A Message From the President of SDWAC
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Dear fellow SDWAC members and friends:
May has proved to be yet another busy and productive month for the Council. After the excellent and well-attended talk on economic sanctions by Serena Moe (discussed in our last newsletter) at the offices of our corporate partner Procopio in Carmel Valley, SDWAC followed up three days later with another impressive presentation. On May 4, the Consul General of Singapore in San Francisco, Christopher Cheang, addressed a SDWAC audience in the Sanford Education Center Auditorium on National University’s Torrey Pines campus. Consul General Cheang gave a wide-ranging presentation followed by a lengthy Q&A session. Mr. Cheang was refreshingly candid, forthright and good-humored in discussing the shifting international political climate in light of the new U.S. administration, its rejection of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), regional security issues including the South China Sea, and sensitive domestic socioeconomic and political issues in Singapore. We appreciate National University’s allowing the Council use of its wonderful facility and welcome the involvement of NU students and faculty in our events.
On May 11, five members of SDWAC’s Executive Committee, including your faithful scribe, participated in a small luncheon, co-hosted by our corporate partner Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek, featuring remarks by the Israeli Consul General in Los Angeles, Sam Grundwerg. Mr. Grundwerg, who took up his duties in 2016,provided an overview of Israel’s position on the world stage, with emphasis on diplomatic and trade inroads the country has made in recent years with partners as diverse as India, Singapore, Australia and Turkey. While noting the sense of optimism among many Israelis about relations with the U.S. under the Trump administration, the Consul General gave forthright replies to tough questions about pending legislation affirming Israel as a Jewish state, the suspended state of the peace process with the Palestinians, and the issue of settlements on the West Bank.
We look forward with anticipation to our next event, a talk on June 5 by Dr. Joel Day, Executive Director of the City of San Diego’s Human Relations Commission and International Affairs Board, at the AMN Healthcare building on High Bluff Drive. Joel, a member of SDWAC’s board of directors, will address “City Diplomacy in the 21st Century.” It’s worth noting that an area of academic expertise and continuing professional interest for Joel is homeland security and countering violent extremism. He’s engaged in the important work of building partnerships, civil society and resilience in San Diego’s many diverse neighborhoods.
A reminder to all to save the date for the June 17 Annual Meeting, with our guest speaker, East Asia expert and ex-senior State Department official Evans Revere, who will discuss “Rising Tensions on the Korean Peninsula: How Does This End?” I daresay we’re all interested in any answers Evans might be able to supply to that question. And since this is one of the two big events on the Council’s annual calendar, a strong turnout at the St. James by-the-Sea Parish Hall in La Jolla would be a boon to our growing organization.
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Upcoming Events
Click here to see SDWAC events on our website
Monday, June 5, 2017
"City Diplomacy in the 21st Century"
Joel Day, Executive Director
City of San Diego Human Relations Commission
and International Affairs Board
Over half of the world’s population lives in cities, making the “global city” more significant than ever as a principal actor in world affairs. Cities increasingly are bypassing their national governments to work directly with one another on issues ranging from peace and security to business and climate change. According to political theorist Benjamin Barber, city mayors are often more productive than their counterparts in gridlocked Washington, D.C.
Dr. Joel Day will discuss this transformative trend in global politics, paying special attention to how cities practice diplomacy. Dr. Day ultimately argues that global cities are permanently transforming international relations, foreign policy and geopolitics.
About Our Speaker
Joel Day is a Visiting Research Scholar at the Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego and an Executive Director at the City of San Diego, where he advises the Mayor and City Council on human rights and global engagement. He previously served as professor of security and global studies at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and as research fellow at the Sié Center for International Security and Diplomacy at the University of Denver. Dr. Day holds a Ph.D. in international studies from the University of Denver, an M.A. in international relations from the University of San Diego, and a B.A. in political science from Point Loma Nazarene University. His research has been published in the Small Wars Journal, the Journal of Peace Research, Perspectives on Terrorism, and the Journal of Strategic Security. He has provided commentary to many national news outlets.
