Perenco Calls on Ecuador Not to Sell Seized Oil and to Resume Negotiations

LONDON, July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Perenco Ecuador Limited ("Perenco Ecuador") today called on the Government of Ecuador to cease efforts to sell oil seized from Blocks 7 and 21 in defiance of orders by international arbitration tribunals, and instead to seek a negotiated solution to the dispute concerning the applicability of Law 42 to Blocks 7 and 21.


Perenco Ecuador is the Operator of Blocks 7 and 21 in Ecuador. On February 19, 2009, the Republic of Ecuador and its oil company, Empresa Estatal Petroleos del Ecuador ("Petroecuador"), commenced a coercive process to collect from Perenco approximately $327 million they claimed were due under a 2006 Ecuadorian law ("Law 42") by which the Government asserts a right to 99% of the oil revenues above an arbitrary "reference price." In March 2009, Petroecuador began seizing crude oil produced by Perenco and its consortium partner, Burlington Resources Oriente Ltd. ("Burlington"), from Blocks 7 and 21 in Ecuador to satisfy the alleged Law 42 debt.


However, on May 8, 2009, a three member international arbitration tribunal constituted under the auspices of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment disputes ("ICSID") unanimously ordered that the Republic of Ecuador and Petroecuador were restrained from "instituting or further pursuing any action" - including oil seizures - "to collect from Perenco any payments [they] claim are owed... pursuant to Law 42." The tribunal made clear that such are orders "are binding on the party to which they are directed" and that the parties "are under an international obligation to comply" with them. A copy of the tribunal's order can be found on the ICSID website, www.worldbank.org/ICSID. On June 29, 2009, a different international arbitration tribunal in a separate ICSID arbitration commenced by Burlington issued a similar provisional measures order.


Despite these ICSID tribunal orders, the Ecuadorian Government has twice attempted to auction the crude oil it has seized from Perenco and Burlington. Petroecuador first attempted to sell the seized oil at an auction in May, but no buyers materialized. Last week, on July 3, Petroecuador convened a second auction, but the only bidder was Petroecuador itself. Petroecuador has announced an intention to conduct a third auction today.


Rodrigo Marquez, Latin American Regional Manager for the Perenco Group, said: "The failure of these auctions indicates that the international business community has taken heed of the arbitration tribunal orders and the risks of buying oil that the Government has no right to sell."


Mr. Marquez added: "We continue to believe that a negotiated solution is best for everyone. However, whether there are negotiations is at this point up to the Government. They have a clear choice. If they continue attempting to enforce the coercive measures, there will be no negotiations and the situation will deteriorate further. Perenco can neither negotiate, nor be expected to continue to operate, when the Government - in defiance of orders by two international arbitration tribunals - is seizing our entire production, forcing us to absorb all the costs and risks, and essentially demanding that we operate the Blocks for the Government's sole benefit. On the other hand, the Government could choose to comply with the tribunal orders by suspending those measures. The tribunals established that during the pendency of the dispute the Blocks 7 and 21 crude should continue to be sold by Perenco and Burlington, with the disputed portion of the sale price put in escrow. As soon as the Government decides to comply with those orders, the path will be clear for further negotiations."


Mr. Marquez said: "The Government had a fair opportunity to make its case to the arbitration tribunals, and in both instances the tribunals concluded that the Government's position was wrong. The tribunal orders are binding international obligations, which are also part of Ecuador's legal system. We believe disputes that cannot be settled by the parties should be resolved by the rule of law in an international forum, not by coercive measures."


Perenco Ecuador Limited is part of a privately held upstream oil and gas company and is the operator of Blocks 7 and 21 in Ecuador.




SOURCE Perenco Ecuador Limited

San Diego, Huntington Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea, California Named 'DogTown USA(R) 2009'

September issue of Dog Fancy(R) profiles the three most dog-friendly cities in America

IRVINE, Calif., July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Dog Fancy, the world's most widely read dog magazine, has named three California cities the 2009 winners of DogTown USA - the national competition in which Dog Fancy readers nominate America's most dog-friendly city: San Diego, Huntington Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea.


This isn't the first time two of these cities have been recognized for their friendliness toward canine companions: San Diego was named DogTown USA in 2007 and Huntington Beach was a runner-up in the 2008 competition.


"This year, we wanted to recognize cities of all sizes for welcoming dogs and their owners as residents. Coincidentally, all three cities that came out at the top of their respective dog piles are in California," says Dog Fancy Editor Susan Chaney. "But we know from our research over the last five years that more cities all over the U.S. are growing more dog-friendly. We couldn't be happier about that."


Each year, Dog Fancy calls for readers to submit nominations for what they believe to be America's most dog-friendly cities. The criteria used to select the winning city include plenty of dog-friendly open spaces and dog parks, events celebrating dogs and their owners, high vet-to-dog ratios, abundant pet supply and other services, and municipal laws that support and protect all pets.


Chaney will travel to San Diego, Huntington Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea to present the cities with this top honor.


For the complete story on DogTown USA, pick up the September issue of Dog Fancy, on newsstands July 28, 2009.


