Tag Archives: World Affairs Council of Western Michigan

World Affairs Council’s virtual series continues with rescheduled Korea-focused discussion, two other events this month

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President Donald J. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, shake hands as they meet for the first time, June 12, 2018, at the Capella Hotel in Singapore. (state.gov)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The World Affairs Council of West Michigan (WACWM) continues its virtual series of special discussions and its Great Decisions Global Discussions 2021 series this week, starting with the rescheduling of a special program on the future of Korea and its alliance with the United States.

The program “The Korean — U.S. Alliance”, originally scheduled to take place in mid- January, was rescheduled to Feb. 4. The program will feature the U.S. Department of State’s Dr. Jennifer Brannon, Sung-hoon Park, of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the U.S., and Korea Economic Institute vice president Mark Tortola. A program of the World Affairs Councils of America in partnership with the Korea Economic Institute, this will focus on broadening and deepening public understanding of Korea and the U.S.-Korea relationship.

While the program was available live is is also viewable as an archive on YouTube here.

The WACWM’s Great Decisions Global Discussions series will be live-streamed to YouTube Mondays from 6-7:15 p.m., starting Feb. 8 and running through March 29. The public is invited and the webinars will be viewable live and as archived on-demand. The cost to the public is $10 per discussion, $60 for a series pass, with prior registration required.

The February series dates, topics and guest speaker are as follows:
 

Feb. 8, “North Korea: Getting Diplomacy Back on Track” with Suzanne DiMaggio, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

After a historical summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in 2018, hopes of a change in relations have faded. Now, with a new president in the White House, landslide legislative victories in South Korea, and rumors of an unwell Kim, do new dynamics have the potential to change a perennially thorny situation?

DiMaggio is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Board Chair of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a new think tank she co-founded in 2019, and is currently directing a U.S.-DPRK dialogue that has included several visits to North Korea. As part of that process, she facilitated the first official discussions between the Trump administration and North Korean government representatives in Oslo in May 2017.

Feb. 15, “Have We Learned Anything about this Pandemic?” with Andrew Natsios, director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University.

COVID-19 took the world by surprise, but it shouldn’t have been surprising. The question remains how our global health systems can be more responsive and resilient to pandemics. Professor Andrew Natsios will discuss the structural problems in the World Health Organization that have created dysfunctions laid bare by COVID-19; the need for a global pandemic early warning system and how it might be achieved; and next steps in vaccine distribution in the developing world in light of great power competition and larger global health challenges.

Professor Natsios is an executive professor at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University and Director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs. He was previously a Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is also the author of three books: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1997), The Great North Korean Famine (2001), and Sudan, South Sudan, and Darfur: What Everyone Needs to Know.

Feb. 22, “The European Union: The New Agenda Post-Brexit” with Tomas Baert , Head of Trade and Agriculture, European Delegation to the U.S.

Containing 5.8 percent of the world population but accounting for 18 percent of world GDP, the European Union holds enormous influence in the world, driving economic growth, advancing sustainable development, and championing peace and security by promoting democratic norms. While Brexit has been the focus, other key priorities of the Union remain: stabilizing transatlantic relations, continuing response to the COVID crisis, leading in the climate fight, and transforming the digital economy.

Baert, Head of Trade and Agriculture for the European Delegation to the United States focuses on the future of the EU in this presentation. Prior to his work in the U.S., Baert was the Head of Unit for Trade Strategy at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade). From 2014 to 2016, he was an assistant to Director-General for Trade, advising on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and WTO negotiations.

For more information and to register, visit worldmichigan.org/greatdecisions2021.

World Affairs Council’s virtual Great Decisions series coming soon, but special event offered Jan. 14

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President Donald J. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, shake hands as they meet for the first time, June 12, 2018, at the Capella Hotel in Singapore. (state.gov)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The World Affairs Council of West Michigan (WACWM) knew all about virtual discussions long before the pandemic, so you would expect nothing less than a stellar series of “Great Decisions Global Discussions” in 2021.

The Monday night series starting in February and running through March will include in-depth discussions on hot-button topics ranging from “The Melting Arctic” to “North Korea: Getting Diplomacy Back on Track” on the schedule.

While the Great Decisions series will be available to the general public for a modest series and individual event cost, a prelude to the series will be presented Thursday, Jan. 14, with a free special mid-day event, “The Korean-U.S. Alliance”.

Scheduled for noon to 1 p.m., the virtual discussion will offer expert information from Mark Tokola, vice president or the Korea Economic Institute, and Dr. Jennifer Brannan, Office of Korean Affairs at the U.S. Dept. of State. The webinar will be viewable live and as an archive, and while the event is free it does require registration.

The scheduled topics are relevant: A new forthcoming administration in the U.S., historic elections in South Korea, persistent global challenges including nuclear security issues and the COVID-19 pandemic — “For these reasons and more, focusing on one of the allies of the United States in East Asia is a timely conversation,” according to WACWM website.
 

The World Affairs Councils of America, in partnership with the Korea Economic Institute, will provide “a wide-ranging presentation on the relationship between the U.S. and the Korean Peninsula” and will  “dive deep into politics, trade, and the economy, and the many ties that bind these two countries together.”

For more information and registration for this event visit worldmichigan.org/futureofkorea2021.

Great Decisions series starts in February

The WACWM’s Great Decisions Global Discussions series will be live-streamed to YouTube Mondays from 6-7:15 p.m., starting Feb. 8 and running through March 29. The public is invited and the webinars will be viewable live and as archived on-demand. The cost to the public is $10 per discussion, $60 for a series pass, with prior registration required.

“Diplomats, policy makers and practitioners, think tank specialists and journalists lead conversations on global issues that impact us locally,” according to the WACWM website.

The series dates, topics and guest speaker are as follows: 

Feb. 8, “North Korea: Getting Diplomacy Back on Track” with Susan DiMaggio, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Feb. 15, “Have We Learned Anything about this Pandemic?” with Andrew Natsios, director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University.

