diciembre 2020 – Página 118

Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. Signs Definitive Agreement for Sale of Wheelabrator Technologies U.K. to First Sentier Investors

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. («Wheelabrator Technologies») announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell WTI / EFW Holdings («Wheelabrator U.K.») to the European Diversified Infrastructure Fund III SCSp («EDIF III»), an infrastructure fund managed by First Sentier Investors («FSI»). The transaction is expected to complete in early 2021.

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Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. Signs Definitive Agreement for Sale of Wheelabrator U.K. to First Sentier Investors

Wheelabrator U.K. is the largest pure play waste-to-energy business in the U.K. and is a developer, owner and operator of strategically located waste-to-energy facilities, with seven waste-to-energy facilities in operation and advanced development. Wheelabrator U.K. is an integral part of the U.K.’s environmental infrastructure, diverting waste from landfills or export to continental Europe to provide residents and businesses with local, sustainable disposal of non-recyclable solid waste while creating renewable energy.

Wheelabrator Technologies was acquired by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners IV («MIP») in February 2019. MIP operates within the Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets division of Macquarie Group, the world’s largest infrastructure manager.

In the past 12 months, Wheelabrator U.K. reached commercial operations at Wheelabrator Kemsley, a combined heat and power facility that provides steam to the DS Smith paper mill located in Sittingbourne, Kent and reached commercial operations at two new waste-to-energy facilities in North Wales and West Yorkshire, Wheelabrator Parc Adfer and Multifuel Energy Limited Ferrybridge 2. The business continues to progress the advanced development of three further waste-to-energy facilities, Multifuel Energy Limited Skelton Grange in Yorkshire, Wheelabrator Kelvin in West Bromwich and Wheelabrator Kemsley North in Sittingbourne.

Robert Boucher, President & CEO of Wheelabrator Technologies, said, «I am incredibly proud of the U.K. team and what we have achieved as One Team to grow the Wheelabrator U.K. business over the last 11 years. I look forward to the business continuing to execute on their strategy for continued development of critical waste infrastructure in the U.K. with their new shareholder and partner. The buildout of the largest, pure play waste-to-energy business in the U.K. is the result of many years of commitment, hard work, and strong partnerships with our customers and partners, and our ability to leverage our operational excellence from the U.S. and embed it into the U.K.»

Julia Watsford, Managing Director of Wheelabrator U.K., said, «Today’s announcement marks another major milestone in the growth of our U.K. business. We remain fully committed to providing our essential waste disposal service to our customers and communities, while ensuring the safety of our people, contractors and communities remains our number one priority. We’re excited to work with our new partners at FSI to continue to deliver the critical infrastructure required to support the safe and reliable treatment of non-recyclable waste, both now and in the future. I’d like to thank all of our team members for their continued hard work and commitment to Make A Difference to make this business and this transaction a success.»

Karl Kuchel, CEO of MIP, said, «The Wheelabrator team has successfully developed a high-quality portfolio of waste-to-energy facilities in the U.K. over the past decade. We have enjoyed the opportunity to support the company over the last two years as the team has completed construction and successfully commissioned three new U.K. facilities and advanced some promising new projects, despite challenges associated with COVID-19. We have full confidence in the continued success of the platform as the Wheelabrator U.K. business enters its next phase of growth under new ownership.»

Niall Mills, Managing Partner at FSI, said, «We are delighted to make this investment in Wheelabrator U.K. Following our recent agreement to acquire SSE’s stake in the Multifuel Energy Joint Venture, we are looking forward to combining the businesses to create the U.K.’s pre-eminent waste-to-energy platform. We are proud to support Wheelabrator U.K.’s role in facilitating the energy transition while diverting residual waste from landfill. We look forward to working with the team to grow the business and capitalize on the opportunities we see in the sector.»

Credit Suisse and J.P. Morgan served as financial advisors to Wheelabrator U.K. on the sale and Linklaters served as legal counsel. Jefferies and Macquarie Capital served as financial advisors to FSI and Latham & Watkins served as lead legal counsel.

