June 2, 2010
TOPIC ALERT:
Gulf Oil Spill (continued, 6 experts)
EXPERT ALERTS:
1. Business: Surviving Government Investigations in Era of Heightened Scrutiny
2. Crime: Theft on the IP Seas: Counterfeiting on the Rise
3. Environment: Reducing Negative Impact of Summer Travel on Environment
4. International: Israeli Raid on Gaza Aid Flotilla is Illegal
5. Law: Buyer Beware: New Employees May Bring New Lawsuits with Them
6. Law: Lawsuit Shines Light on Green Construction Risks
GULF OIL SPILL:
Following are additional experts who are available to discuss the various issues surrounding the Gulf oil spill. To view the original Topic Alert, distributed last week, that featured 60+ experts, see: http://budurl.com/spillexperts.
**1. Dr. Frank J. Bia, medical director, AmeriCares, is available to comment on the potential health risks associated with the massive spill: "The oil spill poses a whole host of health problems, not the least of which is chemical pneumonia from inhaling thick oil residues. Inhaling hydrocarbon vapors can also cause nausea, vomiting, eye irritation, headaches, dizziness and breathing difficulties. Fumes and inhaled residue are especially dangerous for children with asthma and other breathing problems." AmeriCares has been providing aid to people devastated by natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires for over 25 years. News Contacts: Peggy Atherlay, [email protected] Phone: +1-203-658-9626, or Donna Porstner, [email protected] Phone: +1-203-658-9579
**2. Harrison Dillon, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Solazyme, the world's leading renewable oil and bioproducts company, which is currently in the process of opening an integrated biorefinery in rural Pennsylvania aiming for commercial-scale production of algae-based fuel: "The BP disaster is a wake-up call to reduce our dependence on petroleum and fossil fuels. It shows us the strong need for alternative technologies to be developed and encouraged by our government through legislation, as well as grants. The oil that Solazyme makes through our process is biodegradable, made on land, and does not involve risks like those we see with crude oil and the BP oil spill. The time for our government to act to encourage this and similar innovation is now." Dillon can speak on what kinds of specific efforts the government should be undertaking to encourage the growth of technologies that will reduce dependence on foreign oil, as well as Solazyme's work in this space. News Contact: Lia LoBello, [email protected] Phone: +1-212-931-6180
**3. Robert Emery, Dr.P.H., vice president of safety, health, environment and risk management at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, is an expert in health and safety programs, occupational radiation protection, hazardous waste management and emergency preparedness: "Oil spread out over a large surface area and heated by the sun can produce very high levels of exposure to any of a variety of potentially harmful crude oil compounds. Persons working around the oil, either out on the water or on land, should exercise extreme caution and avoid vapor inhalation and skin contact. The short-term effects of exposure to high levels of crude oil vapors can include eye and upper airway irritation, dizziness and nausea. The longer-term health concerns are linked to exposures to the chemicals in crude oil, such as benzene, toluene and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, all of which are classified by the EPA as carcinogens. Skin exposure to crude oil can result in the skin reddening, swelling and burning if the oil is not rinsed off in a timely manner. Prolonged skin exposure has been shown to cause cancers of the skin, sinuses, gastrointestinal system and bladder. An important note: The oil has a tar-like consistency and does not rinse off easily. Individuals should only use cleaners that are intended for use on the skin to remove oil, such as soap and water, or approved degreasing gels. Do not use unapproved solvents such as gasoline to remove the oil, as this can lead to other skin complications and possible skin absorption and associated toxicity. It will also be important for persons seeking medical attention to tell their healthcare providers if they had been exposed to the oil. This reporting will help the various health departments monitor for possible health effects from oil exposures, and, in turn, will help establish worker and community safety and health criteria." News Contact: Rob Cahill, [email protected], or the UTHealth Media Hotline: +1-713-500-3030
**4. Christoph Gorder, vice president of emergency response, AmeriCares, is available to comment on how families in the Gulf Coast can prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. In preparation, AmeriCares has stocked disaster aid in key areas prone to hurricanes, including Gulf Coast communities: "One of the biggest lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina is to be prepared. AmeriCares continues to strengthen our relationships in the region to ensure rapid response in the event of another devastating hurricane. We're also reaching out to partners to plan additional deliveries of medicines and supplies needed to treat asthma and other respiratory conditions potentially