International Wastewater Systems Provides Update
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Published in Blog, Green Technology, International Wastewater Systems, News Home, Technology
Sirona Presented at the Dose of the Valley Conference
Sirona Biochem attends the Dose of the Valley Conference, San Francisco
– Momentum Public Relations –
Sirona Biochem (SBM:tsxv), an emerging biochemistry company based in Vancouver, B.C., was invited for the second time by the consulate general of Canada in San Francisco to present at the annual Dose of the Valley Conference. The invite-only event took place on February 9-10, 2016 in San Francisco, California.
Sirona Biochem had the unique opportunity to showcase its proprietary platform technology, as well as its diabetes and anti-aging assets to international key players to the likes of l’Oreal, Merck and Johnson & Johnson. During the event, they participated in facilitated meetings, follow up discussions and received feedback from investors. Most importantly, the exclusive event offered many potential partnering opportunities.
Needless to say, this was a cruicial event for Sirona Biochem as their products could bring value to big pharma companies around the world. “Sirona has an innovative platform technology that can be applied to develop new compounds in areas of unmet needs, and we have already begun to explore strategic partnerships with big pharma to unlock the potential value in new opportunities,” said Attila Hajdu, Sirona Biochem’s Chief Business Development Officer, prior to the conference.
Dose of the Valley Conference, San Francisco
The Dose of the Valley conference is a two-day event put together by the C100, BDC Venture Capital, and the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco. The prestigious event offers the exclusive opportunity to connect a select few of Canada’s most promising life science companies from the biopharmaceutical, medical device and health IT sectors with key players in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley.
San Francisco and more specifically, Silicon Valley is an international hub for flourishing companies in the life sciences sector. A large handful of pharmaceutical companies, medical providers, venture capital, and technology companies have settled in the region, which holds infinite opportunities for Canadian companies such as Sirona Biochem. “The criteria for selection were evaluated on stage of development and industry validation, so we are excited to participate in such a focused event,” added Hajdu. In addition, applications to attend were based on relevancy to industry interests. A few other companies selected to attend were Zucara Therapeutics and the Commercialization for Research Institute in Immunology and Cancer (IRICoR).
The Dose of the Valley Conference was held on February 9-10 in San Francisco, California, and facilitated face-to-face meetings with potential investors, technology scouts, mentors and other industry experts. In attending, Sirona Biochem hoped to gain visibility and develop new partnerships. Sirona’s Chief Business Development Officer Attila Hajdu presented the Company’s pipeline and future strategy at the conference. Hajdu also participated in follow up meetings with key investors and leading companies in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
About Sirona Biochem
Founded in 2009, Sirona Biochem is a Vancouver based ingredient and drug discovery company dealing with proprietary innovative platform technology of fluorination chemistry. In 2011, the company acquired TF Chem for their chemistry technology and expertise. They develop safer, more effective cosmetic and pharmaceutical active ingredients that are licensed to various partners in exchange for upfront milestone and royalty payments.
The company has recently made headlines as they are currently in discussions with five of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world about licensing their new skin-lightening technology. This represents a major deal for Sirona, which has a market cap of just over $30 million. For additional information visit www.sironabiochem.com, we have also included their corporate video presentation below.
- Published in Blog, Sirona Biochem
A Canadian’s Guide to the 2016 US Presidential Elections
A Canadian’s Guide to the 2016 US Presidential Elections
– Momentum Public Relations –
When you think of the upcoming US presidential elections, what’s the first name that comes to mind? If you said Donald Trump, you’re not alone. Since June of last year, Trump has managed to create a seemingly endless stream of media attention for his presidential campaign. Although very few people took Trump seriously when he floated the idea of running for president in 1988, 2004 and 2012, he managed to position himself as an actual candidate in the latest United States election.
While Trump has received more attention than any other candidate, his airtime hasn’t translated into actual political traction. He had quite a bit of wind knocked out of his sails when he came in second at the Iowa caucus. And even though that preliminary voting event gets talked about a lot, it’s by no means a true indicator of who’s going to end up becoming the next President of the United States.