Notes to editor:

About Wheelabrator Technologies
Wheelabrator Technologies is a waste management company committed to delivering essential waste management solutions to customers and communities supported by our team of 1,800 employees. We believe in preserving our environment for future generations while providing for today’s needs. Wheelabrator is a vertically integrated business with a platform of 50 strategically located collection, transfer and disposal assets. These include waste-to-energy facilities, transfer stations, ash monofills, landfills, and fleets of rail cars and collection vehicles. We process more than 13 million tons of waste annually, convert 9 million tons of waste into clean, renewable energy that powers 685,000 homes and recycle more than 390K tons of plastic, paper and metals from the waste stream. For more on Wheelabrator, please visit www.wtienergy.com.

About Wheelabrator Technologies U.K.
Wheelabrator U.K. is the fourth largest U.K. waste-to-energy business and currently has an annual waste processing capacity of over 2.3M tonnes (2.5M tons), and a total combined electric generating capacity of 247MW (gross)—enough energy to power more than 500,000 U.K. homes. For more on Wheelabrator U.K., please visit www.wtienergy.co.uk.

About First Sentier Investors
First Sentier Investors are stewards of over €130 billion in assets managed on behalf of a client base that extends across Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America. With more than twenty years’ experience in infrastructure investment, it is one of the longest established managers of infrastructure assets on behalf of institutional investors and currently manages approximately €10.0 billion of equity invested across assets in the utility, transport and energy infrastructure sectors in Europe, Australia and North America. The transaction represents an important cornerstone investment of FSI-managed European Diversified Infrastructure Fund III, a European domiciled, euro-denominated fund. FSI operates as a standalone business owned and overseen by the Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

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SOURCE Wheelabrator Technologies Inc.

World Economic Forum Global Council on Cryptocurrencies Publishes Inaugural Review

GUERNSEY, Jersey, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The World Economic Forum and its first cryptocurrency focused global council («the Council») today…

GUERNSEY, Jersey, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The World Economic Forum and its first cryptocurrency focused global council («the Council») today announced the release of its inaugural report, «Crypto, What Is It Good For? An Overview of Cryptocurrency Use Cases«. The report highlights use cases of digital assets that go beyond cryptocurrency and explore its impact on individuals, institutions, and society as a whole. The report includes insights from bank executives, NGO leadership, tech entrepreneurs, and investors.

Co-chairs of the recently appointed council, Meltem Demirors, Chief Strategy Officer of CoinShares, and Cuy Sheffield, Head of Crypto at Visa, have been working to establish the Council’s priorities and deliverables of the Council following its official start in October of this year. This invitation-only council is designed to build a community of 30 experts to share their resources and insights with the WEF’s larger network to advance the global understanding of cryptocurrencies.

The members of the Council include chief executives, risk and strategy officers from leading cryptocurrency companies, executives at financial institutions, leading technical, legal, and civil society experts, and academics who are focused on evaluating key challenges and opportunities within this space – and what it will take to achieve the key aims of cryptocurrencies. The Council will work on technical knowledge products for regulators and policy-makers enabling them to make informed decisions around governance of the asset class, capacity-building initiatives, and other projects of the council’s selection and design.

Sheila Warren, who heads the WEF’s efforts on blockchain and digital assets, commented «The WEF’s network of Global Future Councils helps us stretch our imaginations and harness innovation to shape a more inclusive future. This Council will move us toward greater awareness and understanding of the benefits, and risks, of cryptocurrencies, while helping to ensure that the benefits are ultimately made accessible to the entire global economy.»

Demirors commented «Many of the conversations you’ll hear about cryptocurrencies, and much of what we aim to do in this council, is actually not about technology. Rather, meaningful analysis of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is about imagining what could be possible in the future with this new technology, which creates a new set of social, political, and economic tools. Our Council draws from a diverse group of individuals and aims to bring together these disciplines and perspectives to explain cryptocurrencies in a new way.»

«Cryptocurrencies have the potential to create new markets and forms of value exchange that can fuel growth in the global economy. This council is focused on finding ways to make cryptocurrencies comprehensible, accessible, and inclusive so that more people can benefit from the new innovations that emerge through them,» added Sheffield.

