Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Did Britain Just Sell Tibet?

Here's a fascinating read on Britain's history as the only major power to recognize Tibetan autonomy, and its recent decision to backpedal on that legacy.

As the essay notes, it appears linked to a massive infusion of cash China just give to the International Monetary fund.

Could the world financial crisis have the power to redraw national borders?

YP Holiday Party: Dec 5th 7pm at p:ear gallery

Please join us for for an evening of fun and cheer at the beautiful new gallery at p:ear in Old Town, Portland. Come kick-off the holiday season with your YP friends ... while enjoying world beats and learning the art of bhangra dance from the Portland dance celebrity, Prashant Kakad!!

When: Friday, December 5th, 2008; 7 - 10PM
Location/Address: p:ear gallery: 338 NW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
 
Refreshments: Wine, Beer, and Appetizers Included
Admission: $12 Council Members/$18 Non-Members
Reservations: Required by December 5, 2008.  Please register at: www.worldoregon.org

Note:  Attendees have to be 21 years of age or older as of December 5, 2008 to attend the party.  All attendees will also be asked to show an id as proof-of-age at the door before entering p:ear.

About  p:ear : 
p:ear  builds positive relationships with homeless and transitional youth, ages 15 to 23, through education, art and recreation to affirm personal worth and create more meaningful and healthier lives. Each year  p:ear serve more than  500 homeless and transitional young people.  More information available at, www.pearmentor.org

We are happy to continue the tradition of giving at the YP holiday party.  This year, we are accepting 'wish list' donations for the youth at p:ear .  The current 'wish list' items are listed below.  There is no obligation to bring a wish-list item to the holiday party, however, your generosity will be appreciated throughout the  p:ear community.    

p:ear wish list items
-good quality arts and craft supplies
-$25 gift certificates to Fred Meyer's ,  Ross, Payless or Powell's 
-men's white tube socks

Friday, November 21, 2008

Dec 9th Event : Mercy Corps: The State of the World & Everything you ever wanted to know about Mercy Corps

Young Professionals of WAC and Master in International Management Program at Portland State University are proud to present to you a professional networking event with:
    
Mercy Corps: The State of the World
and
Everything you ever wanted to know about Mercy Corps
 
Mercy Corps is the best-known and the most successful international non-profit organization in Oregon, with ongoing operations in more than 35 countries.  Join Young Professionals for a discussion with the Mercy Corps staff regarding the state of affairs at Mercy Corps, challenges that lie ahead and recent programs abroad, its successes and lessons learned.
 
For those of our members who are interested in career opportunities at Mercy Corps, listen to the Mercy Corps staff discuss an ideal profile of a Mercy Corps candidate for various types of jobs available at Mercy Corps.
 
About the Speakers:
Jeremy Barnicle, Managing Director for Marketing and Communications at Mercy Corps, has been with the organization for the last four years.  Prior to joining Mercy Corps, he held positions with several think tanks, worked as a legislative liaison, an AP reporter, and served as a Peace Corps volunteer.  Jeremy will have just returned from a mission to Burma, and he will share his experiences there and Mercy Corps' other missions.
 
Sasha Muench managed several programs at Mercy Corps during the last ten years.  She is currently a Senior Program Manager, Social Innovations with Mercy Corps.  Sasha will provide an insight on a life of a Mercy Corps officer working on the ground.  She will also share her take on what it takes to make it at Mercy Corps, and the different types of jobs for which Mercy Corps hires. 
 
Program Details:
 
Date
December 9, 2008, 6.30 p.m.
Place:
Mercy Corps Headquarters, 3015 SW 1st Ave., Portland, OR 97201
Price:
$5 WAC members and MIM program students
$8 general public
Refreshments:
Appetizers and refreshments will be provided
Registration:
Required by December 8, 2008. 
Please register at www.worldoregon.org
Or call us at 503.274.7488 to reserve your spot
 
Young Professionals of WAC thanks MIM and PSU School of Business Administration for its continuing support of its programming. 
 
 

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

YP DISCUSSION: GLOBAL REACTION TO OBAMA

Dear Young Professionals,

Greetings from the World Affairs Council of Oregon!

Wednesday, November 19th, 7:00pm - YP Discussion Group:
TOPIC: Global Reaction to Obama: Is our new president good or bad for international relations? Will U.S. foreign policy really be all that different? Please come share your opinions with the group!

LOCATION: Laurelwood NW Public House, NW Kearney & NW 23rd (MAP), upstairs - back room.

We hope to see you at the discussion!

All Regards,



Reno J. Tibke
Young Professionals Steering Committee
World Affairs Council of Oregon Board of Advisors

YP - PDX (OFFICIAL YP BLOG)
World Affairs Council of Oregon's Young Professionals

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ScanFair at PSU Dec. 6-7

Scandinavian Heritage Foundation
24th Annual SCANFAIR

Celebrate the sight, sounds, tastes and traditions of a Scandinavian Christmas
 
Saturday, December 6, 2008 ~ 10 am to 5 pm
ScanFair Dance, December 6 ~ 7:00 pm to 11 pm
Sunday, December 7 ~ 11 am to 4 pm
 
Portland State University
Smith Memorial Center Ballroom, 3rd Floor
1825 SW Broadway
Portland, Oregon
 
$6 adults, $5 seniors and students, children under 12 are free. For more info visit:
 
