March 02, 2010

Business News Americas has created a special news service designed to keep the media, companies and people across the world informed about the latest events surrounding the recent earthquake in Chile, with information coming directly from our headquarters in Santiago, Chile. The coverage focuses especially on the 12 industrial sectors that our company provides in-depth news coverage of on a regular basis: Oil & Gas, Electric Power, Petrochemicals, Mining, Metals, Infrastructure, Water & Waste, Banking, Insurance, Telecom, Technology and Privatization. Full release.

World Vision warns Haiti's rural communities are at risk for chronic food and water shortages as the burden to care for the displaced grows. Families in these communities are struggling to cope with the influx of people seeking refuge from the destruction in the capital city. The aid agency is concerned that these communities are at risk of increased chronic food and water shortages and lack of adequate shelter as the rainy season approaches, burdens that could lead to more displacement and deeper poverty as resources are rapidly depleted. Full release.

A new study released today reveals that Tea Party activists are motivated by feelings of responsibility to future generations and belief in America's founding principles, but still struggle with questions of leadership and identity. The study conducted by Sam Adams Alliance, The Early Adopters: Reading the Tea Leaves, also reveals that Tea Party activists are a diverse group trying, often for the first time, to change the political landscape by holding elected officials more accountable. The results of the full report can be found at www.activistinsightsreport.com. Full release.

U.S. Commerce Deputy Secretary Dennis F. Hightower today met with local government officials and community leaders to assess the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 Census efforts to ensure a complete count of Gulf Coast residents affected by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike. "We hired early, provided extra training, added an extra local office, increased pay rates, and are delivering the form to any housing unit that is or may be habitable -- all to ensure a complete count in hurricane-affected areas of the Gulf Coast," Hightower said. Full release.

Facing unprecedented volume declines and a projected, cumulative $238 billion shortfall during the next decade, Postmaster General John E. Potter today outlined an aggressive plan of cost cutting, increased productivity, and an array of legislative and regulatory changes necessary to maintain a viable United States Postal Service. "The crisis we're facing gives us an historic opportunity to make changes that will lay the foundation for a leaner, more market responsive Postal Service that can thrive far into the future," Potter said, stressing that there is no one single answer or quick fix to the crisis. Full release.

A leaked proposal by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd to give consumer protection authority to the Federal Reserve Board in financial reform legislation would be a total capitulation to Wall Street lobbying, said Consumer Watchdog, and urged Senate committee members to insist on a strong independent consumer protection regulator or refuse to move a bill forward. Full release.

Today Visible Vote announced a new feature giving its 60,000 users the ability to make campaign contributions directly from their mobile phones. The feature, which comes on the heels of a Supreme Court decision to ease limits on corporate contributions, makes it easier for individuals to make a political impact using the technology in their pockets. Visible Vote, a nonpartisan application, already helps people discover how often they side with their legislators on key issues. Full release.

IBM ( IBM) today announced the findings of a major new study of over 1,900 Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and senior finance executives from 81 countries and 35 industries worldwide, which reveals that more than 60 percent of CFOs plan major changes to respond to the new economic climate. CFOs and senior finance executives believe the already intense pressure on three fronts, reducing the enterprise cost base, making faster, more accurate decisions and providing more transparency to external stakeholders, will increase dramatically over the next three years. Full release.

Due to the economic uncertainty many Hispanic-Americans are placing a new emphasis on what is important to them and their families. A new survey* by Sears Holdings finds that although a majority (84 percent) of Hispanic-Americans report that education will be a priority in 2010, most (92 percent) believe that there are barriers standing in the way of receiving an education beyond high school, with close to three-quarters (71 percent) citing lack of money to cover school expenses as the biggest roadblock. Full release.

The number of extremist groups in the United States exploded in 2009 as militias and other groups steeped in wild, antigovernment conspiracy theories exploited populist anger across the country and infiltrated the mainstream, according to a report issued today by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Antigovernment "Patriot" groups, militias and other extremist organizations that see the federal government as their enemy, came roaring back to life over the past year after more than a decade out of the limelight. Full release.

BillShrink (www.billshrink.com), the independent, free online service that gives personalized savings recommendations on credit cards, reveals its latest survey showing that Americans are paying off more debt this year than last year. As the economy strengthens and the newly-enacted Credit CARD Act provides increased protections for consumer credit cards, Americans may feel emboldened to tackle their personal credit card debt. Full release.

After a decade of consistent declines in teen drug abuse, a new national study released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America® and MetLife Foundation points to marked upswings in use of drugs that teens are likely to encounter at parties and in other social situations. The PATS data mark a reversal in the remarkable, sustained declines in several drugs of abuse among teens: methamphetamine (meth) was down by over 60 percent and past month alcohol and marijuana use had decreased a full 30 percent over the past decade from 1998-2008. Full release.

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