President Barack Obama walks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono before the East Asia Summit Gala dinner in Bali, Indonesia, on Friday.
By Jackie Calmes / New York Times News Service | Original Article
Published: November 19. 2011 4:00AM PST
BALI, Indonesia — President Obama discussed maritime security, nuclear nonproliferation and disaster aid at an Asian summit meeting on Friday, but just his presence on this resort island telegraphed his main message: that the United States is turning its focus to the booming Asia-Pacific region after a decade of preoccupation with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Calling the region critical to economic growth and national security, he said, “I want everyone to know from the outset, my administration is committed to strengthening our ties with each country individually but also with the region’s institutions.”
The American focus on Asia has been raising tensions with an ever more powerful China, which has been increasingly assertive in the region. On Saturday morning Mr. Obama held a previously unscheduled meeting with Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China. Administration officials said Mr. Obama and Mr. Wen talked briefly on Friday night at a dinner for the gathered leaders and agreed to meet the next morning. Earlier on Friday, Mr. Wen had pushed back against the United States, saying that “outside forces should not, under any pretext” interfere in a regional fight over the control of the South China Sea.
Mr. Obama spoke Friday at the opening of the annual meeting of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which does not include China. Before that session, he met separately with the leaders of India, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
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Four Principles to Maximize the Value of the Training You Provide
Organizations worldwide have long recognized that workforce development makes economic sense. However, there is increasing pressure to cement the link from the classroom to organizational results. On our recent webinar “From Training…To Results,” KT Master Trainer, John Ager along with Lisa Olenski, Director of Transformation Support for BJC Healthcare, shared their wealth of experience, outlining the critical success factors for setting up truly transformational capability development programs.
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View the webinar: “From Training … To Results”
Coping With 7 Billion: Water Treatment
Original Article: GE Reports | November 9, 2011
When it comes to water use, the numbers tell a bleak story. While the world’s population has tripled to 7 billion over the last century, water consumption has increased six fold. According to estimates, by 2025 some 5.3 billion people, or more than two thirds of the total population, will suffer from water shortages. The lack of water is already palpable. For example, ground water depletion in Mexico City has made the metropolis sink by 30 feet. As a result, some two million residents lack piped water.
Industry plays a significant role in the unfolding water drama. Some 20% of fresh water resources are swallowed by factories, power plants, refineries and other industrial installations. In the U.S., industrial water use approaches 45% of all water use, but just 6% is being reused.
That’s where GE Water & Process Technologies comes in. “If you think about 20% of the world’s freshwater, that’s a tremendous opportunity to start turning the crisis around,” says Jack Noble, the GE division’s Europe region executive.
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Obama, leaders to report on Pacific trade pact in Hawaii
Original Article: Pacific Business News | Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 7:22am HST.
President Barack Obama and other leaders of Pacific Rim nations in Honolulu this week for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Week meetings will report on the effort to create a Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would be the biggest free trade agreement for the United States since the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico.
Bloomberg reports, via the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, that the Pacific agreement would help to double U.S. exports by 2015 from 2009 levels. Bloomberg reports that the Obama administration is seeking to expand the agreement beyond its current eight nations to include China and Japan.
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