Institute of the Americas signs agreement with Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to host a series of conferences in Beijing, U.S. and Latin America
| IOA President Jeffrey Davidow (center) is joined outside the Institute of Latin American Studies in Beijing by (left to right) Dr. Yunxia Yue of ILAS, IOA board member Sergio Ley, Yang Yang of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Baiyi Wu of ILAS. In the back row (left to right) are ILAS Assistant professor Peng Wang, IOA Vice President Lynne Walker and Jonathan Ley, deputy director of the IOA’s Asia program.
| BEIJING – The Institute of the Americas (IOA) has signed an agreement with the Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS) of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to hold a series of seminars and workshops in China, the United States and Latin America on the opportunities and challenges posed by the growing economic relationship between China and Latin America. During a Jan. 29 ceremony in the Beijing offices of ILAS, Institute of the Americas President Jeffrey Davidow called the agreement “an important opportunity to build stronger economic ties in China and Latin America by deepening the understanding between our regions.” Dr. Zheng Bingwen,executive director of ILAS, said the agreement marked the beginning of a long relationship with the IOA. He noted that the Institute’s location on the Pacific Coast, coupled with its location 30 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border offers a strategic advantage in forging new economic relationships between China and Latin America. The first IOA-ILAS conference will be held in Washington, D.C. in May and will focus on several key issues in the maturing China-Latin America relationship. A second symposium on climate change and alternative energy will be hosted by the two organizations in Beijing in October. A representative of ILAS will also attend the Institute’s 19th annual La Jolla Energy Conference, which will include a special session on China-Latin America energy issues during the May 10-12 symposium. Read more Institute Launches "Health Innovation Advisory Council"  The Institute of the Americas is building on the success of its professional training programs for Latin American and Caribbean health care professionals and science journalists by creating its "Health Innovation Advisory Council" for the region.The Council is a multidisciplinary, inter-American group of highly regarded health professionals who will provide strategic guidance on key aspects of health challenges and innovation, and * Advise about creating a policy environment conducive for creating and adopting more rapidly health innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean; * Suggest initiatives and partnerships for the Institute to further the spread of health care innovations; and * Advise key potential change makers about these innovations, directly and through educational work with Latin American and Caribbean journalists. UPCOMING EVENTS
February 9, 20106:00 p.m.
Reconstructing Haiti, Saving a Unique Culture Join the Institute of the Americas for a discussion on Haiti's reconstruction and for an exhibition of extraordinary Haitian paintings and handicrafts
This event is free. When you register, you may make a contribution to Haiti, or just come to the event to learn about Haiti. The Institute of the Americas, will redirect 100% of all funds collected. ► 6:00 p.m. Conversation with experts
Frederick Conway, Assistant Professor, Anthropology Department at San Diego State University, wrote his dissertation on Haiti, has done forestry projects there and speaks Haitian Creole. His current research focuses on sustainability. He will talk about Haiti’s reconstruction and the road to long-term sustainability for the country. George Guimaraes, President & CEO and Janine Schooley, Senior Vice President of Programs, Project Concern International (PCI). Janine is just returning from Haiti, where PCI has been working on the ground on the relief efforts. The speakers will provide the perspective of an organization operating in Haiti, the problems encountered and how the organization sees reconstruction evolving once public attention is focused elsewhere.. ► 7:00 p.m. Exhibit viewing and wine reception
Robert C. Brictson and Larry Kent, both avid collectors and admirers of Haitian art will be at hand during the reception to answer questions about historical and cultural aspects of Haiti and to display items from their large collections. Dr. Brictson alternated living between Haiti and the United States from 1973 until September 2009. His residence and gallery were in Jacmel, a 17th century coffee port. Larry Kent has visited the island on numerous occasions and has one of San Diego’s largest collections of Haitian paintings. While fundraising efforts have been unprecedented and made simple by technology, Haiti needs much more to begin to reconstruct. The Institute of the Americas urges the UCSD and the San Diego-Tijuana communities to donate to two organizations that are working on the ground in Haiti: International Action – Water for Haiti International Action worked in Haiti long before the earthquake. The organization’s work is singular: purifying water to prevent disease, especially in children. International Action installs chlorinators, each of which provide clean water to close to 10,000 people. Since the earthquake, the organization has been delivering water by trucking it to poor areas. Project Concern International (PCI) Project Concern International is based in San Diego and is collaborating with local and international partners in Haiti to help deliver food, water, hygiene kits and kitchen sets. PCI is also working with local organizations to establish the infrastructure needed to streamline the delivery of supplies and aid, as well as addressing issues related to protection for women and children, beginning the economic recovery and providing water, sanitation, and shelters for the displaced.
