Latest news with #McGeown
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Coca-Cola announces game-changing new program that could bring cash rewards: 'Underscores our shared mission'
Coca-Cola Philippines is now rewarding small business owners with cash rewards for recycling plastic bottles. Palawan News reported that Coca-Cola Philippines is building upon its sustainability efforts through its expanded rollout of the "Tapon to Ipon" PET bottle collection program. Tapon to Ipon is helping to increase the infrastructure for local bottle collection and advancing PET bottle recovery in the area. The project "underscores our shared mission to empower communities," Gareth McGeown, CEO and president of Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP), told Palawan News. Tapon to Ipon now includes store owners, customers, government agencies, and local governments in the effort to recover post-consumer clear PET bottles. The program allows consumers to exchange any brand of used PET bottles — not just Coca-Cola — for Coca-Cola product rewards. There are designated collection hubs located in retail stores and at pop-up booths at local events. Despite this initiative, Coca-Cola has consistently come under fire for its environmental impact. It has been named the world's worst plastic polluter several times in a row in recent years, and the company has also been accused of greenwashing, which is when a company's environmental policies and statements do not align with its actual practices. While Coca-Cola has announced plans to increase the amount of recycled plastic in its bottles and is making efforts to produce more eco-friendly packaging, it has not always met its prior commitments toward sustainability. Yet the company is making some efforts to be more environmentally friendly and has announced a broader strategy, with this program in the Philippines being one example. The PET exchange program is in over 170 cities and municipalities in the Philippines and has been recognized for promoting sustainable practices and responsible waste management. Should companies be required to help recycle their own products? Definitely No way It depends on the product They should get tax breaks instead Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. CCEAP also incentivizes community recycling efforts, allowing retailers to earn points based on the volume of recyclables they gather. Points can be redeemed for cash or products. The larger goal is to make recycling more accessible and engaging. While Coca-Cola's environmental record is not perfect, it is important for companies to make progress. By supporting companies that make sustainable choices in their manufacturing, product materials, and operations, we can illustrate to businesses that environmentally friendly practices are good for the planet, can draw more customers, and positively affect their bottom lines. McGeown appreciates the support he is receiving for the post-consumer PET bottle recycling program and hopes that it will continue to expand. "We are grateful to all our partners who continue to support collective environmental action," he told Palawan News. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
Driver who killed cyclist after texting jailed
A woman who knocked down and killed a cyclist in County Down shortly after sending messages on her phone has been handed a two-year sentence at Craigavon Crown Court. At an earlier hearing, Nicole McGeown, 31, from River Glade Manor in Lurgan, admitted causing the death of 57-year-old Ronald Walker on the Lisburn Road in Moira in March 2020. At sentencing, Judge Patrick McGurgen said McGeown had sent two messages in the moments leading to the collision and that her "manner of driving and using the phone continued for a period of time. He ordered that she serves half her sentence in jail and half on licence. He also imposed a four-year driving ban. The judge added that in the moments before the fatal impact McGeown was paying more attention to a car that had overtaken her rather than the road in front of her. He told the court that it was his view that "this was more than the use of a mobile phone". "You were texting while driving, you veered into the verge twice," he said. "This was not a momentary lapse." The judge said that despite the impact on her two young children, "this offence is so serious" and there was an overriding need to deter others. He said that "it can only be met by an immediate custodial sentence". The court heard that told McGeown had been driving her Seat Leon along the A3 towards Moira when the fatal impact occurred shortly before 18:00 GMT on 26 March 2020. McGeown failed to see Mr Walker on his bike and crashed into the back of him, sending him to the side of the road and his bicycle over a hedge. Police and paramedics attended the scene, but the father-of-two was pronounced dead at the scene. The judge said police spoke to another driver who was behind McGeown who said he noticed the Seat Leon veer over to the nearside on two occasions to such an extent that it "kicked up dust" from the verge. The court also heard that despite being behind McGeown's car, he was able to see the cyclist ahead. He told police he overtook McGeown and the cyclist but as he was ahead of them, "a flash of movement" in his mirror caught his attention so he turned back and found McGeown sitting in the driver's seat of her car, on the phone to the emergency services. McGeown denied to police that she had been using her phone and "could not explain why" she had failed to see the cyclist. She then claiming that she had used the phone once when she was sitting stationary at a junction. Police obtained CCTV footage which disproved that claim and when her phone was seized officers established in the five minutes prior to the incident she had sent and received two messages, and accessed Facebook. The judge told the court he had read the "heartfelt and powerful" victim impact statement written by Mr Walker's sister which detailed how loved and missed her brother is. "He didn't get to see his daughter's graduation, didn't get to walk her down the aisle and won't get to hold his grandchildren," said Judge McGurgen. He said nothing either his court nor the defendant can do "will turn the clock back". Assistant Director of the Public Prosecution Service Eilis McGrath said it was a "very sad case where Ms McGeown's use of her mobile phone while driving was a significant contributing factor to the collision which killed Ronald Walker". "Using a mobile phone whilst driving not only diverts attention from the road but significantly increases the risk of fatal accidents," she said. "Mr Walker was a much-loved husband and father and his loss in these painful circumstances have left a terrible void in the lives of his family and friends."
