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US-AEP/GIN-Asia workshop focuses on "place-based" policies.
US-AEP and the Greening of Industry Network-Asia (GIN-Asia) co-hosted a
workshop March 3-5 in Tagaytay City, Philippines, to discuss innovative
public policies that encourage sustainable development in Southeast Asia.
Nine senior policy makers and analysts from Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines, and Thailand participated in the workshop through US-AEP�s
Environmental Exchange Program, administered by the Institute for
International Education. US-AEP�s Regional Coordinator Dennis Zvinakis,
Philippines Office of Technology Cooperation Director Alma Madrazo, and
Senior Policy Associate Brenda Bateman moderated the workshop, which
highlighted four Asian case studies demonstrating "place-based," or
location-specific, policies; for example, environmental user fees in Laguna
Bay, Philippines. With declining government budgets and decreasing
industrial environmental performance due to the financial crisis,
place-based policy is one approach public officials can use to efficiently
prioritize funding and activities. The case studies will be featured in a
booklet produced by US-AEP and presented during the April 29-May 2
Industrial Ecology IV Conference hosted by Future 500 in Watsonville,
California.
New on the
US-AEP website: analysis of the Asian financial crisis.
Two new additions to the Export-Link� section of US-AEP�s website provide
detailed analysis of the continuing financial crisis in Asia. "Asian Crisis
Fact Sheet and IMF Projections" from the International Monetary Fund
discusses the origins of the crisis and the outlook for the future, as well
as lessons learned. This article can be found at
https://www.usaep.org/export/.
"The Latest Views of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Economists" provides six
views of the crisis from internationally renowned economists and is located
at
https://www.usaep.org/export/.
NGO-Business partnership develops EMS manual for Filipino industries.
Philippine Business for the Environment, a nongovernmental organization,
and the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines, Inc.,
have developed a manual on "Increased Productivity through Environmental
Management." The project was supported by US-AEP�s NGO-Business
Environmental Partnership, administered by The Asia Foundation. Written for
semiconductor and electronics companies, the manual discusses the
intricacies of environmental management, with an emphasis on waste
minimization and pollution prevention. Since the publication was published
in October 1998, it has been widely circulated to mid-level managers in the
two industries.
A number of options are offered on how the two industries can reduce the
environmental impact of their operations and meet international
environmental standards. For example, the manual outlines the basic steps
for setting up an environmental management system, which is necessary for
companies seeking ISO 14001 certification. Also, the suggested waste
minimization options can be implemented without making major changes to
industries� present setup and processes. Information on environmental laws
and regulations affecting the semiconductor and electronics industries in
the Philippines, and a list of recyclers that accept various waste
materials, are included. More details about the manual can be found on the
US-AEP website:
https://www.usaep.org/articles/article28.htm.
Pollution
prevention training workshop held in Singapore.
The "Pollution Prevention and Cleaner Production in the Metal Finishing
Industry" training workshop, co-organized by US-AEP/Singapore, the
Environmental Technology Institute, and the Singapore Surface Finishing
Society, was held March 10-12 in Singapore. More than 45 participants from
Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and other Southeast Asian countries
attended the workshop, which covered developments in pollution prevention
and cleaner production management techniques as well as technologies for the
metal finishing industries. The Institute for International Education
assisted US-AEP/Singapore by recruiting Mr. Frank Altmayer of the American
Electroplaters and Surface Finishers Society as a speaker for the workshop.
Two local site visits were arranged for the participants to view
environmental technologies now being used by Singapore�s metal finishing
industry.
US-AEP/Korea assists Maryland firm in technology sale.
As a result of US-AEP/Korea�s support and assistance, Advanced
Environmental Systems, Inc. (AES) from Elkton, Maryland, has signed an
agreement with Pohang Steel Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd., of
Korea. AES will supply volatile compounds (VOC) control technology, which
will be installed in Pohang City in September. Emissions of VOC from
chemical plants, refinery plants, and industrial complexes have created a
serious air pollution problem in Korea. Since the beginning of 1998, the
Korean government has enforced more stringent air pollution control
regulations and, accordingly, local demand for VOC control technology has
rapidly increased. US-AEP/Korea has been actively promoting AES�s
environmental technology and equipment for the past three years.
Thai video
on clean technology now available.
A new video on clean technology has been produced by the Federation of
Thai Industries (FTI) in partnership with US-AEP�s Clean Technology and
Environmental Management (CTEM) program. Directed toward factory workers,
the video explains clean technologies in easy-to-understand terms using
skilled actors, a cartoon mascot, and text. It was shown at FTI�s annual
meeting March 22 and at the FTI and US-AEP booths during the Thai Pollution
Prevention Roundtable March 25-26. A version with English subtitles is
currently being produced.
New e-mail
addresses for US-AEP in India.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has installed a new computer system in
India, and the e-mail addresses for all technology representatives have
changed. Please note the new addresses:
Therese.Leasburg@mail.doc.gov
K.Balakrishnan@mail.doc.gov
Sundaresan.Subramanian@mail.doc.gov
Suneel.Parasnis@mail.doc.gov
Arup.Mitra@mail.doc.gov
The office in New Delhi can still be reached at
usaep@del2.vsnl.net.in
Welcome.
The Communications team has a new associate, Don Ball. Don
has an M.F.A. from the University of Alaska and has taught English at the
university level, most recently in Norway. His writing, editing, and
management experience from previous positions at Alaska Housing and Finance
Corporation and Development Alternatives, Inc., make him a valuable addition
to US-AEP. Don can be reached at 202-835-0333 x 121, or by e-mail at
dball@usaep.org |
