Globally, 1.2 billion people have no access to electricity. On the occasion of VELUX 75th anniversary the company decided to address this issue. Together with the social business Little Sun and the NGO Plan International they are collaborating to bring clean, reliable and affordable light to off-grid regions in Zambia, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe.
14,500 Natural Light lamps from the VELUX Group have now arrived in Africa and the first recipients can already look forward to a better quality of life.
Among them are young girls between 10 and 18 years of age who live in a safe house in the slum area Mntendere in the Zambian capital Lusaka.
"The lamps mean the girls can do their homework when they get back from school and can feel safer at night, instead of huddling together in the dark after sunset. And it’s particularly important for our children that they feel safe – many are carrying the mental baggage such as the trauma of violence, rape or drugs," says safe house manager Verann Delarey.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7769151-velux-natural-light-and-life-zambia/
The new edition of the Habanos Festival will feature an outstanding international musical line-up. For five whole days, from the 29th of February to the 4th of March, this annual event dedicated to Habano cigars will gather more than 1,500 attendees from over 50 countries that will discover this year’s major launches in an exclusive and inspiring setting.
The Welcome Event, dedicated to the Hoyo de Monterrey Reserva Cosecha 2012, will have Alexander Abreu, renowned trumpet player, composer and winner of a Latin Grammy, and his group Havana D’Primera to close the evening. On the other hand, the Gala Evening, in tribute to Cohiba on its 50th Anniversary, will feature performances by such distinguished artists as Chucho Valdés, the Cuban pianist and composer, winner of five Grammys and three Latin Grammys; Estrella Morente, the Spanish Flamenco singer; or Jorge Drexler, the Uruguayan singer and songwriter, winner of an Oscar and two Latin Grammys. They will share the stage with rising popular international names in Cuban music such as Alain Pérez, Geidi Chapman and Cucu Diamantes.
Talent will also be enjoyed at the International Habanosommelier contest, that this year celebrates its 15th anniversary, and will bring together the world’s best “Habanosommeliers”, the winners of all the previous editions, with the challenge of finding the “Maestro de Maestros” of Habanos pairings with the most famous drinks and cocktails.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7767951-top-music-artists-to-play-habanos-festival/
Extremely painful and destructive, gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis with elevated serum uric acid (sUA) a root cause of the disease. Even with the growing incidence of gout, recent research from the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society (GUAES) found that just 16 percent of Americans overall know the target sUA number for gout (6 mg/dL or below) – and just 38 percent of people with gout had their sUA levels checked within the past six months, the timeframe recommended by the American College of Rheumatology. Additionally, the majority of gout sufferers don’t understand the importance of taking daily uric acid-lowering medications, with four in 10 incorrectly believing that they can stop taking medications when they aren’t experiencing flares.
Seeking to increase recognition of the severity of gout and need for routine sUA testing and management, GUAES hosted a professional roundtable discussion on October 3, 2015. The roundtable brought together several experts – rheumatologists, a family care physician, and representatives from the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the National Kidney Foundation and CreakyJoints – to explore how to more effectively educate about gout and improve access to public education and treatment.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7715851-guaes-gout-roundtable-discussion/
HMR Weight Management Services (HMR), a subsidiary of Merck, has been named a No. 1 Best Fast Weight-Loss Diet in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Diets of 2016 rankings. This is the first year U.S. News has published the Best Fast Weight-Loss Diet category. HMR also held its position as the No. 2 Best Weight-Loss Diet in the annual rankings list for the second year in a row. HMR Programs focus on helping people lose weight quickly while teaching the healthy lifestyle skills needed for long-term weight management.
