彭博捐3200萬元與哈佛合辦市長培訓項目 改善世界未來

哈佛大學週四（8月25日）宣布，前紐約市長彭博（Michael Bloomberg）捐贈3200萬元，與哈佛合作成立“彭博哈佛城市領導計劃（Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative）“。，將為世界各地的市府領導，提供免費教育及培訓。

彭博本人是哈佛大學校友，個人身家總值超過四百億元。2013年他從紐約市長一職卸任後，以這支持世界各地市長及城市領袖的項目，為他卸任民選公職後的生命，立下標竿。

彭博表示，在世界上越來越多人住在城市裏這趨勢下，市長解決人們所面對問題的責任也越來越重大，從氣候變化，貧窮，公共衛生，無所不包。彭博在他的個人網站上發表聲明指出，給市長們工具和資源，讓他們和面對許多同樣挑戰的其他市長們聯繫起來，將可幫助他們更有效率的經營城市。這項目將可發揮長遠作用。

該項目是哈佛商學院和甘迺迪政府學院主管教育項目的合作計劃，由彭博慈善集團提供意見，打算在未來四年內，為300名市長，以及約400名市長助理服務。

這課程預定2017年開課，將包括培訓，研究，輔導，以及分享最佳做法，但詳細內容仍待確定。目前已知將在世界各地的市長辦公室內為學生提供實習機會。

哈佛甘乃迪政府學院發言人Daniel Harsha表示，他們希望在第一年的2017年內，收受40到60名美國市長及助理，將來再向世界各地開放。

將出任該項目教務主任的哈佛公共政策講師Jorrit de Jong表示，約有100個人已為這項目工作了八個月。

這項目並不是彭博支持市長的唯一項目，也不是他第一次捐贈大筆金額給高等教育項目。2013年時，彭博捐贈了三億五千萬元給他的大學本科母校，約翰霍普金斯大學，締造該校有史以來最大筆捐款紀錄。

過去40多年來，1964年畢業的彭博已捐贈11億元給該校。彭博是在大學畢業後，才去上哈佛商學院的。

過去這些年來，彭博也每年都舉辦“市長的挑戰”，活動，數以百計的城市，輪流競爭經費，解決地方問題。根據彭博慈善資料，在2016年中，彭博的“市長的挑戰”有來自拉丁美洲，加勒比海的290各城市遞交了申請書。七月時，打入決賽的20各城市還在波哥大（Bogota）參加了兩天的聚會。

波士頓大學也有一個城市領袖計劃，重心放在改善城市基礎設施及創新上。該項目由2014年辭世的波士頓前市長萬寧路（Thomas Menino）共同創辦，由該校政治學前系主任Graham Wilson 主持。

僑委會委員長吳新興拜會薩國外交部長 交流僑務工作

（本會訊）中美洲薩爾瓦多共和國外交部長馬丁內斯（Hugo Martinez）昨（25）日接待中華民國僑務委員會委員長吳新興時表示，薩爾瓦多十分重視與珍惜和台灣的雙邊關係，包括經貿、教育和文化等各個領域層面的交流與互動。

馬丁內斯係於昨日接待來訪的吳新興委員長時做了上述表示。馬丁內斯也提及本年5月前往台灣參加蔡英文總統的就職典禮，對於台灣的經濟發展以及自由民主的制度印象深刻。此外，他也感謝台灣對於薩爾瓦多現階段在農業創新以及科技運用領域所提供的協助。

吳新興向馬丁內斯外長轉達蔡英文總統對於薩國總統Salvador Sánchez Cerén的問侯之意。吳新興也表示，中華民國和薩爾瓦多已有80年之邦誼，台灣十分珍惜兩國的情誼，也希望兩國今後在經貿、農業、科技等領域能夠持續深化交流與合作。此外，雙方對於僑務工作也做了經驗分享。馬丁內斯外長同意提供吳新興委員長關於薩爾瓦多如何處理該國僑民的政策作法以及雙方今後如何就開展僑務工作獲得初步共識。

