Census Bureau Reports Minority Business Ownership Increasing at More Than Twice the National Rate

Asian-owned Businesses Accounted for 47.2% in Hawaii, 14.9% in California and 10.1% in New York

July 13, 2010

WASHINGTON -- (U.S. ASIAN WIRE) -- The number of minority-owned businesses increased by 45.6 percent to 5.8 million between 2002 and 2007, more than twice the national rate of all U.S. businesses, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In addition, the number of women-owned businesses increased 20.1 percent during the same period. The total number of U.S. businesses increased between 2002 and 2007 by 18.0 percent to 27.1 million.

These new data come from the Preliminary Estimates of Business Ownership by Gender, Ethnicity, Race and Veteran Status: 2007, from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 Survey of Business Owners. The preliminary report released today is the first of 10 reports on the characteristics of minority-,
women-, and veteran-owned businesses and their owners scheduled for release over the next year.

Increases in the number of minority-owned businesses ranged from 60.5 percent for black-owned businesses to 17.9 percent for American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses. Hispanic-owned businesses increased by 43.6 percent.

Receipts of minority-owned businesses rose 55.6 percent to $1.0 trillion between 2002 and 2007. Increases ranged from a high of 62.9 percent for Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses to 28.3 percent for American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses. Over the same period, receipts of Hispanic-owned and women-owned businesses increased by 55.5 percent and 27.0 percent respectively. Receipts of all U.S. businesses increased by 33.5 percent, to $30.2 trillion.

Additional highlights:

All U.S. Businesses

-- Employer firms: Of the nationÕs 27.1 million businesses in 2007, roughly 5.8 million had paid employees. These businesses employed 118.7 million people, a 7.1 percent increase from 2002. Their payrolls totaled $4.9 trillion, up 28.2 percent from 2002, and their receipts totaled $29.2 trillion, up 33.8 percent.

-- Nonemployer firms: An estimated 21.4 million businesses had no paid employees in 2007. Receipts at these firms totaled $972.7 billion, up 26.8 percent from 2002.

Minority-Owned Businesses

-- Of the nationÕs 5.8 million minority-owned businesses in 2007, an estimated 5.0 million had no paid employees. Receipts of these nonemployer businesses totaled $164.4 billion.

-- Among all minority-owned businesses, 768,147 had paid employees in 2007. These businesses employed 5.9 million people with a total payroll of $168.2 billion. Receipts for minority-owned businesses with employees totaled $864.2 billion.

-- In 2007, 30.0 percent of minority-owned businesses were in repair and maintenance, personal and laundry services, and health care and social assistance.

-- Minority-owned businesses accounted for 56.9 percent of businesses in Hawaii, which led the nation, followed by the District of Columbia, where 40.2 percent of businesses were minority-owned, and California, where 35.6 percent of businesses were minority-owned.

Women-Owned Businesses

-- The number of women-owned businesses totaled 7.8 million in 2007, up 20.1 percent from 2002. By comparison, men-owned businesses totaled 13.9 million, up 5.5 percent from 2002.

-- In 2007, 31.9 percent of women-owned businesses were in repair and maintenance, personal and laundry services, and health care and social assistance.

White-Owned Businesses

-- The number of white-owned businesses increased by 13.6 percent to 22.6 million between 2002 and 2007. Receipts of these businesses totaled $10.3 trillion, up 24.1 percent from 2002.

-- In 2007, 28.5 percent of white-owned businesses were in professional, scientific and technical services and construction.

Black-Owned Businesses

-- There were 1.9 million black-owned businesses in 2007, up 60.5 percent from 2002. Receipts of these businesses totaled $137.4 billion, up 55.1 percent from 2002.

-- In 2007, 37.6 percent of black-owned businesses were in health care and social assistance, repair and maintenance, and personal and laundry services.

-- Black-owned businesses accounted for 28.2 percent of businesses in the District of Columbia, which led the nation, followed by Georgia, where 20.4 percent of businesses were black-owned, and Maryland, where 19.3 percent of businesses were black-owned.

Asian-Owned Businesses

-- There were 1.6 million Asian-owned businesses in 2007, up 40.7 percent from 2002. Receipts of these businesses totaled $513.9 billion, up 57.3 percent from 2002.

-- In 2007, 32.3 percent of Asian-owned businesses were in repair and maintenance; personal and laundry services; and professional, scientific and technical services.

-- Asian-owned businesses accounted for 47.2 percent of businesses in Hawaii, 14.9 percent in California and 10.1 percent in New York.

Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-Owned Businesses

-- The number of Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses totaled 38,881 in 2007, up 34.3 percent from 2002; receipts of these businesses totaled $7.0 billion, up 62.9 percent from 2002.

-- Repair and maintenance, personal and laundry services, and construction accounted for 26.9 percent of all Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses.

-- Native Hawaiian- and Other Pacific Islander-owned businesses accounted for 9.4 percent of businesses in Hawaii, highest among all states.

American Indian- and Alaska Native-Owned Businesses

-- The number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses totaled 237,386 in 2007, up 17.9 percent from 2002; total receipts of these businesses were $34.5 billion, up 28.3 percent from 2002.

-- In 2007, 30.5 percent of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses were in construction, repair and maintenance, and personal and laundry services.

-- American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses accounted for 10.0 percent of businesses in Alaska, 6.3 percent in Oklahoma and 5.3 percent in New Mexico.

Hispanic-Owned Businesses

-- The number of Hispanic-owned businesses totaled 2.3 million in 2007, up 43.6 percent from 2002. Receipts of these businesses totaled $345.2 billion, up 55.5 percent from 2002.

-- In 2007, 30.0 percent of Hispanic-owned businesses were in construction, repair and maintenance, and personal and laundry services.

-- Hispanic-owned businesses accounted for 23.6 percent of businesses in New Mexico, 22.4 percent of businesses in Florida and 20.7 percent of businesses in Texas.

Veteran-Owned Businesses

-- The 2007 Survey of Business Owners includes for the first time the number of veteran-owned businesses. The number of veteran-owned businesses totaled 2.4 million in 2007, with receipts totaling $1.2 trillion.

-- In 2007, 32.5 percent of veteran-owned businesses were categorized in professional, scientific and technical services and construction.

-- California accounted for 9.8 percent of veteran-owned businesses. Texas, Florida and New York accounted for 8.1 percent, 7.2 percent and 5.2 percent of veteran-owned businesses, respectively.

Respondents to the 2007 Survey of Business Owners were asked to report the percent of ownership by gender, ethnicity, race and veteran status for up to four primary owners (Hispanics may be of any race). Business ownership is defined as having 51 percent or more of the equity, interest or stock in the business.

Separate reports for minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses will be issued over the next year and will include more detailed data on the number of firms, sales and receipts, number of paid employees and annual payroll. Data will also be presented by geographic area, industry and size of business. Subsequently, separate publications will be issued highlighting characteristics of all businesses and business owners.

