UPF Peace Talks

View this webinar on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q68C8kpY2nM

The COVID-19 crisis has had enormous impact on our world, and has given rise to a wide range of political, economic, and social challenges. As leaders of nations the role in peace building is critical as it requires building stable, peaceful, productive societies. Current and former heads of state and leaders with global influence have a unique vantage point and set of experiences that are of immense value as we search for solutions to the current crisis and prepare to avert ones in the future. In this webinar we will hear from key political and media experts on the importance of the cooperation within the Americas – North, South and the Caribbean.

PANELISTS:

- Dr. Thomas Walsh, Chair, Universal Peace Federation

- Hon. Dan Burton, Congressman, House of Representatives (1983-2013), USA

- H.E. Anthony Carmona, President (2013-2018), Trinidad and Tobago

- H.E. Jaime Paz Zamora, President (1989-1993), Bolivia

- Hon. Newt Gingrich, Speaker of House of Representatives (1995-1999), USA

- Dr. Michael Jenkins, President, Universal Peace Federation

View this webinar on Youtube here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=9-2uYLQvsOA

The COVID 19 crisis has had enormous impact on our world, and has given rise to a wide range of political, economic, and social challenges. As leaders in all fields women contribute to building stable, peaceful, productive societies. First Ladies have a unique vantage point and set of experiences that are of immense value as we search for solutions to the current crisis and prepare to avert ones in the future. In this webinar we will hear from four first ladies,offering their wisdom and insights on best practices that are bringing solutions during times of crisis.

PANELISTS:

- First Lady Debbie Remengesau, First Lady, Palau

- Dame Patience Jonathan, Former First Lady, Nigeria

- Hon. Emilia Patricia Alfaro de Franco, Former First Lady and Current Senator, Paraguay

- Hon. Nayla Moawad, Former First Lady, former Minister of Social Affairs, Lebanon

- Mrs. Fionnuala Kenny, Former First Lady of Ireland

View this webinar on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/gbGwd0K294I

Backgrounder: Many cities in the United States are in turmoil, facing a mix of peaceful, demonstrations, civil unrest, and occasional violence, arising out of the horrific killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minnesota several days ago. Most demonstrators are outraged by what they believe to be a pattern of racism within the law enforcement and criminal justice system, if not society at large,a pattern that unfairly targets people of color. Others emphasize a wider context of economic inequality. To complicate matters further, citizens throughout the country, and world are stressed by the lockdown of many cities due to the pandemic. What can be done to re-establish conditions of trust and solidarity, dialogue and cooperation, reform and social transformation? Our panelists will join in a conversation to search for peace in our cities.

PANELISTS:

- Dr. Michael Jenkins, Chairman, UPF USA; President, UPF International

- Rev. Victor James Smith, National & Minneapolis President, Men Against Destruction, Defending Against Drugs & Social Disorder (MADDADS) Program, USA

- Hon. Loretta Sanchez, Congresswoman, House of Representatives, California (1997 to 2017), USA

- Dr. William Lay, Professor of Criminal Justice, University of Bridgeport

- Ms. Gloria Howard-Geraldo, President of Rotary Club of North Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN, USA

- Rev. Luonne Rouse, United Methodist Pastor; Co-Chairman of ACLC

View this webinar on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-q41ZabcMA

During this time of the coronavirus governments have their hands full addressing the immediate challenges that derive from Covid 19. And whereas these challenges are most forcefully felt by citizens and health care providers, the political and economic impact is equally enormous and widely felt. Recent “Peace Talks” have had focus on Africa, Europe, the USA and China.

For this webinar are attention turns to the Middle East, and while the discussion of Covid 19 is unavoidable, we have asked panelists to help our viewers get a sense of the broader context in the Holy Land in the broader political, social and economic context of the Middle East. Most especially we invite our panelists to offer their recommendations for constructive steps toward dialogue, peace and development that might be taken, either by governments or non-state actors such as civil society, the private sector, and faith-based organizations.

Panelists:

- Dr. Eldad Pardo, Lecturer and research fellow, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Head of Research, IMPACT-SE Institute for Monitoring Peace in School Education;

- Mr. Daniel Sherman- Lecturer of Middle East Affairs and Politics, Israel

- Hon. Gözde Dizdar, Founder/Managing Director of Governance and Development (GD Global), Turkey

- Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf, Co-Founder and Chair, Cordova Initiative; Founder, American Society for Muslim Advancement

- Bishop Riah El-Assal, Israeli-Palestinian Anglican bishop; Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem and head of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East (1997-2007)

- Question and Answer Session

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The coronavirus has created an enormous crisis, politically, economically, and socially. The crisis has also exacerbated existing tensions in the global order, particularly in the relations between China and the USA. Are we headed toward a new “cold war” era? Will the last century’s trend toward globalization and multilaterism be reversed, replaced by increased nationalism? Can the USA and China find a way forward that helps promote a global economic recovery? What steps should be taken?

