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Paper towel usage in western countries ranges from 70 percent to 92 percent of all households, and the towels are a fixture in almost every kitchen. But in Taiwan, use of the product stands at just 42 percent after a decade of marketing campaigns. Following a period of flat growth, Kimberly-Clark was looking to boost paper towel usage in the average Taiwanese household, which still relies on fabric cloths to clean up spills and wipe kitchen surfaces, despite well-documented evidence on the bacterial dangers carried by dishcloths, including salmonella and other food poisoning illnesses. The company hired the marketing communication team at Golin/Harris Taiwan to create new motif designs for paper towels and to formulate an intensive media outreach campaign. In creating the marketing campaign, Kimberly-Clark and Golin/Harris established various objectives including a successful campaign to raise awareness in the media of the need for disposable kitchen towels during Ghost Month. Building on its success in Taiwan, Kimberly-Clark is now in discussions to roll out this program in Hong Kong and China. INSET: GHOST MONTH CUSTOMS DATE BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

The article reports on the study by the researchers from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the National Tsing Hua University in Hsinchu, Taiwan on the first mean of growing vertically aligned, highly crystalline, and defect-free single crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods and nanoneedles on paper. ZnO nanowires were synthesized on paper containing cellulose and calcium carbonate. The study shows that surface modifications reduce damage and roughness during the synthesis.

The article presents an international update on the information technology industry as of March 2004. IGroup, a distributor of databases, e-journals, and library automation systems, has contracted CAVAL Collaborative Solutions, a consortium of Australian universities to prepare a report on the feasibility of developing a new international certificate and diploma course for Asian librarians and information professionals. The feasibility study will seek to establish which skills employers are looking for and how knowledge management techniques and new library technologies and standards can be incorporated into a new curriculum. The National Library of Malaysia has launched a new Web site to help improve knowledge of Islam and Muslim communities. The International Islamic Digital Library is a Web-based collection of digital books, manuscripts, theses, journal articles and working papers. Also, in Australia, a new search engine has been launched that claims to offer more precise and personalized searching. Meanwhile, in Taiwan, Creative Commons, a non-profit organization dedicated to building a body of creative works that are free to be copied and reused, has announced that it's information discussions to expand its International Commons project to China and Taiwan.

Reports that Taiwan's implementation of a ban on plastic bags and polystyrene food trays has inspired other countries to take action. Commitment of Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration to the ban; Weaknesses of the ban; Impact on the chemical industry.

Focuses on the move of the Taiwanese government to restrict the use of plastic bags and disposable containers in an effort to reduce pollution. Prevalence of improper waste disposal practices in the country; Implementation of the plastic bag ban; Status of environmental protection in the territory.