COMING UP IN JANUARY 2002

Coming up in January 2002

• Terrorism to be major topic for Parliamentarians January 6-9
• Korean Ambassador to Speak
• Preparing for a Changing Climate
• Human Impacts on Land-Use Changes
• Asia Pacific Leadership Program to Begin
• EWC in the News
• Looking Ahead in 2002

INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARIANS
TO MEET IN HONOLULU JANUARY 6 - 9

The struggle against terrorism is expected to be a major theme of the 10th annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) January 6-9 in Honolulu. Rep. Dennis Hastert, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, will present opening remarks.

. This is the first time the event will be held in the United States. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka of Hawaii and Rep. Amo Houghton of New York will host the meeting. The East-West Center is serving as secretariat. Delegates from 26 Asia Pacific nations and the United States will participate.

“The issues to be addressed during the meeting are serious, including the threat of terrorism and the environment," Sen. Akaka said. “It is my hope that bringing so many representatives from different nations together in the spirit of Aloha will assist in developing a consensus on how we resolve these critical issues.”

Sen. Akaka said he is pleased that Hawaii has been chosen to host the meeting: “Hawaii stands at the crossroads of the Pacific and looks forward to welcoming the delegates from abroad, my colleagues from the Congress, and distinguished officials from the Administration.”

APPF, founded by former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, seeks to help national parliamentarians of the Asia Pacific region to identify and discuss matters of common concern in a global context.

The Forum focuses on political, social and cultural developments resulting from economic growth, promotion of regional cooperation, and furtherance of a sense of regional cohesion, understanding and cooperation.

The APPF’s founding charter is the Tokyo Declaration, signed by parliamentarians from 15 nations. The Forum maintains close ties with other regional institutions, including the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

The sessions will be held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Agenda topics include economic growth and globalization, the international dimensions of politics and security, environmental issues, disaster management and preparedness, information technology and education, and Asia Pacific cooperation.

JOURNALISTS: For information on conference events open for coverage, contact Karen Knudsen (808) 944-7195 or John Williams (808) 944-7204.

KOREAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S. TO SPEAK JAN. 16

Sung Chul Yang, ambassador of South Korea to the United States, will speak at a luncheon open to the public on Wednesday, January 16 at the East-West Center. His topic will be “Peace and Security on the Korean Peninsula.”

The luncheon will be at 12 Noon in the EWC’s Hawaii Imin International Conference Center at Jefferson Hall. Sponsors, in addition to the EWC, are the Friends of the East-West Center, the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, and the University of Hawaii Center for Korean studies. For information and reservations, call 944-7111.

Ambassador Yang is a political scientist and author with a long career in academia and politics. He has served as a member of the Korean National Assembly and president of the Unification and Policy Forum. He was a professor at Eastern Kentucky University in 1970-75 and dean of academic affairs at the Graduate Institute of Peace Studies at Kyung Hee University in Seoul in 1987-94. He is the author of several books on Korean issues, including “The North and South Korean Political Systems.” His Ph.D. in political science is from the University of Kentucky.

‘PREPARING FOR A CHANGING CLIMATE’
This report, subtitled “The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change for the Pacific Islands,” summarizes key findings and recommendations of the Pacific islands regional contribution to the first U.S. national assessment of the Consequences of Climate Variability and Change. The Pacific assessment was coordinated by the East-West Center in collaboration with scientific partners at institutions throughout the region.

“Rather than an end product, this report represents the beginning of a sustained process of dialogue and information exchange among scientists, businesses, communities and governments in the Pacific region,” said Eileen L. Shea of the East-West Center, climate project coordinator. “Together we can combine our individual assets and collective insights into a new paradigm of climate awareness and response.” She said the report reflects the “Passionate involvement and support” of nearly 200 individuals. Under “Challenges and Opportunities,” the report discusses:

• Providing access to fresh water
• Protecting public health
• Ensuring public safety in extreme events and protecting community infrastructure
• Sustaining commercial and subsistence agriculture
• Sustaining tourism
• Promoting wise use of marine and coastal resources
• Common themes

The final chapter on planning for the 21st century addresses response to climate variability and change, research requirements, and the building and sustaining of critical partnerships. The national assessment was organized by the agencies contributing to the U.S. Global Change Research Project and the White House Office of Science and Technology Assessment.

For a copy of the report – 102 pages with color photos and focus sidebars – contact John Williams, EWC External Affairs Office, (808) 944-7204.
E-mail: williamj@EastWestCenter.org

Also available is an eight-page fold-out brochure summary of the report.

CONTACT: Eileen Shea, (808) 944-7253. E-mail: sheae@EastWestCenter.org

HUMAN IMPACTS ON CHANGES IN LAND USE

Workshop January 4-8 at the EWC to explore both theoretical and practical issues involved in linking and collecting social science data from households and communities with remotely sensed data to study land-use and land-cover change. This project is designed not only to enhance the knowledge of the scientific community regarding the interaction between human and natural systems, but also to provide decision makers with information and tools to enable them to better understand human impacts on land-use/cover change and to predict environmental responses to such changes. Understanding these processes is critical if policy makers and planners are to create the conditions that promote environmentally sound and sustainable development. Participants will produce a publication that provides a state-of-the-art survey of methodology and issues for linking social science data from households with remotely sensed data. Financial support from the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Workshop organizers are Jefferson Fox (808) 944-7248 and Vinod Mishra (808) 944-7452 of the East-West Center and Ronald Rindfuss and Stephen Walsh of the University of North Carolina. For additional information:
Human Impacts on Changes in Land Use

ASIA PACIFIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM TO BEGIN

In January, the EWC will welcome the first participants in an innovative program designed to meet new educational and human resource needs during a time of increasing regional interdependence.