Feb. 22, “The European Union: The New Agenda Post-Brexit” with Tomas Baert, Head of Trade and Agriculture, European Delegation to the U.S.

March 1, “The Future of Business and Global Supply Chains” with Judy Samuelson, founder and executive director, Aspen Institute Business and Society Program, with moderator Brian Kraus, vice president of global manufacturing at Amway.

March 8, “Sustainable Globalization Post COVID-19” with Julia Luscombe, managing director of strategic planning at Feeding America.

March 15, “The Melting Arctic” with Kaare Sikuaq Erickson, North Slope science liaison, Ukpeaġvik Inupiat Corporation, and Bob Hollister, Leader of the Arctic Ecology Program (AEP) at Grand Valley State University.

March 22, “China in Africa and the Case of Ghana” with Elizabeth Asiedu, Professor of Economics, University of Kansas.

Mar. 29, “The Saudi-Arabian-U.S. Relationship: Decades in the Making” with Thomas W. Lippman, author, consultant, and lecturer.

Those persons and companies wishing to support the series can do so through the Friends of Great Decisions campaign.

“Now in its 71st year, the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan continues its mission to empower the people and organizations of West Michigan to engage thoughtfully with the world,” according to the WACWM website. “All general donations between now and the start of our Great Decisions series will go towards sponsoring one of our speakers, through the Friends of Great Decisions campaign.”
 

For more information and to register, visit worldmichigan.org/greatdecisions2021.

Timely World Affairs Council April discussion series examines ‘Future of Work’

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In these days of COVID-19 restrictions, work from home has never been more common. (Public Domain)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

During the COVID-19 pandemic, two things have defined the American — and the world’s — job market: rampant unemployment and the explosion of work-from-home. That, and the already emerging changes due to interconnected world job markets and automation in the workplace, are profoundly changing the future of work.

 

So the World Affairs Council of West Michigan’s now virtual-only spring lecture series is perfectly timed as it looks at “The Future of Work” with three Tuesday evening lectures discussing the future workforce and workplace changes in a changing world.

“The Future of Work” series, presented in partnership with the Kent District Library, will start with the reality that “COVID-19 creates a ‘new normal’ in all aspects of our lives, including the economy and work,” according to World Affairs Council statement.

Set to start the series on Tuesday, April 14, Kristin Sharp, a partner with Entangled Solutions, out of Washington, D.C., will speak on “Global Trends Shaping the Future of Work”.

Following discussions will be April 21, as a panel led by moderator Attah Obande, “Director of Dream Fulfillment” at Spring GR, discuses “Entrepreneurs’ Experiences in the Changing Economy: Local Perspectives”.

Grand Rapids Community College President Bill Pink (GRCC)

Finally, on April 28,Dr. Bill Pink, president of Grand Rapids Community College, will discuss “Working Together for Growth in West Michigan: Industry and Education”.

The premier of each discussion will be 6:30-7:30 p.m. each Tuesday and can be attended for free via the World Affair’s Council’s YouTube page for an “interactive conversation” as there will be the ability to send questions during the live presentations. All the discussions will be available afterwards as archived videos.

“Globalization. Automation. Underemployment and the gig economy. What are the trends that have been shaping patterns of work?” the World Affairs Council states about the series. “How will government, industry, and educators respond to the new opportunities and challenges created by change? Just as importantly, how do people imagine new possibilities in their local roles as workers and citizens in a global and tech-driven economy, so that we can positively affect the future of work?”

Details of the discussion leaders

Kristin Sharp. (Supplied)

Kristin Sharp, as a partner with Entangled Studios, is “focused on building out the future of work, automation, and ed/workforce technologies portfolio,” according to her company’s webpage biography. Prior to joining the company, she co-founded the Shift Commission and launched the ShiftLabs and Work, Workers, and Technology projects at New America, examining the impact of automation and AI on the workforce. Earlier in her career, she worked in technology, innovation, and national security policy in the U.S. Senate, working in senior staff roles for senators and committees on both sides of the political aisle.

Attah Obande, of SpringGR. (Supplied)

Attah Obande works for Spring GR, “a grassroots business training experience that uses the business model canvas (think of it like a road map for starting a business) to help entrepreneurs develop their business idea or business,” according to the company’s website. Over the course of 12 weeks, the group brings people together in small groups, teach the business process, and provide coaching. … For two years following graduation, SpringGR “acts as a bridge to connect graduates to other resources throughout Grand Rapids to further grow and develop their businesses.”

For a WKTV story on SpringGR, visit here. For a WKTV video interview, visit here.

Dr. Bill Pink is the  tenth president of Grand Rapids Community College, starting in 2017. He has been an educator for over 25 years, including as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Oklahoma State University (Oklahoma City.) and he has taught and/or coached in Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Oregon. He has an Associate’s Degree from York College (Nebraska), a Bachelor’s from Oklahoma Christian University, a Master’s from the University of Central Oklahoma, and a Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma.

Local World Affairs Council’s 2020 Great Decisions discussion series continues in March

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India Pakistan border 2010 (Public Domain)

WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s 2020 Great Decisions series of local discussions has already tackled issues such as the current political unrest in “The Philippines under Duterte”, the unfolding idea of “Green Peacebuilding” and “Human Trafficking: Global and Local Perspectives”.

But over the next few weeks, the series will continue it global issue informational efforts with more “issues of national an international importance,” including the India and Pakistan powder keg, China’s power in the Americas, and the present and future of American immigration policy.

The discussions are held Monday evenings and Tuesday noontimes, and will continue through the week of March 30. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these presentations will be available live on YouTube, with the typical World Affairs Council ability to send in a question of the speaker-experts. Presentations will be archived as well. Go to World Affairs Council YouTube channel link at one of the two times listed above to participate: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz_-CQkZ3VwjGkysvMu-P3g.

