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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... Latest
Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| JANUARY
31, 1999 7:56 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Utne Reader Kath Delaney at The Madera Group 415-776-6612 or e-mail: kdelaney@igc.org |
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| Y2K Preparedness, Contingency Plans Urgently Needed to Minimize Risk | ||||
| MINNEAPOLIS-ST
PAUL - January 31 - The following was released today by Utne Reader:
One Hundred million viewers tuned into Super Bowl Sunday, Apple Computer broadcast the first Y2K commercial. Apple claims Y2K compliance and taunts of "global economic disruptions" and declares company savings in "billions of monetary units." Yet, most Americans are still in the dark about Y2K and the significance the problem will have on their lives. "Apple does a great public service of raising the issue to so many people" said Eric Utne, editor in chief of Utne Reader. "But, Apple dropped the ball at the goal line." Instead the Apple ad will only confuse consumers by suggesting that there is a technical solution. "We can not fix all the Y2K affected systems in time to avoid some sort of disruption" said Utne. "Y2K has move beyond being a technical problem." "As we prepare for Y2K, something surprising and quite wonderful is going to happen. We're going to get to know our neighbors," said Utne. Utne Reader, the nation's leading digest of alternative ideas, has produced the "Y2K Citizen's Action Guide." The Guide which was released one month ago has been sold to schools, hospitals, banks, and hundreds of community groups and now numbers a half million copies in print. This practical, inspiring, non-alarmist handbook is designed to help prepare individuals and their communities for Y2K. Paloma O'Riley, Co-founder of the Cassandra Project, a non-profit
organization whose focus is Y2K health and safety related issues and also a contributor to the guide, suggests that the nation's service
sectors are not yet prepared if serious disruptions occur. "If we do experience difficulties, current emergency services will be unable to
respond quickly" says O'Riley. "This makes it apparent that
federal agencies, national and local governments, utilities, employers, corporations, and the non-profit sector must begin to quickly
implement
national public awareness campaigns so that precautions are taken to
minimize Americans exposure to risk." -0- |
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