AG HEALEY ISSUES GUIDANCE TO SCHOOLS TO HELP PREVENT AND ADDRESS HATE AND BIAS

 AG HEALEY ISSUES GUIDANCE TO SCHOOLS TO HELP PREVENT AND ADDRESS HATE AND BIAS

Provides Guidance and Resources to Assist Schools 

BOSTON – To help ensure that all students across Massachusetts feel safe and supported, Attorney General Maura Healey’s Office today issued guidance to school officials about their legal obligations to prevent and address hate and bias incidents at their educational institutions. At a time of heightened strain in school communities, the AG’s Office is providing guidance and resources to help schools respond properly if a hate incident occurs. 

The AG’s Guidance on Schools’ Legal Obligations to Prevent and Address Hate and Bias Incidents, which was sent today to school superintendents, charter school leaders, and school administrators, describes how schools must respond to hate and bias incidents involving students and what proactive steps schools must take to prevent such incidents. It also highlights several best practices that schools should consider for preventing and responding to hate incidents. The AG’s Office is also offering a directory of relevant training and other resources. The Office wants to ensure that all school officials have the information and tools that they need if a hate incident occurs 

“I commend our school leaders, teachers, and staff across the state who have been on the front lines of providing essential educational and social-emotional services during this time of uncertainty and distress amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and as we’re all grappling with racial injustice and its negative effects on individuals and society as whole,” said AG Healey. “We want to make sure schools have the information and support they need to address and prevent incidents of hate and bias and ensure that every student can learn in a nurturing and welcoming environment, free from bullying and harassment.”

The AG’s Office has recently engaged with school administrators, teachers, staff, parents, students, and community members who are concerned about hate incidents in the state’s elementary and secondary schools and who are re-examining the role of schools in preventing and addressing these incidents. Student misconduct that involves hate, bias, or prejudice can have a devastating impact on victims and can severely disrupt the school environment. The AG’s Guidance is designed to assist schools in their continuing efforts to combat hate and foster a safe, supportive, and inclusive educational environment, consistent with their obligations under state law.

The AG’s Guidance, which can be found here, describes schools’ obligations to prevent and respond to hate and bias incidents under Massachusetts’s anti-bullying and anti-discrimination laws; details required, affirmative steps to help create a positive school climate and prevent these incidents; and provides examples of best practices to implement education, prevention, and remediation measures. A list of additional resources for schools can be found here.

The AG’s Office is committed to securing the civil rights of all students in Massachusetts. If you have questions about this Guidance or other civil rights concerns, you may contact the Office online or at 617-963-2917.

CITY OF BOSTON OFFERING EXPANDED RECYCLING RESOURCES FOR RESIDENTS

 