“HMR programs excel at providing the jump start many people need when beginning a healthier lifestyle program,” said Carol Addy, M.D. MMSc, Chief Medical Officer at HMR. “A common misconception is that losing weight quickly is not healthy, not sustainable, and will just lead to future weight re-gain. To the contrary, numerous clinical studies demonstrate that following a lifestyle change program which promotes fast initial weight loss can result in better long-term success.” Addy added, “On the HMR Program, people can lose weight without feeling hungry. Our programs achieve fast weight loss in a livable way by encouraging people to eat more and stay satisfied, which makes it easier to stick to the program in the short-term, and over the long haul.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7670751-hmr-program-named-best-weight-loss-diet/
Approximately one year after leading roof window manufacturer VELUX Group joined forces with social business Little Sun and NGO Plan International, launching a design competition to bring clean, sustainable light to Africa, the first solar lamps have now arrived on African soil.
The VELUX Natural Light International Design Competition received 172 proposals from 65 countries. A high-level jury of experts in the fields of architecture, art and design subsequently selected the winning design, by Mariana Arando and Luca Fondello of the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Their solar lamp design was inspired by the way light can bring people together.
The VELUX Group has so far produced and donated 14,500 of the solar-powered lamps, and 150 local sales agents are now being trained in how to sell the lamps in off-grid communities in Senegal, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The training combines workshops, roleplay, demonstrations, and group work.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7724551-velux-natural-light-solar-lamps-in-africa/
Actresses Shay Mitchell and Nina Dobrev are giving back this holiday season by starring in a month-long global philanthropic advertising campaign powered by IPG Mediabrands in support of Free The Children’s WE Are Stronger Together campaign. With the purchase of a $10 Rafiki bracelet, handmade with love by women in Kenya, a gift of impact is unlocked – water, healthcare, school supplies, healthy meals – helping to break the cycle of poverty and create a brighter future for Free The Children partner communities in Kenya, India, Ecuador, Haiti, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Nicaragua and rural China.
By wearing a Rafiki bracelet, available at we.org and select retail stores including Walgreens, PacSun and Nordstrom, North Americans have the opportunity to join Shay Mitchell and Nina Dobrev in making a statement that they are part of the WE movement – a generation who believes that together WE can change the world. Each Rafiki purchased has a unique code for consumers to enter online at trackyourimpact.com so they can track exactly in what Free The Children community a life-changing gift was given.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7722251-free-the-children-we-are-stronger-together/
A rite of passage for many families is packing up the car and heading to a relative’s house to celebrate the holidays. Whether you’re flying part of the way or driving the entire distance, keeping the kids quiet and entertained is paramount to a stress-free trip. Just as important as going over your safety check list is packing your children’s favorite snacks, as well as activity bag chock full of mini board games, coloring books and puzzles. Wearing comfy clothes and bringing cozy blankets can also make a long (and sometimes COLD!) trip much more comfortable.
Travel expert and self-defined “über-busy working mom,” Amy E. Goodman is a pro when it comes to traveling with her family. She is available for live interviews to share with your viewers how to put together a stress-free, relaxing winter getaway – whether to the relative’s or a much needed winter escape!
The holidays have a way of bringing everyone together, but sometimes this invites a mixed bag of characters. Thankfully, Chex’s Go-To Guide For Holiday Party Magic is this season’s resource for creating an unforgettable experience, no matter whoever happens to knock on your door. More information visit: chex.com/ideas/go-to-guide-for-holiday-party-magic
With the help of Food Network personalities Alie & Georgia, along with Ali Ebright of Gimme Some Oven and Courtney Whitmore of Pizzazzerie, Chex has created three new holiday party themes complete with homemade Chex mix recipes, cocktails, and free printables to make sure your party pops!
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7688251-general-mills-chex-mix-holiday-guide/
While Thanksgiving represents a time of tradition and family, it can also spell S-T-R-E-S-S for those planning a big feast. From figuring out how long to cook the turkey to putting together the perfect table setting, getting it all right can be really hard! To help you celebrate and prepare for your Thanksgiving feast, entertaining expert and cookbook author, Brooke Parkhurst has some great ideas and tips for a trouble-free turkey day. That way, when guests arrive - everyone will be able to relax, gobble, and enjoy!
