Shorts: Bay Area

CalPERS to up pressure on Holocaust-era companies

The California Public Employees Retirement System Investment Committee this month adopted suggestions made by state Controller Steve Westly and will more closely monitor its holdings in companies doing business in California that owe compensation to slave- or forced labor victims from World War II.

The CalPERS will now be required to:

• Clearly indicate which companies have settled their outstanding restitution.

• Contact companies that have not.

• Notify those companies that CalPERS will post the information on its Web site.

"This policy ensures we're putting pressure on the companies that haven't made restitution for outstanding claims to do the right thing," said Westly.




Registration begins for free trip to Israel

Registration is now open for the Taglit-Birthright Israel trip scheduled for May and June. The free 10-day trips to Israel are available to young Jewish adults, ages 18 to 26, who have not previously visited Israel on a peer, educational trip.

This spring-summer season, 6,200 participants from North America will tour Israel on such programs. Taglit-Birthright Israel was founded six years ago, and there are nearly 80,000 alumni of the program throughout the world. Fewer spots are expected to be available this upcoming session in comparison to 2004, due to funding cutbacks.

To register, visit www.birthrightisrael.com. Those who applied unsuccessfully in the past must register again.