According to Wollongong-based Nik Cubrilovic, when the user is logged out of Facebook, rather than deleting its tracking cookies, the site merely modifies them, maintaining account information and other unique tokens that can be used to identify its users.
This simply means that any time you visit a web page with a Facebook button or widget, your browser is still sending personally identifiable information back to Facebook.\
"Even if you are logged out, Facebook still knows and can track every page you visit," Cubrilovic wrote in a blog post.
"The only solution is to delete every Facebook cookie in your browser, or to use a separate browser for Facebook interactions," he added.
Cubrilovic said he tried to contact Facebook to inform it of his discovery but did not get a reply, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
He said there were significant risks to the privacy of users, particularly those using public terminals to access Facebook.
"Facebook are front-and-centre in the new privacy debate just as Microsoft were with security issues a decade ago," Cubrilovic said.
"The question is what it will take for Facebook to address privacy issues and to give their users the tools required to manage their privacy and to implement clear policies -- not pages and pages of confusing legal documentation, and 'logout' not really meaning 'logout'," he added.
It is with great sadness that the family of Professor Wangari Maathai announces her passing away on 25th September, 2011, at the Nairobi Hospital, after a prolonged and bravely borne struggle with cancer. Her loved ones were with her at the time.
Professor Maathai’s departure is untimely and a very great loss to all who knew her—as a mother, relative, co-worker, colleague, role model, and heroine; or who admired her determination to make the world a more peaceful, healthier, and better place.
Prof. Wangari Muta Maathai started the Green Belt Movement in 1977, working with women to improve their livelihoods by increasing their access to resources like firewood for cooking and clean water. She became a great advocate for better management of natural resources and for sustainability, equity, and justice.
Prof. Maathai leaves her three children—Waweru, Wanjira, and Muta—and a granddaughter, Ruth Wangari. They are truly very grateful for all the prayers and support they have received.
Further information on how Prof’s life will be celebrated, where to share memories and condolences, and how to join us to build her legacy for generations to come will be provided shortly. Prof Maathai joined the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Nairobi in 1966 as an assistant lecturer and subsequently registered for a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) degree. In 1968 she was awarded a scholarship to travel to Germany for her PhD studies under the Nairobi-Giessen Partnership program. She completed her PhD project entitled “Early Development of Male Bovine Gonad” in 1970 and awarded the degree in 1971 at the university of Nairobi. In 1976, she was appointed Chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, and a year later Associate professor in Veterinary Anatomy, both at the University of Nairobi- the first indigenous woman in the region to attain those positions. Professor Wangari Muta Maathai was born to Muta Njugi and his wife Wanjiru Muta in Nyeri, Kenya on 1st April 1940. The first indigenous woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree, Professor Maathai started school in 1948 at Ihithe Primary School. She sat for the Kenya Primary Examination in 1951 and scored Grade One. She then proceeded to Mathari Intermediate School and did the Kenya African Preliminary Examination (KAPE) in 1955 and obtained Division One. Her sterling performance earned her a place in Loreto High School, Limuru, where she sat for the Cambridge School Certificate in 1959 and passed with 1st Division. She received a prize at Loreto high School for being first in all subjects during the four years of High School. The young Wangari was awarded a scholarship to study at Mount St. Scholastica College Atchison, Kansas, United States of America where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in biology in 1964. Upon graduation she enrolled for further studies at the University of Pittsburgh, United States of America where she graduated with a Degree in Master of Science in Biological Sciences in 1965. Her thesis entitled “Developmental and Cytological Study of the Pineal Body of Coturnix coturnix japonica” was judged “excellent” by the examining board. Prof Maathai has scored many firsts, and though her entire life sparkles with them, there are many that, for long, never appreciated the glitter. But when she was awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize (2004), becoming the first African woman and the ninth African to be so honored, the entire world had to sit up and take notice. Besides being an accomplished scholar, Professor Wangari Muta Maathai has made her mark as an uncompromising environmental conservationist, an ardent human rights crusader, a tireless Non-governmental Organization net-worker, a champion for democracy as well as a principled politician. She has emerged as a leader who thinks globally but acts locally and one that knows the way, shows the way and goes the way. Professor Maathai has also reasserted the place of Kenya on the global map and secured our