worsened by the oil spill." AmeriCares has been providing aid to people devastated by natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires for over 25 years. News Contacts: Peggy Atherlay, [email protected] Phone: +1-203-658-9626, or Donna Porstner, [email protected] Phone: +1-203-658-9579
**5. Jim Fawcett, director, Marine Science & Policy Outreach Sea Grant Program, USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, can discuss marine transportation and seaport. News Contact: Susan Andrews, [email protected] Phone: +1-213-821-2481
**6. Jim Haw, professor of environmental studies and chemistry at USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, can discuss the oil spill's impact on wetlands and wildlife. News Contact: Susan Andrews, [email protected] Phone: +1-213-821-2481
EXPERT ALERTS:
**1. BUSINESS: SURVIVING GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATIONS IN AN ERA OF HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY. Andrew Morris, an attorney with Carr Maloney in Washington, D.C.: "The last year has seen a major upswing in government investigation and enforcement activity, with officials announcing aggressive new efforts in a wide range of areas, including a host of financial laws such as fraud, fair lending, securities, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; environmental regulations; employment laws; workplace safety; Medicare and other health care programs; antitrust laws; and various civil rights laws, to name just a few. With such dramatic increases in government scrutiny, it is more important than ever before for companies to understand how to avert government investigations and -- if the government comes knocking -- how to survive them." Morris is available for an interview or to write an article providing specific actions companies can take. News Contact: Michelle King, [email protected] Phone: +1-205-639-1098
**2. CRIME: THEFT ON THE IP SEAS: COUNTERFEITING ON THE RISE. J. Mark Wilson, a licensed patent attorney with Moore & Van Allen, an AmLaw 200 law firm: "Counterfeiting is a growing problem for companies in a wide variety of industries, and the government is responding. On April 26, 2010, celebrated as 'World IP Day,' the Department of Justice announced the addition of 15 new assistant U.S. attorneys and 20 FBI agents to focus on IP crimes. The issue also came to a head in a recent landmark court case, when a court affirmed that the burden was on jeweler Tiffany to identify and alert eBay to auctions involving counterfeit merchandise (rather than the burden lying on eBay to stop the transactions)." Wilson is available to discuss the counterfeit issue and what businesses should understand about the Tiffany court case, the government's increased focus on IP crimes, and the various ways they can protect themselves from counterfeiters. News Contact: Michelle King, [email protected] Phone: +1-205-639-1098
**3. ENVIRONMENT: REDUCING THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF SUMMER TRAVEL ON THE ENVIRONMENT. Gary Gero, president of the Climate Action Reserve, the most rigorous and fastest-growing offset registry in the North American carbon market: "Many high-quality offsets are available to travelers to make their long weekend trips and extended vacations more eco-friendly. Plus, carbon offsets let individuals address climate change in a meaningful and immediate way. With well-established standards for transparency and quality, the old stigma of offsets being smoke and mirrors just doesn't hold true anymore." Purchasing carbon offsets is an inexpensive way for environmentally conscious Americans to reduce the carbon footprint of their trip. Gero can discuss tips to help people determine which offsets are legitimate and which will really help the planet, including: how to calculate your carbon footprint; buying offsets that have been reviewed by an independent party to verify they are legitimate; looking for offset credits with a seal of approval from the Climate Action Reserve, the Gold Standard or Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS); and finding a project that sparks your interest so that your offset purchase is more meaningful to you. There is a wide range of activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and generate offsets, including planting trees, converting food waste into energy, trapping methane from farms and destroying ozone-depleting substances. News Contact: Ashley Greer, [email protected] Phone: +1-310-473-8090 Website: http://www.climateactionreserve.org
**4. INTERNATIONAL: ISRAELI RAID ON GAZA AID FLOTILLA IS ILLEGAL. Eric Garris, founder and managing editor, Antiwar.com: "While Israel claims justification for the Gaza aid flotilla raid by alluding to the San Remo Memorandum, this claim fails to recognize the illegality of the Gaza blockade itself. Forty percent of the residents of Gaza are children under the age of 14, two-thirds of the babies are anemic, and all of them exist without access to safe drinking water, soap and basic medical supplies. Not only were the ships not carrying 'combatants,' as Israel claimed (unless you count Nobel Laureates and civilian aid workers), but where is the evidence of weapons? Where are the criminal charges? Does the U.S./Israeli assertion that