據資料顯示，薩爾瓦多共有600萬人口，其中一半人口300萬人集中在美國工作，是該國外匯收入的主要來源，因此該國十分重視僑務工作的推動。

吳新興係於昨日前往薩爾瓦多參加中美洲六國暨巴拿馬中華總會、華僑總會聯合總會第五十一屆年會時，前往拜會該國外交部長。

圖說：僑務委員會委員長吳新興（左）拜訪薩爾瓦多共和國外交部長馬丁內斯（Hugo Martinez，右），就雙邊的僑務工作分享經驗。

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Record Energy Savings for Electric and Gas Ratepayers

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Record Energy Savings for

Electric and Gas Ratepayers

2013-2015 Three-Year Energy Savings Plan Exceeded Goals

BOSTON – August 25, 2016 – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced Massachusetts’ Energy Efficiency Program Administrators set an annual record for energy savings in 2015 and exceeded the energy savings benchmarks set by the 2013-2015 Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plan by 20% for the electric goal and 9% of the gas goal. The energy efficiency plan, drafted by the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council and adopted in 2012, set the most aggressive energy savings goals of any energy efficiency program in the nation for gas and electric sales.

“Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in energy efficiency through programs that reduce costs to ratepayers and minimize the impacts of increased demand on our energy infrastructure,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The comprehensive energy diversity legislation I signed earlier this month will expand financing opportunities for commercial energy efficiency projects, building upon the strong foundation the Commonwealth’s energy efficiency plans have laid for our clean energy future.”

“The Baker-Polito Administration is committed to expanding energy savings for Massachusetts’ ratepayers, as demonstrated by the even more aggressive savings targets in our recently signed energy savings plan,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “The Commonwealth realizes a greater than three-to-one benefit for every dollar invested in energy efficiency programs, proving that energy efficiency is a great investment for Massachusetts ratepayers.”

The 2013-2015 Three-Year Plan set savings goals at 2.5% of statewide electric sales and 1.12% of statewide natural gas sales and in 2015 Massachusetts achieved savings of 3.01% of electric sales and 1.23% of natural gas sales. The current Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plan, approved by the Department of Public Utilities in January 2016, builds upon the success of the previous plan and again sets nation-leading goals for energy savings, setting savings goals of 2.94% of electric sales and 1.24% of gas sales.

“Energy efficiency will play a crucial role as the Commonwealth looks to build a clean energy future by ensuring we reduce costs for ratepayers while meeting our Global Warming Solutions Act emissions reductions targets,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The unprecedented success of the past plan, paired with the nation leading goals set by the current plan, is projected to result in over $8 billion of economic benefits to ratepayers and the reduction of over 2 million tons of carbon emissions by 2018.”

“Energy efficiency programs continue to be the most cost-effective way for ratepayers to reduce their energy costs while helping the Commonwealth meet our shared carbon emissions targets,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson. “The record setting savings achieved in 2015 demonstrate this Administration’s commitment to clean, affordable energy for all consumers. We are committed to building upon our progress by expanding opportunities for renters and moderate income households so that all Massachusetts ratepayers can benefits from our shared success.”

The 2016-2018 Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plan includes a focus on several key issues facing the Commonwealth, including addressing the growing energy consumption at times of peak demand, advancing innovation in technologies and program delivery, and working with residential contractors to continue to expand the opportunities for delivery of energy efficiency.

In addition, the current plan includes two new initiatives to allow renters and moderate income households increased opportunities to participate in Massachusetts’ energy efficiency programs. A new home energy visit program will assist renters, who don’t have control over all efficiency upgrade decisions in a building, but who benefit from a home visit and instant savings efficiency measures. The moderate income initiative will provide electric and gas customers who have not previously qualified for income-eligible programs with expanded incentives so that they are able to access the benefits of energy efficiency.

The Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Program Administrators are electric and gas utility companies and municipal electric aggregators that develop and implement energy efficiency investment plans for ratepayers as directed by the Green Communities Act. The electric and natural gas efficiency programs, delivered under the Mass Save® brand, provide technical assistance and incentives such as free home energy audits, instant savings measures like power strips and energy efficient lightbulbs, rebates and discounts on advanced technologies, and custom programs for large consumers of energy. They help homeowners, renters, businesses, local governments and institutions use less energy, manage their costs and reduce their carbon footprints.

“Energy efficiency must be a pillar of our state’s energy infrastructure,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton), founding chair of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change and vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. “We have a necessity to meet the emission reduction requirements of the Global Warming Solutions Act, and that means we have to lessen our carbon footprint. I am pleased to see these energy savings, and I look forward to further cost reduction as we move forward with a smart, diverse energy portfolio.”

