#301 1/6 Monthly Meeting; Honoring President Carter; 12/11 C100 Webinar; AAAS Updates; More

In This Issue #301

·       2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

·       Honoring Former President Jimmy Carter (1924-2024)

·       2024/12/11 Webinar on Alien Land Bills

·       Updates from AAAS

·       News and Activities for the Communities

2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, January 6, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET.  In addition to updates by Joanna YangQing Derman, Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Dr. Kai Li, Vice President, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), invited and confirmed speakers are:

·       Congresswoman Judy Chu, Chair Emeritus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) (invited)

·       Judith Terayu, Executive Director, CAPAC

·       Sudip Parikh, Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Executive Publisher of the Science family of journals

·       Robert S. Chang, Executive Director, Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, University of California Irvine School of Law

·       Yawei Liu, Senior Advisor, China Focus, Carter Center

The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APAJustice - Steven Pei 白先慎, Vincent Wang 王文奎, and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org. *****

Dr. Yawei Liu, Senior Advisor, China Focus, Carter Center, has agreed to speak at the January 6 monthly meeting  Yawei has ben involved with the Carter Center for over 25 years.  He directs the Center’s China Focus Program. He is also chief editor of the Center’s U.S.-China Perception Monitor and China-America Stories websites.  Yawei will give his tributes as we honor the legacies of former President Jimmy Carter and describe the China Focus Program and its activities.

Honoring Former President Jimmy Carter (1924-2024)

President Joe Biden has declared January 9, 2025, a national day of mourning, ordering federal offices to close and flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days to honor former President Jimmy Carter's legacy. 

Memorial Schedule:

·       January 4-7: President Carter's remains will lie in repose at the Carter Center in Atlanta, allowing the public to pay their respects. 

·       January 7: A motorcade will transport his remains to Washington, D.C. 

·       January 7-9: President Carter will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, providing an opportunity for national mourning. 

·       January 9: A state funeral service is scheduled at the Washington National Cathedral, with President Joe Biden expected to deliver the eulogy. 

·       Post-Funeral: Following the Washington service, President Carter's remains will return to Georgia for a private funeral at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, culminating in his interment at his home.

Legacies of President Jimmy Carter

His many legacies include:

1.     Camp David Accords: President Carter brokered a historic peace agreement between Israel and Egypt in 1978.  The Camp David Accords, signed on September 17, 1978, marked a groundbreaking achievement in Middle East diplomacy. Carter's tireless efforts brought Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat together for 13 days of intense negotiations at Camp David. The resulting treaty ended decades of conflict between Israel and Egypt, establishing a framework for peace that has endured for over four decades.

2.     Human Rights Advocacy: President Carter emphasized human rights as a core aspect of U.S. foreign policy.  His commitment to human rights marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy. He established the State Department's Human Rights Bureau and made human rights a central consideration in diplomatic relations. President Carter's advocacy helped raise awareness about human rights abuses worldwide.

3.     Post-Presidency Humanitarian Work: President Carter's dedication to humanitarian causes has improved lives worldwide.  Since leaving office, he has continued to work tirelessly on humanitarian initiatives through the Carter Center. Founded in 1982, the Center focuses on promoting democracy, human rights, and global health. Carter's efforts have helped eradicate diseases, promote fair elections, and support human rights defenders worldwide. His commitment to humanitarian work has earned him numerous accolades, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

4.     Environmental Protection: President Carter's commitment to environmental protection led to significant legislative achievements.  His administration prioritized environmental protection, resulting in landmark legislation including the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and the Superfund law. ANILCA protected millions of acres of wilderness, while the Superfund law enabled the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. His environmental policies set a precedent for future administrations.

5.     Energy Policy: President Carter's administration developed a comprehensive national energy policy.  In response to the 1970s energy crisis, his administration developed a comprehensive national energy policy to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, promote energy conservation, and develop alternative energy sources. Key initiatives included deregulating the energy industry, imposing fuel efficiency standards, and investing in renewable energy technologies. Carter's energy policy laid the groundwork for future efforts to address energy security and climate change.

6.     Panama Canal Treaties: President Carter successfully negotiated the transfer of the Panama Canal from U.S. to Panamanian control.  The Panama Canal Treaties, signed in 1977, provided for the transfer of ownership of the Panama Canal from the United States to Panama by the end of 1999. This diplomatic achievement demonstrated Carter's commitment to respecting the sovereignty of other nations and promoting peaceful cooperation.