·         Dancers and musicians from Oregon & Washington .
·         Annual pickled herring eating contest, noon Saturday.
·         ScanFair Dance: sponsored by SHF and The Nordly's dance group. The dance begins at 7:00 with lessons for  beginning dancers and ends at 11 p.m. Admission is free with proof of admission to ScanFair, or by donation.
·         Catch a preview of the Portland Christmas Revels' show celebrating the traditions, music and folklore of a Scandinvian Christmas.
·         Delicious Scandinavian foods.
·         Handcrafted and imported items.
·         Film room with videos on Scandinavia .
·         How-to demonstrations of rosemaling, spinning, carving and more.
·         A children's craft room.
·         Beautiful Scandinavian folk costumes.
·         53rd crowning of Oregon 's Lucia Queen of Light.
 

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Support health care initiatives in Peru/ Enjoy a walking 'taste' tour of the Pearl

MEJOR Communities and Pearl restaurants and cafés have banded to together to present a fun, first annual event to Portland's food lovers.

This tasty event will include a walking, tasting tour of eight Pearl restaurants and cafes, entry into fourteen raffles for gift certificates to various Pearl restaurants, a silent auction, and live music. Many of the restaurants are also donating an extra $1 per person that visits their location during the event.

All proceeds benefit MEJOR Communities' project in Peru during the next year. The program teaches basic health principles to youth , and empowers those youth to improve the health of their community.

November 16, 2008
2pm - 6:30pm

Start at the Ecotrust Building Foyer 2pm
Ending Ceremonies at Café Rocks begin 5pm

Tickets $15
For tickets please go to:

www.mejorc.org/events.html
Or contact: info@mejorc.org - 503-946-8567

Our current participants are:
Bridgeport Brewery

Cupcake Jones

Sweet Masterpiece Chocolates

Cafe Rocks

Isabel Pearl

Caffé Umbria

Palomino

Blitz Pearl


Additional raffle participants are:

Andina Restaurant

Via Delizia

Daily Cafe

The Tea Zone & Camellia Lounge

Urban Grind Coffeehouse and Roasters

Paragon Restaurant

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

All about Salmon: the International Fish of Mystery!

Did you know that the same species of salmon that swim in the rivers of the Pacific Northwest are also found in Russia and Japan? And that all these salmon end up mixing in that global melting pot, the Gulf of Alaska? At the "All about Salmon" event, we'll be talking about the cultural importance of salmon in different cultures around the North Pacific, the transboundary issues and treaties among all these countries and the differing sets of challenges salmon face in all these varied places.

Price: $7 for members/$12 nonmembers; price includes food such as smoked salmon and refreshments.
Register at: http://www.worldoregon.org/events/registration/ypSalmon.html

Speakers includes:
Dr. Peter Rand, Population Biologist, Wild Salmon Center, member Salmonid Specialist Group, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Matthew Goslin, Conservation Geographer, Ecotrust

Brian Caouette, Japan Program Manager, Wild Salmon Center

Nicole Portley, Russia Program Manager, Wild Salmon Center

Yuliya Klichkova, Recently with National Geographic Society in Kamchatka

Jeremy FiveCrows, Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission

Monday, November 10, 2008

Cricket News : Tendulkar breaks Lara Record

Sachin Tendulkar, of India, recently became the highest run-scorer in International Test Cricket when he broke the record previously held by Brian Lara of the West Indies.  The below article has more information on this amazing milestone for the bed-rock of Indian Cricket for so long. 
 

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Friday-11/7: Laughter Roundup from the Middle East & After Party

YPs are pleased to bring you the news of a Laughter Roundup from the Middle East, a concert of comedians from the Middle East brought to Portland by American Iranian Friendship Council, Andisheh Center and Arab American Cultural Center of Oregon.  The concert takes place on November 7, 2007 at 7 p.m.  
 
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, or PCPA box office, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland
 
PLUS, After the Show...
World Affairs Council Young Professionals invite you to join the performers at the Evil Doers After Party at Al Amir:
 
Al Amir
223 SW Stark St
Portland, OR 97204

 
Enjoy live Middle Eastern beats from celebrated local and visiting performers.  Taste Al Amir's authentic cuisine, and experience the infamous 'Lebanese Margarita"
 
*No RSVP required * No-host bar*
 
American Iranian Friendship Council, Andisheh Center and Arab American Cultural Center of Oregon present:

Evil Doers Ltd.: A laughter roundup from the Middle East.


"Muslims are harassed? ....PLEASE....if you don't like it here, go back to your Muslim country, you don't want to assimilate anything American, you don't feel welcome, you don't respect our country...why are you here? Oh yes, freedom, money, food, electricity, water, toilets, sewer systems, jobs...." From recent posts to the Portland's Willamette Week's web site (wweek.com):

These comments represent a system of attitudes and believes held by many even in the liberal island of Portland, Oregon. Educational campaigns, letters in response and sometimes protest may all be legitimate attempts to address what for the most part is simply ignorance, but it is not enough. That is why on November 7 we will partner with the Arab American Cultural Center of Oregon to present a program that intends to address the stereotyping through humor.

Newmark Theatre - 1111 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Obama wins: international reaction

This site offers a nice quick glance with audio clips of international reactions to Obama's victory: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/2008/11/081103_talking_america_people.shtml