Nuciforo seeks to cut off cash from Sudan

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State Sen. Andrea F. Nuciforo Jr., has filed a bill that would require the Commonwealth to divest public money from international companies that have ties to the Sudanese government. The bill has seven Senate co-sponsors, and 16 House co-sponsors. "Public employees in Massachusetts should not have to worry that their pensions are coming from businesses that support a genocidal and terrorist regime," said Nuciforo (D-Pittsfield), Senate Chair of the Financial Services Committee. "The purpose of divesting is to encourage the companies that do business with Sudan to halt operations until the Sudanese government stops the violence and allows international aid to provide critical assistance." Last year, a bipartisan Congressional resolution unanimously declared that genocide had occurred in Sudan. The UN said the situation in Darfur, Sudan is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today. Sudan is also on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism. In 1997, the Clinton Administration imposed restrictions on American companies from doing business with Sudan. However, many international companies still do business with the unelected, fundamentalist government of Sudan. Supporters of the divestment bill say that these companies provide the financial resources and moral cover for the Sudanese government. The companies, 83 in total, include PetroChina, Taftnet, ABB, Alcatel, and Seimens, which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are owned by state pension funds across the country. The non-profit Center for Security Policy estimates that Massachusetts has a total of $1.4 billion invested in these, and other international companies. Harvard University recently announced that it will sell about $4.4 million of shares of PetroChina. Earlier this year, Nuciforo met with students from Williams College in Williamstown, who worked to develop the legislation. "After learning about the situation in Darfur, many other students and I felt two emotions: anger and purpose. There was no way we would be silent while such large scale atrocities were being committed. The only question was whether we could find a representative who felt that same level of moral responsibility. We found that moral leadership in Senator Nuciforo," said Williams College student Seth Izen. "Since then, we have worked together to put forward divestment legislation which will pressure the government of Sudan to end the violence and allow all international aid efforts. We are now working on a nationwide divestment campaign (http://www.sudandivestment.com) with other students at Williams College and Harvard University."
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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