波士頓大學台灣論壇檢視轉型中的台灣

（由左至右）主持人波士頓大學政治系傅仕卓(Joseph Fewsmith)、
Scott Kennedy、戈迪溫(Steven Goldstein)，容安瀾(Alan Romberg)
。(所有圖片均為周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子綜合整理)中華民國（臺灣）教育部與波士頓大學合作的2016年"台灣論壇"，4月由前文化部長龍應台主講的第一場，吸引逾百人出席，11月2日以”轉型中的台灣:蔡英文政府的初始印象((Taiwan in Transition? Initial Impressions of the Tsai Ing-wen Administration)”為主題的第二場，出席踴躍得人都擠站到門外去了。

波士頓大學政治系傅仕卓(Joseph Fewsmith)、

這場講座由波士頓大學政治系教授傅仕卓(Joseph Fewsmith)主持，三名講者分別為哈佛大學費正清中心臺灣研究小組召集人戈迪溫(Steven Goldstein)教授、智庫史汀生中心（Stimson Center）東亞項目主任容安瀾(Alan Romberg)，及戰略暨國際研究中心(Center for Strategic and International Studies)的Scott Kennedy。

Scott Kennedy

1980年代到台灣台大就讀過的Scott Kennedy從經濟面談台灣現況及前景。他認為台灣最大的問題是"沒有共識"。他根據數據分析台灣進出口貿易對中國大陸的依賴程度，台灣的產業結構，國民平均所得與國民生產毛額(GDP)等的變化，也談到新南向政策。他認為台灣的經濟表現，其實受全球經濟景氣影響更大些，整體表現其實不差，失業率也低，他對台灣的經濟前景看法，恐怕要比許多台灣本土人樂觀許多。

戈迪溫(Steven Goldstein)

戈迪溫坦率直言兩岸關係現在不好，溝通中斷，交流減少，儘管兩岸地方政府層級仍有來往，中國卻在更積極打壓台灣的國際參與。戈迪溫認為”九二共識"是關鍵因素之一。他因此闡述了放下政治面，關注功能性的"九二共識"歷史淵源及內涵意義，並指出儘管國民黨和中國政府對"九二共識"有著”一中各表”的不同認知，但兩岸交流卻是因為國民黨肯承認”只有一個中國”這核心議題，才鋪展開來的。他認為要蔡英文接受，並從”一個中國"論這政治困境中走出來，幾乎是不可能的事。

容安瀾(Alan Romberg)

容安瀾認為在兩岸關係上，美國以及"正常關係法"的確扮演了極重要角色。儘管蔡英文或中國大陸都強調民意，認為兩岸未來應交由民意決定，但事實是兩岸政府都無法真正為人民做決定。在國際參與上，台灣也十分被動，經常還是得看中國大陸點不點頭。不像陳水扁的務實，中國大陸認為蔡英文是理想主義者，就算從蔡英文口中說出承認一個中國，中國大陸恐怕也不會輕易相信，而會要求蔡英文拿出行動來證明。兩岸關係到底有沒解決辦法，他現在也還看不到。

蔡英文上任後，新聞，事故不斷，台灣未來到底如何，顯然很多人關心，當天出席者發問十分踴躍，但似乎也都有著兩岸關係在目前狀況下無解的無奈感。(圖片已於11月2日發表)

Mayor Walsh Releases Ad Against Question 2

Mayor Walsh Releases Ad Against Question 2

Calls for residents statewide to vote against destructive ballot question

BOSTON – Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh today released a new radio ad urging residents to vote against Question 2, the ballot question that calls for unlimited charter expansion in any community in the state, taking millions of dollars away from public district schools and local municipal budgets. 

“Question 2 is a deeply misguided proposal that hurts the progress of school improvements and the principle of local control. And, Question 2 makes an already broken school funding system worse. If Question 2 passes, it will drain hundreds of millions of dollars from urban, suburban, and rural school districts,” Mayor Walsh says in the ad. 

