Vietnam moved a step closer to its goal of reaching middle-income status by 2010, with approval by the World Bank (WB) of the first loan to Vietnam from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) on December 21. 

The newly approved loan is a US$ 500 million development policy loan that supports a program of public investment reforms in Vietnam.

“World Bank support Vietnam to build on the Government’s determination to strengthen its public investment processes,” said WB Country Director for Vietnam Victoria Kwakwa

The loan, the largest ever made by the WB to Vietnam, is the first of two single-tranche operations that will support the country’s stimulus program in response to the economic crisis.  And by supporting a series of public investment reforms to improve the quality of public investment, the loan should enhance the impact of Vietnam’s stimulus package as well as its subsequent public investments that are important to sustaining Vietnam’s high economic growth.

Over the last two years, Vietnam has experienced a succession of shocks – starting with massive capital inflows in 2007, a surge in commodity prices in 2008, and export declines as a result of the global economic crisis. Stimulus measures adopted in late 2008 and supplemented in early 2009 contributed to strong growth, now projected to be 5.2 percent for 2009.

IBRD is the low-interest lending arm of the WB aimed at reducing poverty in middle-income and creditworthy poorer countries.  Until now, WB support to Vietnam has come from the International Development Association (IDA), which provides credit and grants to the world’s poorest countries.

“The loan is supported by a strong World Bank program that builds on the Government’s determination to strengthen its public investment processes,” said WB Country Director for Vietnam Victoria Kwakwa.

The areas strengthened under the reform program include environmental screening of publicly funded infrastructure projects, environmental management, project preparation and appraisal, procurement, public financial management, the regulatory framework for private participation in infrastructure and monitoring, and evaluation.

The loan approval builds on the recent Country Partnership Strategy Progress Report, which takes stock of progress made in implementing the five-year Country Partnership Strategy that will conclude in June 2011 and introduces some adjustments for the remainder of the period. 

These adjustments include the introduction of IBRD borrowing, at an indicative level up to $1.7 billion during the next year and a half; and support for further strengthening natural disaster response, climate change adaptation and mitigation, a framework for public-private partnerships for infrastructure, higher education reform, and facilitation of technology innovation.

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Vietnam’s birth rate in 2009 has fallen to just 1.2 percent, achieving the target set by the National Assembly, the General Office For Population Family Planning said on December 20.

Newborn babies at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam’s birth rate in 2009 slides to just 1.2 percent, the lowest level in the last decade. (Photo: SGGP)

General Office head Dr. Duong Quoc Trong said it is the biggest success rate of population planning achieved in the last 10 years.

In 2000, the rate was 1.36 percent.

In addition, infant deaths under one year of age fell from 36.7 percent in 2000 to just 15 percent this year.

The human development index (HDI) reached 0.73 points, which is higher than the target set in the population strategy for the phase 2001-2010.

However, the General Office said there is still much to be done in terms of enhancing the overall health of the population and controlling gender imbalances in newborn babies.

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• Title : Rin ga Utau, Mirai no Neiro

• Original Title : 鈴が歌う、未来の音色

• Length : short, 2-10 hours

• Publisher : Supplement Time

• Relations : Prequel -Mirai no Kimi to, Subete no Uta ni-

• Descriptions :

A sequel game of 未来のキミと、すべての歌に― that starring Kagamine Rin as Hatsune Miku’s sister. This game focused to Rin.

• Release Date :

- 2008-08-16 (Japanese)

• Story (in Japan) :

誰の為に歌うのだろう。
ただ、歌うことだけを考え、求めてきた。
けれど、その先に待っていたのは残酷なまでの現実。
彼は、それでも音楽を求め、彼女は歌うことを選ぶ。

歌いつづける少女と、その隣にいる彼の、その後の物語。
ファインダーに収めたい想いがある。

• Character(s) :

- Kagamine Rin

【リン】「うん、すっごく良い曲だと思うよっ！」

- Hatsune Miku

【ミク】「だって、音楽は楽しいものでしょ？」

• Screenshoot (s) :

