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07/28/2010 03:02 pm ET Updated May 25, 2011
Tom Emmer, Anti-Gay Pol, Gets Donations From Target, Stirring Up Controversy
By Jason Linkins
[UPDATED, please see below.]
Over at The Awl, Abe Sauer has been documenting the rise to prominence of Tom Emmer, a Republican member of Minnesota's State House of Representatives who is running to replace Tim Pawlenty as Minnesota's governor. Most of you non-Minnesotans probably know Emmer as the guy who wanted to cut the minimum wage for service-sector workers who earn income based on tips. Another thing you might want to know is that he's hostile to the rights of the LGBT community.
Per Sauer:
Emmer says marriage "is the union between one man and one woman" and he supports the constitutional marriage amendment defining marriage as such. As a point of his "values" position, Emmer has been married to just one (presumably biological) woman since 1985. Meanwhile, claiming that it infringes on individual rights, he opposed the state's indoor smoking ban. Displaying a complete lack of self-awareness, Emmer called one of these two issues "social engineering." Can you guess which one?
Enter national mega-retailer Target, whose corporate headquarters is in Minneapolis. As Sauer reported last week, Target donated "$100,000 cash and another $50,000 of in-kind goods and services" to a political action committee named MN Forward. In turn, MN Forward has used those donations to run ads in favor of Emmer's candidacy. Sauer called Target's donations "surprising," and it's not hard to see why:
Progressive compared to its peers, Target extends domestic-partner benefits to gay and lesbian employees. It has also openly sponsored Twin Cities Pride and other gay and lesbian events in the state. Target puts its name on Minnesota AIDS Walk, a move that many corporations, worried about religious consumer terrorism, are far too cowardly to even consider.
Target's been deservedly rewarded, receiving a top rating of 100 percent on the 2009 and 2010 Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index and Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality, the 2009 Rainbow Families Award and the 2009 Lavender Pride Award--and a reputation amongst the LGBT community as a "good" big box retailer.
In subsequent follow-ups, Sauer has documented that Target's response to inquiries on this matter is based on two points. First: that its donations are based "strictly on issues that affect our retail and business interests." Second: It continually insists that its "rating of 100% on the 2009 and 2010 Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index further demonstrates the reputation our company has earned."
The Huffington Post reached out to the Human Rights Campaign today, to inquire about whether Target's political donations in this instance would affect that pristine 100 percent rating on its Corporate Equality Index. The short answer: No, because political donations aren't part of that index's calculations.
From HRC spokesman Michael Cole:
Since news of Target's contribution to MN Forward, an independent expenditure committee, became public last week, people have asked HRC if political contributions by companies are factored into a company's score on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI). Unless the contribution is to a ballot initiative that is anti-LGBT (such as California's Prop. 8 in 2008), political contributions are not factored into a company's score for a number of good reasons.
It's important to understand that the CEI is a measure of the workplace practices of a company toward its own LGBT employees. We don't believe that rating companies based upon their political contributions is an accurate reflection of their commitment to LGBT equality in the workplace. In fact, corporate America is leading the way on issues of equality: over 85% of Fortune 500 companies prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and 40% include gender identity in their nondiscrimination policies; and 57% provide domestic partnership health insurance benefits. Companies most often contribute for reasons associated with their particular business.
With respect to the CEI and political contributions, it would be difficult to develop criteria by which to judge companies. Virtually every company in the Fortune 1000 today has contributed to candidates (of both political parties) that have voted against issues important to the LGBT community. There are Democrats and Republicans alike, for instance, that voted against the repeal of DADT in the U.S. House of Representatives. Should a company that contributed to these incumbents get points deducted from their CEI score? As a rule, we don't believe that political contributions to candidates make companies any less committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce.
HRC does pledge to keep an eye on this issue, however:
The advent of unlimited corporate political contributions as a result of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling is a subject of great concern to all progressive movements, ours included. We will continue to monitor its impact on issues of equality and will revisit the issue of whether and how to factor in the political contributions made by corporate America as new information becomes known to us.
Over at the Village Voice, Jen Doll speaks to Target spokesperson Jessica Carlson, and gets a little bit further with Target's side of this debate:
So, why donate to someone who's anti gay marriage if you call yourself a supporter of the gay comunity?
Carlson: At this point what we're sharing is what was in Gregg's email. To be clear, we donated to a political action committee, the MN Forward, which is a bi-partisan group, and not directly to Emmer's campaign.
Carlson goes on to say that she "can't speculate on the nature of where our donations will go" in the wake of this story.
UPDATE, July 29: After being told by the Human Rights Campaign's Michael that HRC's CEI index, which measured the corporate "commitment to LGBT equality in the workplace," was decoupled from the issue of political contributions, and that it would "be difficult to develop criteria by which to judge companies" in terms of their political activity, it turns out that it's not that difficult at all to establish such criteria. In fact, it looks like sufficient criteria has already been established. Per Abe Sauer, at The Awl:
In the HRC's CEI tally, a range of policies and practices can win a corporation points. For example, Target gets "+5" for making sexual orientation training required for all managers and supervisors. (A score of 100, which is what Target and Best Buy boast, is the highest possible.)
Yet, the last category taken into account on each company's index is "Responsible Citizenship" where corporations can lose overall points for failing to be a "good corporate citizen." HRC defines this category as "Employer exhibits responsible behavior toward the LGBT community; does not engage in action that would undermine LGBT equality. Employers found engaging in activities that would undermine LGBT equality will have 15 points removed from their scores."
It seems to me that HRC can start docking points from Target this very minute. Instead, as Sauer notes, HRC has opted to "[mire] itself in PR relationship quicksand that threatens the good work it actually does."
Real America: Why Target Supports Tom Emmer [The Awl]
Real America: Target CEO Chooses "Business" over Gay Rights [The Awl]
Target Says "We Do Not Have a Political Agenda" [Runnin' Scared @ The Village Voice]
[Would you like to follow me on Twitter? Because why not? Also, please send tips to tv@huffingtonpost.com -- learn more about our media monitoring project here.]
