22, 2012 — Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery announces their 2rd Annual “Animals” Online Art Competition for the month of July 2012. 2D artists from around the world are called upon to make online submissions for inclusion into the Gallery’s August 2012 online group exhibition. We encourage entries from artists, regardless of where they reside to apply to this competition by submitting their best animal art. Animal art may include any mammals, birds and animals that live in the water.

Light Space & Time encourages entries from all 2D artists regardless of their experience or education in the art field. A group exhibition of the top ten finalists will be held online at the Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery during the month of August 2012. Awards will be for 1st through 5th places. Also, 5 Honorable Mention places will be awarded. In addition, depending on the amount and the quality of the entries, Special Recognition rewards will also be given as well. The submission process and the deadline will end on July 28, 2012.

Winners of the “Animals” Art Exhibition will receive extensive worldwide publicity in the form of email marketing, 70+ press release announcements, 70+ event announcements, and social media marketing and promotion in order to make the art world aware of the artist’s accomplishments. There will also be links back to the artist’s website as part of this achievement.

Interested artists should provide the gallery with your best animal art now or before the July 28th deadline. For more information and to apply online here http://www.lightspacetime.com

About Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery

Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery conducts monthly art competitions and monthly art exhibitions for new and emerging artists on a worldwide basis. It is Light Space & Time’s intention to showcase this incredible talent in a series of monthly themed art competitions and art exhibitions by marketing and displaying the exceptional abilities of these worldwide artists.

The art gallery website can be viewed here: http://www.lightspacetime.com

Media Contact:
John R. Math
Light Space & Time Online Gallery
118 Poinciana Drive
Jupiter, FL 33458
888-490-3530
info@lightspacetime.com
http://www.lightspacetime.com

Business, Energy

FPL Installs New Poles to Strengthen Electric Grid and Help Communities Prepare for Hurricane Season

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“FPL takes hurricane season very seriously and we prepare for it year-round,” says Keith Hardy, FPL’s vice president of Distribution.

Juno Beach, FL (June 22, 2012) — From Sarasota to Stuart, Miami to Merritt Island, drivers may not think much about the orange signs seen along Florida roadways warning of utility work ahead. However, if a hurricane strikes in the coming months, this seemingly insignificant work could help Florida Power & Light Company better serve its customers in these communities.

“FPL takes hurricane season very seriously and we prepare for it year-round,” says Keith Hardy, FPL’s vice president of Distribution. “We are investing $200 million this year to strengthen our electric grid, replace poles and improve reliable service. This is one of the ways we help prepare the communities we serve.”

Following the unprecedented hurricane seasons of 2004-2005, FPL, under the guidance of the Florida Public Service Commission, embarked on a long-term infrastructure strengthening effort to help communities better respond to severe weather. The work improves FPL’s service reliability throughout the year, but Hardy says its greatest value lies in its potential to help the utility restore power to customers faster after a storm strikes.

“We work closely with the governments, customers and first responders in the 35 counties we serve to identify critical infrastructure – facilities like hospitals, 911 centers, police and fire stations – places that provide for the health and safety of the public,” says Hardy. “We worked to improve the infrastructure around these facilities first, as we know they provide essential services to our communities.”

Since 2006, FPL has strengthened the electric grid serving many of the top critical facilities in the state, and is now expanding its efforts to include important thoroughfares – along with grocery stores, pharmacies and service stations – that can help communities return to “normalcy” faster. In these areas, FPL reinforces existing utility poles with stronger wood or concrete poles, some of which stand 55-feet tall and weigh more than 8,000 pounds. Stronger poles are expected to improve restoration time as setting new poles takes much more time than replacing downed wires.

”We have 280 residents and patients – and that’s a lot of lives to be responsible for,” says Carmen Shell, director of the Morse Geriatric Center in West Palm Beach, one of the critical care facilities FPL services. “Restoring power rapidly is the best thing that can happen because not everything works on a generator.”

Hardy reminds customers that hurricanes are devastating forces of nature, and that in a serious storm there will be power outages, which could be lengthy. He encourages customers to develop plans accordingly.

“While no utility can be storm-proof,” says Hardy, “FPL’s ongoing investments in line strengthening and storm readiness are designed to help limit the impact of storms on the electric system and enable the utility to restore service to customers faster when outages do occur.”

Media Contact:
FPL Media Line
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd.
Juno Beach, FL 33408
305-552-3888
amelia.gomez@rbbpr.com
http://www.fpl.com

Entertainment

US Singer Joe Francis’ releases the Special Olympics charity single “Waiting On The World to Change”

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“Special Olympics touches people’s lives in a similar way to how a great song can touch people’s lives.

Tempe, AZ, June 22, 2012 – “Special Olympics touches people’s lives in a similar way to how a great song can touch people’s lives. It moves them, excites them and can be inspirational. Special Olympics athletes inspire me.

Learning disabilities have plagued my immediate family for years starting with yours-truly. For years I struggled with school. Early-on, the educators assumed I was slow-witted based on my academic performance, or lack there-of. Being from a very small town where gossip travels at the speed of thought, I was stigmatized by many parents who wouldn’t let their superior children play with me.

Later, and subsequently through my school years, I was periodically given I.Q. tests where it was discovered that it was in fact I, who was superior. When my parents discovered that I was actually very bright, they still couldn’t understand why my grades were so poor and began to punish me for being “lazy”! Finally after years of frustration and eventually depression, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and began treatment which changed my life in a completely positive way. My eldest son was diagnosed at an early age with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, but is still struggling. The good news it that he and I spend quite a bit of time together and I think/hope I am inspiring him to keep working at it. My eldest child, also went through her own challenges with ADHD.

