CloserStill Media launches Green World Asia, a sustainability-focused platform for business

SINGAPORE, Feb 27, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – CloserStill Media is launching a new B2B event, Green World Asia, that will connect sustainability-driven innovations to senior decision-makers and their procurement chains from various industries. The show will focus on four key pillars across the exhibition showcase and conference programme: Utilities, Resources, Materials and Food Waste.

Green World Asia will debut at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on November 18-19, 2020. The launch show is expected to attract over 5,000 industry delegates, featuring 100 exhibitors and 100 global expert speakers in a multi-stream conference programme over two days.

This expansion into the sustainability sector by CloserStill Media is driven by the global economic climate and an immense desire to help propel businesses, big and small, towards sustainable innovations and practices which result in commercial success for organisations, and the future of people & planet.

Green World Asia will serve as a practical access-to-market platform for organisations to connect, learn and be inspired by the vast possibilities of sustainable solutions. Visitors to Green World Asia can look forward to discovering the latest solutions that will address the challenges of creating sustainability-led practices whilst continuing to generate profit.

Commenting on the need for connecting organisations with vendors providing sustainable solutions, Green World Asia Co-founders James Murphy and Neil Halliday said, "Businesses are coming under immense pressure from internal and external stakeholders, to adopt green practices aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Many are struggling to get access to alternative solutions, or knowledge to build sustainability-driven strategies into the core of their business."

"We are launching Green World Asia as a free-to-attend tradeshow to eliminate any barriers keeping companies from accessing practical knowledge and sourcing options." they added.

Tom Peacock-Nazil, Founder of Seven Clean Seas, noted: "When it comes to sustainability, the world has needed less words and more action for decades. Finally, we are witnessing an upsurge in corporate responsibility and mass alignment of institutional capital to ESG principles. It's great to see many players from many sectors today who are focusing on sustainability, and Green World Asia as a platform is well positioned and timed to act as the catalyst for connecting them."

Innovation at the Heart of Sustainability

Participating at Green World Asia is Canada-based next-generation manufacturing and design company, ChopValue that turns used chopsticks into high-performance material for commercial and residential use. Mr. Felix Böck, founder and CEO of ChopValue said: "Participating in Green World Asia is a great opportunity for us to connect with business professionals in Asia and showcase the benefits of the circular economy versus linear economy."

Another confirmed exhibitor, David Ward, founder of The Nurturing Company elaborated: "We are extremely excited about being a part of Green World Asia with both Bambooloo and CanO Water. It is a great pivotal moment for the region with sustainability and the environment being given the needed consideration across the spectrum, especially with the sustainability-driven policy and budget announcements made by the Singapore government recently. Green World Asia will be a great showcase for us to Singapore business, the region and the rest of the world."

Strong Partner Networks

Green World Asia has already garnered positive attention in the sustainability landscape with multiple trade and media partners confirmed including: ASP, Circular Economy Asia, Circular Economy Club, Co-Creation Lab, Ecobahn, Eco-Business, Eco Film Festival Singapore, Engeco EnRupt, Green Is The New Black, Green In Future, Ocean Purpose Project, Orca Nation, Seven Clean Seas, The Incubation Network and Zero Waste SG.

Green World Asia is also a proud partner for The Liveability Challenge presented by Temasek Foundation, Eco-Business and Closed Loop Partners, and The Plastics Data Challenge by The Incubation Project.

Visitor registration will be open in July. Interested individuals can register for updates via the show website now.

Green World Asia 2020 will be held on 18 and 19 November at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.

For more information, visit www.greenworldasia.com.

About CloserStill Media

CloserStill Media specialises in international professional events chiefly in the technology markets, across five global territories. Its portfolio includes some of the UK's fastest-growing and award-winning events including Cloud Expo Europe and Data Centre World. Having delivered unparalleled quality and relevant audiences for all its exhibitions, CloserStill has been repeatedly recognised as a leading innovator with its teams and international events winning multiple awards in Europe and Asia including Best Marketing Manager – four times in succession – Best Trade Exhibition, Best Launch Exhibition, and Rising Star – two years in succession – among others.

For PR and Marketing Enquiry, please contact:
Ms Angie Eng
Director, Marketing and Partnerships
Tel: +65 6817 5811
Email: a.eng@closerstillmedia.com

Show Organiser:
CloserStill Media
72 Anson Road
#10-05, Anson House
Tel: +65 6817 5803
Email: gwa-marketing@closerstillmedia.com

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Yowie Group Donates to WIRES Wildlife Rescue to Aid in Australian Bushfire Relief

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE, Feb 19, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Yowie Group, the confectionary company bringing families sweet treats combined with an educational experience, today announced the donation of $20,000 to WIRES Wildlife Rescue as a result of their charity donation competition. Over the holiday season, Yowie gave their fans the opportunity to vote for an eco-conservation organization of their choice. The majority of fans directed their votes to WIRES, an Australian wildlife rescue organization, in the wake of the bushfire crisis.