Panelists:

- Amb. Christopher Hill, Chief Advisor to the Chancellor, University of Devner; Special Envoy to Six Party Talks; Author recently of: What Does Washington Want From China? Pique Is Not a Policy, Foreign Affairs, May, 2020

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2020-05-11/what-does-washington-want-china?fbclid=IwAR3zzg7vpsudVSU3t5tgK24hb8t3fm9VgyBZb9Ab0dHQD3W3-LKNymOlksA

with

- Prof. Nancy Wei, East Asian Studies, University of Bridgeport

- Hon. Werner Fasslabend, Former Defense Minister, Austria

- Question and Answer Session

View this webinar on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrFIdLdZPYw

The Covid 19 is placing enormous pressure and stress on families, due to the "shelter in place" policies in many countries coupled with the closing of schools, the economic recession with rapidly rising unemployment, not to mention infections and deaths within families. Parents, spouses, children, grandparents are challenged on all fronts. Evidence suggests that cases of domestic violence are on the rise, even as "street crime" declines. There are also reports of wider substance abuse. During this webinar we will hear from experts who address the impact which the coronavirus crisis places on families.

Panelists:

- Dr. Bahira Trask, Professor and Chair, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Delaware

- Dr. Rima Salah, Former Assistant Secretary-General of the UN; Former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF

- Prof. Clare Huntington, Joseph M. McLaughlin Professor of Law, Fordham University

View this webinar on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGrLRo57-hw

Topic: Prospects and Challenges for Peace on the Korean Peninsula in Light of Recent Developments

2020, the “year of the rat”, has been quite eventful, if not disruptive on the Korean peninsula. Most notably the coronavirus has created a global economic recession that has impacted the Korean peninsula, despite the high marks that South Korea gets for its adept handling of the Covid-19. In addition, rumors that circulated about the health of Kim Jong Eun brought up a host of questions about succession, the balance of power in the region, and various “what if” scenarios. Suffice to day, the Korean peninsula has been a focus of global attention.

Panelists:

- Amb. Joseph DeTrani, Special Envoy for Six-Party Talks with North Korea (2003-2006), United States Department of State

- Amb. Tae Ik Chung, Chairman, Korean Council on Foreign Relations

- Dr. Alexandre Mansourov, Adjunct Professor of Security Studies, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington DC

View this webinar on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3dduIs_KhM

Parliamentarians have an essential role to play in responding to pandemics. When a pandemic strikes, parliamentarians must work decisively and swiftly to seek to mitigate the negative impact on the health and well-being of citizens of their nations:preventing the pandemic's spread; providing needed relief to offset economic downturns; supporting and strengthening health care workers; and preparing for getting "back to normal" after the pandemic has subsided. In addition, parliamentarians should play a major role in disaster preparedness, and in promoting a transparent early warning system.

How can parliamentarians and parliaments improve their responsiveness to and preparednessfor pandemics? What lessons have we learned from the Coronavirus Crisis? What best practices should be proposed? What can IAPP do to help?

Panelists:

- Hon. Dan Burton, Congressman (1983-2013), U.S. House of Representatives; International Co-Chair, IAPP

- Dr. Michael Jenkins, President, UPF International

- Hon. Jose De Venecia, Speaker (2001-2008), House of Representatives, Philippines; International Co-Chair, IAPP

- H.E. Albin Kurti, Prime Minister, Kosovo

- Hon. María Fernanda Flores de Alemán, Assemblywoman, National Assembly, Nicaragua

- Hon. Jeong Seong Lim, Assemblyman, Korea; Co-chair, IAPP Korea

- Baroness Sandip Verma, House of Lords, United Kingdom

- Question and Answer Session

View this webinar on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/whB-TPwIowU

Governments around the world are doing their best to respond effectively and expeditiously to the coronavirus crisis. The challenges are immense, and across the world governments are being compared and contrasted for their performance. Some countries get high marks and others low marks. Some argue that the grading system itself is hopelessly politicized. The WHO has been criticized by some and applauded by others. Even scientists and epidemiologists are under scrutiny.

Are governments going too far in addressing the health crisis while allowing the economy to go into precipitous decline? Are governments overstepping and violating some rights of citizens in the effort to enforce social distancing and "shelter in place" policies? What is the proper balance between state authority and citizens rights? Will we see increasing civil unrest, especially as the virus spreads to countries in the Global South that may be ill-equipped to address the crisis? The challenges are enormous. Are there best practices that are emerging? Are there preferred models of good governance that stand out during a time of pandemics? Our panelists will explore these issues.

Panelists:

- Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister (2006-2015), Canada

- H.E. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, President (2010-2015), Nigeria

- Hon. Sang Hyun Yoon, National Assembly, Republic of Korea

- Dr. Intisar Azzuz, Advisor to the President of the Presidential Council of Libya on Women's Affairs

- Question and Answer Session

View this webinar on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HopeBpIyPvE

The topic is "A Circle of Light: Moving Through and Beyond the Coronavirus Crisis." In addition to having an introduction to the Peace Talks Series, panelists reflected on the UPF “Circle of Light” statement, offering their own perspective and insights.

Moderator: Ms. Genie Kagawa, Executive Director, UPF International

Speaker: Dr. Thomas Walsh, Chairman, UPF International

- Introduction to the Peace Talks initiative and UPF’s “Circle of Light” statement

Panelists:

- Bishop Munib Younan, President, Religions for Peace

- Imam Shamsi Ali, Director, Jamaica Muslim Center, New York City

- Rabbi Kevin De-Carli, Interfaith Advisor, Switzerland

- Question and Answer Session