Who’s Most Likely to Become the Next US President?
If you want to know who’s most likely to become the next US President, you have to cut through a lot of noise and focus solely on the numbers. Fortunately, there’s a great source that specializes in that work. FiveThirtyEight is a website that focuses on opinion poll analysis, politics, economics, and sports blogging. Its founder, Nate Silver, and his team correctly predicted the vote winner of all 50 states in the 2012 US presidential election. They did the same in 2008 with the exception of a single state.
The basic way the US presidential system works is after the initial period of numerous candidates throwing their hat in the ring, having a few debates and going through some primary votes, both the Republican and Democratic parties give an official endorsement to one candidate. Those candidates are who voters will ultimately pick between to become the next President of the United States.
For the Republicans, FiveThirtyEight has Marco Rubio pegged as the endorsement frontrunner with 60 points. Rubio recently overtook Jeb Bush for that position, who is currently at 51. Chris Christie is next at 26, followed by John Kasich at 20 and then Ted Cruz at 19. Trump is projected as having secured 0 endorsement points for himself. For the Democrats, Hillary Clinton is the presumed candidate with 466 points, while Bernie Sanders only has 2 points.
What Does the Election Mean for the Economy?
Even though it’s not the type of topic that is going to bring lots of clicks to a mainstream media website, one of the most important elements for determining the outcome of an election is the economy. Multiple studies about US Presidential elections have shown that the economy is a bigger factor than how much money a candidate raises or how charismatic they’re viewed to be by the public.
So with that in mind, it’s interesting to note that leading economic forecasters believe that when the elections arrive on November 8th of this year, the unemployment rate in the US will be at its lowest point since the 2000 election. Combined with other positive economic indicators, most experts agree that the general consensus among voters will be that of a feel-good attitude.
In terms of what that means for the candidates, these types of conditions are generally favorable to the incumbent party as its candidate is able to promise continued prosperity. But before we jump to any conclusions and name Hillary Clinton as the next president, it’s important to remember the 2000 election. Even though Al Gore was running during a similar economic climate and actually won the popular vote, the workings of the Electoral College meant that he did not become President of the United States.
- Published in Blog
Energy from Wastewater: It’s Here – And It Works!
Energy from Wastewater: It’s Here – And It Works!
– Momentum Public Relations –
International Wastewater Systems (IWS:CSE) has commercialized technology that allows previously lost energy to be recovered, lowering Co2 emissions and reducing overall energy costs. With its proprietary SHARC system, the company has pioneered a way to reuse energy by extracting heat from waste water. The efforts of IWS are being recognized around the world. In fact, International Wastewater was honored in January 2016 with the green building innovation award at the AHR Expo in Orlando, Florida.
There is a growing international consensus around the need to make systematic carbon footprint reductions. Leaders are entering into historic agreements that are paving the way for specific initiatives in both developed and developing nations. Additionally, regional governments and big cities are prioritizing use of new energy technologies to begin the process of weaning themselves away from complete reliance on traditional energy sources like fossil fuels. This is providing the impetus for major energy users like municipal buildings and owners of large private facilities, like universities to decrease their greenhouse gas emissions while elevating their overall operating efficiencies. The SHARC technology from IWS allows them to do exactly that.
In almost every residential and commercial building large quantities of heat in water is discarded every day. Typically, water enters buildings at 7-9 degrees Celsius and leaves, into the sewer system, at 20-25 degrees Celsius. The energy from this water is wasted as it travels in sewers to treatment plants.
The SHARC system captures the wastewater at its point of exit and removes solids. It then extracts the heat from the waste water in a closed system allowing the energy to be recycled. When captured, this energy is transferred to clean water with no risk of cross-contamination and the clean water is reused to heat or cool the building.
For more information on International Wastewater Systems , please click on the link to view the short video presentation:
Capturing wasted heat is more cost efficient than installing new methods of energy generation. Also, the SHARC technology is designed to work in new facilities or may be retrofitted in existing buildings. This means that virtually anyone could make use of the technology. Sewage may not appear to be as inherently attractive as solar or wind power. Nonetheless, the SHARC system represents an accessible, cost-effective renewable energy system that is fully commercialized.
