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National High School Essay Contest: Republic of Azerbaijan
Congratulations to the Top Ten Winners and the Regional Finalists of the National High School Essay Contest on the Republic of Azerbaijan. Fifty Councils across the country participated in the essay contest in partnership with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for the 2011-2012 year. Ten Student Winners will be invited to participate in a ten day long Study Tour of Azerbaijan. More Information or visit the WACA Leadership Network/ Program Resources.
On May 22, 24, and 26, Azerbaijan will host the Eurovision Song Contest's Finals in its capital, Baku. Considered to be "Europe's most popular television show," Baku will be thrust into the international spotlight as over 125 million viewerswill tune in from around the world to watch the singers compete. You can tune in and watch the Eurovision Song Contest Finals here on May 22, 24, and 26 at 2 pm EDT. More information about the Eurovision Song Contest.
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Must Watch: Six Top Issues 2012 Election Live
Live Webcasts:
Wednesday May 16
#USEducation: CompetingGlobally Charting a Path in US Education Reform with Paul Vallas, Education Reformer and Former Superintendent of the Recovery School District of Louisiana, and others at the Wilson Center at 9:00 am EDT Watch Video
#NationalSecurity Election 2012: Informing the national security agenda: The US national security budget with Michele Flournoy, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, US Department of Defense, at the American Enterprise Institute at 1:00 pm EDT Watch Video
#China House Financial Services Committee hearing on Increasing Market Access for U.S. Financial Firms in China: Update on Progress of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue with testimony from Lael Brainard, Under Secretary, International Affairs, U.S. Department of the Treasury, and others at 2:00 pm EDT Watch Video
#Afghanistan/Pakistan House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on Assessing U.S. Foreign Policy Priorities and Needs Amidst Economic Challenges in South Asia with testimony from Robert O. Blake, Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, US Department of State; Nisha Desai Biswal, Assistant Administrator for Asia, US Agency for International Development; and Daniel Feldman, Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, US Department of State, at 2:00 pm EDT Watch Video
Visit our Virtual Library for videos of programs previously featured in Must Watch: Six Top Issues 2012 Election Live |
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Sign Our Petition! #Education
Did you know:
According to a recent Hart Research Associates Study of the high school graduating class of 2010:
Four in nine members of the class of 2010 say that based on what they know now they wish they had taken different courses in high school, with the largest proportion of these graduates saying they wish they had taken more math courses or more difficult math courses.
44% say that they wish they had taken different courses in high school. Among this group, 40% would have taken more or higher level math courses, 37% would have taken courses that would have trained them for a specific job, and 33% would have taken more or higher level science courses.
Let's Listen--and Improve: Sign our petition! Support the World Affairs Councils of America's efforts to make a difference in Educating the Next Generation.
WACA has posted our network endorsed Call to Action: Educating the Next Generation of Global Citizens as an online petition, calling on its members and the American public to show support for our network commitment to this important challenge!
WACA's 2011-2012 Education Committee, chaired by Claudia McBride, President, WAC of Philadelphia, and Heidi Shoup, President, WAC of D.C., is reviewing the K-12 education programs in the network and determining how to strengthen our education efforts. Visit the WACA Leadership Network/Share the Best Must Watch: Yale President Richard Levin on Education at the WACA 2011 National Conference
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Academic WorldQuest 2011-2012
The World Affairs Councils of America's 10th Annual Academic WorldQuest National Competition was a great success! Congratulations to the winners:
National Champion
Plano Senior High School
World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth
Second Place: Keystone School, World Affairs Council of San Antonio
Third Place: Walpole High School, WorldBoston
Fourth Place: Desert Christian Academy, World Affairs Council of the Desert
Thank you to our Sponsors: ExxonMobil, NATO, Lenovo
Thank you to our Partners: Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
More Information |
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2012 Spring Leadership Meeting
The 2012 WACA Council CEO Spring Leadership Meeting took place on Monday, April 30, in Denver, CO. The purpose of the Spring Leadership meeting was to provide our Council CEOs the opportunity to meet among themselves to exchange best practices and ideas for strengthening the local councils, the national council system and our ability to fulfill our mission to educate the American public on global issues. More information |
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Spotlight on Turkey
The World Affairs Council of America has selected teachers to participate in the Teacher Study Tour this summer as part of Spotlight on Turkey, sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America and the Turkish Cultural Foundation. The program focuses on giving an overview of Turkish history and culture in a broad context. It consists of a spring Teacher Workshop, a Teacher Study Tour in the summer, and public cultural programs in the fall. The program emphasizes classroom learning and public education about Turkey and its contributions to the global community. Click here to see the participating councils and their selected teachers for the summer Teacher Study Tour |
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Engage America Series: Understanding Muslim Societies
Six Top Issues-Middle East/Afghanistan-Pakistan/US Economic Competitiveness
The World Affairs Councils of America has been awarded a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York for a an Engage America Series entitled, Understanding Muslim Societies. This project is part of the Six Top Issues for US National Security Engage America Series that is being undertaken by the World Affairs Councils of America network between now and the 2012 election. 38 Regional World Affairs Councils have been selected to feature leading experts from Carnegie Corporation of New York programs and institutions who will address Understanding Muslim Societies. More information, or visit the WACA Leadership Network/Program Resources |
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World Affairs Councils Vote on Top Six 2012 Election Issues
2011 National Conference
In March, 2011, the World Affairs Councils of America released their network leadership survey results that concluded that the Six Top National Security Issues facing the United States in the run-up to the 2012 presidential election are: US Education--Competing Globally, US Energy Policy, Afghanistan/Pakistan, US Economic Competitiveness, Middle East, and China.
