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Arab Voices: What They Are Saying to Us and Why It Matters
by Dr. James Zogby
Tuesday, December 14
The Columbus Foundation,
1234 East Broad Street
Lunch served: 11:30 am
Program: Noon to 1:15 pm
Book signing to follow
Dr. James Zogby is a Political Consultant and Founder and President of the Arab American Institute in Washington, D.C. His book brings to light the myths, assumptions, and biases that stand in the way of understanding the Arab World. It was recently reviewed in the New York Times. This event is sponsored by the Middle East Studies Center at OSU and presented in partnership with Columbus Metropolitan Club. There are no seats remaining, but interested community members may watch the archived video later this week on the CCWA Vimeo channel. If you are unable to attend the event but would still like to purchase a signed copy of Arab Voices, please email Maria Wolever.
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Global Threats - US Response:
The Next 20 Years
A "Speaks to America" Webcast
Wednesday, December 15
Noon to 2 pm
The World Affairs Council of DC, supported by The Columbus Council on World Affairs, will air a live web cast of their luncheon featuring The Honorable William J.Perry, Former US Secretary of Defense, and The Honorable Stephen J. Hadley, Former US National Security Advisor. Supporters of CCWA will have access to this program, and can submit their email questions during the program. To participate, email Maria Wolever to request the access codes.
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January 7
Youth Forum: Ohio in the Global Economy
An event for Central Ohio High School students in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Area teachers can coordinate their participation with Stephanie Calondis-Geiger.
February 15
"Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Sustainable Global Transportation in the 21st Century" with speaker Robert Skinner, Executive Director, Transportation Research Board
Register online
Youth activities will book-end this symposium. Area teachers can coordinate their participation with
Stephanie Calondis-Geiger.
March 1"2011 International Awards Ceremony" honoring Limited Brands & an International Educator of the Year. Register online
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Annual Campaign and Matching Funds Drive
Through December 31, every $1 equals $1.50 in support
The CCWA helps community members connect the dots between complex global issues and the local people and angles which illustrate their immediacy. Our members know this does not happen without financial resources. We are asking current members to renew their support now, during our newly-introduced Annual Campaign. This approach streamlines giving into a focused time-frame, as opposed to an ongoing renewal period that must be managed throughout the year. There is no better time to become a first-time member or to renew your support for our community and youth programs. Every $1 you give is matched with a 50% gift from a generous donor. This campaign only lasts through the end of 2010. Invest in our mission today!
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Council Fellows Fight Against Human Trafficking
Members of our afterschool leadership development program, Council Fellows, are celebrating their role in helping to pass Ohio legislation that would make human trafficking a felony offense. The bill -- SB235 -- passed both houses of Congress in the past two weeks. It was introduced over two years ago (by Senators Fedor and Grendell) and our student affiliates began their advocacy efforts last fall as part of a three-pronged approach to addressing the issue of Human Trafficking. They worked to 1. influence legislation, 2. provide assistance directly to victims, and 3. design activities to inform the broader public about the issue.
Human trafficking was chosen as Council Fellows campaign because it is both local and global in scope, and because it represents a chance to protect the freedoms of vulnerable individuals as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Though participation in the projects leading to this recent legislative victory have been a valuable learning experience for the student members carrying over from last year, the newly initiated Council Fellows who were accepted to the group this fall are still looking for ways to make a contribution to the process.
The group has been meeting to establish new goals to round out their formal commitment to ending modern day slavery. The group has decided to select a different issue to impact over the remainder of the program year. Our Director of Youth Programs invites the public to suggest ideas for Council Fellows' next campaign, by email or on our Facebook page. We are also accepting applications for new members to engage later this year. More information can be found at: http://columbusworldaffairs.org/what-we-do/youth-programs/council-fellows/. |
Brazil so much more than Samba and SupermodelsOn the heels of President Obama's recent diplomatic visit to India, author and New York Times journalist Larry Rohter spoke to a CCWA audience about another so-called "BRIC country," Brazil. This South American state is grouped together by this acronym with Russia, India, and China for its relatively fast ascendancy to its position as the eighth largest economy in the world. Rohter began writing his recently-published book in 2008 at which point Brazil's top export item was aircraft. A look at foreign trade data makes the relevance of this clear in the context of Ohio. The United State's share (via Ohio) of civilian aircraft, engines, and parts (our number 1 export) went down by nearly 30% between 2008 and 2009. Yet, Brazil also ranks sixth in the list of top importers of US goods via Ohio. Rohter's remarks did not center on a need to name winners or losers in the global push and pull of goods and services. He instead pointed to some important indicators -- economic and otherwise -- of Brazil's success and the routes it took to achieve this. He covered everything from daily life in Brazil, to the social programs which democratized education, to its selection as the host country for the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic games in 2016. A diverse crowd of over 200 attended this symposium, including a delegation of Brazilian nationals affiliated with the Center for Latin American studies at OSU. Their presence lent a decidedly "chic" feel to the event, illustrating (even if unintentionally) Brazil's reputation as a fashion powerhouse. You can view a video archive of this event on our vimeo page.