7.     Diplomatic Relations with China: President Carter established formal diplomatic relations with China on January 1, 1979, ending decades of isolation. The breakthrough paved the way for expanded economic, cultural, and strategic cooperation between the two nations.

8.     Carter Center's Election Monitoring: The Carter Center promotes democracy worldwide by monitoring elections and ensuring their integrity.  The Carter Center has become a leading authority on election monitoring, promoting democratic elections and transparent governance worldwide. Since 1989, the Center has observed over 100 elections in more than 30 countries, helping to ensure the integrity of electoral processes and promoting peaceful transitions of power.

9.     Habitat for Humanity: President Carter's partnership with Habitat for Humanity has helped provide affordable housing for countless individuals and families worldwide.  Since 1984, he has worked with Habitat for Humanity to build and renovate homes for low-income families. His commitment to affordable housing has inspired countless volunteers and helped improve the lives of millions.

10.  Moral Leadership: President Carter's commitment to moral leadership and his willingness to take unpopular stands have inspired generations.  Throughout his career, his leadership style, guided by a strong sense of morality and justice, has inspired generations of leaders and citizens. His moral leadership has been recognized globally, earning him numerous awards and accolades.

11.  Advancements in Healthcare: The Carter administration's healthcare initiatives, including the creation of the Department of Health and Human Services, improved healthcare access and quality.  This reorganization streamlined healthcare policy and administration, improving access to healthcare services for millions of Americans.  His administration expanded community health centers, increased funding for healthcare research.

12.  Federal Government Reform: President Carter's efforts to reform the federal government, including the creation of the Department of Education and the Senior Executive Service, aimed to increase efficiency, reduce bureaucracy, and promote accountability. Key initiatives included the creation of the Department of Education and the Senior Executive Service (SES). The SES reformed the federal government's personnel management system, providing more flexibility in hiring and promoting top executives. 

Additional Information

President Carter is survived by his children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Married in 1946, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's enduring marriage and partnership have been a hallmark of their remarkable lives.  They shared a lifelong commitment to public service, human rights, and humanitarian work.  Their 77-year marriage came to a close with Rosalynn's passing on November 19, 2023, at the age of 96.President Carter is known to be a man of unwavering integrity, compassion, and humility. His strong Christian faith and rural Georgia upbringing have instilled in him a deep sense of morality, empathy, and responsibility. He has a quick wit and a gentle smile, exuding a quiet confidence and authenticity that has earned him the respect and admiration of people around the world. His home in Plains, Georgia, holds a special place in his heart. The modest, two-story house, built in 1961, has been the Carter family's residence since 1960. After leaving the White House in 1981, Jimmy and Rosalynn returned to Plains, where they continue to live part-time.  The house is now part of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site.Members of the public are encouraged to visit the official tribute website to the life of President Carter at www.jimmycartertribute.org. This site includes the official online condolence book as well as print and visual biographical materials commemorating his life.The Carter family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Carter Center, 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307.

2024/12/11 Webinar on Alien Land Bills

On December 12, 2024, the Committee of 100 and APA Justice co-hosted a webinar titled "From Past Prejudice to Present Policy: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities."  It focused on the resurgence of "alien land laws," historically discriminatory policies that are reemerging in state legislatures across the United States.  The discussion covered whether the alien land laws properly address national security concerns or serve as a pretext that infringes upon civil rights and liberties under the guise of protection. The webinar marked the first joint event where APA Justice partnered as a member-driven, "powered by" affiliate with the Committee of 100.Cindy Tsai, Interim President of the Committee of 100, gave opening remarks and moderated the webinar.

