The 2010 G-20 Toronto summit protests began one week ahead of the summit of the leaders of the G-20 on June 26 and 27 in Toronto. Protests included demonstrations, rallies, marches, as well as a violent riot that broke out on June 26 which caused extensive vandalism to several businesses in Downtown Toronto. A reported 1105 people were arrested in relation to the protests,the largest mass arrests in Canadian history. — Wikipedia

Reuven’s G20 Summit

– Editor’s Note –

@ruv‘s real name Reuven Cohen. He lives in Toronto.His twitter bio claims he is a “Dad, Provocateur, Blogger & Founder of Enomaly, a world wide leader in Cloud Computing — and creator of the CloudCamp series of events around the globe”.

We have never met but we do follow each other on twitter.

Reuven Cohen's face PhotoShopped on Ernesto "Che" Guevara

Is this a guessing game? Give us another clue, please. RT @ruv Most of the anarchists in Toronto are not from Toronto. #g208:59 PM Jun 26th via web

Thank you. RT @ruv G20 Riot brings Protest tourism to Toronto http://ruv.net/a/53
9:03 PM Jun 26th via web

Reuven’s link is to Toronto’s National Post’s blog, Posted Toronto. At this point I start to follow @postedtoronto

RT @Batman Toronto: I am watching. RT @ruv Awesome it’s pouring out, hopefully those rioting idiots catch a cold. #g20
10:28 PM Jun 26th via web

The above tweet is a style of tweeting I invented called DoubleTwit

One hundred years later, Graham County would have welcomed any commotion –  the  New York Times reported in 2001 that  “within 50 miles of Morland [Graham County], fading towns settled more than a century ago — like Zurich, Palco, Jennings, Clayton and Dresden — lost 15 percent to 30 percent of their inhabitants.”

A town does not vanish in a single moment. Nor does it vanish for a single reason. In Morland’s case, the decline was brought on by the mechanization of agriculture and nearly two decades of low wheat prices and shrinking oil fields. –NYT

The renewal story of Graham County – as told by Kirk Schweitzer, Director, Graham County Economic Development – began with a question:  What does a county, with less than three people per square mile, do to attract  commerce to the northwest corner of Kansas? The answer came from an unlikely place — Jacksonville, Fla.-based Wind Energy Consulting & Contracting.

Harnessing wind power - From Beginning to Wind

Kansas was already in the process of harnessing the Great Plains winds for energy production – the Kansas Electric Transmission Authority (KETA) was established in 2005.

“[It's] mission is to ensure reliable operation of the electrical transmission system [grid], diversify and expand the Kansas economy and facilitate consumption of Kansas energy through improvements in the state’s electric transmission infrastructure.

In the 46-county region of western  Kansas, no such  structure exists. Independent power companies provide power to the 46-county region, of which Graham County is part.

Enter the Sept. 23 – 24, 2008 Kansas Wind & Renewable Energy Conference in Topeka. In an intensive two-day conference, over 45 speakers presented all aspects of primarily wind-power technology – transmission issues, manufacturing and business development and workforce issues.

At the conference, the  GCED – Schweitzer, four board members – and the mayor “took a crash course in Wind 101.”

Would it even be economically viable for  Graham County?

Next up – Wind Networking!

- k. a. gardner

Hanjin Terminal Dames Point courtesy JAXPORT

We have begun the process of building the Hanjin Terminal by putting out the first bidding opportunity to businesses today.

It is a request for design firms to send us their qualifications to design the $300 million terminal.

Once this design contract is awarded, the project will start benefitting businesses and individuals (jobs and dollars) long before the terminal actually opens in late 2012 or early 2013.

You can find info on all of this here.

In December 2008, JAXPORT executives and representatives of the Hanjin Shipping Company of Seoul, Korea signed a 30-year lease agreement calling for construction of a 90-acre container facility at the Dames Point Marine Terminal in north Jacksonville. The $300 million Hanjin Container Terminal at Dames Point is expected to open for business by summer 2013 and will be a key hub operation for Hanjin’s east coast port activity.

If you have a question about contracts for the design or construction of the terminal, email Louis Naranjo, JAXPORT’s Manager of Procurement, and the answer will be posted on jaxport.com within the Hanjin contracts frequently asked questions (FAQ).

See here for more from the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

The $50,000 $55,000 Workforce Florida grant was awarded to the Alliance in February. JAXPORT’s manager of community outreach and environmental advocacy, Joanne Kazmierski, updated current status:

Curitiba~

We will train 100 people representing corporations, small businesses and entrepreneurs in preparation for business and cultural relations with Curitaba. The classes will be held at University of North Florida.   The Alliance will hire  ISD [Instructional Systems Design] curriculum writers, keeping the cost between $10,000-$20,000. Lake City Community College will assist in the process. This will be a 20-hour course. There will be focus-group meetings with local corporations to determine educational needs  for classes.  Small-business classes  start this fall – dates are to be determined. Once classes are over,  Brazil-Jacksonville Alliance members will network with the class participants. Questions about training to be addressed to Joshua Rodriggs, manager of Latin American and Intermodal sales, or Joanne Kazmierski.

A job-posting forum will be developed on the Brazil-Jacksonville Alliance Web site  for members-only to post  resumes and/or job descriptions to promote business between members and non-members in need of qualified a Brazilian workforce.

Rodriggs reported status of the first Brazilian trade mission meeting with Lad Daniels, president of First Coast Manufacturers Association. The power- point presentation for the trade mission has  been presented to Mayor Peyton, which he approved. Daniels is working with Mayor Peyton’s office and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce to coordinate  dates  for the trip -  possibly October.

In closing, the Alliance currently has  a $3,000  bank account. Over $800  will be used to finalize donations to Brazil.

Rodriggs and  Kasmierski will speak to Mayo Clinic about sending one of  Mayo Clinic’s physicians to Brazil with this donation money for pro bono surgeries on children in need.

JULY 16TH — MARK SZAKONYI HAS AN UPDATE :

The head of a trade group devoted to stimulating trade between Jacksonville and Brazil has left the Jacksonville Port Authority to focus on the organization.

Joshua Rodriggs said he will now be able to devote more time developing business and trade opportunities through Jacksonville and the booming South American country through the Brazil-Jacksonville Alliance of Northeast Florida.

The alliance has ramped up its efforts in recent months. The alliance helped host the signing of a sister cities agreement with Jacksonville and Curitiba, Brazil. The group was also recently awarded a $55,000 grant from Workforce Florida.

The alliance has partnered with the Florida Banner Center for Logistics and Distribution, University of North Florida and Florida State College to develop curriculum and train 100 businesses in 2010. The group has also gained financial support from major companies, including Holland & Knight LLC, CSX Corp., Mayo Clinic and ICS Logistics Inc.

To find out more about the alliance’s entrepreneurship. business training and networking events, and trade missions, contact Rodriggs at (904) 703-2200 or at jrbrjax@gmail.com

The alliance’s annual meeting will be held 11:30 to 1 p.m. Aug 14 at Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Cornerstone Division office, 3rd Floor Hadlow Board Room. RSVP your attendance to info@braziljacksonville.org

Categories: Education

Companies: Holland & Knight, University of North Florida, Florida Banner Center, Brazil-Jacksonville Alliance, Jacksonville Port Authority, CSX Corp., Mayo Clinic and ICS Logistics Inc., Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce