美期刊收回一份塔大論文

美國臨床營養學雜誌（American Journal of Clinical Nutrition）7月29日在網站上的收回通知中，不尋常的以道德理由，收回了一份塔芙茨（Tufts） 大學研究員所提交的報告。

該聲明指塔大研究員唐光文（譯音，Guangwen Tang）在未知會家長的情況下，讓華裔兒童食用轉基因大米。

唐光文研究的是所謂金米（golden rice），一種轉基因，以對抗缺發維他命A症狀大米的有效性。該研究的對象包括68名年齡在6至8歲之間，維他命A略有不足的華裔兒童，

            引起爭議的是道德問題，換言之是科學家應該告訴父母，將給他們的小孩食用轉基因食品。

            美國臨床營養學雜誌表示，論文作者未能提供足夠證據，顯示該研究在中國已由當地的道德委員會以和國家衛生局指標玩全一致的方式，批准並審核。

            作者也未能提供參與研究的所有兒童及父母，都簽署了全面同意書的文件。

            唐光文曾試圖申請禁制令，阻擋該雜誌收回該一研究報告，但7月17日時，米斗塞郡（Middlesex）高等法院貼出通知，拒絕了該一請求。

            塔大表示此案仍在法律程序中，不願置評，但指出該雜誌並未質疑唐光文所做研究結果的正確性。

Baker-Polito Administration, Federal Congressional Delegation Seek Financial Relief for State Fishing Industry

Baker-Polito Administration, Federal Congressional Delegation Seek Financial Relief for State Fishing Industry

Letter to Federal Agencies Requests Financial Assistance for At-Sea-Monitoring Program

BOSTON – Joined by the entire Massachusetts congressional delegation, the Baker-Polito Administration today sent a letter to the Secretary of Commerce and other federal partners urging their support in covering the costs of At-Sea-Monitoring (ASM) for the entire Northeast fishery. Additionally, the correspondence requests that the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) expedite electronic monitoring and other cost-saving alternatives to At-Sea-Monitoring.

“We write with serious concerns over recent actions taken by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association Fisheries Service,” said the letter to the United States Secretary of Commerce and members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. “While we too respect the importance of proper fisheries management, we question the fiscal and programmatic decisions that the agency has made of late with regards to the Northeast Fishery.”

The letter, which comes on the heels of a request by the New England Fisheries Management Council to suspend ASM and further evaluate the program’s effectiveness, seeks to relieve the Commonwealth’s vibrant and economically significant fishing industry from financial and regulatory measures imposed by NOAA and other federal agencies.

The delegation expresses their strong opposition to the use of Bin 3 federal disaster, appropriated to Massachusetts’ commercial fishermen after the 2012 federally-declared fishery failure in the Northeast Groundfish fishery, to subsidize the At-Sea-Monitoring Program. The communication to federal partners goes on to note that the intent of the funding was to be used for the future viability of the Commonwealth’s fishing industry.

“Using this money to make up for NOAA’s reinterpretation of how to prioritize funding is far afield from the intent for which this money was appropriated, and would only help NOAA’s inability to fund their own budget gap, which hardly relates to the viability of the fishermen of Massachusetts,” writes the delegation. “It would create a short lived future for many of these fishermen who will be forced into inactivity or worse.” 

The request from the Baker-Polito Administration and the state’s congressional delegation both encourages NOAA Fisheries to prove the cost-effectiveness of the burdensome At-Sea-Monitoring Program and support federal funds to pay for the monitoring. In a further attempt to assist the Commonwealth’s fishing industry, the letter also encourages federal fishing partners to use Massachusetts’ commercial fishing industry as a resource to effectively gather the best available data and develop monitoring practices going forward.

Click here to read the letter signed by Governor Baker and the congressional delegation.

Click here for text of the letter (.docx).

Governor Baker, Senate President Rosenberg and Speaker DeLeo Release Brattle Group 2024 Olympic Games Report

Governor Baker, Senate President Rosenberg and Speaker DeLeo Release Brattle Group 2024 Olympic Games Report

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker, Senate President Stan Rosenberg and House Speaker Robert DeLeo released an independent analysis of the Boston 2024’s proposed Summer Olympic Plan conducted by economists at The Brattle Group.

In June, Governor Charlie Baker, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Stan Rosenberg commissioned The Brattle Group, a global consulting firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to complete an independent analysis to examine aspects of financing, infrastructure, and economic impacts relative to Boston 2024’s bid preparation with a focus on assessing risk to local and state governments. While the U.S. Olympic Committee and Boston officials agreed to end the city’s attempt for the bid in late July, this report was completed and made public as planned by Beacon Hill leadership.

