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Week of April 21
Academic WorldQuest National Competition

The 2014 Academic WorldQuest National Competition will take place this Saturday, April 26 at the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center in Washington, DC. Read about last year's Academic WorldQuest National Competition here.

 

You are invited to compete at home as this year's National Competition will be livestreamed on our homepage. Please follow along on twitter and facebook with the hashtag #AWQ2014.

 

Rosetta Stone is graciously sponsoring the following prizes for the first and second place teams:

 

National Competition Prizes

 

First Place

Online subscription (12 months) to 

Rosetta Stone Language Learning 

Four students can each choose from over 30 languages

 

Second Place 

Online subscription (six months) to 

Rosetta Stone Language Learning 

Four students can each choose from over 30 languages 

 

 

 

Thank you to Rosetta Stone for their generous contribution. Special thanks also to Bill and Judy Wheelock and Michael Phillip for their generous financial support.

  

The Embassy of Singapore and Ambassador Ashok Kumar Mirpuri will host an embassy reception for students and teachers from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM on Friday, April 25. 

 
Schedule of Events
Friday, April 25, 2014
 
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Registration Table Open
 
4:30 PM: Buses depart for Welcome Reception
 
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Welcome Reception, Embassy of the Republic of Singapore 
 
Saturday, April 26, 2014
 
8:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Competition
 
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch and Discussion with Egyptian Students
This year's competition will be moderated by Bill Clifford, President & CEO of the World Affairs Councils of America.
 

All questions for the competition will be sourced from the official Study Guide. Rules and regulations for the competition can also be found in the Study Guide. 

  

Hot Topics
The World Affairs Councils of America will host a Hot Topics Conference Call with Dr. Chris Field, Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Working Group II, on tomorrow, Earth Day, at 2:00 PM ET. Full Details
 
The IPCC's Working Group II recently released the Fifth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability.
 
Dr. Field will discuss the findings of the report and answer your questions. We encourage you to take advantage of the resources below to familiarize yourself with the report and the issues we face regarding climate change.
 
To receive dial-in instructions, reply to this email or write ibyrne@worldaffairscouncils.org.
  


Dr. Chris Field is the founding director of the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology, Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies at Stanford University, and Faculty Director of Stanford's Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. Field's research emphasizes impacts of climate change, from the molecular to the global scale. Full Bio  

 

2014 European Union Outreach

This month, we kick off our newest program with the European Union Delegation to the U.S. With Europe Day (May 9) as a focal point, the program is designed to raise awareness, knowledge, and understanding about EU policies, the EU's role as an international actor, and the value of the EU-U.S. relationship. Activities will highlight the impact of local and regional economic, social, and cultural connections to Europe. More Information

  

Events this month include:

  

April 28 -- World Affairs Council of Las Vegas 

 

Future of Korea 2014

We continue our collaboration with the Korean Economic Institute on the Future of Korea. This program features expert panels consisting of one representative each from the U.S. Department of State, the Korean Embassy, KEI, or other relevant institutions. The panelists typically offer a general overview presentation, followed by a Q&A period. The speakers address political, security, economic, and financial issues pertaining to the Korean Peninsula and U.S.-Korea relations. More Information

  

Recent events included:

  

April 15 -- Alabama World Affairs Council

 
Understanding Muslim Societies
Carnegie Logo
The World Affairs Councils of America, with the generous support of Carnegie Corporation of New York, continues its very successful Engage America Series Understanding Muslim Societies. The program will be held throughout 2014 and focuses on countries in the Middle East, as well as Afghanistan/Pakistan, and those relevant rising economic powers that are competing globally with the United States, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

  

Events this month include:

  

  

April 29 -- Institute of World Affairs (Milwaukee, WI)

  

April 30 -- WorldBoston

 

 

 
The World Affairs Councils of America hosted a 1918 Society Conference Call with Susan Glasser on April 16.
 

Susan Glasser is editor of POLITICO Magazine. Previously, she was editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy for several years, during which the magazine won several awards. Glasser was a foreign correspondent, editor, and political reporter for The Washington Post. She spent four years as co-chief of thePost's Moscow Bureau with her husband Peter Baker, now White House Correspondent for The New York Times.  Full Bio

 

If you would like learn more about the 1918 Society, please write to ibyrne@worldaffairscouncils.org.

Weekly Highlights

April 21, Monday

The San Diego World Affairs Council hosts Carroll Bogert, Deputy Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, for "U.S. Leadership in the 21st Century: the Human Rights Viewpoint." Details

 

The World Affairs Council - Washington, DC hosts Shadi Hamid, Brookings Fellow, for "The Temptations of Power: Islamists and Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg hosts Andrew Strauss, Associate Dean for Faculty and Strategic Initiatives at Widener School of Law, for a Great Decisions discussion: "Islamic Awakening." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Houston hosts Elizabeth Rosenberg, Center for a New American Security, for "Oil and Natural Gas as a Tool Against Putin?" Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads hosts General Jean-Paul Palom�ros, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation of NATO, for NATO Fest. Details

 

April 22, Tuesday

The San Diego World Affairs Council hosts a Great Decisions discussion: "Part III - Turkey's Challenges." Details

 

The Colorado Springs World Affairs Council hosts author Dr. Norman G. Finkelstein for "Resolving the Israel-Palestine Conflict: What's Possible, What's Not?" Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Jacksonville hosts Shahid Khan, President and Owner of Flex-N-Gate Corporation, for "A World of Opportunities: What Makes an Entrepreneur Successful?" Details

 

The World Affairs Council of the Quad Cities hosts Tasmiha Khan, Founder of Brighter Dawns, for "Interfaith Youth Core: A Model for Cooperation." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Houston hosts Dr. Joshua Walker, German Marshall Fund, for "Turkey at the Crossroads." Details

 

The Vermont Council on World Affairs hosts author Mike Bond for a discussion on his book, "The Last Savannah." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Prof. Glennys Young, University of Washington, for "Educator Workshop: Understanding Ukraine." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Seattle hosts Prof. Scott Radnits, Henry M. Jackson School for International Studies at the University of Washington, for "The Mind of Vladimir Putin." Details

 

April 23, Wednesday

The World Affairs Council of Northern California hosts Prof. Edward W. Walker, University of California, Berkeley, for "Russia, the West and the Crisis in Ukraine." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Oregon hosts Pakistani activist and social entrepreneur Khalida Brohi as part of its 2014 International Speakers Series. Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia hosts Russell Gold, Senior Energy Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, for "To Frack or Not to Frack: Debating America's Quest for Energy." Details

 

April 24, Thursday

The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire hosts Prof. Ellen Lust, Yale University, for "Understanding Muslim Societies." This program is sponsored by the World Affairs Councils of America and is made possible by a generous grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York. Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Northern California hosts Prof. Ron E. Hassner, University of California Berkeley, for "Region on the Battlefield." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Orange County hosts Shadi Hamid, Brookings Fellow, for "Temptations of Power: Islamists and Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East." Details

 

The San Diego World Affairs Council hosts member Mr. Abe Gruber for a book review of "Unbroken." Details

 

The San Diego World Affairs Council hosts a film screening of "Natural Asia: Food, Forest and Feces." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Sonoma County hosts Prof. Julio Moreno, University of San Francisco, for "Mexico: Re-emerging Neighbor." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts hosts environmental activist Mike Bond for "Poaching in Africa." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Greater Reading departs for its annual trip to the U.S. Naval Academy. Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Russell Gold, Senior Energy Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, for "The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World." Details

 

April 25, Friday

The Alaska World Affairs Council hosts Ambassador Richard Boucher for "Who Are These Guys? Staying Ahead of Emerging Markets." Details

 

April 26, Saturday

The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts its 2014 Military Symposium and the AFS 5 Star Awards Luncheon: "Our Military in Transition: Health Care, Education & Employment." Details

 

The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts "IEP-2014 World Religion Forum: Islam." Details

 

April 27, Sunday

The World Affairs Council of Northern California hosts its monthly International Forum Book Club: "First World, Ha, Ha, Ha!: The Zapatista Challenge." Detail

 

 

Council leaders to lecture on Travel the World tours from the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia:

  

Angela Weck, Executive Director, Peoria Area World Affairs Council, Russian River Cruise:  June 13 - 23.

  

L.J. Stambuk, Executive Director, World Affairs Council of Charlotte, Croatia and Slovenia:  September 7 - 20.

  

Ambassador Marilyn McAfee, Chair, World Affairs Council of Jacksonville, Inside Iran:  October 5 - 19.

  

Dr. Steven Sokol, President and CEO, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, Turkish Treasures:  October 17 - 31.

  

Ambassador Heather Hodges, President and Ambassador in Residence, Cleveland Council on World Affairs, South American Tapestry:  October 16 - November 2.

  

Ambassador Mark Johnson, Founder, World Affairs Council of Montana, Landscapes of the Mediterranean:  October 23 - November 6.

  

Dr. James Nathan, Director, Alabama World Affairs Council, Cuba:  November 8 - 15.

  

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

 

The World Affairs Councils of America 

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