“The numbers released today prove the Commonwealth is moving in the right direction when it comes to promoting energy efficiency,” said House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading).  “I commend the Baker-Polito Administration and Secretary Beaton for their continued leadership on this important issue and for their ongoing efforts to reduce the state’s carbon footprint and lower energy costs for the state’s ratepayers.”

“In Massachusetts, we must continually seek energy efficiency as a ‘first fuel,’” said State Representative Thomas A. Golden, Jr. (D-Lowell), Chairman of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy. “I commend the Administration and the Utilities on a job well done and look forward to building upon these accomplishments to further realize the full benefits of energy efficiency.”

“Our energy efficiency success has substantial benefits for our economy, our environment, our health, and the preservation of vital natural resources,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester).  “We know that our utilization of a diversified renewable power generation portfolio coupled with efficiency measures has been working and this underscores the importance of the next phase of our development of a comprehensive statewide energy plan.”

To build upon Massachusetts’ energy efficiency progress, the comprehensive energy diversification legislation recently enacted by Governor Baker establishes a commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. The PACE program, facilitated by MassDevelopment and DOER, will enable commercial and industrial property owners across the state to finance comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades that are repaid through a property tax assessment on their building.

Massachusetts has earned the #1 ranking five consecutive years in the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) 2015 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard.  In the scorecard, Massachusetts received the highest mark possible for its utility-managed energy efficiency programs. 

MIT選出的35名35歲以下創新者出爐 9名華人

麻省理工學院科技評論（MIT Tech Review）今年的“35名35歲以下創新者”出爐了，有9名亞裔/華入獲選，再次為亞裔族群締造輝煌佳績。

麻省理工學院科技評論的這一年度活動，共分創新者，企業家，遠見者，人道主義者，開拓者等5個類別，獲選者各別有5到9人。

“創新者”這項，有9人獲選，其中3名華人，包括31歲，設計可監測個人健康護腕的加州柏克萊大學高偉（譯音， Wei Gao）；30歲，設計人工智能介面，使科技能更加幫助人，而不惱人的百度專家顧家維（譯音，Jiawei Gu），33歲，研究出比RAM，閃存（Flash drive）更好記憶體的新加坡設計及科技大學駱戴斯蒙（譯音，Desmond Loke）。

“企業家”這項，有7人獲選，其中一名華人，33歲加州柏克萊大學的Christina Ho，正在商業化很薄，可靈活變化的可印製電池。

“遠見者”有6人獲選，其中一名華人，29歲，卡耐基美倫大學（Carnegie Mellon University）的楊婧（譯音，Jean Yang）。她要讓電腦中的個人資訊更安全。

“人道主義者”這項有5人獲選，其中無華人。

“開拓者”這項，有8人入圍，其中4名華人，包括34歲，研究身邊沒乾淨30水時怎麼辦的南京大學朱佳（譯音，Jia Zhu）；30歲，研究能夠彈出來的納米結構，使得形狀微小物品也能很容易製造的清華大學張毅輝（譯音，Yihui Zhang）；33歲，研究如何完美印製塑膠太陽能細胞的伊利諾大學刁英（譯音，Ying Diao）；32歲，研究如何用更有效率的碳納米管來取代矽晶體管的IBM研究員曹慶（譯音，Qing Cao）。

其他的創新者有約翰霍普金斯大學的Muyinatu Bell，研究聲光成像，以形成更清晰影像，更早，更準確的發現癌症。她的實驗室計劃於2017年時，使用這一技術。

麻省理工學院電腦及人工智能實驗室的Dinesh Bharadia，發現了在同一頻率上傳輸，收取數據的方法。他從MIT休假一年，加入設在德國的荷蘭初創電信公司Kumu網路（Kumu Networks）。

麻省理工學院科技評論將於十月十八至廿日，舉行本年度的“新興科技會議”，屆時將介紹這35名35歲以下的創新者。

Governor Baker Nominates Three to the Massachusetts Superior Court

Governor Baker Nominates Three to the

Massachusetts Superior Court

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today nominated Michael K. Callan, Karen F. Green and James Gavin Reardon to the Massachusetts Superior Court.