The Survey of Business Owners is conducted every five years as part of the economic census. The 2007 survey collected data from a sample of more than 2.3 million businesses. The collected data in a sample survey are subject to sampling variability as well as nonsampling errors. Sources of
nonsampling errors include errors of response, nonreporting and coverage.

More details concerning the SBO survey design, methodology and data limitations can be found at
http://www.census.gov/econ/sbo/methodology.html.

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2010 Census Mail Participation Rate Hits 71 Percent as Census Bureau Continues to Receive Forms Eighteen States Have Now Met or Exceeded Their 2000 Rates

April 21, 2010

WASHINGTON -- (U.S. ASIAN WIRE) -- As of Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 71 percent of the nation's households have mailed back their 2010 Census forms, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today.

The Census Bureau will continue to post updates to the participation rate throughout the week as the last of the mailed-back forms are processed. After Friday, April 23, no rate updates will be posted until the final mail participation rate is calculated and announced at a news conference during the week of April 26.

Also as of today, the following 18 states (as well as Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico) have met or surpassed their 2000 Census mail participation rates:

 Alabama
 Delaware
 Florida
 Hawaii
 Illinois
 Indiana
 Kentucky
 Maine
 Minnesota
 New York
 North Carolina
 Rhode Island
 South Carolina
 Tennessee
 Utah
 Vermont
 Virginia
 Washington

In light of the new challenges facing the 2010 count, the U.S. Census Bureau has implemented a number of steps to increase the likelihood of participation:

* The use of survey techniques that are proven to have a positive impact on mail response, such as a multiple contact strategy and new operations to mail replacement forms to low-response areas and English/Spanish bilingual forms to targeted areas.

* Strategic and research-based advertising, outreach and partnerships aimed at encouraging participation.

* Coordinated "March to the Mailbox" campaigns in thousands of communities nationwide before the April 16 deadline to encourage last-minute participation, as well as dedicated advertising to low-responding areas.

ABOUT THE 2010 CENSUS

The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Census data are used to apportion congressional seats to states, to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to tribal, state and local governments each year and to make decisions about what community services to provide. The 2010 Census form is one of the shortest in U.S. history, consisting of 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete. Strict confidentiality laws protect the respondents and the information they provide.

Public Information Office
CB10-CN.56
301-763-3691
e-mail: pio.2010@census.gov

Statement by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on China

March 30, 2010

WASHINGTON -- (U.S. ASIAN WIRE) -- President Obama received the credentials today of China's new Ambassador to the United States, Zhang Yesui. During their meeting, the President stated his determination to further develop a positive relationship with China. He reaffirmed our one China policy and our support for the efforts made by Beijing and Taipei to reduce friction across the Taiwan Strait. The President also stressed the need for the United States and China to work together and with the international community on critical global issues including nonproliferation and pursuing sustained and balanced global growth. 

Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
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New Studies Show Huge Health Disparities Among Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Asian Immigrant Populations

Critical Avenues to Prevent Cancer Overlooked; Immigrant Women at High Risk of Death from Breast Cancer

March 18, 2010

WASHINGTON -- (U.S. ASIAN WIRE) -- Although Asian Americans have long been portrayed as a "model minority" with few major problems, data released online today in the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) reveal that distinct groups of Asian

• Breast Cancer: Findings from a study of the Cancer Prevention Institute of California (formerly the Northern California Cancer Center) reveal that Asian-born women in the United States--particularly women from Vietnam, China, and the Philippines--have a much higher risk of dying from breast cancer than U.S.-born Asian Americans. For example, the highest risk group, women born in Vietnam, had a four times greater risk of dying of breast cancer than U.S.-born Vietnamese. Previously, studies of breast cancer survival among Asian Americans did not consider differences in Asian ethnicity or immigrant status, and therefore overlooked important factors that could lead to better cancer control, according to study author Scarlett Lin Gomez.
  
  Asian American women are the only ethnic group for which cancer far outweighs heart disease as the leading cause of death. Breast cancer has the highest incidence and is the second leading cause of cancer death in these women, Lin Gomez reports. These findings contradict the popular perception that the burden of breast cancer is universally low among Asian women.

• Lung Cancer: Among Asian American men, lung and bronchial cancer are the leading causes of death. But study author Youlian Liao at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found large reductions in smoking among Vietnamese, Cambodian, and several other Asian ethnicities in four U.S. communities that used a culturally sensitive approach to community health. At the study's outset in 2002, one half the Cambodian men and nearly one third of the Vietnamese men were smokers, compared to one fourth of men in the general U.S. population. Over the next four years, the numbers of Asian American smokers declined, falling 2.58 percent per year among Vietnamese men, and 5.73 percent per year among Cambodian men--outpacing the 0.91 annual declines in smoking for the general U.S. population of men.
  
  A second study showed that Asian-language smokers in California were just as likely to use quitline services as English-speaking Caucasians. Every state has a quitline, but only California offers counseling in Asian languages. "We hope this study will encourage other quitlines to offer Asian language counseling to help reduce disparities in access to smoking cessation services," notes study author Shu-Hong Zhu from the University of California, San Diego.

• Colorectal Cancer: All Americans over age 50 should be screened for colorectal cancer (CRC), the fourth most common cancer in the country and the third most common among Vietnamese adults in California. Yet Vietnamese Americans have low rates of screening for CRC compared to other Asian Americans and Whites. 
  
  Now, a study by Bang H. Nguyen at the Cancer Prevention Institute of California (formerly the Northern California Cancer Center) shows that the use of Vietnamese language media for a public health education campaign on CRC can save lives. Those who were reached by the campaign were 1.4 times more likely to get screened than Vietnamese who were not. The campaign used Vietnamese language booklets, a hotline, and newspaper, radio, and television advertisements.

• Cervical and Liver Cancer: The Hmong in California (refugees who came to the United States from Laos after the Vietnam War) face rates of liver and cervical cancer three to four times higher than those of other AA and NHPI groups. Yet up to 60 percent of liver and 70 percent of cervical cancer can be prevented by immunization. A study by Dian Baker of California State University, Sacramento is the first to examine barriers to immunization among the Hmong. It found that low socioeconomic status and use of traditional health care were associated with lower immunization rates.

2010 Census Road Tour Comes to San Francisco to Celebrate Chinese New Year

Commerce Secretary Locke to Serve as Parade's Grand Marshal

February 17, 2010

WASHINGTON -- (U.S. ASIAN WIRE) -- The 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour is part of the largest civic outreach and awareness campaign in U.S. history - stopping and exhibiting at more than 800 events nationwide. From local parades and festivals to major sporting events like the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four, the Road Tour will attempt to motivate America's growing and increasingly diverse population to complete and mail back the 10-question census form when it arrives in mailboxes March 15-17.

Traveling for a total of 1,547 days and more than 150,000 miles across the country, 13 road tour vehicles will provide the public with an educational, engaging and interactive experience that brings the 2010 Census to life.