CITY OF BOSTON OFFERING EXPANDED RECYCLING RESOURCES FOR RESIDENTS  City of Boston expands residential yard waste options and installs textile dropboxes in neighborhoods throughout the City.     BOSTON - Tuesday, November 17, 2020 - Following through with recommendations made in the City of Boston's first ever Zero Waste Plan, the Boston Public Works Department (PWD) in partnership with northeast-based textile recycling company, Helpsy, began delivering dropboxes for residents to dispose of their textiles to municipal parking lots across Boston. These dropboxes are part of the City of Boston's work to expand recycling services citywide, creating a healthier and greener environment for generations to come.  "Reducing waste is a core element of ensuring Boston is a healthy, thriving and sustainable city," said Mayor Walsh. "This program moves us one step closer to our ultimate goal of becoming a Zero Waste City, and we will continue to work hard to achieve Boston's environmental goals."   For residents looking to drop off their household textiles, including clothes, shoes, sneakers, bags, stuffed animals, bedding and towels, those items must be dry and placed into a secured plastic bag. Dropboxes can be found at municipal lots in Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, South Boston, Roslindale and West Roxbury.  Textile dropbox locations include:  398 Market Street, Brighton 191 Adams Street, Dorchester 20 Georgia Street, Dorchester 575 Washington Street, Dorchester 166 London Street, East Boston 37 Winthrop Street, Hyde Park 490 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain 450 West Broadway, South Boston 10 Taft Hill Terrace, Roslindale 39-41 Corey Street, West Roxbury Once sorted and graded, 95 percent of textiles collected are reused, upcycled, or recycled, 75 percent being reused, and 20 percent being recycled. The higher grades are resold to thrift stores in North America and other second hand markets around the world. The lower grades get turned into rags for industrial use or alternative functions like stuffing or insulation. In just the last year, Helpsy has collected and processed over 25 million pounds of textiles.    In addition to textiles, roughly 30 percent of what gets put into the trash in Boston is compostable. Boston has expanded its leaf and yard waste curbside collection program from 17 to 20 weeks a year. The City is offering 20 additional weekends where yard waste can be dropped off at the Public Works composting facility on American Legion Highway. All residential yard waste is turned into compost and distributed to City Gardens and Boston Parks and Recreation Department greenhouses. Leaf and yard waste curbside collection will continue every week through December 11th.  "While residents are familiar with recycling plastics, glass, metal and paper, many residents don't know they can recycle textiles," said Chief of Streets Chris Osgood. "We hope the availability of neighborhood textile dropboxes along with other expanded services Boston is offering raises awareness that almost everything in our lives is recyclable."   The City of Boston continues to  encourage residents to utilize tools like the City's free "Trash Day" app. The app enables Boston residents to search a directory of hundreds of household items to find out the right way to dispose of them while on the go or at home. App users can also view a calendar for their home's collection dates, set reminders, get notifications of schedule changes, and locate the nearest textile dropbox in your neighborhood.   Boston residents can also safely dispose of hazardous waste, shred unwanted documents, discard textiles and recycle electronics for free at a series of Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off events.  These programs build on Boston's Zero Waste Plan, which was released in June 2019. This plan includes 30 near- and long-term strategies to divert at least 80 percent of the City's waste from landfills and municipal solid waste combustors by 2035.  Key pieces of the plan include expanding Boston's composting program, increasing access to recycling opportunities and launching a city-wide education campaign on recycling. Approximately six percent of Boston's greenhouse gas emissions come from the City's discarded materials. By reducing waste, recycling more, and composting, Boston can reduce emissions associated with waste and move one step closer to its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, outlined in the City's 2019 Climate Action Plan update. While reducing emissions, the City is working to prepare for sea level rise and the impacts of climate change. Resilient Boston Harbor is the City's vision plan to strengthen Boston's 47-mile shoreline through expanded and connected green space. The City has already completed segments of the vision through district-level projects in East Boston, Charlestown, and South Boston, and is currently working on climate resiliency measures for Downtown and Dorchester.

海地裔Serge Georges Jr. 獲提名出任最高法院法官

麻州州長查理貝克強調他們在挑選提名人時很慎重。(周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange周菊子綜合報導)麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)今(17)日正式提名波士頓地方法院法官Serge Georges Jr.出任最高法院法官。如果最近獲提名的另外2名法官都獲確認，麻州最高法院將創下328年來第一次同時有3名有色人種法官的歷史紀錄。

             麻州州長查理貝克在今年稍早前，陸續提名了Kimberly S. Budd及Dalila Argaez Wendlandt出任高等法院法官。他們倆人一旦經由麻州州長議會(Governor’s Council)通過，也將依序創下麻州首名女性黑人首席法官，首名拉丁裔法官的歷史紀錄。

             海地裔(Haitian)出身的Serge Georges Jr.，一旦獲得確認，將是麻州最高法院法官有史以來的第二位獲任命的黑人男性法官。在他之前的是Roderick L. Ireland。

             麻州高等法院共有7人。波士頓學院歷史系教授Alan Rogers表示，在查理貝克之前，只有50年前的約翰漢考克(John Hancock)曾經有這樣的，任命所有7名最高法院法官的機會。

             查理貝克在2016年時任命了Kimberly S. Budd，Frank M. Gaziano，以及David A. Lowy等3人，次年再任命Elspeth “Ellie” B. Cypher，該法庭第2位公開承認自己是同性戀的法官，以及麻州當時的最高上訴法院法官Scott L. Kafker。