Monday, June 5, 2017
Time
6:00-6:30 PM Registration & Reception
6:30-8:00 PM Presentation
Location:
AMN Healthcare Boardroom
12400 High Bluff Drive
San Diego CA, 92130
North County Chapter Events
The complicated world we live in is illuminated a bit more every week at the North County Chapter’s Thursday Morning Forum in Rancho Bernardo. Forums begin at 9:30 a.m. with a coffee social and registration, followed at 10 a.m. with a one-hour program and one hour of polite, but freewheeling, Q&A.
Unless otherwise indicated, North County Chapter Thursday Morning Forums are held at The Remington Club, Phase II, 16916 Hierba Drive, Rancho Bernardo. Free parking is available at the adjacent shopping center.
May 18, 2017: "Lithuania: At the Heart of Historic Action – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow." Darius Gaidys, Consul General for Lithuania in Los Angeles, and Simona Valanciute, President and CEO of San Diego Oasis, will discuss Lithuania's ongoing challenges. Member reservations for a round table lunch following the presentation may be made by contacting Phyllis Murchland at pmurchland@san.rr.com
9:30 a.m. Coffee Social
10:00 a.m. Free Program
11:10 a.m. Question & Answer
May 25, 2017: "Trade Routes and the Evolving Geopolitics of the Middle East." North County Chapter member Robert Meyer (Ph.D.) will discuss how the geography of the Middle East made it a center of global trade routes for most of its history and how economic growth trends in China and India may partly restore the region as a global trade route hub, perhaps heightening its geopolitical importance and economic fortunes. Dr. Meyer has had a long interest in history and world affairs, especially regarding the Middle East and North Africa.
9:30 a.m. Coffee Social
10:00 a.m. Free Program
11:10 a.m. Question & Answer
For further information please e-mail TPReeve72@gmail.com.
Upcoming events of the San Diego World Affairs Council and the North County Chapter can be seen on www.sdwac.org.
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Wednesday, May 10, 2017
French Elections: Macron's Victory; EU and the UK; Iran; Turmoil in South Sudan; Syria; Nigeria and Somalia; and North Korea
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Quote of the Week:
"I know the divisions of our country have drive some to the extreme. I respect them. I know the anger, anxiety, and doubts that many have expressed."
-- Emmanuel Macron , President-elect of France, in his Sunday victory speech.
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French Elections: Macron's Victory
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"6 Things to Watch as Macron Takes Office in France " Sean Illing -- Vox, May 9, 2017
"Is France's Political Crisis Just Beginning? " Uri Friedman -- The Atlantic, May 7, 2017
"The Macron Hack Was a Warning Shot" Nathalie Marechal -- Slate Magazine, May 7, 2017
"French Election: Centrist Emmanuel Macron Wins Presidency Over Marine Le Pen" Nancy Ing, Saphora Smith, and Daniella Silva -- NBC News, May 7, 2017
"Why Macron Won: Luck, Skill and France's Dark History" Adam Nossiter -- New York Times, May 7, 2017.
"Iran's Presidential Candidates Vow to Uphold Nuclear Deal in Televised Debate " Erin Cunningham -- Washington Post, May 5, 2017
"Iranian Coal Miners, Furious Over Deaths, Confront President" Thomas Erdbrink -- The New York Times, May 8, 2017
"Russia: Syrian Safe Zones Plan Comes into Effect" -- Al-Jazeera, May 5, 2017
"Syria's Kurds March on to Raqqa and the Sea" -- The Guardian, May 6, 2017
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Mission Statement:
The San Diego World Affairs Council is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to educating and engaging San Diegans in global issues, international relations, and cultural understanding
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Contact Us:
San Diego World Affairs Council
113 West G Street #601
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 325-8200
Email: sdwac@sdwac.org
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www.sdwac.org
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