the commandos were 'ambushed' by the aid workers have any merit? Americans should stop footing the bill for billions of dollars in foreign aid to Israel and demand some answers." To listen to a recent Antiwar Radio interview featuring Garris, visit: http://scotthorton.org/radio/10_06_01_garris.mp3 News Contact: Wendy Honett, [email protected] Phone: +1-510-217-8665
**5. LAW: BUYER BEWARE: NEW EMPLOYEES MAY BRING NEW LAWSUITS WITH THEM. Paul Peralta, an employment attorney with Moore & Van Allen (Charlotte, N.C.), an AmLaw 200 law firm: "Due to the economic recession, non-compete litigation has proliferated due to the large number of people changing jobs and the highly competitive environment that a recession breeds. Many companies are now rigorously enforcing restrictive covenants, such as non-compete, confidentiality and non-solicitation agreements, in order to preserve their trade secrets and confidential information." Peralta is available to discuss the increase in non-compete litigation and provide an overview of how companies can protect themselves from unnecessary lawsuits or the loss of valuable information and other intangible assets. News Contact: Michelle King, [email protected] Phone: +1-205-639-1098
**6. LAW: LAWSUIT SHINES LIGHT ON GREEN CONSTRUCTION RISKS. Judah Lifschitz, a construction attorney and co-president of Shapiro, Lifschitz & Schram, a Washington, D.C., law firm: "In a lawsuit filed last month, the owners of a luxury condominium in Battery Park City are suing for $1.5 million in damages because they say the eco-friendly building isn't green enough. As this lawsuit demonstrates, green construction presents many potential risks, which, until recently, were mostly academic, as the field is relatively new and few lawsuits had been filed. Now, many owners, architects, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers are vulnerable to these kinds of lawsuits because they have not included appropriate protections in their contracts." Lifschitz is available for an interview or to write an article on what this lawsuit means for those involved in green construction, including an overview of potential liabilities and ways to guard against them. News Contact: Michelle King, [email protected] Phone: +1-205-639-1098 Website: http://www.slslaw.com
PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire. To submit a request for experts: http://budurl.com/profnetquery To consult the ProfNet Experts Database: http://profnet.prnewswire.com To contact ProfNet by phone: +1-800-PROFNET, ext. 1 To share a thought on Expert Alerts: [email protected]
/PRNewswire – June 2/
SOURCE ProfNet
TOPIC ALERT:
Gulf Oil Spill (continued, 6 experts)
Advertisement
EXPERT ALERTS:
1. Business: Surviving Government Investigations in Era of Heightened Scrutiny
2. Crime: Theft on the IP Seas: Counterfeiting on the Rise
Advertisement
3. Environment: Reducing Negative Impact of Summer Travel on Environment
4. International: Israeli Raid on Gaza Aid Flotilla is Illegal
5. Law: Buyer Beware: New Employees May Bring New Lawsuits with Them
6. Law: Lawsuit Shines Light on Green Construction Risks
GULF OIL SPILL:
Following are additional experts who are available to discuss the various issues surrounding the Gulf oil spill. To view the original Topic Alert, distributed last week, that featured 60+ experts, see: http://budurl.com/spillexperts.
**1. Dr. Frank J. Bia, medical director, AmeriCares, is available to comment on the potential health risks associated with the massive spill: "The oil spill poses a whole host of health problems, not the least of which is chemical pneumonia from inhaling thick oil residues. Inhaling hydrocarbon vapors can also cause nausea, vomiting, eye irritation, headaches, dizziness and breathing difficulties. Fumes and inhaled residue are especially dangerous for children with asthma and other breathing problems." AmeriCares has been providing aid to people devastated by natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires for over 25 years. News Contacts: Peggy Atherlay, [email protected] Phone: +1-203-658-9626, or Donna Porstner, [email protected] Phone: +1-203-658-9579
**2. Harrison Dillon, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Solazyme, the world's leading renewable oil and bioproducts company, which is currently in the process of opening an integrated biorefinery in rural Pennsylvania aiming for commercial-scale production of algae-based fuel: "The BP disaster is a wake-up call to reduce our dependence on petroleum and fossil fuels. It shows us the strong need for alternative technologies to be developed and encouraged by our government through legislation, as well as grants. The oil that Solazyme makes through our process is biodegradable, made on land, and does not involve risks like those we see with crude oil and the BP oil spill. The time for our government to act to encourage this and similar innovation is now." Dillon can speak on what kinds of specific efforts the government should be undertaking to encourage the growth of technologies that will reduce dependence on foreign oil, as well as Solazyme's work in this space. News Contact: Lia LoBello, [email protected] Phone: +1-212-931-6180
**3. Robert Emery, Dr.P.H., vice president of safety, health, environment