– The European Court of Justice sentenced the Kingdom of Belgium to a fine of 10 million euros due to failed water purification treatment in Wallonia and Brussels regions. It is the second time that Belgium will be fined by the European Court for lack of waste water treatment. The European Commission has noted several shortcomings and overdue works when it dragged Belgium in the autumn of 2011 before the Court .
In 2004, Belgium was condemned for the first time by the European Court in Luxembourg because the EU directive on the treatment of urban waste water was not performed. In 2011, only one area in Flanders region, Beersel was detected with water purification problem.
– Integrated security for Bruges prison worth 4.1 million euros: Why Big time criminals are put to Bruges Prison? Please read the following informations.
Integrated security systems has been installed recently and performed a wide array of security upgrade works at the Bruges Penitentiary Center. The aim was to integrate all building security technology from a total of 33 subsystems into one single management system.
A wide range of hi-tech systems were also installed. For example, the automated cell locks control, digital CCTV for 126 existing cameras, a Gigabit Ethernet data network with 100 Mbps data segments, and a data server with 17 work stations.
The existing telephone system were also linked and integrated, upgraded alarm buttons, signing lights, fire detection and perimeter intrusion detection systems. The in-house developed ICAROS building management system proved the best fitting solutions, situated at the heart of the brand new integrated complex.
– Laugh therapy/Laugh Yoga: According to Web MD, many more studies on laughter are being done with amazing results. Laughing 100 times a day gives the same cardiac workout as 10 minutes of aerobic exercise. While many experts are divided about whether laughter actually has medical benefits, all agree it doesn’t hurt.
Maciej Buchowski, a researcher with Vanderbilt University, conducted a unique study and proved that 10-15 minutes of concentrated laughter burned 50 calories. Laughter reduces cortisol and adrenaline, stress hormones linked to medical problems, relaxes blood pressure and increases immune system activity by increasing the release of interferon. All this and more without the use of drugs, a doctor bill or a prescription.
– Our hearthfelt congratulations to Sir Zaldy Vilches for the Posthumous Award he received in behalf of his wife Justice Nimfa Vilches during the 2013 Ateneo Alumni Homecoming held in Makati City, Philippines.
Justice Nimfa C. Vilches, Class of 1982 was awarded 2013 Distinguished Alumnus (Posthumous) for Government Service, in recognition of her work as Chief Implementer of the “Justice On Wheels Program” of the Supreme Court of the Philippines for the Marginalized Sector; for the Founding of the CASA/GAL Program which provided community volunteers for children in court; and for her ruling in the 2005 trailblazing case “Herrera Vs. Alba and Honorable Nimfa C. Vilches” on DNA evidence in Philippine Courts.
