code: @SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
      public static Date toUtc (Date date)
      {
          if (date == null) {
              return null;
          }
          return new Date(Date.UTC(date.getYear(), date.getMonth(), date.getDate(), date.getHours(),
              date.getMinutes(), date.getSeconds()));
      }
docs: Returns the equivalent of this date when it was in Greenwich. For example, a date at 4pm
  pacific would result in a new date at 4pm gmt, or 8am pacific. This has the effect of
  normalizing the date. It may be used to allow clients to send data requests to the server
  in absolute time, which can then be treated appropriately on the server.