and risk management at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, is an expert in health and safety programs, occupational radiation protection, hazardous waste management and emergency preparedness: "Oil spread out over a large surface area and heated by the sun can produce very high levels of exposure to any of a variety of potentially harmful crude oil compounds. Persons working around the oil, either out on the water or on land, should exercise extreme caution and avoid vapor inhalation and skin contact. The short-term effects of exposure to high levels of crude oil vapors can include eye and upper airway irritation, dizziness and nausea. The longer-term health concerns are linked to exposures to the chemicals in crude oil, such as benzene, toluene and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, all of which are classified by the EPA as carcinogens. Skin exposure to crude oil can result in the skin reddening, swelling and burning if the oil is not rinsed off in a timely manner. Prolonged skin exposure has been shown to cause cancers of the skin, sinuses, gastrointestinal system and bladder. An important note: The oil has a tar-like consistency and does not rinse off easily. Individuals should only use cleaners that are intended for use on the skin to remove oil, such as soap and water, or approved degreasing gels. Do not use unapproved solvents such as gasoline to remove the oil, as this can lead to other skin complications and possible skin absorption and associated toxicity. It will also be important for persons seeking medical attention to tell their healthcare providers if they had been exposed to the oil. This reporting will help the various health departments monitor for possible health effects from oil exposures, and, in turn, will help establish worker and community safety and health criteria." News Contact: Rob Cahill, [email protected], or the UTHealth Media Hotline: +1-713-500-3030
**4. Christoph Gorder, vice president of emergency response, AmeriCares, is available to comment on how families in the Gulf Coast can prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. In preparation, AmeriCares has stocked disaster aid in key areas prone to hurricanes, including Gulf Coast communities: "One of the biggest lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina is to be prepared. AmeriCares continues to strengthen our relationships in the region to ensure rapid response in the event of another devastating hurricane. We're also reaching out to partners to plan additional deliveries of medicines and supplies needed to treat asthma and other respiratory conditions potentially worsened by the oil spill." AmeriCares has been providing aid to people devastated by natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires for over 25 years. News Contacts: Peggy Atherlay, [email protected] Phone: +1-203-658-9626, or Donna Porstner, [email protected] Phone: +1-203-658-9579
**5. Jim Fawcett, director, Marine Science & Policy Outreach Sea Grant Program, USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, can discuss marine transportation and seaport. News Contact: Susan Andrews, [email protected] Phone: +1-213-821-2481
**6. Jim Haw, professor of environmental studies and chemistry at USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, can discuss the oil spill's impact on wetlands and wildlife. News Contact: Susan Andrews, [email protected] Phone: +1-213-821-2481
EXPERT ALERTS:
**1. BUSINESS: SURVIVING GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATIONS IN AN ERA OF HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY. Andrew Morris, an attorney with Carr Maloney in Washington, D.C.: "The last year has seen a major upswing in government investigation and enforcement activity, with officials announcing aggressive new efforts in a wide range of areas, including a host of financial laws such as fraud, fair lending, securities, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; environmental regulations; employment laws; workplace safety; Medicare and other health care programs; antitrust laws; and various civil rights laws, to name just a few. With such dramatic increases in government scrutiny, it is more important than ever before for companies to understand how to avert government investigations and -- if the government comes knocking -- how to survive them." Morris is available for an interview or to write an article providing specific actions companies can take. News Contact: Michelle King, [email protected] Phone: +1-205-639-1098
**2. CRIME: THEFT ON THE IP SEAS: COUNTERFEITING ON THE RISE. J. Mark Wilson, a licensed patent attorney with Moore & Van Allen, an AmLaw 200 law firm: "Counterfeiting is a growing problem for companies in a wide variety of industries, and the government is responding. On April 26, 2010, celebrated as 'World IP Day,' the Department of Justice announced the addition of 15 new assistant U.S. attorneys and 20 FBI agents to focus on IP crimes. The issue also came to a head in a recent landmark court case, when a court affirmed that the burden was on jeweler Tiffany to identify and alert eBay to auctions involving counterfeit merchandise (rather than the burden lying on eBay to stop the transactions)." Wilson is available to discuss