pride as a nation. The University of Nairobi is indeed privileged to identify with such a high-flying achiever. Her work on conservation of environment and human rights has earned her several honorary degrees. She was awarded Doctor of Law by William's college, MA USA (1990), Doctor of Science by Hobart & William Smith Colleges (1994), Doctor of Agriculture by University of Norway (1997) and more recently Doctor of Humane Letters, by Yale University (2004) and Doctor of Science by University of Nairobi (2004). She has also received honorary doctorate degrees fromWillamette College (2005), University of California at Irvine (2006), Morehouse University (2006), Doctor of Humane Letters, Connecticut college, USA (2006), Doctor of Public Service honoris Causa, University of Pittsburg, USA (2006), Doctor of Science, Egerton University (2007), Doctor of Humane letters, Meredith College, USA (2009), Honorary doctorate degree, Kwansei Gauin University, Japan (2010) and University of Copenhagen (2011). Other academic appointments include: Endowed Chair in Gender & Women's Studies named "Fuller-Maathai", Connecticut College (2000); Montgomery Fellow, Dartmouth College, USA (2001); and Dorothy McCluskey Visiting Fellow for Conservation, Faculty of the School of Environmental Studies, Yale University, USA (2002). She has also participated in several international symposiums and conferences, the most notable being the Third International Symposium on teaching of Morphological Science, Tel Aviv, Israel (1977), the World Conference on Faith Sciences & Future (1979) and the United Nations Conference on Decade for Women (1980). Since she founded it in 1977, the Green Belt Movement has been synonymous with Professor Maathai. For close to three decades the Green Belt movement has been her way of life. Her clarity of vision, unflagging determination and lobbying skills transformed a good idea of planting trees using ordinary people into a formidable movement. To her credit too is her unique skill of effectively combining and balancing science, social commitment and politics to protect the environment. Green Belt Movement focused mainly on organizing, inspiring and mobilizing women's groups to plant trees to conserve the environment and in the process empower themselves by improving their quality of life. Through Green Belt Movement, Professor Wangari Maathai has helped women plant more than 30 million trees on their farms and in school and church compounds across Kenya. Encouraged by the success of its initiatives in Kenya, Green Belt Movement established a Pan-African Green Belt Network in 1986. Over the years, many people from African countries have warmly received Green Belt Movement’s community empowerment and conservation approach. To date, initiatives have been successfully launched in Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Lesotho, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, among others. We have all witnessed how deforestation and loss of vegetation cover have led to desertification in Africa and threatened many other regions of the world. Protecting forests against desertification is a vital factor in the struggle to salvage the living environment of this planet. Professor Maathai has invested her life in the fight to promote ecologically viable social, economic and cultural development in Kenya and in Africa. She has been rooting for sustainable development that embraces Environmental conservation, democracy and human rights. Professor Wangari Maathai is internationally recognized for her unwaveringstruggle for democracy, human rights and environmental conservation. She has addressed the United Nations on several occasions, and has spoken on behalf of women at special sessions of the General Assembly during the five-year review of the Earth Summit. Professor Maathai serves on the boards of organizations including World Learning for International Development, Green Cross International, Worldwide Network of Women in Environmental Work, Democracy Coalition Project, Global Crop Diversity Trust and Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. She also serves as patron to three global campaigns: Congo Basin Forest Fund, Billion Tree Campaign and Mottainai Campaign in Japan. From 2005-2008, Maathai served as the Presiding Officer of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ECOSOCC was formed to advise the African Union on issues related to African civil society. Professor Maathai was honored with an appointment as Goodwill Ambassador to the Congo Basin Forest Ecosystem, and was later named co-chair of the Congo Basin Forest Fund, where she serves in an advocacy role for the region's conservation and protection.In September 1998, she launched a campaign that stemmed from the Jubilee 2000 Coalition. She played a leading global role as Co-Chair of the Jubilee 2000 Africa Campaign, which advocates for cancellation of the backlogged, non-repayable debts of poor African countries. Her campaign against land grabbing and the allocation of forestland has received much attention both in Kenya and abroad. One of her most memorable undertakings is the struggle to save Uhuru Park in 1980s and Karura Forest in 1990s. Professor Maathai clearly demonstrated her resolve to protect our environment at all costs - including paying with her own life. That kind of sacrifice reflects a lot of courage, faith in her mission, patriotism and love for mankind.
