Event Report- International Thursdays 2006

December 14, 2006

Featured Speakers:

• Gia Jandieri, New Economic School (Tbilisi, Georgia)
  • Jandieri discussed the reforms introduced since the new government came about with the “ Revolution of  Roses ”.
  • Since the Revolution, the New Economic School has participated in the fast pace of reform by educating Georgian policy makers.
• Bijan Sepasy, Iranian expert
  • One of Sepasy’s main projects is the website: http://www.iranreport.org/latest.  Iranreport.org is a group of translators, experts, and academics dedicated to providing in-depth analysis of social, political and foreign-policy trends in Iran, as well as geopolitical relationships which influence the country
  • Sepasy also discussed the paradox of Anti-Americanism in Iran.
• Bruce Chapman, Discovery Institute (Seattle, Washington)
  • Chapman discussed the implication which the dissent over Darwin in the scientific community is having in the political/economic scene.
  • He also discussed the Discovery Institute’s recent work on Somalia
• Pedro Burelli, pmbcomments.com
  • Burelli’s extensive experience in both the public and private sectors gives him a unique perspective on the current affairs of Venezuela.  Burelli believes that the US’s current position of basically leaving Venezuela alone is a good one.

Announcements

Atlas:

• • AWARD COMPETITION:  Apply now for the 18th Annual Sir Antony Fisher Memorial Awards.  DEADLINE: February 1st. Winners will be announced at the 2007 Liberty Forum.
  • EVENT:  2007 LIBERTY FORUM : April 24-26, 2007 in Philadelphia, PA.

Other:

• • NEW PROJECT:  Pre-Occupation Planning in Japan
  • UPCOMING EVENT:  DECEMBER 19th —   Naumann Foundation Lunch,  “The Political Consequences of Latin America’s Elections 2006,” featuring Peter Hakim, President, Inter-American Dialogue

November 9, 2006

Featured Speakers:

• Karol Boudreaux, Mercatus Center (Arlington, VA):
  • Boudreaux discussed the 2-year long Enterprise Africa program that will be completed in  Spring 2007 and was funded by the Templeton Foundation
  • The 3 studies published to date from this program are:
    • Seeds of Hope:  Agricultural Technologies and Poverty Alleviation in Rural South Africa
    • The Effects of Property Titling in Langa Township, South Africa
    • Taxing Alternatives: Poverty Alleviation and the South African Taxi/Minibus Industry
  • Local partner for research in South Africa:  Free Market Foundation
• Elisabeth Lord Stuart, US – Algeria Business Counci l (Arlington, VA):
• Jana El Horr, American Islamic Congress (Washington, DC):
  • AIC’s collaboration with the Save Darfur Coalition – Arab-Muslim Voices for Justice in Sudan
  • “Dream Deferred” Essay Contest – deadline January 31, 2007
  • Building Tolerance program, to share the many voices of Islam
  • AIC also conducts programs with the Independent Women’s Forum
• Lida Sahar Noory, Independent Women’s Forum (Washington, DC):
  • Iraqi Women Educational Institute (IWEI) program
  • IWEI’s Small Grant and NGO Capacity Building Initiative – One of their main goals is to help 15 NGOs build capacity in Iraq so they can become self-sustaining.
  • Women Leaders program that began in 2004.

Announcements:

Atlas:

• • EVENT: November 14th – 15th: Atlas seminar (Montreal)-  Finding Common Ground: the Challenge of Freedom in the West and in the Muslim World
  • EVENT:  2006 Freedom Dinner, November 16th, Willard Hotel, Washington, DC
  • TEMPLETON FREEDOM AWARDS PROGRAM :  November 15th deadline for Prize applications; December 1st deadline for Award Grant applications

Other Groups:

• • EVENT:  Competitive Enterprise Institute : November 15th , Sell the Tiger to Save It: A Private Conservation Proposal, featuring  Barun Mitra and R.J Smith

September 14th, 2007

Featured Speakers:

• Juan Carlos Botero, Trade Bureau, Embassy of Colombia
  • Summary, US Free Trade Agreement with Colombia (from the office of the US Trade Representative)
• Hernán Alberro, CADAL, Argentinao
  • Local Level Journalism and Democracy Indicators in Latin America:      http://www.cadal.org/english/pdf/Local_Level_First_Semester_2006.pdf
  • Economic Freedom and Transparency in Latin America: http://www.cadal.org/english/pdf/Economic_Freedom_and_Transparency2005.pdf ·         Zeina El Helou, Lebanese Center for Policy Studies, Lebanon
  • LCPS seminar: Arab Youth Political Engagement: Crisis and Transformation”,  January 20-21 2006, Gefinor Rotana Hotel – Beirut: http://www.lcps-lebanon.org/web04/english/activities/2006/reports/abstract%20youth1.doc
• Marko Paunovic, Center for Liberal-Democratic Studies, Serbiao
  • Corruption in Serbia: http://www.clds.org.yu/html/e0.html

