November 17th, 2015 by pio@shoreline.edu
Join us Wed., Nov. 18 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the PUB Quiet Dining Room (9208) for a talk by Shoreline’s own Prof. Diana Knauf titled “Cambodia: A Country of Contradictions.”
For most, Cambodia evokes one of two striking images; the majesty of the ancient Ankor Wat or the Killing Fields of the Khmer Rouge era (1975-1979). Come expand your view of this beautiful, sometimes historically troubled and now quickly developing country – there is far more about Cambodia worth knowing.
As with most nations, issues abound: Socio-economic imbalances exist between rural and urban areas, and when combined with the lack of opportunities for employment, education, and safe-migration, issues such as human trafficking arise. Nongovernmental organizations may have sincere hopes of helping, but are they effective? How can one move forward in our fast paced world and yet still protect rich cultural traditions and the environment? In a country determined to move beyond the recent historical events, things move awfully fast, sometimes at a cost to the environment and to its citizens.
Diana Knauf has made two trips to Cambodia (most recently this summer) where she spoke with experts and observed first-hand the beauty and troubles of Cambodia. Join us in discussing this country of contradictions with her. For more information about Dr. Knauf, visit our biographies page.
Posted in Announcements, Events, Free Tagged with: diana knauf, gac, global affairs center
November 11th, 2015 by pio@shoreline.edu
Join us Thurs., Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. in the PUB Quiet Dining Room (9208) for a talk by James Hill, Consul General, Canada. This event is free and open to the public.
The United States and Canada share two borders and their bilateral relationship is one of the closest and most extensive in the world. It is reflected in the high volume of bilateral trade–more than $2 billion a day in goods and service; the fact that the two countries have one of the world’s largest investment relationships; and in people-to-people contact–about 300,000 people cross between the countries every day. In fields ranging from security and law enforcement to environmental protection to free trade, the two countries work closely together on multiple levels, from federal to local.
Canada and the U.S. cooperate on continental defense, transboundary environmental and water issues, and on international high seas governance initiatives. They are both founding members of the Arctic Council. They are both members of numerous multilateral political, military, and economic fora, including the United Nations, NATO, WTO, NAFTA, G7, G20, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Organization of American States, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
But do they see eye to eye on every international issue? There is a tendency of Americans to take Canada for granted – “they are just like us, aren’t they?” While the two nations do share many basic values and cooperate in many spheres, Canada does have interests and perspectives that at times are at odds with the United States.
Join us in exploring Canada’s worldview with the current Consul General of Canada in Seattle, James Hill. See more details on Consul Hill.
For photos, visit and LIKE our Facebook page.
For more info, click here.
Posted in Announcements, Events, Free Tagged with: gac, global affairs center
November 10th, 2015 by pio@shoreline.edu
Join us Thurs., Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. in the PUB Quiet Dining Room (9208) for a talk by James Hill, Consul General, Canada. This event is free and open to the public.
The United States and Canada share two borders and their bilateral relationship is one of the closest and most extensive in the world. It is reflected in the high volume of bilateral trade–more than $2 billion a day in goods and service; the fact that the two countries have one of the world’s largest investment relationships; and in people-to-people contact–about 300,000 people cross between the countries every day. In fields ranging from security and law enforcement to environmental protection to free trade, the two countries work closely together on multiple levels, from federal to local.
Canada and the U.S. cooperate on continental defense, transboundary environmental and water issues, and on international high seas governance initiatives. They are both founding members of the Arctic Council. They are both members of numerous multilateral political, military, and economic fora, including the United Nations, NATO, WTO, NAFTA, G7, G20, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Organization of American States, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
But do they see eye to eye on every international issue? There is a tendency of Americans to take Canada for granted – “they are just like us, aren’t they?” While the two nations do share many basic values and cooperate in many spheres, Canada does have interests and perspectives that at times are at odds with the United States.
Join us in exploring Canada’s worldview with the current Consul General of Canada in Seattle, James Hill. See more details on Consul Hill.
For photos, visit and LIKE our Facebook page.
For more info, click here.
Posted in Announcements, Events, Free, Workshops Tagged with: gac, global affairs center
November 4th, 2015 by pio@shoreline.edu
Join us this Thurs., Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. in the PUB Quiet Dining Room (9208) for a talk on the complex relationship between Guatemala and the U.S. by John Hamilton, U.S. Ambassador (retired).
Guatemala has a complex national identity: more than 40% of the population is indigenous Maya, 73% of whom live in poverty, many in extreme poverty. It also has a complicated relationship with other countries, especially the United States, often characterized as “close but strained.”
During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a set of peace agreements formally ending the internal conflict, which had left more than 200,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, about 1 million refugees.
The 1996 peace accords removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, and since then Guatemala has pursued important political and military reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. The Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force in July 2006, spurring increased investment and diversification of exports, with the largest increases in ethanol and non-traditional agricultural exports. At the same time, it has experienced high rates of criminal violence, drug trafficking and substantial out-migration, including by unaccompanied minors.
Join us for a discussion of Guatemala with former U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala, John Hamilton, See more details about the speaker.
For photos, visit and LIKE our Facebook page.
For more info, click here.
Posted in Announcements, Events, Free, Workshops Tagged with: global affairs center
November 3rd, 2015 by pio@shoreline.edu
Join the Global Affairs Center this Wed., Nov. 4 in the PUB Quiet Dining Room from 11:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. for a talk on Women and Social Protest.
• What role do women play in politics?
• What prompts women to organize on behalf of unpopular causes?
• How are women themselves changed by personal experiences of political activism?
Using both historical and contemporary examples from the U.S. and other countries, Shoreline Community College’s own Professor Rachel David will discuss answers to these and other questions. For more information about Ms. David, visit our biographies page here.