The survey results are guidng the programming of the National Network for the 2012 Election year. The WACA National Conference in November 2011 publicly launched the national network discussion of the Six Top Issues. Keynote speakers included Senator John McCain, (R-AZ); William J. Burns, Deputy Secretary of State; Stephen Hadley, former National Security Advisor; Senator Sam Nunn, Co-Chairman & CEO, Nuclear Threat Initiative; Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Adviser to President Jimmy Carter; Ambassador Marc Grossman, US Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan; NSA. Richard C. Levin, President of Yale University, delivered the opening keynote speech on US Education: Competing Globally with moderator Stone Phillips, former Dateline NBC Anchor.
The issues are being discussed and debated with the American public through local council and national office speaker programs, the WACA national high school competition, Academic WorldQuest, resources materials and videos in the WACA Virtual Library, Hot Topic conference calls, among other programs. The number one top national security issue that the network leadership voted for is US Education—Competing Globally. WACA has posted an online petition, unanimously supported by its leadership at its Annual Membership Meeting, on the importance of this challenge and has also launched a major review of its education programs nationwide to determine how the network can do more.
Six Top Issues press release 2011 National Conference 2011 National Conference Videos
Speaker Programs Hot Topics Calls Virtual Library Sign Our Petition!
2011 Leadership Meeting Videos 2011 Fall Leadership/Annual Membership Meeting Agenda |
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European Union National High School Outreach 2012
The World Affairs Councils of America has been awarded a contract by the Delegation of the European Union to the United States to conduct educational outreach to American high schools. WACA will be working with 13 local World Affairs Councils to implement the program in their communities as part of our Six Top National Security Issues programming -- US Education: Competing Globally. The program consists of visits and classroom presentations to secondary school students, primarily grades 9-12, by European officials in metropolitan regions of the United States. The objective of the program is to engage American students and teachers on a personal level to deepen their understanding and knowledge of the European Union. More information or visit the WACA Leadership Network/Program Resources. |
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World Affairs Councils of America Vote on 2013 Six Top National Security Issues
Save the Date! Annual National Conference November 7-9, 2012
On March 22, 2012, The World Affairs Councils of America released its national network leadership survey results that determined the Six Top National Security Issues facing the United States for 2013. The issues are: US Economic Competitiveness, Afghanistan/Pakistan, US Education: Competing Globally, China, Middle East, US Energy Policy
The survey, which was conducted March 8-15, 2012, asked the council leadership from almost 100 non-partisan, non-profit educational World Affairs Councils from across the country to determine the Six Top National Security Issue areas that need to be debated and discussed in 2013.
The Six Top Issues for 2013 will play a central role in the World Affairs Councils of America’s national network 2013 effort to educate and engage the American public. The public discussion of these 2013 Six Top National Security issues will be launched at WACA’s 2012 National Conference, November 7-9, 2012 in Washington, DC at the Mayflower Hotel. National Conference Agenda
Press Release |
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Hot Topics Conference Call
On May 3, the World Affairs Councils of America hosted Voice of America Russia/CIS Bureau Chief James Brooke for a Hot Topics Conference Call on Russia and Putin: Reset or Rerun?. Mr. Brooke talked about Russian president-elect Vladimir Putin's upcoming May 7 inauguration and what Russia will look like under another Putin presidency. The call was moderated by Dr. Lori E. Murray, President and CEO of WACA. Listen to the audio in the Virtual Library (scroll to Hot Topics at the bottom). Download from iTunes here.
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WACA in the Huffington Post
The Huffington Post featured a piece written by Dr. Lori E. Murray, WACA President & CEO, on the 2012 Foreign Policy Campaign Debates. Read the Article
Dr. Murray argues that the divide no longer exists between foreign and domestic policy and calls on the American political debates to reflect that reality. She draws on our WACA leadership vote on the Six Top National Security Issues for the 2012 Election and WACA National Discussion on the Six Top Issues launched at the 2011 National Conference to support the point. |
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WACA Virtual Library
#NationalSecurity The Efficacy and Ethics of US Counterterrorism Strategy with John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, at the Woodrow Wilson Center 4/30/12 Watch Video
View More Virtual Library
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Washington D.C.