Jason Linkins
Eat The Press Editor, HuffPost
Elections 2010 Eat The Press Politics Target Minnesota Governor


Bicycle World is celebrating 25 years of doing what we love most -- providing the best in cycling gear, accessories and service in order to ensure an exceptional cycling experience for our customers. Stop by and join the celebration!
A sincere thanks to our customers for your ongoing support & inspiration. We are honored to be chosen as one of America's Best Bike Shops by the National Bicycle Dealers Association for five years in a row.
Need a gift card, or are you having trouble getting to our store for that special gift? No problem! Just send us an email (info@bicycleworldny.com) or call us at 914.666.4044 and we'll be happy to help you find just the right gift for the cyclist on your list and ship it right out to you!
2018-9 Indoor Trainers are all in stock now! Turn your off-season into the ON-Season! Click here for more info.
Thule car racks on sale!
Bedford Bike Run Sunday May 19th- we'll be providing free mechanical support all day!
Hi Ilene, just saw the bike you all packed and shipped for me. Great job! It was done professionally and perfect upon arrival. Thank you and the team for accommodating me.
Bicycle World in Mt Kisco, NY provides an exceptional cycling experience for all types of riders. We offer road, mountain, comfort, hybrid, and children's bicycles, along with helmets, clothing, shoes, car racks, and all of the related accessories to make sure your ride is optimal. We also have a top rated repair shop with industry trained mechanics that have years of experience. Our expertly trained sales staff will be happy to help you find just the right products to exceed all of your expectations. We are located in Mount Kisco, NY, which is in beautiful Westchester County, part of the Hudson Valley. As a local bike shop, we are proud to serve our community and all of their cycling needs.


In 2006, Barratt Homes secured outline planning consent from the Secretary of State for the construction of approximately 700 new dwellings on a site at Felpham, Bognor. Barratt Homes then prepared a reserved matter planning application for the scheme, which included the construction of the new Bognor Regis North Relief Road.
An important consideration in constructing the road was noise mitigation for both existing and future local residents. 24 Acoustics were appointed by Barratt Homes to provide guidance on the design of acoustic bunds and noise barrier fences for the Felpham section of the relief road. 24 Acoustics worked alongside Barratt's transportation and highways department, using detailed acoustic modelling of the new road to optimise acoustic barriers that afforded householders maximised protection from environmental noise created by the road whilst working within constraints of the scheme.
Noise and planning, Transportation noise.


Below are the most frequently asked questions we receive from our child sponsors. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us via email at info@plancanada.ca or at 1 800 387-1418. You can also use live chat and someone can help you right now, just click on the upper right hand corner of this page where it says "Live Chat".
How does Plan handle tax receipts?
Tax receipts are issued in February for donations of $25 and above for the previous calendar year. If we have your email address, you will get your tax receipt through email. If we do not have your email address, and you want to receive your tax receipt by email, click here to update your MyPlan account now or call us at 1 800 387-1418.
It's natural to want to send something extra to your sponsored child, but we ask that you limit your gifts to educational items that can fit into a 9" x 12" envelope. To help keep our mailing costs low, your package should not weigh more than 150 grams or be thicker than 5 centimetres. A deck of cards is an example of an item that would weigh 150 grams. Please do not send money. If your package is bigger or heavier than what is allowed, we will be unable to deliver the package to your sponsored child.
Remember to keep your package light to help ensure our mailing costs are kept low!
Other gifts you might consider sending are photos of your family, as children love to receive these items. If you would like to make additional contributions to our work, we have a wide variety of child-centred projects and initiatives you can help fund.
Contact us at 1-800-387-1418 or update your information online through MyPlan.
How do I change my payment option?
Please call us at 1-800-387-1418 to update your financial information. One of our Donor Support representatives will be happy to assist you.
No. Sponsorship contributions are pooled centrally, and used to fund programs benefiting sponsored children, their families and communities. More than 70 years of experience have taught us that helping families and communities become self-sufficient is the best way to secure the child's future.
If I sponsor a child, how long a commitment do I need to make?
The length of your commitment is up to you. Many sponsors have been with us for many years, which allows us to make long-term commitments to our partner communities.
If you choose to end your sponsorship for any reason, please call us so we can introduce your sponsored child to a new sponsor.
How long do children remain sponsored through Plan?
At the age of 18, all sponsored children officially "graduate" from the program, although they will continue to benefit from our involvement in their community. If a sponsored child's family moves out of the area where Plan works, or if the community decides that it has become self-sufficient and no longer in need of Plan assistance, the sponsorship will come to an end.
When that happens, you'll receive a profile and photograph of a new child to sponsor. If you don't want to make the transition to a new child, or want to shift to another way to give to Plan's work, contact us and let us know your wishes.
Your letter leaves our office in a parcel along with other sponsor letters for the same country or Plan field office. Letters are generally sent monthly in bulk by courier to save costs. After being cleared by customs the package continues to Plan's country office where the letters are translated into your sponsored child's language and sent on to the relevant field office.
Plan staff and community volunteers ensure the letter is delivered to the family. Reaching some communities involves a long journey by bicycle, boat, foot or donkey! For example, your child's village may be 50 km from the field office, which can be a day's journey or more.
Community volunteers deliver the majority of letters and collect replies from children to sponsors. These volunteers also help children and families who cannot write by writing down what the family wants to say. If this happens, the letter should make it clear who has written it.
The entire process can take many months between you sending a letter and receiving a response. If you haven't heard anything after eight months and you are getting concerned, please contact us and we will look into it.
Why are letters not sent directly?
There are practical reasons why this would be difficult. There may not be any mail delivery system where your child lives, the family may not have a postal address and there are language barriers. Plan staff and community volunteers act as the postal workers for delivering your correspondence as well as translating them when necessary.
In addition, we screen all letters to sponsored children as part of our child protection procedures, and we do not share addresses from letters or any other communication to protect you and the children.
What should I avoid in my letters?
Politics and religion are likely to be sensitive topics. In more extreme situations where local politics are unstable, your comments could actually put the family at risk.