At each event across the country, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the 2010 Census and understand the benefits a complete count can bring to communities everywhere; view a sample 2010 Census form and learn how the collected information is used; and contribute stories and photos to the Portrait of America project to explain why "I count!" and view messages from other road tour participants.

When: Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (PST)
Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Who: Gary Locke, Secretary of Commerce
Ralph Lee, director, Seattle Regional Office,
U.S. Census Bureau

Where: Chinese New Year Festival and Parade
Grant Avenue at California Street
(Entrance to Chinatown Community Fair)
San Francisco, CA

For more information about the 2010 Census and the Road Tour, please visit 2010census.gov and follow us on Twitter (@2010Portrait), Facebook, MySpace, Flickr and YouTube (/uscensusbureau).

Contact:
Samantha O'Neil
CB10-CR.27
Public Information Office
202-450-9556
e-mail: Samantha.A.Oneil@census.gov
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Giant Robot is Proud to Host a Group Art Show Year of the Tiger

Celebrating the year 4708 on the lunar calendar

February 03, 2010

LOS ANGELES -- (U.S. ASIAN WIRE) -- Giant Robot is proud to host Year of the Tiger, a group art show celebrating year 4708 on the lunar calendar. Pieces will include illustration, oils, pencils, prints, watercolor, sculpture, and other mediaÐall dedicated one of the most powerful but also most sensitive animal in the Chinese zodiac. 

February 13, 2010 - March 10, 2010
Reception: Saturday, February 13, 6:30 -10:00

GR2
2062 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
gr2.net 
(310) 445-9276

Contributors will include the following:

Nora Aoyogi
Apak!
Andrice Arp
Charlie Becker
Robert Bellm
Chris Bettig
Michelle Borok
Aaron Brown
Shawn Cheng
Alex Chiu
Luke Chueh
Jen Corace
Dutch Door Press
Jordan Fu
Matt Furie
Susie Ghahremani
Katherine Guillen
Clement Hanami
Lisa Hanawalt
Pam Henderson
Jay Horinouchi
David Horvath
Patrick Hruby
Michael Hsiung
Martin Hsu
Mari Inukai
Levon Jihanian
Hellen Jo
Jeremiah Ketner
Dan Ah Kim
Le Merde
Little Friends of Printmaking
Kiyoshi Nakazawa
Tru Nguyen
Eric Nyquist
Saejean Oh
Martin Ontiveros
John Pham
Sidney Pink
Silvio Poretta
Jesse Reklaw
Albert Reyes
Grant Reynolds
Scrappers
Ashkahn Shahparnia
Ryan J. Smith
Bwana Spoons
Ryohei Tanaka
Daria Tessler
Aiyana Udesen
Edwin Ushiro
Jing Wei
Steven Weissman
Leslie Winchester
Connie Wong
Jeni Yang

Giant Robot was born as a Los Angeles-based magazine about Asian, Asian-American, and new hybrid culture in 1994, but has evolved into a full-service pop culture provider with shops and galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City, as well as an online equivalent.

A reception featuring many of the artists will take place from 6:30 - 10:00 on Saturday, February 13. For more information about the art show, GR2, or Giant Robot magazine, please contact:

Eric Nakamura
Giant Robot Owner/Publisher
eric@giantrobot.com
(310) 479-7311
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Seventh Annual Asian Heritage Awards to Honor San Diego Legend Tom Hom

January 28, 2010

SAN DIEGO -- (U.S. ASIAN WIRE) -- Tom Hom, one of San Diego's most influential Asian Americans, will be honored as this year's Special Recognition Honoree at the Seventh Annual Asian Heritage Awards on Saturday, July 10, aboard the USS Midway in downtown San Diego. 

Hom's mark on San Diego is everywhere, from the Chinese Historical Museum, to the Gaslamp Quarter and Petco Park. But his most important mark has been on community service as the first Asian elected to the San Diego City Council and the first Asian from San Diego to serve in the California Assembly. Elected official, Realtor and active in his beloved Chinese Community Church, Tom Hom has been an inspiration to many in San Diego for more than a generation.

In addition, the Awards will honor achievement in 14 categories ranging from education to community service. Other categories include art and literature, business enterprise, cultural preservation, entrepreneurship, government, health and medicine, humanitarian outreach, innovation and technology, legal affairs, media, military and performing arts. The July 10th event will also highlight entertainment representative of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese cultures. 

Nominees are selected by the community and their names placed on an email ballot that is uploaded to the websites www.asiamediainc.com andwww.asianheritageawards.com.

Last year, more than 46,000 votes were cast. Special Recognition Honorees in the past have included Ret. Major General Antonio Taguba and State Senator Leland Yee.

Hom ran for San Diego City Council in 1963 and won. Four years later, he was reelected with 87 percent of the vote in what was then a citywide election. To this day, it remains the largest plurality in the cityÕs history and paved the way for other minorities to run for government offices in San Diego. Elected to the California Assembly in 1968, he increased the number of APIs in the state legislature to three.

The USS Midway is the appropriate venue for this event because of its historical connection to Asia. The carrier began its service off the coast of Japan at the close of World War II and served during the Korean War, as well as Vietnam. 

Unforgettable live performances will enhance this gala event attended by movers and shakers in San Diego and Southern California's Asian community as well as top government officials.

For more information, please visit our websites at www.AsiaMediaInc.com andwww.AsianHeritageAwards.com or email editorial@AsiaMediainc.com. 

The Asian Heritage Society is dedicated to developing the next generation of Asian American leaders through workshops, its mentorship and pilot projects linking U.S. schools with schools in Asia and in preserving the cultural legacy of San Diego and Southern California's Asian and Pacific Islander communities through events such as the Asian Heritage Awards.

Contact: 
Len Novarro, 619 521 8008
Email: editorial@AsiaMediainc.com.

China's Population to Peak at 1.4 Billion Around 2026 Census Bureau Projects India to Become Most Populous Country in 2025

December 16, 2009

WASHINGTON -- (U.S. ASIAN WIRE) -- China's population is projected to peak at slightly less than 1.4 billion in 2026, both earlier and at a lower level than previously projected. Meanwhile, India's population is projected to surpass China's population in 2025, according to new data being released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

These figures come from the population estimates and projections for 227 countries and areas released today through the Census Bureau's International Data Base. This release includes revisions for 21 countries, including China.

The latest projections indicate that by 2026, the population of China will begin to decline. Population growth in China, the world's most populous country, is slowing and currently stands at 0.5 percent annually. China surpassed the 1.2 billion population mark in 1994 and reached 1.3 billion in 2006.

According to the latest revisions, India is projected to become the world's most populous country in 2025. The population growth rate in India currently is about 1.4 percent, nearly three times that of China. The difference in the growth rate between the two countries is explained by fertility. India's total fertility rate - the number of births a woman is expected to have in her lifetime - is currently estimated at 2.7 and projected to decline slowly, and that is driving population growth in the country.