Charter schools are privately run schools that operate with taxpayer funding and educate only four percent of Massachusetts students. Every time a new charter school opens, it takes money away from the public schools in that school district. According to state data, charter schools will siphon off $451,338,729 from 231 local school districts this year alone, with Boston projected to lose $135,206,868. 1

Question 2 will allow the state to approve 12 new charter schools each year in any community with no limits on the number of charter schools that can be created in the state or how much money a single district could lose, which could be used to invest in the public schools that 96 percent of families choose. With these financial loses, districts face cuts to arts and enrichment programs, are forced to increase class sizes, and are left with less money to educate higher need populations since charter schools typically fail to educate as many high-need students as local public school districts. 

Thirty-one other mayors have joined Mayor Walsh in opposition to Question 2, citing concern for the grave financial impacts unfettered charter expansion will have on the public schools and services they are able to provide their students as well as their city budgets.

Local communities and their school committees, which are forced to deal with the grave financial impacts charters have on their budgets, have no say in the approval or operation of charter schools. The state approves charter schools even when the communities where they will be located are opposed to them. This has happened in the cities of Brockton and Gloucester, and many other communities. That’s why 210 school committees across the state have voted to oppose Question 2, including Boston, Newton, Cambridge, Somerville, Dedham, and Medford.2

On Tuesday, Moody’s Investors, one of the nation’s most widely-respected credit rating agencies, yesterday contacted officials in Boston, Fall River, Lawrence, and Springfield and warned that the passage of Question 2 could hurt their city’s financial standing, potentially causing their bond ratings to be downgraded. A weakening of the municipal credit ratings of the state’s largest cities would not only put their financial security in jeopardy, but would gravely impact the public services they provide for their residents, including public education.

In response to the widespread opposition they are facing at the local level and the recent cautions from Moody’s, Question 2 proponents are trying to divert attention to a recent report done by the Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation, one of the first business-backed organizations to endorse Question 2. In its report, the fiscally-conservative group deliberately omits the impact charter schools have on municipal budgets. The report reads, “the analysis presented here is based on the principles embedded in the formula, and makes no attempt to address budgetary issues at the district level.” Voters can see the real loss of funding to their local public schools, as documented by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, here.

僑委會委員長吳新興訪關東探僑胞

關東地區僑胞熱烈歡迎僑務委員會委員長吳新興來日拜訪。

僑務委員會委員長吳新興為關懷我旅居關東地區僑胞，於10月31日至11月4日赴日本拜訪關東僑胞。吳委員長一抵達東京羽田機場，受到關東地區僑胞熱烈歡迎，吳委員長與接機僑胞寒暄致意後，展開此次拜訪行程。

僑務委員會委員長吳新興參觀僑校校舍，關心華裔子弟教育環境。

僑務委員會委員長吳新興與僑胞座談交流，聽取僑胞意見。

吳委員長此行除拜訪東京、橫濱、千葉及山梨等關東地僑團會館及僑校外，並與僑胞進行座談，聽取僑胞意見，傳達國內關懷僑胞之意及僑務工作推展方向，盼我關東地區僑胞，秉持支持中華民國立場，熱愛臺灣自由民主的精神，團結一致協助日本地區駐外館處推動日本地區僑務工作，齊心協力在日本為臺灣發聲，並積極培育僑界接班人，讓僑社永續傳承。

吳委員長此次訪日，除慰問僑胞外並應邀參加第一屆日本國際媽祖會懇親大會活動，期盼我旅日僑胞發揚媽祖濟世救人精神，致力創造慈悲祥和的社會。

另，吳委員長除與旅日僑胞交流外，並與日本政要就謀求我旅日僑胞福祉及臺日關係之推展交換意見

哈佛大學 Pagliuca 生命實驗室剪綵 首批入駐公司17家

哈佛商學院院長Nitin Nohria((右一)和Pagliuca夫婦(右四, 右五)，以及左起的哈佛生命實驗室主任  Srikant Datar，麻州眾議員Kevin Honan，聯邦眾議員約瑟夫甘迺迪三世，波士頓市長馬丁華殊，Pagliuca的兩名子女，波士頓市議員Mark Ciomo，Steve Pagliuca，Judy Pagliuca，以及哈佛商學院院長Nitin Nohria(右一)。(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)哈佛大學今(3)日下午在校長Catharine Drew Gilpin Faust，商學院院長Nitin Nohria，波士頓市市長Martin J. Walsh等要人齊集中，為哈佛大學新設的  Pagliuca生命實驗室啟用剪綵。