Pets may not be a familiar concept to some children. Animals have different roles and significance in other religions or cultures.
Avoid being too familiar. What is acceptable in our country might be inappropriate in the child's culture. It's a very fine line but parents of a sponsored child might be offended or concerned by open expressions of affection made towards their children. We always advise sponsors to err on the side of caution, however close they feel to the child.
Give careful thought to the pictures and photographs you send. For example, images of people in swimsuits or cuddling pets can cause offence.


I'm willing to bet that you, like me, believe we are living in a time of incivility, and find it polarizing, frustrating and exhausting. The stink of a generally nasty societal atmosphere is unfortunately obvious, but less plain is what people, including those in my profession of public relations, might do to change it.
Some of the answers lie in ethical standards and codes, such as the Public Relations Society of America's (PRSA's) Code of Ethics, and I believe that learning and acting on such principles is imperative for people in my profession and in yours, as well. To be ignorant of ethical standards or to act in ways counter to them, is to risk hurting your personal reputation, your profession's, and your company's, and it could even deepen the dysfunction we're seeing in society. If that sounds like heavy stuff, that's because it is.
One of PRSA's Code of Ethics' Provisions of Conduct is "Enhancing the [PR] Profession," and it's every bit as critical as such core values as honesty and fairness if my profession is to fully develop, and to build a healthier climate for the organizations and larger society we serve. The reason I think so is based on this Provision's intent: To build respect and credibility with the public for the profession of public relations.
Respect and credibility are what we all want, for ourselves, our professions and the organizations we support. I submit that respect and credibility are damaged, even crippled, without civility.
There's a seductive quality to incivility. Most of us instinctively want to punch back when punched. We can even admire those who use sharp elbows to get their way, and I must admit I'm enthralled by the character of Bobby Axelrod, the hedge fund owner on the Showtime series "Billions." Spectacularly wealthy, he's also arrogant, devious, cut-throat – and lionized. Seems like lack of civility isn't hurting him. At least, not everywhere and not yet.
What the Bobby Axelrods may sacrifice is a purer form of success and respect, which is ultimately conveyed in a number of ways: relationships, reputations, personal and organizational brands, and the quality of the environments we travel in our daily lives. Those are huge sacrifices.
A higher road, and a better way, is often demonstrated by heroes both famous and unknown. Abraham Lincoln, called a "damned fool" by his Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, could have excoriated or fired the surly cabinet member. Instead, Lincoln said if Stanton thought he was a damned fool then indeed he must be one, and the president subsequently reversed a Civil War decision Stanton had aggressively criticized. Did Abe roll over? Hardly. He demonstrated the rare strength it takes to rise above and lead.
Through such behaviors, Lincoln won allies, a terrible war and a legendary reputation.
It is my responsibility as a public relations professional to advance relationships and reputations, and in so doing achieve organizational outcomes that are good for an employer or client and the environments in which they operate. PRSA has an honor society of sorts called the College of Fellows, whose members are distinguished by a career of professional and volunteer contributions and service; they are exemplars of ethical, professional conduct.
Recognizing this, PRSA's College of Fellows adopted Standards of Excellence, the first of which is: Upholding the reputation and character of the College of Fellows and of the public relations profession, always demonstrating the highest standards of ethics, civility and respect.
As a member of the College of Fellows, that lofty standard challenges me before, during and after my workday. I have certainly, on various occasions, succumbed to the temptations of incivility over the course of my career. Criticize me unfairly? Insult me? Take advantage of me? My gut reaction is commonly to give as good as I get, and sometimes that can be gratifying. But my gut has been wrong in regrettable ways at times, and, as hard as I've tried to take the high road, I have learned the hard way that getting down in the mud gets yourself dirty, and that's a compromised position.
Civility often requires humility. It takes the humble ability to consider "they may be right, and I may be wrong" and the gracious fortitude to apologize, even when the other party is as least as wrong as you were. The ROI on those deposits of goodwill is incalculable, no matter your line of work or personal relationships. Such actions create mutual respect, empathy, healthy relationships and high-functioning organizations. Not incidentally, nothing energizes influence with others like empathy.
Today, rampant disrespect continually invites more disrespect, and it's hard to resist. True leaders with the grit to decline the invitation can empower themselves and their organizations to achieve loftier aims and enduring success, whether they're in my profession or yours. That approach is ethical and advantageous, and can even elevate your career to its own Mount Rushmore.
Anthony D'Angelo, APR, Fellow PRSA, is the Director of Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications Executive Master's Program in Communications Management, and of a new academic offering, Financial and Investor Communications Emphasis.
D'Angelo's career has included public relations leadership roles in the corporate, agency and not-for-profit sectors, most recently for ITT Corporation and previously for the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation. His practice areas include change management, reputation management, branding and marketing communications.


Alright, time to upload the photos I got during the day. It was pretty much of the parade, And some video of the lion dances. I'm going to review the rest of those to see what I can also put online. I hung around the Chinese Historical Society building along the route, which really is the best place to see the parade.


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Police identify Texas ice cream licker, teen won't face adult charges
LUFKIN, Texas -- A girl from San Antonio has been identified as the person seen licking a Blue Bell ice cream tub and then placing it back in a store freezer, police said.
The Lufkin Police Department said the juvenile suspect's identity is not being released, and the case is being turned over to the juvenile courts. She is not expected to face adult charges.
Mark Gorman, the director of the juvenile probation department in the girl's home county, Angelina County, told sister station KTRK in Houston that they are aware of the case and are discussing with Lufkin PD on how to handle it.
Gorman added there is the possibility that San Antonio area authorities could be the ones to arrest and prosecute her. The girl has not yet been arrested.
In the days since the video of the girl went viral, Blue Bell Creameries identified the store as a Walmart in Lufkin, which is about two hours outside Houston.
The company said it was considering steps to protect its packaging. In a statement Friday, Blue Bell said, "We are always looking for ways to improve, including looking at methods within our manufacturing process to add additional protection to the carton."