The slowdown in China's population growth is the result of declining fertility. China's total fertility rate is estimated to have been 2.2 in 1990, 1.8 in 1995 and less than 1.6 since 2000. China's fertility rate is currently half a birth below that of the United States, which is more than two births per woman. Key evidence for the new fertility estimates comes from analysis of data from China's recent census and surveys.

One of the consequences to China's declining fertility rate is that the number of new entrants to China's labor force may be near its peak. The population ages 20-24 is projected to peak at 124 million in 2010. This peak is earlier than in India, which is projected to reach 116 million in 2024.

Despite a shrinking younger population, China's labor force may continue to grow for several years since the population ages 20 to 59 (prime working ages) is not expected to peak until 2016 at 831 million, an increase of 24 million from the current estimated level. "These changes in China's age structure may affect its economic growth and competitiveness in the world market," said Daniel Goodkind, demographer in the Census Bureau's Population Division.

Given that China and India together account for 37 percent of the world's population, their demographic trends have major implications for worldwide population change.

The Census Bureau's International Data Base includes projections by sex and age to 100-plus for 227 countries and other areas with populations of 5,000 or more and provides information on population size and growth, mortality, fertility and net migration.
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2010 Open Enrollment for Medicare Prescription Drug and Health Plan Coverage Began November 15th

2010年度公開加入聯邦醫療保險處方藥和聯邦醫療保險計劃,開始於十一月十五         

U.S.-China Clean Energy Announcements

November 17, 2009

WASHINGTON -- (U.S. ASIAN WIRE) -- Today, President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao announced a far-reaching package of measures to strengthen cooperation between the United States and China on clean energy.

1. U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center. The two Presidents announced the establishment of the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center. The Center will facilitate joint research and development of clean energy technologies by teams of scientists and engineers from the United States and China, as well as serve as a clearinghouse to help researchers in each country. The Center will be supported by public and private funding of at least $150 million over five years, split evenly between the two countries. Initial research priorities will be building energy efficiency, clean coal including carbon capture and storage, and clean vehicles. The Protocol formally establishing the Center was signed in Beijing by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang, and Chinese National Energy Agency Acting Administrator Zhang Guobao.

2. U.S.-China Electric Vehicles Initiative. The two Presidents announced the launch of the U.S.-China Electric Vehicles Initiative. Building on the first-ever US-China Electric Vehicle Forum in September 2009, the initiative will include joint standards development, demonstration projects in more than a dozen cities, technical roadmapping and public education projects. The two leaders emphasized their countries' strong shared interest in accelerating the deployment of electric vehicles in order to reduce oil dependence, cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote economic growth.

3. U.S.-China Energy Efficiency Action Plan. The two Presidents announced the launch of a new U.S.-China Energy Efficiency Action Plan. Under the new plan, the two countries will work together to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, industrial facilities, and consumer appliances. U.S. and Chinese officials will work together and with the private sector to develop energy efficient building codes and rating systems, benchmark industrial energy efficiency, train building inspectors and energy efficiency auditors for industrial facilities, harmonize test procedures and performance metrics for energy efficient consumer products, exchange best practices in energy efficient labeling systems, and convene a new U.S.-China Energy Efficiency Forum to be held annually, rotating between the two countries.

4. U.S. China Renewable Energy Partnership. The two Presidents announced the launch of a new U.S.-China Renewable Energy Partnership. Under the Partnership, the two countries will develop roadmaps for wide-spread renewable energy deployment in both countries. The Partnership will also provide technical and analytical resources to states and regions in both countries to support renewable energy deployment and will facilitate state-to-state and region-to-region partnerships to share experience and best practices. A new Advanced Grid Working Group will bring together U.S. and Chinese policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, and civil society to develop strategies for grid modernization in both countries. A new U.S.-China Renewable Energy Forum will be held annually, rotating between the two countries.

5. 21st Century Coal. The two Presidents pledged to promote cooperation on cleaner uses of coal, including large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration projects. Through the new U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center, the two countries are launching a program of technical cooperation to bring teams of U.S. and Chinese scientists and engineers together in developing clean coal and CCS technologies. The two governments are also actively engaging industry, academia, and civil society in advancing clean coal and CCS solutions. The Presidents welcomed: (i) a grant from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to the China Power Engineering and Consulting Group Corporation to support a feasibility study for an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant in China using American technology, (ii) an agreement by Missouri-based Peabody Energy to invest participate in GreenGen, a project of several major Chinese energy companies to develop a near-zero emissions coal-fired power plant, (iii) an agreement between GE and Shenhua Corporation to collaborate on the development and deployment of IGCC and other clean coal technologies; and (iv) an agreement between AES and Songzao Coal and Electric Company to use methane captured from a coal mine in Chongqing, China, to generate electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

6. Shale Gas Initiative. The two Presidents announced the launch of a new U.S.-China Shale Gas Resource Initiative. Under the Initiative, the U.S. and China will use experience gained in the United States to assess China's shale gas potential, promote environmentally-sustainable development of shale gas resources, conduct joint technical studies to accelerate development of shale gas resources in China, and promote shale gas investment in China through the U.S.-China Oil and Gas Industry Forum, study tours, and workshops.

7. U.S. China Energy Cooperation Program. The two Presidents announced the establishment of the U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program. The program will leverage private sector resources for project development work in China across a broad array of clean energy projects, to the benefit of both nations. More than 22 companies are founding members of the program. The ECP will include collaborative projects on renewable energy, smart grid, clean transportation, green building, clean coal, combined heat and power, and energy efficiency.

Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary

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Xuan Wu Signs Letter of Intent with Guo Fa Jiangsu Venture Capital Group Initial Funding of $3.7M

October 01, 2009

NEW YORK -- (U.S. ASIAN WIRE) -- Xuan Wu Group International Holding Company, Inc., (XNWU.PK), a processor of ballast and limestone is pleased to announce that it has signed a letter of intent with the National Development Venture Capitol Co., Ltd. of Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China to provide equity financing of 25.08 million Rmb or approximately $3.7 million.

The use of proceeds will be for the purchase of an additional ballast mine that is estimated to possess over 300 million tons of ballast. The mine's ballast will be used in either road construction in Hebei Province or railway construction for the new Beijing/Shanghai Express train.

Current spot rate on ballast is approximately $8.00 per ton, equating the mine to be valued at $24 million over its 10-year lifespan.

The Venture Capital group also has an option to increase its funding in Xuan Wu's two other projects, the Quartz Diorite Mine and its hotel property.

The deal is expected to close after the Harvest Moon Chinese Holiday (Zhong Qiu Jie).

About Xuan Wu Group International Holding Company, Inc.
The Company's subsidiary is engaged in the exploration, processing, and selling of basalt slip-resistant stones, railway ballasts, and limestone within the People's Republic of China.

