TNWAC News | June 18-24, 2017

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• THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT — NEW MEMBERS
• ICYMI | THE US INSTITUTE OF PEACE PRESIDENT TALKS ABOUT WORLD REFUGEE DAY
• GLOBAL DIALOGUE – PRESIDENT TRUMP ABROAD & A NEW U.S. FOREIGN POLICY | JUN 28 AT 12pm
• TALK TO THE AUTHOR OF “HOT, HUNGRY PLANT” LISA PALMER | JUL 18 1pm
• GLOBAL DIALOGUE | “TWO AND A HALF MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT” – A CONVERSATION WITH THE KEEPER OF THE DOOMSDAY CLOCK – JUL 26
• GLOBAL DIALOGUE | WHERE ARE US-CHINA COMMERCIAL RELATIONS GOING? | AUG 30
• LEADERSHIP | FAREWELL TO BOARD DIRECTOR COL BEVERLY LEE
• LEADERSHIP | WELCOME TO THE BOARD NEW DIRECTOR DR. MARIETA VELIKOVA
• RESOURCE | WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCILS PODCASTS
• TWO EASY, FREE, PAINLESS WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
• “WHAT IN THE WORLD?” WEEKLY QUIZ
• A NETWORK WITH BENEFITS – TRAVEL THE WORLD
• SAD NEWS ABOUT A WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL COLLEAGUE IN PHILADELPHIA

THESE THINGS WE DO ARE POSSIBLY ONLY THROUGH YOUR SUPPORT. THANKS!

Thanks For Your Support

Jerry B. Brock – $60 Individual Membership
Keith Simmons – $60 Individual Membership
Patricia Paiva – $60 Individual Membership

TNWAC WEEKLY NEWS

To Know the World.  That’s the purpose of the Tennessee World Affairs Council.  We are one of 95 similarly organized nonpartisan councils around the country — all independent — that form the largest grassroots global awareness affairs effort in the world. We share the same goals of delivering public and school programs that help people, especially students, develop a better understanding of the important international issues that affect their lives and futures.  We welcome you as a member and as a contributor to our work.

If you like what your World Affairs Council is doing for your community

it’s time to join and donate to keep it going.

Connect your Kroger Rewards Card to the World Affairs Council to support global affairs awareness education [Details]

ICYMI | THE US INSTITUTE OF PEACE PRESIDENT TALKS ABOUT WORLD REFUGEE DAY

The global humanitarian system is stretched to its limits. The world is challenged by the greatest flood of refugees since World War II. In Syria alone, the United Nations estimates that over 11 million people are displaced, with 4.8 million having fled the country as refugees. At the same time, the international community faces the specter of four concurrent famines in the fragile states of Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen. As we mark World Refugee Day, there is a clear imperative to get ahead of these crises by understanding what drives instability and violent conflicts around the world, and the approaches that can prevent and resolve them. The president of the United States Institute of Peace, Nancy Lindborg, talked with Bill Clifford, WACA President and CEO and teleconference participants on Tuesday, about the tools the U.S. needs to address the causes and consequences of the global refugee crisis, and why this matters. If you missed it you can listen at the WACA Podcast site.

 [Details][Global Scholar Credit]

GLOBAL DIALOGUE – PRESIDENT TRUMP ABROAD & A NEW U.S. FOREIGN POLICY | JUN 28 AT 12pm

Where is American foreign policy headed? Does “America First” mean “America Alone?”  Is the United States shedding its position as “the indispensable nation?” Join the World Affairs Council for our Global Dialogue series of conversations as we tackle that question with Ambassador Ronald Schlicher and Ambassador Charles Bowers, both retired career US Foreign Service Officers with decades of diplomatic service in the State Department and overseas. Global Dialogue conversations are an opportunity for community members to engage each other and specialists in timely and significant discussions of hot topics in international affairs.  Preparing for the conversation by reviewing several articles and reference materials allows participants to share their insights and perspectives with others in an informal setting. [Limited Seating]

[Details, Program Materials, RSVP][Global Scholar Credit]

TALK TO THE AUTHOR OF “HOT, HUNGRY PLANT” LISA PALMER | JUL 18 1pm

Earth will have more than 9.6 billion people by 2050 according to U.N. predictions. With resources already scarce, how will we feed them all? Journalist Lisa Palmer has traveled the world for years documenting the cutting-edge innovations of people and organizations on the front lines of fighting the food gap. In her book, Lisa Palmer shares the story of the epic journey to solve the imperfect relationship between two of our planet’s greatest challenges: climate change and global hunger. JOIN World Affairs Councils in a teleconference with Lisa Palmer, award-winning journalist and senior fellow at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center.   [Details/Register][Global Scholar Credit]