             最近的這波任命，是因為Barbara A. Lenk法官即將於12月達到規定退休年齡，接著首席法官Ralph D. Gants又在9月時突然逝世。

             在州長任內連任命一位最高法院法官的機會也沒的是朗尼(Mitt Romny)。

             Serge Georges Jr.今年50歲，住在龍都鎮(Randolph)，曾任麻州黑人律師協會會長，在幾個律師行工作過，包括曾任Barron & Stadfeld律師樓的合夥人，也曾自己開業，主要承辦商務及企業訴訟，還有刑事法業務。過去20年來他也在薩福克大學法學院任教。

             他將遞補Kimberly S. Budd成為大法官後的副法官遺缺。他畢業於波士頓學院及薩福克(Suffolk)大學法學院，2013年時由前州長派區克(Deval Patrick)任命為波士頓地方法官，目前在他的出生地主持多徹斯特法庭。在2014到2018年間，他掌管多徹斯特毒品法庭。

             在州政府大樓舉行的記者會中，Serge Georges Jr.透露，他父親當年來到美國為聯合國工作，被派去薩伊(Zaire)教書，因此他是在曼哈頓出生。

             查理貝克在介紹Serge Georges Jr.時指出，麻州有幾百名法官，直接從地方法院調到最高法院的確很少有，但州政府重視的是第一流的法律頭腦，以及合作精神。

Governor Baker Nominates Judge Serge Georges Jr. to the Supreme Judicial Court  

Serge Georges Jr. (By Chutze Chou)

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today nominated Associate Justice for the Boston Municipal Court, Serge Georges, to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Judicial Court. The nominee and his family joined Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito for a formal announcement today at the State House.

“Judge Georges has served on the Boston Municipal Court with great distinction and treats all those that come before him with dignity and respect,” said Governor Baker. “His unique voice and real world experiences will improve the quality of discussion and debate on the Commonwealth’s highest court and I am pleased to nominate him.”   

“Judge Georges’ rich background in and out of the courtroom, from his time in private practice to his experience on the drug court, will well serve the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and all those that come before it,” said Lt. Governor Polito. “I have the utmost confidence that, if confirmed, Judge Georges will be an excellent addition to the SJC and I look forward to the advice and consent of my colleagues on the Governor’s Council.”

The Supreme Judicial Court is the Commonwealth's highest appellate court, consisting of the Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. The seven Justices hear appeals on a broad range of criminal and civil cases from September through May and issue written opinions that are posted online.

About Judge Serge Georges, Jr.:  

Judge Serge Georges serves as an Associate Justice of the Boston Municipal Court. He had a successful and diverse career as an experienced litigator prior to his appointment to the bench in 2013 by Governor Deval Patrick. Directly prior to his appointment, he managed his own successful solo practice concentrating in commercial and business litigation, criminal defense, and matters involving professional licensure and liability. He represented businesses and individuals in a wide range of civil disputes including breach of contract, fiduciary duty suits, employment matters, housing litigation and personal injury cases. In private practice, he also defended criminal cases, including motor vehicle offenses and violent and drug related charges. Prior to establishing his solo practice, Georges was a partner at Barron & Stadfeld, P.C., the Managing Director for Major, Lindsey & Africa, LLC, and an associate at both Todd & Weld and Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster. He served on multiple boards during his legal career, including the Board of Governors of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Lawyers, and he was the President of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association in 2013.  

In his role as Associate Justice of the Boston Municipal Court, over the last seven years, he has had jurisdiction over both criminal and civil matters, including housing matters, mental health hearings, restraining orders and small claims and civil litigation cases. Judge Georges sits in the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court, one of the most active and busiest urban courts in the Commonwealth. From 2014 to 2018, Judge Georges presided over the Dorchester Drug Court. The Dorchester Drug Court is a multidivisional team working with community providers, representatives from Suffolk Lawyers for Justice and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office to offer treatment options to those whose addictions have led them into the criminal justice system.    

