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In
memoriam.
US-AEP�s Executive Director, Peter Kimm, announced
this tragic news on December 9: "It is with deep regret that I tell you of
the sudden death of J.D. Murphy, the long-standing director of
US-AEP's Office of Technology Cooperation in Thailand. He passed away
December 9, 1998, in Bangkok. J.D. was born in Elmira, New York, in 1954 and
built an international career, working in Taiwan and Saudi Arabia in
addition to Thailand. J.D. held his position as director in Thailand since
1994, making an important contribution to the success of the US-AEP program
in that country. I know you join me in sending our deepest sympathies to his
family and friends. J.D. will be missed." UPDATE will provide more
information in a subsequent edition.
US-AEP
gives $750,000 to economic recovery programs in Indonesia.
In a December 8 press conference, U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia J.
Stapleton Roy announced that US-AEP will step up its commitment to
Indonesia's economic recovery by contributing $750,000 to social safety net
and environmental programs. Ambassador Roy signed grant memoranda of
understanding with two local organizations that will carry out the programs:
Friends of the Environment Fund (DML) and the Indonesian
Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineers (IATPI). "These
US-AEP programs are part of a concerted effort by the United States Agency
for International Development to focus its resources on addressing the
social safety net issues of Indonesia's economic crisis," said Ambassador
Roy.
A portion of the contribution will go to DML's Eco-Productivity
Outreach Corps and Waste Exchange Program, which will
help small- and medium-sized industries contribute to Indonesia's economic
recovery by improving production efficiency and reducing waste. The other
portion of US-AEP's contribution is to the emergency water supply efforts of
the USAID-supported Water Efficiency Team (WET), which IATPI
will help implement. The WET program's goal is to assure the delivery of
clean, safe water to millions of Indonesians.
US-AEP,
Nike, and BSR to present "green factory tool kit" in May 1999.
Last June, US-AEP�s Clean Technology and Environmental Management
program, Business for Social Responsibility, and the
Nike Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding to undertake a
"Model Green Factory Initiative" (MGFI). The objective of the
initiative is to improve the environmental performance of the footwear,
textile, and apparel industries in Asia. In mid-1999, one important
component of this initiative will be presented: a multimedia "green factory
tool kit" to help industrial facilities achieve environmental goals. The kit
will be distributed at a May 1999 BSR-sponsored training workshop featuring
participants from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, and
Thailand. Look for more information on this initiative in a
future UPDATE edition.
"Waste to
Wealth" concept takes hold in India.
"Last year, Indian nongovernmental organization (NGO) EXNORA
International established a solid waste management program for
Koyambedu, one of Asia�s largest market complexes, through the
US-AEP NGO-Business Environmental Partnership. The "Waste to
Wealth" compost site converts the market�s waste into a rich organic
fertilizer. Although less than a year in operation, the Koyambedu project in
Chennai, India, has caught the attention of other localities.
The project is now being replicated in four additional areas in India,
according to Chris Plante of The Asia Foundation,
which manages US-AEP�s NGO-Business Environmental Partnership.
Impressed with the project�s success, Mr. R. Harikumar of the
Energy Management Centre--the central agency for generating
energy from waste in Kerala, India--is organizing a workshop
spotlighting Koyambedu�s techniques. Additionally, he hopes hopes to
replicate the solid waste program approach in Kerala and develop a
complementary "Waste to Energy" project. Mr. Plante notes that the workshop
"represents the kind of ongoing interest that the NGO-Business projects
continue to generate in many countries."
Indian
participants study medical waste management in the U.S.
Following on the success of a May 1998 exchange on medical waste
treatment technologies in India, US-AEP�s Environmental
Exchange Program (EEP) led ten participants from India�s private
sector, government, and nongovernmental organizations on a U.S. study tour,
October 18-28. Focusing on integrated medical waste management, the
delegation studied hazardous and infectious waste stream systems in five
exemplary U.S. health care institutions. Participants also observed the
facilities� staff education efforts to minimize and dispose of waste. Health
care consultants from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
York, Virginia, and Vermont shared their
expertise with the delegates, providing follow-up opportunities for direct
transfer of U.S. expertise and technologies.
Interest in waste management techniques and technologies among Indian
health care professionals and government officials has increased due to
recently adopted medical waste legislation. As reported previously, it is
estimated that Indian hospitals and nursing homes must collectively spend $2
billion over the next decade on waste treatment and disposal equipment to
meet the requirements of the legislation. By using EEP, implemented by the
Institute of International Education, India�s health care
industry can learn more about U.S. technologies and programs to help meet
these needs.
New World
Bank publication focuses on financial crisis recovery
The US-AEP Information Center has added "Global Economic
Prospects and the Developing Countries 1998/99: Beyond Financial Crisis" to
its collection. Kerith McFadden, the center�s manager, reports
that the document analyzes short- and long-term prospects for developing
countries in the wake of the East Asia crisis. The publication can be
downloaded at the following URL: http://www.worldbank.org/prospects/gep98-99/full.htm.
Welcome
Greetings to Paul Weishaupt, who has joined US-AEP as
Communications Director. He comes to the position after a career of 22 years
as an officer in the U.S. Navy, during which he spent more than 12 years
managing public affairs and communications. Most recently, Mr. Weishaupt was
head detailer and officer community manager for the Bureau of Navy Personnel
in Washington, D.C. Originally from New York state, he has traveled
extensively in Asia and worked with U.S. and host country officials in Hong
Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Korea, and the Philippines.
(Phone: 202-835-0333 x 110; Fax: 202-835-0366; E-mail:
paulw@usaep.org)
News to
share
We'd like to hear from you! To submit
information to the UPDATE, contact editor Clare Nielsen
via e-mail (cnielsen@usaep.org) or
fax (202-835-0366). This week, thanks for contributions go to Kerith
McFadden (US-AEP Info Center), Chris Plante (TAF),
Shubha Banskota (CTEM), and Rhonda Vandeworp (IRG). |