After police identified the suspect, Blue Bell added, "This case is now in the hands of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to pursue however it deems appropriate."
Earlier in the week, police stated they were looking at federal charges in the case. They said the suspect could have faced a felony charge of tampering with a consumer product, which carries a prison term of up to 20 years.
According to Gorman, she could still face a felony count, but prosecutors could reduce the charge since she is a juvenile.
While the girl's identification is heading to a resolution in the case, police expressed challenges in positively identifying her.
According to Jessica Pebsworth, Lufkin PD's public relations officer, a "catfish" who used an Instagram handle similar to the suspect's began taking credit for the act.
Pebsworth said a post of the video from the catfish account stated, "Yeah, I really did that. You can call it Flu Bell ice cream now 'cause I was a lil sick last week. Repost yourself doing this. Let's see if we can start an epidemic (literally)."
In fact, according to police, investigators narrowed the suspect down from four to six women with similar screen names and appearances.
Police stated the girl is connected to the Lufkin area through her boyfriend's family. Lufkin PD is currently discussing with prosecutors on whether the boyfriend should face charges.
* More local news
food & drinktexastexas newsviral videoblue bellu.s. & worldice cream

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Student Volunteers Centre launches all new Student Sports Coaching Initiative
On the back of the recent election of Dave Heads as the new AU officer, Nottingham University sport has begun planning for next year's assault on the British Universities and Colleges Sports Championships. Away from University representative competition, however, there are other ways to get involved in sport at Uni through structures like Intra-Mural Sport and also volunteering as well.
URN sports presenter Ed Tarlton has demonstrated this by formulating a new student led project known as 'The Student Sports Coaching Initiative', which offers Uni students the chance to be involved in sports coaching or volunteering in the local community. He developed the idea having experienced at first hand the problems of becoming a volunteer and looking at how the system could be improved. Now with his concept having been officially accredited by the Student Volunteers Centre, the real activity for the project will begin at the start of the next academic year, accompanying the new influx of freshers. It's not too early to join, however, as opportunities for involvement are already available. "It's moved very quickly, in the space of about two months we have forged connections with Nottingham County Council and are now able to offer a host of schemes that students can get involved with" he said.
The aims of the 'SSCI' as it's called is to look for opportunities for students to coach sport or contribute to sporting activities in the local area and deliver the necessary details to those who want to get involved. Ed, a Uni footballer and coach of the Women's football squad suggests that part of the problem is that a lot of information gets lost in transit – "Nottingham County Council has never had this kind of link with the University before, whilst a number of the opportunities that are available fall flat as there's no structure within the University dedicated to making them work. What we offer is a scenario whereby we will continue to look for new opportunities and will regularly update students on our database regarding what we have available. Similarly, if there is a particular coaching qualification that a few students are interested in attaining, we will try to get the National Governing Body to put it on at the University, or if that is not viable, look to direct them towards getting it through the County. In other words, we as an organization do the leg work on behalf of those registered with us, thus taking the pressure off the individual."
The project has received backing from current AU president Alexandria Hingley whilst the Student Volunteers Service is also excited about the scheme. "They've mentioned it in passing to a couple of local schools who are keen for students to come in and work with the children".
It doesn't however, end with the local community as Ed says an American company is interested in becoming involved, "it's a firm that offers students the chance to spend the summer coaching football in the USA, I contacted them and told them what we were trying to achieve and they expressed an interest in being linked with us as well".
The first project of it's kind, there are high hopes that it can open new doors to students of the University.
To find out more you can visit the Student Volunteers Centre in the Portland Building, click on the facebook group 'Student Sports Coaching Initiative Nottingham' or follow them on Twitter: SSCI Nottingham
by Tom Ryan


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There are 9 stained glass windows and these can be placed in three groups according to their origin. There are four by Veronica Whall, three which can probably be attributed to Francis Spear and two windows came from the former St Mary's church in Merivale.
Veronica Whall
Veronica Whall was daughter of Christopher Whall, a leader of the Arts & Crafts Movement in stained glass. At the age of 13 Veronica had drawn part of a window for Gloucester Cathedral. She went on to become a successful stained glass artist and a director of Whall & Whall Ltd in London. Most of her work outside the United Kingdom are to be found in New Zealand. She was an expert in the use of Priors Slab glass which is of uneven texture and often has a variety of colours in one piece. Her windows in the chapel use this material to great effect and are richly coloured. The four windows are described next.
"The Angel of Charity and a Waif"
This window commemorates Mary Ewart who was matron from 1898-1908. Trained in Belfast, Mary Ewart came to New Zealand in 1885 and in 1887 became the first qualified nurse to join Christchurch Hospital where she worked for 43 years. She died on 22nd July 1930. Nurses who had trained under her donated this memorial window which was dedicated by Bishop West Watson on 16th April 1933.
The angel depicted is enthroned on the world and the waif, symbolic of the soul, is protected by the cloak of charity. This work has suffered vandalism from the interior of the chapel and the child's arm and hand holding the angels hand are not the originals. The Williams Morris Gallery, London holds the cartoons for this work.
"Faith and a Sick Child"
This window is a memorial to nursing pioneer Sybilla Maude OBE, known to all as Nurse Maude and founder of the Nurse Maude Association of New Zealand. In 1892 after training in London, Nurse Maude worked as a matron at Christchurch Hospital from 1893-1896 before starting district nursing. In 1904 she established an open-air camp at New Brighton to TB victims which led to the government introducing sanatoria. She died on 12th July 1935. The window was dedicated on 15th November 1936 by the retired Archbishop Julius.
The figure of a woman has the cross of Faith on her dress and the child she is holding has a head bandage and has his hands clasped in prayer. The hour glass and circle symbols represent time and eternity.