International Wastewater Systems SHARC technology has proven useful in buildings and installations that are as small as 100,000 square feet and as large as several million square feet. Virtually any building is a potential user of this product. Depending on the scope of the installation, the payback from recycling wasted energy averages 3-5 years making it more attractive than new installations of solar or wind energy. The technology is designed to be trouble free with full backup capacity providing for no downtime.
Not surprisingly, the SHARC solution is being installed in places as diverse as Camden County, New Jersey, Seven35 Condominium complex in Vancouver, Canada and Borders College in the southeast of Scotland. It can be tailored to almost any size facility and functions in either heat exchange or heat pump applications. It even measures its own ROI. A typical installation includes a DDC or BACnet interface and a wireless or Ethernet connection for data retrieval and instantaneous calculation of COP and GHG savings.
Conferences like the COP21 summit in Paris are paving the way for a different approach to how the world manages energy at both the macro and the micro level. Increasingly, there is a need for simple, cost-effective and easy to implement technologies that will radically change the trajectory of the climate change reality while stimulating the economy.
The future of our planet may depend upon the extent to which countries and significant stakeholders collaborate in the effort to reduce Co2 emissions. Investors are paying attention. Responding to a clearly articulated global need will generate attractive investment opportunities. Ultimately, International Wastewater Systems provides savvy investors with an opportunity for a significant return in a market space that is going to be an important part of the emerging economy.
- Published in Blog, Green Technology, International Wastewater Systems, Technology
Lowe’s Shakes up Canada’s Home Improvement Industry with Rona Deal
Lowe’s Shakes up Canada’s Home Improvement Industry with Rona Deal
– Momentum Public Relations –
Lowe’s, an American Fortune 50 home improvement company operating hardware and home improvement stores throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, recently proposed to purchase Rona in a deal that could potentially shake up Canada’s home improvement industry. Rona, founded in Quebec in 1939, currently operates nearly 500 stores throughout Canada, including several independent affiliated dealers and outlets in rural communities.
On February 3, Lowe’s offered to acquire Rona for CA$3.3 billion (US$2.3 billion). Under the terms of the deal, Lowe’s would acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Rona for CA$24 per share and all of the issued and outstanding preferred shares of Rona for CA$20 per share. This represents a premium of 104{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} on RONA’s February 2 closing share price and a 38{92d3d6fd85a76c012ea375328005e518e768e12ace6b1722b71965c2a02ea7ce} premium over the 52-week high of CA$17.36.
The deal has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both Lowe’s and Rona. The Rona Board reports that they’ve received an opinion from Scotia Capital Inc. indicating that the transaction is fair from a financial point of view. In addition, the proposed deal has the full support of the management teams of both companies.
Lowe’s first entered the Canadian market in 2007. The company currently operates 42 stores in Canada out of a total of 1,845 North American home improvement and hardware stores. For Lowe’s, the Rona deal offers a simple way to become the leading home improvement retailer in Canada — snagging the top spot currently occupied by Home Depot. Lowe’s has been trying to build its Canadian business organically, but is struggling to keep its current stores competitive. The Rona acquisition would also allow Lowe’s entry into the Quebec market, where the company currently has no presence.
In a recent press release, Lowe’s stated it sees opportunities for CA$1 billion plus in revenue and profit growth as a result of the purchase. The company cites factors such as leveraging shared supplier relationships and enhanced scale, taking advantage of Lowe’s private-label capabilities and eliminating Rona’s public company costs. According to Lowe’s, there is a potential to double operating profitability in Canada over the next five years.
For Rona, the deal offers the chance to benefit from the strength of an association with a multinational company without disturbing its brand and core business relationships. Lowe’s has agreed to maintain Rona’s multiple retail store banners and to continue the company’s local and ethical procurement strategy. Additionally, Lowe’s will maintain key executives from Rona’s current leadership team and headquarter its Canadian operations in Rona’s home base of Boucherville, Quebec.