Panelists included 

·       Edgar Chen, Special Policy Advisor at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)

·       Ashley Gorski, Senior Staff Attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

·       Gene Wu, Chair, Texas House Democratic Caucus; Member, Texas House of Representatives

Congressman Ted Lieu, Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, gave summary remarks.Jeremy Wu, Founder and Co-Organizer of APA Justice and Member of the Committee of 100, gave closing remarks.Alien land laws are discriminatory policies that historically targeted specific immigrant groups, particularly Asian communities, by restricting their ability to own property. These laws were originally enacted to prevent Japanese immigrants from owning land, reflecting deep-seated racial prejudices of the time.  The resurgence of such laws in recent years has raised significant concerns. Florida enacted a law banning non-resident Chinese nationals from purchasing property.  The reintroduction of these laws is a stark reminder of how history can repeat itself if we are not proactive in safeguarding civil rights.  These laws not only perpetuate racial discrimination but also violate constitutional protections against discrimination. Read more about the webinar and background: https://bit.ly/3CEWK9p.  Watch the video of the webinar at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfjrVAZrjj8 (1:00:56).Professor Robert S. Chang, Executive Director, Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, University of California Irvine School of Law, will speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025, to provide a basic description of a recent District Court preliminary injunction against two state laws that restricted foreign ownership of property and data centers in Arkansas.If you have been impacted by the alien land laws in your state or have a story to tell, please contact us at contact@apajustice.org.  

Updates from AAAS

Dr. Sudip Parikh, Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Executive Publisher of the Science family of journals, will also speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025.  He last spoke at the September 2023 APA Justice monthly meeting, covering open science, basic research, and US-China collaboration when the renewal of the U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement was delayed.Founded in 1848, AAAS was the first permanent organization established to promote the development of science and engineering at the national level and to represent the interests of all its disciplines.Sudip said in a recent AAAS statement, "at a time of tremendous scientific promise, scientific advances are critical to ensuring future prosperity and to solving problems that jeopardize the health of the planet and the wellbeing of people. But, as knowledge and expertise are increasingly called into question, our ability to seize this momentum is at risk.  To maintain U.S. global competitiveness and put the world on positive footing, we must redouble our collective efforts to advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all. This means stepping out of silos to connect researchers with leaders across sectors, across the country, and across the globe.  AAAS is uniquely positioned to lead the way. In our 176-year history, we have stood at the intersection of science across disciplines and public good. We have built essential relationships that have prepared us for this next era and the challenges and opportunities it will bring to our community."

The 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting with the theme of "Science Shaping Tomorrow" is scheduled to take place from February 13 to 15, 2025, at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts.  Read more about the event at: https://bit.ly/3BQVi3ySudip will update us about these and other AAAS activities and developments at the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025. 

News and Activities for the Communities

1. APA Justice Community Calendar

Upcoming Events:2025/01/05 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/01/15 Master Class: Maintaining the Effectiveness of Organizational Equity Initiatives in the Current Environment2024/01/16 Master Classes: Asian American Career Lessons2025/01/19 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details.

2. No 大年三十 This Year - Blame the Moon!

January 29 will be New Year Day for the start of the Year of Snake, but there is no 大年三十 (da nian san shi) – the 30th day of the 12th lunar month.  In fact, there will be no da nian san shi until February 2, 2030, when the Year of the Rooster makes way for the Year of the Dog.  In the Chinese lunisolar calendar, the first day of each month begins with a new moon, where the moon is least visible to us. A full moon appears around the fifteenth day of each month, and the moon wanes as the month ends.On January 1, 2025, the South China Morning Post provided an explanation. Read https://bit.ly/4gTrthEAs the moon’s orbit around Earth does not follow a perfect circle, the interval from one new moon to the next is not fixed. Instead, a lunar month ranges from around 29.27 days to 29.82 days, with an average length of 29.53 days.  To correct for, and adjust to, the differences, the traditional Chinese calendar divides the year into “big months” lasting 30 days and “small months” lasting 29 days.

The last lunar month is typically a big month, which is why the eve of Lunar New Year is referred to colloquially as “the 30th day of the big year” – da nian san shi.  But having a shorter twelfth lunar month is not particularly rare – the month was also a small month in 2022, 2016, and 2013.  What makes the coming one special is that it marks the first of five consecutive years to have the twelfth lunar month only lasting 29 days. This means that technically, according to the traditional Chinese calendar, there will be no Lunar New Year’s Eve again until 2030.Interestingly, because of the quirk in the lunisolar calendar, calculations suggest there will be two Lunar New Years in the year 2262.Blame The Moon!  Now that we have that cleared away, let's start preparing the celebrations! 

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APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community.  For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org.  We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org.