SOURCE1 & SOURCE2

]]> http://ichii1350.wordpress.com/2009/12/20/pc-game-%e6%9c%aa%e6%9d%a5%e3%81%ae%e3%82%ad%e3%83%9f%e3%81%a8%e3%80%81%e3%81%99%e3%81%b9%e3%81%a6%e3%81%ae%e6%ad%8c%e3%81%ab%e2%80%95/ Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:27:42 +0000 Ichii http://ichii1350.wordpress.com/2009/12/20/pc-game-%e6%9c%aa%e6%9d%a5%e3%81%ae%e3%82%ad%e3%83%9f%e3%81%a8%e3%80%81%e3%81%99%e3%81%b9%e3%81%a6%e3%81%ae%e6%ad%8c%e3%81%ab%e2%80%95/

• Title : Mirai no Kimi to, Subete no Uta ni

• Original Title : 未来のキミと、すべての歌に―

• Length : short, 2-10 hours

• Publishers : Supplement Time, WinKiller Studio & Honyaku-Subs

• Relations : sequel -Rin ga Utau, Mirai no Neiro-

• Descriptions :

This game is about the Users and Hatsune Miku’s daily lives.

• Release Date :

- 2007-12-31 (Japanese)

- 2009-09-01 (Russian)

• Story (in Japan) :

この出会いは、ただの偶然なんかじゃない。

クリスマスを間近に迎えた賑やかな街で、俺は「彼女」と出会った。

新しく始まる、詩を歌うためにある彼女との生活。

少しずつ確実に変わっていく心のカタチと俺たちの関係。

俺は彼女のおかげで、忘れかけていた大切なものを思い出す。

きっと、これは、神様がくれた奇跡。

二人の新しい日々が、始まる――

• Character(s) :

- Hatsune Miku

【ミク】「だって、音楽は楽しいものでしょ？」

• Screenshoot(s) :

SOURCE1 & SOURCE2

Vietnam has not yet seen any cases of goat flu, known as “Q-fever,” which recently struck the Netherlands, said a health official.

Dr. Nguyen Huy Nga, chief of the Preventive Health and Environment Department, said December 18 the World Health Organization had not made an announcement regarding the flu to its member countries.

Symptoms of the new variation of influenza resemble those of regular flu including severe headache, shivers and perspiration, aching muscles, nausea and diarrhea. The disease is transmitted through contact with infected animals.

Dr. Nga also said vaccination against the swine flu  (A/H1N1) would be carried out soon in certain provinces before a mass injection program is launched for pregnant women and healthcare workers at high risk of contracting the disease.

Vietnam has so far reported over 11,000 H1N1 cases with 50 fatalities. The number of new cases looks to be decreasing, however, the number of serious cases and deaths is still high, said Dr. Nga.

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• Manufacter : 07th Expansion

• Genre : Adventure

• OS : WinXP (32 Bit), WinVista (32 Bit)

• Plot:

The 58th year of shouwa, early summer. It’s June and the early summer heat has arrived earlier than it does. By day there are crikcets and by night there are cicadas.

We’re in Hinamizawa, a small village in the countryside. There are fewer than two thousand people here. But every year, there is an event.

This event is a mysterious death. (The series has run from 1979-1983)

On a certain day in June, someone dies and someone else going missing. The series of deaths is connected to the upheaval surrounding the dam construstion project. A murder case that was covered up is being reenacted. Is it a conspiracy?A coincidence?Or perhaps a curse?

Someone who was suposed to be there, there is not.

Someone who was not supposed to be there, there is.

Someone who was alive last night is dead now.

Someone who is here right now is not alive.

So there is no way to avert tragedy. There is no choice but to give up. But don’t give up.

Only you can stand up for this.

SOURCE1 and SOURCE2

]]> http://zarradeth.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/happy-holidays/ Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:22:26 +0000 Zarradeth http://zarradeth.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/happy-holidays/

Initially I was planning on making a post closer to Christmas, one that would have been longer, as I didn’t really have plans. But earlier today that changed- I’ll be flying home the 20th (and I probably won’t have decent internet access), so I’m gonna make a shorter post now. But, to be honest there isn’t that much to say- so let’s get it on.

Here’s a happy holidays image for you! Whatever you are celebrating right about now, this is for you.

