China's Trajectory (YP Discussion Group)

China's Trajectory (YP Discussion Group)

The World Affairs Council, Young Professionals invite you to our biweekly discussion group:

Wednesday, 3 March 2010 | 7:00 p.m.

Madison's Grill, 1109 SE Madison St. (Map)
(NEW LOCATION)

Every American President since Nixon has claimed that the opening of the Chinese economy will eventually lead to democratic reforms. It is clear that the Chinese leadership is primarily concerned with prolonging their own rule, and thus far, has been able to use the economic growth to justify their position. As China's power and influence grows, will the leadership be able to create a new market system with fewer civil liberties, or are they merely delaying the inevitable demands for democratic reform?

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

JOIN GLOBAL SISTERGOODS IN A CONVERSATION WITH IRENE TINKER

Celebrate International Women's Day this year with one of the foremost leaders in Women in Development research, Irene Tinker (www.irenetinker.com)

Global Sistergoods will be hosting a happy hour with a full Mediterranean buffet, networking and lecture at
The James John Cafe,
8527 N Lombard St
Portland, OR 97203
(503) 285-4930

Saturday, March 6
4pm-6:30 pm

Drinks, networking and food 4-5, lecture 5-6

Cost: $20 includes full Mediterranean buffet, wine and a door prize ticket.

Please RSVP to info@globalsistergoods.com or 503-285-6780

Come see a PIFF movie with us this Sunday!

Young Professionals have a bloc of tickets for the Sunday afternoon showing of acclaimed French director Catherine Breillat's Bluebeard.  Join us at Broadway Cinemas for this stylized retelling of the classic, gothic fairy tale and then step across the street for a post-film happy hour at the Heathman.

 

 

In this retelling of the tale of the wife-killing Bluebeard, Breillat reminds us all that the best fairytales are dark around the edges. The film intercuts between the stories of two pairs of sisters. The first is set in the 1950s and features a young girl who loves torturing her older sister with dramatic readings of the story of Bluebeard. In the second, set during the Renaissance, a young girl becomes engaged to Lord Bluebeard, despite the suspicious disappearances of his previous wives.

Sunday, February 21st. Please arrive by 2:30 for the 3:00 show

 

Regal Broadway Cinemas 1000 SW Broadway at Main St.
We will be waiting at the door from 2:30 to 2:50 with a bloc of tickets: $9 each

 

Country Driving

Peter Hessler's new book, Country Driving: A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory, came out this week. When I moved to China in 2006, I brought his first book River Town with me. To this day, I think that River Town captures the feeling of life in modern China better than anything I have come across. His follow-up work Oracle Bones is also essential reading for Sinophiles. Hessler is currently the Beijing correspondent for The New Yorker and guest edited a special National Geographic devoted to China in 2009. No one writing in English today comes close to Hessler's insight and knack for finding interesting and informative stories.

La Blogotheque

The French website La Blogotheque has an ongoing series called "Les Concerts a Emporter" that shows cool bands from all over the world performing in intimate settings. The basic premise involves one of the sites videographers (armed with a digital camera) meeting the band, and finding a place to perform. Featured bands have included Efterklang, The Arcade Fire, Phoenix, Josh Rouse, Malajube, and many more. The site also features a handy "English Translation" for those who do not parle francaise.

YP Trivia 2/17

Do you know the inspiration for Shakespeare's Sonnets?  Mother Teresa's birthplace?  The significance of the Peace of Westphalia?  Bring your friends or come alone (we will place you on a team). Trivia Night is a fun opportunity to acquaint and socialize with fellow Portlanders who share your zest for all things international! RSVP by donating a minimum of $5.00 to Mercy Corps through the Young Professionals- Mercy Corps fundraising page.  Trees Restaurant will generously donate 5% of bar sales from Trivia Night to Mercy Corps for Haiti earthquake relief efforts.   Wednesday, February 17th 6:30pm | Trees Restaurant, 1211 SW 5th

Spielberg's Munich in real life

Fascinating case of an international assassination is unraveling in Dubai.  A group of 11 individuals holding European passports engaged in a clandestine operation in Dubai and killed Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a senior member of Hamas.  For anyone who watched Steven Spielberg's Munich featuring Eric Bana, this may be reminiscent of the movie (based on true story) where Israel sent out Mossad operatives around the world to assassinate various leaders of PLO and Hamas to avenge the killing of Israeli athletes during the Munich Olympics in 1972.

In this case, Israel "has not commented officially on Mabhouh's death, in line with a long-standing policy neither to confirm nor deny responsibility for attacks on targets abroad." Besides Mossad, who else would be a suspect in this attack?

For the FT article on the case, follow the link: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d8be100e-1a9a-11df-bef7-00144feab49a.html?nclick_check=1

Chinese New Year: Year of the Tiger is February 14.

The first day of the new moon is the Chinese New Year celebrated throughout Asia.  Each year is represented by one of 12 animals.  This year is the Year of the Tiger, as were 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, and 1998.  People born in the Year of the Tiger are unpredictable and emotional, caring, thoughtful, fascinating, commanding, and exasperating.  Tigers have a lot to say on righting society's wrongs, and fiercely defend friends and families from all enemies.

"Reluctant German leaders now find themselves forced to help Greece"

"As the largest European economy with the most fiscal flexibility, Germany is crucial to any euro zone effort to save Greece." http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/world/europe/11germany.html?th&emc=th

Celebrate Vancouver Olympics this Friday

On Friday, February 12, 2010, the Oregon Sports Authority is hosting a viewing of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games Opening Ceremony at Portland’s Pioneer Square. The spirit of the Olympics will extend from one Northwest city to another as the square is transformed into the ultimate living room setting for winter sports enthusiasts, complete with two giant LCD screens, interviews with Oregon Olympians, live music, warm drinks and a hockey goal-scoring challenge.

Local Olympic programming on KGW NewsChannel 8 will begin at 5:00 p.m. on the big screens at Pioneer Square, followed by a live event program from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., featuring introductions of Oregon Olympians and Paralympians, and several exciting prize giveaways.  Governor Kulongoski is scheduled to attend. 

NBC’s broadcast of the Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremony will begin at approximately 9:00 p.m.

 

 

YP Trivia Night: February 17 to benefit Mercy Corps

Special Haiti Benefit Trivia Night!




Are you an expert on the topics of peace, love, and humanitarianism?  Do you know the inspiration for Shakespeare's Sonnets?  Mother Teresa's birthplace?  The significance of the Peace of Westphalia?  If so, join us for a special Humanitarian Trivia Night to benefit the people of Haiti.

Bring your friends or come alone (we will place you on a team). Trivia Night is a fun opportunity to acquaint and socialize with fellow Portlanders who share your zest for all things international!

RSVP with the Young Professionals by donating a minimum of $5.00 to Mercy Corps through the Young Professionals- Mercy Corps fundraising page.  Trees Restaurant will generously donate 5% of bar sales from Trivia Night to Mercy Corps for Haiti earthquake relief efforts.



To register YOU MUST enter your name and the name of your guests (separated by comma) in the comments box upon donating.  Spaces are limited, so RSVP and donate now!

Wednesday, February 17th 6:30pm | Trees Restaurant, 1211 SW 5th