AG HEALEY, 18 ATTORNEYS GENERAL JOIN “WE ARE STILL IN” COALITION OF GOVERNORS, MAYORS, BUSINESS AND UNIVERSITY LEADERS TO MAINTAIN COMMITMENTS TO THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT

AG HEALEY, 18 ATTORNEYS GENERAL JOIN “WE ARE STILL IN” COALITION OF GOVERNORS, MAYORS, BUSINESS AND UNIVERSITY LEADERS TO MAINTAIN COMMITMENTS TO THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT

Coalition Releases Open Letter to International Community Pledging Support for Climate Action

BOSTON – Following President Donald Trump’s announcement last week that the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, Attorney General Maura Healey and 18 other Attorneys General have joined forces with governors, mayors, business leaders and universities across the country pledging to maintain their commitment to fighting climate change and abiding by the principles of the global agreement.

“The state attorneys general are on the front lines fighting to protect our residents, the global community, and future generations from the dangers of climate change. We have long led efforts to promote clean energy and clean energy jobs in our states, advance smart policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and defend the progress we’ve made to address this threat,” said AG Healey. “On behalf of our communities, our businesses, and our residents, the state attorneys general are proud to join this national alliance in support of achieving American commitments to the Paris Agreement.”

The 19 state attorneys general joining the coalition today include:

Xavier Becerra, California Attorney General

George Jepsen, Connecticut Attorney General

Matt Denn, Delaware Attorney General

Karl A. Racine, District of Columbia Attorney General

Doug S. Chin, Hawaii Attorney General

Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General

Tom Miller, Iowa Attorney General

Janet E. Mills, Maine Attorney General

Brian E. Frosh, Maryland Attorney General

Maura Healey, Massachusetts Attorney General

Lori Swanson, Minnesota Attorney General

Hector Balderas, New Mexico Attorney General

Eric T. Schneiderman, New York Attorney General

Josh Stein, North Carolina Attorney General

Ellen F. Rosenblum, Oregon Attorney General

Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania Attorney General

Peter F. Kilmartin, Rhode Island Attorney General

Thomas J. Donovan Jr., Vermont Attorney General

Mark R. Herring, Virginia Attorney General

President Trump announced on June 1 that the United States would break ranks with more than 190 countries and leave the historic global commitment that entered into force in November 2016. The signatories to the “We Are Still In” coalition, today released the following statement:

“We, the undersigned mayors, governors, attorneys general, college and university leaders and businesses are joining forces for the first time to declare, that we will continue to support climate action to meet the Paris Agreement.

In December 2015 in Paris, world leaders signed the first global commitment to fight climate change. The landmark agreement succeeded where past attempts failed because it allowed each country to set its own emission reduction targets and adopt its own strategies for reaching them. In addition, nations – inspired by the actions of local and regional governments, along with businesses – came to recognize that fighting climate change brings significant economic and public health benefits. 

The Trump administration’s announcement undermines a key pillar in the fight against climate change and damages the world’s ability to avoid the most dangerous and costly effects of climate change. Importantly, it is also out of step with what is happening in the United States.

In the U.S., it is local and state governments, along with businesses, that are primarily responsible for the dramatic decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in recent years. Actions by each group will multiply and accelerate in the years ahead, no matter what policies Washington may adopt.

In the absence of leadership from Washington, states, cities, colleges and universities and businesses representing a sizeable percentage of the U.S. economy will pursue ambitious climate goals, working together to take forceful action and to ensure that the U.S. remains a global leader in reducing emissions.

It is imperative that the world know that in the U.S., the actors that will provide the leadership necessary to meet our Paris commitment are found in city halls, state capitals, colleges and universities and businesses. Together, we will remain actively engaged with the international community as part of the global effort to hold warming to well below 2°C and to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy that will benefit our security, prosperity, and health.”

            The Paris Climate Agreement requires participating countries to limit global warming to well below 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit from preindustrial levels and encourages them to pursue efforts to keep temperature increases to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit.