Also, Soywiz linked me this earlier and I love it.
[EDIT: Just realized this trailer actually went online the same day as this post. Here's the source site. Gotta love the creativity.]

The seriousness of it is awesome, and I love the animation. I hope the movie is as serious as this trailer is portraying it to be- or it will be a personal let down. I haven’t watched the second season yet, but I’ve read about 7 of the novels- and this trailer makes the movie feel even more serious than the novels (with the anime being the least serious- though I imagine once they start getting into later stuff this will probably change). All in all, I’m looking forward to that movie- hope it’s as good as it seems it will be. Also, I don’t know what books the movie will cover or what exactly happens in each book (it’s been a while since I read them). But going by the scene with the gun looking thing- this will have my favorite scene from what I’ve read of the books so far. This is one of the more complex parts of the novels, and when Itsuki explained what exactly was going on (because that’s what he does) I had to reread it like 3 times to get a full grasp of all the time traveling and other stuff going on. I encourage discussing the novels, anime, movie in the comments. But try to keep it spoiler free~~

As for the translation, Tom is translation like he does. I was suppose to get translators from these guys- but this never happened. There still might be hope, but they know what I need from them (a username and pass, it’s really not that complicated. Hell the web interface is like 10 times easier than setting up an SVN) but they haven’t gotten back to me. But- I know who I can harass to try and move things along on that front- how much good it will do is another question. They are translating Air for the PC, so if you guys like that game you might want to check them out (I don’t play many VNs myself, they don’t hold my interest too well.) Not much else to say otherwise. I really am hyped for that movie though- but it will probably be a while before subbed version surfaces so I’m not too excited (here’s to hoping for a fast release to Blu-Ray!)- I tend to not get excited for anime, it’s slow like that (Black Lagoon 3, Shakugan no Shana 3, etc.).

Lastly, as for the Twitter. I admit I am glad that so many people dislike Twitter :3 (though I also admit it does have it’s own valid uses)
The poll does infact say I should make one…. I’m just… lazy- I don’t know if I want to make a Twitter >.<
But I should/probably will/kinda have to make one sometime soon anyways, so we'll see what happens. If/when I do I will add a widget to the side of the site that shows the latest Tweet, sooo~ yeah.
—————————————-

Offtopic/IRL
School is actually interesting when you get to classes that involve what you wanna do for a living , might/hopefully get a job soon (have passed the first stage of acceptance for some company's hiring procedures or something like that, waiting for another email from them), all in all not much going on.

To all the people who have emailed me asking for help/advice/whatever, sorry if I don't respond/get back to you. I have a tenancy to be bad with emails. If you wanna get help you best bet is to IM me. But- I must say, I'm not your best bet for getting help. When it comes to emails I have a habit of not replying then forgetting, like an email Tom sent me- I forgot and then didn't respond for like a week~ I'm bad at that. But, I'd like to point out I'm probably not the best person to ask for help- I'm not all that knowledgeable :3
Lastly, that Pandora thingy, to anyone interested in that. I hopefully should be getting it in January. Look on the official blog or the unofficial blog. An almost final case has been made from the molds being made for mass production of the case. Tons of videos are coming from the devs. A case which should be completely fixed and will get the green-light for mass production hopefully will arrive from China to the devs in the next few days from this post. I personally know a lot of people who are interested in this thing and want my opinion on it, so I might do some kinda video when I get mine- but no promises. ‘Specially since I don’t have a camera or a camcorder.

And I think that about raps it up- have a happy holidays you guys
–Zarradeth

(This post was longer than I thought it would be :3)

Tên giao dịch: Nhà xuẩt bản Kim Đồng

Tên giao dịch quốc tế: Kim Dong Publishing House

Ngày thành lập: 17 tháng 6 năm 1957

Cơ quan chủ quản: Trung ương Đoàn TNCS Hồ Chí Minh

Trụ sở chính:

Địa chỉ: 55 Quang Trung, Hà Nội, Việt Nam

Điện thoại: (04) 9434730 – (04) 9428653

Fax: (04) 8229085

Email: kimdong@hn.vnn.vn

Website: www.nxbkimdong.com.vn

Chi nhánh TP Hồ Chí Minh

Địa chỉ: 268 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Q3, TP Hồ Chí Minh, Việt Nam