Judge Georges graduated from Boston College in 1992, and from Suffolk University Law School in 1996, where he has served as an adjunct professor for the past twenty years. At Suffolk Law he teaches courses in Professional Responsibility, Evidence and Trial Advocacy. He also teaches Trial Advocacy at UMass Law School. He attended Boston College High School and currently serves as vice-chair of the Board of Trustees for BC High, and remains involved with the school. In January of this year, BC High awarded Judge Georges The James E Cotter ’55 Courage Award. This award is presented to a member of the BC High Community in recognition of courage in the face of adversity, tenacious spirit and force of will. He grew up in Kane Square, in Dorchester, and currently resides in Randolph with his wife Michelle and his two daughters, Olivia and Samantha. (From the governor's office)

搭乘率大減後麻州地鐵考慮刪減服務 民眾、官員紛紛反對

            (Boston Orange綜合編譯)麻州地鐵(MBTA)為縮小5億7500萬元的預算缺口，上週已提出刪減服務計畫，政客、乘客紛紛表示刪減公共交通服務，將不但對前線工作人員造成阻礙，更將削弱地方在病毒大流行後經濟復甦的程度。

           波士頓市長馬丁華殊表示，最大的問題是這些刪減將傷害城市復甦，尤其是必要及前線工作人員都將因此出入更不方便。

           麻州地鐵人員表示，要平衡營收大減後的預算，該機構無法不刪減服務，他們已經在做對最忙碌路線乘客影響最小的設計。

           自從新型冠狀病毒大流行發生後，地鐵的乘搭率下降了75%，通勤火車和渡輪的搭乘率甚至下降了90%。巴士好些，但搭乘率也只有病毒大流行之前的40%。

           批評者表這些服務刪減很短視。上週在任務丘(Mission Hill)還有一場示威遊行。聯邦眾議員普斯莉(Ayanna Pressley)譴責州及聯邦政府對不起(failing)地鐵乘客，Hull鎮經理Philip Lemnio則呼籲地鐵(MBTA)，寧可漲價，也不要刪除渡輪服務。

           麻州地鐵(MBTA)上週公佈，將於12月投票決定的計畫，包括刪減整個系統的巴士，火車服務，晚上9點以後，以及週末停開通勤火車(commuter rail)，關閉渡輪系統，並縮短部分路線。這一刪減服計畫預計明年春夏之間開始實施。

           大約25條乘客很少的巴士路線也會被刪除。

           麻州地鐵人員希望藉此作法，在下一個會計年度中節省1億2800萬元，已略彌平5億7500萬元的預算缺口。

           波士頓市長馬丁華殊建議麻州議員們動用州政府的儲備金，以避免地鐵刪減服務。麻州眾議會上週通過的本年度新增預算案，並未增加地鐵經費，參議會本週將討論的預算，原本也沒有增加地鐵經費，不過一項修訂提案，將為地鐵增加約3億元經費。

BAAFF宣佈本屆最受觀眾歡迎獎 11/27將紀念李小龍80歲生日

波士頓亞美電影節最受觀眾歡迎獎得主。(BAAFF提供)

               (Boston Orange) 波士頓亞美電影節(BAAFF)宣佈2020年最受觀眾歡迎獎有5部，另訂11月27日免費放映「若水(Be Water)」，紀念李小龍80歲生日。

              由甄翠嬿(Susan Chinsen)創辦，已跨入第12屆的波士頓亞美電影節，在10月21日至25日之間，包括敘事劇情片，紀錄長片，敘事短片，紀錄短片，動畫短片等5個類別，共選映了50部影片，還安排了許多場與導演及演員座談。

              電影節正式開幕前，從金融界跨入演藝界，並組有製片小組的曹育倫(Michael Tow)還為波士頓亞美電影節主持了一場網上座談會。

              經由觀眾投票結果，本屆影展最受歡迎的敘事劇情片為Bao Tran執導的「紙老虎(The Paper Tigers)」；記錄長片為Hao Wu和Weixi Chen，以及一無名者執導的「76天(76 Days)」；敘事短片為Hao Zheng執導的，「廚師(The Chef)」；紀錄短片為Danielle Ayow執導的「但你不是黑人(But You’re Not Black)」；動畫短片為Angeline Vu和Arlene Bongco執導的「感覺到愛(Flet Love)」。

波士頓亞美電影節創辦人甄翠嬿(左)。

         波士頓亞美電影節還宣佈，11月27日是李小龍的80歲生日，為誌記這重大日子，該會將和夏威夷電影節(HIFF)合作，當晚8點，免費放映一場「若水(Be Water)」，並接著舉辦一場座談會。

              李小龍是在1971年被好萊塢拒絕後，回到香港，拍了4部經典影片。

演員曹育倫為BAAFF主持開幕前座談。

              將出席座談的講者包括「若水(Be Water)」導演，Bao Nguyen，李小龍的女兒Shannon Lee，文化作者，也是「憤怒亞裔男(Angry Asian Man)」的創作者Phil Yu，以及名廚暨「難看得好吃(Ugly Delicious)主持人Dave Chang等。

              波士頓亞美電影節歡迎觀眾上網回顧電影節中不下40名嘉賓出席的座談，查詢可上網http://bit.ly/BAAFF2020_QA。欣賞「若水(Be Water)」的網址為https://fp.hiff.org/films/detail/be_water_2020?mc_cid=c741a0a292&mc_eid=b8a70ea638，參加座談的網址為https://fp.hiff.org/films/detail/be_water_bruce_lee_80th_birthday_celebr_2020?mc_cid=c741a0a292&mc_eid=b8a70ea638。(更新版)

全世界新型冠狀病毒確診人數累計5502萬 麻州11/16回降至1967

 

紐英崙客家鄉親會客家話講座 朱真一從糖尿病談到了凡四訓

紐英崙客家鄉親會踴躍出席講座。

            (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導)紐英崙客家鄉親會在11月7、8兩日，邀行政院客家委員會2019年客家終身貢獻獎得主朱真一教授，暢談台灣客家人患糖尿病，地中海貧血症等病症的原因、療法，鼓勵客家人多說母語，養成雙語習慣，有益身心健康。

             這兩場講座的主題為「由歷史文化看臺灣人(，)尤其客(家)人的健康問題」。朱真一用客家話分別闡述了糖尿病，蠶豆症、地中海貧血、高血壓等四種客家人較易染患的病症，還以「了凡四訓」的立命，改過，積善，謙德來勉勵客家人。

紐英崙客家鄉親會踴躍出席講座。

           朱真一是1965年從台大醫學院畢業的客家人，1971年獲加州柏克萊大學營養學博士，2006年退休，刻為聖路易大學醫學院小兒科名譽教授。他在父親去世後，以奠儀成立北美客家台灣語言文化基金會，致力推廣客家文化，還舉辦客家台灣文化獎。

             第一場講座是談「糖尿病預防及了凡四訓」。朱真一說明自己早從2017年就開始舉辦類似講座，還出版過「從歷史文化看台灣人，尤其客家人的健康問題」一書，討論失智，糖尿病、高血壓、蠶豆症、地中海貧血病等問題。

             朱真一坦言自己愛講這類題目，緣起於18年前他才知道糖尿病前症，之後努力查資訊，發現台灣人在生物基因上，生活環境上，幾乎命定的容易染患糖尿病，進而希望分享自己是如何力行預防之道，包括借用「了凡四訓」的改變命數知道，勸人適量勞動/運動，注意飲食，控制體重(BMI)，就能利己又立社會。

             朱真一還提供了些數據，指有媒體報導，2000年後出生的美國人，每3人約有1人會得糖尿病。台灣衛生研究院2008年時的數據也稱糖尿病盛行率高達9.2%，65歲以上更是每4人就有1人得糖尿病。一旦染患糖尿病，接著就容易染患心臟血管病，微血管病變導致腎臟病，視網膜脫落，神經失常，還有失智，以及其他疾病。