Coming lecture dates, titles and speakers are:

March 16-17, “The Future is Now: Artificial Intelligence and National Security”, with Lindsey Sheppard, fellow at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS).

March 23-24, “China’s Road into Latin America”, with Margaret Myers, director of Asia & Latin America at Inter-American Dialogue.

March 30-31, “Central American Immigration and U.S. Foreign Policy”, with
Sonia Nazario, Pulitzer-winning journalist and author of “Enrique’s Journey”.

For more information on the Great Decisions 2020 series visit here.

Local World Affairs Council’s 2020 Great Decisions discussion series begins Feb. 10-11

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Marisa O. Ensor, center, has worked in in countries around the world and will talk on “Green Peacebuilding: Justice in the face of Climate Change”. (Courtesy)

WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s 2020 Great Decisions series of local discussions will again tackle this year’s “issues of national an international importance” — the India and Pakistan powder keg, China’s power in the Americas, the present and future of American immigration policy, and the human impact of climate change, to name just a few.

The line-up of discussions, to be held Monday evenings at Aquinas College and Tuesday noontimes at Calvin University, will begin Feb. 10-11 with a discussion titled “Kashmir: Flashpoint between India and Pakistan” and will continue through the week of March 30.

All discussions are open to the public, with a $10 admission fee for non-Council members and collegiate partners, but free parking on each campus. No reservations are needed, and discounted series passes are available.

With the 2020 Great Decisions series, the World Affairs Council “continues its mission to empower the people and organizations of West Michigan to engage thoughtfully with the world,” according to supplied material. “Our largest community event, which we have been hosting since the mid-1950s. Diplomats, policy makers and practitioners, think tank specialists and journalists lead the conversation on some of the most pressing global issues of our time.”

The Monday lectures will run from 6 to 7:15 p.m., at the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center. The Tuesday lectures will run from Noon to 1 p.m., at the Recital Hall in the Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin University.

Raza Ahmad Rumi (Supplied)

The opening lecture, “Kashmir: Flashpoint between India and Pakistan” will be led by Raza Ahmad Rumi, Director of the Park Center for Independent Media at Ithaca (N.Y.) College. Rumi has been living in the United States since 2014, and is editor of Daily Times and founder of the Nayadaur Media digital platform. He is also a visiting faculty at Cornell Institute for Public Affairs.

Drawing on his deep background as a journalist and policy analyst, Rumi will “contextualize the factors that play into India and Pakistan’s actions and the U.S. response to these countries,” according to supplied material. Asking and discussing the questions “How do we de-escalate conflict between these two nuclear powers? India and Pakistan have a long history of conflict. How has escalation within the Kashmir region changed the stakes for the U.S. and the world?”

The other lecture dates, titles and speakers are:

February 17-18, “Mirror to the World: The Philippines under Duterte”, with Julie McCarthy, international correspondent with Manila Bureau of NPR.

February 24-25, “Regional Security in the Red Sea”, with Steve Dalzell, senior defense policy researcher at RAND Corporation.

March 2-3, “Green Peacebuilding: Justice in the face of Climate Change”, with Marisa O. Ensor, Justice and Peace Studies Program & Institute for the Study of International Migration, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University.

March 9-10, “Human Trafficking: Global and Local Perspectives”, a panel discussion moderated by Rachel VerWys, co-creator of Solutions to End Exploitation (SEE).

March 16-17, “The Future is Now: Artificial Intelligence and National Security”, with Lindsey Sheppard, fellow at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS).

March 23-24, “China’s Road into Latin America”, with Margaret Myers, director of Asia & Latin America at Inter-American Dialogue.

March 30-31, “Central American Immigration and U.S. Foreign Policy”, with Sonia Nazario, Pulitzer-winning journalist and author of “Enrique’s Journey”.

Of particular interest, for many, will be Ensor’s discussion on world justice in time of climate change. She describes herself, on her website, as “a gender and youth specialist with a background in forced displacement, environmental peacebuilding, humanitarian intervention, and post-conflict justice.”

Marisa Ensor (Courtesy)
Marisa O. Ensor (Courtesy)

She holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Florida, a Master’s in Law in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex (UK), and a certificate in Forced Migration Studies from the University of Oxford (UK). She has over a decade of international experience in “the design and implementation of gender- and youth-inclusive projects in conflict-affected and fragile states, and those confronting forced migration and environmental insecurity” in 19 countries so far in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Europe.

In her discussion, Ensor “maps the relationship between climate change, conflict and fragile states and the lessons we can learn from those fighting for human rights and peace within their communities,” according to supplied material. Specifically she will discuss “What can young activists teach us about peace and climate change? … Climate change has become one of the defining issues of our time.”

For more information on the Great Decisions 2020 series visit here.

Right Place leader Klohs, Ambassador Huntsman honored at World Affairs Council event

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The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s annual luncheon at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel Tuesday, Jan. 14. (Supplied/World Affairs Council)

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

Birgit Klohs, president and CEO of The Right Place, Inc., was at the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan annual luncheon to be honored with the group’s locally-focused inaugural Hillman-Orr Award, at the same event when the inaugural Vandenberg Prize for work on the world stage was presented.

The Vandenberg Prize was given to retired Ambassador Jon M. Huntsman at the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s annual luncheon at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel Tuesday, Jan. 14. (Supplied/World Affairs Council)


The Vandenberg Prize went to retired Ambassador Jon M. Huntsman, who was honored in person at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, where a large crowd was in attendance Tuesday, Jan. 14.


But Klohs, who was raised in post-war Germany, spoke poignantly in her acceptance speech about Michigan Sen. Arthur Vandenberg (1881-1951), who forged bipartisan support for the Marshall Plan and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and was appointed one of the first U.S. delegates to the then new United Nations.