Besides founding and coordinating the Green Belt Movement, Professor Wangari Maathai has been playing crucial roles in a host of other organizations. She was active in the National Council of Women of Kenya (NCWK) from 1976 to 1987 and was its chairperson from 1981 to 1987. In 1985 she co-founded GROOTS International (Grassroots Organizations Operating Together in Sisterhood). She also served as a director of the Kenya Red Cross (1973-80). Professor Maathai is also serving as a member of several local and international boards, namely: United Nations Advisory Board on Disarmament, USA; Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Advocacy Group, United Nations Commission on Global Governance, USA; Advisory Board, Democracy Coalition Project, USA, Earth Charter Commission, USA; Selhttp://greenbeltmovement.org/index.phpection Committee, Sasakawa Environmental Prize; United Nations environmental Program, Kenya; Women and Environment Development Organization (WEDO), USA; World Learning for International Development, USA; Green Cross International; Environment Liaison Center International, Kenya; The WorldWIDE Network of Women in Environmental Work, USA; National Council of Women of Kenya, Kenya. On March 28, 2005, she was elected the first president of the African Union's Economic, Social and Cultural Council and was appointed a goodwill ambassador for an initiative aimed at protecting the Congo Basin Forest Ecosystem. In 2006 she was one of the eight flag bearers at the 2006Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. Also on May 21, 2006, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by and gave the commencement address at Connecticut College. She supported the International Year of Deserts and Desertification program. In November 2006, she spearheaded the United Nations Billion Tree Campaign. Maathai was one of the founders of The Nobel Women's Initiative along with sister Nobel Peace laureates Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan Maguire. Six women representing North America and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa decided to bring together their experiences in a united effort for peace with justice and equality. Professor Maathai was listed 6th in the Environment Agency (UK) peer review of the world’s Top 100 Eco-Heroes. She was also included in UNEP's Global 500 Hall of Fame and named one of the 100 heroines of the world. In June 1997, Professor Maathai was elected by Earth Times as one of 100 persons in the World who have made a difference in the environmental arena. In 2005, Professor Maathai was honored by Time Magazine as one of 100 most influential people in the world, and by Forbes Magazine as one of 100 most powerful women in the world. Professor Wangari Maathai is well recognized for her persistent struggle for democracy, human rights and environmental conservation. She has addressed the United Nations on several occasions and spoke on behalf of women at special sessions of the General Assembly for the five-year review of the 1992 Earth Summit. She served on the Commission for Global Governance and the Commission on the Future. Over the years, she and Green Belt Movement have received numerous awards. These include Woman of the Year Award (1983), Right Livelihood Award (1984) Better World Society Award (1986); The Windstar Award for the Environment (1988); The Woman of the World (1989); The Offeramus Medal (1990); United Nations Africa Prize for Leadership (1991); Global 500 Hall of Fame, United Nations Environment Program (1991); The Goldman Environmental prize (1991); The Jane Adams Leadership Award (1993); The Edinburgh Medal (1993); The Golden Ark Award (1994); International Women's Hall of Fame (1995); 0ne of 100 in the world who have made a difference in environment, Earth Times (1997); The Juliet Hollister Award (2001); 0utstanding Vision and Commitment Award, Bridges to Community (2002); WANGO Environment Award (2003); Sophie Prize (2004); Petra Kelly Environment Prize (2004); Excellence Award, Kenyan Community Abroad (2004); J. Sterling Morton Award (2004); Conservation Scientist Award (2004);J. Sterling Morton Award (2004); Petra Kelly Prize (2004); Sophie Prize (2004);Elder of the Burning Spear, Republic of Kenya (2004); Elder of the Golden Heart, Republic of Kenya (2004) ; the Nobel Prize for Peace (2004),the Paul Harris Fellow (2005), Frances’s highest honor, Légion d'honneur (2006); Disney Conservation Award (2006); World Citizenship Award (2007); Indira Gandhi Prize (2007) ; Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights (2007); Jawarhalal Nehru Award (2007); The Elizabeth Blackwell Award from Hobart and William Smith Colleges (2008); Royal Institute of British Architects, Honorary Fellowship (2008);NAACP Image Award - Chairman's Award (with Al Gore) (2009); Humanity 4 Water Award for Outstanding Commitment 2 Action (2009);Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun of Japan (2009) and Lions Humanitarian Award (2010) Professor Maathai is the author of four (4) books: “The Green Belt Movement”: Sharing the Approach and the Experience (2004); “The challenge for Africa”(2009autobiography entitled “Unbowed”(2006) Replenishing the earth: Spiritual values for healing ourselves and the world (2010). Further, the Green Belt Movement and Professor Maathai are featured in several publications including: Speak Truth to Power (Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, 2000), Women Pioneers for the Environment (Mary Joy Breton, 1998), Hope's Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet (Frances Moore Lappe and Anna Lappe, 2002) and Women Pioneers for the Environment (Mary Joy Breton, 1998). She has also featured in several films and documentaries such as Naked Earth, Sustainable Development (1991), British Broadcasting Corporation for One World Women; Information and Empowerment: Dr. Wangari Maathai (1994), AFSC Video & Film Library; Africa, The Uncovered Continent (1995), Chip Taylor; Africa, Search for Common Ground (1997), Common Ground Productions, USA; South Africa: Eritrea/Kenya: Democracy or Disruption - W. Maathai & Green Belt (1998), Common Ground Productions, USA; A Quiet Revolution (2001), Earth Council, United Nations Environmental Program; “Planting Hope”, Wangari Maathai & The Greenbelt Movement. A short film by Lisa Merton and Alan Date (2011) and The Quest to Save Turtle Island, Carol Mary Scott. In December 2002, Professor Maathai was elected to Kenya's parliament with an overwhelming 98 percent of the vote. She represented the Tetu Constituency in Nyeri District. Subsequently, in January 2003, President Mwai Kibaki appointed her Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources in Kenya's ninth parliament. Article By: S. G. Kiama, BVM, MSc., PhD Acting Director, Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies University of Nairobi
This post includes information on diet and cancer risk including
alcohol, fruit and vegetables, salt, meat, fibre and other
carbohydrates, dairy products and fat.
What we eat and the amount of alcohol we drink affects the risk of several cancers.
Tables 4.1 and 4.2 summarise what we know about diet and alcohol and the risk of certain types of cancer.
Alcohol
Alcohol is well established as a cause of cancer. It has been
estimated that alcohol consumption causes at least 13,000 cancer cases
in the UK each year - around 9,000 cases in men and 4,000 in women.
Alcohol consumption increases the risk of oral (oral cancer includes
cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx excluding nasopharynx and lip),
laryngeal, oesophageal, breast, bowel and liver cancer. Risk of cancers
of the upper aerodigestive tract (oesophagus, oral cavity, pharynx and
larynx) increases linearly with quantity of alcohol consumed above
25g/day . Someone drinking 100 g/day has a 4-6-fold increased risk of
these cancers compared to light or non-drinkers.
