Global Engagement

GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT: NEWS REVIEW AND COMMENTARY ON TOP EVENTS IN WORLD AFFAIRS

We have adapted our community outreach programs during the Covid-19 pandemic emergency to ensure all concerned are safe through social distancing. So the World Affairs Council has launched new programs via live Webinar delivery. These programs can be found here.

The webinars will be archived on our Youtube Channel [here] and on our Podcast page [here] and on SoundCloud.com/tnwac and wherever you find your Podcasts.

Global Engagement will be live on Tuesdays at 2:00 pm and offers students and others staying close to home during the pandemic an opportunity to keep up with world affairs.

Subscribe to the TNWAC newsletters [here] and check our calendar [here] to register for these live Webinars and to find archived episodes.

Don’t forget to leave your review of this Podcast at SoundClound.com/tnwac. Thanks!

April 7, 2020

with Ambassador Dick Bowers and LCDR Patrick Ryan, USN(Ret)

Top Global Affairs News Review and Commentary

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Welcome to the new Global Engagement with Amb Dick Bowers and LCDR Pat Ryan.

“Global Engagement”
A Review of News and Issues in World Affairs

Presented by the “Global Tennessee” project of the Tennessee World Affairs Council
April 7, 2020
With
Amb Charles Bowers, USFS(Ret)
LCDR Patrick Ryan, USN(Ret)

This week in the news:

1 – Covid-19 Update
2 – United Kingdom
3 – US-Iran Developments
4 – Global Governance and Democracy
5 – Afghanistan and America’s Longest War

Welcome to Global Engagement. This is a World Affairs Council global affairs awareness project that connects you with current events. We’re starting this during the “stay at home” period of the pandemic response especially as students are working from home and can find this conversation useful in knowing the world.

Each week we’ll share five important topics from the news and provide background, context and analysis. And we’ll get you involved through the Webinar’s interactive features.

Global Engagement will be broadcast live every Tuesday at 2pm Central Time as a Webinar on Zoom where you can participate with your questions and comments. The series will be archived by video on the Tennessee World Affairs Council’s Youtube Channel and audio on our “Global Tennessee” Podcast. You can find links to all of the episodes on our web site, TNWAC.org.

Timeline
00:30 Introduction. Ryan
02:01 Discussing TNWAC pivot to Webinars. “Going Zoom.” Bowers
04:50 Discussing TNWAC Educational Outreach Program: WorldQuest, Tennessee Global Scholar Certificate Program, “What in the World?” Weekly Quiz. Ryan
07:52
On to the news
Japan – Olympics/Paralympics postponed
Emergency conditions in some cities
What are you doing in response to Covid?
15:45
Italy – European epicenter
Infections “plateau”
European Union not much of a union
Universal healthcare responds to pandemic
20:15
What’s going on in Russia?
What about China? POTUS dropped “China Virus” talk
Which countries are doing well against Covid?
22:39
Stay Calm and Carry On – What about the UK?
Queen Elizabeth talks to her nation
PM Boris Johnson, an early Covid-denier, infected, in ICU
Who’s going to pick the crops? Migrant issues.
25:40
New leader of the UK Labor Party
“Competence vs Charisma”
Who’s in charge?
28:20
Iran and the pandemic
Distinguished leaders sign statement favoring easing limitations on medical supplies to Iran during pandemic
Holy city of Qom epicenter of Covid infections
33:40
Reliability of data. How many actual infections?
35:46
Iran-backed militias in Iraq
Trump will “go up the food chain” if more attacks on US forces
Time for a humanitarian gesture to lessen tension?
Tough sell
38:27
Global Governance and Democracy
“You are living in historic times”
Now in a fight to save our democracy… and how our way of life will be.
Side note: take a look at think-tank newsletters and reports, good content in their studies and reports. e.g. CFR, CSIS, Carnegie Endowment
Carnegie Report: “How will the Coronavirus Reshape Democracy and Governance Globally”
Concern about breakdowns, civil wars, riots as people become desperate
Bottom up pressure, top down pressure
Pandemic as cover to seize power
Viktor Orban in Hungary – indefinite rule by decree. End of checks/balances.
46:50
Brazil – Bolsonaro another Covid-denier
Any countries remain without Covid?
48:40
Afghanistan Endgame
Who are the Taliban?
9/11 terrorist safe haven
America’s longest war
Afghan government – two heads?
US-Taliban agreement. Government not onboard.
53:05
Dick’s Book Picks
“Prisoners of Geography” by Tim Marshall
Pat’s Book Pick
“A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide“ by Samantha Power
55:40
Calendar of TNWAC video broadcasts
Sign Off
end

Links:
Carnegie Report on Democracy and Global Governance — https://carnegieendowment.org/2020/04…

GLOBAL TENNESSEE

Executive Producer/Co-Host: Patrick Ryan
Co-Host: Dick Bowers
Technical Advisor: Bill Ryan
Voice of Global Tennessee (and the Penn Jones Conspiracy Band): Ben Olson

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Global Tennessee is the Podcast of the Tennessee World Affairs Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational association. We rely on support of members and donors to sustain our global affairs awareness efforts. We ask you to become members and make a gift, and for businesses to contact us about sponsoring and participating in Global Tennessee and other community and education outreach programs that bring the world to Tennessee. Contact Patrick Ryan (931-261-2353 / [email protected] )

Don’t forget to leave your review of the Podcast at SoundClound.com/tnwac. Thanks!

SUPPORT OF TNWAC’S EDUCATION OUTREACH

THANKS TO THE AWC FAMILY FOUNDATION

THANKS TO BASS BERRY + SIMS

THANKS TO SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

THANKS TO BELMONT UNIVERSITY’S CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

THANKS TO THE NASHVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COUNCIL

THANKS TO THE TNWAC WEEKLY QUIZ PARTNERS

Mission

The mission of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.

Vision

A well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.

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The Tennessee World Affairs Council is a 5o1c3 tax exempt organization. All gifts are tax deductible to the full extent of IRS regulations.

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