“I grew up in the safety of NATO. I grew up with … (a German economy) predicated on the Marshall Plan,” Klohs said as she accepted her award but also honored the Vandenberg legacy. “So for that, every time I walk by the (senator’s) statue (near Rosa Parks Circle), I salute a little ‘Thank you’.”
But Klohs’ path of learning about the man who was a key figure in the Marshall Plan and NATO was not simple.

The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s Hillman-Orr Award was presented to Birgit Klohs, president and CEO of The Right Place, Inc., by Renee Tappen, market president for Bank of America. (Supplied/World Affairs Council)


Hank Meijer “wrote the definitive book on a senator I’d never heard of when I moved here,” Klohs said. “When I first met Hank, many years ago, he said to me ‘Birgit, there needs to be a Vandenberg Square in Germany.’ And I’m like ‘Who is Vandenberg?’ Another Dutch guy? And he’s like ‘No. Let me tell you about Senator Vandenberg.’


“And I was stunned. Growing up in Germany, in a divided Germany, we always lived in the shadow of the Soviet Union. Right? We all learned about the Marshall fund, and how it helped West Germany and the rest of Europe get back on its feet. Learned about NATO. But I’d never heard of the senator who was really the person behind the scenes the made the Marshall fund happen, who made NATO happen, who made the UN happen.


“And who brought along senators who were isolationists. (Other senators) who said ‘It is 1945, we won the war. We all go home and be done with it and leave those Europeans to themselves.’ But he (Vandenberg) had learned that after World War I, that didn’t work. He, who was an isolationist himself, became a globalist. And, frankly, we could use more globalists today.”


Vandenberg was also the inspiration for founding the local World Affairs Council in 1949 by Grand Rapids attorney (and later Federal Judge) Douglas Hillman and businessman Edgar Orr, for whom the Hillman-Orr Award was named, according to the council.


The Hillman-Orr Award was presented to Klohs by Renee Tappen, market president for Bank of America.


“There is likely nobody in this room who has not heard from Birgit Klohs on the importance of global economic ties between West Michigan and world partners,” Tappen said. “Under her leadership, as the CEO of 32 years, The Right Place has created 47,000 new jobs and spurred nearly 5 billion dollars in new investment in our local the economy.


“Birgit is a leading economic development strategist, collaborates with our local, our national and our state government on critical issues related to economic development.”


Klohs, however, pointed out that much of her work is encouraging local leaders to embrace internationalism, in business and in all things.


“I also wanted to spread the word in our region, that embracing international, that embracing people from other parts of the world, will enrich us. It does not make us poorer, it makes us richer,” she said. “And that, in fact, your competition today is no longer in Iowa or Indiana. But it is in Mexico. And it is in India. And it is in China.


“The more we embrace that competition, we will be stronger as a region for it. And so, the World Affairs Council has really modeled this thinking for the last 70 years. … It has always been the strength of this community to gather and embrace new thoughts.”

The entire award ceremony is available on YouTube at this link.

Local World Affairs Council announces inaugural Vandenberg Prize recipient

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Statue of Michigan Sen. Arthur Vandenberg in downtown Grand Rapids. (World Affairs Council)

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

Jon Huntsman Jr. (Official Photo)

The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan (WACWM) announced this week that it will begin awarding an annual Vandenberg Prize to a national or international leader who has been influential in developing global understanding and collaboration on the world stage.

The inaugural recipient of the Vandenberg Prize is Ambassador (ret.) Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., former Ambassador of the United States to Russia (2017-19) at the appointment of President Trump, to China (2009-11) at the appointment of President Obama, and to Singapore (1992-93) at the appointment of President George H.W. Bush.

Ambassador Huntsman was also the 16th Governor of Utah (2005-09) and a 2012 candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.

The Vandenberg Prize is named after Michigan Sen. Arthur Vandenberg (1881-1951), the inspiration for founding the local World Affairs Council in 1949 by Grand Rapids attorney (and later Federal Judge) Douglas Hillman and businessman Edgar Orr.

In addition, the WACWM will present the annual Hillman-Orr Award to a West Michigan individual or institution that mirrors the intent of the Council’s founding leaders to bring global awareness and international understanding to the West Michigan community.

The first recipient will be Birgit Klohs, president and CEO of The Right Place, Inc., the regional economic development organization for Greater Grand Rapids, which has from its beginnings featured a global reach and international mindset.

The Ambassador and Klohs will receive the awards at a luncheon at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020.

“Ambassador Huntsman has demonstrated a lifelong interest in forging strong international ties for the United States, and his bipartisan service shows a willingness, like Senator Vandenberg, to bring people together for good of the country and the world,” Council board president Dick Gauthier said in supplied material.

Hillman and Orr were inspired by the life and work of Sen. Vandenberg, an isolationist who became a strong advocate of internationalism in the wake of World War II, the WACWM states. Vandenberg forged bipartisan support for the Marshall Plan and NATO and was appointed one of the first U.S. delegates to the brand-new United Nations. Sen. Vandenberg has always been considered the “patron saint” of the Council, the WACWM states.

“Birgit Klohs credits the work of Senator Vandenberg as a key reason she was able to move forward and prosper after WWII, allowing her to grow up in a peaceful country with opportunity,” WACWM executive director Michael Van Denend said in supplied material. “We in West Michigan are deeply fortunate she chose this area to use her gifts to bring global business to the region.”

More information on the Vandenberg Prize event can be found at worldmichigan.org.

World Affairs Council to host national live-stream, local discussion on China

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By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

World Affairs Council of Western Michigan (WACWM) invites the public to join communities across the United States in a national conversation on China as the local group hosts the 13th annual China Town Hall at the University Club in downtown Grand Rapids on Monday, Nov. 18.

The program is hosted in partnership with the National Committee on U.S. China Relations.

After refreshments and a social hour, from 5:15-6 p.m., the WACWM will broadcast a live-streamed interactive panel from New York City focusing on the current state of China-U.S. relations, moderated by George Stephanopoulos of ABC News, according to supplied material.