Although general reaction to the proposal has been mostly positive, the union representing workers at Rona has expressed concern about the deal. Lowe’s has publicly promised to maintain the majority of Rona jobs, but Teamsters Canada Local Union 1999 says their members are concerned about the sale of an economic showpiece in Quebec to American interests. Union representatives have stated they’ll be aggressive in their efforts to ensure that the rights of Rona employees are protected throughout the transaction.
It should be noted that this is not the first time Lowe’s has offered to purchase Rona. In 2012, the company made a hostile CA$1.8 billion offer that was brought down in part by vocal disapproval from both Canada’s Liberal Party and the separatist Parti Québécois. This time, however, all key stakeholders appear to be in agreement as to the economic and commercial benefits of the proposal.
The declining value of the Canadian dollar is also a factor. In 2012, the Canadian dollar and the US dollar were equal in value. Today, the Canadian dollar is worth about US$0.71 US. This means the offer to purchase Rona shares for CA$24 costs Lowe’s US$17 in its operating currency. Lowe’s can credibly say they’re offering double what the market says Rona is worth, while paying only slightly more than the CA$14.50 per share offer they made in 2012.
Regulators in both Canada and the United States need to give their approval for the purchase of Rona to be finalized, but this is expected to be a mere formality. Quebec’s Minister of the Economy, Sciences and Innovation, Dominique Anglade, has already stated she sees no immediate reason to block the Rona deal.
If all goes according to plan, Lowe’s will finalize the purchase of Rona in the second quarter after receiving regulatory approvals and the endorsement of Rona shareholders by April 8.
Albertans Receive Much Needed Cash Lifeline From Trudeau
Albertans Receive Much Needed Cash Lifeline From Trudeau
– Momentum Public Relations –
Prime Minister Trudeau travelled to Alberta on February 3rd, 2016, to let Albertans know that Ottawa would be prepared to provide up to 950 million dollars in “bail-out” funding in order to help the struggling province deal with its oil crisis and unemployment rates. More specifically, Ottawa would pledge up to 700 million dollars to fund infrastructure projects and add 250 million as a fiscal lifeline if needed. That is, the 250 million dollars that the federal government pledged to Alberta would go towards a fiscal stabilization program that has not been used in quite some time.
As for the $700 million, Trudeau promised to fast-track the money as needed in order to help unemployed Albertans get back on their feet, with funding expected to arrive in a few weeks to a few months. Given the fact that Alberta plans to invest 34 billion dollars in the next 5 years in order to rebuild hospitals and schools that have been overtaxed over the years, the extra funding from Ottawa will help expedite Alberta’s infrastructure project plans while minimizing any obstacles.
Moreover, the meeting between Alberta’s Premier and the Prime Minister could not have come at a better time, as the fiscal prognosis for the fledgling province in 2016 is dire at best. Fortunately, Trudeau’s reaching out to the province will help alleviate some of the tensions between the Liberal Party and Albertans, as the two sides have had a precarious relationship for several decades.
However, while Trudeau’s cash lifeline offer will not go unnoticed, many are still questioning where his party stands on the development of the Energy East Pipeline, as the proposal to build the pipeline has been met with ardent opposition from British Columbia and Quebec. Albertans, on the other hand, have stressed the importance of building a pipeline in Alberta in order for the province to access international oil markets.
Whether Trudeau will concede to Quebec and British Columbia’s demands or side with Alberta remains to be seen, although Trudeau hoped to make inroads on plans regarding climate change, E.I. reforms, and federal infrastructures during his hour-long meeting with Premier Rachel Notley.
In regards to employment insurance reforms, Trudeau promised marked and swift changes that would benefit the citizens of Alberta. For instance, Trudeau stated that getting financial aid in a timely and convenient manner was of the utmost importance, and went on to say that, “Nowhere is [it] clearer that there is a need for that right now and right here in Alberta.” It should also be noted that the restrictions placed on receiving E.I. benefits have been stricter in Alberta compared to other provinces for the longest time, as Alberta has historically enjoyed low unemployment rates until recently.