March 1, 2010 6:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. Speaker Series: A conversation with Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz
Registration and Online Payment ($10 per person) Register to pay at the door (please write "pay at the door" in the comments section) To Register Free you must be a full-time teacher or student, on staff at UCSD, or a journalist (please state your affiliation in the comments section and bring current ID to the event). Institute of the Americas members - Register by
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 Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz will discuss his recent book The Dictator's Shadow: Life Under Augusto Pinochet, touching on subjects ranging from democracy-building to socialism to Chile-U.S. relations, intermingled with personal anecdotes. Muñóz is a co-founder of the Party for Democracy (PPD), and served as Secretary of International Relations of the Socialist Party of Chile (1983-1985). He was the joint representative of the Socialist Party and of the PPD in the Executive Committee of the "NO Campaign" for the 1988 plebiscite that defeated General Pinochet. In May 2003, Muñoz was named Chile's permanent representative to the United Nations by Former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos Escobar. Under Lagos, Muñóz was Deputy Foreign Minister (March 2000 - January 2002), where he served as chief negotiator of the trade agreement between Chile and the European Union (EU). He was also one of six "negotiators-facilitators" of the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO), presiding over the Trade and Environment group.
Muñóz served as Ambassador of Chile to Brazil from1994-1998 and participated in the negotiations that led to a peace agreement between Ecuador and Peru. He was also Chile’s Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS, 1990-1994), where he presided the Environment Commission (1991-1992), the Permanent Council (1993), and was the chief negotiator of the "Santiago Commitment to Democracy," an instrument that, beginning in 1991, allowed the OAS member states to act multilaterally to defend democratic governments in the Americas.
Muñóz holds a Ph.D. in International Studies from the University of Denver, Colorado (1978) and has received fellowships from: Resources for the Future, the Ford Foundation, the Tinker Foundation, the Twentieth Century Fund, and the MacArthur Foundation. He was a Ph.D. fellow at the Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C. (1977), and has published more than 20 books and dozens of essays in academic journals such as Foreign Policy, The Journal of Democracy, The Journal of Inter-American and World Affairs, and Latin American Research Review.
His op-ed pieces have appeared in newspapers such as El Mercurio, Folha de São Paulo, The Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald, and Página 12.
March 22-26, 2010
The workshop entitled, “On the Cutting Edge: Digital Reporting in the 21st Century,” will focus on multi-platform storytelling as well as the dissemination of information through new media. This workshop will include presentations from Latin American journalists who have successfully launched their own news sites and will focus on the effective use of new technology to reach wider and more diverse audiences.
The workshop will invite specialists to discuss the issues of accuracy and credibility, libel and other legal questions, reporting ethics and the sourcing of information in electronic media. We will also offer hands-on training sessions to give journalist participants new reporting tools.
Journalists will participate in professional training sessions on innovative, multiplatform storytelling led by faculty at the USC Annenberg School of Journalism and a new media/design instructor at Los Angeles Pierce College. And one full day of the workshop will focus on field reporting followed by critique session with the founder of a San Diego web-based news site.
May 10-12, 2010 XIX Annual Latin American Energy Conference The La Jolla Conference La Jolla, CA REGISTRATION | SPONSORSHIPRecognized as the most significant meeting of its kind, the La Jolla Conference annually convenes the most influential players from across the hemisphere and globe. Last year's conference included presentations by the CEO of BP, Tony Hayward, as well as senior executives from Chevron, CAF, Ecopetrol, PEMEX, AES, GDF SUEZ, Gran Tierra, among others. |