WIRES Wildlife Rescue is the largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation charity in Australia. It is a non-profit organization providing rescue and rehabilitation for all native Australian fauna. All animal rescuers and caretakers are volunteers. Recently, Australia has faced its worst national emergency to date, with bushfires impacting and destroying ecosystems and species across multiple states.

"With headlines reaching the United States about the tragic bushfires in Australia, Yowie fans were quick to want to help the animals from down under," said Cynthia Thayer, Global CMO of Yowie Group. "We are happy to be donating to WIRES on behalf of our consumers."

With the fires destroying unprecedented amounts of habitat, food shortages have increased and lack of suitable habitat will be a significant long-term challenge for surviving wildlife. The money donated to WIRES by Yowie Group will be directed toward the relief and recovery of the animals and ecosystems affected by the bushfires.

For more information about Yowie Group or WIRES, please visit yowieworld.com or wires.org.au.

About Yowie

Yowie is best known for its flagship product, the Yowie surprise inside chocolate. Each Yowie product is created in the shape of the Yowie characters (Yowie is what they call Bigfoot in Australia) and contains limited-edition collectible animal toys and a full color leaflet featuring a picture of the real-life animal, its profile and level of endangerment. Our social media channels and website allow collectors to learn more about the animals and their world while having loads of fun through games and competitions. The combination of tasty, clean-label treats, fun animal toys and an educational experience encourages kids to learn about wildlife and the threats endangered animals face. Yowie surprise inside chocolates, Yowie Bites and Yowie Gummies are available in more than 30,000 retail outlets across the U.S. For more information visit www.yowieworld.com.

Contact:
Katie Morales
yowie@interdependence.com
949-777-2439

SOURCE: Yowie Group

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ACT to Send 10,000 Boxes of Masks to Indonesians in Hong Kong

JAKARTA, Feb 8, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The outbreak of coronavirus which began in China now threatens people around the world. While it is unknown how the virus is transmitted and as no treatment has been found, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). A coordinated international response is required to mitigate it.

Roughly 265,000 of our Indonesian countrymen in Hong Kong need help with masks to protect themselves from the coronavirus. Let's move, help immediately! [Translation from the Indonesian.]

"The coronavirus epidemic has become a humanitarian crisis," said Ahyudin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of ACT, at a press conference this week. "We have to understand that it is humanity that is afflicted. And this should become the momentum for moving the community forward to face this humanitarian crisis. It is fitting to make this dangerous outbreak a global humanitarian moment."

Ahyudin said humanitarian and government institutions were needed together to overcome the crisis. "Together, regardless of nation, race or religion, we will find a solution. Moreover, this is a global crisis, and our brothers are at risk such as the workers from Indonesia (WNI) in Hong Kong," he said.

There are some 265 thousand Indonesian workers in Hong Kong who are at risk from the epidemic. Seeking to protect their health, they are wearing masks, which are now in short supply. "Public demand is soaring while supplies are running low because masks prevent the coronavirus from spreading," said Yana, an Indonesian worker in Hong Kong.

ACT responded to the call for masks with a target of 10,000 boxes for Indonesian citizens in Hong Kong. "2,500 mask boxes will be sent for our brothers and sisters in Hong Kong in the first batch," says Sucita Ramadinda of the ACT Global Humanity Response Team. In addition to distributing masks, ACT is preparing sanitation kits and food packages for Indonesians in Hong Kong.

ACT distributed masks to Indonesian citizens arriving from China at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, and the ACT medical team conducted a health campaign for visitors at the airport as a step in preventing the spread of coronavirus in Indonesia. — ACT NEWS. All Rights Reserved.

About ACT Foundation

ACT Foundation (Aksi Cepat Tanggap) is an Indonesian Relief which focuses on natural and humanitarian disaster management, covering emergency, rescue, medical, relief, reconstruction and recovery. Independently established in 2005, ACT has developed programs for malnutrition, famine, children, health and sanitation, education, economic empowerment, community development and social conflict. ACT is engaged in 30 provinces and 100 cities in Indonesia, and sponsors aid missions across 22 countries in Asia, Europe and Africa. Visit us at https://global.act.id/ and follow ACT NEWS on https://news.act.id/ and ACT TV on https://actnews.tv.

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ETRI develops drone and AI technology to predict algal blooms

Daejeon, Korea, Jan 31, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has developed a technology for analyzing water quality with drones and using artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the level of algal bloom. The technology is expected to reduce public anxiety about algal blooms that reoccur each summer and help manage drinking water safety.