“Though the U.S. Olympic Committee and Boston 2024 withdrew this bid a few weeks ago, I am pleased to join Senate President Rosenberg and Speaker DeLeo to release this independent analysis carefully prepared by Brattle as an objective examination for future planning and infrastructure projects in and around Boston,” said Governor Baker. “I would like to thank the Senate President and House Speaker for their bipartisan support of this endeavor, members of the Brattle team for the long hours they spent preparing this thoughtful analysis, and Boston 2024 for the spirit of cooperation and transparency that made this report possible.”

“The Brattle Group’s report will serve as a resource as we continue our focus on stimulating the economy and improving our transportation system while protecting Massachusetts’ taxpayers,” said Speaker DeLeo. “I thank the Baker Administration, Senate President Rosenberg, and The Brattle Group for their diligent work. I look forward to collaborating with state and city officials to use these findings as we enhance our ongoing efforts.”

“This report highlights our bipartisan efforts to protect Massachusetts taxpayers and I want to thank Governor Baker and Speaker DeLeo for their partnership,” said Senate President Rosenberg. “Even though the bid was withdrawn, this report demonstrates that there were a series of real risks associated with bringing the games to Massachusetts.”

The report focuses on Boston 2024’s proposal to be a host city, the dynamics of the International Olympic Committee bidding process, and the risks to state and local government. Brattle was assisted by Professor Allen Sanderson, Professor Brad Humphreys, and Floyd Advisory LLC in this effort.

Click here to read the executive summary.

Click here to read the report.

四名昆市市長候選人各有亞裔支持者

麻州昆士市將在今年選出首位一任四年市長。四名候選人爭取9月24日初選打贏仗，8月16日紛紛在昆市中秋節聯歡會上擺攤，出動亞裔支持者拜票。

            今（18）晚六點起，四名昆士市長候選人將和昆士市級選舉的其他候選人，一起在義大利之子（Sons of Italy, 120 Quarry Street）會所內，參加本年度選舉的第二次候選人辯論大會。

            根據美國人口統計調查局2013年的社區調查資料，昆士市總人口92,595，其中亞裔21,081，佔22.8%，華裔14,376，佔15.5%。

            儘管亞裔，華裔居民中，有多少人具公民身份，或已登記成為選民，還不見有誰積極計算，但在市面新增中文企業招牌，如雨後春筍般冒出，房地產交易，出現過一個月內一半以上買主是華人的紀錄，敏感政客紛紛向亞裔招手。

            昆士市今年的四名市長候選人，在位的柯奇（Tom Koch），挑戰的昆市不分區市議員古楚（Doug Gutro），學校委員會委員馬洪妮（Ann Mahoney），前任昆士市長費林（William Phelan）等人，8月16日在昆市中秋節聯歡會上擺攤時，全都有華裔助選員，親切地以廣東話，普通話與民眾交流。

            昆士市長柯奇在2007年首度當選為昆市市長時，就成立了昆士市長亞裔顧問委員會，16日當天，唐美雲，梁燕珍，梁寶炎，黃可賢等人都在攤位前幫忙。

            古楚有鄒毅夫婦等支持者駐守攤位。

            馬洪妮有粵曲行家陳美燕坐鎮。

            費林當天人雖不在現場，但有2004年就搬進昆市的鄒平浩，梁家詠這對年輕夫婦支持。

2007年時，費林和柯奇為爭市長寶座，打了一場麻州最昂貴市長選戰，共花費72萬3,574元。他倆在日前舉行的昆市市長候選人論壇中，顯得餘怨未消，再度激烈攻擊彼此。昆市愛國者報（The Patriot Ledger）稱兩人的姻親，選舉支持者都被扯進這損耗戰。

            費林稱柯奇是昆士市“舊識關係網（old-boy network）”的一部分，還指控柯奇不敢挑戰有勢力者。他同時誓言自己要為納稅人，而不是圈裡人奮鬥。

            柯奇指費林在做不誠實的形象討伐。他說費林經常稱他在教師春季罷工時，把持住了市府合約底線，但他卻沒讓人知道，他把警察局裏的高薪警官職位給了出去，其中三人是費林的姻親。

柯奇詰問費林在babcock街，他太太和家人住的一座水邊房屋，翻修工程估計花費了25萬元，申請的市府許可卻只申報了3萬元，承包那工程的公司，把昆市府應該用來建道路的土地賣出去，平白賺了許多錢。

