Montreal, Canada -- On 22 September 2005, the city of Montreal launched the book Nouvelles villes de design/New Design Cities, which is based on the proceedings of the symposium which was held in Montreal from 6-8 October 2004, as part of the 'Dix-septiemes Entretiens du Centre Jacques Cartier'. The launching of this publication coincides with the introduction of the city's new design action plan.

The book Nouvelles villes de design/New design Cities is a second step, after the symposium, in the implementation of a network of synergy and awareness among emerging cities of design, initiated by the cities of Montreal and Saint-Etienne. The symposium has greatly influenced the book's editorial approach, under the supervision of Marie-Josee Lacroix, Design Commissioner for the city of Montreal, as well as its lively graphic design, signed by Montreal-based orangetango agency.

Anvers, Glasgow, Lisbon, Montreal, Saint-Etienne, Stockholm and New York's Times Square are at the heart of this 330-page, richly illustrated, bilingual book. Like the symposium from which it stems, this book involves case studies (i.e. actions or events) that are at the foundation of the emergence process of these seven cities as cities of design. These concrete examples are supported by reflections by three imminent thinkers of the modern city: Fran ois Barre (Paris), Saskia Sassen (Chicago), and John Thackara (Amsterdam and Bangalore).

The historic characteristics and major assets of design are used as an introduction for each city/territory. The texts, by symposium-attending experts (promoters and design thinkers) enrich the cities' portraits through the opinions of mayors, renowned or emerging designers and some of the cities' dedicated residents.

The book Nouvelles villes de design/New Design Cities is a tool for reflection as well as a source of inspiration for all the key players involved in urban development, including elected city officials and municipal employees, urban planners, policy managers and managers of design promotion programs, experts involved in international marketing and travel promotion, designers of all fields, teachers and researchers as well as urban tourists and city dwellers.

Published in Quebec by Infopresse, with the collaboration of Editions Pyramyd in France, this book will be available in bookstores throughout Europe and North America. The purchasing price is CAD $39 (approximately USD $33.15 or EURO 27.50). For those wishing to order the publication directly from the publisher, they are invited to contact Julie-Veronique Aubin at the e-mail coordinates given below.

Nouvelles villes de design/New Design Cities is a publication of Commerce Design Montreal, an initiative of the Ville de Montreal in association with the government of Quebec and the Ville de Saint-Etienne, in partnership with its Ecole regionale des Beaux-Arts.

For further information please contact:

Julie-Veronique Aubin
Les editions Infopresse
Montreal, Quebec
julie-veronique.aubin@infopresse.com

Geneva, Switzerland -- Each year on 14 October, the members of IEC, ISO and ITU celebrate World Standards Day, which is a means of paying tribute to the collaborative efforts of the thousands of experts worldwide who develop the voluntary technical agreements that are published as international standards.

International Standards accommodate people's desire to live in a safer, more secure world by providing a valuable safety net. 'Standards for a safer world' is the theme of the message signed by the leaders of the three principal international standardization organizations to mark World Standards Day 2005.

The three signatories are Mr. Renzo Tani, President of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC); Professor Masami Tanaka, President of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and Mr.Yoshio Utsumi, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

"Standards developed at the international level through IEC, ISO and ITU are available for use at the national and regional levels to meet the needs of society at large, the market and government regulators," the three leaders point out. They see standards as vital in disseminating best practices and new technologies, while avoiding new barriers to trade that national security and safety regulations may create.

Both product-specific (for example, for laptop computers) and system safety standards (such as functional electrical safety in a factory), for those technologies involving electricity, electronics and related technologies are produced through the IEC. Product standards allow goods to be certified to internationally recognized safety standards. Hazard abatement measures - against electric shock or the effects of electromagnetic emissions - are also addressed in IEC standards.

Safety concepts applied to construction, transport, the home and the workplace feature in the ISO standards portfolio. From machinery safety standards, food safety and quality (including a new food safety management system), protection of car drivers and occupants (through child restraint systems, anti-locking braking systems and airbags), to safety in buildings, including fire and alarm systems, ISO standards help to make work, the home and transport safer.

In the field of cybersecurity, ITU is taking a leading role, developing standards to combat cyber crime such as identity theft. The organization is also working on standards to allow the prioritization of calls during disasters such as hurricanes and transportation accidents, clearing communications networks of non-urgent calls.

"IEC, ISO and ITU together offer a complementary portfolio of thousands of International Standards specifically focusing on safety and security," declare the three organizational heads. "Implementation of IEC, ISO and ITU International Standards, both nationally and regionally, help to make the world a safer place; and our standards currently under development address the new safety and security challenges of the 21st century. Together, IEC, ISO and ITU are producing 'Standards for a safer world.'"

For further information please contact:

ISO contact:
Roger Frost
Press and Communication Manager
Tel. +41 22 749 01 11
Fax +41 22 733 34 30
frost@iso.org