As such, employees in Edmonton and Calgary must work a minimum of 600 hours in order to qualify for employment insurance benefits and can only receive a maximum of 38 weeks. In comparison, employees in Atlantic Canada are only required to work 420 hours to receive E.I. benefits and can qualify for up to 45 weeks.
What’s more, the diversification of Alberta’s economy as well as its climate change plans were also addressed during the meeting, as Ms. Notley hoped to accentuate the grim economic conditions that the province was currently facing. For instance, Suncor Energy Inc-a notable oil sands monolith-posted a net loss of over two billion dollars in Q4 of 2015 due to asset writedowns. The net loss was attributed to foreign currency exchange losses as well as depressed crude oil prices.
Negative Interest Rates: When Nothing Else Works
When Nothing Else Works – Lower Interest Rates?
– Momentum Public Relations –
Negative interest rate policy (NIRP) is going mainstream. At the very least, active discussion of the possibility of NIRPs by senior level financial strategists has gone mainstream.
A few years ago anyone who suggested that central banks would be forced to consider this kind of policy might have been dismissed as a prophet of doom. Often, with twenty-twenty hindsight, yesterday’s prophet of doom morphs into today’s “expert”. But predictions related to capital markets are notoriously challenging given the multitude of variables. The near-term health, and the medium-term growth prospects, of developed economies continue to baffle the most astute prognosticators and trend watchers.
Janet Yellen, the current Chair of the Board of the US Federal Reserve, in her Senate confirmation hearing in late 2013, suggested that if interest rates approached zero that it could become quite disruptive to the money markets that feed the banking industry. The economic challenges of 2014 and 2015 have continued to place downward pressure on interest rates, notwithstanding Ms. Yellen’s concerns.
NIRPs have been used in recent years, but on a limited basis, and often for very specific reasons. In many cases, the purpose was primarily intended to discourage an influx of foreign money. They have also been used as a tool by some countries to peg the value of their currency to a larger currency. Today, the central banks of the Eurozone, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, and Japan are using NIRPs to attempt to manage the money supply and encourage investment in enterprises that produce discernible economic activity. The merits and potential impact of a NIRP is generating considerable debate in the financial press.
http://www.bloombergview.com/quicktake/negative-interest-rates
The larger economies of the world continue to face sluggish demand. Commodity prices are at a low point. Economic recovery post-2008 has slowed to a crawl. Anemic economic growth has had an impact on how most banks view risk. Already chastened by the excesses of the past decade, they have no desire to head out into uncharted waters. Recently, the overall cost of borrowing has been low, but the demand for money has been weak. This has caused some financial institutions to park money, holding it rather than lending it. The same has been true for a variety of investors. If stocks continue to be volatile then, in theory, it makes sense to preserve capital and liquidity by putting it in low or no-interest accounts. If an institution, or an individual, is faced with negative interest rates that means they have to pay a price to maintain their stash of cash. So what should cautious investors do and how can capital be protected? Will negative interest rates cause people to put their money under their mattresses?
The principle of NIRPs is that those who place something in storage have to pay for the privilege of storing it. The main reason for the policy is weak demand. When lenders cannot obtain a sizeable enough return on a loan, then they cannot afford to pay interest on the money that they are using to provide the loan. In theory, NIRPs ought to encourage investors to move money out of savings and into in the working economy. The policy also offers a disincentive for financial institutions to keep money in their vaults. When interest rates are negative, a retail bank has to pay the central bank if they wish to hold money in an account with the central bank. Additionally, an investor will be faced with a negative yield on bonds that previously returned additional cash at maturity, and a pensioner will have to pay a local retail bank to keep her money in a savings account.
The question is; will NIRPs spur real investment and produce economic growth? Does such a policy represent the last lever of economic influence that a central bank can use?
The answer is stay tuned. The evidence isn’t conclusive. Major central banks that have migrated to NIRPs have not yet produced much in the way of discernible stimulus. However it is impossible to assess if, in places like the Eurozone, NIRPs have prevented further deterioration of the regional economy.
