Center Inaugurates Korea-United States Journalists’ Exchange Program

The Korea-United States Journalists' Exchange—a new program for journalists co-sponsored by the Korea Press Foundation and East-West Seminars—welcomed its first group of participants in July. The program featured a study tour of the United States by six Korean journalists and a tour of Korea by six American journalists.

Following the study tours, journalists convened at the Center in Honolulu to report on their experiences and exchange views on how coverage of their respective countries may be improved. The program was developed for upper mid-level and senior reporters and editors seeking to enhance the quality and quantity of media reporting in each country.

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Women from 10 countries participated in this years "Changing Faces" program.

Changing Faces Women’s Leadership Program Focuses on Sustainable Development

Women from 10 countries spent two weeks at the East-West Center as part of the Changing Faces Women's Leadership Program. The theme for the 2005 program was "Sustainable Development for Asia, the Pacific, and the United States."

The Changing Faces program brings together women from the United States and the Asia Pacific region for dialogue on leadership and issues specific to women in leadership. The program is for professional women at lower and middle level leadership positions who have the potential to move into positions of greater responsibility and influence.

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Seminar participants Sue Peppers (standing at left) Gwen Johnson, Weena Kanadpon, and Neil Ginsberg (seated left to right) share a light-hearted moment with AsiaPacificEd Program Director Namji Steinemann.

AsiaPacificEd Program Draws Teachers from U.S., Asia, and Australia

Thirty-six educators from the United States, Asia, and Australia attended a two-week program at the East-West Center, developing techniques and resources that will enable them to integrate Southeast Asian studies into their respective schools' curriculum.

The East-West Center's Best Practice Institute for Teaching Southeast Asia-Strategies and Standards is sponsored by the AsiaPacificEd Program, which supports teaching and learning about the Asia Pacific region in elementary and secondary schools. Activities included presentations and discussions on content and pedagogy, lesson demonstrations, technology training, and curriculum development sessions using Southeast Asia materials.

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Thai officials forge ties with their counterparts at the Pacific Disaster Center.

Thai Disaster Warning Officials Visit PDC

The executive director of Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Center, vice minister to the Office of the Prime Minister, Dr. Plodprasop Suraswadi, visited Maui in July for planning discussions with officials at the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC). The visit follows the opening of the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) in Bangkok two months ago during which PDC played an important role by conducting a tsunami exercise for NDWC staff.

Since the Dec. 26 tsunami that claimed more than 7,500 lives in coastal regions of southern Thailand, the Thai government has sought to strengthen its disaster-warning infrastructure. The National Disaster Warning Center enables experts to monitor, analyze, and disseminate warnings about potentially deadly natural disasters. The Center is linked to disaster-related agencies—including the Hawai'i Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Japan Meteorological Agency.

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Sumeet Saksena (second from left) joins a panel discussion at the Hanoi workshop.

Hanoi Conference Addresses Air Quality Management

Raising awareness on air pollution exposure and health risks was the focus of a conference last month on "Air Quality Management in Hanoi and Exposure Assessment." EWC Research Fellow Sumeet Saksena and Grants Officer Philip Estermann were among environmental experts who visited the Vietnamese capital for discussions. The workshop was organized by the U.S. Asia Environment Partnership in collaboration with the Center for Environmental Engineering for Towns and Industrial Areas, the U.S. Agency for Economic Development, and the East-West Center.

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Delegates pause for a ceremonial photograph behind the Imin Center.

EWC Hosts Conference on Restructuring Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

The East-West Center and the Korea Development Institute cosponsored a series of meetings at the Hawai'i Imin International Center on "Restructuring SMEs in the Age of Globalization." The conference offered theoretical and policy-oriented analyses of reforms needed to restructure small and medium enterprises in the current climate of economic globalization. Discussions focused on manufacturing industries in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

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UH Professor Roger Ames is directing this year’s ‘Infusing Institute’ program.

Participants Gather for Asia Studies Development 'Institute' Program

Participants from Asia and North America were welcomed to the EWC as the Asian Studies Development Program convened its annual institute on "Infusing Asian Studies into the Undergraduate Curriculum." The focus of the 2005 institute is on East Asia (primarily China and Japan) and emphasizes faculty and institutional development related to the undergraduate teaching of Asia.

The interdisciplinary program, conducted in partnership with the University of Hawai'i, includes lectures and discussions on the culture, history, and contemporary complexion of the region, and encourages participants to conceive concrete plans for developing Asian studies offerings on their home campuses. The program runs through Aug. 12.

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Punahou School students enjoy a performance by the Wallis and Futuna performers. Photo: William Feltz

Wallis and Futuna Islands Culture comes to Honolulu

Performers from the Wallis and Futuna Islands spent eight days in Honolulu in early July, performing at local schools, cultural organizations and the East-West Center. Support for the visit was provided by the EWC in cooperation with authorities in the Wallis and Futuna Islands, a French Territory in Central Polynesia. EWC performing arts projects are made possible by generous contributors to the EWC Foundation.

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