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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Dalton Division Road Project in Pre-25 Percent Design Stage
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The town's engineers say there is still time to work through the Dalton Division Road project’s design and permitting process.
In December, the Select Board voted to advocate for Concept A, which would have sidewalks on both sides, a 5-foot bike lane in the road on both sides with a buffer, and a 2-foot painted buffer between the vehicle lane and in the bike lane. They also recommended the two-way stop control option.
The original vote would have been the most expensive and "certainly not" the engineer or the state's "preferred design," Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said during a meeting in November.
During last week's Select Board meeting, Fuss & O'Neil project manager and senior traffic engineer Steve Savaria represented the options, explained potential obstacles, and demonstrated the next steps. Present board members have yet to vote on their final choice.
The project is still in the pre-25 percent design stage and is currently on the fiscal year 2029 Transportation Improvement Program list, so there is "plenty of time" to work out the details.
Since the original vote, some board members have shifted their opinion toward advocating for the most feasible and timely option with a "path of least resistance to get this project done."
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