From June 25-29, 2012, the World Affairs Council - Washington, DC convenes its 22nd annual Summer Institute on International Affairs for high school educators and administrators June 25-29. Sessions offer teachers from across the US the opportunity to interact with foreign policy experts and other educators, while expanding their knowledge base and developing skills to bring global issues into the classroom. Site visits include embassies and major international organizations in DC.
Join the World Affairs Council - Washington, DC for an intensive, week-long seminar and gain access to experts in the field as we explore: Global economics, Nuclear proliferation, Global warming, Failed states and democratization, and Classroom resources. Registration fee $350 ($300 before April 12). Final registration by May 18.
Foreign Policy Association
The Foreign Policy Association presents its Spring 2012 Global Career Boot Camps - offering expert-led instruction, networking opportunities, and invaluable access to resources for global professionals.
This spring, courses will be offered on:
Global Careers, International Development, International Exchange & Education, and Global Finance.
- New York City: April 17, 18, 24, 25
- Washington D.C.: May 1, 2, 3
- Boston: May 15, 16
For more information and the details for your city, please visit www.fpau.org or email fpau@fpa.org.
  On June 27th-29th, 2012, The Foreign Policy Association will host its eighth annual Great Decisions Teacher Training Institute in New York City.
High school educators from across the United States are invited to participate in a unique professional development program to enhance their ability to teach U.S. foreign policy and global affairs by using FPA's Great Decisions materials. At the 2012 Institute, educators will:
- Learn about the Great Decisions 2012 materials
- Participate in interactive briefings with experts on Great Decisions 2012 topics
- Work with experienced teachers to develop lesson plans, share resources and best practices
- Test their lesson plans with a "pilot classroom" of student volunteers
The Great Decisions 2012 topics that will be addressed at the Institute include: Middle East realignment, Promoting democracy, Mexico, Cybersecurity, Exit from Afghanistan & Iraq, Energy geopolitics. Additional topics and speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. More Information
To apply for the Institute, please download an application and return it to FPA by May 18, 2012.
Philadelphia
The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia
would like to announce the following Travel The World tour:
From October 2-14, 2012, explore the ancient cities of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, understand the civilizations that created them and, with insights from Montana World Affairs Council's Ambassador Mark Johnson, learn about the political issues that dominate the region. Embark the 114-guest, all-suite Corinthian II in Istanbul, sail to Ephesus, Troy, Israel, Egypt, Crete, Santorini, and end in Istanbul. Ambassador Mark Johnson and an archaeologist will lecture. Now from $5,495. Savings of up to $6,000 per person. Single supplement of just $1,295!
Contact Travel the World, a flagship program of World Affairs Councils of America, in Philadelphia at 1-800-942-5004 x 209 or x 217 and speak to Joan Russell or Shoshana Altrichter. Visit http://www.wacphila.org/travel/ for a complete list of trips around the world including our legal travel opportunities to Cuba.
On May 10, the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia will host U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, The Hon. Marc Grossman. Ambassador Grossman, a former chairman of the World Affairs Councils of America, has long been a favorite of Council audiences, who will be anxious to hear about his important work in this crucial area of the world. The Philadelphia Inquirer's foreign affairs columnist, Trudy Rubin, will join the conversation.
On May 23, America in the World: Obama's Foreign Policy will be the topic of a panel discussion for the Philadelphia Council's members and guests. Expert panelists include: Fawaz Gerges, Director, Middle East Centre, London School of Economics; Michael D. Swaine, Senior Associate of the Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; and Charles A. Kupchan, Council on Foreign Relations Whitney Shepardson senior fellow.
Dallas/Fort Worth
Explore how the rules of this new era, defined by Googlization, social networking and 24/7 connectivity, have, despite incredible benefits, fostered inequality resulting in movements like Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party. Go beyond the pages with the Council and The Economist as you submit your questions live, helping to guide the conversation in this free, interactive webinar.
In order to participate:
1. Register for a Global I.Q. with The Economist webinar
2. A reminder email will be sent to you an hour before the program
3. Click the link in the message to access the webinar
4. Enjoy the program from your desktop!
Alaska
On May 4, the Alaska World Affairs Councilwill host a Lunch Program with Kathy Calvin, Chief Executive Officer of the United Nations Foundation. The UN Foundation was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner's historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities. Ms. Calvin will be speaking about "Alaska & the UN: More connected than you know."
On May 11, the Alaska WAC will host a Lunch Program with Ed Chow, a senior fellow in the Energy and National Security Program at CSIS. Ed Chow is an international energy expert with 30 years of oil industry experience. Mr. Chow will be speaking about, "Shifting the International Petroleum Landscape."