After the panel, at about 6:45 p.m., there will be a local conversation on the issue facilitated by Courtney Henderson from the Michigan-China Innovation Center.

“The local version of the town hall will focus on the bilateral relationship’s local impact on regional business, educational, and cultural interests,” the supplied material states.

“Our country’s relationship with China has a direct impact on the lives of nearly everyone in the U.S. — most certainly including Michigan. These national and local conversations provide an opportunity to discuss the issues that affect our community the most.”

For more information on the China Town Hall and to register, visit here.

The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan is located at 1700 Fulton Street E., Grand Rapids, For more information visit worldmichigan.org .

World Affairs Council begins 70th year with ‘Strategic International Relationships’ series

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Then U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Vietnamese Minister General Phung Quang Thanh sign a joint statement after a 2015 meeting at the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense in Hanoi, Vietnam. (DoD/Glenn Fawcett)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

If you look in the history books, international relations between the United States and the countries of Vietnam, Germany and Japan have had dark periods of political axis when American was at war with each.

But if you look at modern international and strategic relationship, all three are among America’s most important economic partners and military allies in the world.

So it is fitting that the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan (WACWM) begins its 70th year of with a fall series titled “Global 2020: Three Strategic International Relationships”, where America’s relationship with Vietnam, Germany and Japan will each be focused on for a night.

The three evening presentations — Vietnam on Sept. 20, Germany on Oct. 8 and Japan on Oct. 29 — are scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Donnelly Center on the campus of Aquinas College.

“These three countries — Vietnam, Germany and Japan —all have obviously complicated historical relationships with the U.S.,” Michael Van Denend, WACWM executive director, said in supplied material. “But no one would deny the strategic importance of all three nations to U.S. foreign policy and trade today. We’re interested in discussing how the countries are currently collaborating.”

On Wednesday, Sept. 25, Ed Martini, associate provost at Western Michigan University and director of the school’s Extended University Programs, will speak on “Vietnam, the United States, and the Long Road to Peace.” Martini, a professor of history, has centered his research on Vietnam, and he is the author of “Agent Orange: History, Science, and the Politics of Uncertainty”.

Germany is the focus on Tuesday, Oct. 8, as the Consul General for Germany in the Midwest, Wolfgang Moessinger presents “Wunderbar Together: Germany and the U.S.” Consul Moessinger began his work in the Chicago Consulate this summer, after having served in numerous countries for the German government since 1991, including Senegal, Finland, Russia, Scotland, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine.

To close out the fall series, Japanese Consul General Tsutomu Nakagawa, the country’s chief representative in the Midwest and based in Detroit, will lead a conversation on “The Future of Japanese-U.S. Relations” on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Consul Nakagawa has served in India, Thailand and the Middle East, and has also been a senior advisor to the Japanese government for international trade policy.

All three presentations are open to the general public for a $10 fee and additional information is available at worldmichigan.org/fall2019 or by calling 616-776-1721. The Aquinas College Donnley Center is located at 157 Woodland Lane S.E., Grand Rapids. Free parking is available at the center.

 
The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan is located at 1700 Fulton Street E., Grand Rapids, For more information visit worldmichigan.org .

Threats to democracy, closed borders, free trade on World Affairs Council lecture schedule

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A Border Patrol agent drives past new vehicle barriers near Deming, N.M., built by U.S. Army soldiers. (U.S. Army historical photo)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

 
After President Donald Trump gives his State of the Union speech on Jan. 29, the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s 2019 Great Decisions global discussion series will debut with a discussion on the “State of the State Department” on Feb. 4-5.

Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, president of American Foreign Service Association (Supplied/World Affairs Council)

With Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, president of American Foreign Service Association, will be talking about the “State of the State Department” on both days, and will pose and then discuss the question: “Is the State Department currently equipped to do its diplomatic work?”

“Our organization’s perspective on this series is that to change the world — or to even begin to understand global issues — one first must know about the world, and that’s what we attempt to do with Great Decisions,” Michael Van Denend, executive director of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, said to WKTV.

 
The eight topics covered by the series were specifically chosen by the Foreign Policy Association in New York as the global issues every American community should know more about and currently be discussing. The World Affairs Council has been sponsoring the series since the mid-1950s.

 
“We’re particularly pleased with the expertise and diversity of the speakers coming to West Michigan this year,” Van Denend said. “There are two ambassadors, a cyber security FBI agent, two journalists reporting on Eastern Europe and Syria, and one of the country’s foremost China experts. Attending these presentations will open up many corners of the world for participants.”
 

The annual series, which bring leaders in international theory and action to Grand Rapids for lectures, will offer two options to attend: Mondays, 6-7:15 p.m., at Aquinas College Performing Arts Center; and Tuesdays, noon-1 p.m. at the Recital Hall in the Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin College.

There is a $10 general-public admission fee per discussion, with no reservations needed and free parking.

The series will continue through March 25-26.

The Great Decisions format features a world-class expert leading each conversation, followed by an extensive question-answer session.

 
The reminder of the 201 series will feature:

 
Feb. 11 and 12: “Democracy on the Run: Dispatches from Eastern Europe”, a behind-the-scenes-look at rising anti-democratic efforts abroad, lead by Carol Schaeffer, a freelance journalist.

Feb. 18 and 19: “Immigration Policy beyond the Border”, a talk “shedding light on a complicated and contentious issue with thoughtful dialogue,” according to supplied material, with Ambassador Jim Nealon, former U.S. Ambassador to Honduras.

Feb. 25 and 26: “A New Nuclear Arms Race?”, with Kelsey Davenport, of the Arms Control Association, discussing “Russia. North Korea. Iran. What’s our nuclear future?”

Mar. 4 and 5: “China-U.S. Trade War”, with Amy Celico, Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG), discussing “How will we handle the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st century?”