Điện thoại: (08) 9303832 – (08) 9303447

Fax: (08) 9305867

Email: cnnxbkimdong@hcm.fpt.vn

Trung tâm sách Kim Đồng miền Trung

Địa chỉ: 102 Ông Ích Khiêm, TP Đà Nẵng, Việt Nam

Điện thoại: (0511) 812333 – (0511) 812335

Fax: (0511) 812334

Email: mtnxbkimdong@dng.vnn.vn

Chức năng, nhiệm vụ, đối tượng phục vụ:

Nhà xuất bản Kim Đồng trực thuộc Trung ương Đoàn TNCS Hồ Chí Minh là Nhà xuất bản tổng hợp có chức năng xuất bản sách và văn hóa phẩm phục vụ thiếu nhi và các bậc phụ huynh trong cả nước, quảng bá và giới thiệu văn hóa Việt Nam ra thế giới.

Nhà xuất bản có nhiệm vụ tổ chức bản thảo, biên soạn, biên dịch, xuất bản và phát hành các xuất bản phẩm có nội dung: giáo dục truyền thống dân tộc, giáo dục về tri thức, kiến thức… trên các lĩnh vực văn học, nghệ thuật, khoa học kỹ thuật nhằm cung cấp cho các em thiếu nhi cũng như các bậc phụ huynh các kiến thức cần thiết trong cuộc sống, những tinh hoa của tri thức nhân loại nhằm góp phần giáo dục và hình thành nhân cách thế hệ trẻ.

Đối tượng phục vụ của Nhà xuất bản là các em từ tuổi nhà trẻ mẫu giáo (1 đến 5 tuổi), nhi đồng (6 đến 9 tuổi), thiếu niên (10 đến 15 tuổi) đến các em tuổi mới lớn (16 đến 18 tuổi) và các bậc phụ huynh.

Well, I’ve been keeping this VN to myself for a while, it was suppose to be really small, but of course, it expanded into something bigger and I have yet to actually share any news or pictures. So I decided today was as good as day as any to start. Just a warning, I suck at backgrounds since I hardly ever do them, but I’m proud of what I’ve been able to achieve so far. I improved a lot from just this one game and I know I can’t go no where else but up.

I’m joining the Lemma Soft Collaboration VN for 2010 and might be joining the programming homework in order to tighten up my programming skills. Who knows it depends on how the timing works out.

For the Collaboration VN, were planning on doing a musical VN, and I’m going to be the writer, and maybe the artist too. I never did a musical before so it should be fun. The programming homework is just something to get me use to programming in renpy. It suppose to start in January the 1st and be a month long, using free images, bg, music. etc.

Honestly it feels good to have some new goals now, it makes me feel really energetic and I love a challenge. I also would like to finish my first VN sprites before the beginning of January, but only time will tell. I’m completely pumped though, and the only way I can fail anything I plan to do is by not trying at all.

The Vietnamese Students’ Association in Japan, in coordination with the Japan-Vietnam Association (JVA), held a music gala on December 12 to raise money for the victims of typhoon Ketsana.

Themed “Itinerary on Vietnam ”, the gala featuring special art performances imbued with the cultural identities of each region attracted hundreds of Vietnamese students and people who are living and working in Japan as well as international friends.

Speaking at the event, JVA Vice President Katsunari Suzuki praised Vietnamese students’ activities over the past years, helping boost the multi-faceted exchange between Vietnam and Japan .

Around 400,000 JPY (over 4,000 USD) raised from the gala will be transferred to Vietnamese charity funds in support for the storm victims in central provinces.

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I’ll be touching on each project of mine briefly, even if it’s just concept art or ideas or speed paintings.

Principally Sum of the Parts (writing)—in the process of recruiting a cowriter and working on this. (done. The Closed alpha within Nextburst doujin circle has started and I set up the Google Docs and my own private Paragraph-A-Day for myself.)

Bliss Stage (blocking in shapes on Josh Preston)

There is Always a Choice (speed painting) d0ne! character art and one CG up

All the Spirals (character modelsheet) began work on it, good enough.