ETRI researchers inspect their hyperspectral camera drone. (Copyright: ETRI)

ETRI reported it successfully measured and predicted harmful algal blooms in a remote lake with a hyperspectral camera built in a drone. The research was published in the journal Remote Sensing of Environment.

– Prediction of algal bloom expansion with AI analysis

Algal blooms have been observed in many rivers and coastal waters where water flow is slow or stagnant. Large algal blooms can be toxic to the environment and people. If the algal bloom growth reaches a certain point, it expands exponentially making it difficult to manage. Thus, it's critical to accurately monitor and predict algal activity.

In the past, it took a couple of days to collect samples and analyze water quality. Moreover, the process was cumbersome as it required physical site visits, making it difficult to respond quickly before the algal bloom spread.

The technology developed by ETRI uses drones to remotely examine water bodies, making it easier to study blue-green algae status, including migration, spread, and distribution in rivers or streams. Compared to satellites or aircraft, drones can monitor the water more easily at low costs and high resolution. The acquired big data is then quickly analyzed with AI, which helps predict where the blue-green algae will bloom.

– Rivers and streams explored with a hyperspectral camera

A hyperspectral sensor is central to the system's success. While conventional images divide light into three primary colors (RGB), the hyperspectral technology can divide the visible and near-infrared regions into 200 or more colors. Thus, the technology can classify the components of an object in more detail and can be applied widely in the military, environment, medicine, healthcare, and other areas.

The hyperspectral camera in a drone can easily indicate whether the blue-green algae level is at 'Attention', 'Warning', or 'Outbreak'. It uses the light spectrum of blue-green algae to check the current status digitally.

"We have the goal of achieving the world's best level of accuracy in algae prediction. We plan to make it possible to track down the growth of blue-green algae and facilitate early response to prevent further spread," said Dr. Yong-Hwan Kwon, the ETRI project manager.

ETRI has used the hyperspectral camera drone to examine the water quality of Daechung Reservoir in South Korea. The research team next plans to construct a real-time monitoring map of algal blooms in the reservoir. The objective includes a study on automating the process of exploration, data collection, input and analysis after establishing the optimal moving path of the drone.

The research team has the goal of increasing the accuracy of the algae prediction to 90% or higher by enhancing the analysis performance. They also plan to reduce the weight and size of the hyperspectral sensor by 2022.

For more information, contact:
Yong-Hwan Kwon
Project Manager
042-860-5377
yhkwon@etri.re.kr

About ETRI – Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute

ETRI is a non-profit, government-funded research institute focused on global information and communications technologies (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI). Since its foundation in 1976, ETRI has helped position Korea as a leading ICT nation by developing world's first and best technologies. For more information, please visit our website: https://www.etri.re.kr/eng/main/main.etri

Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003442571930536X

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New Disinfectant Stops Spread of Virus, Including Coronavirus Strain from China

SYDNEY, Jan 24, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Australian researcher Steven Kritzler says his Evocide Extra disinfectant is able to stop the spread of virus, as in the present outbreak in Wuhan City, China. This new strain of Coronavirus is a SARS-like virus that has caused hundreds of infections in China, and has spread to Thailand, Japan and South Korea.

Steven Kritzler of Novapharm Research (Aus) Pty. Ltd.

"Both the Wuhan virus, known as 2019-nCoV, and SARS belong to the family of viruses known as Coronaviridae, which can be deactivated by many materials, such as Evocide Extra," says Kritzler, who is based at Novapharm Research near Sydney, and is a committee member of the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Kritzler garnered attention at the Symposium on Advanced Infection Control in November when his Evocide Extra disinfectant formulation was presented. "Coronavirus is a type of enveloped virus — a virus that develops viruses. My formulation can deactivate any virus, including enveloped and non-enveloped viruses."

"Coronavirus is microscopic, hence face masks alone cannot effectively prevent spreading the virus. I suggest that the best way to protect from spreading the virus is to wash your hands regularly, for example when you touch the door handle. And remember to use the disinfectants in time," says Kritzler.

Southern Cross, another formulation by Kritzler, are eco-friendly skin and hard surface disinfectant paper wipes that can deactivate viruses such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), hand-foot-mouth (EV71), influenza A (H1N1) and measles, and like Evocide can kill 99.999% of bacterial pathogens including super bacteria.

The Chinese Spring Festival holiday begins later this week, increasing the risk of spread of the new virus. The holiday period typically sees hundreds of millions of Chinese traveling throughout the country and overseas.

Contact: Kenny Kang, kz@fromau.com
Southern Cross Biotechnology Pty Ltd.

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