Mar. 11 and 12: “Life After the Arab Uprisings and the Islamic State”, a ground-level report from a brave Lebanese journalist, Rania Abouzeid, author of “No Turning Back: Life, Loss, and Hope in Wartime Syria”, a New York Times 2018 Notable Book.

Mar. 18 and 19: “Global Cyber Threats” with FBI Special Agent Peter Jolliffe
discussing “Cyber risks are on the rise — can we thwart them?”

And finally, on Mar. 25 and 26: “Mexico and the U.S.: The Economic Ties that Bind”, Carlos Capistran, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, New York City, discussing “What must we do to make certain both countries thrive?”

The Aquinas College Performing Arts Center is located at 1703 Robinson Road S.E., Grand Rapids. The Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin College is located at 1795 Knollcrest Cir SE, Grand Rapids.

 
The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan is located at 1700 Fulton Street E., Grand Rapids, For more information on sessions, dates and times, as well as detailed information on speakers, visit worldmichigan.org .

Lecture series will focus on ‘Shifting Sands in the Arabian Peninsula’

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By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

Perhaps there is no region of the world about which Americans “know so much, yet so little” than the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, that according to the World Affairs Council of West Michigan.

 

In response, the Council’s Fall Lecture Series will feature four presentations about four distinctly different Middle Eastern nations in a series titled “Shifting Sands in the Arabian Peninsula”, beginning Thursday, Oct. 18, with a free-to-the-public opening program. The series will take place at Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business in Grand Rapids.

 

In the series, the public can learn why Oman is on many “safest countries to visit” lists, how Qatar is coping with the blockade instituted by its neighbors, what the loosening of long-standing cultural laws means for Saudi Arabia, and if there is any hope for an end to the war in Yemen.

 

 

“What happens in this part of the world impacts us,” a World Affairs Council release states. “Let’s be informed global citizens.”

 

The Oct. 18 lecture will focus on Oman and will be presented by Dr. Fahad Bishara, University of Virginia.

 

Fahad Bishara (UVA photo by Dan Addison)

According to his supplied biography, Fahad Bishara specializes in the economic and legal history of the Indian Ocean and Islamic world. His  book, “A Sea of Debt: Law and Economic Life in the Western Indian Ocean, 1780-1950”, is a legal history of economic life in the Western Indian Ocean, told through the story of the Arab and Indian settlement and commercialization of East Africa during the 19th Century.

 

He is currently working on a history of the Arab dhow trade between the Gulf and the Indian Ocean during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a project which takes on issues of global capitalism, international law, empire, mobility, and scale in historical writing.

 

The remaining lectures will be Wednesday, Oct. 24, focused on Qatar, with Ambassador Chase Untermeyer (ret.), U.S. ambassador to Qatar; Tuesday, Nov.13, focused on Saudi Arabia, with Dr. Abdullah Alrebh, Grand Valley State University; and Tuesday, Nov. 20, focused on Yemen, with Dr. Gamal Gasim, Grand Valley State University.

 

The cost to the public to attend the series is $10 per evening or $25 for a series pass. However, the Oct. 18 lecture is free and open to the public thanks to support from the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center and the World Affairs Councils of America.

 

All programs are 7-8:15 p.m. and a special reception will kick off the series on Oct. 18 starting at 6:15 p.m. The Seidman College of Business’ Multi-purpose Room is  located at 50 Front Ave. SW. Free parking in Fulton Street Lot. No RSVPs necessary.

 

For more information visit worldmichigan.org .

 

World Affairs Council continues ‘Global Trends’ lecture series at Calvin College

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WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

The World Affairs Council of West Michigan will present a discussion led by retired U.S. Ambassador William Garvelink titled “Global Trends Driving International Relations: Pandemics, Corruption, and Failed States” on Thursday, May 31, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Calvin College’s Gezon Auditorium.

 

From 2007-2010, Garvelink served as U.S. ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Prior to his appointment as ambassador, he served as principal deputy assistant administrator in the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, where his responsibilities included oversight of USAID’s worldwide humanitarian assistance and democracy programs.

 

From 1988 to 1999, he served in the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, working around the globe to conduct assessments and direct relief operations. Prior to his work in OFDA, he served for two years in the Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration with responsibilities for southern Africa.

Ambassador Garvelink now serves as senior adviser for global strategy at the International Medical Corps.

 

He holds a B.A. degree from Calvin College and an M.A. degree from the University of Minnesota.

 

No reservations needed for the discussion. The public invited with a $10 general admission cost. Free is available parking on campus.

 

For more information visit worldmichigan.org/civil .

 

‘Cultivating Community through Civil Discourse’ Series held at KDL Wyoming Branch

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David Hooker

Katie Zuidema

Kent District Library

 

Kent District Library has partnered with the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan (WACWM) to present a series of programs titled “Cultivating Community through Civil Discourse” on three consecutive Tuesdays in April. The series will take place at the Wyoming Branch of Kent District Library, 3350 Michael Ave. SW.

 

“If there was ever a time for more focus on civil discourse, I can’t imagine it,” said Michael Van Denend, WACWM’s executive director. “We’re asking three excellent presenters to give our community some ideas about how we might be better at handling contentious topics with truth and grace, with the end goal to build a stronger community by understanding and celebrating our differences.”

 

Jack Lessenberry

The series is as follows:

 

Tuesday, April 10, 6:30 pm features David Hooker from the Kroc Institute of International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame on “Searching for a Reconfigured ‘We the People.’” Hooker invites audiences to understand the stories that shape our community and how we fit into them, and leaves them with tools for better discourse.

 

Tuesday, April 17, 6:30 pm features from Michigan Radio on “Were We Better Off with the Cold War and without the Internet?” Lessenberry, a long-time journalist who covered the Soviet Union and arms control issues, examines how and why what we had in common as a nation has eroded—and suggests ways in which we could get a sense of community back.

