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PDFApril 15, 2009. The Center for International Media Assistance at the National Endowment for Democracy – luncheon presentation on Engaging Citizens in Peace: Media and Communication Development Strategies in Post-conflict and Fragile States.
Speakers: Deborah Jones, Search for Common Ground; Theo Dolan, U.S. Institute for Peace; Mark Koenig, U.S. Agency for International Development. Moderated by: Shanthi Kalathil, World Bank
12-2:00 p.m. (Lunch served from 12:00-12:30 p.m.). National Endowment for Democracy, 1025 F Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004. RSVP to CIMA@ned.org
In post-conflict societies, organizations such as Search for Common Ground and the U.S. Institute for Peace, argue that an effective media development strategy is an integral part of creating an atmosphere where democratic processes can develop. Transforming relationships between citizens and their governments through the use of innovative media initiatives ensures that a dialogue emerges for stakeholders to express their ideas as both consumers and producers of information. How do development experts and governance advisors approach media assistance strategies in post-conflict societies? Do they engage citizens in the process of building trustworthy, independent media institutions and communication spaces? If not, how can they build citizen participation into democracy assistance and media development strategies without being considered a threat by the government? What challenges do they face in creating an institution that citizens trust and view as a credible source of information?
April 15, 2009. The Center for International Private Enterprise roundtable discussion on Political and Economic Direction of Colombia with Roberto Steiner, Executive Director, Fedesarrollo, Colombia. 12:00 – 1:30 pm. Center for International Private Enterprise, Madison Office Building, 1155 15th Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20005. Lunch will be served. *Please note that all remarks will be off the record.*
Colombia’s political direction is uncertain with the prospect of President Uribe reforming the Constitution once again and seeking a third term in office. The reelection debate has taken attention away from how Colombia should respond to the global financial crisis and has created uncertainty about Colombia’s political future.
The Foundation for Superior Education and Development (Fedesarrollo) is one of the most respected think tanks in Latin America. For the past four years, CIPE has been working with Fedesarrollo to implement a legislative advisory project on economic issues. Fedesarrollo’s policy briefs on economic reforms have served as the basis for discussion in the legislature and by the constitutional court, providing much-needed objective analysis of the needs and consequences of intended of reforms. RSVP to rsvp@cipe.org
April 15, 2009. 12:30 – 2:00pm Current and Future Conflict in Eurasia. Speaker: Robert D. Kaplan, Senior Fellow, CNAS & Correspondent, The Atlantic Monthly. The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) cordially invites you to attend an exclusive press briefing of Robert Kaplan’s forthcoming article in Foreign Policy magazine entitled “The Revenge of Geography.” The briefing will take place Wednesday, April 15, 2009, from 12:30pm to 2:00pm, at the Center for a New American Security (1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 403). Please RSVP online here to reserve a seat.
Advance copies of the article will be distributed at the briefing on Wednesday.
True to Robert Kaplan’s repertoire, “The Revenge of Geography” is a must-read for understanding the nature of today’s current and potential conflicts in Eurasia. Kaplan argues that Eurasia has become, “an organic whole,” one that “will eventually be as claustrophobic as Israel and the Palestinian territories, with geography controlling everything and no room to maneuver.” He describes four shatter zones, or areas more prone to conflict, that threaten to “implode, explode, or maintain a fragile equilibrium.” These shatter zones include the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian Peninsula, the Fertile Crescent, and the Persian core. Kaplan’s eye opening analysis of these regions should be required reading for anyone in the national security arena.
Kaplan will speak for about 20 minutes. Q&A and open discussion will follow. Please join what promises to be an insightful discussion. Lunch will be served.
Venue: Center for a New American Security, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 403, Washington, DC 20004 To register on-line, Click Here To register by e-mail: info@cnas.org Or, call: (202) 457-9427
April 15, 2009. International Conference: Religious Freedom in China on the 10th Anniversary of Falun Gong’s Ban in China. An expert panel to examine Beijing’s campaign of persecution against Falun Gong spiritual movement. Hosted by Edward McMillan-Scott, Vice President of European Parliament. Time: 10h30 am-12h00 pm. Venue: Jan 6Q1, European Parliament, Rue Wiertz 60, 1047 Brussels, Belgium. Invited panel speakers include: Mr. Ethan Gutmann, Award-winning writer and investigative reporter on China issues; Mr. Georges-Henri Beauthier, Prominent human rights lawyer; Mr. David Matas, Renowned award-winning international human rights lawyer (Canada); Mr. Willy Fautre, Director, Human Rights without Frontiers International; Mr. Weiguang Zhong, China specialist and commentator for BBC and Radio Free Asia; Mr. Erping Zhang, Director, Association for Asian Research and Falun Gong spokesperson. Joined by: Mr. Li Fengzhi, a former senior intelligence officer of Chinese State Security Ministry. RSVP to Ms.Camilla Bougrine,Email: edward.mcmillan-scott@europarl.europa.eu, Tel: +32 228 37959. Mr. Nicolas Schols, Email: s.nicolas@skynet.be, Tel: +32 479 875734.
April 16, 2009. De-Radicalization in Egypt, Algeria, and Libya. Panel: Omar Ashour, Lt. Col. Rudolph Atallah, and Christopher Boucek. 1 – 2:30 p.m. Location: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington DC.
Counter-radicalization and disengagement programs for violent extremists in the Arab world continue to produce intriguing results. As counterterrorism policies move away from purely military solutions. Such programs are growing in popularity and they now play a part in most national counterterrorism strategies. Little is known, however, about how North African governments have sought to disengage violent Islamists. Omar Ashour will discuss the Egyptian, Algerian, and Libyan counter-radicalization programs, drawing on his original field research in North Africa. A light lunch will be served.