The Fed in the United States has sent signals that suggest that an NIRP is on their agenda. Their position on the issue hasn’t formally changed, but we know how the Fed works. The fact that they speak openly about it and that they are running simulations through economic models suggests that a NIRP must be on the table for consideration. The Bank of Canada has sent similar signals while declaring its preference for maintaining the status quo, an extremely low-interest-rate that is as close to zero as possible.
One important takeaway for investors is that a policy that wasn’t being seriously considered a short time ago is being assessed by virtually every major central bank. When nothing else works, perhaps it is a policy worth considering.
10 Tips to Become a Successful Trader
10 Tips to Become a Successful Stock Trader
– Momentum Public Relations – By Stephanie Boucher
There are many advantages to knowing the ways of the market and successfully investing your money, with the most obvious being that you will make a fair profit. Investing in the stock markets often allows for residual income or maybe even a little bit of extra money for retirement, if done successfully, of course.
But successful trading is no easy feat, and it can be very overwhelming at first. “How much money should you invest?” and “What should you invest in?” are very common questions, among many others you will certainly ask yourself during the process.
Whatever your reason to start investing, you will find a few tips on how to smartly and successfully invest your money in the stock markets here.
1. Leave emotions out if the equation
A successful trader treats his investments like business deals. Decisions are always carefully calculated and based on numbers and facts – not on emotions. Greed and fear can be especially powerful when investing, and can get the best of anyone in a stressful situation, so best to keep your decision making neutral. Successful investors are always emotionally stable.
2. Identify your trading style
Give plenty of thought on the kind of investor your are – identify your goals, your comfort level with risk, your current financial situation and obligations, etc. This assessment will help you determine the kinds of stocks that are right for you. Also, if you choose to work with a broker or portfolio manager, be sure to choose someone who fits your trading style as well.
3. Do your research, follow the trends
Trade stocks based on numbers and analysis, rather than on gut feelings and what friends or colleagues might be saying. Rather, look at what top businessmen and investors are doing. Never invest on whim – a well-informed trade can go a long way in terms of profit. Analyze the markets to know when the best time of the day or month is best to make a trade.
4. Have a plan
Just like you should do your own research and determine your style, you should also establish a concrete trading plan. This plan should include your goals, your position, a stop loss point, a profit taking level, and a sound money management strategy. Lay out your goals and how you plan to get there on paper and thick to them, no matter what.
5. Know when to cut a loss
People seem to focus on when to buy a certain stock, but it’s just as important to know when to sell. Remember, an investment only turns into real money when you cash out. Never hold on to bad stocks for too long, thinking the price will eventually go up. Determine your stop loss point and if the stock falls below that point, it’s time to sell.
6. If you can’t afford to risk it, don’t!
Saving to fund a trading account can be a long process and a good trader should only use cash that is truly expendable in the stock market. The money in a trading account should never be allocated to anything else in your budget, such as paying off a mortgage or tuition. A successful trader should always be prepared to lose all of the money allocated to a trading account. This loss is never easy, but just think of how awful it would be if it should have been your next mortgage payment!
7. Keep a trading log
When you make a trade, get into the habit to noting why you made that decision. Write down your successful trades and mistakes you may have made along the way. This may seem tedious at first, but over time, you will be able to analyze this data, learn from your mistakes and become an even more successful trader.
8. Keep trading in perspective
There are always gains and there are always losses in trading. A good trader shouldn’t be surprised if a certain stock fails to meet expectations, just as a winning trade is only one step on the long road to profit – it’s the nature of the business of trading. Keep long-term, realistic goals in mind and always refer back to the trading plan. Once a trader can accept that these losses and gains are part of the process, it will really be much easier to stay unemotional when making a trade.
9. Use technology to your advantage
Trading is a competitive business, and there are technological tools that can help any trader stay on point. Charting platforms allow for an in depth analysis of the markets as well as allow to look back at historical data and trends. You can also use notifications on your smartphones the get instant updates and monitor trades from virtually anywhere in the world.