                       

The “We Are Still In” coalition pledges to ensure that despite the country’s exit from the agreement the United States will continue to be a leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

波士頓悼六四28年 呼籲中國邁向民主自由路

座落在波士頓華埠公園旁的天安門紀念碑再亮燭光。
(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 海外香港華人民主人權促進會6月4日晚在紐英崙中華公所禮堂，舉辦”六四”屠殺廿八週年悼念會，再到天安門紀念碑前舉燭光，唱””歷史的傷口”，以行動顯示28年如一日，他們沒有忘記，”六四”的終極目標是爭取中國民主自由。

               海外香港華人民主人權促進會和港澳之友社合辦的”悼念六四”活動，過去許多年來，都在哈佛大學的燕京圖書館，松廳等不同地方舉行。2015年原本已洽借了哈佛大學甘迺迪政府學院場地，卻在舉辦前一天，臨時接到場地有狀況通知，改在該學院門外舉行，然後從2016年起，轉往紐英崙中華公所。今年6月4日適逢週日，在正日舉行。

               悼念會程序，一如過往，先默哀，唸悼詞，回顧討論，再舉燭光悼念，到波士頓華埠公園旁的天安門紀念碑前獻花，吟唱”自由花”，”歷史的傷口”，”血染的風采”等歌曲，藉歌寄意。

               時間離”八九六四”越來越遠，悼念會放映的影片也從重現廣場原景，強調學生浴血，漸漸轉為支持”天安門母親”的申訴，唱名追悼一個個早逝了的青春，今年還再回歸香港人立場，重述司徒華在香港於1997年回歸中國時預言的，”民主是一條艱辛的路”，並以國父孫中山的”天下為公”來強調他們認為國家是人民的，不是在位者的立場。

香港民主會這幅悼六四橫幅，用了28年。(周菊子攝)

               曾經，波士頓因為有八九民運或學聯會的領袖人物，備受矚目，從四君子中的侯德健，高新，周舵，趙紫陽的智囊之一朱嘉明，知識分子中的王軍濤，戴晴，六四後被通緝21學生中的柴玲，李祿，吾爾開希，王丹，封從德，張伯笠，劉剛，熊炎，周封鎖等等，都曾在波士頓為繼續推動中國民主努力，沈彤，楊建利也都是早年在波士頓積極推動民運的人。

六四弔念會出席者默哀。(周菊子攝)

               28年過去後，這許多人散落各處，只有少數幾人把推動中國民主變成了他們個人的人生志業。王丹從哈佛大學畢業後，到台灣東吳大學做助理教授，最近還舉行告別台灣記者會，要回美國成立救治基金。4日晚在中華公所放映的錄影片段，就有這段王丹訪談。王軍濤也告訴紐約媒體，礙於集會場地的借用不易，他們打算以快閃的方式舉行悼念六四會。

波士頓悼念六四會司儀黃國傑，洪良。(周菊子攝)

               4日晚，在紐英崙中華公所的”六四回顧與討論”中，有出席者感嘆要從歷史學習，思考今後方向，有人感嘆想不到中國人就算人在波士頓，言論自由也會受到箝制，因為他聽說了有人在國內的親友打電話關切。這名出席者還指出，如今在美各大校園的中國學生學者聯合會裏，訪問學者裏，甚至來美經商者中，有不少人兼做間諜，讓人不得不小心。

悼念會場設在紐英崙中華公所大廳。 (周菊子攝)

                       當晚有五十多名出席者， 波士頓華僑文教中心主任歐宏偉，紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊都特地出席，表達支持民主自由心意。住在劍橋市的Arnold Morre 鼓勵的表示，台灣有”太陽花運動”，香港有”雨傘運動”，阿拉伯有過”阿拉伯之春”，中國的民主自由，也會終將來到。

現場播放「天下為公」影片。

謝中之(中)等人在六四紀念碑前手舉燭光，吟唱"自由花"。(周菊子攝)

會場播放的視頻片段。

會場播放的視頻片段。

六四發生時在天安門廣場的廖平。(周菊子攝)

香港民主會的馬衛恩分享看法。(周菊子攝)

2008年來到美國的張海。(周菊子攝)

牙醫師岑志仁(左起)，曾任哈佛歷史教授的陸惠風，吳樹榮醫師，和
數年前才抵達波士頓的廖平，一起悼念六四。(周菊子攝)

高秉浩醫師向天安門紀念碑獻花。(周菊子攝)

吳秀美，馬衛恩等人派發歌詞。

紐英崙客家鄉親會周一男三度連任會長

(所有圖片謝開明攝)

右起，波士頓華僑文教中心主任歐宏偉，波士頓經文處副處長陳銘俊，
鄭靜敏夫婦和(左起)，謝如鍵，余國豪，宋玉琴，紐英崙中華公所主席
陳家驊等人恭賀周一男(右四)連任紐英倫客家鄉親會會長。

(Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導) 紐英崙客家鄉親會6月3日中午在馬伯洛夫(Marlborough)市舉行會員大會，四、五十名會員，嘉賓歡聚一堂，在笑聲連連中無異議通過，敦請現任會長周一男教授第三度連任，並新選出宋玉琴加入副會長行列。

               紐英崙客家鄉親會的副會長行列，在協會"闖出”名聲後，副會長名額就漸次擴大，從一人，二人，增加到三人，今年在敦請林上田及謝如鍵再度連任之餘，還推出一名新任副會長，能幹多才的宋玉琴。

               從波士頓大學教授一職退休後，專心服務社區的周一男5日發出電郵，感謝會員們對他的信任與肯定，表示必將竭盡所能地推動會務，更盛讚三名副會長都是青壯有為的多才多藝者，都是明年升任會長的最佳人選，讓他為後繼有人很感欣慰。

               3日的會員大會，嘉賓眾多。駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處副處長陳銘俊，鄭靜敏夫婦，波士頓華僑文教中心主任歐宏偉，紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊之外，由於客家女婿許炳煌和新英格蘭台灣商會關係密切，曾任會長的緣故，該會兩名前會長蔡坤喜，王本仁也都欣然應邀出席，與客家鄉親同樂。

身為客家後代的經文處副處長陳銘俊，當天特地全程以客語致詞，訴說他作為外交人員的浪跡天涯心聲，參加客家會活動很有回家的感覺，尤其是在海外聽見鄉音，嚐到客家美食的那種親切，那種遊子之心得到撫慰感覺，實在溫暖。他讚譽客家人的勤勉打拼精神，期勉波士頓客家人珍惜，保存並傳承客家文化

               周一男會後宣佈，該會下一個大活動是夏季野餐，目前預定8月5日(週六)舉行，其他詳情還待確定。

            該會請謝開明拍攝的年會照片，已由副會長宋玉琴上載到該會臉書網頁http://www.facebook.com/NEHakka   。(圖片已於6月4日發表)

MA, NY, AND KY ATTORNEYS GENERAL URGE FCC TO STOP ROBOCALL MESSAGES

MA, NY, AND KY ATTORNEYS GENERAL URGE FCC TO STOP ROBOCALL MESSAGES

BOSTON – Urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to crack down on the national onslaught of robocall messages, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, and Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear opposed a petition requesting that so-called “ringless robocalls” be exempt from consumer protections under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

In the joint comment letter sent last week, the Attorneys General urged the FCC to not add to the existing plague of unwanted robocalls. The petition – filed by All About the Message – seeks an exemption for ringless robocalls that deliver voicemails to consumers without causing their phones to ring, arguing that they should not be considered “calls.” The attorneys general argue that this exemption further opens the floodgates to more harassing messages.

“Massachusetts residents already face a constant barrage of harassing, intrusive and unwanted robocalls,” said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. “Granting companies a free pass to push ringless voice messages to consumers’ phones just adds more robocalls and causes significant financial harm to those who are charged for checking their messages.”

           

“New Yorkers are already the victims of countless unwanted phone solicitations,” said New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. “The federal government has a basic responsibility to protect American consumers. That certainly doesn’t mean making it even easier for companies to spam them with costly, unsolicited, ringless robocalls.”

“Protecting Kentuckians from the constant barrage of unwanted scam and robocalls is an ongoing priority of my office,” said Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear. “We must strengthen the protections to our citizens, not clear the way for costly, unwanted calls.”

The purpose of the TCPA is to protect consumers from unwanted and intrusive calls. The FCC’s Robocall Strike Force reports that robocalls are the number one source of complaints it receives, with consumers receiving an estimated 2.4 billion robocalls per month in 2016.

The letter points out that these ringless robocalls prevent consumers from blocking unwanted messages with many of the latest call blocking apps for mobile phones. Also, whether the they ring or not, robocalls can impose significant costs on consumers, especially those with prepaid cell phones or limited minutes who are charged for checking their messages. These messages will adversely impact consumers with limited size voicemail boxes may miss important messages when their voicemail is clogged with unwanted messages. 

新波士頓人英語獲10萬元補助款

English for New Bostonians, Boston Cares receive

Cummings Foundation grant of $100,000 for volunteer ESOL Tutor Corps 

  

ESOL Tutor Corps connects local volunteers with immigrants and refugees learning English across Boston

BOSTON, MA - June 5, 2017   A partnership between English for New Bostonians (ENB) and Boston Cares is one of 100 local nonprofits to receive a grant of $100,000 each through Cummings Foundation's "$100K for 100" program. The Boston-based organizations were chosen from a total of 549 applicants during a competitive review process.