To schedule an interview with the editor, contact Lisa MacDonald, marketing director, at 949-855-8822, ext. 3345.


About BowTie, Inc.

BowTie, Inc. is the leader in special interest pet magazines, trade magazines, books and websites dedicated to pet-loving consumers, pet-supply retailers, veterinarians, breeders and pet professionals worldwide. Divisions of BowTie, Inc. include BowTie Magazines, BowTie Press, BowTie News, Thoroughbred Times Company, Global Distribution Services and www.AnimalNetwork.com.





SOURCE BowTie, Inc.

Intertek Joins Retail Led Consumer Product Safety Effort

ARLINGTON, Va., July 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) announced today that Intertek, a leading international provider of quality and safety solutions, has joined RILA and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) as a sponsor in the creation and implementation of a meaningful global manufacturing standard for consumer goods. This retail industry led standard will enhance the safety of products worldwide.


RILA members embrace their role as leaders in the product safety arena. Earlier this year RILA and the BRC forged a partnership to develop a global product safety standard in North America. BRC/RILA standard will help retailers comply with the new regulations by establishing a meaningful, achievable and certifiable worldwide measure by which manufacturing operations are set. The BRC/RILA standard will be a truly global product safety standard.


Intertek will join RILA and the BRC as third party auditor and one of three select non-voting members of the RILA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). With participation from many of America's leading retailers, TAC is responsible for guiding the development of these standards.


"Our progress thus far has been tremendous, and we are delighted to welcome Intertek to this important effort," said Jim Neill, vice president of product safety. "Intertek's proven success in assessing risk and ensuring the safety of products in a manner that is effective and efficient adds a strong new champion to our efforts and we look forward to working with them to reach our product safety goals."


Gene Rider, Vice President Global Retail Leader and President of Intertek Consumer Goods North America adds, "Intertek is proud to contribute to global public policy efforts in support of consumer product safety. We are happy to offer our expertise in the areas of testing, inspection, certification and quality assurance to RILA, their membership and the BRC."


The target date for release of the new standard (North American version) is October 2009, with implementation of the new standards anticipated by Spring 2010.


BRC/RILA Partnership

The BRC has developed global standards that have gained support from European retailers. Standards have been developed for food, packaging, storage and distribution, and consumer products.


RILA in partnership with the BRC, are adopting the consumer products standards in North America, making them truly global to enhance the safety of products worldwide. RILA's vision is to proactively protect consumers and retail brands by partnering with suppliers to adopt and implement these industry-wide, global safety standards, while advocating effective legislation and regulatory compliance.


RILA and the BRC are working to enhance an already established international network of approved certification bodies and a proven process to deliver third party certification through global supply chains. As a certification body, sponsor and a TAC member, Intertek will provide input into the guidelines and implementation schedule for the role out of the product category guidelines.


About RILA

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) promotes consumer choice and economic freedom through public policy and industry operational excellence. RILA members include the largest and most successful companies in the retail industry. RILA provides its members with unique educational forums, effective public policy advocacy, and advancement of the retail industry.


About Intertek

Intertek (ITRK.L) is a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world. From auditing and inspection, to testing, quality assurance and certification, Intertek people are dedicated to adding value to customers' products and processes, supporting their success in the global marketplace. Intertek has the expertise, resources and global reach to support its customers through its network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 23,000 people in 110 countries around the world.





SOURCE Retail Industry Leaders Association

Nation's Largest Ethnic Credit Union Awards Record Levels of College Scholarships

Educational Grants Total $350,000; Number of Students Honored Jumps 25%

Program Extends Reach To Chicago And Other Markets

Credit Union Commences Financial Support For The Institute of World Politics

BROOKLYN, N.Y., July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- With spending on education increasingly becoming a victim of the economic downturn, the nation's largest ethnic credit union announced today that it surpassed last year's record of college scholarships awarded to students within its membership.


This year, the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union handed out $350,000 in grants to more than 315 students, ranging in age from high school to post-graduate level.


"We continue to buck the trend when it comes to investing in our neighborhoods and in our members' futures," said Mr. Bogdan Chmielewski, CEO of the PSFCU. "We increased the scholarship money by a hefty $50,000 while the number of students who benefited from this vital program rose by 25%. This is one of the most important projects we undertake annually. It gives us such great pride to help these hundreds of children reach their potential in school. And it gives them hope and strength knowing that they have someone in their corner rooting them on. After all, we are a credit union, not a bank."


As the PSFCU's scholarship program has grown, so too has it geographic reach. The organization's scholarship program expanded beyond New York, as it awarded grants to students in Chicago and a dozen other cities outside its home region.


"We're extremely excited to be able to broaden our reach to so many cities beyond the Metropolitan New York area," said Ms. Bozena Kajewska-Pielarz, a Board Member who led the Scholarship Committee this year. "Thanks to our Online Branch, which enables us to offer membership to residents of other states, and our imminent Chicago expansion, young members from areas other than our traditional New York and New Jersey footprint will be able to benefit from the program."


The scholarships were awarded during two separate ceremonies -- in late May for high school graduates and three weeks later for college students. Prior to these events, the credit union funded a stay for 20 gifted students at a science camp at the Copernicus Observatory at Vestal, NY.