About the World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.

About CoinShares

CoinShares is Europe’s largest digital asset investment firm, managing over $1 billion assets on behalf of a global client base. Our mission is to expand access to the digital asset ecosystem by pioneering new financial products and services that provide investors with trust and transparency when accessing this new asset class.

For more information on CoinShares, visit: https://coinshares.com/

Media Contact
Jay Morakis
+1 646 859 5951
press@coinshares.com

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SOURCE CoinShares Group

Nearly 800 Faith Leaders Endorse Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in the Georgia Senate Run-off

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Over 775 faith leaders signed on to endorse Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in the Georgia U.S. Senate Election through a letter of endorsement created by the faith-based organization New Moral Majority. The endorsement letter was also shared with Faithful America members. It includes Georgia faith leaders announcing their public support, as well as Brian McLaren, Jaqui Lewis, Jennifer Butler, Harry Knox, Joshua Lesser, Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, John Pavlovitz, Michael-Ray Mathews, Robert Lee (great-grandson of Robert E. Lee), and more. A full list can be found at https://www.newmoralmajority.org/georgia.

This unprecedented action shows the commitment of faith leaders to elect political leaders who will enact legislation for the good of all – to work for human decency, ensure the economic well-being of all citizens and advance the common good. Throughout their campaigns, Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue have relentlessly attacked the faith and character of both Rev. Dr. Warnock and Ossoff. Faith leaders are speaking up to support the historic nominations of Rev. Dr. Warnock and Ossoff as candidates who lead with hope instead of fear, love instead of hate, and unity instead of division.

«It is significant that religious leaders are stepping forward to say it is time to heal our land and move forward in this county with more unity of purpose and spirit. It has been too long that we are divided by race, religion and ethnicity. The time has come to take significant steps to bring justice and equity to all in our country. We need to welcome the stranger, love our neighbor and stand up for those most vulnerable by electing moral leaders like Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.»
-Rev. Dr. David Key, Sr., Founding Pastor, Lake Oconee Community Church, Greensboro, GA

«Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, a native son of Savannah, pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and a spiritual descendant of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jon Ossoff, a young, energetic Jewish filmmaker, have centered their campaigns on the values of unity, justice, and healing. We want folks to know that we’re behind them in their cause to mount a historic upset against two wealthy politicians with deeply rooted familial names who haven’t shown much compassion for those we’re called by scripture to support.»
– Rev. Ryan M. Eller, Co-Founder and Executive Director of New Moral Majority

«At its best, our faith critiques broken systems and serves wounded people. In the hands of cynical politicians, it does the opposite. Faithful America’s members are showing that faith informs the values of progressives and conservatives alike. This diverse group of faith leaders endorsing a new progressive vision is a witness to the hunger for changes that will benefit the least of these among us.»
– Rev. Colin Holtz, Faithful America Board president, Atlanta, GA

Leaders from New Moral Majority, Faithful America, and many who have signed this letter are available for comment. New Moral Majority (newmoralmajority.org) and Faithful America (faithfulamerica.org) are not affiliated with the Warnock or Ossoff campaigns.

CONTACT: Chris Hughes, 502-759-7999, 261652@email4pr.com

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SOURCE New Moral Majority

Ashland Calvert City Receives 2020 SOCMA Sustainability Award

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) is pleased to announce that <a target="_blank"…

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) is pleased to announce that Ashland’s Calvert City, KY, facility is being recognized for its outstanding efforts and unique approaches to sustainability practices as part of the SOCMA’s 2020 Performance Improvement Awards program.

For more than 14 years, SOCMA has honored companies leading the charge in environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) through its Performance Improvement Awards program. Ashland Calvert City is among 19 facilities recognized in 2020 for their efforts in environmental stewardship.

«As the specialty chemical industry navigates the challenges of 2020, keeping a sharp focus on sustainable practices is more important than ever,» said Joe Dettinger, SOCMA’s Senior Director of Compliance & Stewardship. «Ashland’s Calvert City is a shining example of finding and implementing real-life solutions to ensure its operations are minimizing risks to the environment and community. The Calvert City team is constantly looking for ways to reduce injuries, costs, wastes and down time to ensure that the future business operation not only maintains but gains in efficiency, safety and longevity.»