ENB supports 25 English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs for low-income immigrants across the city of Boston, reaching approximately 1,100 students every year. Boston Cares mobilizes individual and corporate volunteers who strengthen communities and improve the lives of people in need, engaging thousands of adults, children, teens and corporate partners annually serving 67,000 hours at 165 schools and nonprofits. The ESOL Tutor Corps will add in-class, small group, and individualized assistance for 210 students each year, allowing them to attain their economic, educational and civic goals more quickly.

Representatives from ENB and Boston Cares will join approximately 300 other guests at a reception at Trade Center128 in Woburn on June 8, 2017 to celebrate the $10 million infusion into Greater Boston's nonprofit sector. With the conclusion of this grant cycle, Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than $170 million to local nonprofits.

"Cummings' support for immigrant and refugee communities, and the organizations that serve them is exactly what is needed from our philanthropic community right now," said Claudia Green, ENB's Executive Director. "We are deeply grateful for this grant, and look forward to welcoming new volunteers to building meaningful relationships with those making Boston their home."

"Partnering with English for New Bostonians, Boston Cares has introduced new ways to recruit and retain ESOL volunteers. The Cummings grant will allow us to expand and accelerate this work, leveraging more volunteers for one of Boston's most pressing needs," said Boston Cares Executive Director Patrice Keegan.

ENB and Boston Cares will expand their joint volunteer initiative, the ESOL Tutor Corps program, which helps adult immigrants learn English and gain confidence and skills to fully contribute as workers, parents, and community members. Volunteers in the Corps are exposed to rich experiences working directly with immigrants as part of a well-organized team, while building ESOL programs' capacity to reach more students.With Cummings Foundation support, ESOL Tutor Corps will build ESOL support infrastructure on a citywide level while ensuring distinct needs of hard-to-reach immigrant students at community programs are effectively met.

 

The Cummings Foundation grant comes at a time when both volunteers' good will and immigrant students' language acquisition needs are at record-high levels. Since November 2016, ENB has seen a 100% increase in individuals wishing to volunteer to assist immigrants.

The $100K for 100 Program supports nonprofits that are not only based in but primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties. This year, the program is benefiting 35 different cities and towns in the Commonwealth. Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the area where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed, at no cost to the Foundation, by affiliate Cummings Properties.

"Nonprofit organizations like ENB and Boston Cares are vital to the local communities where our colleagues live and work," said Joel Swets, Cumming Foundation's executive director. "We are delighted to invest in their efforts."

This year's diverse group of grant recipients represents a wide variety of causes, including homelessness prevention and affordable housing, education, violence prevention, and food insecurity. A complete list of 100 grant winners is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

 

English for New Bostonians' mission is to invest in the future of our region by creating opportunities for English language learners to pursue their educational, economic and civic aspirations. ENB programs serve 1100 students at 25 sites each year. The English Works Campaign, founded in 2008, activates unions, employers, immigrant community leaders, civic groups, and educators calling for government and private resources to sustain an ESOL system responsive to needs of immigrant workers and their employers.

Boston Cares mobilizes individual and corporate volunteers who strengthen communities and improve the lives of people in need. Boston Cares builds relationships with schools and nonprofits around needs that can be filled by volunteer teams; then recruits, orients and leads reliable volunteers who get the job done. Boston Cares' programs and service events engage thousands of adults, children, teens and corporate partners annually serving 67,000 hours at 165 schools and nonprofits.

About Cummings Foundation

Woburn-Based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings of Winchester. With assets exceeding $1.4 billion, it is one of the largest foundations in New England. The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including two New Horizons retirement communities, in Marlborough and Woburn. Its largest single commitment to date was $50 million to Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Additional Information is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

六四燭光悼念會 6/4 晚在紐英崙中華公所舉行

六四燭光悼念會

2017 年 6 月 4 日（星期日）

為軫悼二十八年前犧牲生命、八九民主運動期間失去家園的鬥士與難屬致敬，海外香港華人民主人權促進會於 2017 年 6 月 4 日（星期日），晚上七時半，假紐英崙中華公所（波士頓華埠 泰勒街 九十號），舉行悼念燭光晚會，歡迎各界人士參加。波士頓港澳之友社協辦是次悼念會。查詢請電 +1(617)966-2575 Che8888@aol.com 謝中之先生。

Candle Light Vigil

28th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre

4 June 2017 (Sunday)

In commemoration of the June 4 Democracy Movement, a candle light vigil will be held on 4 June 2017 (Sunday) at 7:30 pm at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England (90 Tyler Street, Boston, MA 02111).  All are welcome.