“I am proud to nominate three well-qualified candidates to serve on the Massachusetts Superior Court,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Mike Callan, Karen Green and Gavin Reardon will bring a strong worth ethic, professional demeanor, and tremendous experience with the Massachusetts legal system to our Superior Court bench if confirmed by the Governor’s Council.”

“Superior Court Justices are an integral component of the criminal and civil legal communities which they preside over,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “These three nominees are prepared to work hard in order to serve both the Commonwealth and their respective counties with dignity and pride, if confirmed.”

Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the statewide Judicial Nominating Commission and recommended to the Governor. All judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council.

"I am grateful to the Governor for nominating these three outstanding lawyers, with their excellent credentials and varied backgrounds and experience, to the Superior Court,” said Superior Court Chief Justice Fabricant. “I am confident that, if confirmed by the Governor's Council, each of them will contribute greatly to the Court's mission of providing quality and timely justice to the public." 

The Superior Court is comprised of 82 justices in 20 courthouses across all 14 counties and is a statewide court of general jurisdictions that handles a broad variety of civil litigation in matters of contract, injury, civil rights, and others with amounts in controversy exceeding $25,000. In addition, the Court oversees criminal matters including homicide, sex offenses, robbery, and financial fraud. Approximately 65% of the cases are civil lawsuits and the remaining 35% are criminal proceedings.

For more information about the Massachusetts Superior Court, visit http://www.mass.gov/courts/court-info/trial-court/sc/

About Michael K. Callan

Attorney Michael K. Callan has over two decades of legal experience, currently serving as a partner at Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy, P.C. in Springfield, MA, where he handles a variety of complex civil litigation for the firm, including corporate, business and construction disputes, as well as zoning and large tort cases. He also currently serves as Town Counsel to Longmeadow, Ludlow and Hampden.  A graduate of Boston College, where he earned magna cum laude honors, and of Boston College Law School, Mr. Callan worked as a clerk for the Superior Court after law school. Attorney Callan has done extensive volunteer work, including six years as counsel to the Suburban Amateur Football League; four years as President of Longmeadow Youth Football Association, Inc. and several years as counsel to Longmeadow ABC, Inc., an organization devoted to promoting opportunities to inner city youth. He also volunteers, providing legal guidance to patients at the Noble Hospital, Lawyer for the Day in Hampden County Probate Court and Springfield School Volunteers Program. Callan is a lifelong resident of Western Massachusetts and currently resides in Longmeadow.

About Karen F. Green

Attorney Karen F. Green is currently a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP in Boston where she concentrates on complex business litigation, including white collar criminal investigations and litigation. She has more than three decades of legal experience in both the private and public sectors and has participated extensively in numerous bar and community activities. Ms. Green began her career clerking for US District Court Judge W. Arthur Garrity, Jr. in Boston, before working as a Litigation Associate, Junior Partner and Senior Partner at Hale and Dorr. Ms. Green also worked as an Assistant US Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Civil Division at the US Attorney’s Office, as Chief of Staff to Governor Bill Weld, and as Deputy US Attorney. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard/Radcliffe College, where she earned a degree in Sociology, and a cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School. Born and raised in Somerville, MA, Ms. Green is the daughter of a police officer and currently lives in Brookline.

About James Gavin Reardon

Attorney James “Gavin” Reardon, Jr., who has over thirty years of legal experience, currently owns and operates his own firm, Reardon Law Firm in Worcester, MA, and is “Of Counsel” to the Worcester law firm of Milton, Laurence and Dixon. He is a graduate of Trinity College and Georgetown University Law Center and began his career working at Reardon & Reardon, with his father, before establishing his own practice in 1999. Gavin Reardon has significant experience in both criminal defense and civil personal injury litigation. He is certified by the Committee for Public Counsel Services to represent indigent criminal defendants in murder cases and by the Criminal Justice Act Panel to represent indigent clients charged with crimes in Federal Court. He lectures in the field of law office technology and electronic evidence. He is a long time Co-Chair of the Worcester County Bar Association Law Office Technology Committee. A resident of Shrewsbury, where he lives with his family, Attorney Reardon is also a past president of the Worcester Bar County Association and is a Region 10 Delegate to the Massachusetts Bar Association and a long-time member of the MBA Executive Management Board.