In looking at the facility’s overall footprint in relation to its sustainability goals, the Ashland Calvert City team focused much of its efforts on decreasing energy consumed on site. To reduce usage, the facility:

Implemented technologies such as solar arrays.
Switched to variable speed motors for wastewater treatment blowers.
Defined aggressive timetables to identify and repair both steam and compressed air leaks.
Utilized FLUKE Ultrasonic leak detectors for air leaks.
Installed FLIR thermal imaging cameras to detect heat loss.
Replaced lighting fixtures with LED technology.

The judges were also impressed with the Ashland’s efforts to provide 160,000 pounds of hand sanitizer to help support the community’s ability to fight against COVID-19.

«Ashland’s Calvert City facility has set an impressive benchmark that other companies can strive to meet as they grow their own sustainability programs,» said Jennifer Abril, SOCMA President & CEO. «SOCMA also commends this outstanding facility and its staff for their efforts to help their community in a time of need. We are proud to count them as part of our SOCMA community.»

See the full list of Performance Improvement Award winners here.

About SOCMA

SOCMA is part of a $300 billion industry that’s fueling the U.S. economy. For more information visit www.socma.org.

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SOURCE Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates

Supply chains have shifted away from China since pandemic lockdown, new research confirms

ISTANBUL, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Supply chains to the U.S. have shifted away from China since lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, new research confirms.

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ISTANBUL, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Supply chains to the U.S. have shifted away from China since lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, new research confirms.

An expansive study by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) forecasts an up to $200 billion drop in the U.S.-China trade corridor by 2023, compared to 2019 levels. More than 50 experts were interviewed to provide evidence for the report.

Nations including Turkey, Vietnam, Mexico, Taiwan and Poland are best placed to take up the slack as global trade returns to growth following the pandemic.

The report, commissioned by the Turkey-U.S. Business Council (TAİK), builds on research conducted last year on the best ways to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion.

The BCG says while traditional industries remain vitally important, the countries which will capitalize most will be those which lean into 21st Century trends.

Its report recommends Turkish industry focuses on new industries such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, smart cities and household devices as part of the ‘internet of things’. To support this shift, the report recommends TAİK create three new taskforces to lead the charge toward higher exports in three broad areas: digital, electronics and joint projects in Africa. TAİK has said additional taskforces will be announced in the weeks ahead, and already has teams working on LNG and agriculture.

TAİK chairman Mehmet Ali Yacindag said: «This report confirms what many in the business world have suspected during 2020. Global supply chains are shifting and the nature of industry is changing.

«At TAİK we are determined to do everything we can to support and enable commercial deals between our member companies. Our U.S. state committees and Turkish-based members believe this is the best way of promoting growth, supporting jobs and boosting trade.

«Our taskforces will urgently explore the sectors that are ripe for growth to build new partnerships. This report spells out bold moves Turkey can take to secure a stake in future industries like renewables and electric cars. It’s an exciting prospect laid out for our private sector – to play an integral role as the world builds back better.

«As well as supporting new business agreements, TAİK is looking forward to working with the incoming Biden Administration to continue the proud history of U.S.-Turkish business ties.»

Today’s report cites evidence from brands such as Coca Cola and Apple to make its case about supply chain changes. Lockdowns escalated challenges around supply levels and raised uncertainty around future shocks. Interviews with scores of business leaders also revealed existing issues relating to China had been thrown into sharp relief by the current crisis.

Mahmut Unlu, Chairman of TAİK’s New York State Committee, said: «This report signposts the way to future opportunities that build on the decades of work to create commerce and trade ties between the U.S. and Turkey.»

«Today hundreds of thousands of Turkish-Americans support jobs and fuel economic growth in both of our countries. Clearly there is more ahead.»

Head of TAİK’s Africa taskforce Burak Talu said: «Turkish construction companies have deep expertise in Africa as contractors and investors and we are keen to build ties with private sector partners in America. Joint ventures in these projects are a win-win.»