Judy Pagliuca。(周菊子攝)

這個新實驗室，座落在奧斯頓(Allston)的西方大道上，佔地15,000平方呎，將為哈佛師生，校友等人提供地方，孵化高潛能的生物科技初創公司。第一批將有17家公司進駐，其中約一半由女生創辦，目前有3家已搬了進去，其他各家將陸續搬遷。

哈佛商學院院長Nitin Nohria指出，該院企管碩士校友Judy(1983)和Steve Pagliuca(1982)不但慷慨捐款，還捐出實驗室必用的儀器，才促成這一盛事。他在致詞時笑稱，好在校長Drew Faust支持，他的一個又一個新構想才能實現。

左起，Steve and Judy Pagliuca夫婦，哈佛生命實驗室教職員主席
Srikant Datar，波士頓市長馬丁華殊，哈佛大學校長
Catharine Drew Gilpin Faust。(周菊子攝)

哈佛校方，Pagliuca夫婦都未明說捐款額到底是多少，這實驗室才得以用Pagliuca這姓氏來命名。坊間傳說為1500萬元。Judy Pagliuca引用她父親教她種番茄的經驗指出，科學研究可以從小地方做起。

新實驗室將由哈佛商學院教授Srikant Datar出任教職員主席，Jodi Goldstein擔任創新實驗室總監。

左起，Srikant Datar，約瑟夫甘迺迪三世，馬丁華殊，Pagliuca夫婦，
以及Nitin Nohria。(周菊子攝)

哈佛校方指出，建造"生命實驗室"緣起於設立iLab這創新實驗室時，有好幾個初創團隊是做生命科學研究的，需要不同於一般的實驗場所，能夠測試化學物，藥品，以及其他需要特別通風的材料。

哈佛大學即將完工的科學工程大樓，就在旁邊。

生命實驗室已經捐出6萬元給奧斯頓/布萊頓公校，為學生添購Chromebooks電腦。生命實驗室的管理團隊還計畫繼續和社區合作，支援開放給大眾參加的地方上科學，科技，工程及數學工作坊。

生命實驗室也將和推出實驗室(Launch Lab)合作，從今秋開始舉辦每年一度的冰淇淋社交活動。

Pagliuca一家人。

今日有將近200人出席剪綵儀式，嘉賓包括波士頓市長馬丁華殊，聯邦眾議員約瑟夫甘迺迪三世，麻州眾議員Kevin Honan，波士頓市議員Mark Ciommo，以及目前是貝恩(Bain)公司董事總經理的麻州前州長派屈克(Deval Patrick)，曾任聯邦參議員的William Mo。

出席盛典的人中，有好幾張東方面孔，包括與Steve Pagliuca是好朋友的Cue Ball執行合夥人曾國安(Anthony Tjan)。

哈佛生命實驗室第一批入17家駐企業。(周菊子攝)

哈佛生命實驗室裏的開放空間。

Steve Pagliuca和曾國安(Anthony Tjan)。(周菊子攝)

麻州多個華人協會聯袂發公開信 反對大麻合法化

公開信內容:

麻州华人协会联谊会, Andover & North Andover  华人协会,
Winchester 华人协会, Wayland 华人协会, 艾克顿（ACTON）华人协
会董事会, 卫斯理（Wellesley) 华人协会理事会 和牛顿(Newton) 华人
协会理事会关于反对麻州大麻合法化公投提案 4 (Ballot Question 4)

