MS&D 2009 - international conference and exhibition on maritime security and defence hamburg
The latest surveillance, defence and security equipment is presented by the 60 exhibitors at MS&D 2009, the international conference and exhibition on Maritime Security & Defence (MS&D), to be held at the Hamburg Fair site from 30 September to 2 October 2009. The exhibits include sophisticated optical and acoustic sensors, which have substantially improved the automated monitoring and control technology of security and defence equipment and systems. Thus the exhibiting companies, most of them from the exclusive circle of defence system manufacturers, are contributing to the protection of international shipping.
A trend at MS&D 2009 is unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) which fly in fully automated mode and can be used for surveillance. The exhibits by Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Co. KG include a new unmanned helicopter system called CamCopter. It has a rotor with a diameter of about 3 metres, and is fitted with sensors. Its range is about 50 to 60 kilometres. It is operated from a control station, which can be either on a ship or on shore. This very compact helicopter can land without difficulty even on a corvette, so the manufacturers claim. Its purpose is reconnaissance and surveillance, and it has been tested with success by the German Navy. Diehl also exhibits various development projects such as DAVID, an unmanned autonomous undersea vehicle, and IDAS, a missile which can be fired from submarines and serves for self-defence, e.g. against anti-submarine warfare helicopters.
The Zentrum für Funktionswerkstoffe (“Functional Materials Centre”) is a non-profit company associated with the Clausthal-Zellerfeld University of Technology, and can draw on the latter’s research resources. It also brings two newly developed surveillance drones to MS&D 2009. The smaller drone is a helicopter design with a rotor span of 1.80 metres; it is ready for series production, and will demonstrate its flying capabilities at MS&D. The larger drone is still at the prototype stage. It has a rotor span of 5.80 metres and will be presented as a full scale model. The drones are designed for reconnaissance, and can if necessary also carry weapons, e.g. for defence against pirate attacks. The drones seek their own target automatically via thermo-cameras. They can stay in the air for half an hour or more. The Centre will also exhibit an innovative fabric which is coated with conductors. Combat dress made of this material needs no cables for power supply for night-vision devices. “A rarity” is how Grishka Düppe, Head of Research and Development, describes a torpedo which can keep its position under water for six months, and is triggered by special acoustic sensors.
The MS&D exhibitors include a number of leading shipyards that have a great deal of experience and expertise in naval shipbuilding. ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) will show projects including the F125 class frigate. The highlights of this ship includes its extremely long period of deployment in its area of operations (two years rather than the currently usual six to eight months), its reduced manning requirement (only 110 crew rather than 220 or 240 as normally needed for this class of ship), and armament specially designed for combating asymmetric targets and threats. Building of the first four F125s will start in May 2011. The first delivery will be in 2016. Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH, which is a TKMS company and responsible for building submarines with fuel cell propulsion, will show the U-210mod, a submarine design which will undoubtedly attract interest throughout the world. It is specially designed for coastal operations, with displacement as little as 1000 tonnes.
Lürssen are demonstrating their whole range of expertise at MS&D, with a hybrid model. The front of the ship is a naval ship fitted with weapons, while the stern is a superyacht. Fassmer and the Meyer Yachtwerft are represented with special-purpose vessels. The German Navy will present an operations and maritime simulator at MS&D. Fair visitors can get an impression of the tasks of the navy at their stand, for example with a virtual helicopter tour at sea.
Shipowners who want to fit their ships with anti-piracy technology will also find much to interest them at MS&D. Thus Jabsco present their Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD), also known as sonic cannons, a development of the US American Technology Corporation. These are high-powered loudspeakers which can be used for targeted warnings to potential aggressors, even if they are more than a kilometre away. The sonic beam causes pain only at close range. Some cruise vessels are already equipped with these devices. Beluga Shipping, whose freighter MS BBC Trinidad fell into the hands of Somalian pirates in August last year and was released only after payment of a ransom, have tested the LRAD auf on their multi-purpose heavy goods freighter MS Beluga Fantastic. Niels Stolberg, Managing Partner of Beluga Shipping GmbH summarises “We conducted this trial mainly due to recommendation by our German insurer that we should install a defensive protection system.” The ship was not exposed to pirate attack in the six-month trial period. Apart from these warning devices, Jabsco also exhibits 3rd generation low-light amplification systems, which are available exclusively to the professional military and the police. In combination with digital cameras or video cameras, these devices are also capable of night-time surveillance.
Another system designed specially for use against pirates is PITAS (Pirate and Terrorist Aversion System), presented at MS&D by Consist Software Solutions GmbH. The system is designed to use radar, sonar and video monitoring systems, also described as Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), with rapid real-time data evaluation, and an alarm system to reduce the risk of successful attacks by pirates or terrorists.
There are also a large number of marine equipment suppliers at MS&D 2009, showcasing technologies and products which are not in the limelight of security systems, but which are indispensable for functioning of naval vessels and of defence and security systems.
