Latest news with #CALSTRS
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Teachers group calls on CalSTRS to ‘divest from genocide' in Gaza
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert! CALIFORNIA SCHOOL TEACHERS CALL FOR CALSTRS DIVESTMENT Teachers from across the state rallied outside the CalSTRS Headquarters in West Sacramento Wednesday morning to demand that the public educator pension fund divest from corporations that they say are enabling tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza. The rally was organized by a group called CalSTRS Divest, which identifies itself as 'a grassroots, educator-led campaign in California.' 'As educators, we are committed to ensuring that our actions and investments reflect our values,' the group states on its website. 'We urgently demand that CalSTRS divest from companies that support the Israeli military and contribute to the ongoing occupation and human rights violations in Palestine.' The group specifically cited CalSTRS investing in such corporations as Palantir Technologies, Elbit Systems, Caterpillar, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Maersk as contributing to the death of more than 50,000 Palestinian people. As of April 20, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza estimated that 51,305 people, including 17,400 children, had been killed in the conflict, which started after the Hamas-led attack on Israel in Oct. 2023 that killed almost 1,200 Israelis. Other outlets have estimated the death toll in Gaza to be more than 60,000. 'Over $1.1 billion in assets are identified as specifically tied to Israel's illegal siege and occupation of Palestinian land,' CalSTRS Divest said in a statement Wednesday. CalSTRS is the second-largest pension fund in the country, and currently holds about $349.5 billion in assets. Teachers rallied outside pension headquarters before delivering public comments during a board and investment committee meeting Wednesday morning. One Bay Area teacher, who identified herself only by her first name, Christina, said she was the only Palestinian teacher in her 800-person union. 'I am grateful to have retirement funds, so thank you for that,' she told the 12-person Teachers' Retirement Board, wearing a keffiyeh and holding a small sign that read, 'CalSTRS Divest from Genocide.' 'But I am distraught that my contributions go to companies enabling the Gaza genocide (and) the illegal occupation of the West Bank ... as a Palestinian-American, I hate that my taxes and my pension funds both sustain the companies that build the bombs that have killed over 60,000 civilians, likely much more than that, destroyed every single school, and every single university, in Gaza, and killed 18,0000 Palestinian children.' Sara Smith-Silverman, an American River College history professor, and member of Jewish Voice for Peace Sacramento, also vocalized support for divesting from the companies. 'As a Jew, I believe that every life is an entire world, and we have a duty to protect every single human life,' Smith-Silverman told the board. 'When I look at my child, I think about Palestinian children who don't know if they will survive the night, or know where their next meal is coming from. And as a teacher, I grieve for Gaza's destroyed universities and students who had the same dreams as my students: to learn and build a better life.' After the rally, Christina told The Bee that she was grateful for the board's engagement and the 'quite warm and friendly' reception at the meeting. 'Our goal was not to be disruptive in any way; we don't feel we are adversaries with the board,' Christina said. 'They are the stewards of our pensions ... it's more like we're seeking partnership with them.' HOW CALIFORNIA VOTERS SEE TRUMP ON THE ISSUES... Via David Lightman Most California voters see President Donald Trump's administration policies on several fronts — education, environment, business and more — as hurting the state, according to a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll. 'The results suggest that a majority of California's voters fear that the state will bear the financial and social brunt of Trump's policy decisions,' said G. Cristina Mora, Institute of Governmental Studies co-director. State voters, she said, 'fear the effects on everything from the state's regional economies to its K-12 schooling.' Big majorities also suggested they 'want the state to continue to support some of its most vulnerable communities, especially undocumented children, as they make policy decisions in this new era.' The poll, conducted April 21 to 28, found that about two-thirds of the 6,201 registered voters surveyed thought Trump's proposed tariffs will 'negatively affect California business and agriculture.' Fifty-six percent were concerned about the policies' impact on Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California. The Republican-led House is considering big cuts to the program, which helps lower-income and disabled people with medical costs. Fifteen million Californians rely on the program. Other findings: 55% said Trump policies would hurt California's bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 55% said the administration's policies would 'negatively impact' the state's undocumented immigrants. 54% were concerned about the impact on the state's public schools. 