the counterfeit issue and what businesses should understand about the Tiffany court case, the government's increased focus on IP crimes, and the various ways they can protect themselves from counterfeiters. News Contact: Michelle King, [email protected] Phone: +1-205-639-1098
**3. ENVIRONMENT: REDUCING THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF SUMMER TRAVEL ON THE ENVIRONMENT. Gary Gero, president of the Climate Action Reserve, the most rigorous and fastest-growing offset registry in the North American carbon market: "Many high-quality offsets are available to travelers to make their long weekend trips and extended vacations more eco-friendly. Plus, carbon offsets let individuals address climate change in a meaningful and immediate way. With well-established standards for transparency and quality, the old stigma of offsets being smoke and mirrors just doesn't hold true anymore." Purchasing carbon offsets is an inexpensive way for environmentally conscious Americans to reduce the carbon footprint of their trip. Gero can discuss tips to help people determine which offsets are legitimate and which will really help the planet, including: how to calculate your carbon footprint; buying offsets that have been reviewed by an independent party to verify they are legitimate; looking for offset credits with a seal of approval from the Climate Action Reserve, the Gold Standard or Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS); and finding a project that sparks your interest so that your offset purchase is more meaningful to you. There is a wide range of activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and generate offsets, including planting trees, converting food waste into energy, trapping methane from farms and destroying ozone-depleting substances. News Contact: Ashley Greer, [email protected] Phone: +1-310-473-8090 Website: http://www.climateactionreserve.org
**4. INTERNATIONAL: ISRAELI RAID ON GAZA AID FLOTILLA IS ILLEGAL. Eric Garris, founder and managing editor, Antiwar.com: "While Israel claims justification for the Gaza aid flotilla raid by alluding to the San Remo Memorandum, this claim fails to recognize the illegality of the Gaza blockade itself. Forty percent of the residents of Gaza are children under the age of 14, two-thirds of the babies are anemic, and all of them exist without access to safe drinking water, soap and basic medical supplies. Not only were the ships not carrying 'combatants,' as Israel claimed (unless you count Nobel Laureates and civilian aid workers), but where is the evidence of weapons? Where are the criminal charges? Does the U.S./Israeli assertion that the commandos were 'ambushed' by the aid workers have any merit? Americans should stop footing the bill for billions of dollars in foreign aid to Israel and demand some answers." To listen to a recent Antiwar Radio interview featuring Garris, visit: http://scotthorton.org/radio/10_06_01_garris.mp3 News Contact: Wendy Honett, [email protected] Phone: +1-510-217-8665
**5. LAW: BUYER BEWARE: NEW EMPLOYEES MAY BRING NEW LAWSUITS WITH THEM. Paul Peralta, an employment attorney with Moore & Van Allen (Charlotte, N.C.), an AmLaw 200 law firm: "Due to the economic recession, non-compete litigation has proliferated due to the large number of people changing jobs and the highly competitive environment that a recession breeds. Many companies are now rigorously enforcing restrictive covenants, such as non-compete, confidentiality and non-solicitation agreements, in order to preserve their trade secrets and confidential information." Peralta is available to discuss the increase in non-compete litigation and provide an overview of how companies can protect themselves from unnecessary lawsuits or the loss of valuable information and other intangible assets. News Contact: Michelle King, [email protected] Phone: +1-205-639-1098
**6. LAW: LAWSUIT SHINES LIGHT ON GREEN CONSTRUCTION RISKS. Judah Lifschitz, a construction attorney and co-president of Shapiro, Lifschitz & Schram, a Washington, D.C., law firm: "In a lawsuit filed last month, the owners of a luxury condominium in Battery Park City are suing for $1.5 million in damages because they say the eco-friendly building isn't green enough. As this lawsuit demonstrates, green construction presents many potential risks, which, until recently, were mostly academic, as the field is relatively new and few lawsuits had been filed. Now, many owners, architects, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers are vulnerable to these kinds of lawsuits because they have not included appropriate protections in their contracts." Lifschitz is available for an interview or to write an article on what this lawsuit means for those involved in green construction, including an overview of potential liabilities and ways to guard against them. News Contact: Michelle King, [email protected] Phone: +1-205-639-1098 Website: http://www.slslaw.com
PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire. To submit a request for experts: http://budurl.com/profnetquery To consult the ProfNet Experts Database: http://profnet.prnewswire.com To contact ProfNet by phone: +1-800-PROFNET, ext. 1 To share a thought on Expert Alerts: [email protected]
/PRNewswire – June 2/
SOURCE ProfNet