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Holiday gift options that appeal to the worldly sophisticates on your list
Order by noon on December 24
Columbus Council on World Affairs offers three choices for gift-giving:
1. A gift membership is a 100% tax-deductible donation in a loved one's name. This supports our general mission.
2. A gift certificate is a credit (partially tax-deductible) that recipients can apply to attend a CCWA program of his/her choice (like symposia luncheons and evening social events).
3. You may also sponsor a full ($70) or half ($35) Global Issues Retreat need-based scholarship, in your recipient's name. This would send a high school student on our annual Hocking Hills adventure, where they would spend time with peers from all over the globe.
All options include a note from Columbus Council on World Affairs announcing your gift, with photo images attached. These can be sent (via email) directly to the recipient or to you for personalization! Email Rhonda Nicholas or call her at 614-229-4599, ext. 401 to make arrangements.
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Featured Volunteer: Mohamed Mohamed
The "brain drain," or large-scale emigration of skilled individuals, is a phenomenon that often occurs in unstable or economically depressed countries. Somalia has been experiencing this trend since the outbreak of civil war in 1991. Mohamed Mohamed, a native of Somalia and now a senior studying Political Science and International Studies at the Ohio State University, plans to break this trend. After completing school, Mohamed intends to return to his native country and use his education and experience to help rebuild.
Mohamed moved to Ohio with his family in 1999 and attended school in the Columbus area. He has been an incredibly active member of the community. Not only has Mohamed been volunteering for the Columbus Council on World Affairs for two years, he also volunteers with the Columbus Chapter of the United Nations Association and interns at Mondokio International News. He has found that his knowledge of the Somali and Swahili languages have made him a great asset at Mondokio, a news website that translates international news articles from all over the world into English.
...read Mohamed's full profile on our website.
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Nominate an outstanding educatorThe Columbus Council on World Affairs annually honors one Central Ohioan as its International Educator of the Year. This awardee works with area school-age youth to instill global-mindedness. If you know someone who deserves recognition for such efforts, please nominate them using this online form: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q3G3VFG. The deadline for nominating an individual is December 16 so please act quickly to ensure that your nominee will have time to pursue the opportunity. We regret that we can not consider groups or teams.
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Organizational Updates
In Memory of Ted SorensenOur December 7 event, "The State of Women Internationally: Where Are We And Where Are We Going?" with Gillian Sorensen was canceled due to the passing of her husband, Ted Sorensen. Once the special counsel and adviser for President John F. Kennedy, Ted Sorensen is also known as an acclaimed writer and respected lawyer. Our thoughts are with the Sorensen family and we hope to reschedule this event in the future. In a published interview with the Foreign Policy Association, Mr. Sorensen once said,
"If there are not enough organizations like the World Affairs Councils and the Foreign Policy Association, if there is an inadequate job of education and informing the American people about the real world, our obligations, our responsibilities, our opportunities in that world, then sad to say, in a democracy we leave ourselves vulnerable to those who are going to paint the bleakest and blackest picture."
Facebook a place for YOU to share opinions, promote items
We've introduced our official Facebook page as a platform for community members to promote activities that complement the mission of the Columbus Council on World Affairs. This tool will also allow staff members to quickly update you on organizational matters and for anyone to begin or contribute to a discussion about relevant global issues and news topics. This medium will only be beneficial if our fans and friends contribute content. We encourage you to "like" us (first step to using this tool) at www.facebook.com/columbusworldaffairs.
CCWA innovation recognized by Tech Columbus
The Council has been nominated for this year's TechColumbus Innovation Award, which honors "individuals, companies, and technology teams who have imagined, inspired, and ignited technology and innovation in Central Ohio." We were nominated for using technology like Google Docs, Skype, SMS messaging, Facebook, and blogs to reach out to the community and coordinate groups of high school students involved in multi-school and multi-country projects. Furthermore, we've used technology to streamline operations in our small office and facilitate partnerships with other organizations.
Host an intern or short-term job shadow
In recent years, area high schools have begun building internship options into their graduation requirements. CCWA often receives requests from students interested in jobs that expose them to "anything international." In our office, we have limited capacity to respond to all requests. We invite our membership to make known their interest in hosting students for such opportunities. Our Director of Youth Programs is also considering a single-day global jobs fair at which your work could be featured. Please fill out this interest form to be included in any of these endeavors:www.surveymonkey.com/s/hostanintern
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US Commerce Department's Trade Information Center presents free webinars
On December 15 tune into the "Understanding Export Controls" webinar. For more information and to register, click here.
"Teaching About Asia" Seminar
The East Asian Studies Center at Ohio State University presents this seminar series on Thursdays from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm beginning January 13. For more information, visit the seminar website.
Global Job Postings
The Foreign Policy Association is a great resource for international jobs. Amongst their current listings is a posting for the Executive Director of the US-China Education Trust and a posting for a Research Associate for the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington, DC. To see all of the listings, check out their website. Other international job postings can be found on the US Department of State's website, here.
AIPT Seeks Organizations for Interns
The Association for International Practical Training is seeking organizations to hire interns from Korea's top universities. The US Department of State and President of Korea have decided to increase the number of Korean students studying and working in the US. Most of these interns are looking for positions in marketing, general business administration, quality assurance, and customer service. Interns are available for 6-12 months. AIPT takes care of the travel logistics and assuring that students speak English. Call AIPT at 415 889 9418 or visit their website for more information. |
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