53% were concerned about the impact on the state's public higher education system. In the 2024 election, Kamala Harris received about 58.5% of the vote in California to about 38.3% for Trump. ...AND HOW THEY SEE NEWSOM Via Lia Russell A majority of California voters said Gov. Gavin Newsom is doing more to boost his presidential aspirations than to lead the state, according to the same UC Berkeley IGS poll. Some 54% said Newsom is focused on 'doing things that might benefit him as a possible candidate for president,' while 26% said they believed he was focused on 'governing the state and helping to solve its problems,' a more than 2:1 ratio. The poll also found that voters continued to be split, mostly along party lines, on the governor's performance. An equal number (46%) approved and disapproved of him, which widened when it came to how Democrats (70% approve) and Republicans (86% disapprove) viewed him. Despite remaining tight-lipped on the topic, Newsom is widely believed to be considering a run for higher office in 2028 after he leaves the governor's mansion in 2026. He has most recently made headlines for starting a controversial podcast and giving interviews to national outlets about how the Democratic Party needs to rehabilitate its 'toxic brand' after its bruising loss in the 2024 election. QUOTE OF THE DAY 'I firmly believe that we are on the edge of fascism … They're coming after free speech, the press, coming after education institutions. Those who don't agree with them will face persecution.' -- Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire speaking at the UC Student and Policy Center as part of its California Leader Speaker Series Best of The Bee: Gavin Newsom says his latest lawsuit against Trump would 'help Elon.' Here's why, via Nicole Nixon Amid climate change and Trump, CA lawmakers want better labor law enforcement, via William Melhado The Fed held the line on interest rates. What does that mean for Californians? via David Lightman The Sacramento political drama over sex trafficking punishments explained, via Robin Epley, Marcos Breton and Tom Philp
The Australian
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Australian
Global giants to oppose Woodside directors at AGM as activists sharpen climate critique
Some of the world's largest pension funds will vote against the election of three Woodside directors when the gas giant holds its annual shareholder meeting this week as its commitment to growing gas production inflames climate-minded investors. Woodside shareholders will assemble to vote on the re-election of two directors and the election of a third on Thursday in what has emerged as a de facto referendum on the company's emissions profile in the absence of a vote on climate strategy. US pension fund CalPERS, which manages more than $US500bn ($782bn), the near $US350bn CALSTRS and the 1.2tr Norwegian Krone ($178bn) Norwegian Storebrand Asset Management pension funds have said they intend to oppose the oil giant on several resolutions backed by the board. Storebrand said it would vote against Ann Pickard due her role as chair of the committee responsible for climate risk oversight at a time when the company has embarked on sustained fossil fuel production growth. 'The company is not aligned with investor expectations on net zero by 2050 targets and commitments,' said Storebrand. CALSTRS has declared it will vote against the re-election of Ben Wyatt and the election of Anthony O'Neill. The Australian understands the decision was not motivated by concerns on emissions reduction, but its proxies will nonetheless add to opposition from other climate-led voters. CalPERS has already said it voted against the re-election of Mr Wyatt. While enormous in assets under management, the three funds are not substantial Woodside shareholders in their own right. A Woodside spokeswoman said the nominees are regarded as excellent contributors to the company. 'The three Woodside directors offering themselves for re-election or election – Ann Pickard, Ben Wyatt and Tony O'Neill – bring complementary skills which contribute to ensuring the board has a balance of expertise, experience and tenure to deliver future value for shareholders,' the spokeswoman said. Proxy giant Glass Lewis has recommended to clients they vote against the re-election of Ms Pickard. Woodside is no stranger to shareholder showdowns. The WA-headquartered company has positioned itself to meet a rapid increase in LNG demand through new developments and potential acquisitions, and it expects to double gas production within six years. The expansion has been cheered by some investors, but it has placed it in the crosshairs of environmentalists and climate conscious shareholders. In a bid to placate concern, Woodside in March released a revised climate action plan — including a Scope 3 emissions target for the first time — and chief executive Meg O'Neill mounted a steadfast defence of the company's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Speaking at the time, Ms O'Neill stressed the role of gas in replacing higher emissions coal. 'It is the tightrope that we are walking and the balance that we're trying to strike,' Ms O'Neill said. 'We are striking a balance of making sure that we are doing the three things we've said we'll do, which is to produce energy products for customers now and into the future to create and return value to shareholders, and to operate our business sustainably.' Woodside is used to shareholder pressure. The company was last year hit with a near 42 per cent shareholder vote against its climate strategy, while some 16 per cent of investors opposed the re-election of chair Richard Goyder. In the months since, Woodside has accelerated its expansion plans. Woodside last week gave the green light to the construction of the $US17.5bn Louisiana LNG mega project, which Will van de Pol, chief executive of Market Forces – a climate activist investor – said illustrates how the company refuses to listen to its shareholders. 'Woodside has thumbed its nose at shareholders, responding to last year's world record rejection of its climate plan by doubling down on gas expansion that will cause massive real-world emissions growth,' said Mr van de Pol. 'Some of the world's largest investors are fed up with Woodside and have already declared they will vote against directors standing for re-election at the company's annual general meeting.' The project will bolster production already poised to be swelled from the $12.5bn Scarborough LNG development in WA, and others in the United States. Ms O'Neill said Woodside is on track to cut its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030, while it maintains an 'aspiration' of net zero by 2050 or sooner. Read related topics: Climate Change Colin Packham Business reporter Colin Packham is the energy reporter at The Australian. He was previously at The Australian Financial Review and Reuters in Sydney and Canberra. @Colpackham Colin Packham