10. Be disciplined
A successful stock trader should always be disciplined and follow the rules he laid out for himself in his trading plan. Stick to the stop loss point as well as a profit taking level. Successful trading takes time and patience and those who are able to stick to their plans usually see more favourable outcomes. If you are unable to stick to the rules you have established you may need a new trading plan, or you should consider handing your portfolio over to a manager, who will stick to your rules for you.
- Published in Blog
Nation Builders – Welcome to 21st Century Realities
Nation Builders – Welcome to 21st Century Realities
– Momentum Public Relations –
Energy East proponents and old-style politicians take note. It is not business as usual. Gone are the days when a small group of corporations, lobbyists, and elected politicians can stack the approval process for big projects and then let the inevitable unfold.
Investors should also take note when evaluating their options. Companies that have failed to understand the changing landscape could be a sub-optimal investment. There is a premium on listening and crafting a coherent message that connects with real people. Failure to realize the emerging power of small groups who are passionate about an issue can derail a project and compromise an investment.
When it comes to big projects, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not invent the concept of “social license”. He is merely among the first to acknowledge that there is an entirely new way of operating. Any organization or politician that advocates for significant change to the status quo needs to take note.
The ongoing, and increasingly rancorous, Energy East pipeline project debate continued this past week. A meeting was held this week in Montreal between the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Montreal. Edgy tweets were exchanged between various municipal and provincial politicians, each with their agenda.
One group of people, comprised mostly of politicians and corporate entities that advocate for the pipeline proposal, are asking Canadians to think like “nation builders.” Images and comparisons abound that call to mind the nineteenth-century pioneer visionaries who are alleged to have had the foresight and determination to forge a country by building the Canadian railroad. The problem is that this is a different century, and the Energy East pipeline project has precious little in common with the early days of the Canadian Pacific Railway, other than a healthy dose of hubris and the odor of corporate entitlement.
The second group of people, a somewhat diverse cohort, are generating some increasingly active opposition to the proposed pipeline project. They include mayors, provincial politicians, and environmental advocacy groups. Their concerns center around two primary issues. The first is that a valid assessment of environmental impact ought to be completed. The second is more bread and butter. There are a variety of questions about the project’s economic benefit to specific communities in places like Ontario and Quebec.
Pro-pipeline politicians and pundits suggest that tough choices must be made to cater to the greater good. Canadians are being advised that we can’t allow a collection of individual communities to dictate the pace of progress. Progress, as defined by the pro-pipeline folks, is all about a hollow pipe that carries oil from one part of the country to the other. Ironically, most agree that the oil in question is a temporary energy solution that must eventually be met by other technology because it is a finite resource that has the potential to have a significant impact on the environment in the medium term.
A great deal of horror has been expressed about the fact that a handful of small town mayors in Quebec can stand in the way of a major investment in infrastructure. Welcome to the 21st Century! This is how it done now. Real people do matter. An individual’s influence is no longer tied to their pedigree or to the office they hold. It is tied to their ideas, their ability to communicate, and their grasp of 21st-century communication tools and platforms. Companies should take note. The tone deaf way TransCanada has handled this issue should become an MBA case study for how to bungle a communications strategy.
It should be quite clear that we’ve undergone an “era-shift”. This is far more profound than a generational change. In an era shift, the many of the foundational structures of society change. This is particularly true in matters of politics. Hierarchy is not dead, but it is increasingly irrelevant. This is the era of everyone communicating with anyone they want on Facebook, Twitter, and the ubiquitous instant message. When Taylor Swift posts a photo on Instagram, a million people know all about it. Lilly Singh can put something on YouTube, and her 7.7 million subscribers lap it up. Malala Yousafzai, a girl from rural Pakistan, can win a Nobel peace prize advocating for education for young girls and millions more tune in. It doesn’t matter who you are; you can be heard. One passionate person can truly make change happen.
