Zoo Atlanta Raises Thousands to Keep Pandas

Zoo Atlanta has raised more than $40,000 in the month since it announced a fundraising campaign to help keep its giant pandas. The zoo launched the "Give So They Can Stay" program June 17 in hopes of bringing in $500,000 to keep the popular animals. The fundraising will continue through the end of the year. The zoo's lease with China for its panda pair, Lun Lun and Yang Yang, is up this year. The couple has had two cubs - Mei Lan and Xi Lan – since 2006. Mei Lan will return to China in the next year to breed, while Xi Lan will stay with his parents.

(AP)

Chinese religious leaders visit Georgia

Religious leaders from China visit Atlanta this week. The group represents five Chinese government recognized faiths: Catholic and Protestant Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Taoism.

The leaders of each faith will meet with their American counterparts, as well as President Jimmy Carter and state political leaders.

They will discuss opportunities for dialogues on religious freedom and tolerance in both countries and how religions can promote values and purpose.

New record for Savannah port

Georgia's main port is marking a new first. The Georgia Ports Authority says the port of Savannah moved more than 1-million exported 20-foot containers in fiscal year 2008. The Savannah Morning News reports China brought in the most shipments at 175,000. Italy, Turkey, Japan, and the Republic of Korea also topped the list.

New technology arrives at Georgia port

The Port of Savannah is set to team up with the world’s 2nd largest port in China—they’ll be debuting a new technology to track cargo containers electronically as they’re shipped overseas. The Georgia Ports Authority and the Shanghai International Port Group will tout the so-called "E-tag" system at a news conference today in Savannah.

Demand for Georgia peanuts going up

Georgia peanut farmers will need to plant more crops this year in order to meet demand around the world. Prices for the official state crop are going up as well.

China, normally one of the world's largest suppliers of peanuts, will not export any. The weak U.S. dollar also makes peanuts a bargain for places like Europe and Japan.

U.S. energy policy has affected peanut prices as well. Energy and world demand for food have driven up grain and soybean prices. Crops are competing for farmland with ethanol production.

Another factor, the recession. During tough economic times people consume more peanut butter. Demand is up 24% over this time last year.

Georgia's 2-billion dollar peanut industry produces 50-thousand jobs and 45% of all peanuts grown in the United States.

Lewis calls for Olympics boycott

A Georgia Congressman says he will boycott part of the Beijing Olympics. U.S Representative John Lewis tells the Atlanta Journal Constitution the U.S. should not attend the opening ceremonies. Thousands of protestors have disrupted the world tour of the Olympic Torch in Paris, London and San Francisco. They accuse China of human rights abuses and of oppressing the country, culture and religion of Tibet.

Perdue and state delegation continue China business trip

Governor Sonny Perdue’s economic development trip to China has yielded at least one company’s announcement to base its U.S. headquarters in Georgia.

PAX Technology is a Chinese firm that provides secure card electronic payments systems and point-of-sales software. It plans to establish a sales center in Atlanta, bringing about 20 jobs. Within the past two years, a handful of Chinese companies have announced they’ll bring 60-million dollars in investment and more than 650 jobs to Georgia.

Perdue and a delegation of 60 Georgians are in the midst of a five-day business trip to the world’s most populous country. Their goal is to bring more jobs and money to the state.

The trip has also included the opening of a Georgia trade office in Beijing, and the announcement of an exchange between the University of Georgia and Tsinghua University in China.

Perdue opens Georgia business center in China

Governor Sonny Perdue is continuing his week-long trip in China. Perdue and the delegation from the state yesterday cut the ribbon on the Beijing Georgia Business Advisory Center. The hope is to spearhead business development between Georgia and China. The 60-member delegation returns home on the weekend.

Governor leads Georgia delegation into China

Governor Sonny Perdue is in China this morning, kicking-off a week-long trip with state business, academic and government officials. The delegation took Delta’s first daily non-stop flight to Shanghai yesterday morning. After starting the trip in Shanghai, the delegation will go to Beijing where the Governor will open Georgia’s Business Advisory Center. Perdue’s intention is to fortify Georgia’s business ties with China. The country is already Georgia’s second-largest export destination with 1.6 billion dollars in goods in 2007.

Tire plant to open in Macon

A Korean tire maker is set to open its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Macon. Kumho Tire will create 450 jobs. Kumho says it will break ground in May on a 1.3 million square foot facility on 127 acres. Production will begin October 2009.

Governor Perdue to visit China

Governor Sonny Perdue plans to head to China in March. In Beijing he will open a Georgia Economic Development Office – the state’s 11th outside the U.S. China was Georgia’s third-largest export destination at $1.1 billion in 2006. Several Chinese companies have located in Georgia in the last two years.

State exports see sharp rise

A banner year for Georgia exports has bolstered the state economy.

Through the first nine months of this year, state exporters tallied 17.2 billion dollars in goods sent overseas. That’s a 15-percent jump from the same period last year.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development says it’s a near across the board increase for different categories of exports. Transportation equipment leads the way with 3.2 billion dollars.

Kathe Falls is Director of International Trade for the department.

"I think we’re looking at a couple things. I think it’s the U.S. dollar, which makes our goods so much more attractive overseas. And I think some of it too is we’re doing so well on foreign direct investment that’s located in Georgia".

The rush of new foreign investment in the state has included China. The country has in turn jumped to number-2 in taking Georgia exports.

Other statistics given by the state's Department of Economic Development:
- Georgia stands 15th in the U.S in exports (dollar value)
- 85% of ten-thousand businesses in Georgia selling products overseas, are small or midsize companies

Tainted toothpaste in GA prisons

Thousands of tubes of contaminated toothpaste were shipped to state prisons and mental hospitals in Georgia. The toothpaste was contaminated with diethylene glycol, which is often found in antifreeze. 900,000 tubes were reportedly shipped from China to the U.S. Officials say they know of no deaths in Georgia from the products.

Delta enlists Perdue in bid for China route

Delta Airlines is the largest US carrier that does not fly to China.

But CEO Gerald Grinstein is hoping the Atlanta-based carrier can establish a route from its hometown to Shanghai by next year.

"If this is the China century, then the state of Georgia, the city of Atlanta and Delta Airlines are prepared to be a part of it," he says.

American, United and Continental Airlines have direct routes to China, but Delta has tried and failed in the past to gain that privilege.

This time, however, ten southern governors, including Gov. Sonny Perdue, are lobbying the federal government on Delta's behalf.

In a letter to US Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters, Perdue notes the Southeast has the fastest growing economy in the nation. He says a direct Atlanta-Shanghai route would aid economic development.