"Christ and Children"
The window is a tribute to Annie Pattrick, promoter of the Plunket organisation in New Zealand and England. She trained at Christchurch Hospital and studied the Sir Truby Kings system of child care. During World War I she served on the hospital ship Marama. After the war she assisted with the introduction of Plunket ideals in England and established the Mothercraft Training Centre in London. She was appointed Director of Nursing at Plunket on her return to New Zealand in 1920. She lectured widely and internationally and had a profound influence on the growth of Plunket in New Zealand and abroad. Annie Pattrick died on 19th September 1937. The window was dedicated on 25th June 1939 by Chaplain Henry Williams. Plunket nurses, staff and others contributed to the cost. The NCHB gave 5 pounds.
The children shown in the window are shown as healthy and happy as a tribute to her work with Plunket.
"The Angel of Hope"
This window is in memory of pioneer nurses and was probably Veronica Whalls last window. It was designed to match the Ewart memorial window. The window was donated by Christchurch Hospital trained nurses who attended the 1951 reunion. The window was dedicated by Bishop Warren on 2nd August 1953.
The window is symbolic of the steadfastness of hope and the challenges of life. An angel on a rock lashed by an ever-changing sea holds an anchor which is a symbol of hope. The sea is also a reminder of the Marquette nurses. Part of the cartoon for this work is in the The William Morris Gallery, London.
Francis Spear
The next three windows are thought to be by Francis Spear and were made at Lowdes & Drury's studio, The Glass House in London. This studio was built in 1906 and was operated by Mary Lowndes and Alf Drury, who had connections with the Whalls.
"The Conversion of St Paul"
This window commemorates Mabel Thurston CBE, RRC for her outstanding service to military nursing. She was matron from 1908 to 1916 an was a driving force in getting a children's ward built at Christchurch Hospital. During World War I she was matron-in-chief to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and later worked as matron in Hanmer and Waipukurau hospitals. During World War II she gave voluntary service in British hospitals. She died on 23rd July 1960 and left £75 to adorn the chapel. This money may have partially paid for the window. The window was commissioned by former nurses who trained under her and by many former patients and friends. Bishop Warren dedicated the window at the Florence Nightingale service on 10th May 1964.
The window shows a saint as a soldier on the road to Damacus dedicating his sword to God.
St Agatha is a patron saint of nurses and this window commemorates Mary Christmas ARRC. After her training at Christchurch Hospital she served in the Mediterranean (where she survived the Marquette sinking) and later in England. In 1923 she became the first tutor sister at the Christchurch Preliminary School of Nursing and retired in 1937. She died on 17th April 1964.
The window was donated by the Rose Muir Association and servicemen and women. It was unveiled by Marquette survivors Jean Irwin and Emily Hodges and was dedicated by the chaplains on 21st April 1968.
"St Faith"
This window commemorates Rose Muir MBE who joined the staff in 1910 and was matron between 1916 and 1936. She died on 12th May 1970. The window was commissioned by the Christchurch School of Nursing Association and unveiled on 14th October 1971 by Grace Widdowson who trained under Muir and was herself matron from 1936 to 1952. Rose Muir was the aunt of Frank Muir the comedian.
St Mary's Windows
"Lamb of God" & The Dove of Peace"
These windows in the sanctuary and the west end rose came from the former St Mary's Anglican Church in Merivale. They date from the 1880's. The windows were given to the chapel at the suggestion of Adeline Turner, a Merivale parishioner and the Honorable Secretary of the Hospital Lady Visitors Association.
"Poppys Remembrance"
On the west side this window commemorates Poppy Blathwayt who was home sister at the nurses hostel during the 1950's and the 1960's. One of her duties included care for the chapel and she often placed flowers in the building. The flower theme is symbolic of her love of flowers and water colour painting. Poppy Blathwayt died in 1993 leaving a bequest to the chapel, part of which was to be used to fund a window. The window was designed by Auckland designer Suzanne Johnson and constructed by her partner Ben Hanly. The window was dedicated in a service on March 26 2000.
"Nurses Memorial Window"
This window was designed to commemorate the contribution and sacrifice of nurses who served in the First and Second World Wars. It includes references to nurses in uniforms of the times and seven nursing medals. The WWI nurses are seen with a representation of the Marquette in the Aegean while the WWII nurses are depicted in Egypt and the Middle East with association to the pyramids.
The window was designed and constructed by Stephen Belanger-Taylor ARCA, FMGP, RCA with some of the glass made by his wife Denise. Stephen was born in 1940 in England emigrated to Canada in 1968 and took up residence in New Zealand in 1985. He has a long and distinguished career with ecclesiastical, corporate and private commissions in England, Canada, France and New Zealand.
The Christchurch School of Nursing 1891-1987 Window
This window depicts a Registered Nurse kneeling in the Daffodil Field with the Southern Alps, the Canterbury Plains and the Norwest arch as a background. Graham Stewart Glass, Canterbury New Zealand designed and made the window. It was dedicated on the 20th September 2007 and unveiled by Miss Brenda Brankin, retired chief nursing officer for the North Canterbury Hospital Board and former matron of both Burwood and Christchurch hospitals.
The window is a memorial for all nurses who trained at the Christchurch School of Nursing. A grant was given from the Veterans Community Grants Fund to assist with its purchase.
The Hester Maclean window
Designed by Graham Stewart, the window was installed in 2018 as part of the reinstatement of the chapel. This was commissioned by the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation to mark the centenary of the organisation in Canterbury. Hester Maclean was its first patron and founder of the journal Kai Tiaki. She was instrumental in founding the New Zealand Army Nursing Service in 1915, serving overseas as its Matron in Chief and escorting the first 50 New Zealand nurses to Egypt. She was required to return to New Zealand to deal with severe staff shortages affecting the operation of hospitals. During the influenza epidemic in 1918 and 19 she acted as chief health officer organising measures to combat the disease.
She is depicted in her army uniform wearing the medals awarded for her war service.
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Part-pedestrianisation of Broad St
To say I was disappointed when the Aberdeen City Council announced in June 2016 they were to go ahead with a part-pedestrianisation of Broad St is to say I'm unmoved by a bit of snow. Perhaps I get too emotional about these things but just as I'm overjoyed to see snow, I was deeply saddened to hear about Broad St.
Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely in favour of mass transit because private motor vehicles will never solve the transport problems in cities today. However a pedestrian area is meant for people, not motor vehicles. An area that allows buses is not a pedestrian zone. It's not even a part-pedestrian zone. It's really a road for motor vehicles but where private motor vehicles are banned. If you make people think it's a pedestrian zone then there will be accidents.
This is exactly what has happened in Manners St, Wellington, New Zealand, when they allowed buses through a pedestrian mall in 2010. Within two days of opening, two people were hit by buses. Since then there have been repeated accidents year after year on the same stretch of road with the most recent being in November 2017. The bus drivers are not to blame. Indeed I've read that they find this particular stretch of road particularly stressful because pedestrians are always stepping out in front of them and they have to be extra vigilant. Why do people step out in front of a bus? It seems a silly thing to do, but, as with software, if users are constantly making the same mistake then the problem lies with the design, not the user. Part-pedestrianisation gives people a false sense of security. They are not expecting motor vehicles and so they don't look out for them.
What can they do to fix this problem? The solution is simple. It's either a pedestrian zone or it isn't. There is no such thing as part-pedestrianisation. The Wellington City council has been struggling to solve their problem for seven years now. At one point they even considered erecting barrier fencing. Let's not make the same mistake in Aberdeen. A town in England, Boston, has a similar problem and they addressed it by making buses play a loud, electronic sound when they drive through the area. Listen to this and see what you think:
It's awful, isn't it? But it's not too late. If you live in Aberdeen, please write to the city council and ask them to reconsider their decision to allow buses on Broad St. This issue will be discussed again at a council meeting on March 5th.
buses, cycling, design, pedestrians, transport, transportation
4 responses to "Part-pedestrianisation of Broad St"
When I lived there, Oxford had part-pedestrianisation and the Council kept saying there was too much congestion in the rest of town to do anything about it. It's pedestrianised now and much better. Making an area look pedestrianised when it is not is definitely not safe or ommon sense.
I'm glad to hear common sense won the day in Oxford eventually. There's a devastating case recently of a young Scottish boy who was run over by a van in a shared-use area in Jersey – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-41147602
His parents are now campaigning for these types of spaces to be banned.
Broad Street is open to buses – Rachel says:
[…] wrote about shared spaces earlier this year and also about my disappointment when the city council voted to allow buses into what they originally wanted to be a pedestrian area. It's either a road for motor […]
I think our transport planners are stuck in a 1970s time warp – Rachel says:
[…] there's Broad St where they've spent a fortune building a bus lane through what they call a part-pedestrian […]


The first half of the year 2018 has come and gone, but it's never too late to make changes, whether it is for yourself or for your business. Whether you have just put a business, or you've had it for a while now, you know that in this day and age, one of the most important ways to get new customers is to have a website.
If you are planning to build a website for your company, one thing you should know is that while you may study how to build a website, it is not easy at all. Professionals take the time to not only design you a beautiful website but to even help you with how you can have a better way to market your products or services. Web Designers Cardiff, for example, even offers a design course to help you update new information on your site.
To make your website stand out above the rest, you need to follow some of the popular trends for 2018. There are many to choose from, but if you want to get ahead of the competition, check out the three listed below.
It cannot be denied that in this day and age, everyone seems to be in a hurry, and people want everything given right away. They like instant food, instant service, etc. So how can you translate that into your website?
If you are aiming to present a lot of points or ideas to your website visitors and potential customers, instead of using so many words, you can just use animations instead. This way, even complex ideas can be simplified, at the same time, it can entertain your potential customers while still informing them of important information.
This is one thing that you need to make sure that your website will have. That is because, in recent surveys and statistics, it seems that mobile users have already exceeded desktop users. One report says that in the US, the percentage is already at 60%. If your website is not mobile friendly, there is a possibility that you will not only have high bounce rates but also lower conversion rates.
If your potential customers cannot see your website properly, they will just leave right away and look for a site that will be more user-friendly. And having a mobile responsive website, instead of a separate desktop site and mobile site is actually more cost effective and will save you more money and time.
The other thing is, if you will look into the trend of desktop vs mobile user, it is getting almost similar nowadays. And so, like we focus for the desktop user content, similarly, we should focus on the mobile user as well.
A scrolling website or the parallax effect has been around for years, but it is still popular and has even found more popularity after mobile responsive sites rose in number. A scrolling website is when the background of the page is moving at a slower rate than the foreground. Some of its benefits are that your site will load faster, making it user-friendly to your site visitors, and it is a great design to use because it encourages interaction with the visitors.


Please be informed that SME Association of Malaysia (SMEAM) cordially invites you to participate in the official launching of Platinum Business Awards 2018 "Local Innovation, Global Recognition" on 22nd March 2018 (Thursday), 9.00 am.
YB Datuk Chua Tee Yong, Deputy Minister of Trade, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia is invited as a guest of honor and will be delivering a speech during the event.
The theme for Platinum Business Awards 2018 is "Local Innovation, Global Recognition".


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The White House apparently doesn't realize that millions of Americans will be hit by the individual mandate
By Jason Pye
The White House isn't up to speed on the number of American households that will be forced to pay a punitive tax because they didn't have health insurance coverage last year.
During the White House press briefing on Tuesday, Press Secretary Josh Earnest was asked about the "millions of Americans who will be facing a looming tax bill" because of ObamaCare. Earnest quickly tried to downplay the negative tax implications of ObamaCare, suggesting that the reporter had his numbers wrong and repeating propaganda about the law.
"I don't think it's accurate to suggest that millions of people are going to get a tax bill as a result of this. The fact is millions of people all across the country have gotten a tax break that has made their health care more affordable, or their health insurance more affordable. That is the benefit of the Affordable Care Act," said Earnest. "The vast majority of Americans -- more than three-quarters of Americans -- are just going to have a box to check on their tax form to confirm that they've had health insurance."
The reporter again asked how the administration plans how to help the millions who will have to pay, but Earnest didn't try to spin it this time -- he suggested that the number doesn't exist. "I don't know what statistic you're citing when it comes to millions," Earnest replied. "I don't think that that's accurate, at all."