The Asia Pacific Leadership Program seeks outstanding young professionals and students from the United States, Asia and the Pacific. The initial session will run from January 7 to June 21 with participants from 15 countries. The next session is scheduled for fall and spring 2002/2003.

“The program's graduates will leave the Center with a broad regional perspective, knowledgeable about the societies and issues of the region, and trained to exercise leadership and promote cooperation,” said Terance W. Bigalke, EWC dean of academic programs. “It is expected that graduates will seek or return to positions in business, government, non-governmental organizations and universities.”

For currently and recently enrolled graduate students, the program complements studies at home institutions and provides contact with Asia Pacific colleagues and faculty typically unavailable at home. The program particularly seeks to involve graduate students receiving their degrees from home institutions in the Asia Pacific region who may otherwise not come to the United States.

The program has been established through generous funding support from the Freeman Foundation.

Program elements will include a core seminar on critical issues, a leadership seminar, group projects and experiential learning, and individualized study and research opportunities. Participants will live at the East-West Center's international residence halls and have opportunities to interact with students, researchers, policymakers, journalists, and other professionals who participate in the Center's programs.

For more information: E-mail inquiries to: APLP@EastWestCenter.org

EWC in the news . . .

Jakarta Post:
According to the East-West Center in Hawaii, China is currently importing 1.4 million barrels of oil a day and it is projected that this level will more than double by 2010. (11/10/01)

Asian Wall Street Journal

Could bioterrorism reach Asia? It’s unlikely for now, but if it does, it won’t necessarily take the form of anthrax, experts say. “With the ease of acquiring biological weapons, anywhere in the world is at risk,” says Christopher McNally, a scholar of East Asian security at the East-West Center. “Many groups with limited finances and technical knowledge could use biological weapons. The question is which groups are willing to do so.” Terrorist groups targeting Asia are more likely to stick to methods they know.” (11/8/01)

Oil & Gas Journal:
For the past 20 years, Asia has accounted for 50-100% of the global incremental oil demand," Fesharaki said. "If you don't have growth in Asia, you won't have growth in the world oil market. Asia is the linchpin of the global oil market, and to a lesser extent, the gas market." -- (Covering an address by Fereidun Fesharaki of the EWC at a joint meeting in Houston of the Asia Society and the International Association for Energy Economics. 11/28/01)

Asiaweek:
If there were a Nobel Prize for Statecraft this year, it should surely go to Pakistan’s Delhi-born military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf. He overthrew a democratically elected prime minister two years ago, but since Sept. 11 has transformed himself from international pariah into the linchpin in America’s war on terrorism. (Piece by Sunanda Datta-Ray, editor of the Statesman and former EWC editor-in-residence. 11/23/01)

Honolulu Advertiser:
Terrorists will quickly seize upon areas like the Pacific islands because they think it is where we think they are least likely to operate. Precisely for this reason, there is no better time to renew old U.S.-Pacific friendships and strengthen historical ties to advance our collective security by once again working side by side. (Op-ed by Gerard Finin, EWC Pacific Islands Development Program, “Renew Ties With Pacific Islands to Bolster ‘Weak Link’,” (Sunday Focus section. 10/28/01)

Honolulu Star-Bulletin:
They live in a country where murder is the leading cause of death among adults, cocaine is a major illegal export, and armed groups have recruited children as soldiers. Farlis Calle and Juan Elias Uribe have been working since they were teenagers in promoting peace and nonviolence in the Children’s movement for Peace in Colombia, a group nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize. (The two were featured speakers at the day-long International Education Week program coordinated by the East-West Center. 11/16/01)

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L o o k i n g A h e a d . . .

Continuing:

“Barkcloth Of Sulawesi, Indonesia: Asia-Pacific Connections” Exhibition continuing through January 6 in the East-West Center Gallery.

“Bamboo in Japanese Culture: Traditional -- Ritual – Practical," Exhibition running to February 3 at the World Forestry Center, Portland. Oregon.

Feb. 21-24: “Local/Global Relations in the Asia Pacific Region” - The East-West Center International Graduate Student Conference.

Feb. 28: George E. Taylor Symposium on Cultural Conflict and Mediation. Cosponsored by the Kluckhohn Center, the East-West Center, and the Conflict Resolution Program of the Matsunaga Peace Institute.

March: “Transporting the Pacific into the New Millennium” - a Joint Commercial Commission workshop focusing on the private-sector. (dates to be announced)

March 5-7: 2nd Asia Pacific Executive Forum. Dates to be announced.

March 6-8: 11th Northeast Asia Economic Forum in Anchorage, Alaska.

March 11-12: 27th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders. Dates to be announced.

March 14-16: Asian Studies Development Program National Conference in Atlanta, hosted by Agnes Scott College, Decatur, Georgia.

March 15: EWC Foundation Annual Dinner.

April 28: Jefferson Fellowship Program for journalists. Through May 25.

May 30: Annual East-West Summer Seminar on Population – to June 29.

June 3-5: Senior Seminar on Environment: Greenhouse Gases.

July 1-6: EWCA/EWC International Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

August 4-7: 4th Senior Policy Seminar.

September 1: 12th New Generation Seminar through September 15.