Table 4.3 shows the alcohol content of some common drinks.
Smoking
and drinking heavily in combination increases risk of cancers of the
upper aerodigestive tract up to 80-fold, and in developed countries,
smoking and alcohol consumption combined have been estimated to account
for 75% of all upper aerodigestive cancers.
It takes up to 16 years for the risk of these cancers in a former
drinker to fall to the level of someone who has never consumed alcohol.
Long-term heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk of liver
cancer, with around a three-to-six-fold risk increase for the heaviest
drinkers. Light drinking may also slightly increase liver cancer risk.
Alcohol increases bowel cancer risk, with a pooled analysis of 14
cohort studies reporting a 19% increase in risk for an increase of
100g/week. There was an increase in colon cancer risk in men and women
separately at this level of consumption, and an increase in rectal
cancer for the same intake in men only.
There are various possible mechanisms for the carcinogenic effect of
alcohol consumption at these cancer sites. Acetaldehyde, the primary
metabolite of alcohol, has been shown to alter DNA and cause cell
proliferation. Alcohol may act as a solvent for other carcinogens (for
example tobacco smoke), may produce reactive oxygen species and nitrogen
species and may interfere with metabolism of folate or other
micronutrients.
Risk of breast cancer increases by approximately 7-12% for every additional 10 g/day of alcohol. This association is probably mediated by an increase in oestrogen levels.
There is some evidence that alcohol consumption protects against
kidney cancer, with a 28% risk reduction for an intake of 15 g/day
compared with non-drinkers reported in a pooled analysis.
There is weaker evidence for a reduced risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
in alcohol drinkers, with a pooled analysis showing a 27% risk
reduction in current drinkers, but no trend of lower risk with
increasing levels of alcohol intake.
Setting safe limits for alcohol intake is complex. Among
post-menopausal women and men aged 40- plus, drinking one to two units a
day can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 30-50%.
The Government’s current recommendation is that men should not
regularly drink more than 3-4 units/day and women should not regularly
drink more than 2-3 units/day. However, the European Code Against Cancer recommends no more than two and one units/day respectively to minimise the risk of cancer.
In 2009, 26% of men in Britain drank on average more than 21
units/week, and 7% more than 50 units. Eighteen percent of women drank
on average more than 14 units/week, and 4% more than 35 units. The proportion of men and women in Britain drinking, on average, more
than 21 units/week and 14 units/week, respectively, has fallen since
2002, and the proportion of heavy drinkers fell between 2006 and 2009.
On average, men in Britain drink 16 units a week, and women 8 units a
week. Between 2002 and 2006, average weekly consumption fell by 15% in
Britain, and has appeared to continue to fall since 2006, although there
was no significant difference between 2008 and 2009.
Figure 4.1 shows alcohol consumption in Britain by socioeconomic group.
Fruits and vegetables.
Vegetables and fruits contain antioxidant nutrients such as
vitamin C and carotenoids, folate and a range of phytochemicals
(glucosinolates, dithiolthiones, indoles, chlorophyll, flavonoids,
allylsulphides and phyytoestrogens).
The complex mixture of chemicals means it is difficult to pinpoint
which ones can prevent cancer, and it is likely that the effects of
fruit and vegetable consumption are due to the interactive effect of
many different chemicals.
Studies indicate that each daily portion - 80-100 grams - of fruit or vegetables halves the risk of oral cancer, reduces risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus by approximately 20%, and of stomach cancer by about 30%.
People with the highest intakes of fruit and vegetables have up to an 80% reduced risk of laryngeal cancer. An increase of one portion a day of fruit reduces lung cancer risk by up to 14%.
However, given that smoking and alcohol cause large increases in risk
for these cancers, and that people who drink or smoke heavily usually
have lower intake of fruit and vegetables, it is possible that the lower
risk shown for fruit and vegetables is actually due to smoking and
alcohol.