Nail Olpak, the President of Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK), said: «Global trade was altered by the events of 2020 and the pandemic. Turkish businesses all over the world stand ready to support the economic recovery and this report shows the way forward.»

ENDS

Notes to editors

The Boston Consulting Group report, finalised in October 2020, can be downloaded here.
The Turkey-U.S. Business Council (TAİK) is Turkey’s oldest business council. Established in 1985, TAİK’s mission is to enhance trade and investment relations between Turkey and the United States. TAİK operates under the umbrella of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK).
For further information, please contact taik@deik.org.tr

CONTACT:
Batuhan Kurtaran
taik@deik.org.tr

DISSEMINATED BY MERCURY PUBLIC AFFAIRS, LLC, A REGISTERED FOREIGN AGENT, ON BEHALF OF TURKEY-U.S. BUSINESS COUNCIL (TAIK). MORE INFORMATION IS ON FILE WITH THE DEPT. OF JUSTICE, WASHINGTON, DC.

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SOURCE Turkey-U.S. Business Council (TAIK)

NanaWall Systems Announces Additional Dates for Classes in Post-COVID Building Design

CORTE MADERA, Calif., Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — As the entire building and architectural communities look to develop ways to expand their ideas about how we will build after the pandemic, NanaWall Systems, the pioneer of the opening glass wall category, is offering an entirely new AIA certified education class called <a target="_blank"…

«In the wake of COVID-19, we’re seeing an enormous demand for content that explains the design possibilities of incorporating opening glass walls into commercial, hospitality and residential spaces,» said Matt Thomas, Marketing Director for NanaWall. «The combination of the need for increased access to fresh air and air flow is going to be a permanent feature of design going forward, and this class has been specifically developed to showcase the options available for maximizing spaces in both residential and commercial applications. We have seen so much interest in this topic that we have had to create two additional programs to accommodate all the sign ups, and we have launched an ongoing series of case studies and COVID design ideas on our website.»

Participants can expect to learn to:

Identify and recognize the significance of the health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic as they relate to building design and product selection.
Assess the safety aspects of incorporating designs and product selections that protects buildings, occupants and owners.
Explain the welfare aspects of design and product selection that can elevate the human experience with daylight and outdoor access and benefit the environment through sustainable building design.

POST COVID-19 BUILDING DESIGN will be offered on Tuesday, December 22^nd and Tuesday, December 29^th at 11:00AM PST / 2:00PM EST. The class will be led by Sara Frank, Education Manager of NanaWall, and Mark Gallagher, NanaWall’s Eastern Regional Sales Manager.

NanaWall provides access to AIA approved CEU classes via their continuing education portal with topics and content developed in tandem with Architectural Record and other sources. In addition to the online offerings, NanaWall offers virtual presentations during which their experts connect with firms via Zoom or Microsoft Teams to offer AIA accredited presentations, answer questions and provide additional information to supplement the approved CEU materials.

For case studies and design ideas for projects that benefit from NanaWall opening glass walls in the post-COVID environment, please visit www.nanawall.com/covid-design-ideas

About NanaWall Systems

For over 30 years, NanaWall Systems has pioneered the category of opening glass wall systems. The company has earned the trust of architects, builders, design professionals and homeowners as a custom solution for re-imagining how buildings, people and the elements interact. NanaWall Systems is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with 25 showroom and design studio locations across North America. For more information about NanaWall and its products, please visit www.nanawall.com.

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SOURCE NanaWall Systems , Inc.

MIA task force gets local cargo community vaccine ready

MIAMI, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — On December 16, more than 50 representatives from Miami-Dade County’s air cargo community attended the second virtual meeting of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department’s MIAVAC19 Task Force, formed to lead the preparation and coordination of Miami International Airport’s cargo community for the arrival and mass distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine domestically and…

As the busiest U.S. airport for international freight and the leading cargo gateway to and from Latin America and the Caribbean, MIA is poised to be one of the key global hubs for the vaccine. MIA is the first airport in the Western Hemisphere and only the second in the world to be designated by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as a pharmaceutical freight hub in the transport of pharmaceuticals (pharma) and vaccines. MIA received the IATA designation for engaging the local cargo community in IATA’s Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma Certification Program, which prepares logistics companies to become experts at properly handling sensitive pharma products shipped by air. MIA’s Pharma Hub includes five logistics providers that have received the IATA CEIV certification.