Announcements:

Atlas:

• • EVENT:  2006 Freedom Dinner, November 16th, Willard Hotel, Washington, DC
  • ESSAY CONTEST:  “ Finding Common Ground: The Challenge of Freedom in the West and in the Muslim World. ” – DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30th
  • EVENT:  “Freedom, Commerce, and Peace: A Regional Agenda”, October 25-27, Tblisi, GEORGIA (co-hosted with Cato Institute & New Economic School)
  • EVENT: “Preserving the Roots of Liberty: Pursuing Excellence Through Academic Centers,” October 13th, 2006 prior to the Philadelphia Society Meeting

Other groups:

• • PROGRAM:  NDRI Washington Workshop for Think-Tank Managers – brief introduction of participants
  • PUBLICATION:  Announcement of ITSSD ’s forthcoming manuscript: “Rediscovering the Value of Intellectual Property Rights; How Brazil’s Recognition and Protection of Foreign IPR’s can Stimulate Domestic Innovation and Generate Economic Growth“
  • TRAINING:  Leadership Institute’s International Leadership Training Seminars – January 21-28, 2007 and April 16-21, 2007

August 14, 2006

Featured Speakers

• Amb. Raúl Gangotena,  Indigenous and Afro Ecuadorian Enterprise Corporations
  • Conference Summary, “ Indigenous Development in Democracy ”
• Marc Wachtenheim, Pan American Development Foundation (Washington, DC)
• Robin Sitoula, Liberal Youth South Asia (Nepal)
  • Index of Economic Freedom – NEPAL – ranks 125 out of 157
  • Background Notes on Nepal
• Jamal Barzinji, International Institute for Islamic Thought (Virginia)
  • Conference Summary: “ Muslims in America: Challenges, Prospects, and Opportunities ”
  • 35th Annual Conference of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists, October 27-29, 2006
• Madhumita Mitra, Liberty Institute (India)
  • “ Sell the Tiger to Save It ” by Barun Mitra (New York Times, August 15, 2006)
  • Ayn Rand at 100
  • Indian Elections project

July 17, 2006

Featured Speakers

• Vito Tanzi, former undersecretary of finance for Berlusconi and a former Director of Fiscal Affairs at the IMF
  • ” Shaking Italy’s Feudalism, ” by Alberto Mingardi (Wall Street Journal Europe, July 10, 2006)
• Daniel Runde, Director, Office of Global Development Alliances, USAID
  • GDA Report: Public-Private Alliances for Transformational Development
  • ” How to Make Development Partnerships Work, ” by Dan Runde (OECD Observer, June 2006)
• Alexandre Pesey, Founder, Institut de Formation Politique (France)
  • ” Conservative Spotlight : Tocqueville Fellowship, ” by Katie Farber (Human Events, October 5, 2005)
• Waldemar Ingdahl, CEO, Eudoxa (Sweden)
  • In Sweden We Have Already Solved This Problem
  • Eudoxa Policy Study #6: A scientific and ethical discussion regarding genetic modification of plants
• David Irvine, Visión Argentina (Argentina)
  • Constitution of the Argentine Nation (1994)
  • ” In Argentina, Tempest over ‘Context’ ” by Colin McMahon (Chicago Tribune, July 7, 2006) – on the increase power of the Argentine Cabinet
  • ” New Member Venezuela Politicizes Mercosur ” (Inter Press News Service Agency, July 5, 2006)

Discussion on Corruption and Transparency

• ” Regime Change at the World Bank, ” by Allan H. Meltzer (originally published in the Wall Street Journal on March 18, 2005)
• ” Corruption Around the World: Causes, Consequences, Scope, and Cures, “by Vito Tanzi (published by the International Monetary Fund, December 1998)
• ” The Estonian Cyberdemocratic Revolution, ” by Waldemar Ingdahl (published by Eudoxa on June 29, 2006)
• ” When ‘The Law’ Means ‘Corruption’, ” by Peter F. Schaefer (published by TCS Daily, July 5, 2006)
• ” Promoting Transparency & Accountability: USAID’s Anti-corruption Experience ” (Center for Democracy & Governance, USAID, January 2000)

June 15, 2006

Featured Speakers

• Gabriel Roth, Independent Institute (California) Editor,
  • Street Smart – Competition, Entrepreneurship, and the Future of Roads
• Franklin Cudjoe, Imani: Centre for Humane Education (Ghana)
  • Public health Governments make us sick!
    • NGOs say Africa’s poor suffer at the hands of their governments
  • Africa Needs Freer Markets – and Fewer Tyrants
  • Globalization Rocks, but African Leaders Fail to Understand It
  • Rock Star Economics are not helping poor Africans
  • Politicians are no magicians – Letter to Ghana’s speaker of parliament
• Angela Wu, The Becket Fund (Washington, DC)
  • Becket Fund Advocates for Faith by Choice in Malaysia
  • Afghan Convert Offered Legal Assistance by Becket Fund
• Dragana Ostojic, World Bank, Advisor to the executive director for Azerbaijan, Kyrgyz Republic, Poland, Serbia and Montenegro, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
  • Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (Montenegro)
  • Veselin Vukotic’s Entrepreneurial Economics Program
  • Montenegro Independence Referendum (PDF)
    • Montenegro Vote Result Confirmed
    • Constitution of the Republic of Montenegro