给麻州华人社区的公开信

为什么华人社区要反对麻州大麻合法化公投提案 4？（Why We Say No
to Ballot Question 4?)
今年大选投票，除了总统选举，在麻州，我们还面临四个全民公投的提
案，其中第四个提案有关大麻的合法使用。如果大麻在麻州可以合法化，
这样的后果将对我们麻州整个社区，我们华人家庭和孩子，产生的极大的
負面影响。
第四个公投提案的推行者之中有 95%以上来自麻州之外的组织，他们试
图使非医用大麻在麻州种植和销售合法化，商业化。这个后果是很可怕和
难以想象的。
首先，这些大麻商人可以公开销售高效大麻食品。例如糖果棒，饼干，及
其它含大麻的食物。这种食物对小孩，青少年有很大的吸引力，並能可以
使他们上瘾，严重危害青少年大脑发育和身心健康。在过去的二年里，大
麻合法化的科罗拉多州，12-17 岁的青少年使用大麻增加了 12%以上，
而在全国青少年使用大麻的趋势却在下降。
而且，使用大麻后驾车和酒后驾车一样危险，对社会安全是个危胁，但目
前警察尚无有效方法防止及起诉吸大麻后驾车，大麻合法化以后从我们马
路更不安全。
大麻合法化是和我们华人社区的道德理念格格不入，对我们的社会，孩子
所带来的负作用是巨大的。这不是我们的美国梦，也不是我们想绐我们下
一代所创造的良好成长环境。现在，麻州共和与民主党的主要官员案，如
州长，波士顿市长，麻州总检查长都站出来反对这个提案。麻州医学会，
医院协会，精神病协会，麻州学区教育部总监联合会（Massachusetts
Association of School Superintendents)也都坚决反对这个提案。为了我
们孩子的末来，为他们的身心健康，为了我们的家庭幸福和社区完整，我
们更要坚定地说不，团结一致，尽我们的力量，反对这个提案在我们的州
通过
麻州华协联谊会
赵刚，  Belmont
王健，   Belmont
谢眺，   Belmont
李胜利，Wellesley
沈安平，Newton
蒋红，  Newton
郭慧明，Boston /Swampscott
李楠，  Wayland
王卫东，Lexington
王华，  Lexington
袁睿翕，Lexington
韩巍，  Winchester
刘继峰，Winchester
夏瑜，  Westford
芶燕妮，Acton
孔轩，  Acton
褚真威，Andover & North Andover
庄辉壮,   Andover & North Andover
Chunhong Gao (高红) Needham
John Lin ( Needham and Dover)
张梅,   Sharon
梁黎明 Sharon
刘政   Sharon
张瑞   Sharon
沈珂莹 Sharon
张睿   Sharon
戴晨方 Sharon
张岚,   Sudbury
武昱芳, Sudbury
马进, Sudbury
Andover & North Andover  华人协会
Winchester 华人协会
Wayland 华人协会
艾克顿（ACTON）华人协会董事会
牛顿(Newton) 华人协会理事会
卫斯理（Wellesley）华人协会理事会
Sharon 华人协会管理委员会

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNOUNCES COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNOUNCES COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM

First concert takes place Saturday, November 12, at 2:30 p.m. in Rabb Hall at the Central Library in Copley Square

BOSTON – November 4, 2016 – Boston Public Library announces its first Composer-in-Residence, Beau Kenyon, whose debut concert with the BPL takes place on Saturday, November 12, at 2:30 p.m. in Rabb Hall at the Central Library in Copley Square. Kenyon’s role in this pilot program includes enriching Library spaces and collections through public programs focused on music and performance throughout the library system. 

The multi-platform, multidisciplinary event, “The Sound of,” is intended to connect various members of the Boston community in multiple ways all through the action of finding and creating stillness through sound. The concert features performances by Christina English (mezzo-soprano), Vanessa Holroyd (flute), Daniel Doña (viola), Franzisca Huhn (harp), and Beau Kenyon (piano) as they perform a collection of work by Toru Takemitsu, Marti Epstein, and Beau Kenyon. 

“The Composer-in-Residence program at the Boston Public Library is one example of how the City of Boston supports local artists and incorporates them into civic life,” said Julie Burros, Chief of Arts & Culture for the City of Boston. “Artists play a critical role in ensuring Boston is a thriving and innovative city. They educate and inspire, helping all of us to realize the power of creativity.”  