«In the midst of this unprecedented global health crisis, Miami-Dade County is incredibly fortunate to be home to one of the most well-equipped airports in the world for receiving and handling COVID-19 vaccines,» said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. «I applaud the MIAVAC19 task force for preparing MIA to be a leading gateway for these historic shipments, which will help save lives in our community and across our region.»

After surveying its cargo tenants in September, the task force determined that MIA is home to 368,064 square feet of refrigerated cargo space, including 27,212 square feet solely dedicated to handling pharmaceuticals and vaccines – the most at any U.S. airport in both categories.

The task force’s action plan includes identifying additional cooler space available outside of MIA, mapping out the airport’s parking capacity for large freighter aircraft, designating potential cargo truck parking and staging areas, and planning training sessions for freight forwarders and brokers regarding the latest federal guidelines for importing the vaccines. The task force has also provided a conduit for collaboration and communication enabling the cargo community to stay informed on the latest developments in distribution plans.

«We deeply appreciate the support and partnership of every airline, freight forwarder, ground handler, integrated carrier, logistics provider, government agency and others represented in the MIAVAC19 Task Force, which has MIA well positioned to efficiently receive and transport the vaccines to communities throughout the Americas,» said Lester Sola, MIA Director and CEO. «MIA is on pace for another record year in cargo volume, and with the vaccine shipments expected to significantly increase our cargo activity throughout 2021, Miami-Dade County will benefit from additional job creation and business revenue as well.»

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Greg Chin
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MIACommunications@miami-airport.com
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SOURCE Miami International Airport

Lindblad Expeditions And Island Conservation Launch Galápagos Island Relief Fund

NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Lindblad Expeditions, a global provider of expedition cruises, and Island…

NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Lindblad Expeditions, a global provider of expedition cruises, and Island Conservation, an international not-for-profit conservation organization, have launched the Galápagos Island Relief Fund to provide immediate financial relief for the people of the Galápagos Islands who have been devastated by the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism accounts for more than 80% of the Galápagos economy, so in March, when travel restrictions suddenly halted the tourism industry, it caused profound hardship for families, businesses, and the community at large. In the first two months of the pandemic alone, the islands’ economy lost $50 million, almost a quarter of the annual income; and the Galápagos Chamber of Tourism recently reported that visitors between July and October dropped a staggering 95%. The economic devastation also poses a serious threat to the conservation of this extraordinary and pristine archipelago.

Donations received by the Galápagos Island Relief Fund will enable Fundación Un Cambio Por La Vida (FUNCAVID), a local non-profit organization, to disseminate micro-loans to the people of the Galápagos.

The monies will provide immediate financial relief, address the basic needs of vulnerable families, allow children to stay in school, and help sustainable businesses survive, grow, and begin developing new income sources. These lines of credit will support hundreds of community enterprises and initiatives in the areas of local entrepreneurship and strengthening existing businesses, sustainable food production for food security, emergency aid for vulnerable families to meet basic living costs, and education. And the community can continue its inspiring journey of protecting the unique ecosystems and wildlife of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

«The people of Galápagos are struggling more than I’ve seen in my 53-year relationship with the Islands,» stated Sven Lindblad, Founder and CEO of Lindblad Expeditions. «Stimulating the local economy through community micro-loans has the power to activate a thriving system — helping entrepreneurs and small business owners develop new ideas to complement sustainable tourism, and meeting the needs of the local community long after the pandemic is over.»

The goal is to secure US$500,000. The main fundraising mechanism will be an outreach to Lindblad guests who have voyaged with them to Galápagos. The small ship cruise line has also set up a matching program, where every $1 donated to the Galápagos Island Relief Fund (up to $50,000) will be matched 3:1 by an equivalent dollar-for-dollar donation from each: Sven and Kristin Lindblad’s Wanderlust Fund, Lindblad Expeditions, and the Lindblad Expeditions Board of Directors.

