The Philippine Pollution Prevention Roundtable (P3R)�formed in June 1997 with assistance from US-AEP and the United States� National Pollution Prevention Roundtable�held its second roundtable conference May 22 in Los Ba�os, Laguna province. True to its mission to promote cleaner operating methods among industries, governments, and other stakeholders, P3R�s event brought together 80 individuals who shared a variety of perspectives on pollution prevention (P2). The region�s environmental problems were defined by a waste management expert and professor at the University of the Philippines Los Ba�os. Representatives of Bayer Philippines, Inc. discussed the implementation of P2 principles in Bayer�s manufacturing facilities and fielded questions on recycling, reuse, and disposal of the company�s pesticide containers. In addition, the assistant director of the Laguna Lake Development Authority explained the environmental programs being implemented in the region, answering industry representatives� questions about environmental user's fees and future regulatory changes.

In welcoming attendees to the conference, Los Ba�os Mayor Lorenzo Meneses, Jr. urged the Laguna province to implement waste management lessons learned during a 1996 US-AEP State Environmental Initiative (SEI) project. Funding for this activity had enabled Mayor Meneses, as well as three other Filipino mayors and a congressman, to participate in an environmental exchange to Minnesota. The State Environmental Initiative is managed for US-AEP by the Council of State Governments.

With assistance from US-AEP�s NGO-Business Environmental Partnership, an Asian nongovernmental organization (NGO) is leading efforts to minimize medical waste in Bangladesh. The NGO, Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS), worked with ten local hospitals in the initial phase of the project, performing environmental audits and providing training. Doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff participated in BCAS classes on waste minimization and best-handling practices. In addition, the NGO implemented a waste classification system for the facilities that differentiates and safeguards waste through the use of colored, water-tight bags. Ongoing media reports of the project have piqued the interest of other hospitals and social service organizations. For example, after news of the medical waste training was published in the daily newspaper, "Borer Kagoj," the BCAS received proposals for cooperative efforts from the Bangladesh Army as well as Gono Shhajjya Sangtha, a large human resource development NGO.

Ultimately, BCAS will use the information obtained through this phase of the project to develop a sustainable medical waste minimization plan that can be replicated in facilities across Bangladesh. As it works toward this goal, the NGO plans to continue to use a multidisciplinary approach involving medical professionals, hospital administrators, lawyers, engineers, media representatives, policy makers, and the public. The NGO-Business Environmental Partnership is managed for US-AEP by The Asia Foundation.

Twenty representatives of U.S. firms met in Omaha, Nebraska, May 18 to participate in "Going Global," a day-long international business seminar. Conducted by the American Consulting Engineers Council�US-AEP�s partner for urban infrastructure initiatives�the session was sixth in a 1998 series of seminars designed to help U.S. businesses develop or refine an international marketing strategy. Attendees represented a range of small to very large U.S. companies, such as Leo Daly, HDR Engineering, E&A Consulting, Jacobson Helgoth, Kirkham Michael Consulting Engineers, and Shive & Hattery, Inc. After opening remarks by Omaha Mayor Hal Daub, Congressman Doug Bereuter gave the keynote address, emphasizing the need for U.S. firms to tap international markets and to take advantage of relevant government programs, such as US-AEP. ACEC�s Lynne Damon commented on business globalization, current policy measures, and ACEC programs and services.

The National Association of State Development Agencies (NASDA)�manager of US-AEP�s Environmental Technology Fund�also participated in the seminar, with Julie Pike leading an instructional session on the small grants program. Although Nebraska is one of the few U.S. states that have not received a Tech Fund grant, feedback from the session indicated that several Nebraskan firms will apply in the near future.

A commentary on US-AEP's past activities and accomplishments in the Southern Region of India was published May 21 in "The Hindu Business Line," a leading news daily in Chennai. Sundaresan Subramanian, US-AEP Technology Representative in Chennai, provided information for the article through a recent interview. The review is accessible on the paper�s Internet edition at http://www.hindubusinessline.com/bline/1998/05/21/stories/02210189.htm.

Erik Brejla started on May 26 as a Program Assistant with US-AEP�s Clean Technology and Environmental Management (CTEM) program. A native of Denver, Colorado, Erik recently graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he earned a B.A. in International Relations with a concentration on Asia and Latin America. His main responsibilities with CTEM will be to support the program�s field personnel and to serve as a point of contact for US-AEP partners.

Pamela H. Cohen will start work with DevTech Systems on June 1 as Operations Associate for the Environmental Technology Network for Asia (ETNA). Pamela is a 1996 graduate of Indiana University, where she earned a B.S. in Public Affairs with a concentration in Environmental Science and Policy. Since her graduation, she has served as an intern at the Colorado Environmental Coalition and taken classes focusing on environmental and international law at the University of Denver College of Law. In 1995, Pamela completed a six-month internship at the President�s Council on Environmental Quality.