During the third quarter, we were again able to capture the benefits of AEGON’s strategic priorities, resulting in solid earnings growth, improved profitability of sales, lower expenses and a continued strong capital position. Our franchise remains healthy, as evidenced by the particularly high level of At-Retirement and pension sales. At the same time, we are making essential investments to reshape our businesses in both our established and developing markets to respond effectively to the changing conditions and new realities. Although there are signs of gradually improving market conditions, there remains considerable uncertainty in the general economic environment. Consequently, we believe it is prudent and necessary to maintain a sufficient financial buffer while at the same time adhering to our strict risk and pricing discipline. The steps we are taking across our organization to get closer to our end customers, combined with the strength of our current position, give us full confidence in the prospects for our business going forward.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/58637-aegon-quarter-3-results
Children International, a U.S.-based humanitarian organization, has seen that comprehensive, targeted programs provided in a caring environment empower youth to escape the traps of poverty. The organization’s 2012 Youth Report explains how.
More than one-third of the world’s population, nearly 2.5 billion people, live on less than US $2 a day according to The World Bank. Employment can be life-changing for these people, but poverty is a hard trap to escape when it is all you know. Children International’s comprehensive youth programs provide young people with thoughtfully designed tools and experiences that can open doors to a life beyond poverty.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57993-children-international-2012-youth-report-escape-poverty-find-employment
Environmentally-conscious cleaning product company Method is launching its latest innovation in sustainable packaging – bottles made from a blend of plastic recovered from the ocean and post-consumer recycled plastic. This limited edition packaging is for a new Method product, a two-in-one hand and dish soap, available exclusively at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/55601-whole-foods-market-method-sustainable-packaging-made-with-ocean-plastic
Creating a sustainable cocoa sector that can meet the chocolate industry’s long-term demand for cocoa, the essential raw material for chocolate, while providing economic opportunities to cocoa farmers will require billions of dollars in agricultural investments across research, third-party certification and technology transfer to farmers, according to Mars, Incorporated, one of the world’s leading chocolate manufacturers.
Although many groups and individual companies have made singular investments towards a more sustainable sector, to benefit a significant portion of the world’s five to six million cocoa farmers, Mars believes the industry must work together even more closely to scale up positive impacts for farmers and achieve higher yields without compromising limited natural resources.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/58400-mars-chocolate-invests-in-creating-a-sustainable-cocoa-industry
Community gardeners across the country are preparing for their favorite time of year, fall harvest. It is the time when hard work pays off with bounties of healthful fruits and vegetables. Fresh produce is just one of many advantages gardening brings to a community. Community gardens also promote environmental awareness, encourage healthy lifestyles, and create better social cohesion.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/52829-scotts-community-gardens-celebrate-harvest-season/
Coca-Cola Enterprises (NYSE/NYSE Euronext Paris: CCE), which produces, markets and distributes Coca-Cola products in Western Europe, is today announcing two new initiatives aimed at improving recycling behavior and infrastructure, as part of its journey to becoming a low-carbon, zero-waste business. CCE’s sustainability plan commits it to setting the standard for sustainable packaging, achieving zero waste in its own operations and recycling more packaging than it uses.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56620-coca-cola-enterprises-sustainability
The latest test drive marks the final chapter in a three year long project which has seen the development of the next step in autonomous driving technology. Since 2009, Volvo Car Corporation has been the driving force behind the EU funded SARTRE project (Safe Road-Trains for the Environment), bringing vehicle platooning technology one step closer to becoming a reality on Europe’s roads.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56600-volvo-car-corporation
The U.S. presidential campaign may be heating up, but it’s considerably cooler in the office, a new Robert Half survey suggests. Four in 10 (40 percent) workers interviewed characterized themselves as “occasional voters” when participating in office politics, limiting their involvement to issues that affect them directly. Another 39 percent said they are “neutral parties” who stay completely out of the fray.
Although most employees report not being heavily involved in office politics, 56 percent have observed political maneuverings on the job. Chief among these activities is gossiping, cited by 54 percent of respondents, followed by flattering the boss to gain favor (20 percent) and taking credit for others’ work (17 percent).
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/55075-robert-half-survey-majority-workers-say-gossip-most-common-office-politics
Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and three San Diego-area organizations this week are hosting the fourth annual Green Boot Camp, an interactive workshop focused on best practice instruction methods for teaching energy, sustainability and environmental concepts.
As part of the five-day event, 70 middle-school teachers from around the world are gathered in San Diego to explore the roots of green technology, sustainable living and environmental awareness by using San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E), the California Center for Sustainable Energy, and the Urban Corps of San Diego County as living laboratories.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to https://www.multivu.com/mnr/57100-honeywell-green-boot-camp-interactive-workshop-san-diego
As global organizations grapple with a more technologically intensive and complex agenda, fissures in traditional approaches to talent management and leadership development are increasingly visible. This was a key theme that emerged at ON Talent, an invitation-only discussion hosted at Deloitte University where leading names in talent argued that the prevailing models of talent development no longer hold. New models like the corporate lattice that are better attuned to the times must be adopted or the risk of HR becoming less relevant is high.
“The system is broken,” said Annmarie Neal, founder of the Center for Leadership Innovation. “If the economic models of the last era of business won’t translate to today’s environment, why would our organizational and talent models translate? In fact, the way we have traditionally approached talent can be an impediment in the 21st century.
An audience of public relations and communications professionals gathered at the Getty Images Gallery in Central London for an interactive discussion into the increasingly important role content plays in communications and the relationship between brand and user. The evening also offered the opportunity for networking and the chance to enjoy the gallery’s spectacular Marilyn Monroe clothing and photographic exhibition.
Hosted by Andy Bowman of PR Newswire, the panel featured Adrian Barrick, CEO of UBM Built Environment, Jonathan Fildes, Editor of BBC Future at BBC Worldwide, Matthew Whalley, Technology Content Director at Edelman and Paul Wooding, MD Technology at Red.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56562-prnewswire-meet-the-media
What started as an invention to control humidity in a New York printing plant in 1902 has forever changed the way people around the world live, work and play. July 17th marks the 110th anniversary of the invention of modern air conditioning by Dr. Willis H. Carrier, inventor and founder of Carrier, the world’s leader in high technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions and a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX)
On July 17, 1902, Carrier, a young research engineer just a year out of Cornell University, finalized the design to stabilize the humidity in the air so the dimensions of the paper at the Sackett & Wilhelms Lithography and Printing Company in Brooklyn, N.Y., would remain constant throughout the printing process. Since then this innovation has been applied to everything from malls to manufacturing facilities, buses to businesses and houses to hospitals – all looking to establish a comfortable environment.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54996-carrier-modern-air-conditioning-110-years-of-making-the-world-a-cool-place