The Company has 20 year rights to two mines located near Wulizhuang Village in Hubei, Province. The annual output of each mine is approximately 300,000 tons.

For further information, please visit their website www.xuanwu.cn.

Legal Disclaimer
The statements contained in this press release contain certain forward looking statements, including statements regarding the company's expectations, intentions, strategies and beliefs regarding the future. All statements contained herein are based upon information available to the company's management as of the date hereof, and actual results may vary based upon future events, both within and without the control of the company's management.

Contact:
Investor Relations:
Vircom Global, Inc.
Richard Oravec, 212-924-3548
rick@vircomglobal.com
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Kaiser Permanente 14th Annual San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival Brings a Packed Weekend of Exciting Competition and Family Fun to the Bay Area

September 24, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO -- (U.S. ASIAN WIRE)

WHAT: Organized by the California Dragon Boat Association (CDBA), the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival is the largest dragon boat race in the United States. The festival celebrates the widespread adoption of the sport since being introduced to the Bay Area over a decade ago and the legendary roots it has in the Chinese tradition of the Dragon Boat Festival. The event features dragon boat racing, two days of cultural performances, a traditional opening ceremony with lion dancing and Buddhist monks, Dragon Land - an expansive activity pavilion with arts, crafts, and games for children. This year has a special Family Day on Sunday with roving dragons, Chinese stilt walkers, a special appearance by the Kai-lan costumed character from Nickelodeon's hit animated preschool series "Ni Hao, Kai-lan", Chin-Chin the award winning magician, animal balloon artists, and more. WHO: Over 110 teams will compete in the two-day festival, from novice teams representing local corporations, community organizations, high schools, and competitive teams. Regarded as the ultimate dragon boat race of the season, the festival hosts dozens of highly competitive dragon boat teams visiting from around the United States, Canada, and as far as the Netherlands. WHEN: Saturday & Sunday, September 26 & 27, 2009 Racing from 8 am to 5pm, festival from 10 am to 5 pm WHERE: Clipper Cove at Treasure Island, San Francisco COST: Free entry and courtesy shuttles to and from the festival site from San Francisco Chinatown (Kearny & Washington) and Powell St. BART/Muni (pick up Mission at 4th St., in front of SF Marriott)

About Dragon Boat Racing
From its beginning as a Chinese legend over 2,300 years ago, dragon boat racing is now one of the fastest growing sports in the world and is practiced in more than 35 countries. A dragon boat is 45-foot long boat adorned with a dragon head, tail, and scales that is propelled by 20 paddlers, a drummer, and a steersperson.

About the California Dragon Boat Association (CDBA)
The CDBA is a non-profit organization formed in 1996 to promote the growth and development of dragon boating. The CDBA has been successful in establishing dragon boat programs in many Bay Area high schools and has grown the San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival to its strong international reputation it has today. For more information, please visit: www.CDBA.org.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente, founded in 1945, is a non-profit integrated health care organization, with physicians, nurses and staff working in collaboration to provide high quality care to patients and address the health care needs of communities served by the organization. The Kaiser Permanente Northern California Region serves about 3.2 million members.

Press contact:
Linda Cheu (Festival Director)
(415) 378-8858
linda.cheu@gmail.com
www.sfdragonboat.com
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Anybody Can Email in Chinese with Chinglish Mail

Send emails in Chinese without knowing the language -- ChinglishMail.com to launch August 3, 2009

August 03, 2009

CULEMBORG, Netherlands--(U.S. ASIAN WIRE)-- A new email application allows users to write an email message in English and then forward it with Chinese and English text side-by-side. This solves the language barrier with China and sets a new standard in email communication.

The Chinglish Mail tool links China to the rest of the world in a time when the economic crisis forces entrepreneurs to explore new markets and trade leads. This bilingual email solution is ideal for initiating contact or for language learning purposes. It opens up a potential market of over 40 million Chinese small and medium enterprises, many of which are individuals with limited English language skills.

Translated within seconds
It works like this: After registering, send a message to ChinglishMail.com from your preferred private or business email address. The email is returned to you within seconds, professionally formatted, with the Chinese and English text side-by-side for easy reading. All you have to do next is forward the email to your contact(s).

Chinglish Mail uses state-of-the-art machine translation software and is convenient for quick online dictionary lookups. It also links users to a community of Chinese-English speaking language professionals, offering a useful tool for those who need additional translation or proofreading help or who want to improve their Chinese or English language skills.

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Xoom.com Partners with the China Post Office and Launches the Largest Money Transfer Network in China

Fast Money transfers available at over 46,000 China Post Office locations for as low as $4.99

April 02, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO—(U.S. ASIAN WIRE)— Xoom.com, the fastest growing online money transfer company, is proud to announce a partnership with the China Post, China's national postal system. Xoom.com and China Post, the largest post office system in the world, now offers cash pickup at over 46,000 China Post Office locations. Consumers can send money in just minutes using the Xoom.com website and recipients will be able to pick up cash immediately. "This partnership with Xoom.com lets consumers safely send money to China, and the China Post Office is delighted to endorse the Xoom.com money transfer system as a fast, convenient way for Chinese immigrants to send funds back home," said Mr. Zhou, Head of Marketing, and China Post Office. "The China Post Office recommends this service to our consumers and communities." With over 46,000 China Post Office locations, loved ones do not have to travel far to pick up money. Xoom.com is the first money transfer company to offer cash pickup in just minutes to these locations, so money is available within moments of sending. Picking up money at the China Post Office is convenient because most locations are open 7AM to 7PM and are also open weekends and holidays. "Our collaboration with the China Post Office brings a new measure of convenience and quality service at a low cost for our customers," said Julian King, Xoom.com Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development. "Xoom.com is pleased to partner with the China Post Office to better serve Chinese consumers by establishing the largest money transfer network in China." Fees for Xoom.com money transfers to China start at as low as $4.99. Consumers can wire money to China from the comfort of their office or home without waiting in line at the bank and can do so for much less. In addition to cash pickup in just minutes, Xoom.com is partnered with the China Post Office to provide bank deposits in just minutes to any Postal Savings Bank of China account. Xoom.com also provides wire money transfer services to all major bank accounts in China and Hong Kong. Banks in China include: Bank of China, ICBC, China Construction Bank, China Merchants Bank, The Industrial Bank, Agricultural Bank, and Bank of Communications; banks in Hong Kong include HSBC, Standard Chartered, Hang Seng Bank, China Construction Bank (Asia) and Bank of China (Hong Kong). Consumers can visit the Xoom.com website to send money to China. Consumers just need to enter recipient information and the amount to send. Xoom.com will then electronically debit money from any US bank account or credit card. Money is available for pick up in China in just minutes. To make sending money even more convenient for Chinese consumers, the Xoom.com website is also available in Chinese. Xoom.com uses advanced technology and proprietary fraud detection to secure customer financial transactions and personal information. With a VeriSign-secured website and strict security measures, Xoom.com encrypts and protects customer information. Xoom.com guarantees money will be received by each recipient or the transaction will be refunded in full. For more information about the Xoom.com money transfer service to Hong Kong or China, consumers can call Xoom.com customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at +1 (877) 815-1531, submit a question at or visit the Xoom.com website. Xoom.com offers customer service in both Mandarin and Cantonese. About Xoom.com Xoom.com enables individuals to send money from any Internet-enabled computer to family, friends and businesses worldwide. Xoom Corporation was founded in 2001 in San Francisco and is backed by leading venture firms Sequoia Capital, New Enterprise Associates and Fidelity Ventures. The Xoom.com online international money transfer service now extends to 40 countries, including China and Hong Kong. About China Post The China Post office is the world's largest postal service network. With origins dating from the Qin Dynasty, the China postal system is over 3,000 years old is one of the most modern postal systems in the world. In addition to regular postal services, the China Post Office processes remittances, money orders, telegraphic money transfers, telegraphs, international and domestic telephone services. The China Post Office offers cash pickup at over 46,000 locations. Contact: Linda Wang Email: lindawang@sixthsenseco.com 732-277-7641 Photo: China Post Office, Zhuhai Attention Newsrooms: Releases, logos and photos published through U.S. Asian Wire are intended for use by journalists in connection with their professional activities. Information may be used as the basis for copy to be broadcast or published.