“Boston Public Library is committed to engaging library users and visitors in a variety of ways, including through performance art; we are confident Beau Kenyon’s programs will thrill community members and further develop their appreciation of the arts,” said Michael Colford, Boston Public Library’s Director of Library Services.

The residency, running through June 2017, includes access to and use of the Boston Public Library’s circulating, research and special collections, creation of public music-related programs, and community outreach efforts to raise awareness of the Boston Public Library’s resources in the broader music community.

From June 3-10, 2017 Kenyon will also hold series of “And All the Men and Women Merely Players“ performances at the Central Library, celebrating the culmination of the Library’s Shakespeare initiative, All the City’s a Stage: A Season of Shakespeare at the Boston Public Library.

“I feel so fortunate to have this opportunity; this season, I'll be collaborating with incredible authors, musicians, choreographers, and librarians, and together, we'll create concert performances, sound and dance installations, and workshops - all free and open to the public,” said Beau Kenyon, Boston Public Library’s Composer-in-Residence. “Not only am I able to work with and celebrate Boston's creative talent, I am helping to create and pilot a residency for composers in the future,” he said.

An enthusiastic multi-disciplinarian, Beau Kenyon’s work is often inspired by the extra-musical, including dance, literature, visual arts, and even current events. Kenyon strives to collaborate with dancers, authors, artists, and filmmakers, with an aim towards redefining the performance landscape and widening the scope and accessibility of new music.

Kenyon is the director of extracurricular programs at Kingsley Montessori School; his programs include a music school for private study, academic enrichment courses, and an engineering and fine arts summer camp for elementary-aged students. Recent work includes collaboration with Urbanity Dance, Andrew Kelley (Boston Ballet) and Gino Di Marco (Boston Conservatory) through the North Atlantic Dance Theater, as well as a contributing composer role for Illuminus Boston’s project, Waking the Monster.

AG’S OFFICE, COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HOST FREE LEGAL CLINIC FOR WORKERS TO ADDRESS WAGE THEFT

AG’S OFFICE, COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HOST FREE LEGAL CLINIC FOR WORKERS TO ADDRESS WAGE THEFT

Part of AG Healey’s Effort to Combat Wage Theft and Worker Exploitation

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey’s Office, in cooperation with 10 community partners, is hosting a free legal clinic at Suffolk Law School to match workers with volunteer lawyers and assist them with wage theft issues.

This month’s clinic, which is the second in a series, is part of an effort to address wage theft and worker exploitation among vulnerable populations, including low wage and immigrant workers in the state. The goal of these clinics is to provide workers with access to attorneys and advocates to help ensure that they are receiving the wages and benefits they deserve.

“Wage theft is extremely prevalent in our state, especially among vulnerable workers,” said AG Healey. “Far too often, workers do not come forward and are not aware of their rights under the law. These innovative clinics are an opportunity for workers to directly connect with advocates and attorneys, so that they can ensure they are getting paid the wages they are owed.”

Volunteer lawyers, law students, interpreters and workers’ rights advocates will be on hand to educate workers about their rights, draft demand letters or prepare a small claims court complaints. If they are helpful in documenting complaints, workers should bring pay stubs, time sheets, letters and emails from their employers.

WHAT:          Wage Theft Legal Clinic  

            WHEN:          MONDAY, November 14

                                    4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

WHERE:       Suffolk Law School 

                        120 Tremont St., Boston

            The AG’s Office’s community partners for the clinics include: Greater Boston Legal Services Inc., Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, Justice at Work, Lawyers for Affordable Justice, Suffolk Law School, Volunteer Lawyers Project, Brazilian Worker Center, Brazilian Women’s Group, Chinese Progressive Association and the MetroWest Worker Center.

The AG’s Fair Labor Division is responsible for enforcing state laws regulating the payment of wages, including prevailing wage, minimum wage and overtime as well as some of the newest workplace protections such as earned sick time leave and the domestic workers’ law.