The thing is, it's entirely accurate. President Obama's own Treasury Department acknowledged last week that up to six million households will pay the tax, which, for 2014, is 1 percent of gross household income or $95, whichever amount is greater. Another headache is that many consumers who purchased coverage through the ObamaCare and received subsidies for which they weren't eligible may see a smaller tax refund or even owe Uncle Sam money.
Keep in mind that the Treasury Department's announcement was covered by prominent news outlets, including Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, not to mention that the controversial individual mandate is one of the centerpieces of ObamaCare. Additionally, the challenges that the subsidies will cause for many this tax filing season have been topics in the news and on Capitol Hill in the last several months.
So Earnest was either purposely trying to deceive reporters, which is, basically, the nature of his role in the White House, or he hasn't been keeping tabs on what the administration is doing, meaning that he isn't doing job. Either way, this is a clown show.
Tell these GOP Senators To Repeal ObamaCare
Tags ObamaCare, individual mandate, white house, Treasury Department, Josh Earnest
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FreedomWorks' Member of the Month for June 2019: Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas)
BY Sarah Anderson
FreedomWorks is proud to honor Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) as the member of the month for June 2019. He serves in the House of Representatives to represent Texas' 21st Congressional District, which spans to the north and west of Austin, Texas. But in reality, Rep. Roy serves not only to represent his constituents but also to better the lives of all Americans by exposing and fighting against the status quo Washington ways that have put us $22 trillion in debt and left us more burdened by government than our founding fathers ever could have imagined.
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The Illegal Pricing Index
BY Ken Cuccinelli
The small area of sanity in our healthcare sector is now under threat, however. A new proposal by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), referred to as the International Pricing Index (IPI), would dramatically undermine American leadership in pharmaceutical innovation and risk patient access to life-changing and life-saving treatments.
"http:\/\/www.freedomworks.org\/content\/support-rip-msp-act-s-1313-and-hr-2524?social=facebook_share"
Support the RIP MSP Act, S. 1313 and H.R. 2524
On behalf of FreedomWorks activists nationwide, I urge you to contact your senators and representative and ask them to support and cosponsor the Repeal Insurance Plans of the Multi-State Program (RIP MSP) Act, S. 1313 and H.R. 2524, introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.). The RIP MSP Act would repeal the ObamaCare Multi-State Plan Program, which is a pathway to a public option for healthcare.
"http:\/\/www.freedomworks.org\/content\/key-vote-no-protecting-americans-preexisting-conditions-act-hr-986?social=facebook_share"
Key Vote
Key Vote NO on the Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act, H.R. 986
On behalf of our activist community, I urge you to contact your representative and ask him or her to vote NO on the Protecting Americans With Preexisting Conditions Act, H.R. 986, sponsored by Rep. Ann Kuster (D-N.H.). The Protecting Americans With Preexisting Conditions Act, contrary to its short title, would do nothing to protect Americans with preexisting conditions and would instead only make it more difficult for Americans both with and without preexisting conditions to have the choices they need to get the best health insurance and subsequently to get the best quality of healthcare for themselves.
"http:\/\/www.freedomworks.org\/content\/explaining-pending-lawsuit-against-obamacare?social=facebook_share"
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Explaining the Pending Lawsuit Against ObamaCare
In December, Judge Reed O'Connor released an opinion in Texas v. United States that struck down the Affordable Care Act (ACA), more commonly known as "ObamaCare," because the individual mandate had been gutted by Congress in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The rest of the law, he wrote, is "inseverable and therefore invalid." The opinion represents the biggest legal threat to ObamaCare in nearly seven years.
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FreedomWorks' Bill of the Month for February 2019: Responsible Path to Full ObamaCare Repeal Act, H.R. 83
FreedomWorks is proud to announce that our bill of the month for February 2019 is the Responsible Path to Full ObamaCare Repeal Act, H.R. 83, sponsored by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and original cosponsors Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.). This bill would fully follow through on one of Republicans' primary campaign promises since 2010: to repeal ObamaCare.
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Support the Repeal of ObamaCare's Cadillac Tax, H.R. 748
On behalf of our activist community, I urge you to contact your representative and ask him or her to cosponsor legislation to repeal ObamaCare's "Cadillac tax," H.R. 748. Introduced by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Ct.) and Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), the legislation would repeal the 40 percent excise tax that will eventually impact most employer-sponsored health insurance plans.
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In Any Congress, Principles Must Come Before Party
Limited government conservatives remain disgruntled in Congress, both when in the majority and when in the minority. Republicans campaign on shrinking government, lowering taxes, embracing free markets, and upholding the constitution. But members who actually hold themselves to these promises once in Congress exist only in small pockets.
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Trump Administration Releases Guidance Making ObamaCare's Section 1332 Waivers More Flexible
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of the Treasury, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued new guidance that will make it easier for states to get waivers from certain mandates under Section 1332 of the so-called "Affordable Care Act," also known as the "ACA" or "ObamaCare." The goal of the new guidance is to provide consumers with more private insurance options in the nongroup health insurance market.
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Key Vote NO on the Resolution to Undo the Expansion of Short-Term, Limited-Duration Health Plans, S.J.Res. 63
On behalf of our activist community, I urge you to contact your senators and ask them to vote NO on the Resolution to Undo the Expansion of Short-Term Limited Duration Health Plans, S.J.Res. 63, sponsored by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). The resolution would use the Congressional Review Act to overturn a rule issued earlier this year by the Trump administration that expanded consumer access to short-term, limited-duration (STLD) health plans. STLD plans offer some of the only relief to consumers have as of now from ObamaCare's Title I regulations that have driven health insurance costs through the roof.


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Home > Dodd Frank > N.D. Cal.: Internal Whistleblowers Are Protected and May Sue Individual Directors
N.D. Cal.: Internal Whistleblowers Are Protected and May Sue Individual Directors
By Jeremy M. Mittman, Steven J. Pearlman and Bali Kumar on October 30, 2015 Posted in Dodd Frank, SOX Whistleblower Decisions
On October 23, 2015, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California largely denied a motion to dismiss a whistleblower retaliation claim brought by a company's former general counsel, ruling that: (I) the SOX and Dodd-Frank anti-retaliation provisions provide for individual liability against board members; and (ii) the Dodd-Frank anti-retaliation provision protects internal whistleblowers. Wadler v. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 144468 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 23, 2015).
