International
News
- June 2005
Ottawa, May 25, 2005, (The Sun, as reported by Kathleen
Harris) -- Canada's prison guards will soon wear police-style
uniforms designed to command more authority and respect
in the workplace.
After years of wrangling over design details, the Correctional
Service of Canada is outfitting its 6,000 officers with
new gear. Guards will get to lose the tie and drab attire
in favor of a uniform that resembles those of police or
military officers.
The outfits, which cost $815 per employee, will be supplemented
at a later date with a white-gloved "ceremonial" uniform
for funerals, parades and other special events. "We
are ecstatic about it," said Sylvain Martel, national
president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers. "We
strongly believe the new uniform will restore professionalism,
pride, dignity and respect." The new midnight-blue
uniforms feature cargo pants similar to those worn by most
law enforcement officers. Shoulder flashes, rank and badge
with number are also new features.
Martel said with the current bland wardrobe, guards are
often mistaken for janitors or bus drivers. Officers will
begin wearing new uniforms June 1, after an official public
unveiling in Laval, Que., on Monday.
Tel Aviv, April 29, 2005, (Ha’aretz) - Cheap production
in China and Korea has harmed not only small Israeli textile
firms. Huge multinational textile firms too are being forced
to adapt themselves to the new rules of the game - cheap
manufacture and stealing patents in the Far East - which
have resulted in cheap generic clothing products, imitations
of the original, that are sold in chain stores the world
over.
One of these international giants is Invista, formerly the textiles and interiors
division of DuPont, which was sold in 2003 to the American Koch Industries
(controlled by the millionaire Koch brothers from Holland) for $4.4 billion.
Invista is the largest manufacturer in the world of raw materials for fibers,
nylon fibers and elastic (Lycra) fibers.
As a result of the unbridled competition in the global textile industry, Invista
has intensified its research and development activity, after special fibers
with an added value, such as a mosquito-repellent thread, a thread that emits
a pleasant smell even from sweaty athletes, and a black Lycra that guarantees
that a business suit will look new for years. The working assumption of Invista,
which invented nylon about 70 years ago, is that although the new fibers will
increase the price of clothing, there will be people willing to pay for the
improved quality, as well as people who will prefer to purchase clothing with
the original Lycra or nylon fibers invented by the division decades ago.
In an interview with Haaretz, Invista's president of apparel, William Ghitis,
says that the consumer will always be king - or queen. He is choosy, wants
to know what he's buying, distinguishes differences in quality and will pay
only for real value.
Ghitis says that from the manufacture of fibers through the finished product,
the apparel industry has difficulty earning money. Today, the industry has
excess supply capacity, while demand is insufficient, Ghitis believes. But
for him, he sees this as an opportunity. "It creates challenges, because
if the consumer sees something new that gives him an advantage, he'll pay for
it. It's like cellular phones, you have to keep on creating innovations."
The company's key to the problem is R&D. Since DuPont invented nylon, it
has continued with this policy of innovation in the field. The company does
not plan to acquire competitors or to improve its competitive edge through
mergers, nor does it plan to acquire the Israeli company Nilit, which also
manufactures sophisticated fibers.
The sale of Invista caused significant unrest in the international textile
industry, when it wasn't clear whether the company would continue to manufacture
fibers, or change its focus. Now, a year after the sale, says Ghitis, he can
assure his clients that the acquisition was good for their business as well.
He says they are stronger because Koch helped them reduce costs, and they are
now investing in innovation. He assures his clients that they can count on
Invista as a partner.
The clients are apparently not worried, judging by the praise showered on Invista
by Dov Lautman, owner of Delta Galil. One of Lautman's main clients is British
retailer Marks and Spencer, and he said that the chain insists on products
that include Invista fibers, which are considered of very high quality, adding
that their fibers are an important component of underwear and sportswear.
Invista is represented in Israel by Nil, owned by Eliezer Peleg, formerly Lautman's
partner at Delta.