The conference held concurrently with the exhibition will feature high-ranking naval officers and security and defence experts from all parts of the world, who will discuss current security issues such as the threats to international shipping from pirates and terrorists, and general defence issues.
Ed.: Angelika Schennen, Tel.: +49 40-3569-2440, e-mail: angelika.schennen@hamburg-messe.de,
Info at www.msd2009.com
Hamburg Messe
Sonu Niigaam and Michael Jackson - An Indian superstar pays tribute to his idol
What do have an international mega-star and Indian musician and superstar to do with each other?
Now, of course, as for many musicians and fans, Michael Jackson is an undisputed idol, one of the few truly outstanding individuals who have managed to survive despite all odds in a challenging music biz. For Sonu Niigaam Michael Jackson was and still is a role model who has influenced his early works.
Unfortunately, Michael Jackson died just 3 weeks before his much-announced and already mostly sold-out comeback tour, "This Is It," which should have had its premiere in London.
Jackson lived and died in Los Angeles – and at this time Sonu Niigaam was also there. The Indian superstar has chosen Los Angeles as a second homeland in addition to Mumbai and from there he’d started off to an extended concert tour "Explosion 2009 - Sonu Niigaam, Sunidhi Chauhan and Hard Kaur in Concert" across the United States.
When news of the death of Michael Jackson arrived the U.S. media Niigaam sent out an SMS to his friends, "Michael Jackson Becomes One With the Universe". He joined as well with countless fans of MJ at Jackson's house, to light candles and pray for his idol.
"Billie Jean" in honor of MJ
But this was not enough - in honor of Michael Jackson Sonu Niigaam included a special presentation in his tour concerts. To the surprise of his mostly Indian fans in the U.S., the musicians presented on stage a close-to-perfect performance of Michael Jackson's superhit "Billie Jean" including the famous "Moon Walks". The response of his fans was overwhelming.
However, a very special honor got Sonu Niigaam himself on his final concert on 16 August in Los Angeles. Among the guests and concert-goers were celebrities from the music, fashion and show business in Hollywood and - Jermaine Jackson - Michael Jackson's brother - who is currently busy with the final preparations for the memorial concert for Michael Jackson in Vienna on September 26, 2009th (www.tribute2009.com). Like all other concert-goers Jermaine Jackson was overwhelmed by Sonu Niigaam "Billie Jean" performance and he joined enthusiastically into standing ovation.
"MJ - This One Is for You"
The next coup by Sonu Niigaam, was a specially created song to commemorate Michael Jackson, which was released on Jackson’s birthday on 29 August. It may be one among many, because the idea has been picked up by hundreds or even thousands of musicians,
but the very special thing about this song was the way it was created. So far, unique and almost unbelievable, it has been initiated by fans of Sonu Niigaam and Michael Jackson met over the Internet.
Sonu Niigaam's fan page on Facebook served as a platform. The artist called his fans at first to write and to send in lyrics and then to compos and sent in music according to lyrics. Finally they were searching for singers, who were also selected based on their vocal samples from English songs. Everything was put on the fan page and fans were asked for comments.
Sonu Niigaam, who lately participated as a judge in Indian TV shows like "Indian Idol", "SaReGaMa-Little Champs" (similar to "American Idol") gave also repeatedly tips and examples and guidelines to the young musicians, as to how the song lyrics should be written and a song should be composed.
After the selection process, where the fans were also able to participate on Facebook, it was soon decided who were the aspiring writer, composer and singer: Geetha Balsaara and Sowmya Raoh wrote the text, Saikat-Shankar composed the music and the singers were, besides Sonu Niigaam himself, Natalie Di Luccio, Jonita Gandhi, Devika Mathur, Salman Asif, Parashar Joshi and George Kuruvilla.
The song is available for free as podcast on ITUNES and also on Youtube as a video with pictures of all participants.
BNA - Germany
Bollywood-News-Agency
Alexandra Ccahuana Tito / Openpr.com
IAA Frankfurt - Most important motor show points ways out of the crisis
“Despite the financial crisis the 63rd IAA Cars is stable: 753 exhibitors from 30 countries will be represented at the world’s most important trade fair for mobility, including 62 vehicle manufacturers. The 82 world premieres will provide the visitors with a glittering display of innovations. In particular the models from the German OEMs, whose 42 world premieres make up the lion’s share of the innovations, will show the way forward for future growth and a high level of environmental compatibility,” stressed Matthias Wissmann, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). He was speaking at the IAA advance press conference in Frankfurt am Main. The IAA will be opened by the Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel on 17 September and continue until 27 September.