«The Galápagos Island Relief Fund will enable Galápagos community members to further their education, create new businesses, and increase local food security—steps that are essential to building a more sustainable way of life on the islands, in which people and wildlife can thrive,» explained Karl Campbell, Island Conservation’s Executive Director of Latin America.

Daniel Proaño, FUNCAVID Project Coordinator noted, «Together we will transform the strongest crisis that has impacted Galápagos and the world into an opportunity building bridges to bring our heritage to a higher level of resilience. Through your donation, we will be able to empower the dreams and creativity of the islanders, driving a productive reactivation through innovative ventures, with a social focus and the use of good environmental practices.»

Every dollar raised (100% of funds donated) will stay in Galápagos. Persons interested in supporting the Galápagos Island Relief Fund may do so at islandrelief.fund. All donations, made through Island Conservation, a 501(c)3 charity, are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

About FUNCAVID
FUNCAVID, the «Un Cambio para la Vida (A Change for Life)» Foundation, is a Galápagos-based NGO that promotes the building of sustainable island communities through dialogue and liaison between local citizens, private companies, and government institutions. Founded in 2009 by Patricio Proaño in memory of his son after a family tragedy, FUNCAVID aims to promote positive changes and improvements in the life of the Galápagos people, within the context of a sustainable future for the Galápagos Islands as one of the world’s most important protected areas.

About Island Conservation
Island Conservation’s mission is to prevent extinctions by removing invasive species from islands. Working alongside local communities, government management agencies, and conservation organizations, Island Conservation focuses on removing a primary threat to island wildlife – introduced invasive vertebrates – saving threatened plants and animals, restoring island ecosystems, and supporting island communities. Since 1994, they have successfully restored 64 islands worldwide, benefiting 1195 populations of 487 species and subspecies.

About Lindblad Expeditions
Lindblad Expeditions is an expedition travel company that focuses on ship-based voyages through its Lindblad Expeditions brand and on land-based travel through its subsidiary, Natural Habitat Adventures, an adventure travel and ecotourism company with a focus on responsible nature travel. Lindblad Expeditions works in partnership with National Geographic to inspire people to explore and care about the planet. The organizations work in tandem to produce innovative marine expedition programs and to promote conservation and sustainable tourism around the world. The partnership’s educationally oriented voyages allow guests to interact with and learn from leading scientists, naturalists and researchers while discovering stunning natural environments, above and below the sea, through state-of-the-art exploration tools.

Interviews are available with:

Island Conservation: Victor Carrion, Ecuador Program Manager (available for Spanish speaking interviews)
Lindblad Expeditions: Amy Berquist, VP, Conservation, Education & Sustainability
FUNCAVID: Daniel Proaño, Project Coordinator; Patricio Proaño, President (available for Spanish speaking interviews)

For images: download here

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SOURCE Lindblad Expeditions

Innovative Robo-Taxi with ZF Technology

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Future mobility will encompass ride-hailing solutions and robo-taxis to move people comfortably and safely through the megacities of the globe. A pioneer in the robo-taxi business is the independent Amazon subsidiary Zoox that develops personal transportation solutions. ZF is proud to be a partner of the Zoox ecosystem and to contribute to the success of this autonomously and electrically driving robo-taxi.

ZF will provide occupant safety systems and chassis modules for the new Zoox robo-taxi. The autonomous vehicle is designed for safe transportation of up to four passengers. Nevertheless, there might be situations in which the safety components cannot avoid an accident. In this case, innovative ZF technologies can help with mitigating crash consequences for the occupants.

These solutions include airbags mounted in the roof and in the seats. The challenge is the innovative camp-fire seating position which means that two passengers will be forward-looking and two passengers backward-looking. The usual occupant safety systems are optimized for forward-looking occupants. The safety concept for this robo-taxi has been specifically developed for these new seating positions.

The chassis is another key module, as it is the basis for a comfortable ride. It is critical to providing a positive rider experience. The precise integration of high-quality chassis components helps ensures that this happens.