There is evidence that higher intake of carotenoids may protect against advanced prostate cancer and gastric cancer. There is some evidence that selenium protects against prostate and lung cancer and prevents bowel adenomas.
High folate intake has been shown to reduce risk of breast cancer in moderate-heavy drinkers. Most of these studies are based on body levels or dietary intake rather than supplements.
There is good evidence that vitamin D protects against bowel cancer
and weaker evidence for a protective effect against breast and prostate
cancer. The main source of vitamin D for people is skin absorption from sunlight.
Current government advice, in line with WHO recommendations, is that
adults and children over five should have at least five 80g portions of
fruits and vegetables a day (excluding potatoes). Men and women in the
UK consume on average 4.4 portions of fruit and vegetables a day and 33%
of women and 37% of men consume the recommended five portions a day. Just 7% of girls and 22% of boys aged 11-18 years are eating the recommended amount.
Figure 4.2 shows the sources of dietary energy in UK adults.
Dietary fibre
There is evidence that dietary fibre intake is protective against bowel cancer.
Results from the European Prospective Investigation show that a high
fibre intake (average of 27g/day) is associated with a 20% lower risk of
large bowel cancer when compared with the lowest intake (average of
17g/day), after inclusion of covariates such as physical activity,
alcohol, smoking, red and processed meat and folate. Fibre was found to be particularly protective in people who consumed high amounts of red and processed meat.
Fermentation of fibre (non-starch polysaccharides, NSP) in the bowel
produces short-chain fatty acids, which have known anti-cancer
properties. NSP also contributes to stool bulk and prevents
constipation.
The average daily intake of fibre as NSP from dietary sources per
person in the UK is 14g, while the Department of Health recommended
average intake is 18g a day.
Red and processed meat
Red and processed meat increases the risk of bowel cancer. Risk estimates for an intake of 120 g of red meat (generally including processed red meat) per day are around 25-35%.
Risk estimates for processed meat vary more widely, from 9-36% for a daily intake of 30 g. While the mechanisms remain unclear, processed meat is relatively
high in nitrosamines, which are linked to some cancers, and it is
thought that consumption of red meat causes the body to increase its own
production of nitrosamines.
In Britain adults get around 11% of their daily energy intake from red and processed meats. ( Figure 4.1)
Salt and nitrites
A high intake of salt and salt-preserved foods increases the
risk of stomach cancer. People eating more than 16g/day of salt have
two-three times the risk of people eating 10g/day or less. Most evidence comes from countries with higher salt consumption than
the UK, and it is unclear to what extent salt causes stomach cancer here.
Salt may increase cancer risk by increasing sensitivity of the lining
of the stomach to carcinogens such as nitrates, or by directly causing
mucosal damage and inflammation. On average, British men consume twice
the recommended maximum (6 g/day for an adult) intake of salt and
British women consume about 50% more than is recommended.
Dairy products
A recent pooled analysis of cohort studies found a 16%
reduction in risk of bowel cancer in people with a higher consumption of
milk, which remained after adjustment for total calcium and vitamin D
intake.
There is weaker evidence that a high intake of dairy foods causes a slight increase in prostate and ovarian cancer risk. In British adults, dairy products contribute around 10% to the average daily total energy intake ( Figure 4.1).
Fat
A recent cohort study of breast cancer in a group of mainly
pre-menopausal women reported an increase in risk for a higher intake of
animal fat, and a pooled analysis of nine breast cancer cohort studies
reported a 9% increase in risk with each 5% increase in saturated fat.