In the light of the latest official figures and statistics from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) Wissmann emphasized, “There is a fundamental turnaround taking place in the international environmental and climate protection discussion on CO² reduction. The new figures from the KBA show that the German brands are also ahead of the field when it comes to sustainability. We all know that prejudices can be persistent. There is only one way to tackle them, and that is with transparency and hard facts. And this is what we are presenting today.”
“If we take the new registrations in the first seven months and divide them up into the ten vehicle segments, from small cars to the luxury models, we see that in nine out of ten segments German group brands have lower CO² values than the importers,” Wissmann said. This applied to the microcars, compact class, medium class, upper medium class and luxury segment just as it did to the minivans, compact vans, sports cars and off-road vehicles. He added that the speed at which the German OEMs are generating innovations to bring down CO² had increased markedly in recent years – in 2006 the German brands were the leaders in only six out of ten segments.
In relation to the individual models, too, six German vehicles take first place in ten segments. This is the case in the microcar segment (Smart), the upper medium class (Audi A6), the luxury segment (BMW 6-Series), sports cars (Audi TT), minivans (Ford Focus C-Max) and the compact vans (Opel Zafira CNG). Furthermore, German models take second place in six segments and third place in eight of the ten segments. “So the winners, almost without exception, are German models,” Wissmann summarized.
“And also if we look at the ‘classical pollutants’ it is German brands that have achieved the greatest progress in making reductions. According to the KBA, 92 per cent of the 565,000 new vehicles registered in Germany in the period up to July that already meet the coming Euro 5 standard are German brands,” Wissmann said. And German brands made up all of the over 1,000 newly registered passenger cars already meeting the demanding Euro 6 standard, which will not come into force until 1 September 2014. “This means that one in three of the German vehicles newly registered in the current year is already a Euro 5 vehicle – or better,” Wissmann stressed.
“The figures show that the German automotive industry is now leading the world in environmental and climate protection. We will do everything we can to continue expanding that lead through high levels of investment in R&D, even in difficult times. The German automotive industry is consistently pursuing its course of ‘sustainable mobility’ and CO² reduction in all segments. We are not building things like individual ‘eco-cars’ to get short-term marketing benefits. Instead we are developing modern, economic, safe, fuel-efficient and climate-friendly vehicles right across the whole range of models,” the VDA president underscored. He added that a large proportion of the R&D investment – which came to around 19 bn euro last year alone – was being used for precisely this purpose, and over 100 models were already available that consumed less than 5 l to travel 100 km and whose CO² values were less than 130 g CO²/km.
The VDA president emphasized: “The IAA 2009 is being held in the right place at the right time. Consolidation can be seen on major automotive markets. Particularly in view of the current market trends in Germany and Western Europe we are more convinced than ever that some important markets have bottomed out or are even recovering.” This IAA will show “ways out of the crisis,” he said, and can therefore send a signal for a new start on the markets.
The number of world premieres this time is only just under the record level at the IAA 2007. They include the Audi A3 1.2 TFSI with a completely new, very economical 4-cylinder engine, the Audi A4 3.0 TDI clean diesel quattro, the BMW X1, the BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Edition emitting only 109 g CO²/km, the BMW 5-Series GT Gran Turismo, the BMW X6 Hybrid, the BMW Active Hybrid 7 with lithiumion batteries, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell with a fuel cell and an electric engine in a small series, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class T Model with a whole range of new safety and driver-assistance systems, the Mercedes SLS AMG, which revives the myth of the “gullwing” car. Visitors can also catch their first glimpse of the electrified version of this new super-sports car.
The new Opel Astra, a compact car with the technical innovations of the Insignia, will be on display along with the Opel Astra EcoFlex with 109 g CO²/km and the Opel Ampera. Porsche is presenting the 911 GT3 RS, the 911 Turbo, the 911 Sport Classic in a special limited series of 250, and the Panamera, which will be available on the market from 12 September 2009. The Skoda Superb Combi is also celebrating its world premiere, as is the series version of the electric smart, the VW Polo (3-door) and the VW Polo BlueMotion 1.2 TDI with a 3-cylinder engine that at 87 g CO²/km is regarded as the cleanest 4-seater in the world and will go into production at the beginning of 2010. These models will be joined by the VW Golf BlueMotion 1.6 TDI at 99 g CO²/km, which will go into production in November 2009, as will the Passat BlueMotion 1.6 TDI at 114 g CO²/km. For the first time visitors to the IAA can view the new VW Golf Variant, the Golf R and the new VW T5 Multivan.
“These are just some of the new models that will already be on our roads in the coming months. And most of them feature surprisingly low fuel consumption and amazingly low CO² emissions,” Wissmann stated. They mean that this 63rd IAA Cars is consistently continuing the course taken by the IAA in 2007. They are fully directed towards sustainable mobility. Wissmann stressed, “Manufacturers and suppliers have kept their word,” adding that the slogan of this IAA stands for continuity: “A Moving Experience” (2009) follows “See What’s Driving the Future” (2007).