根據紀錄，那工程是由擁有昆市公平購物中心（Quincy Fair Mall），位於碧樹市（Braintree）的 F.X. Messina 企業。

費林還在回答問題時，提到了他岳父，曾任市長，現為昆市地方法院書記的亞瑟托賓（Arthur Tobin）。

圖片說明：

            左起，黃可賢，邱潔芳，梁寶炎，梁燕珍，以及唐美雲（右一）等人支持昆士市長柯奇競選連任。（菊子攝）

            古楚（左二）有鄒毅（左一）等人助選。（菊子攝）

            馬洪妮（右一）有陳美燕（中）等華裔居民支持。（菊子攝）

            昆士市前市長費林的助選攤位，由競選經理Emily Hajjar的母親Lisa Renci（右起），以及梁家詠，鄒平浩等華裔助選。（菊子攝）

梁秀婷踏上征途 角逐昆市不分區市議員席位

亞裔佔總人口約24%的麻州昆士市，2010年時選出首名麻州華裔眾議員，但立市127年來，從未選出華裔市議員。JP富士集團辦公室經理梁秀婷（Nina Liang）今年踏上征途，成為第三位挑戰昆市議員席位的華人。

            轄區包括昆士市的陳德基(Tackey Chan)，和轄區在索格斯鎮（Saugus）的黃子安，在2010年時雙雙當選為麻州首名華裔眾議員。兩人都連任迄今，明年，2016年時，才得再競選連任。

            陳德基因此成為昆士市的首名華裔民意代表。

            市議會這一層級的民意代表席位，昆市倒不是沒有華人嘗試過。JP富士集團東主梁戰士（Jimmy Liang），在州政府教育部門工作的伍國光（Victor Ng），曾先後在2001，2003，2007，2009年做過嘗試，但都未跨過那門檻。

            年紀不滿三十，曾遠赴紐約就讀Hofstra大學，在起司蛋糕工廠（Cheesecake Factory），州立農業保險（State Farm Insurance）工作，近年才搬回麻州，加入表兄梁戰士，梁戰成和梁約翰（譯音），曹明（譯音），謝彼得（譯音）等人合作的JP富士集團，齊心協力的把集團經營的餐廳數從4家擴增到9家。

            在競選網站上，梁秀婷透露，這幾年來她積極參與社區活動，為昆市亞協服務中心，南岸青年會等機構主持籌款活動，如今決定參選，完全因為她出生，成長於昆市，希望能對鄉梓有所回饋，貢獻。

            根據昆士市政府資料，今年的昆市不分區市議員選舉，已知有五人角逐三個席位。五名候選人中有兩名現任市議員，方安（Joseph Finn），麥法蘭（Michael Farland），以及三名挑戰者，包括梁秀婷，二名昆市現任學校委員會委員，麥卡西（David McCarthy），狄邦納（Noel DiBona）。

            狄邦納是名商人，經營羅斯狄邦納及兒子 （Russ DiBona and Son）園藝公司，住在瑪莉蒙（Merrymount）的Chickatabot路70號，2014年一月上任四年一任的昆市學校委員會委員。他也美國退伍軍人之子莫里塞（Morrisette）294分會的初級指揮官。

            昆士市分區議員選舉部分，六個分區，除了第三區的柯夫林（Kevin Coughlin)之外，其他五名在位者都將競選連任。

圖片說明：

            麻州首名華裔眾議員陳德基（右）雖然今年不需競選連任，仍和雷甜美（左）在昆市中秋節聯歡會的大熱天中送扇子，搏取選民好感。（菊子攝）

            梁秀婷（右起）參選昆市議員，親戚兼同事梁戰成，南岸青年會助理主任Patricia Small都全力支持。（菊子攝）

                  梁秀婷在昆市中秋節聯歡會上擺攤位的義工，全是十八歲起的年輕人。（菊子攝）

            狄邦納（Noel DiBona）（左）一個多月前才宣佈參選昆市不分區市議員，已和角逐市長的古楚（Doug Gutro）（右）結為親密戰友。（菊子攝）

波士頓亞裔節展現亞裔飲食企業多元面貌

蘇宇寅，冼卓豪，趙秀珍（Soo Jin Cho）等三人是今年的
“波士頓亞洲節”主要統籌者。（菊子攝）

亞美專業人員協會（NAAAP）波士頓分會15日在杜威（Dewey）廣場舉辦第二屆“亞洲節”，既協助亞裔企業培養市場行銷觀念，也為他們製造機會，宣傳、打響知名度。

冼卓豪，蘇宇寅，趙秀珍（Soo Jin Cho）表示，這是亞美專斜麾下，企業小組的活動，今年第二度舉辦，共邀得大波士頓25家以上的企業參加。現場除展示各企業商品，還安排有音樂，舞蹈，武術示範等表演。