Up Down Over Over (speed painting of Shinjuku) done. http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=6227&p=84462#p84462

and That Cheap and Sacred Thing (character bases)

Alex’s Problem (convenience store background.)

I also have two logos to do:

Tokai no Shousetsu (3D, 2D English and Japanese logo)
Bliss Stage (3D logo design, animated in stages)
Perfect Nightmare (same)
A secret Christmas gift for someone

These will look super in my online portfolios.

I seriously need to update them but for right now, I’m just using my ConceptArt.org sketchbook. Good enough. And easy to look at.

I really am going to do two YouTube sessions this weekend. I would love to do it live, but my computer is crappy and I don’t think it can take it…

Saturday: Ren’Py Craftmanship training—Writing, programming cast, and lineart on All the Spirals Winding Down, week 1 for my IntRenaiMo submission. Having issues with Adobe After Effects and making the length longer. It’ll be up when it’s up. Enjoy the mute teaser, though.
Sunday: Let’s Play Ballad of the Evening Butterfly. This may end up being a Let’s Play Katawa Shoujo release instead this week.

I’m struggling with CamStudio and Procastor. I can either get audio or visual but not both. I get huge lag because my PC is old. So I will be doing them separately and combining them. In clips under a minute, I can record both, so that limits me a bit.

But not by much, I do have a headset and Audacity and I think I can get both running simultaneously without a huge amount of lag. There’s a false start on my YouTube right now, but I had technical difficulties on it.

I may also embarrass myself to the world and sing Mushi no Toki karoake-style. I’m already voicing Maris so it’s not like people won’t know the limits of my voice already…

I also started the LSFCCVNG2010 and Artist Homework threads. Hopefully, I can kickstart the community into high gear.

Whatever I don’t finish today, I’ll do Tuesday.

Cheryl

Twenty-two Vietnamese designers showcases over 1,000 fashions at the French Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City December 11-12.

A design by Hoai Sang is presented in the fashion show.

Vietnam Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010 is the biggest fashion show in the country and the event marks Vietnam’s entrance into the Asian Fashion Federation.

The French Consulate General in HCM City, Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex), Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas), Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (Lefaso), and the Vietnam Fashion and Design Institute (Fadin) are organizing the event.

Local fashion designers Trong Nguyen, Thien Trang and Ngoc Dieu will present more than 100 fashions from top-name brands such as Sanciaro, Mahattan, T-up, and Viettien Smart Casual on December 11. New collections from many other Vietnamese designers including Quang Huy, Hien Le, and Minh Minh will also be exhibited on the day.

On December 12, Hong Vuong, Van Khoa and Bich Ha of the Viet Thang Textile Company; and Minh Hanh, Cuong Thinh, and Nhat Huy among others, will introduce their latest collections.

“Most designs are created using 3D technology,” said fashion designer Minh Hanh, director of Fadin in HCM City. “Designers learned the technique in courses which were held by the Paris Fashion Institute in the country.”

The event will open with a ballet performance by Linh Nga on a stage decorated with 8,000 yellow roses in the garden of the French Consulate General.

More than 40 models in Hanoi and HCM City will take part in the event.

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A shortage of equipment and personnel to cope with the central region’s frequent storms has long afflicted Vietnam. Despite the heroic efforts of residents and officials to help storm-hit communities, experts say there remains a dire lack of resources. 

Central residents say they need more rescue vessels to save lives during storms. (Photo: SGGP)

During Typhoon Mirinae in early November, Binh Dinh Province Steering Committees for Flood and Storm Prevention banned fishermen from going out to sea, but some residents ignored the warning.

At 5am on November 2, Ho Ky Thoi from Quy Nhon town and three other fishermen rowed their small wicker boats out to the ocean in hopes of catching fish.

Later that morning, the storm’s winds intensified and blew Thoi’s boat far from the shore. Local residents, police and army officials watched helplessly as he floated farther and farther away.

Despite the desperate pleas of his wife, Nguyen Thi Anh Nguyet, rescue boats were simply unable to help Thoi due to the violent weather. Two days later, the fisherman’s body was found 2 km away at Quy Hoa Beach.

The typhoon also led to floods along the province’s Ha Thanh River valley causing severe damage.