May 18, 2006

Featured Speakers

• Michael Maibach, European-American Business Council (Washington, DC)
  • EABC’s Policy Agenda
  • EABC’s Policy Papers
• Kertu Ruus, Äripäev (Estonia’s daily business newspaper)
  • Information on the Baltic Countries from Äripäev’s English site, Baltic Business News
  • Estonia’s ranking in the Index of Economic Freedom
• Andrei Piontkovsky, Hudson Institute (Washington, DC)
  • Piontkovsky’s column on Putin from the Washington Times
• Sally McNamara, International Initiative, American Legislative Exchange Council (Washington, DC)
  • McNamara’s commentary on the EU Constitution
  • McNamara’s article, “We The People” in the European Journal

April 13, 2006

Featured Speakers

• Grover Norquist ( Americans for Tax Reform, Washington, DC) on forming coalition meetings and outreach overseas
• Michelle Jeffress ( The Fund for American Studies, Washington, DC) on the Fund’s international programs
  • TFAS International
  • Alumni Network
• Oscar Cristi ( Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile) on his research into natural resources’ rights in Chile
  • Centro de Investigación de Empresas y Negocios
• Khairi Abaza ( Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Washington, DC) on FDD’s work, especially in the Middle East
  • FDD’s Democracy Programs & Outreach
  • FDD’s Global Terrorism Monitor
• Ian Vasquez ( Cato Institute, Washington, DC) on the current Peruvian presidential elections
  • Cato’s Project on Global Economic Liberty
  • Enrique Ghersi’s article on militarism Latin America: ” El nuevo militarismo en América Latina “

March 16, 2006

Featured Speakers

• Zainab Al-Suwaij – American Islamic Congress (Washington, DC)
• Sajid Anani – Indiana University student, originally from Jordan
• Evgueni Novikov – American Foreign Policy Council (Washington, DC)
• Jana Horr – Fulbright student at Eastern Mennonite University, originally from Lebanon
• Rene Wildermuth – Atlas fellow, now residing in Nepal

February 16, 2006

Featured Speakers

• Ivan Eland – Center of Peace & Liberty, Independent Institute (Washington, DC & California)– on the Center and February 16th  conference ‘ Innovative Solutions for Iraq ’
  • The Way Out of Iraq (2005) – http://www.independent.org/pdf/policy_reports/2005-01-17-iraq.pdf
• Ana Eiras – Center for International Trade and Economics, Heritage Foundation (Washington, DC) – presentation of the 2006 Index of Economic Freedom
  • Chapter downloads — Chapter 2
  • Map of Distribution of Economic Freedom 2006 –
• Ann Bernstein – Center for Development and Enterprise (South Africa) – on the work of her Center
  • Land Reform in South Africa – A 21st Century Perspective (May 2005)
• Chris Sands – International Republican Institute (Washington, DC) – analysis of the recent elections in Canada
  • “Canada Rejects Populism – Again” (January 24, 2006)
  • 2004 Harris Interactive Poll on Canadian Perception of the US
• Paul Moorcraft – Centre for Foreign Policy Analysis (United Kingdom) – report on war zones – Nepal, Sudan, and Ethiopia – and on his book New Wars of the West
  • Recent publications – http://www.cffpa.com/publications.html
  • Report on the Sudan –– http://www.cffpa.com/rusi.html

January 19, 2006

Featured Speakers

• Michael Fumento, Hudson Institute (Washington, DC)
  • “Fuss and Feathers” from The Weekly Standard (11/21/2005)
  • http://www.fumento.com/
• Leonard Leo, Federalist Society (Washington, DC) and the US Delegation to the UN Commission on Human Rights
  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights ( http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html )
  • US Delegation to the UN Commission on Human Rights ( http://www.humanrights-usa.net/ )
  • Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – Issue, Health ( http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/health/right/ )
• Katherine C. Haley, Office of Congressman Pete Hoekstra (Michigan)
  • USAID, Malaria Overview
  • Health Organization, Roll Back Malaria department
  • Thomas (Congressional legislation database)
• Patricio Ray, Children’s National Medical Center (Washington, DC)
  • on Dr. Ray’s background and research areas
  • on Peter Schaefer’s comments about the links between property (land) rights and AIDS: (results from a google search)
    • Human Rights Watch: Women’s Rights
    • Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations
    • Oxfam

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