Firms Reported in Open Sources as Having Commercial Activity in Iran’s Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Sectors

Government Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/pdfs/GAO-10-515R?source=ra [From correspondence] …This correspondence (1) provides a list of foreign firms reported in open sources as engaging in commercial activity in Iran’s oil, gas, or petrochemical sectors from 2005 to 2009 and (2) provides information about these sectors.12 We define commercial activity as having signed an agreement to conduct business, invested … Continue reading »

Highlights from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association Tax Guide 2010

European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association http://www.acea.be/index.php/news/news_detail/acea_tax_guide_2010/ [Press Release] At present, seventeen EU Member States levy CO2-related taxes on passenger cars. Fifteen governments provide tax incentives for electrically chargeable vehicles. In 2009, motor vehicle taxes in the EU 15 amounted to €377 billion or 3.4% of GDP. This information can be found in the European Automobile Manufacturers’ … Continue reading »

A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change

Environmental Health Perspectives and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/climatereport2010.pdf [From Press Release] A report released today by a federal working group highlights 11 key categories of diseases and other health consequences that are occurring or will occur due to climate change. The report, A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change, provides a … Continue reading »

National Flood Insurance Program : Continued Actions Needed to Address Financial and Operational Issues

Government Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10631t.pdf [From summary] The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), established in 1968, provides policyholders with insurance coverage for flood damage. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security is responsible for managing NFIP. Unprecedented losses from the 2005 hurricane season and NFIP’s periodic need to borrow from the … Continue reading »

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Perceived Access, Environmental Barriers to Use, and Use of Community Parks

Preventing Chronic Disease v7 n3 (May 2010) http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2010/May/09_0150.htm?s_cid=pcd73a49_x [Abstract] Overall, 12% of respondents reported not having a community park. Among those with a community park, 14% reported personal safety concerns and 14% reported inadequate or poorly maintained facilities as barriers to park use. Race/ethnicity was not associated with park access; however, Hispanics and non-Hispanic blacks … Continue reading »