Binh Dinh Province’s People’s Committee reported that on the night of November 2, it mobilized motor boats and armored cars together with 1,000 officials, soldiers and police to help residents.

The Committee said they were unable to reach many flooded areas, however, due to the large volume of swift-flowing water. Unable to save many lives, officials learned of heart-wrenching stories of death and destruction for weeks after the natural disaster.

Resident Nguyen Loi family’s from Tran Quang Dieu Ward was marooned by the floods and had to subsist on uncooked instant noodles and rainwater for two days straight.

On November 4, Loi attempted to row his wife and daughter to the foot of a mountain for fresh water. But their boat capsized and he was the only survivor.

Earlier in Quang Ngai Province, Typhoon Ketsana was forecast in late September not to make landfall. Authorities only evacuated some households and did not prepare thoroughly. As a result, the storm left 27 dead and caused VND5 trillion (VND270 million) in damage.

Residents left to their own devices

A man in Thua Thien-Hue Province struggles to stay afloat during a flood in Vietnam’s storm-battered central region. (Photo: SGGP)

During Typhoon Mirinae, An Ninh Tay Commune in Tuy An District, Phu Yen Province asked for a motorized rescue boat but the district said it couldn’t afford one.

The commune was forced to build its own vessel and saved 50 people in a single night.

Bien Minh Tam, deputy head of the provincial Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Search and Rescue, said rescue forces have met with many difficulties.

Tam said there was a lack of modern equipment and facilities, and that these failed to meet requirements. Rescue operations were further complicated by the region’s challenging terrain, Tam added.

Search and rescue operations in the neighboring province of Binh Dinh also struggle to carry out work in poor weather.

The Government on November 6 gave the province two more modern motor boats, but they are able to carry just 10 people each and can only operate in level-7 winds or less. Meanwhile, the central region usually sees storms with winds at level 12 or higher.

Thua Thien-Hue, one of the most flood-prone provinces in the region, has asked the National Steering Committee for Search and Rescue for two additional rescue vessels, five motor boats and 4,000 life-jackets.

However, to date the province has only received 1,000 round floating devices.

Residents have relied so far on the army, with its 14 motor boats and 2,000 floating devices, to carry out rescue operations.

But the army’s resources are far from meeting demand for the area’s eight districts and Hue City with 1.1 million residents on an area of 5,100 square kilometers.

Director of the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center based in Danang City, Tran Van Long, said that his rescue vessels could not head for sea with winds over level 10.

In addition, the center has just three vessels operating on a wide area from Quang Binh to Ninh Thuan provinces, and thus it is very difficult to save residents in remote areas, he said.

Whenever there’s a storm, each central province sets up a steering committee for flood and storm prevention, which usually disbands after the disaster is over.

The Flood and Storm Prevention Center for the central and Central Highlands regions mainly compiles and reports conditions to the central Government.

The center’s director Van Phu Chinh stressed that human resources for storm and flood prevention are lacking while rescue equipment is extremely inadequate.

Related article:
Storm-hit residents face uphill battle

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Vietnam demonstrated interest in the United States ’ proposals on boosting bilateral cooperation in the field of pharmaceutical chemistry.

At a meeting with former US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky in Hanoi on December 9, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai stressed the importance of the pharmaceutical chemistry as a spearhead in the high-tech sector.

Vietnam ’s target to build a pharmaceutical industry will allow the country to boost its economy by gradually reducing its dependence on foreign imports, and take initiatives in providing healthcare services to people.

For her part, Barshefsky informed Hai of the work between the US delegation and the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Health in that the two sides acknowledged opportunities and challenges in the development of the pharmaceutical chemistry in Vietnam as well as investment and cooperation orientations in the field between the two countries.

The two sides reached a consensus that foreign investment attraction in the field should go together with technology transference which is an important factor to boost the pharmaceutical chemistry in the Southeast Asian nation.

Charlene Barshefsky held post as US Trade Representative in Vietnam from 1997-2001. She has also contributed to the signing of the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement.

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I’ll just go ahead and plug the other ones too.

Concept art for Up, Down, Over, Over: http://jinzoutamashii.deviantart.com/art/Up-Down-Over-Over-concept-146208974

Speed paintings of a Shinjuku skyline sidescroller BG in a week or two.