            On Labor Day, the AG’s Office issued its first-ever Labor Day report which revealed that in fiscal year 2016, the Fair Labor Division received more than 6,000 complaints – up 33 percent from the previous year – and issued 423 citations against employers. In addition to hosting the clinic series, the AG’s Office is addressing the rise in wage theft by strategically targeting enforcement efforts against problematic employers in specific industries, including commercial cleaning, construction, health care, restaurants and staffing agencies.

            In conjunction with the release of the Labor Day report, the AG’s Office revealed a revamped workplace rights website with a new design and innovative features, including searchable public data and content in various languages. The easy-to-navigate website allows workers to better understand their rights and for employers, their obligations under state law. 

The following clinic is scheduled for Dec. 12. The event is open to the public and is being offered free of charge.

哈佛台灣論壇討論蔡英文政府初步印象

中華民國(臺灣)駐美大使高碩泰(左)和哈佛臺灣研究小組召集人
戈迪溫(右)在研討會開始前先溝通。(周菊子攝)

中華民國(臺灣)駐美大使高碩泰應哈佛大學邀請，於11月3日上午出席費正清中國研究中心臺灣研討會並擔任開幕致詞貴賓，本次研討會主題為「臺灣正在轉型?蔡政府的初步印象」(Taiwan in Transition? Initial Impression of the Tsai Ing-wen Administration)，活動由該中心臺灣研究小組召集人Steven Goldstein(戈迪溫)教授主持，並分就臺灣政治、臺灣與亞洲新經濟架構、兩岸情勢及臺美關係等四項專題進行討論，討論熱烈、成果豐碩。

哈佛費正清中心主任宋怡明(左)送給高碩泰大使(右)一個慶祝該中心
60週年的紀念品。(周菊子攝)

對於主持人戈迪溫教授開場時提到美方資深官員近來稱臺美關係從未如此良好(never been better)的說法，高大使致詞時回應表示，過去五個多月來，在蔡英文總統睿智領導下，臺灣秉持低調、零意外原則，促進臺美關係不論在經貿、觀光、科技、文教、人道與災害救助、國際參與等各面向均穩健發展，並獲得多項成果；臺灣為民主社會，儘管發展過程仍遭遇若干挑戰，但可喜的是，今日臺灣在言論、宗教、著作、出版等均享有充分自由，此為臺美間共享價值，也使臺灣成為美國所信賴利益夥伴，這也說明了為何臺美關係從未如此密切，而是基於深厚互信及雙方共同努力的成果。

左起，戈迪溫，宋怡明，高碩泰，Scott Kennedy。(周菊子攝)

蔡總統及民進黨目前主要施政重點包括經濟、勞工、薪資停滯及年金改革、轉型正義等問題，而在兩岸關係方面，蔡總統持續向對岸釋出善意，並願以彈性、耐性妥善處理兩岸關係，然北京當局目前仍持觀望態度，卻同時打壓臺灣國際參與空間，雙方高層對話雖暫時中斷，但工作階層管道仍持續運作。蔡總統也多次呼籲，盼北京正視中華民國存在的現實，在不預設框架前提下，雙方早日重啟對話，共謀安定、和平與人民福祉。

住波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪(左二)，副處長陳銘俊(右一)
都出席了會議。(周菊子攝)

高大使亦指出下週美國總統大選無論結果如何，臺美關係仍確保延續性、一致性與可預測性。

本次與談專家學者包括北卡州戴維森學院政治系教授Shelley Rigger(任雪麗)、華府戰略與國際研究中心費和中國講座副主任Scott Kennedy(甘思德)、喬治亞理工學院國際研究所助理教授林坤達以及華府智庫史汀生中心東亞計畫主任Alan Romberg(容安瀾)。駐波士頓辦事處賴銘琪處長也陪同高大使出席是項會議，與參加人士熱絡交流。

高大使此行訪問波士頓除應邀出席費正清中心臺灣研討會外，亦應邀參加哈佛大學魏德海國際事務中心(Weatherhead Center for International Affairs)舉辦的校友會暨地緣政治經濟研討會。高大使曾於1996-1997年擔任該中心訪問學人，一直與哈佛校方互動密切。(駐波士頓經文處提供)