 波士頓市議員吳弭（左四）特地出席，頒發表揚狀給
亞美專協的“波士頓亞洲節”的籌辦者。（亞美專協提供）

當天參展攤位，既有蘇宇寅創辦的“雞肉飯傢伙（Chicken & Rice Guy）”食物卡車，譚寓雲主持的譚秋梨針灸診所，陳曉瑩介紹波士頓亞裔電影節，摩頓市翁立人與黃雪欣開張的“猴皇茶”，陳立英和顏毓芬擺出來的“豆腐功夫T恤“，也有東北大學21歲學生陳澤銘的“8皇朝（Dynasty8）“功夫主題T恤店，以及一個才開始在eBay上開售二個月，專為幼兒開派對所設計的裝飾套件，以及梁志偉等為協助同性戀者感到安全所辦的“亞太裔太平洋島民同性戀聯盟（Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance）“等。

來自紐約，目前就讀東北大學，在父親支持下開張了“8皇朝
（Dynasty 8）“網上T恤店的陳澤銘（中），也來擺攤。（菊子攝）

波士頓日出茶太（Chatime）經理葉貝維（譯音，Beiwei Ye）表示，珍珠奶茶迷竟然有那麼多，讓他們很驚訝。他們很高興有這機會參加這活動，不但能和許多以往沒接觸過的人面對面交流，還能藉此向更廣闊的社區宣傳亞裔文化。

亞美專協波士頓分會會長Jesse Nandhavan表示，這是該會的年度重點活動之一，既展示亞裔所擁有企業的表現成績，也彰顯亞美專業人士的領導力。他們希望這活動能讓人更清楚亞裔企業對本地經濟成長的貢獻。

  劍橋合唱團團長陳立英（左），指揮顏毓芬（右）夫婦，帶著
剛出生9個月的小寶寶，帶著他們的副業“豆腐功夫T恤“
來參加”波士頓亞洲節“。（菊子攝）

            波士頓市首名華裔市議員，曾致力服務社區，為低收入小企業主提供法律顧問，極力支持小企業的吳弭（Michelle Wu）當天特地抽空探訪，還送上一份表揚狀。

            亞美專業人士協會波士頓分會共有會員400多人，贊助者及合作夥伴約29個，今年獲總會頒給“年度分會”榮譽。

陳曉瑩在活動中宣傳波士頓亞美電影節。（菊子攝

譚秋梨針灸診所如今由第二代譚寓雲（中）主持。（菊子攝） 

東北大學的陳澤銘（前右）不但擺攤，還獻唱嘻合歌。（菊子攝）

MAYOR WALSH HIGHLIGHTS EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS TO BOSTON'S FREEDOM TRAIL

MAYOR WALSH HIGHLIGHTS EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS TO BOSTON'S FREEDOM TRAIL

Freedom Trail Rehab Includes Sidewalk Replacements, Installation of ADA Complaint Ramps

Department of Public Works has been making to   "Boston's Freedom Trail is an important landmark for our city and region," said Mayor Walsh. "These exciting improvement projects will make the Freedom Trail accessible and will help guide residents and tourists to Boston's popular historic treasures year in and year out."   Starting this summer and into the fall, the Public Works Department will install approximately 1,400 feet of new walking surface - nearly 8 percent of the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail. Sections of Hull Street and Hanover Street in the North End have already been replaced and more sidewalk replacements are underway, and the total project will cost $700,000.   This maintenance work is in addition to the City's Connect Historic Boston project, which will fully reconstruct Joy Street, Commercial Street, Blackstone Block and Constitution Road. Connect Historic Boston is funded, in part, through the Federal Highway Administration's Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program and is a result of a partnership between the City of Boston, the Federal Highway Administration and the National Parks Service to improve non-vehicular access to historic sites in the City. Over the course of the next two years, the $29 million project, managed by the Public Works Department, will add another 1,800 feet of new construction to the Freedom Trail.   "With over four million people enjoying the Freedom Trail and our great city's historic sites annually, the City of Boston's improvement efforts are commendable," said Freedom Trail Foundation Executive Director Suzanne Taylor. "The Department of Public Works' projects and hard work will help residents and visitors navigate the Freedom Trail to experience each of the Trail's 16 sites year-round."   Last year, the City replaced nearly 2,000 feet of the painted sections of the historic Freedom Trail in Charlestown, Downtown Crossing and the North End with a new thermoplastic treatment. The multi-colored strips have helped to eliminate time consuming, seasonal painting, reducing maintenance costs and improving historic site way-finding, and are expected to last up to eight years.   The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile path that traces through Downtown Boston, the North End and Charlestown leading to 16 nationally significant sites. The Trail includes a variety of historic sites, including museums, meeting houses, churches, a ship, historic markers, parks and burying grounds, all telling the story of the American Revolution.