A former PSFCU Chairman, Mr. Alex Storozynski, who recently authored a biography of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, put in a surprise appearance at both ceremonies, presenting historical tidbits from his The Peasant Prince. Each scholarship recipient received a copy, which the author graciously autographed.


As the credit union handed scholarship checks to college students, it also inaugurated a new program of financial support for the Kosciuszko Chair at the Institute of World Politics of Washington D.C., presenting a $10,000 donation to the Institute's founder, Professor John Lenczowski. It also designated a special $5,000 scholarship to be awarded to a student who will be admitted to study at the Institute next year.


The 70,000-member PSFCU has one of the most ambitious scholarship programs among the country's credit unions. Since its inception in 2001, its scholarship fund has helped defray the cost of college for more than 1,100 students, as it has handed out $1.8 million in grants.


About the PSFCU

Founded in 1976 by a group of Polish immigrants to help other ethnic Poles obtain mortgages, the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union now has 13 branches in New York and New Jersey, a Virtual Branch, a Mobile Branch and an operations center in Fairfield, NJ. The 33-year-old credit union, with more than $1.2 billion in assets, serves 70,000 members of the Polish and Slavic communities throughout New York and New Jersey. The union, which is the largest ethnic credit union in the United States, also operates ATMs at the National Shrine at Doylestown, PA.





SOURCE PSFCU

U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for July 7

WASHINGTON, July 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:


(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)


TUESDAY, JULY 7: BLUEBERRIES


Profile America -- Tuesday, July 7th. One of the joys of summer is actually good for you, and to celebrate this fact, July is National Blueberries Month. This is the peak time for blueberries, which are part of the same family of plants as azaleas, cranberries and rhododendrons. Everyone knows that blueberries taste good in muffins, on cereal, and in mixed fruits. But recent studies have shown that they are rich in antioxidants, and help improve night vision, learning and memory, and

even in protecting the brain after a stroke. Americans eat 180,000 tons of blueberries a year, a crop worth almost $590 million. The leading producers are Michigan, Maine and New Jersey. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at www.census.gov.


Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p.340

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 824


Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).





SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

Farmers Insurance Pledges to Match All Donations Up to $250k For "Be a Hero for Babies Day" to Benefit March Of Dimes

LOS ANGELES, July 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A matching gift of $250,000 by Farmers Insurance kicks off the upcoming "Be a Hero for Babies Day" to raise funds for March of Dimes programs of research and education to help more moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.


Make a donation to the March of Dimes online at marchofdimes.com/farmers and the gift will double in value thanks to a pledge by Farmers Insurance, whose agents and employees nationwide will hold their fourth annual "Be a Hero for Babies Day" event on July 22, 2009 to benefit the March of Dimes. Through activities such as carwashes, golf outings, pancake breakfasts, and pie-throwing contests, Farmers agents aim to raise $2 million for healthier babies.


"Be a Hero for Babies Day shows a commitment by Farmers employees, agents and district managers across the country to help the March of Dimes improve the health of babies," said Robert Woudstra, CEO of Farmers Insurance and member of March of Dimes national Board of Trustees. "It's our goal to make a difference in our communities, especially for its smallest citizens."


Premature birth is a serious and growing crisis in America, the March of Dimes says. One in 8 babies is born prematurely, and those who survive often face lifelong disabilities such as learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss, and other chronic conditions including asthma.


"I challenge everyone to visit marchofdimes.com/farmers or their local Farmers agent to make a donation to help raise urgently needed funds for March of Dimes research that will save babies' lives and for programs that provide information and comfort to families with a baby in newborn intensive care," said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. "Farmers has an outstanding record of volunteer service, contributing time, energy, talent and financial resources to helping babies. We thank them for being a "Hero for Babies" and supporting the important work of the March of Dimes. And we're especially grateful for the Farmers' match, which effectively doubles all donation made up to $250,000."


As the nation's third-largest personal property and casualty insurance group, Farmers is committed to improving the communities where their customers, agents and employees live and work. Farmers' commitment to the March of Dimes spans more than two decades and includes more than $25 million dedicated to research and education programs for infant health.


The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.





SOURCE March of Dimes

U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for July 3

WASHINGTON, July 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:


(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)


FRIDAY, JULY 3: HOT DOGS & ICE CREAM


Profile America -- Friday, July 3rd. A number of special months are being celebrated in July -- three of them just naturally go together. It's not only National Grilling Month, but also National Hot Dog Month, and National Ice Cream Month. Whether we call them frankfurters -- noting their German origin, wieners, or just plain hot dogs, we love them. This coming July 4th weekend, Americans are expected to eat 150 million hot dogs -- enough to stretch 5 times from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. And when it comes to ice cream, we especially love the cold treat during the summer, but eat it all year long. From plain old vanilla to maple walnut swirl, each of us consumes an average of nearly 25 pounds of frozen dairy products annually. Profile America is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau, now preparing for the 2010 Census.


Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p. 340

National Hot Dog & Sausage Council

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 209


Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).






SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau