YP DISCUSSION: GREAT DECISIONS - ENERGY AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

Dear Young Professionals,

Greetings from the World Affairs Council of Oregon!

Wednesday, January 21, 7:00pm - YP Discussion Group:
TOPIC:  Great Decisions:  Energy and the Global Economy 

For the next several discussion meetings the Young Professionals will cover topics congruent to the Great Decisions lectures being held at Portland State University.

The YPs will cover the topics on Wednesday evening, and on Friday afternoon you're invited to attend free, expert-level lectures held on the campus of Portland State University.

Great Decisions is a nation-wide program of the Foreign Policy Association to broaden public involvement with the most important foreign policy topics facing the U.S. PSU is hosting lectures on each topic covered in the Great Decisions briefing booklets (schedule/details here).

DISCUSSION LOCATION:  Laurelwood NW Public House, NW Kearney & NW 23rd (MAP), upstairs - back room.
Can't make it this Wednesday?  Post a comment to our blog and we'll bring it up at the meeting for you!

FACEBOOK:  Become our Friend!

We hope to see you at an upcoming event!

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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Evening Standard to be acquired by the Russian ex-spy

Interesting development in the world of media- with some international ratifications. 

 

Russian ex-KGB agent- turned oligarch Alexander Lebedev is buying a UK newspaper, the Evening Standard.  I say "ex-KGB agent", but as they say, once a spy, always a spy…

 

This is a noteworthy acquisition for several reasons.  London-Moscow relationships have been at their all time low for the last couple of years.  It is a bit surprising then that the sale was approved, in fact.  One also has to remember the time period in the late 90s-early 00's when the Russian papers were controlled by the various oligarchs, resulting in some pretty biased reporting.  But at least there was variety in whose biased opinions you wanted to read.  After Putin came to power, of course, the ownership/ control of the papers got consolidated in Kremlin, so now there is only one bias- the one amenable to Kremlin (with the exception of Nezavisimaya Gazeta, which is now the only significant voice of opposition in the Russian media).  

 

Of course, even if the Evening Standard has to tame its views on Russia to reflect its new ownership, with the diverse media in the UK, there is little fear that the freedom of press will be compromised.  Unless, of course, other oligarchs follow suit.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/14/russian-oligarch-alexander-lebedev-buy-london-evening-standard

'From Macho Man to Renaissance Man'

Who knew Vladimir Putin was painter? Or that his artistic themes include stealing natural resources from the Ukraine?  Check out the Russian PM's masterpiece here.

YP DISCUSSION: WHO IS BURNING GAZA?

Dear Young Professionals,

Greetings from the World Affairs Council of Oregon!

Wednesday, January 7, 7:00pm - YP Discussion Group:
TOPIC: Who is Burning Gaza?
To the rest of the world's complete lack of surprise, severe violence and perhaps war is flaring up again between Israelis and Palestinians. Why do neither Hamas nor Israel seem interested in peace?
An additional question for this discussion group: while hundreds of thousands are starving and being murdered in Africa, why does the rest of the world concern it self so with these relatively small groups of people in the Middle East?

LOCATION: Laurelwood NW Public House, NW Kearney & NW 23rd (MAP), upstairs - back room.
Can't make it this Wednesday? Post a comment to our blog and we'll bring it up at the meeting for you!

SUGGESTED READING:
WIKIPEDIA: Gaza
WIKIPEDIA: Israel
GOOGLE NEWS: Gaza News

FACEBOOK:
Become our Friend!

We hope to see you at an upcoming event!

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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