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Chinatown’s Transformation Hard on Low-Income Residents

By Cao Jian, World Journal, March 5. 2009
Translated from Chinese by Austin Woerner

March 12, 2009

NEW YORK—(U.S. ASIAN WIRE)— A March 4 report released by the Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence (CAAAV) and the Urban Justice Center (UJC) indicates that the development and reconstruction of Manhattan’s Chinatown is taking a toll on low-income residents and small business owners.

The report, entitled “Converting Chinatown,” surveyed 147 residents and 88 small business owners in the Chinatown area between 2006 and 2008. Seventy-five percent of small business owners said that rents have increased unreasonably, and half of the business owners said they were considering moving away from Chinatown. Almost three-quarters of residents said they live in apartments that violate housing regulations; and 73 percent said that their landlords had harassed or attempted to evict them. At the same time, the survey found that from 2003 to 2006 the number of family rental units decreased from 17,696 to 16,236.

Continue reading in Voices That Must Be Heard, the best of New York's ethnic and immigrant press

With thanks to Independent Press Association (IPA) and IPA-NY, whose mission is to promote and support independent publications committed to social justice and a free press.
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Stay or Leave? Little or No Work Put New Immigrants in a Quandary

By Cao Jian, World Journal, December 31, 2008
Translated from Chinese by Austin Woerner

January 08, 2009

NEW YORK—(U.S. ASIAN WIRE)— With the economy in recession, Chinese immigrants are flocking back to China. But with even highly educated professionals struggling to find work back in the homeland, working-class Chinese are caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to making that decision – stay or leave?

The financial crisis has taken the wind out of the economy’s sails, and Chinese restaurants across the country have seen their profits plummet. Laid-off restaurant workers are flooding back to New York to seek jobs, and employment agencies in Chinese communities are mobbed. Yet there is a serious shortage of job opportunities.

Chen Hui, a Fujianese immigrant seeking work at the Forsyth Street employment agency yesterday, said that he was fired from a Chinese restaurant in Tennessee in November and returned to New York, but still cannot find a job. Immigrants in such a predicament are ubiquitous, crowding the employment agencies of Chinatown.

Continue reading in Voices That Must Be Heard, the best of New York's ethnic and immigrant press.

With thanks to Independent Press Association (IPA) and IPA-NY, whose mission is to promote and support independent publications committed to social justice and a free press.

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Chinese Americans View News Companies Woes

By Chen Huiru, Sing Tao Daily, December 9, 2008
Translated from Chinese by Austin Woerner

December 18, 2008

NEW YORK—(U.S. ASIAN WIRE)— In recent weeks there has been a slew of bad news in the media world. The Chicago-based news giant Tribune Co., owner of the Los Angeles Times and KTLA Channel 5, filed for bankruptcy on the afternoon of December 8th; the New York Times has taken out a mortgage on its Manhattan headquarters to pay off impending debts; and Playboy’s chief executive is stepping down as news spreads of the media company’s possible bankruptcy. In the face of this turmoil, Chinese Americans involved in the media industry lament the destruction wreaked by this financial hurricane.

Jiang Tianduo, president of the Reporters Association of Southern California, is not surprised by these developments. He believes that American newspapers are too thick, increasing costs but not returns.

Continue reading in Voices That Must Be Heard, the best of New York's ethnic and immigrant press.

With thanks to Independent Press Association (IPA) and IPA-NY, whose mission is to promote and support independent publications committed to social justice and a free press.

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NYC Middle-Income Chinese Families Feel Rent Squeeze

By Cao Jian, World Journal; Translated from Chinese by Austin Woerner

November 20, 2008

NEW YORK—(U.S. ASIAN WIRE--WORLD JOURNAL)— A recent survey of apartment tenants in Chinatown and Flushing found that Chinese-Americans, who made up almost 40 percent of respondents, pay a greater proportion of their income for rent than native-born Americans, but have much poorer living conditions. The report, issued in preliminary form on the 12th, was co-authored by the Immigrant Housing Coalition (IHC), Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), and other organizations.

The report, Confronting the Squeeze, surveyed nearly 500 households in immigrant communities, using a random sampling and questionnaires. Results show that immigrants’ have less of a chance of getting equitable rentals than native-born Americans.

Richard Lee, representative for AAFE, said that in Manhattan’s Chinatown and Flushing in Queens, 48 percent of respondents viewed rent as a heavy burden, 30 percent of Asian-American respondents said that their living conditions were crowded, and 19 percent share room with others.

The survey shows that from 2002 to 2005, average yearly income has dropped by 6.3 percent for New York’s middle-income families, while average rent has increased by 8 percent and affordable housing has become scarcer. Although the crises in the financial and real estate markets have caused prices to drop, foreclosures have increased, forcing even more immigrants to move out.

According to the survey data, skyrocketing housing prices have caused the portion of income of that lower-income immigrants spend on rent to increase from 43 percent to more than one half. From 1999 to 2005, rents have increased most in Queens’ Bayside area – 32 percent – and have jumped by 21 percent in Chinatown. The report also notes that Chinese often have to pay an extra sum of money “under the table” to landlords in order to obtain rentals.

Immigrants’ living conditions are crowded, with residents often living at three times the density of native-born Americans, the survey shows. Many immigrants live in illegally renovated units or even in illegally rented basement areas. The survey estimates that there are around 100,000 units throughout the city that do not meet legal standards, and 70 percent of immigrant respondents said that their living conditions are poor and that they worry about hygiene and safety. However, the report also shows that Chinese immigrants from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the mainland are generally more satisfied with their living conditions than African Americans, Latin Americans, and other groups, showing that Chinese’ expectations for their living environments are not high.