Posted in Announcements, Free, Workshops Tagged with: global affairs center, rachel david
October 28th, 2015 by pio@shoreline.edu
Join the Global Affairs Center for a symposium on the state of the relationship between Cuba and the U.S. today led by Marc McLeod, Director, Latin American Studies and Associate Professor of History at Seattle University. This FREE event is happening Thurs., Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. in the PUB Quiet Dining Room.
On December 17, 2014, an agreement between the United States and Cuba, popularly called “The Cuban Thaw”, brokered in part by Canada and Pope Francis, began the process of restoring international relations between Cuba and the United States. On April 14, 2015, the Obama Administration announced that it would remove Cuba from the American government’s list of nations which sponsor terrorism. Shortly thereafter, Cuba and the U.S. reached a deal to reopen embassies in their respective capitals on July 20, 2015, and reestablish diplomatic relations. “Normal relations,” including fully lifting the U.S. commercial and financial embargo on Cuba, as well as allowing unrestricted travel to Cuba, are still being discussed. The United States naval base at Guantánamo Bay stands out as a particularly intractable issue in the renewed relationship.
Join us for a discussion of issues at the heart of this historic rapprochement between the two states with Marc McLeod, Director, Latin American Studies and Associate Professor of History, Seattle University. Click here for more information about Marc McLeod.
Posted in Announcements, Events, Free Tagged with: global affairs center
October 26th, 2015 by pio@shoreline.edu
This past summer a group of students, led by Professor Ernest Johnson, experienced a 4-week summer program in Cape Town where they examined the social and cultural history of South Africa and explored current efforts to create a democratic, multicultural nation. Students participated in social and historical lectures and tours in Cape Town and the surrounding area. They also visited high school and elementary school classes, attended lectures by community leaders and supervised home-stays inside “Black” townships and homelands.
For more details about the trip and what students experienced, join us in a conversation with Dr. Johnson Wed., Oct. 28 in the PUB Quiet Dining Room (9208) from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
*This event is co-sponsored by Shoreline Study Abroad, International Education
Posted in Announcements, Events, Free Tagged with: dr. johnson, global affairs center
October 20th, 2015 by pio@shoreline.edu
Join us this Thursday evening as the Global Affairs Center (GAC) fall quarter events continue with a talk by UW Philosophy Professor, Bill Talbott, How to Believe in Universal Human Rights, on Oct. 22, 7:00 pm, (Room 9208 in the PUB). Attendance is open to the public and FREE. And parking anywhere on campus in the evening is also FREE.
Below are links to the calendar page where you will find complete details for other upcoming GAC events.
Oct 28 A Multicultural South Africa, Ernest Johnson, Shoreline Community College [12:30 pm]
Oct 29 Cuba-U.S. Relations, Marc McLeod, Seattle University [7:00 pm]
Nov 4 Women and Social Protest, Rachel David, Shoreline Community College [11:30 am]
Nov 5 Guatemala-U.S. Relations, John Hamilton, U.S. Ambassador (retired) [7:00 pm]
Nov 12 Canada-U.S. Relations, James Hill, Consul General of Canada [7:00 pm]
Nov 18 Cambodia, Diana Knauf, Shoreline Community College [12:30 pm]
Nov 19 Mexico, Eduardo Baca Cuenca, Consul General of Mexico [7:00 pm]
Nov 24 Service-Learning in Bolivia, Katie Fleming, and Lisa Libassi, Shoreline CC [10:30 am]
And please note:
- All events take place at Shoreline Community College, in Room 9208 (QDR).
- Evening events begin at 7:00 pm. Starting times for daytime events vary; (see list above).
- All events are open to the public, and FREE.
- Parking on campus is FREE in the evening; a small fee is charged during the day for anyone without a parking permit.
For more information about the Global Affairs Center, past and future programs, how you can join the GAC mailing list, and how you can support these programs, please go the GAC website.
Hope to see you Thursday evening!
Posted in Announcements, Events, Free, Workshops Tagged with: global affairs center
October 13th, 2015 by pio@shoreline.edu
Global Affairs Center programs begin this week at Shoreline Community College with “Cuba – A Country in Flux” this Wed., Oct. 14, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the PUB Quiet Dining Room (9208).
Tim Payne, who teaches Economics at Shoreline, and Tod O’Driscoll, a freelance photographer who lives in Edmonds, have both traveled to Cuba in recent years, and will share their observations and images of this small but complex country. For more information about the speakers, visit our biographies page.
Cuba, a Caribbean Island nation of 11 million, is experiencing internal and external changes, most noticeably the thaw in relations with the United States. Given that the U.S. embargo on trade with and travel to Cuba has been in place since 1961, it is not surprising that most Americans know little about this place.
What is daily life like for most Cubans? How do they make a living? What are their hopes and dreams? What are the current political and economic realities of life like for Cubans? What about religious freedom? Cuba is a land of contrasts and contradictions, and no matter how many times you have visited, it is a country that is hard to totally wrap your head around and gain a full understanding of its people, culture and traditions.
Posted in Announcements, Events, Free, Workshops Tagged with: global affairs center
May 5th, 2015 by pio@shoreline.edu
Please join us Wed., May 6 in the PUB Quiet Dining Room (9208) from 12:30-2:30 p.m. for an interfaith dialogue co-sponsored by the Muslim Student Association and the Christian Open-Door Fellowship club. The objective is to answer questions students may have about Christianity and Islam, and build lasting relationships between people of different faith.
Posted in Announcements, Clubs, Events, Free, Workshops Tagged with: global affairs center, interfaith dialogue