London, May 15, 2005 (Reuters) - British youngsters convicted
of crimes that do not carry a jail term could be made to
wear U.S.-style "chain-gang" uniforms when they
perform community service sentences.
Home Office minister Hazel Blears outlined plans for
young offenders to be identifiable when doing community
service because she said the public needs to see criminals
punished.
"People feel very strongly that they don't often
see justice being done," Blears told Sunday's Observer
newspaper. "I would like to see a very quick connection
to community punishment, that people see being done. I
want them to be identified."
Community sentences typically involve activities such
as picking up litter or removing graffiti. The sentences
are usually given to offenders convicted of non-violent
crimes, such as vandalism or driving without insurance.
Blears' comments come only days after Prime Minister
Tony Blair made a crack-down on yobbish anti-social behavior
a key theme to his third term in office.
On Thursday, Blair said he supported a decision by one
of Britain's largest shopping centers to ban youths wearing
the so-called "urban crime uniform" of baseball
caps and hooded tops which conceal wearers' faces.
Blears' proposals prompted protest from civil liberty
groups and some criminal justice professionals.
"People won't show respect if they are treated in
a demeaning manner," Doug Jewell of Liberty told Reuters.
"Putting
people in uniforms may look like you are being tough, but
it actually legitimizes this kind of anti-social behavior.
Some people will see the uniforms as a badge of honor," he
added.
Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the probation
union NAPO, said such a scheme could backfire and actually
increase crime.
"There is no evidence from the U.S. or from Britain
that going down the road of uniforms or naming and shaming
will impact on crime," he told BBC television. "The
suggestion is that the reverse is the case, you will have
more crime not less."
India, May 10, 2005 (Economic Times) - Air-India passengers
could look forward to some avant-garde style with the leading
airline carrier roping in the king of haute-couture, French
designer Pierre Cardin, to finalize the new uniform to
be introduced by the airline from this winter.
In a major makeover aimed at positioning itself as an
airline that keeps up with the changing style and trends,
the airline has sought the professional advice of Cardin,
known for his elegant cuts for women and pioneer of fashion
for men, to provide inputs and suggestions on the 'new
look' that the airline proposed to introduce in November.
Cardin viewed the presentations made by the country's
three leading designers -- Ritu Beri, Satya Paul and Tarun
Tahiliani -- on the new look as envisaged by them on Monday.
Designer J Walia was also expected to make a presentation
later, according to in-flight director Amod Sharma.
The French designer offered his tips and suggestions
on the apparel presented, A-I officials said.
The second round of collection, incorporating some of
the suggestions made by Cardin, would be made in June.
The final presentation of the selected apparel would be
made in September through fashion shows scheduled for September
16 and 18.
The airline plans to drop its current 'blue' uniform,
designed in-house and introduced in 1999, for a new look
that will be worn by cabin crew, commercial and ground
staff and pilots.
Cardin's approved new uniforms are scheduled to be introduced
this winter.
Islamabad, May 5, 2005 (WEBIndia) - Necessity, people
say, is the mother of invention, and if it is anything
to go by, then Pakistani intelligence will have no time
to celebrate the capture of Abu Farraj Al Libbi, the third
most important leader in the Al Qaeda hierarchy who was
captured by the Pakistani forces recently.
A report prepared by the Intelligence agencies and submitted
to the Interior Ministry has revealed that terrorist organizations
including the Al Qaeda had acquired police uniforms for
making it easier for them to access foreign missions, reports
the Daily Times.
The report said that the Al Qaeda has as part of its
plan to target diplomatic missions as well as diplomats
of those countries whose forces were fighting in Iraq envisaged
this massive plan.
Terrorist organizations were collecting information about
the police officials deployed for the protection of foreign
dignitaries, by bribing dishonest policemen, the report
added. The report further said that the terrorists were
also collecting information about those officers who were
on leave.
The report has as expected caused concern in the ministry,
which has directed the home secretaries of the four provinces
and the chief secretaries of Pakistan occupied Kashmir
(PoK) and Northern Areas and the Chief Commissioner of
Islamabad to take preventive measures in this regard.
|