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Living Each Day to the Fullest and Appreciating the Small Things
One Chinese-American Woman Fights Advanced Lung Cancer

November 13, 2008

(U.S. ASIAN WIRE)— Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in the United States and will kill more Americans this year than breast, prostate, colon, and liver cancers combined.¹ The Chinese-American population has the highest death rates for lung and bronchial cancer among all Asian-American groups.²

Lung cancer patient, Ellen Chung, refuses to let these statistics affect her positive outlook on life. Resiliency is not a new concept for Chung. Born in Hawaii, her father worked in a sugar cane field, and she was fifth of six children. She worked two jobs to make her dream of moving to New York City after high school come true. Chung has since moved to four different cities, had four children, returned to college in her 30’s, and is now retired and enjoying life as a grandmother.

Chung views her lung cancer diagnosis as just another life hurdle. She was diagnosed with Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in December of 2002. She never smoked and her only symptoms were some indigestion and pain in her left chest and shoulder.

“My first oncologist gave me nine months to live and said the only effective treatment option was chemotherapy, which may or may not give me more time — I decided to try another oncologist,” Chung said.

According to Chung’s current oncologist, Dr. Nick Chen, M.D., Ph.D., Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, there are currently four standard treatments for lung cancer — surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. However, when Chung was initially diagnosed, not all these were options. Chung’s Stage IV cancer initially responded well to chemotherapy, but eventually the cancer returned. When Tarceva® (erlotinib) was approved, Dr. Chen recommended this treatment for Chung.

“Now, almost six years later, I take a pill once-a-day called Tarceva, which allows me to continue living my life,” Chung said.

“In recent years there have been advances in lung cancer treatment, including targeted therapies, like Tarceva, that allow us to specifically attack the cancer cells,” said Dr. Chen. “Studies have been conducted showing the benefit of Tarceva in non-smoking Chinese-American women, like Ellen, who has had a positive response.”

After years of working and caring for others, Chung has learned to take time for herself. She enjoys reading, has discovered gardening, sewing, and baking — hobbies she used to be too busy to enjoy.

Tarceva is FDA-approved for use as a monotherapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC whose disease has progressed after one or more courses of chemotherapy. Tarceva is not intended to be used at the same time as chemotherapy for NSCLC. These advances have helped patients like Chung live longer with the disease. It is important to keep in mind that individual results may vary.

For more information on lung cancer and treatment options, visit www.lungcanceralliance.org or www.tarceva.com or www.seattlecancerwellness.com.

Important Information to Know
In clinical studies, there were infrequent reports of serious lung injuries similar to Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)-like events. Reports of ILD-like events have been serious, and have included deaths in patients receiving Tarceva. Liver and/or kidney problems (including deaths) have been reported in some patients taking Tarceva. Let your doctor know if you have a history of liver or kidney disease. Tarceva may cause harm to an unborn baby or may cause possible risk of pregnancy loss. Women should avoid becoming pregnant and avoid breastfeeding while taking Tarceva. You should call your doctor right away if you have these signs or symptoms: new or worsening skin rash; serious or ongoing diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, or vomiting; new or worsening shortness of breath or cough; fever; eye irritation. If you smoke, you should stop smoking while taking Tarceva, as it may affect how well Tarceva works for you. If you continue to smoke, you should speak to your doctor before taking Tarceva. Let your doctor know if you are taking other prescription or over-the-counter drugs, or herbal supplements before you start taking Tarceva. While taking Tarceva, do not start taking any new drugs or herbal supplements before talking to your doctor. Rash and diarrhea were the most common side effects associated with Tarceva in a large clinical study.

Tarceva is not right for everyone. Ask your doctor if once-daily Tarceva is right for you. For additional information, please see the full prescribing information at www.tarceva.com.

Since 1985, Genentech has donated approximately $1 billion in free medicine to uninsured patients through its Genentech® Access to Care Foundation (GATCF) and other charitable programs. In February 2007, the company announced the expansion of GATCF to help address the needs of financially eligible patients enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan who are prescribed Tarceva® (erlotinib). To learn more about potential financial assistance, please call
(866) 4 ACCESS or visit GenentechAccessSolutions.com.

References:
1 American Cancer Society Web site: http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/2008CAFFfinalsecured.pdf “Cancer Facts and Figures 2008.”
2 Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research, and Training Web site. http://www.aancart.org/Unequal%20Burden.htm “The Unequal Burden of Cancer Among Asian Americans”.
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United States Mint Director Displays
8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set

Journalists Get Special Glimpse inside United States Mint at San Francisco

August 06, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO—(U.S. ASIAN WIRE)— As the world prepares for the opening of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, China, on August 8, 2008, United States Mint Director Ed Moy invited reporters to the United States Mint at San Francisco, where he introduced the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set. This set of two gold coins is the second installment of the United States Mint Celebration Series, meant to provide special numismatic products for gift-giving occasions. The new set features one 24-karat American Buffalo One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin and one 22-karat American Eagle One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin.

Director Moy discussed the significance of this new set of gold coins, saying, “The 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for coin collectors and the general public. The date 8-8-08 (August 8, 2008) occurs only once every 100 years. To mark this occasion, this is also the first time the United States Mint has paired two gold coins in custom-designed packaging, making this set a unique product for the Asian-American community.”

Following the presentation, Director Moy and Larry Eckerman, Plant Manager, United States Mint at San Francisco, led reporters and camera crews on a special tour of the United States Mint at San Francisco.

The American Buffalo One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin contained in this set is one of the newly-released fractional weight options in the expanded American Buffalo Coin Program. The coin bears the classic portrait of a Native American in profile on the obverse and the magnificent American Buffalo, or bison, on the reverse. Noted American sculptor James Earle Fraser, a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, originally designed both images for the redesigned five-cent coin (nickel) released in 1913.

The American Eagle One-Half Ounce Gold Uncirculated Coin displays Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ enduring full-length figure of Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. The coin’s reverse, by Miley Busiek, bears the endearing image of a male eagle clutching an olive branch while soaring above a nest containing a female eagle and her hatchlings.

Both coins in the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set are legal tender with a nominal face value designation of $25. But their gold metal content and artistry make them worth far more. Inscriptions on the coins include the “W” mint mark for the United States Mint at West Point, the date, the fineness and the weight. The coins are packaged in an attractive hardwood box with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Director Moy.

Customers may order the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set at the United States Mint’s secure Web site at www.usmint.gov. Orders may also be placed at the toll-free number, 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Please add $4.95 shipping and handling fee to all domestic orders. There is no set product limit for the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set.