             朱真一勸人要多走路，吃得少些，甚至自闢菜園，種又名豬菜的空心菜(蕹菜)，喝咖啡、茶，採行間斷性斷食法等等。

             至於蠶豆症，主要蠶豆吃多了容易使人缺乏G6PD，導致急性溶血症，黃疸病等。早年有很多竹北客家人在蠶豆盛產季節染患此病。

             紐英崙客家鄉親會會長宋玉琴說明，兩場講座還在講說結束後依序放映，「客家文藝復興：浪漫台三線介紹」的(2)客庄食記 ，以及(3)客語風情。

             這兩場講座每場都有數十名紐英崙客家鄉親參加，會末也提問踴躍。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊公佈汽車零排放進程圖 訂2023年全市設電動車充電站

MAYOR WALSH RELEASES BOSTON'S ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLE ROADMAP AND CUTS RIBBON ON PUBLIC NEIGHBORHOOD EV CHARGERS   The Roadmap charts a course to reach Boston's transportation electrification goals and increase access to EV charging for all resident BOSTON - Monday, November 16, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the City of Boston has released its Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Roadmap, a long-term strategy to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and other zero-emission transportation, with specific actions to be taken by the City. In tandem, the Boston Transportation Department is installing publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in its neighborhood municipal lots.  "In Boston, we know the urgency around climate action and we are committed to leading on a national and international scale," said Mayor Walsh. "Our new public electric vehicle charging stations are a key element of reducing our emissions while making our city healthier and more accessible today and for years to come." The first batch of charging stations have been installed in the municipal lot located at 737 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain. The next phase, expected later this fall, will add EV charging stations to municipal lots in East Boston, Roslindale, Hyde Park, Mattapan, and Dorchester. The City's investments are in partnership with Eversource's Make Ready Program. The utility provides the infrastructure to support the EV charging stations, and the City is installing and operating the stations. The goal is to have publicly accessible EV charging stations available in every neighborhood by 2023. Currently, there is a fee of $0.25/kWh for electricity consumed.  Boston's ZEV Roadmap establishes aspirational targets and actions the City of Boston can take to support electric vehicle adoption. The Roadmap sets goals in three areas: Support widespread adoption of electrification,  Ensure affordable, convenient access to charging infrastructure for all residents,  Lead by example to electrify Boston's municipal fleet.  "In addition to encouraging more people to walk, bike or take transit, an essential path to reaching carbon neutrality is switching from gas-powered to electric vehicles. This Zero-Emission Vehicle Roadmap identifies concrete steps we must take to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles," said Chris Osgood, the City of Boston's Chief of Streets. "The Roadmap furthers our commitments made in Go Boston 2030 and the Climate Action Plan Update, and it will help us provide more reliable and sustainable transportation options for our residents."  Transportation accounts for nearly a third of Boston's total greenhouse gas emissions, 65 percent of which comes from personal vehicles. Ongoing Go Boston 2030 projects aspire to shift travelers out of personal vehicles toward public transportation, walking and biking, and the City's 2019 Climate Action Plan Update details actions for the next five years to significantly cut emissions to reach its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. "Every resident in Boston should have convenient access to affordable environmentally friendly travel," said Gregory Rooney, the Transportation Department's Commissioner. "In the past several years we have implemented projects to encourage walking, biking and riding transit. The ZEV Roadmap builds on that work."  In addition to installing electric vehicle chargers in its municipal lots, the City's Recharge Boston program has: Developed how-to guides to support residents and employers through the process of charger installation, starting workplace charging programs, and purchasing a vehicle or charger Started the process to transition the City's vehicle fleet to become zero-emission, starting with all light-duty vehicles by 2035 and all heavy-duty vehicles by 2060 Required all new developments to fit 25 percent of their parking spaces with EV Chargers and the remaining to be "EV-Ready" for future installations. Started to explore opportunities for an e-cargo bike initiative to support congestion-reducing environmentally-friendly last mile delivery Drafted a Request for Proposals for an EV Car Share program Supporting transportation electrification is part of a broader investment of resources by Boston to lead on climate action and is supported by the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge. Boston is one of the 25 winning cities in the Climate Challenge, which is helping cities set and surpass ambitious climate goals by ramping up action in the two highest-emitting sectors in cities: transportation and buildings. For more information, visit boston.gov/transportation/recharge-boston. Earlier today it was announced that Mayor Walsh has been named Chair of Climate Mayors, a coalition of 468 U.S. mayors committed to bold environmental action and upholding the Paris Climate Agreement. In this role, Mayor Walsh will help catalyze efforts to combat climate change at the local level, provide an example of climate action for leaders at all levels of government, and advocate for an economic recovery founded in equity and environmental stewardship. Mayor Walsh succeeds Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who founded Climate Mayors, and has also served as the network's Chair since its launch in 2014.