Plaintiff Sanford Wadler, the former general counsel of Defendant Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (the "Company"), filed suit against the Company and its individual board members after his employment was terminated in June 2013. Plaintiff asserted six claims against the Company, including whistleblower retaliation claims under SOX and Dodd-Frank. Notably, Wadler did not allege that he had ever reported any securities law violations to the SEC. Accordingly, the Company and the individual board members moved to dismiss his whistleblower claims on the grounds that he does not qualify as a protected "whistleblower" under SOX or Dodd-Frank.
The Court's Ruling
The district court ruled, in pertinent part, that:
1. Although the language of SOX is ambiguous, the legislative intent and context of SOX suggest that board members may be held individually liable as agents;
2. Congress intended Dodd-Frank to allow for liability, which was at least as extensive as SOX, so therefore, board members may be held individually liable for retaliating against whistleblowers; and
3. Internal whistleblowers are protected from retaliation under Dodd-Frank. In this regard, the court relied on the reasoning in an earlier Northern District of California case, Somers v. Digital Realty Trust, to conclude that "Dodd-Frank is ambiguous on the question of whether its anti-retaliation provisions apply to an individual who has provided information regarding possible illegal activity internally but has not provided such information to the SEC." The court gave deference to the SEC's expansive interpretation of Dodd-Frank.
The court only dismissed, as untimely, Plaintiff's SOX whistleblower claim as to the individual board members to whom Plaintiff did not give adequate fair notice in his administrative complaint. Plaintiff only gave adequate fair notice, for SOX purposes, to the CEO. Therefore, the court only allowed the SOX individual liability whistleblower retaliation claim to proceed against the Company's CEO.
This case continues the trend of SOX and Dodd-Frank whistleblower complaints being filed by in-house counsel and underscores the risks of individual liability under SOX and Dodd-Frank—risks that extend to board members.


Do you wanna party like rock star? There is no better place than Vegas and no better hotel than the 4* Hark Rock Hotel & Casino!
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Departure: 05/11/2016 from London Gatwick to Las Vegas McCarran.
Return: 10/11/2016 from Las Vegas McCarran to London Heathrow.
Stay: 5-nights-stay at the iconic 4* Hark Rock Hotel & Casino.
Room type: Deluxe King room.


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UNILEVER SRI LANKA
Tharindu Perera September 4, 2021 UNILEVER SRI LANKA2021-09-04T23:12:18+00:00 MEDIA RELEASES
Embraces diversity and inclusion with differently abled staff
Takes bold new steps to relaunch its Consumer Engagement Centre
Colombo September 02, 2021: Unilever Sri Lanka, one of the largest fast-moving consumer goods companies in the island, has relaunched its Consumer Engagement Centre in partnership with Scicom Lanka, a leading technology and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company in the country, to offer improved, premium and customised services to its consumers and customers. In support of its ambition to contribute to a fairer and more socially inclusive world, Unilever has embraced differently abled 3rd party staff at its new Consumer Engagement Centre, reinforcing its agenda to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
To facilitate the needs of these differently abled 3rd party employees with walking disabilities, Unilever has invested heavily behind supporting infrastructure and provided comprehensive work from home facilities. The revamped Consumer Engagement Centre is a digitally enabled, omni channel consumer support system and remains the only call center in Sri Lanka's FMCG sector with a universal toll-free short code (1323). It consists of an easily contactable and highly specialised team to assist consumers and customers with relevant and accurate information, addressing their concerns on time and in full.
Commenting on this achievement in diversity and inclusion, Ananya Sabharwal, Human Resources Director – Unilever Sri Lanka said, "We celebrate our employees for who they are and have been striving over the years to create an inclusive environment where our people can truly collaborate beyond all differences. From our frontline employees to our leadership team, we are proud and humbled that we have been able to embrace people from all walks of life no matter their background, increase gender balance, and now also create an opportunity for differently abled employees to join our ecosystem. We recently launched several inclusive policies such as Fertility Cover, Domestic Violence Support and Special Wellbeing Leave, and we look forward to continue sharing and learning with other organisations in Sri Lanka who would like to join us on this wonderful journey of creating a diverse and inclusive Sri Lanka."
Speaking of the relaunch, Sukitha Premaratne, Consumer Engagement Center, Country Lead – Unilever Sri Lanka said, "With an ambition to be Sri Lanka's leading futuristic demand generation centre, we have been providing engaging consumer & customer experiences over the past two decades, touching over 1,000 people every day. We couldn't be more excited to come onboard with Scicom to help us come one step closer to achieving this ambition with a new team of diverse and talented individuals."
Adding his thoughts, Chandan Agarwal, Consumer Market Insights (CMI) Director – Unilever Sri Lanka & People Data Centre (PDC) Cluster Director – South Asia said, "At Unilever, our consumers have always been our number one priority. It is their insights that enable us to offer products and services that cater to the ever changing needs and wants of our consumers year on year. Now, more than ever, it has become imperative that we respond with speed and agility. This is why our improved Consumer Engagement Centre will help us stay ahead of the curve by redefining consumer engagement through a unique, diverse and inclusive team that possesses strong product knowledge, business acumen, problem solving skills, empathy, a friendly attitude and all the other traits required to provide a premium service to our consumers."
Unilever Sri Lanka has over the years driven several initiatives to create an equitable workplace, with several policies, procedures and practices in place to offer fair opportunities, information and resources to its employees. The company has already achieved 50/50 gender diversity globally and is striving to reach this goal locally. Currently 55% of its Management Committee are women, 31% of its workforce are females, its baby cologne manufacturing plant is fully operated by women and most recently it introduced its first ever female shopfloor employees at its Horana manufacturing facility.
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