Sure, Canada does have some choices to make. They are choices that require leadership. The challenge is that they need a whole different kind of leadership because we are in a completely different era. Old-style leaders “declare”. Old-style leaders were trusted because they seemed smarter than us, or they simply knew more than we did. New-style leaders listen. They understand the reality that engagement and conversation work more effectively than grandstanding or lecturing. They also know how to use social media effectively.
Gone are the days of carefully crafted campaigns to influence a finite and measurable group of influential decision-makers. Welcome to a new era. It is the era of individual power. Anyone with an opinion and a cell phone can have a voice. Jenny McCarthy can claim to understand the science of vaccinations and, strangely, people believe her. Individual citizens are capable of being tsunami-like disruptors of traditional political processes; particularly if it is all about a pipe carrying oil that is slated to run past their backyard.
What is being accomplished by the current debate? The revamped approval process that the Liberal government in Ottawa announced this week bought some time for TransCanada Pipelines to fine-tune their proposal and their communication strategy. The company needs to invest in engaging all potential stakeholders. They need to recognize the changing perceptions of the public and the shift that is happening in the political landscape.
Can big projects still move forward? Is nation building still possible? Can a national consensus be achieved for Energy East? To a large extent, this all hinges on the recognition by companies and politicians that things have changed in a big way in the 21st century.
- Published in Blog, Energy, Oil and Gas
The Big Short: The true story investors can learn from
What We Can All Learn from Watching The Big Short
– Momentum Public Relations –
In 2010, author Michael Lewis published The Big Short. This New York Times best-seller focused on the build-up of the US credit and housing bubble. At the end of 2015, a film with the same title was released. Starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt, the film takes the topic of finance and turns it into a story that’s entertaining, informative and true. The film has already won ten awards and has been nominated for over a dozen more.
Key Characters and Plot Points from The Big Short
Most people know about the 2008 financial crisis. The main reason is people from all walks of life were directly impacted by this event. Whether it was losing their job, going upside down in their mortgage or having their retirement savings wiped out, 2008 is considered the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
While countless people in the United States and the rest of the world were impacted by this event, the majority of the population doesn’t really know what caused this massive financial meltdown. That’s the story The Big Short tells in such a compelling way. The film starts by focusing on Bale’s character, Michael Burry. Burry is a hedge fund manager with a reputation for being quite eccentric.
In 2005, Burry came to the realization that subprime loans were eroding the stability of the US housing market. Based on the data he was analyzing, he believed that the market would collapse in the 2nd quarter of 2007. Burry made the decision to bet over a billion dollars against the housing market in the form of credit default swaps.
As Burry began shopping his deal around, Gosling’s character Jared Vennett caught wind of the deal. He accidentally got in touch with Carell’s character Steve Baum, and they ended up deciding to move forward with placing their own bet. During their research, Vennett and Baum discovered that the housing market was becoming even more volatile as a result of collateralized debt obligations (CDOs).
This information continued to trickle down the financial food chain and caught the attention of two very young traders. Although these traders had already made millions through their two-man operation, they were considered cockroaches by the financial industry. That’s why they had to seek assistance from retired industry veteran Ben Rickert, who’s played by Brad Pitt.
Although the movie is over two hours long and dives into some very complex topics, its pace and excellent acting will keep you on the edge of your seat as you wonder whether these guys are going to pull off the trades of their lifetimes or end up losing every cent to their names.
Is the Economy Heading Towards Another Crisis?
The 2008 financial crisis resulted in trillions of US dollars being wiped out. What’s truly scary is despite the fact that this event took place less than a decade ago, it seems many people are already forgetting the key lessons of the crash. According to financial experts like billionaire George Soros, recent signs in the market indicate that the global financial markets may once again be seized by a crisis.
As explained by Soros, turmoil in the Chinese economy is the lead indicator of potential distress. While China has been viewed as a massive success over the last three decades, numerous analysts are losing favor with this country’s economy.
Part of this stems from actions taken by Chinese market regulators. Even though the regulators’ actions have been taken in an attempt to stabilize the market, plenty of experts outside the country believe that those actions are shortsighted and will only contribute to the turmoil within the Chinese economy.