A study using a food diary found a two-fold increased risk of breast
cancer in women who consumed an average of 34g per day of saturated fat,
compared with women who consumed low amounts. Intake recorded in a food
frequency questionnaire by the same women did not correlate with breast
cancer risk.
http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/causes/lifestyle/diet/The authors of the paper interpreted the discrepancy between these
results as evidence that the lack of association between fat and breast
cancer in many cohort studies is due to inaccuracy in recording diet. British men eat an average of 84g fat per day and British women an
average of 61g, meaning that on average British adults are getting
around one-third of their daily energy intake from fat; around one
quarter of this total is animal fat. However, there has been a fall in
the proportions of energy derived from fat in British adults over the
last 20 years
The inaugural Global Entrepreneurship: The Latest Research on Business Creation conference was held
at The George Washington University School of Business in Washington, DC on October 14-16, 2010. The
event was headed by Dr. Paul Reynolds, Co-Principal for the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics
(PSED) I and II, and was sponsored by the George Washington University Center for Entrepreneurial
Excellence (CFEE) and the International Council for Small Business (ICSB).
The PSED research program is
internationally renowned
and designed to enhance the scientific understanding of how
people start businesses around
the world. The PSED projects provide valid and reliable data
on the process of business formation based
on nationally representative samples of nascent
entrepreneurs. PSED I began with screening in 1998-2000 to select a
cohort of 830 with three follow up interviews. PSED II began with
screening in 2005-2006 with two follow up interviews. The
information obtained includes data on the nature of those active as
nascent entrepreneurs, the activities undertaken during the start up
process, and the characteristics of start up efforts that become new
firms. PSED research is sponsored and supported by the Kauffman
Foundation, the United States Small Business Administration, the
University of Michigan, and the National Science Foundation among
others.
The Global Entrepreneurship: The Latest Research on Business Creation
conference attracted over 50 scholars from 8 different countries to
discuss the latest trends in research as well as network with others
from around the world tackling similar research agendas. The conference
program started on Thursday, October 14 with a PSED training workshop
on research opportunities, project objectives, and future involvement.
Friday and Saturday were designated for author presentations under
various topics listed below. A gala dinner was held on Saturday night
for all attendees.
This workshop and symposium was designed for two groups of participants:
Scholars analyzing longitudinal data
sets on business creation who had an opportunity to meet and discuss
their efforts as "works in progress" as they are developed for
submission to peer review journals.
Those designing and implementing
longitudinal studies of business creation to learn from the experiences
of those who have already implemented such
panel studies.
A longitudinal perspective on Portfolio
Entrepreneurship: Intentions, business group growth, stagnation and
contraction over time in developing economies
Additional Information:
For more information on the event, please contact the organizing committee:
Email: icsb@gwu.eduAttention: Michael Battaglia
Paul D. Reynolds, George Washington University, pauldavidsonreynolds@gmail.com
Ayman El Tarabishy, George Washington University
George T. Solomon, George Washington University
Erik K. Winslow, George Washington University
The IBM Corporate Service Core (IBM CSC) which was launched on 4th July 2011 at the new KENET training room at the Jomo Kenyatta Memorial LibraryUniversity of Nairobi, gave their first Interim report on 20 July, 2011.
The launch event was attended by representatives from various KENET
member institutions who inluded Vice Chancellors, Principals and Heads
of ICT. The guest of Honor was Prof. Crispin Kiamba who is the Parmanent
Secretary in the ministry of Higher Education, Science.
During the launch, the IBM team outlined thier work plan for the next 30 days when they will be studying KENET
after which they will offer recommendations on how to improve our
services and Technology. The University of Nairobi was represented by
Prof. Henry Mutoro, the Principal of College of Education and External Studies.
The team of four senior employees of IBM coming from four different
countries (China, Finland, Germany and Spain) arrived in Kenya on July
1, 2011 and started their work immediately after the launch. It is part
of the IBM Corporate Social Responsibility to emerging economies. There
are also two other IBM CSC teams in Kenya that will be working with the
directorate of E-government and with Ministry of Information and Communication.