“Visitors to the IAA will be able to experience what is ensuring sustainable mobility today. And at the same time they will also see what is driving the automotive future,” Wissmann said, and pointed out “exciting studies and concept cars for the age of electrical mobility.” Audi is showing the concept car for a sports car with an electric powertrain, the BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics is a full hybrid study generating less than 100 g CO²/km, and the Mini Concept Coupé and the Mini Concept Roadster will also be on display. Mercedes-Benz is presenting its E Cell Plus study with a range extender giving it a range of 600 km, 100 km of which are emissions-free; Porsche is presenting its Cayenne with hybrid drive and VW has two studies, one of which is a 1-liter car with an especially aerodynamic shape.
“This makes the IAA once again the world’s largest showcase for the automotive industry. Its new models are proof that the automotive industry is going on the offensive when it comes to the challenge of climate protection and vehicle safety. Here visitors can see the competition for the best technical solutions,” Wissmann underscored.
There is not going to be a “silver bullet,” but we are aiming for the consistent implementation of the “broad-based strategy.” This will include the continuing optimization of classical powertrains. The clean diesel and supercharged downsized gasoline engines with direct injection will be on show at the IAA, as will the advances in electrification of the transmission, ranging from the mild hybrid to passenger cars powered solely by electricity. In addition to further reductions in consumption and in CO² emissions, the focus will be on new types of driver-assistance systems that make driving even safer and more comfortable. Wissmann pointed out that “once again the German exhibitors – OEMs and suppliers alike – are the ones who are setting the pace of innovation.”
There will be 80 IAA press conferences, which is almost the same as the number at the IAA 2007; 55 press conferences will be held on the first Press Day alone. Wissmann said, “This also underscores the role of the IAA as the world’s most important platform for communication and innovation. Those who are not here will be missing a great opportunity.”
In view of the worldwide economic and financial crisis it would certainly be foolish, the VDA president said, to expect a similar number of visitors to the record figure seen at the IAA in 2007, when over 900,000 visitors came through the doors. Other automotive trade shows this year had also all recorded drops in visitor numbers in the high double-digit range, some of them losing over 40 percent of their visitors. In 1993, a comparable recession year, the IAA had attracted around 700,000 visitors. “We are optimistic that this year’s IAA will exceed that figure at any rate. We hope that on the last day of the IAA we will have counted at least 750,000 visitors. In these difficult times that would be a great success,” Wissmann stressed.
The occupied exhibition space at the IAA amounts to 185,000 sq m, which owing to additional bookings is 9 per cent up on the level in the early summer. A large number of specialist events and special activities – such as the off-road circuit, eco-training and the outdoor go-kart track – complement the main program. Then there are also the various “country days,” for instance focussing on India, Mexico, Latin America, Slovakia and Russia. Not only the Federal Chancellor but also politicians from various parties will attend numerous events at the IAA. They will include Federal Minister of Economics zu Guttenberg (CSU), Federal Minister for Environment Gabriel (SPD), Federal Minister of Labour Scholz (SPD), Member of the Bundestag Trittin (The Greens) and the state premiers Oettinger (Baden-Württemberg) and Koch (Hesse). The Hessian ministers Hahn (justice) and Posch (economy), both FDP, have also announced that they will be visiting the IAA.
Eckehart Rotter
German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA)
The Hamburg Players e.V. present in english A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol tells a timeless heart-warming tale of humanity and the true spirit of Christmas.
Christmas is a time of cheer and joy, but not for pennypinching old Ebenezer Scrooge. Over the years his heart has turned to stone. The only thing that counts is his money – never waste a penny, and certainly not on the poor! Song and dance? Bah, humbug!
But then a chilling thing happens – the tormented ghost of his old partner Jacob Marley comes back to warn him of what lies in store unless he changes his ways. That night the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come call to haunt Mr Scrooge. They remind him of who he once was, confront him with the realities and hardships of the present, and reveal his personal fate if he stays hard-hearted.
Can Scrooge be moved to a change of spirit? Set in Victorian times, and with live music, folk dance and song.
Director: Rebecca Garron
Venue: Theater an der Marschnerstraße, Marschnerstr. 46 (3 minutes on foot from U-Bahn Hamburger Straße).
Dates: 11 to 14 and 18 to 21 November 2009 Wednesdays to Saturdays at 7.30 pm, Matinee performance only on Saturday 14 November 2009 at 3.30 pm
Tickets: tickets@hamburgplayers.de, (040) 713 13 99, (040) 292665, or at the box office on the evening of the performance.
Preview on 11 November, all tickets €10.
Reduced tickets with a valid student ID: €7
Hamburg Players e.V. (founded in 1965) is an English-speaking theatre group which performs 3 plays per year in Theater an der Marschnerstraße in Hamburg.
www.hamburgplayers.de
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