GLOBAL DIALOGUE | “IT IS TWO AND A HALF MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT” – A CONVERSATION WITH THE KEEPER OF THE DOOMSDAY CLOCK – JUL 26

For the last two years, the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock stayed set at three minutes before the hour, the closest it had been to midnight since the early 1980s. In its two most recent annual announcements on the Clock, the Science and Security Board warned: “The probability of global catastrophe is very high, and the actions needed to reduce the risks of disaster must be taken very soon.” In 2017, we find the danger to be even greater, the need for action more urgent. It is two and a half minutes to midnight, the Clock is ticking, global danger looms. Wise public officials should act immediately, guiding humanity away from the brink. If they do not, wise citizens must step forward and lead the way. JOIN the World Affairs Council and your neighbors for our Global Dialogue conversation as we talk by Skype with Dr. Rachel Bronson, Executive Director and Publisher of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists where she oversees the publishing programs, the management of the Doomsday Clock, and a growing set of activities around nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, climate change and emerging technologies.

[Details/Register][Global Scholar Credit]

GLOBAL DIALOGUE | WHERE ARE US-CHINA COMMERCIAL RELATIONS GOING? | AUG 30

China is a key market for U.S. exports.  According to the US Trade Representative, “Those exports are generating jobs in every corner of the United States and across every major sector. These involve some of our country’s largest companies, but also an increasing number of small and medium-sized enterprises.” The newly installed Trump Administration has already held a summit with China’s President Xi Jinping where the commercial relationship was front and center in the conversations. President Trump also signaled a new era in trade with Asia by abandoning the Trans Pacific Partnership, which did not include China.  Join us as John Scannapieco, co-founder and co-chair of the Baker Donelson Global Business Team and an expert on US-China commercial ties. You and your neighbors can exchange perspectives on this important global issue. [Details/Register][Global Scholar Credit]

LEADERSHIP | FAREWELL TO BOARD DIRECTOR COL BEVERLY LEE

Your World Affairs Council has been fortunate to have had the service of a wide-array of talented and dedicated leaders from the community on the Board of Directors providing direction and elbow-grease to make our global literacy programs and resources possible. Among them has been Colonel Beverly Lee, USAF (Retired), who has completed three-years of service to the World Affairs Council Board of Directors.  We thank her for her leadership and work in governance, program support and for twice escorting Academic WorldQuest championship teams on their Washington, DC travels.  We wish Colonel Lee the very best in her future endeavors including the many organizations where she leads and serves and look forward to her continued membership in the Council.

LEADERSHIP | WELCOME TO THE BOARD, NEW DIRECTOR DR. MARIETA VELIKOVA

This week your World Affairs Council welcomed Dr. Marieta Velikova as a new Director on the Board. Dr. Velikova, who previously served on the Council’s President’s Advisory Board, is Associate Professor of Economics, Jack C. Massey College of Business, Belmont University. She earned the Ph.D. in Applied Economics from Mississippi State University and teaches economics and international business courses. Professor Velikova is active in numerous international affairs programs and activities in Nashville. The Council is fortunate to have dedicated Directors to move it forward in its work to “bring the world” to Tennesseans and welcome Dr. Velikova to join that effort.

THESE THINGS WE DO ARE POSSIBLY ONLY THROUGH YOUR SUPPORT. THANKS!

RESOURCE | WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCILS PODCASTS

You’re a click away from the archived Podcasts from World Affairs Councils of America conversations with global affairs specialists, officials, decision makers and authors.  The “Hot Topics” and “Know Now” series teleconference sessions are available online from the WACA PodBean page.  These audio recordings are 30 minute conversations that address the key issues in international affairs and new books on global developments and trends.  Check out the Podcast archive to see what you might have missed from our monthly offering of insights and perspective on global affairs. [WACA Podcasts]

TWO EASY, FREE, PAINLESS WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL

YES, YOU’RE A STAKEHOLDER AND YOUR SUPPORT TO GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS PROGRAMS COUNTS. We won’t ask you to buy cookies or wrapping paper but please take a few minutes to see how you can help.

The World Affairs Council is a nonprofit educational charity that depends on the support of its members and the community to carry out its work of educating and inspiring people to know the world. We ask you to become a member and to add the Council to your regular charity giving plans. You can also support the World Affairs Council by naming it as your charity of choice in connection with supermarket purchases using your Kroger Rewards Program card. There’s also an opportunity to contribute when you shop on Amazon.com. You  simply link there from the TNWAC.org web site. The World Affairs Council is an Amazon Associate and earns a fee when you click on the banner on TNWAC.org pages.  [Kroger Rewards Card Registration]  [Amazon Associate Info]  Thank you!

