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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Putin: 'Cheap gas era' ending

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- The era of cheap natural gas is coming to an end, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Tuesday at a meeting in Moscow of the world's major gas-exporting countries.

That dire-sounding prediction is exactly what his audience wanted to hear.

Iran, Libya and Venezuela are among the countries attending the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, which observers say is fast emerging as an OPEC-style gas-producers' cartel. The gas group, commonly called GECF, would control the vast bulk of global supplies and could fix prices for the rest of the world.

 

Full story at: http://www.cnn.com/2008/BUSINESS/12/23/russia.putin.gas/index.html

YP DISCUSSION: GREEK YOUTHS RIOT

Dear Young Professionals,

Greetings from the World Affairs Council of Oregon!

Wednesday, December 17th, 7:00pm - YP Discussion Group:
TOPIC: Greek Youths Riot: What do they want? How effective is aggressive, violent youth activism? Could this happen in the U.S.? The Middle East? Please come share your opinions with the group!

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

FACEBOOK ANNOUNCEMENT: Become a Friend!
PHOTO ANNOUNCEMENT: YP Holiday Party Photos Now Online!

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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YP HOLIDAY PARTY PHOTOS (and one video)!

Pogroms by the Jewish settlers in Hebron

An excellent, powerful coverage by a Ha'aretz reporter, Avi Issacharoff, of the pogroms by the Jewish settlers in Hebron .  Watching a video report accompanying the article, one gets a sense of the enormous cost that these settlers are exerting on Israel (never mind the Palestinians). The ideological cost of the world watching Jewish settlers beat up the Palestinian families.  The psychological cost to Israeli citizens, such as Avi, of having to reconcile living in the same state as the settlers who claim the divine right to plunder and kill Palestinians.  The economic cost of having busloads of Israeli troops remove settlers from the houses they try to illegally occupy in the Palestinian territories.   And this is just one house. Out of the hundreds being contested by the settlers.  One house at a time.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1043795.html

2008 Holiday Ale Festival - 12/4-7

2008 Holiday Ale Festival - Welcome to the Holiday Ale Festival, the only beer festival in the Northwest to be held outdoors in the dark, cold and often wet month of December.

Despite chilly temperatures and often-inclement weather outside, attendees stay warm and dry at the festival under a large clear tent that covers the venue while allowing for views of the city lights. Gas heaters create a cozy ambience under the boughs of one of the region's largest decorated Christmas trees.

EVENT DAY(S): 12/04/08 - 12/07/08
LOCATION: Pioneer Courthouse Square - 701 SW 6th St
HOURS: Thurs Fri Sat 11am-10pm & Sun 11am-6pm
PHONE: 503-252-9899

This is NOT a free event, check website for details: http://www.holidayale.com/index.php

BootsnAll Holiday Party 12/6

BootsnAll Holiday Party

If you've never been to a BootsnAll party then you're in for a treat. If you've on the fence about attending, here's 13 reasons why you should attend. Did we mention we're giving away over $1500 in travel prizes?

Time: 7pm-12:30am

More details ad RSVP for free at: http://www.bootsnall.com/party/

Fellow YP'er in Dubai

A fellow YP member (and one of the founding YP Steering Committee members) Michelle Diamond has temporarily taken up residence in Dubai, UAE.  Michelle is planning to spend a few months in the Emirates before heading to Palestine.  She has started a blog of her life in Dubai and it's a good read.  For anyone interested in exploring Dubai, its social and political life, I highly recommend it. 

You can read and subcribe to the blog at:

http://travelingmishi.blogspot.com/

Natalia

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

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. 

 

 

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

24^th 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:

http://www.scanheritage.org/NewWebPage/scanfair.html

 

·         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.

 

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

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

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. 

 

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/content/current/story/373748.html

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