Concept art of Berichama:http://jinzoutamashii.deviantart.com/art/Berry-chama-sketches-146195185

http://jinzoutamashii.deviantart.com/art/Berry-chama-concept-sketch-146204534

A cute little robot girl that goes from atheist to miko in the 2050 during the advent of the fight for AI rights and equality, will probably be the MC for All the Spirals Walking Down (which takes place in Tokyo.)

I’ll probably finalize somewhere in a blend between typical moeshit, Western toon, and realism but it’s going to take more sketches than that for me to decide…

Snow storm on Dec 9th

* …But you are doing very well  …*

I know thats not true at all, or, at least, in my point of view ( feeling kinda ashamed though =p ) . But somehow her words had brightened my day amid these cold winter days and encouraged me to give Accounting another try. A REAL try !

I’m going to eventually make a game called Up, Down, Over, Over—a combination of platformer and VN. I put out of a WIP thread for it here: http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=6227

If I can’t find a programmer, I’ll buckle down and do it myself but it will take me 2-3 months to teach myself that much Python.  I’m looking at a May release next year. I’ll be doing all the art assets for it, and looking around for Creative Commons released chiptunes.

The graphics will have a very retro palette but be pretty up-to-date, I hope.

Cheryl

Today’s session dealt with Mining, the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption & production (SCP), and Cross-cutting issues, interlinkages and implementation of CSD-17 decisions. Again we were given the opportunity to make several interventions and our last one during the cross-cutting issues was strongly backed up by the USA. That always feels good, if what you’ve said is supported by other delegations.This is what we said:

When it comes to cross cutting issues like “gender”, we would like to point out the following:

Gender mainstreaming (policies)  and women’s participation is NOT the same; looking at recommendations that talk about the pivotal role of women and women as agents of change, and the importance of them being part of decision-making processes, we have to say we still not see enough evidence of implementation of those recommendations and policies
What is rather interesting, is the gender balance that seems to exist in this room; it would be interesting to see a breakdown of actual functions though…

There seems to be a standard phrase, used by a lot of well meaning governments  which is a bit strange when looked at it more closely: “ …involve women and OTHER vulnerable groups”. You may see the funny contradiction: women as agents of change, being a vulnerable group as a whole? The women major group shows great diversity in who they are and the levels of expertise.

“People cannot be developed, people develop themselves” said HRH Prince Claus of the Netherlands. Some of us would appreciate ä little help from a friend to be taken seriously so we can do our jobs; others need serious assistance financially and otherwise to be able to play their roles and get out of the poverty trap. Of course we ask attention for the effects of chemicals, climate change etc. on women because of their biological  make-up.

In all cases: CSD 17 for the first time phrased it correctly and referred to women as “actors” not just as a target group  – we urge member states and others to be demand driven and precise in their wording. It will make your support even more noteworthy and appreciated.

I thought it was very useful to attend this RIM. OK, I had to attend – being the coordinator of BIC (one of the Organising Partners for CSD-18) – but it was also a much easier (smaller) meeting to build relationships and get attention (we surely did get noted due to the quality and consistency of our interventions!). I’m looking forward to working closely with Alexandra and meeting her again in New York in May.

Meanwhile my next job before Tuesday is to finish editing the discussion paper of the women major group. That is still a nightmare, but the end is near…..and the relief after emailing the final version will be immense.

Regional Implementation Meetings (RIM) are held in all 5 UN regions as preparation for the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-18). This RIM for Europe and North America was the last one, following those held for Africa, Western Asia, South Asia & Pacific, and Latin America & Caribbean. It was attended by approximately 100 people, including many reps of civil society.

I finally met up with Alexandra from Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) and Olga (Eco-Accord) and was very pleased since they really are experts in Chemicals, Waste, and Mining. Good, because I’ve never liked chemistry!

I was sitting with Lesha (Nederlandse vrouwenraad = Dutch Women Council and our advisor to the Women Major Group), Alexandra and Olga, looking at the chair of the meeting and thinking ‘ I know that man. Where do I know him from?’ Finally figured out that it was Marco whom I knew from my time in Mali with the German Development Service (DED).  Very funny to realise that we both started at the same organisation and 15 years later I’m at the UN as a volunteer and Marco is a highly paid director of the UNECE Environment, Housing & Land Management Division. Anyway, we had a really nice chat afterwards.