April 20, 2009. Civil Society under Siege: Violence, Justice and Impunity in Medvedev’s Russia. Speakers: Lyudmila Alekseyeva, a veteran of the Soviet dissident movement and chair of the Moscow Helsinki Group, the oldest human rights organization in Russia, will discuss the rise of violence against journalists and human rights defenders, attack on freedom of expression and current challenges for civil society in Russia. Andrey Yurov and Dmitry Makarov of the Youth Human Rights Movement will share their views on youth activism in Russia’s political life.
Civil society in Russia continues to face growing challenges from many fronts amidst a rapidly deteriorating human rights situation. In additional to legal and bureaucratic restrictions, violence against journalists and human rights defenders is on the rise. The recent murders of Magomed Yevloyev, Stanislav Markelov, and Anastasia Baburova, as well as the attack on Lev Ponomarev, are just the latest examples of an ever growing atmosphere of violence and impunity. The justice sector, plagued by pressure from the Kremlin, corruption, and a lack of professionalism, has so far proven unwilling or unable to find or prosecute perpetrators of the violence. Which role can civil society play to propose a positive agenda for changes?
Join a discussion with some of Russia’s leading human rights defenders on the challenges they face and how they are adapting their strategies to continue the defense of human rights in today’s Russia.
2:00-3:30 p.m. 1319 Eighteenth St., NW, Heldref Publications Building, Washington, DC RSVP to Postnikova@freedomhouse.org or 202-747-7038.
April 20, 2009. Democracy and Governance Program and Mortara Center for International Studies, Georgetown University presents Charles Kupchan, Georgetown University and Council on Foreign Relations, on “The Autonomy Principle” 6:30-8:00 PM, Mortara Center, Georgetown University, 36th and N Streets, Washington, DC 20007.
As its global dominance wanes, the United States should take the lead in fashioning a more diverse and inclusive global order. The terms of the next order should be negotiated among all states, be they democratic or not, that provide responsible governance and broadly promote the autonomy and welfare of their citizens. Discussants: Daniel Brumberg, Georgetown University and the US Institute of Peace; Eric Goldstein, Human Rights Watch; Kenneth Wollack, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. Panel co-chairs: Carol Lancaster, Georgetown University; Eusebio Mujal-León, Georgetown University. RSVP or call 202-687-0596.
April 21, 2009. Reestablishing U.S. Leadership on Human Rights & National Security: Accomplishments of the First 100 Days and Next Steps for the Obama Administration. Presented by Human Rights First. Speakers: The Honorable Madeleine K. Albright, U.S. Secretary of State 1997-2001; Honorable Chuck Hagel, U.S. Senator 1997-2009. Panelists include: Bahey Eddin Hassan has served as director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies since 1994. He is a founding member of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights and served as its Secretary General from 1988 to 1993. Karinna Moskalenko is Director of the International Protection Centre in Moscow and Russia’s leading human rights lawyer. She has defended Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Garry Kasparov, Alexander Litvinenko and numerous Russian human rights defenders facing persecution.
8:30 AM – 1:00 PM. The Freedom Forum at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave., 8th Floor, N.W., Washington, DC. RSVP: DiBelloS@humanrightsfirst.org
April 21, 2009. The Center for International Media Assistance and the Asia Program at the National Endowment for Democracy present Blogosphere of Influence: Internet Press Freedom in Malaysia. Featuring: Premesh Chandran, Malaysiakini.com; Bridget Welsh, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University; Sarah Cook, Freedom House. Moderated by: John Knaus, National Endowment for Democracy. 9:30-11:30 a.m. NED, 1025 F Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004. RSVP by Monday, April 20 to CIMA@ned.org
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, online journalists in Malaysia report more freely than their traditional media counterparts, who are subject to strong governmental intimidation and restrictions. Internet publications, such as Malaysiakini, frequently cover stories on government corruption, minority rights demonstrations, and opposition parties. With well over half of the population accessing the Internet, according to the International Telecommunications Union, online media have increased citizens’ access to alternative news and information sources, challenging the government’s monopoly on coverage.
Premesh Chandran will discuss key strategies that have worked for his site, Malaysiakini, and other new approaches being developed to deal with recent moves by the government to restrict freedom of the press online. Bridget Welsh of Johns Hopkins University’s SAIS will provide an overview of the contemporary political context in Malaysia and how new media are perceived as a threat by some in the current government. Sarah Cook will share findings about Malaysia from Freedom on the Net, a new study by Freedom House on Internet rights, and how online freedoms in Malaysia compare with those in other countries.
22 April 2009. “The USA and Europe: Drifting Apart or Coming Together?” Speaker: Dr. Jamie Shea, Director of Policy Planning, NATO Headquarters.
By kind invitation of Gisela Stuart, MP, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Transatlantic & International Security is pleased to invite you to a discussion with Dr. Jamie Shea. Dr. Shea will address the future of the US-Europe relationship, a very contentious and relevant topic given the recent NATO Summit in Strasbourg, and President Obama’s attempts to revitalise the transatlantic alliance.
In a town hall meeting on Friday evening, Obama firmly stated the role of Europe in both the fight against Islamist extremism, and closure of Guantanamo. But his efforts were somewhat undone by the vexed issue of NATO’s record in Afghanistan, where only Britain responded – and even then half-heartedly – to his request for additional troops to support the combined mission there. With France and Germany promising only assistance, and other nations offering tens of troops rather than the thousands required, was the summit therefore a failure? And despite the reintegration of France into the military structure and the entry of two new members in the form of Albania and Croatia, is NATO now in danger of sinking into irrelevance as an effective alliance?
5.30pm, Committee Room 10, House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1. RSVP to:kyra.choucroun@henryjacksonsociety.org