Anyway, my heart goes out to all those kids who are sent-off or worse yet, written-off because many schools still can’t provide an appropriate, educational delivery system that works for those kids. It’s enough of a challenge for a child just to find his or her own-self without parents and/or teachers adding anxiety to it. “ Joe Francis

“Waiting On The World to Change” was selected with Special Olympics in mind with all net sales proceeds* going to Special Olympics organisation.

Contact:
Sarah Stanley
La Conoscenza
+ 44 1252 678550
e-mail: info@jerseyjoefrancis.com

Available on I Tunes, Amazon, CD Baby, Rhapsody, etc and record retail outlets from June 21st 2012.

Contact:
Scott Kelly
Black Dog Promotions
9920 S. Rural Rd., Ste 108
Tempe, AZ 85284
480-206-3435
scott@blackdogpromotions.com
http://www.blackdogpromotions.com

Business

AAA:’now could be the time to invest in Brazilian real estate’

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Brazilian property is becoming more affordable to investors from the UK, thanks to the growing strength of the pound Sterling against the Brazilian Real.

Boston, MA, June 21, 2012 – Brazilian property is becoming more affordable to investors from the UK, thanks to the growing strength of the pound Sterling against the Brazilian Real. This is great news for alternative investors who hope to make cash from buying real estate abroad – according to Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

A report in Property Wire explains that anyone who is looking to invest in Brazilian property will find that a home that was being sold for £111,000 at the beginning of last year will now be on sale for £90,000. This is the result of the Real losing around 25 per cent of its value against the pound.

The Property Wire report cites Brazilian Finance Minister, Guido Mantega, who said that from a Brazilian point of view, the weaker real is a positive thing. “The weak real is beneficial for the Brazilian economy because it makes Brazilian products more competitive, which means that Brazilian industry can better compete with imported products that become more expensive, and can export more.”

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, said, “Investing in Brazil has been an attractive option for alternative investors for several years now and real estate is perhaps one of the most attractive alternative asset classes.”

“Property in the UK is very expensive and those looking to make a healthy return on a real estate investment could do little better than buying property in Brazil at a time when the economy is still more healthy than many other nations, but the currency is falling in value.”

Alternative investments, such as real estate, precious metals, commodities and timberland are all increasingly attractive as the stock markets remain volatile, explained AAA. The alternative investment advocacy group backs ethical investments and impact investments. It claims that investing in sustainable forestry in Brazil, through firms like Greenwood Management, is a good option for those looking to make returns and reduce the risk in their portfolios.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

FRA: UN Forestry Report says Forestry could ‘Revolutionise’ Economy

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FRA is welcoming a report from the UN, which says that countries need to introduce the right policies to ensure that their forestry assets fulfil their potential.

Bainbridge Island, WA, June 21, 2012 – Forestry Research Associates (FRA) is welcoming a report from the UN, which says that countries need to introduce the right policies to ensure that their forestry assets fulfil their potential.

The report claims that if the world’s forests were managed properly and sustainable, they could create a solid green economy. The report also includes the UN pledge to replant 18 million hectares of forests – a move that has been welcomed by FRA, a research and analysis consultancy specialising in forestry investment and sustainability.

UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) assistant director-general for forestry, Eduardo Rojas-Briales, stated, “Forests and trees on farms are a direct source of food, energy and income for more than a billion of the world’s poorest people.

“At the same time, forests trap carbon and mitigate climate change, maintain water and soil health, and prevent desertification.”

He went on to explain how the sustainable management of the world’s forests could revolutionise the world’s economy and could shift economic power more towards countries that have high concentrations of forests. He explained, “The sustainable management of forests offer multiple benefits – with the right programmes and policies, the sector can lead the way towards more sustainable, greener economies.”

FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins said that the report was an “exceptionally positive” new insight into the potential of the forestry sector. “This report reflects the importance of sustainable forestry management.

“We believe that investing in sustainable plantations and sustainably managed natural forests is essential for the future of the green economy.”

FRA supports projects such as those run by Greenwood Management in Brazil and elsewhere, which allow investors to buy up sections of plantation. These non-native plantations produce timber and charcoal products that are an alternative to using native forests and, as a result, help to reduce deforestation and add to the amount of forest land.

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

Business

Pensions are turning to Alternatives, claims AAA

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AAA, an alternative investment advocacy group, is backing a report from Russell Investments, which claims that more and more institutional investors will be putting cash into alternative asset classes.

Boston, MA, June 21, 2012 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA), an alternative investment advocacy group, is backing a report from Russell Investments, which claims that more and more institutional investors will be putting cash into alternative asset classes.

Russell’s researchers talked to 114 institutional investors about their investment plans and found that many of them had already opted for more exposure to alternatives. The report found that 22.4 per cent of the investment portfolios, which totalled $1.1 trillion in value, was invested in alternatives including private equity, hedge funds and real estate investment trusts. This totalled $246 million in value terms.

Russells said that the research indicated that alternatives would become more mainstream over the coming three years as more and more pension funds take their cash out of stocks and bonds and put it into alternative asset classes.

AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, said, “it’s telling that so many pension funds and other institutional investors are moving towards alternatives.

“The general consensus among investors is that equity markets are still extremely volatile and many are steering clear of stocks and shares as a result.”

According to Russells, a third of the investors questioned said that the “current low return environment in traditional assets” were to blame for their move towards alternatives. AAA claims that alternative assets can deliver healthier returns than traditional assets and hold less risk.

“Those investing in timberland, for example, can hold onto their asset and just watch it grow if timber prices are down when their trees reach maturity. It’s hard to think of any traditional asset class that physically grows over time.”

AAA supports ethical investment projects and sustainable forestry plantations such as those run by firms like Greenwood Management in Brazil. “Investing in plantations is becoming more attractive as people are increasingly looking for tangible assets in exchange for their investments.”

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com