Some of Brooke’s tips include:
• THANKS-GRIA- A delicious glass or two of wine is welcomed at any holiday gathering! Even easier? Put it in a pitcher so everyone can serve themselves. Lightly chill red wine and add a few spices and seasonal fruit to make a soon-to-be favorite holiday libation-- Thanks-gria!
• FORGET ABOUT FLOWERS, BUT DON’T FORGET YOUR HOSTS- Unless you have your own garden, decorating with fresh flowers can cost more than your meal. Instead, create centerpieces from seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh greenery and berries. After the party’s over, make a meal from your centerpiece! And don’t forget about gift baskets for the hosts.
• JUICY WHITE MEAT- Who needs to roast the whole turkey when you can just bake the best part? The turkey breasts and legs cook at very different rates, which means that one will not be properly cooked. Instead, focus on cooking the turkey breast perfectly, roasting it at just the right temperature and saving a lot of time in the process.
• FRESH & FAST- It’s chilly out which makes us gravitate towards creamy, cheesy, heavy dishes. Want a little balance? Make your favorite potato casserole but off-set it with a delicious & easy arugula-pomegranate salad or butternut squash and ricotta crostini. Fresh dishes are usually the fastest to prepare!
Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, will work together with Microsoft, the leading platform and productivity company, to jointly develop next generation automotive technologies.
The two companies today revealed how Microsoft HoloLens, the world’s first fully untethered holographic computer, might be used in future to redefine how customers first encounter and explore a car, as well as how cars might be bought and sold in future.
Areas of future collaboration between the two companies could include autonomous driving technologies and the utilisation of data generated from connected cars to create new services.
Today’s HoloLens demonstration was conducted at Microsoft’s global headquarters in Redmond, USA, and showed how mixed reality might be used by customers to configure cars in three dimensions. With HoloLens, a powerful, wearable computer, holograms are mixed into the physical world.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7668751-volvo-the-virtual-showroom/
With seven-in-ten Americans (69%)1 saying that spending time with family and friends is what they most look forward to during the holidays, T.J.Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods are celebrating the values that make the season truly special by launching “Bring Back the Holidays,” a campaign that focuses on people and creates opportunities to bring them together.
“There are few moments throughout the year when family and friends are in the same place at the same time, and we want people to put value on what really matters during the holidays… these special times together,” said Gina Bollus, spokesperson for T.J.Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods. “Our stores offer thoughtful gifts at amazing prices every day so that you can cherish that precious time with your family and friends and shop on your time, instead of rushing out for the short-lived holiday deal.”
In the new campaign, T.J.Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods imagine a world where door busters refer to loved ones pouring through your front door and the four-letter word that defines the season is L-O-V-E and not S-A-L-E.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7680551-tjmaxx-marshalls-homegoods-holiday-coupons/
As part of their ongoing Stop the Texts. Stop the Wrecks. Texting and Driving Prevention campaign, the Ad Council and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are partnering with YouTube creator and actress Meg DeAngelis to raise awareness of this dangerous behavior. The collaboration also coincides with the release of new television campaign public service advertisements (PSAs) and the launch of Project Yellow Light, a national video contest and scholarship program that aims to educate young drivers on and generate engagement around this issue.
Meg is joining the effort as part of the Ad Council’s Creators for Good program by distributing new exclusive video content to her almost four million subscribers on YouTube. The video amplifies the campaign message, showing drivers that no matter how “safely” they think they can drive while doing other things, distracted driving is always dangerous. Created as an advice video, Meg runs through “10 Everyday Things You’re Doing Wrong” - from putting in bobby pins to folding your clothes - and ends with a serious message to her fans about the dangers of texting and driving.
“Texting and driving is such a serious issue, so I'm really proud to be a voice of this important campaign,” said DeAngelis. “I want all of my viewers to stay safe, so I hope that together, we can spread the word on the dangers of distracted driving.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7682151-ad-council-project-yellow-light/