The team was asked by KENET to
provide pro bono consulting study that aims to develop strategies for
increasing the research (and education) and local traffic coming out of
the KENET network which is
currently very low at less than 5% (most traffic is still to Google,
Yahoo, and other non-research and education sites). They will interview a
representative number of VCs, ICT directors, faculty and researchers to
establish the reasons that keep the research traffic relatively low and
why researchers remain isolated from the Global Research and Innovation
Networks despite the fact the Internet bandwidth has increased by a
factor of more than 10 times in the past two years. They will also be
helping KENET and Universities
ultimately, to benchmark themselves with other Research and Education
Networks in terms of operations and organizational and governance
structures. This is all consistent with University of Nairobi's reviewed Strategic plan.
The University of Nairobi made a cash donation of Kshs. 1 Million towards the medical expenses of the Sinai fire victims at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
The donation was presented by the Vice-Chancellor Prof. George Magoha,
who was accompanied by members of the University Management Board and
received by the KNH Director, Mr. Richard Leresian Lesiyampe.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George Magoha, hands over a donation of
Kshs 1 Million to the Director Kenyatta National Hospital, Mr. Richard
Leresian Lesiyampe, being a donation by the University of Nairobi
towards the Sinai fire victims.
On September 22nd , 20011, Prof. Magoha led management again
to hand over food and clothing materials donated by students and staff,
to the fire victims and the displaced, who are camping at the Tom Mboya
Social Hall in Buru Buru. Over 100 people have perished and others
injured in the incident after an accidental oil spillage, caused fire
which destroyed parts of the slum.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George Magoha hands over donations from the University of Nairobi community to the Kenya Red Cross officials
to assist the Sinai fire victims at Tom Mboya Social Hall, Buru Buru.
The donations included feedstuff and clothing materials donated by
students and staff.
A leaked e-mail from Jerry Yang appears to confirm what many people have been reporting for a while: Yahoo is not above selling itself in whole or in parts.
The e-mail, obtained by Silicon Alley Insider, is largely a long, rah-rah memo for the troops. But it does have this interesting tidbit:
Our advisers are working with us to develop ideas that we will pursue proactively. At the same time, they are fielding inquiries from multiple parties that have already expressed interest in a number of potential options. We will take the time we need to select and structure the best approach for the company, its shareholders and employees.
Translation: for the right price, you're darn right we'll sell this thing -- or at least parts of it.
Oh, and the memo also indicates Yahoo is actively looking for a new CEO to replace recently departed Carol Bartz, who left with a bang in a now infamous e-mail sent from her iPad. In a final, touching coda, Yang tells employees that Yahoo can still be a rarity: an Internet company that endures. OK, that's a great idea. But Yang and Yahoo's board still should have sold out to Microsoft when Ballmer & Co. were courting them like lonely kids the day before the prom.
The Yang e-mail was followed later in the day by a missive from interim CEO Tim Morse, who seemed intent on nipping in the bud any sort of lame-duck perception/attitude on the part of employees. "I'm sure by now you've all seen the note from Jerry, David, and Roy," says the e-mail, which was published by Kara Swisher at AllThingsD. "I want you to know that while the board works through all of our options, CEO, staff and I have been charged to move the company forward. That means we will not be sitting still over the next few months. We are actively making decisions and taking action." Morse combines a little whip-cracking with an attempt to soften the scuttlebutt about a possible sale:
We need a flexible, visionary plan. That's why the Board is actively looking at all the options available to put Yahoo on a strong trajectory. That being said, while the Board makes this decision, it does not mean we are in limbo. We have to keep Yahoo moving ahead. And to do that, there are three things I need Yahoos everywhere to focus on:
Speed: Emphasize quick execution and decision-making
Accountability: Do what you say you're going to do--and take ownership for time to market, monetization, user engagement, quality, or whatever metric defines success for your team
Purpose: Rally behind our mission and purpose: creating deeply personal digital experiences.
Jim Kerstetter has been writing about the high-tech industry since the 1990s. He has been a senior editor at PC Week and a Silicon Valley correspondent at BusinessWeek. He is now senior executive editor at CNET News. He moved back to Boston because he missed the Red Sox. E-mail Jim.
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