[Please become a member of the Council [Join] and include it in your regular charitable giving plan [Donate].

Did you know if you click on the Amazon link on the TNWAC.org web site when you go shopping at Amazon your World Affairs Council earns a percentage of the sale — no added expense to you. [Details]

Did you know you can keep up with current international affairs news by following @TNWAC #TNWACquiz

“WHAT IN THE WORLD?” WEEKLY QUIZ

The World Affairs Council created the “What in the World?” Weekly Quiz to inspire interest in current affairs for our members and guests, and especially for students. Every Monday morning the quiz is posted on the Web site, on Facebook and distributed by email (to the “Quiz” sublist). At the end of the month a prize is given to one of the winners of the quizzes for the month. The quiz also serves as a resource for students and teacher-coaches participating in Academic WorldQuest and other educational endeavors. It provides a tool to keep students engaged in global affairs awareness and serves as a guide and source for the AWQ competition current event topic area. The questions on the quiz are drawn from the news reports shared on the @TNWAC Twitter feed marked by #TNWACquiz. Details [Global Scholar Credit]

A NETWORK WITH BENEFITS – TRAVEL THE WORLD

• Aug 1-9 Circumnavigation of Iceland with Dr. Carla Thorson
• Aug 8-30 – Kingdoms and Cultures by private jet
• Sep 21-Oct 5 – Inside Croatia and Slovenia
• Oct 1-20 – Silk Road Odyssey with Kay Maxwell
• Oct 13-23 – Israel and Palestine Study Tour: A long, unresolved puzzle
• Oct 20-Nov 2 – Inside Morocco with Dr. Jerry Leach
• Oct 29-Nov 3 – Inside New York with Craig Snyder
• Oct 30-Nov 9 – Discover Peru

Call now to reserve space and save:

• Oct 17-29 – Pearls of Southeast Asia (Save $1,000 if you book by July 7!)
• Nov 1-9 – Sorrento, Italy

Contact www.wacphila.org/travel or call 1-800-942-5004 x209 or x217.

[Details]

SAD NEWS ABOUT A WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL COLLEAGUE IN PHILADELPHIA

We note with sadness this news from Philadelphia World Affairs Council President Craig Snyder about our friend and colleague Joan Russel, director of the Travel the World program.

It is with a heavy heart that I share some tragic news from the Council family. As some of you may already know, Joan Russell, our beloved and long-serving Vice President of Travel, has recently been diagnosed with a rare degenerative disorder called Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease.

The NIH describes this condition as “. . . a rare, degenerative, invariably fatal brain disorder. It affects about one person in every one million people per year worldwide; in the United States there are about 300 cases per year.”

Joan is currently spending time resting at home with her husband, Michael, and their daughter, Aimee Lee. Joan, Michael, and Aimee Lee would love to hear from friends; if you would like to contact them, please just reach out to Shoshana Altrichter for information on how to do so.

Many of you have requested how you can support the Russell family. In honor of Joan’s nearly 25 years of service to the Council and of her passion for international travel, the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia will be establishing a scholarship fund in her name. The Joan Russell Travel Scholarship will be annually awarded to a deserving student or students at our partner school, Bodine High School for International Affairs, to allow them to participate in the school’s annual spring trip abroad. We feel that continuing to encourage an enthusiasm for travel in others, especially our students, is the best possible way to carry on Joan’s legacy at the Council.

For More Information About the Joan Russel Travel Scholarship – Link

THESE THINGS WE DO ARE POSSIBLY ONLY THROUGH YOUR SUPPORT. THANKS!

ON THE MAP – YOUR WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL PRESENTS

• May 25, 2017 – Talk to the Author – Thomas Wright – “All Measures Short of War” [Details]
• Jun 13, 2017 – Talk to the Author – Souad Mekhennet – “I Was Told To Come Alone: My Journey Behind The Lines of Jihad” [Details]
• Nov 15-17 – National Conference of the World Affairs Councils of America – Capital Hilton, Washington, DC. [Details]

The Tennessee World Affairs Council is a nonprofit (501c3), nonpartisan educational charity based in Nashville that works to build understanding of global issues in our communities. Learn more about the Council and find how you can join, donate and volunteer at: www.TNWAC.org  — Join / Donate / Volunteer