Moderna宣佈其新冠病毒疫苗有效率高達94.5%

             (Boston Orange 編譯)「現代(Moderna)」今(16)日宣佈，該公司研發，用於治療新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)的疫苗，有效率高達94.5%，希望能在數星期內獲得緊急使用許可，用於治療一些人。

             Moderna表示，從參與臨床試驗的3萬名志願者那兒得來的數據顯示，這2劑疫苗和該公司競爭對手「輝瑞(Pfizer)」所測試的有同樣的驚人效果。

             輝瑞上星期11月9日時已經宣佈，該公司的2劑疫苗，有效率高達90%。

             「現代(Moderna)」執行長Stephane Bancel表示，該公司第3期臨床研究的中期分析，給了該公司疫苗有效的第一個臨床驗證。該公司將持續盡力協助終結新型冠狀病毒。

             這分析是一個獨立監察委員會做的，並不表示有效疫苗立即可用，但這早期結果令人印象深刻。

             該委員會分析了間隔4週各注射2劑新型冠狀病毒疫苗的第一批「現代(Moderna)」志願者的個案，然後觀察他們的每日生活。這些志願者，有一半注射了真的疫苗，另一半注射的是安慰劑。

             Moderna發言人Roy Jordan表示，週日下午，該委員會通知「現代(Moderna)」，在95名新冠病毒患者中，有90人只注射了安慰劑，只有5人注射了真正的疫苗。這結果顯示疫苗有效率為94.5%。

             美國傳染病頂級醫生佛奇(Anthony Fauci)博士今年稍早表示，疫苗有效率達到60%，他就已經很高興了。

             這一份中期分析報告，指Moderna的疫苗並無重大安全顧慮，耐受度良好。大部分的副作用，都是輕微或中度的疲勞，頭痛，或疼痛。

             Moderna的人對委員會的新型冠狀病毒嚴重個案分析，感到尤其高興。在這感染病毒的95人中，有11人症狀嚴重。而委員會對這11人的分析結果是這些人注射的都是安慰劑。

             Moderna表示，該公司計畫以此數據向聯邦藥品局(FDA)申請疫苗許可，以在未來數星期內，至少在緊急狀況下可用在一些人身上。Moderna表示，FDA會等到參與試驗所有志願者的151宗新型冠狀病毒個案的結果都出來後，才會決定是否批准他們的要求。

             Moderna和輝瑞的疫苗都仰賴合成傳達RNA，一種天然物質的巧妙變化，指揮整個身體內細胞的蛋白質製造。這疫苗包含客製傳達分子，能夠指示細胞生成冠狀病毒的一部分，然後刺激免疫系統製造抗體。如果成功了，就能夠在人們萬一感染到真正病毒時保護他們。

             目前還沒有傳達RNA疫苗或藥物獲得批准，但全球有至少大約一打使用不同方法的冠狀病毒疫苗在後期試驗中。

             Moderna今日(週一)也報告，該公司的准疫苗在標準冰箱的華氏36度到46度中，一連30天保持穩定狀態，比之前的7天表現更好。如果放在零下4度的冷凍庫裏，可以維持穩定6個月。

           輝瑞極其德國夥伴BioNTech研發出來的傳達RNA疫苗，必須保存在華氏94度以下，讓人憂慮世界各地的一般醫院，能否安全的儲存或運送這些疫苗。

             Moderna的首席技術營運長Juan Andres表示，Moderna的疫苗能夠在製藥公司一般使用的冷凍庫及冰箱內儲存，將使該疫苗可以在美國，甚至世界其他地方，做更為靈活及更大規模的運送。