For many years, ZF has been working on solutions for the Next Generation Mobility, including autonomous and electrically powered forms of mobility such as people or cargo movers.

ZF Friedrichshafen AG

ZF is a global technology company and supplies systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology, enabling the next generation of mobility. ZF allows vehicles to see, think and act. In the four technology domains Vehicle Motion Control, Integrated Safety, Automated Driving, and Electric Mobility, ZF offers comprehensive solutions for established vehicle manufacturers and newly emerging transport and mobility service providers. ZF electrifies different kinds of vehicles. With its products, the company contributes to reducing emissions and protecting the climate.

ZF, which acquired WABCO Holdings Inc. on May 29, 2020, now has 160,000 employees worldwide with approximately 260 locations in 41 countries. In 2019, the two then-independent companies achieved sales of €36.5 billion (ZF) and $3.4 billion (WABCO).

For further press information and photos please visit: www.zf.com

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SOURCE ZF

XCMG presenta equipos de minería avanzada y maquinaria autónoma en Brasil, impulsando el desarrollo industrial local

POUSO ALEGRE, Brasil, 17 de diciembre de 2020 /PRNewswire/ — La fabricante líder de maquinaria XCMG (000425.SZ) presentó su línea de equipos para minería, que incluye una excavadora minera de 90 toneladas enviada recientemente al país, además de máquinas inteligentes autónomas, en un evento promocional especial en Pouso Alegre, en el estado brasileño de Minas Gerais.

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El evento representa un hito para XCMG en su entrada al mercado brasileño de equipos para minería, que implementa avances sin precedentes en la minería digital, la conducción autónoma y el control remoto. Las tecnologías y productos recientemente presentados impulsarán la industria minera del Brasil y permitirán mejoras en la gestión de la seguridad con costos de operación más bajos.

Durante el evento, XCMG hizo entrega de su primera excavadora hidráulica de 90 toneladas y recibió pedidos de reserva de cuatro excavadoras de 75 toneladas, ocho camiones mineros de 80 toneladas, veinte excavadoras de 21 toneladas controladas de forma remota y dos cargadores de 7 toneladas.

Un representante de CODEMGE, la autoridad responsable del desarrollo económico en Minas Gerais, señaló que el estado, con su importante industria minera, se beneficiará al tener equipos de ingeniería de alta calidad de un fabricante líder como XCMG para dar un impulso a su desarrollo económico.

«El equipo minero es un pilar emergente de XCMG y un área importante para que la empresa logre sus objetivos estratégicos», declaró Wang Yansong, vicepresidente de XCMG y presidente de XCMG Brasil. «XCMG aprovechará las oportunidades que ofrece el mercado minero brasileño para ofrecer soluciones de construcción completas e inteligentes para la industria, las cuales son seguras, eficientes y centradas en los clientes».

Entre los productos destacados presentados durante el evento están los siguientes:

La excavadora hidráulica XE900D, con un peso total de 90 toneladas y un motor de 535 caballos de fuerza. La máquina es un producto de primera categoría para tareas de mediana y gran escala en minería de cielo abierto como la que se realiza en las minas brasileñas de hierro, cobre y oro, gracias a la mejor potencia de su clase, su fuerza de excavado y sus avanzadas estabilidad, durabilidad y seguridad. También ofrece mayor eficiencia al tiempo que mantiene un nivel bajo de consumo de combustible.

La excavadora ambulante ET120 y la excavadora hidráulica inteligente XE225BR de operación autónoma y controladas remotamente. Estas dos máquinas autónomas tienen ventajas significativas en términos de movilidad en el terreno y adaptabilidad al entorno, y son alternativas de primer orden para los constructores locales que trabajan en condiciones geográficas complejas.

Un representante de la Asociación Minera Brasileña destacó que XCMG es un socio influyente en Brasil y, de hecho, en América del Sur. La Asociación espera desarrollar una relación más estrecha con XCMG que sea mutuamente beneficiosa para la comunidad industrial.

Fotografía: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1387233/XCMG_90_ton_mining_excavator_XE900D_Delivered_Pouso_Agegre.jpg

FUENTE XCMG