 

Tuesday, April 24, 6:30 pm features Sarrah Buageila of the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding on “Portraits of American Muslims: Civility in a Pluralistic Community.” Buageila will share recent research done on the Muslim American community in Michigan, shedding light on this religious group so little-known and so often portrayed in a negative light.

 

Sarrah Buageila

Events are free and open to the public. No reservations are needed and there is free parking available. For more information on sessions, dates and times, as well as detailed information on speakers, visit www.worldmichigan.org/civil or call 616-776-1721.

 

In existence since 1949, WACWM empowers the people and organizations of West Michigan to engage thoughtfully with the world. WACWM brings timely information and encourages spirited conversation on matters of global importance and national foreign policy through diverse and comprehensive programming. The organization is non-partisan and promises presenters that are credible, topics that are relevant, discussion that is civil and events that are compelling.

 

WACWM has over 50 member companies and 10 educational institutions as part of its local network, and is itself a member of the national World Affairs Council Association based in Washington, D.C.—consisting of over 90 member-councils across the United States. More information about the council can be found at www.worldmichigan.org.

World Affairs Council to begin ‘cultivating community’ series at KDL’s Wyoming branch 

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The Wyoming branch of the Kent District Library will be the location of a discussion series this month. (Supplied)

WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

The World Affairs Council of West Michigan, in partnership with the Kent District Library and located at the KDL’s Wyoming branch, will offer a three-part spring discussion series titled “Cultivating Community through Civil Discourse beginning April 10.

 

The series, according to supplied information, “explores ways to make our community one that’s characterized by civility and respect for all.”

 

All events in the series are free and open to the public, and will be held at the Wyoming Branch, Kent District Library, 3350 Michael Ave. SW, Wyoming. The time will be 6:30-7:30 p.m. No reservations are needed and there will be free parking.

 

The first discussion, on Tuesday, April 10, will be “Searching for a Reconfigured ‘We the People’: Embracing Counter Narratives for Just and Civil Discourse” and will feature David Hooker, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and the University of Notre Dame.

 

Following events will be Tuesday, April 17, with Jack Lessenberry of Michigan Radio leading a discussion on “The Loss of American Consensus: Were We Better Off with the Cold War and without the Internet?”, and on Tuesday, April 24, Sarrah Buageila of the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, leading a discussion on “Portraits of American Muslims: Civility in a Pluralistic Community”.

 

For more information visit worldmichigan.org/civil .

 

World Affairs Council’s Great Decisions discussion to focus on Putin’s Russia

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WKTV Staff

news@wktv.org

 

Is Russian President Vladimir Putin envisioning a new Soviet Union of satellite countries under the control of Russia? Is a new Cold War brewing?

 

These and other questions will be discussed Monday, March 12, as part of the next World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s 2018 Great Decisions global discussion series, a series which bring leaders in international theory and action to Grand Rapids for lectures.

 

“Putin, Russia and the New Cold War” will be title of a discussion by Susan B. Glasser, chief international affairs columnist at POLITICO and co-author of “Kremlin Rising: Vladimir Putin and the End of Revolution”.

 

The series will offer two options to attend. There will be a daytime lecture, noon-1 p.m. at the Calvin College Recital Hall in the Covenant Fine Arts Center, and then 6-7:15 p.m. at the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center.

 

There is a $10 admission fee per discussion, with no reservations needed and free parking. For more information on sessions, dates and times, as well as detailed information on speakers, visit worldmichigan.org .

 

 

According to supplied information, Putin has spent years consolidating his leadership, moving the country closer to an authoritarian state. For what end? To bring former Soviet satellites once again into the Russian fold and expand its global influence? Is a new Cold War brewing? How will the U.S. respond?

 

Glasser, who served as founding editor of the award-winning POLITICO Magazine and went on to become editor of POLITICO throughout the 2016 election cycle, has reported everywhere from the halls of Congress to the battle of Tora Bora.

 

The former editor in chief of Foreign Policy magazine, she spent four years traveling the former Soviet Union as the Washington Post’s Moscow co-bureau chief, covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and co-authored “Kremlin Rising: Vladimir Putin and the End of Revolution” with her husband, New York Times chief White House correspondent, Peter Baker.

 

Before that, Glasser worked for a decade at The Washington Post, where she was a foreign correspondent, editor of the Post’s Sunday Outlook and national news sections and political reporter.

 

A graduate of Harvard University, Glasser lives in Washington with Baker and their son. She serves on the boards of the Pew Research Center and the Harvard Crimson student newspaper and is a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution.

 

Discussions will continue through March 26. The reminder of the 2018 series will feature:

 

Monday, Mar. 19: “South Africa at a Crossroads: Implications for U.S.-South Africa Relations”, with Desirée Cormier, Senior Director, Africa Practice, Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG).

 

Monday, Mar. 26: “Global Health: Equity, Ethics, and Eradication”, with Ambassador Mary Ann Peters (ret.), CEO, The Carter Center.

 

World Affairs Council’s 2018 Great Decisions global discussion series begins Jan. 29

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William Dobson, chief international editor at National Public Radio, will talk on “Are Dictators Getting Smarter?: Media and Foreign Policy”. (Supplied)

WKTV Staff

news@wktv.org

 

Are dictators getting smarter? Is there such a thing as diplomacy in the age of Twitter? Is American global leadership on the wane?

 

These and more important topics will be the focus of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s 2018 Great Decisions global discussion series, a series which bring leaders in international theory and action to Grand Rapids for lectures.

 

Starting on Monday, Jan. 29 — with the lecture topic “Are Dictators Getting Smarter?: Media and Foreign Policy”, with William Dobson, chief international editor at National Public Radio — the series will offer two options to attend. There will be a daytime lecture, noon-1 p.m. at the Calvin College Recital Hall in the Covenant Fine Arts Center, and then 6-7:15 p.m. at the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center.