An image of the 8-8-08 Double Prosperity Set can be viewed at:
http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=pressReleaseAdd

Contact:
Carla Coolman
(202) 354-7222
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The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Sponsors Power & Glory: Court Arts of China’s Ming Dynasty at the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco

June 25, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO—(U.S. ASIAN WIRE)— In its effort to promote cultural understanding between China and the world, the Hong Kong-based Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation takes great pleasure in supporting collaborations among leading museums to bring the best of Chinese culture to global audiences. Power & Glory: Court Arts of China’s Ming Dynasty will open on 27th June, 2008, at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. The exhibition not only marks the first collaboration among the Asian Art Museum and three major museums in China; it also coincides with the run-up to 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. By supporting the exhibition, the Foundation hopes to focus attention on China’s outstanding artistic achievements.

Diplomacy in the Art World
The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation encourages collaborations among art institutions to bring quality programmes to the public. Power & Glory: Court Arts of China's Ming Dynasty is the first-ever cooperative effort among the Asian Art Museum, the Palace Museum Beijing, the Shanghai Museum and the Nanjing Municipal Museum. The exhibition features over 240 artifacts, bringing to life not only the artistic achievement of the Ming Dynasty, but also dialogues between museums in China and the U. S.

Mr. Robert H. N. Ho, Chairman of the Foundation, said, “We are pleased to contribute to this project, which offers a platform to advance cultural understanding between China and the States. It brings benefits to audiences and stimulates interactions among museums. We hope to see more great examples of diplomacy in the art world in future.”

The Foundation and Asian Art Museum share same visions
Operating with a vision to develop San Francisco and the Bay Area into one of the world’s great centers of Asian culture, the Asian Art Museum has seasoned specialists in Chinese art. Its effort to promote Chinese art is one that the Foundation finds worth supporting. The Foundation also shares the belief of Avery Brundage, founder of the museum’s collection and President of the International Olympics Committee from 1952-72, that understanding and tolerance can be fostered among the world’s disparate cultures through the arts and through athletics. The Foundation firmly believes that empathy and mutual understanding are the keys to social harmony, and can be cultivated through an appreciation of the arts. By supporting Power & Glory: Court Arts of China’s Ming Dynasty, the Foundation aspires to focus on China’s artistic achievements in the special year of the Beijing Olympics, hoping to develop deeper understanding between the two cultures and nations.

Buddhist Philosophy and the Arts
One of the Foundation’s missions is to explore the intersections between Buddhist philosophy and the arts. The Foundation is delighted to find an interesting line-up of Buddhist objects in the Power & Glory exhibition. Audiences will see a Thankga made in Beijing’s imperial workshops as a gift from the Yongle emperor to Tibet. This present, preserved in pristine condition because of Tibet’s dry climate, bears witness to the Yongle emperor’s close association with Tibetan Buddhism. Two architectural segments of an arched gate from the site of the Bao’en Temple, built by the Yongle emperor, also reflect design that took its iconography from Tibetan Buddhism. Textiles used in rituals, silk sutra covers and wrapping cloth featuring auspicious symbols further illustrate the ties between the Ming Court and Tibetan Buddhism.

More Buddhist artifacts will come to the Asian Art Museum as The Dragon’s Gift – The Sacred Arts of Bhutan, a multi-year project that aims to conserve and document the living Vajrayana Buddhist culture of Bhutan. They are scheduled to arrive in San Francisco in early 2009. As a Lead Sponsor of the project, the Foundation is delighted to share the success of the conservation project with audience in the U.S.

About the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation

With deep roots in Chinese culture, the Robert H. N. Ho Foundation was founded in 2005 with a mission to foster and support Chinese arts and culture, in particular cross-cultural understanding between China and the world.

Underlying the Foundation’s philosophy is a strong belief in the importance of educating the whole person and cultivating mutual understanding among people, thus benefiting the growth of the individual as well as society. The Foundation believes that participation in the arts enriches lives, liberates potential and encourages creative thinking. It also helps people approach issues in life, society and the world with greater ingenuity.

Since its inauguration, the Foundation has taken an active role in supporting numerous arts and cultural programs internationally. In 2007, it supported Britain Meets the World: 1714–1830, an international partnership between the British Museum and the Palace Museum in Beijing. In early 2008, the Foundation partnered with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York to present Cai Guo Qiang: I Want to Believe, realizing the museum’s first-ever solo retrospective of a contemporary Chinese artist. The exhibition will travel to Beijing to coincide with the Beijing Olympics in summer 2008, then to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in early 2009.

By joining hands with renowned Chinese writer Pai Hsien-yung, the Foundation is active in the revival and promotion of Kun Opera, an art form classified by UNESCO as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Touring performances of the Kun Opera classic Peony Pavilion has been ongoing throughout China and are planned for other destinations in the coming years.

Convinced that Buddhist philosophy can create an important path for personal and societal transformation, the Foundation supports programmes that provide a variety of view and tools to apply Buddhist insights to everyday life. It also supports programmes that explore the relationship between Buddhist philosophy and the arts - it collaborates with the Honolulu Academy of Arts in a multi-year project that aims to preserve, document and present the living Vajrayana Buddhist culture of Bhutan. The exhibition, The Dragon’s Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan, began in early 2008 and will tour until 2009, embracing such destinations as the Rubin Museum in New York and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. The project will continue to provide conservation training for Bhutanese monks, create a video archive for Cham ritual dance, and develop a database on Bhutanese arts in museum collections worldwide. The Foundation hopes to inspire other efforts to preserve and revitalize traditional arts and culture.

In the arena of performing arts, the Foundation sponsored overseas tours of the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, bringing dance and music talents to international stages.

In its home base, the Foundation develops arts education programmes and other initiatives that fulfill the cultural needs of Hong Kong society. It designs and operates Through Our Eyes, a creative arts programme that brings a fresh approach to the arts to young people. Through Our Eyes focuses on helping young people find and express their authentic voices through photography and creative writing. It is currently an extra-curricular programme in schools and has served more than 1,000 students from 200 schools in southern China and Hong Kong. Students explore issues of identity, family, community, cultural heritage and the environment. Creative works have been shared with the community in books and public exhibitions, such as the groundbreaking projection event, Wanchai In A Different Light. Students are also provided opportunities to interact with international artists visiting Hong Kong through the Foundation’s effort in crossing over with other local arts events.

In the effort to nurture young talent, the Foundation has formed a strategic partnership with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra to provide orchestral fellowships to outstanding young string musicians from China and Hong Kong. The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Orchestral Fellowships offer apprenticeships with the Philharmonic for one full season for music graduates to gain skills and experience as they embark on careers as professional musicians. The Foundation also offers Scholarships for Outstanding Merit to young Chinese musical talents for studying at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Full scholarships covering the duration of diploma or degree courses are provided annually for six of the most outstanding young musicians entering the Academy.

To learn more about the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, please visit its official website at www.rhfamilyfoundation.org

Contact:
Janet Tong
Public Relations and Communications Manager
+852 2232 0001
jtong@rhfamilyfoundation.org