Beijing: GMZ Energy Secures $14 Million in Series C Funding to Produce New Class of Renewable Technologies

GMZ Energy Secures $14 Million in Series C Funding to Produce New Class of Renewable Technologies; Closes Oversubscribed Financing Round - MarketWatch: "GMZ Energy, a leader in thermoelectric materials and systems and a GE ecomagination Challenge winner, today announced it secured $14 million in Series C financing. The new investment was led by Mitsui Ventures and includes I2BF Global Ventures, Energy Technology Ventures (a joint venture of GE, NRG Energy and ConocoPhillips), Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and BP Alternative Energy. With the new funding, GMZ will expand its engineering and go-to-market capabilities as the company moves into production of a new class of renewable technologies."

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Italy: Wellness Tip: Skipping dessert and having an after-dinner coffee is good for your memory & thinner waist

How to get better memory, thinner waist - Hindustan Times: "For the study, it was decided to focus on a protein called CREB1 that is known to be important to memory and learning. While conducting experiments on mice, researcher Giovambattista Pani showed that cutting calories boosted learning if the animals could still make CREB1. Besides, he also showed that cutting calories boosts the amount of the protein made in the brain. It was also found the animals' calorie count was only cut by 25 to 30 percent but in human terms, this equates to about 600 calories a day."

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Australia: Widespread beach erosion leaves surf clubs in deep water

Widespread beach erosion leaves surf clubs in deep water | smh.com.au: "The Old Bar Surf Club sits closer to the water than the school and Mr Jones guesses he has three to five years before the threat becomes an emergency. Old Bar is not the only NSW surf club nearly in deep water. While for most clubs rising sea levels and storm intensities due to climate change remain distant fears, at least six other NSW clubs are already confronting these threats. Clubs including Cudgen Headland, Copacabana, Killcare, Thirroul, Bulli and Stockton have reportedly suffered erosion and been forced to consider sea walls, sand replenishment, rebuilding or, as a last resort, relocation. Surf Life Saving Australia published a report in November, using data from Geoscience Australia and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, that placed 63 per cent of surf life saving clubs in ''zones of potential instability''. ''We know there are a number of clubs which right now are at risk of being washed into the sea if a major storm event was to wash into the coast,'' said Norm Farmer, the head of strategic development at Surf Life Saving Australia"

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Renewable Energy: Vestas to supply turbines for new wind farms in Poland, Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden & Pakistan

- Renewable Energy Magazine, at the heart of clean energy journalism: "Vestas is also continuing to expand its operations outside Europe, and ended 2011 announcing its first order in Pakistan. The order is for a total capacity of 50.4 MW, consisting of 28 units of the V90-1.8 MW wind turbines for a wind power project in Nooriabad in the Jimphir region of the country. Delivery of the turbines is scheduled to start in the first half of 2012 and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2012. The order has been placed by Zorlu Energy Pakistan Ltd., which is a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of the Turkish Zorlu Enerji Electricity Generation Inc. In 2006, the company signed an agreement with the Alternative Energy Development Board of the Government of Pakistan to build the first wind power plant in Pakistan for a total capacity of 56.4 MW. The first phase of the project comprising 6 MW has been in operation since 2009 and the second phase comprising the 50.4 MW will be delivered by Vestas."

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Tip: Businesses are encouraging Employee Wellness by holding contests, health screenings, and providing other incentives to help employees get healthy

Inspiring employee healthy lifestyles with employer incentives - phillyBurbs.com : Money: newage industries, fitness, health insurance, health, health incentives: "Employee wellness programs typically include an online health risk assessment and on-site medical screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index and cholesterol. The programs, while voluntary, can offer financial benefits, including lower insurance premiums, gift cards and employer contributions to health savings accounts."

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Canada's climate change plan 'farce,' says Stephane Dion

Canada's climate change plan 'farce,' says Stephane Dion: "Q: How do you get climate change back on the political agenda?
A: Many initiatives should be taken by business people, scientists, activists, ordinary citizens . . . and journalists! But regarding the current state of federal politics, in a nutshell, the opposition should co-operate to at least keep the government accountable toward its own objective: 17-per-cent reduction for 2020. Environment Canada itself said some months ago that only 25 per cent of the target would be reached with the current policies and regulations."

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