BBC News
07-03-2025
- BBC News
Moira: Driver who killed cyclist after texting jailed
A woman who knocked down and killed a cyclist in County Down shortly after sending messages on her phone has been handed a two-year sentence at Craigavon Crown Court. At an earlier hearing, Nicole McGeown, 31, from River Glade Manor in Lurgan, admitted causing the death of 57-year-old Ronald Walker on the Lisburn Road in Moira in March sentencing, Judge Patrick McGurgen said McGeown had sent two messages in the moments leading to the collision and that her "manner of driving and using the phone continued for a period of ordered that shs serves half her sentence in jail and half on licence. He also imposed a four-year driving ban. The judge added that in the moments before the fatal impact McGeown was paying more attention to a car that had overtaken her rather than the road in front of told the court that it was his view that "this was more than the use of a mobile phone"."You were texting while driving, you veered into the verge twice," he said. "This was not a momentary lapse."The judge said that despite the impact on her two young children, "this offence is so serious" and there was an overriding need to deter others. He said that "it can only be met by an immediate custodial sentence". 'A flash of movement' The court heard that told McGeown had been driving her Seat Leon along the A3 towards Moira when the fatal impact occurred shortly before 18:00 GMT on 26 March 2020. McGeown failed to see Mr Walker on his bike and crashed into the back of him, sending him to the side of the road and his bicycle over a and paramedics attended the scene, but the father-of-two was pronounced dead at the judge said police spoke to another driver who was behind McGeown who said he noticed the Seat Leon veer over to the nearside on two occasions to such an extent that it "kicked up dust" from the verge. The court also heard that despite being behind McGeown's car, he was able to see the cyclist told police he overtook McGeown and the cyclist but as he was ahead of them, "a flash of movement" in his mirror caught his attention so he turned back and found McGeown sitting in the driver's seat of her car, on the phone to the emergency services. Phone seized McGeown denied to police that she had been using her phone and "could not explain why" she had failed to see the cyclist. She then claiming that she had used the phone once when she was sitting stationary at a obtained CCTV footage which disproved that claim and when her phone was seized officers established in the five minutes prior to the incident she had sent and received two messages, and accessed Facebook. The judge told the court he had read the "heartfelt and powerful" victim impact statement written by Mr Walker's sister which detailed how loved and missed her brother is."He didn't get to see his daughter's graduation, didn't get to walk her down the aisle and won't get to hold his grandchildren," said Judge said nothing either his court nor the defendant can do "will turn the clock back".
BBC News
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Belfast choir brings together disabled and non-disabled singers
A Belfast based choir which includes disabled and non-disabled people has been nominated for a prestigious award. It is one of only four in the UK shortlisted for the Inspiration Award at the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) McGeown, a wheelchair user and the musical director of the Open Arts Community Choir, said being part of the choir was the best "feelgood factor that you'll ever get".The winner of the award will be decided by a public vote held before Monday 3 February. Mental health Beverley said the choir is a great way of bringing people together. "It's a social thing, it's a gathering, it's a really good place for increasing your mental health," she said."We come from all walks of life, people with disabilities and those without."We've people from all sides of the community as well and from all parts of Northern Ireland."BBC News NI joined the choir at rehearsals, which take place every choir sings songs from a variety of genres including classical, folk music, show songs and pop the community created by the choir is as important as the is hoping the public will support the choir in the RPS awards."We're the only act from Northern Ireland to have been shortlisted, so we're just absolutely bowled over and really excited," she said."We're really hoping that everyone from Northern Ireland gets behind us and votes for us." Breege Corr, who also uses a wheelchair, has been in the choir for 25 years."We've done lots of things," she said."We've travelled to America, Wales, Riga - you name it, we've been there."Music has always been a big part of my life ever since I was very young, it's been really a joyful experience, meeting new friends."Breege said the sense of community the choir brought was "integral"."It doesn't matter what your background is, we're all in it together," she said."The one thing we have in common is a love of music and a love of singing and we love performing."No matter what anyone is going through or the difficulties we face we always find a way to stay together and keep together and keep singing." Gareth Smyth and his guide dog, Alice, are also members of the choir."We all support and encourage one another, and we all blend in very well with harmony and we listen in to each other," said Gareth, who is one of several visually impaired members. Gareth said some of the music could be "very challenging" to perform but he thought it was a "good idea to rise to the challenge". "I think the most important thing is we all get along," he you want to hear the Open Arts Community Choir, they will be performing at the Belfast cultural hub at 2 Royal Avenue on Saturday 1 February from 13:30 to 14:30 GMT.