Atlanta
 On May 9, the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, in cooperation with the European members of the Atlanta Consular Corps, will host a Europe Day Celebration featuring World Affairs Councils of America's Chair, the Honorable Paula Dobriansky, former U.S. Secretary of State for Democracy & Global Affairs, Special Envoy to Northern Ireland and Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Ambassador Dobrianskywill be introduced by Mr. Dennis Lockhart, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and Chairman of the Board of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta.
On May 21, the WAC of Atlanta, in cooperation with CARE USA and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), will present the "Atlanta Summit: Sustaining American Leadership in Global Health and Water." The Summit - keynoted by Senator Johnny Isakson and other prominent figures in government and global health, such as Dr. Helene Gayle, President and CEO of CARE, Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the CDC, J. Stephen Morrison, Director of CSIS's Global Health Policy Center, and Cheryl Scott, Senior Advisor, Global Health Program, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - will highlight the vibrant partnerships between government, global businesses, NGOs, universities, and others that make Atlanta a center of excellence in global health. The conference will look at how the United States, even in the midst of fiscal austerity and political division, can best sustain its leadership in improving the world's health. This program will be live streamed, details to follow.
Boston
On May 8, WorldBoston will host Ciaran Martin, Director of Security and Intelligence in the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom, for Cybersecurity: New Age Defense as part of its Great Decisions 2012 program.
On May 10, WorldBoston will host a dinner and reception with General David McKiernan (U.S. Army, Retired), Commander of U.S. and Coalition forces in Afghanistan from 2008 - 2009. He will address how the United States is managing its strategic priorities in a time of fiscal constraint. In particular, he will shed light on the status of U.S. military engagement in Iraq, the evolution of strategy in Afghanistan, and U.S. policy options for flashpoints across the Middle East.
On May 14, WorldBoston will host author Kendall Hoyt for a discussion on Longshot: Vaccines for National Defense as part of their Chat and Chowda Author Series. Anthrax, SARS, swine flu and other deadly threats -- Kendall Hoyt's investigation takes a long-needed look at policies toward emerging biodefense threats and our capability for responding to 21st century health emergencies. Dr. Hoyt, an assistant professor at Dartmouth Medical School and former International Security Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center, will present her findings.
On May 17, WorldBoston will host Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, Vice Chair (Ret.) of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and Samuel Tadros, Hudson Institute Fellow, for a program on A Community Under Siege: Do Coptic Christians Have a Future in Egypt? This event is the second in an innovative American Jewish Committee series addressing the consequential tension between faith and pluralism in the New Middle East.
Charleston
 On May 16, Dr. Donald Sparkswill address the Charleston Foreign Affairs Forum for their last meeting of the season. Dr. Sparks will lecture on the topic, "The Euro and Its Future for Europe." Dr. Sparks is a Professor of International Economics at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina and also serves as an Adjunct Professor in International Business and Law at the University of Innsbruck in Innsbruck, Austria, He is also President of the South Carolina Chapter of the Fulbright Association.
Charlotte
On May 17, the World Affairs Council of Charlotte will hostLorne W. Craner, President of the International Republican Institute (IRI), and Kenneth Wollack, President of the National Democratic Institute, for an Arab Spring Panel. This program is sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America.
On May 24, the WAC of Charlotte will host Dr. Rafael Espada, former Vice President of Guatemala, as part of their Speaker Series program. In January 2012, Guatemala began its first term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Guatemala is expected to hold the Security Council presidency in October 2012. Guatemala's major diplomatic interests are regional security, sustainable development, and economic integration. Guatemala participates in several regional groups, particularly those related to trade and the environment.
Columbus
On May 2, the Columbus Council on World Affairs will host Dr. Ernesto Zedillo,President of Mexico 1994-2000, as part of the Signature Luncheon series. Since leaving office, Dr. Zedillo has continued to be a leading voice on globalization and currently serves as the Director of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization. He will speak on the timely topic of relations between the U.S. and Latin America. The Council has arranged for Dr. Zedillo to also visit The Ohio State University, where he will speak to faculty and students about "Weak Governance: Globalization's Achilles Heel."
On June 5, Dr. Christine Boyle, a research fellow for the University of North Carolina's School of Government and the Chinese Academy of Science in Beijing, will share her insights into China's mounting water-energy crisis and its global implications. Following 30 years of massive economic growth, China faces the duel problems of severe water deficits and increasing demand for power. This competition for resources threatens China's continued progress.
Special WACA Benefit: Both of these programs can be viewed for free via live stream or as an online video after the event. For more information, contact Shannon McAfee, Director of Public Programs, at smcafee@columbusworldaffairs.org.
Greater Hampton Roads
On May 17, the World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads will host Anne Korin, Co-Director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, for a program on "Turning Oil into Salt: How to reduce the strategic importance of oil and why it must be done."
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