For inquiries, please contact the organizers of the vigil, the Association of Overseas Hong Kong Chinese for Democracy and Human Rights, and Friends of Hong Kong and Macau at +1(617)966-2575 or Che8888@aol.com.

新英格蘭台灣青年商會慶端午節吃粽子

左起，BTBA會長魏曉瑩，紐英倫玉山科協理事康雅玢，青商會幹部，青商會會長歐怡君，副會長饒夢華，波士頓經文處副處長陳銘俊，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉，紐約青商會會長林敬倫，副會長林維洋，以及劍橋合唱團新團長屠澤寬(後)。(周菊子攝)

新英格蘭青年商會會長歐怡君(左起)敦請經文處副處長陳銘俊，
僑教中心主任歐宏偉致詞。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子牛頓市報導) 新英格蘭台灣青年商會(TYCCNE)6月3日在牛頓市海德社區慶祝端午節。會長歐怡君呼朋引伴，邀來60多名會員，會友和嘉賓"呷粽”，玩”超級比一比”，讓一眾帥哥美女在活動中應遊戲要求對視交流，一，二小時下來，彼此全成了好朋友。

新英格蘭青商會前任副會長許晃哲(前右二)等人都義不容辭的出席
支持。(周菊子攝)

               新英格蘭台灣青年商會是新英格蘭台灣商會為鼓勵青年參與，發起成立的組織，迄今已有鄭宇辰，康麗雪，王力遠，楊凱傑等人擔任過會長，今年四月由歐怡君接棒，和副會長饒夢華，顏伯任，鄭怡等組成執行團隊，計畫每個月舉辦職場分享，未來產業趨勢演講，聯誼，球賽，電影欣賞及生活小知識等不同活動，來為會員服務。

               6月3日是該會新屆幹部的第一場活動，駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處副處長陳銘俊，波士頓華僑文教中心主任歐宏偉都應邀出席，致詞。

新英格蘭台灣商會副會長李苡惠(前)也應邀出席，和出席者一起玩遊戲。
(周菊子攝)

               陳銘俊說，波士頓真是一個很好的地方，是美國歷史，文化，藝術，醫學的首都，更是生物科技上全世界的首都。不過從外地來美的人要找工作，融入本地生活，或多或少的難免遭遇盲點，青商會這活動給大家彼此認識，互助合作的機會，的確很有意義。他鼓勵青商們多交朋友，因為來到波士頓的人，常常一個比一個優秀，多交朋友，一定有驚喜。

               陳銘俊也提醒青商會員們，台灣雖小，卻是全美國的第7大留學生來源國，第9或第10大貿易國，不過和人數較少及貿易量也小得多的以色列相比，成功創業家還真的少很多。他鼓勵青商會員們趁年輕，多交朋友建立人脈，鼓起勇氣，組織團隊，嘗試創業。

               歐宏偉說明自己去年到波士頓上任，和上屆會長楊凱傑，許晃哲打過交道，要代表僑委會委員長吳新興表達端午問候，他還透露吳新興預定6月14日到訪波士頓，歡迎青商會員們參加傳統僑社的歡迎宴。談及對青商會的期許，歐宏偉直言自己有三大目標，要鼓勵所有海外青年參與傳統僑社活動，融入主流社會，連結台灣。他還建議青商們組織參訪團，他可帶隊拜會傳統僑社。

               紐約台灣青商會會長林敬倫，副會長林維洋當天特地從紐約趕到波士頓，支持友會活動，其他出席的本地友會代表有波士頓台灣人生物科技協會會長魏曉瑩，紐英倫玉山科技協會理事康雅玢，劍橋合唱團新任團長屠澤寬，新英格蘭台灣商會副會長李苡惠等人。南北家園，朋友圈等商家分別贊助了奶茶，蔥油餅等食品。

               查詢新英格蘭台灣青商會詳情，可上臉書https://www.facebook.com/groups/tyccne/。(6月7日更新)

華林功夫太極學校昆士市分部開幕(圖片)

華林功夫太極學校創辦人余翠梅(中白衣者)和師叔功陳植光，師伯伍振中等人及學生，老師合影。(周菊子攝)

華林功夫太極學校創辦人余翠梅(左起)和師叔功陳植光，師伯伍振中
展示華林龍舟隊旗幟。(周菊子攝)

余翠梅師傅教學生太極。(周菊子攝)