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Global Nomads Group Helps Students Embark On Global Exploration Of HIV/AIDS Epidemic With Polycom Video Systems

Global Nomads Group Helps Students Embark On Global Exploration Of HIV/AIDS Epidemic With Polycom Video Systems

Published 07-05-05

Submitted by Polycom

NEW YORK & PLEASANTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 29, 2005--Global Nomads Group (GNG) is proud to launch CURRENTS 2005, an international education initiative bringing together American High School students with their peers around the world via Polycom(R) (NASDAQ:PLCM) video conferencing for a cross-cultural examination of HIV/AIDS. Starting in September 2005, a GNG team onboard the Semester at Sea ship will circumnavigate the planet, stopping in nine port cities to organize international "town hall" meetings using video conferencing equipment provided by Polycom, a major sponsor of the program. Thousands of American students will have the opportunity to "travel" the world through video conferencing, and gain a true sense of the scale of the HIV/AIDS epidemic throughout the world by speaking with students their own ages in host countries. The program will launch in late August 2005, ending around International AIDS day, on Dec. 1, 2005. For the complete CURRENTS itinerary and to learn more about this program, log on to http://www.gng.org/currents/.

The launch of CURRENTS 2005 comes following alarming news about the rate of AIDS infections in the US recently hitting the one-million mark and worldwide cases now totaling 40 million. Most cases are clustered in Sub-Saharan Africa. While some progress has been made in treating the disease, no cure exists and access to affordable medicine is still extremely limited. The goals of CURRENTS 2005 will be to engage young people in a global dialogue about the disease's impact, prevention of its spread, and exploring ways to change its course.

"AIDS knows no international boundaries and is undoubtedly one of the most significant global challenges that we face as human beings right now," said Global Nomads Group's Executive Director Mark von Sponeck. "We're proud to have partnered with Semester at Sea and Polycom to enable these students to literally speak to the world about this issue and see how other countries are dealing with the problem."

CURRENTS Town Hall meetings will revolve around the specificities of HIV/AIDS from country to country, and will address the social stigmas associated with HIV/AIDS, the economic consequences of the disease, and access and obstacles in securing treatment for patients.

"CURRENTS will give young people a sense of the magnitude of the crisis as well as show the programs each country has initiated to treat the sick and stem the disease," said Global Nomads Group Co-Founder Christopher Plutte. "Most of all, it's our goal to motivate students worldwide to talk openly about the issues and determine what they can do to make a difference."

"Polycom is proud to be a Global Nomads sponsor enabling the global discussion among today's youth," said Bob Hagerty, Chairman and CEO of Polycom. "Our systems have been used to connect students to discuss topics as diverse as Saddam Hussein, the Rwandan genocide, the formation of a Palestinian homeland, the tsunami and now AIDS. The ability to collaborate face to face helps people truly understand the human impact of these issues and fosters a global connectedness among the next generation of leaders."

About Polycom
Polycom, Inc. is the worldwide leader in unified collaborative communications (UCC) that maximize the efficiency and productivity of people and organizations by integrating the broadest array of video, voice, data and Web solutions to deliver the ultimate communications experience. Polycom's high quality, standards-based conferencing and collaboration solutions are easy to deploy and manage, as well as intuitive to use. Supported by an open architecture, they integrate seamlessly with leading telephony and presence-based networks. With its market driving technologies, best-in-class products, alliance partnerships, and world-class service, Polycom is the smart choice for organizations seeking proven solutions and a competitive advantage in real-time communications and collaboration. For additional information call 1-800-POLYCOM (765-9266) or +1-408-526-9000, or visit the Polycom website at http://www.polycom.com.

About Semester at Sea
Semester at Sea is a cross-cultural global studies program administered by the Institute for Shipboard Education and academically sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh. Since 1963, nearly 40,000 have participated in the program. Semester at Sea provides opportunities for the exploration and study of many of the people, places and cultures around the world. Programs are designed for undergraduate students seeking to include an international component to their college experience. A limited number of non-student travelers may also take advantage of the Semester at Sea experience through the Semester at Sea Continuing Education Program. More information is available at www.semesteratsea.com.

About Global Nomads Group
Global Nomads Group (http://www.gng.org.) is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering cross-cultural dialogue and understanding among youth. Using videoconferencing and satellite communications technology, GNG moderates conferences between K-12 classes in different countries, organizes virtual lectures, and conducts remote broadcasts from the world's historical and cultural sites. GNG has produced nearly 100 video link ups between American youth and youth from around the world.

CURRENTS is a GNG international education program that links American youth with their peers around the world via video conferencing and the internet to discuss the most pressing global issues of our time and work together to solve them.

Copyright Business Wire 2005

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Founded in 1990, Polycom is the only company today delivering end-to-end rich media collaborative applications for voice, video, data and the web from desktop and mobile personal systems to room systems to the network core. Our vision is to enable people to connect anytime, anyplace and with any device in a virtual experience as natural as being there. In addition to being the worldwide leader in market share for best in class group and personal video systems, video and voice collaboration infrastructures and conference phones, Polycom also has the only solution for delivering Unified Collaborative Communications - the convergence of voice, video, data and web - known as The Polycom Office.

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