Today’s keynote talks, followed by discussions (interventions by governments and NGOs), dealt with Transport, Chemicals, and Waste management. We (as women major group) made several interventions on all topics, highlighting specific aspects affecting women. We weren’t able to give our 1st intervention because the session ran out of time. However, the advantage of this was that the co-chairs felt bad about this and from then on gave us (Dutch Women Council, BIC, WECF, and Eco-Accord) speaking time every (!) time we asked for it in the 2 days.  We definitely had most speaking time as a major group since the other major groups did not organise themselves that well.

During lunch time we also attended a training workshop on capcaity building for civil society. Basically, sharing of lots of useful background information on the role of major groups during CSD and how we can support each other (from sharing expertise to drafting joint interventions). Very useful.

I missed the first 15 min of the session after lunch because I went outside to take photos. You’ll have to wait until I get home before I can upload them – I forgot my camera cable. The extreme lack of sockets to recharge laptops was a continuous issue in the hall (showing how old the building is, I suppose) and the owners of working adaptors became valuable friends! Amazing what kind of relationships you can built while borrowing adaptors….

Been in Geneva already for 3 days – I arrived on Saturday so I could be the tourist on Sunday. I’m amazed how small Geneva is, but its location is beautiful.

Yesterday was my 1st day at the UN for a preparatory meeting to decide the position/priorities of the UNECE region regarding the 10 Year Review of Sustainable Consumption & Production (also know as the Marrakech process). Lots of words and me thinking ‘this process has been going on for the last 8  years and this is it? Where are the concrete actions?’ Anyway, the meeting definitely helped me to make more sense of the editing required of the discussion paper of the Women Major Group.

I met up with some people I knew from CSD and that was just great. It makes such a difference if you already know some faces.

In the evening we (Major Group reps) met the EU Presidency including Sweden (current chair) and Spain (incoming chair). They had brought their experts on waste, chemicals, mining, and the Marrakech process. Very open question & answer session – it’s nice if you get the feeling that your questions are taken seriously.

I’m aware that Geneva is where the League of Nations began and still walk around in wonderment and awe in the UN compound.

Today I’ll finally meet my German colleague Alexandra from WECF and I’m looking forward to that.

(Photo: SGGP)

Sai Gon Giai Phong Daily spoke with Nguyen Son, head of the Market Development Department about a recent announcement that beginning in December, securities firms will have to stop authorizing customers to sell or borrow before the T+4 trade settlement, where T denotes the transaction date.

Mr. Son said he considers this measure an effective solution to correct recent market infringements and ensure equality between firms and customers.

SGGP: Could you please explain why this correction hasn’t been implemented earlier?

Mr. Nguyen Son: After a periodic inspection, the State Securities Commission (SSC) found some securities firms were allowing their customers to sell holdings earlier than the standard settlement time, which is against the Securities Law.

Earlier, the commission warned firms to obey the law and continue to check T+ transactions. It has now ordered securities firms to stop such violations while waiting for the Ministry of Finance to issue new instructions for stock transactions.

It will investigate the infringements and report to the ministry to decide on a solution.

Obviously, there is a need to reduce trade settlement times. Do you think that it’s time to apply a shorter trade settlement on Vietnam’s stock market?

The SSC drafted a circular for transaction instructions, which allows investors to open many trading accounts and buy or sell same stock the same day. It also gives investors permission to sell the shares they bought on day T+2 and T+3 which means immediately after the Vietnam Securities Depository (VSD) cross-checks with market members.

The circular has been presented to the ministry for consideration. It will be applied at the beginning of next year if the ministry approves it.
 
Which requirements do you think Vietnam’s stock market needs to reduce trade settlement times?

The settlement currently finishes at 3pm on day T+3. Investors will receive shares and money in the morning when the trade settlement is reduced.

Technology plays an important role in reducing payment of stock transactions. The VSD has set up a new system and tested it. It plans to use this system by the end of the year. However, reducing the settlement not only requires effort from the VSD but also from market members.

Thank you!

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