California
California Governor Visits China, Keen to Partner on Climate Change
California Governor Gavin Newsom, right, speaks next to Professor Peng Gong on stage during the fireside chat at the Hong Kong University in Hong Kong, Oct. 23, 2023.
Credit: AP Photo/Anthony Kwan
The governor of California opened a week-long trip to China on Monday with an assurance that his state will always be a partner on climate issues, no matter how the U.S. presidential election turns out next year.
Democrat Gavin Newsom’s visit comes as China-U.S. relations witnessed a sharp deterioration in recent years due to trade disputes, U.S. support for self-governing Taiwan, and human rights concerns, among other contentious issues.
Attempting to reinforce his state’s role as a global leader on climate change, Newsom began his visit with a climate-themed discussion at the University of Hong Kong. He told the audience they “can rely on California,” while addressing claims that the United States is not a reliable ally.
“I want you to know, regardless of what happens nationally, subnationally, you have a partner in the state of California,” he said.
Climate remains one area where China-U.S. collaboration is seen as possible and necessary, but even this sector has not been immune from tensions. In August 2022, China announced it was suspending climate talks with the United States in retaliation for then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. However, both countries appear to have fully re-engaged in the run-up to the next U.N. climate change conference, which opens November 30 in Dubai.
John Kerry, the Biden administration’s climate envoy, visited China in July 2023, part of a flurry of diplomacy that also saw the U.S. secretaries of the State, Commerce, and Treasury Departments make trips to China.
Newsom said China and the United States have long-standing partnerships on the issue of climate change that he wanted to build upon.
Li Yongsheng, deputy commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong, said at the opening of the event that China-U.S. relations “have shown positive signs of rebounding,” and that he believed Newsom’s visit will be productive.
Other attendees included Gregory May, U.S. consul general in Hong Kong; Eden Woon, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong; and Elsie Leung, Hong Kong’s former secretary for justice.
But Newsom’s trip to China has drawn concerns from some 60 advocacy groups and non-governmental organizations. They expressed their disappointment in a joint statement Friday characterizing the governor’s trip as a move to “explicitly turn away from engaging on critical human rights issues.”
Asked if the only way to make progress on climate matters with China is not to mention human rights issues, Newsom denied the tradeoff, saying, “we can do many things at once.”
After his Hong Kong trip, he will head to Beijing, Shanghai, and the provinces of Guangdong and Jiangsu.
He will visit the first Chinese city to deploy an all-electric bus fleet, tour an offshore wind facility, and see Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory. He will sign agreements with leaders of various Chinese provinces to set mutual commitments on a host of climate goals.
Newsom’s agenda also includes conversations on “strengthening cultural ties and combating xenophobia,” and promoting economic development and tourism.
Governors of California, which has an economy larger than most countries, have a long history of climate collaboration with China. Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger also traveled there to swap knowledge on reducing air pollution and emissions, and since leaving office, Brown has launched the California-China Climate Institute at the University of California, Berkeley.
California
California man enters US 95, dies in crash southeast of Boulder City, Nevada State Police says
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A California man died in a crash Friday southwest of Boulder City, Nevada State Police said.
Police sent details to FOX5 on a fatal crash that happened in the area of the US 95 and mile marker 4 in Clark County April 25 around 9:29 p.m. Police said this is about 6 miles southeast of Boulder City.
Police said that the driver of a 2005 GMC Yukon traveled southbound on US 95 in the far right travel lane. At this moment, a pedestrian entered the US 95 from the center median into the path of the driver.
The pedestrian was identified by police as Julian Gusan, a 34-year-old from Redlands, California. Arriving officers at the scene said he died on scene from his injuries.
He was struck by the GMC’s front, and according to police, the driver stayed on scene for investigating officers.
“The investigation is being conducted by the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol – Southern Command Multidisciplinary Investigation & Reconstruction Team,” police said. “2024 Year to date: The Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Southern Command has investigated 21 fatal crashes resulting in 26 fatalities.”
Police said this year’s fatalities data is preliminary and may change/be updated based on final investigation and coroner reports.
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A wind-whipped wildfire in Kern County quickly passed 1,000 acres on Thursday afternoon and prompted an evacuation warning.
The School Fire was reported at 1:41 p.m. east of the city of Maricopa. By 3 p.m. it had burned 1,000 acres, and an evacuation warning was issued for a rural area south of Highway 166.
Within three hours, forward progress had been stopped and the warning was lifted, said a report from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
As of 7 a.m. Friday, May 3, the burned area was at 1,479 acres (2.3 square miles) and containment was 50%, CalFire said. The cause was under investigation.
It was the largest of the 10 wildfires logged by CalFire so far this year. Last week’s Refuge Fire burned 475 acres in Fresno County; an Inyo County fire in early April destroyed four structures and forced the evacuation of the community of Cartago.
By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel
CHULA VISTA, California — Here is a prayer I wrote for National Prayer Day that I delivered Thursday morning, May 2.
Hear the call, California, let’s rise and unite,
In our land of splendor, from plight to light.
From redwood shadows to shimmering shore,
Let’s build a future worth striving for.
“Listen,” resounds from valley to peak,
Affordable homes for all who seek.
In cities bustling and towns serene,
Let fairness dwell, let grace be seen.
Against the shadows of bigotry and hate,
Stand strong for love, let it resonate.
From San Diego’s warmth to the Bay’s cool mist,
Inclusion and safety top our list.
Housing that’s affordable, a roof for each head,
In neighborhoods where no one fears to tread.
From LA’s sprawl to Sacramento’s streets,
Let’s secure a haven where hope meets.
In tech’s grand hub, let innovation lead,
To solutions where compassion’s creed.
May Silicon Valley’s minds conceive,
New ways for the Golden State to achieve.
Let California’s dream be vast and bold,
A tale of kindness and courage told.
With every “shema,” let’s understand,
A call to act, for the future we planned.
Hear the call of the surf, the whispering pines,
For a state where every star aligns.
A haven of peace, where all are free,
California, let this our legacy be.
*
Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel is spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista. He may be contacted via michael.samuel@sdjewishworld.com
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