 

There is a $10 admission fee per discussion, with no reservations needed and free parking. A series pass is available for $65 for all eight programs, and pass holders can attend either session for each speaker.

 

In the discussion “Are Dictators Getting Smarter? …”, Dobson’s lecture is described in supplied material as: “Democracy has fallen on tough times. Authoritarian regimes in Russia, China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere are on the march, while the West seems to be taking a back seat. Are the world’s dictators getting more sophisticated in their repression? How do the world’s despots manipulate media to serve their own ends? In the age of Twitter and smart phones, can democracy keep up?”

 

Dobson, in addition to his work with NPR, is the author of The Dictator’s Learning Curve: Inside the Global Battle for Democracy, which examines the struggle between authoritarian regimes and the people who challenge them. He holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and a masters degree in East Asian Studies from Harvard University.

 

Discussions will continue through March 26.

 

“We call this edition of the Great Decisions series ‘Context for a Complex World’ because the amount of information coming our way these days is overwhelming,” Michael Van Denend, executive director of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, said in supplied material. “Through these presentations, we hope to help our community step back for a bit and ponder how we can engage thoughtfully in a complicated world.”

 

The Great Decisions format features a world-class expert leading each conversation, followed by an extensive question-answer session. The World Affairs Council is the local sponsor of these eight current foreign policy topics as determined by the New York City-based Foreign Policy Association. The Council has sponsored the series for more than 50 years.

 

The reminder of the 2018 series will feature:

 

Monday, Feb. 5: “China in the World: Conundrums of a Socialist Market Economy”, with Dr. Badrinath Rao, Associate Professor of Sociology and Asian Studies, Kettering University.

 

Monday, Feb. 12: “Trouble Brewing: Can the U.S. and Turkey Cooperate?”, with Dr. Sinan Ciddi, Director, Institute for Turkish Studies, Georgetown University.

 

Monday, Feb. 19: “The Right Bang for our Bucks: The U.S. Defense Budget”, with Dr. Stephanie Young, defense budget expert, RAND Corporation.

 

Monday, Feb. 26: “Is American Global Leadership Waning?”, with Dr. Amitav Acharya, UNESCO Chair in Transnational Challenges and Governance at the School of International Service, American University.

 

Monday, Mar. 12: “Putin, Russia, and the New Cold War?”, with Susan B. Glasser, Chief International Affairs Columnist, POLITICO and co-author of “Kremlin Rising: Vladimir Putin and the End of Revolution”.

 

Monday, Mar. 19: “South Africa at a Crossroads: Implications for U.S.-South Africa Relations”, with Desirée Cormier, Senior Director, Africa Practice, Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG).

 

Monday, Mar. 26: “Global Health: Equity, Ethics, and Eradication”, with Ambassador Mary Ann Peters (ret.), CEO, The Carter Center.

 

For more information on sessions, dates and times, as well as detailed information on speakers, visit worldmichigan.org .

 

Geopolitics, security threats, Russian power on World Affairs Council discussion agenda

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In this 2014 U.S. Army photo, and Army of the Republic of Macedonia soldier confers with a U.S. Army officer. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Cody Harding)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Soft power in the Balkans, specifically from the point-of-view of the Republic of Macedonia — if any of that was unclear, you need the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan.

 

The Grand Rapids-based chapter of the World Affairs Council is often the local go-to information source for up-to-date information on an ever-changing world and America’s military and political place run it.

 

Starting next week, with a discussion by Vasko Naumovoski, Ambassador to United States from the Republic of Macedonia, titled “Soft Power in the Balkans”, the council will be offering three open-to-the-public discussions in November.

 

Ambassador Naumovoski’s talk will be Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 6-7 p.m., with a social hour starting at 5:15 p.m., at the University Club, on the 10th Floor at 111 Lyon St. NE, in downtown Grand Rapids.

 

The event is $15 for members and guests, to be paid at the door. No RSVPs are needed but an email would be appreciated if one plans to attend as there will be a cash Bar and light hor d’oeuvres (and the count will help with ordering food).

 

There is free parking in the 5th/3rd bank lot if you park after 5 p.m. (The lot entrance is off Ottawa Avenue between Michigan and Lyon streets.)

 

Other events in November include U.S. security, Russia

 

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, the council will present “Top Five Threats to America’s National Security”, with Dr. Lori Murray, former Endowed Chair for National Security U.S. Naval Academy. Murray will address the five threats to the U.S. that Secretary of Defense James Mattis identified in June, 2017: North Korea; Russia; China; terrorist groups; and Iran.

 

The discussion will be from 7-8:30 p.m., with time for a Q&A, and will take place at  Western Michigan University Grand Rapids at 2333 E. Beltline. The event is $15 and no RSVPs are necessary.

 

On Tuesday, Nov. 14, the council will present “Russia 2018: Putin’s Last Act?”, with John Beyrle, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia. Beyrle is a graduate of Grand Valley State and has been back to speak several times to speak on topics at the council. For more information see the council’s website.

 

Primer on the Balkans, the Nov. 7 speaker

 

The countries of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia — collectively known as Balkans — are adjacent to Russia and the European Union.

 

However, from ancient time until today, it has been difficult for one power to control the Balkans, according to information from the council’s website. This intense geopolitical competition makes the Balkan region one of the most contested and conflict-prone regions in the world, and part of that rivalry is unfolding through soft power and cultural diplomatic means.

 

Ambassador Naumvoski has been an ambassador since 2014. He is also a professor of international relations at the department of law at the St. Cyril and Methodist University in Skopje, where he earned his bachelor, master’s and doctoral degrees. From 2009 to 2011, he was deputy president of the government of the Republic of Macedonia and in charge of European affairs. In that post he began the process for Macedonia’s entry into the European Union. Macedonia is currently listed as a “candidate country,” in the process of integrating E.U. legislation into national law.

 

For more information these events and World Affairs Council of Western Michigan in general, visit worldmichigan.org