Vermont Council on World Affairs

Last week, we held our 5th annual International Day of Peace celebration. This year's event, titled Peace in Progress: Understanding Today, Shaping Tomorrow, focused on the current global peace landscape and brought together a wide audience to envision future pathways to a more unified world. Beginning with a keynote address by The Honorable Senator Patrick Leahy and concluding with a reception honoring our 15th Person of the Year, Donna Carpenter of Burton Snowboards, this event featured sessions focused on the role subnational actors play in peace, women as peacebuilders, and an in-depth look at the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Thank you to everyone who joined us to mark this important day. And a special thank you to our sponsors, Pomerleau Real Estate, Tetra Tech ARD, Chase for Business, Norwich University, HANSON+DOREMUS Investment Management, and Mascoma Bank.

The @VCWA's International Day of Peace event starts soon! Follow along as we explore our current global peace landscape and envision future pathways to a more unified world with "Peace in Progress: Understanding Today, Shaping Tomorrow"

Just one week until our 2024 International Day of Peace celebration??? Beginning with a keynote address by Senator Patrick Leahy and culminating with our VIP Person of the Year Reception, where we will honor Donna Carpenter of Burton Snowboards. Don't miss this full-day summit of expert speakers and community building. Register here to reserve your spot:?https://lnkd.in/gpJgEsDR

Today we would like to reflect on our International Visitor Leadership Program from May of this year, which focused on Climate Change’s Impact on Egypt's Water Scarcity. The representatives who participated in the program are professionals associated with various aspects of irrigation and water resource management for the Egyptian government. Conversations focused on Vermont’s resource management strategies, responses to climate change’s impacts, and climate resilience strategies for the future. Thank you to the University of Vermont Water Resources & Lake Studies Center, Professor McCabe at St. Michael's College, the Vermont Rural Water Association, the VT Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Vermont Natural Resources Council for discussing their work with our international participants! #ivlp? #exchangeourworld?

Why should you attend VCWA's 2024 International Day of Peace Summit? ?? To learn about the importance of peace-building and the global challenges that peace faces in the world today from experienced leaders during this full-day summit ?? To join us in honoring our 2024 Person of the Year and learn about their contributions to a peaceful and prosperous world ?? To hear from and connect with other peace-driven individuals and expert guest speakers Early bird registration ends tonight for our 2024 International Day of Peace Celebration, Peace in Progress: Understanding Today, Shaping Tomorrow. Register today for the last chance at a special early bird discount for our full-day peace summit featuring a keynote address by The Honorable Senator Patrick Leahy and sessions around peace-building, from women in peace and security to the role of emerging technologies and diplomacy. Reserve your seat and learn more here: www.vcwa.org/peace-2024

In early July the VCWA hosted an International Visitor Leadership Program focusing on Protecting Soft Targets from Terrorist Attacks. Security professionals from various countries met with Vermont organizations to learn about US approaches to both cyber and physical security. Conversations focused on intelligence collection, state and federal security measures, and public protection. Thank you to the Vermont Intelligence Center, the Vermont Air National Guard, the Vermont Attorney General's Office, the Vermont State House, Ben & Jerry's, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport for welcoming our participants!? ? #ivlp? #exchangeourworld?

Early bird registration for our 2024 International Day of Peace celebration is now open! Register today for a special discount for this year's full-day summit around this important and timely topic, featuring a keynote address by Senator Patrick Leahy. Register here:?https://lnkd.in/gpJgEsDR

Priority applications for our Global Leadership Program are due tomorrow (August 1st)! Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dmrRE3A

Are you looking to develop your leadership skills while expanding your knowledge of global affairs? Apply to join our Global Leadership Program to connect with other Vermont professionals on pressing topics in international affairs that impact our local communities. Priority applications due by August 1st! Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dmrRE3A

Last week, we closed out the final session of our International Speaker Series. If you weren’t able to join us for this series, here’s a recap: The series kicked off in May with an event on diplomacy in the age of emerging technologies. Our speakers Eric Anthony Smith and Larisa Schelkin discussed the positive and negative impacts of Artificial Intelligence in their respective fields and introduced the possibility of AI being not just a tool, but a teammate in the future. In our second session, our speakers Mook Bangalore and Tegan Blaine dove into the relationship between environmental sustainability and human well-being. They stressed the importance of involving the input of affected communities and working together to chart plans for providing resources. On a larger scale, it was made clear that geopolitical tensions and conflicts have only just begun to be impacted by climate change, and more changes will undoubtedly occur. Our third session featured a timely conversation on public health in conflict zones. Our expert speakers Leonard Rubenstein, Katia Vieira de Moraes LaCasse and Matthew W. spoke on the dangers and lack of protections faced by healthcare workers, and how access to care today is often being ruled by political and financial motives rather than it being a neutral element of humanitarian work. This session left the floor open to all of us to determine how we can lead with morality and be a part of the change that could save lives. Finally, we wrapped up the series last week with our final session on sea governance. Our speaker James K. unraveled the complexities and challenges within the Arctic Circle and the South China Sea, but also spoke to the success of our legal system, crediting the Law of the Sea for its strong parameters, ultimately dissuading countries up to this point from turning to naval conflict. A special thank you to our moderator for this series, Michael Igoe, for bringing his expertise to each session. With this series, we hope we have inspired our community to bring their new knowledge back to the dinner table and allow it to spark conversations in your own home and community to further engage Vermonters in topics in global affairs. If you are eager to learn more about any of these topics, be sure to check out the articles and books written by our expert speakers, and get more engaged with us at the VCWA in our various pursuits to increase Vermont's engagement in world affairs.?