This photograph was taken by member Robb Evans.
Great Decisions
Great Decisions discussions resume in the Fall of 2024. Below is the information for the discussions they will be having this semester.
Great Decisions is a discussion forum that follows a curriculum developed by the Foreign Policy Association (www.fpa.org). The program is supported by the Great Decisions program materials which presents basic information on each topic. Participants read the topical section for that week, then come to the sessions to discuss their various points of view with one another. Active participation is encouraged, but not required.
This autumn we will have 4 sessions using the Great Decisions materials and 2 open discussions on current events – with the topics chosen by the participants. In an age where our political discourse has become more polarized, Great Decisions provides an excellent opportunity for open, fair, objective discussions - and helps the participants understand multiple perspectives on these topics.
Here are the autumn topics (as described by FPA):
NATO’s Future - October 10
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has come under increased scrutiny, not because NATO troops are involved in the conflict, but because of its role in relations between Russia and its neighbors. Will expanding membership in NATO protect countries, or will it further provoke Russia?
Understanding Indonesia – October 24
Despite its large size, Indonesia remains virtually invisible to most Americans. But as one of the world’s largest democracies, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, and as an economic driver of ASEAN, why does it fly below the radar? What are current issues in U.S.-Indonesian relations, and what role can the country play in Asia?
High Seas Treaty – November 7
Areas of the seas beyond national jurisdiction comprise the high seas, which are facing a degradation of ecosystems due to climate change and the increase in human activities, such as shipping, overfishing, pollution, and deep-sea mining. The recently negotiated High Seas Treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty, will attempt to address these issues. How difficult will it be to convince nations to participate?
Pandemic preparedness – November 14
Looking back at the covid-19 pandemic, there are many lessons to take away in terms of domestic and international policies. Although this pandemic seems to have waned, how can we apply these lessons to future pandemics? Will countries cooperate, and will a consensus emerge on how to manage global health challenges?
Open discussions – with topics selected by the participants will be October 31 and November 21.
There will be no session October 17.
The sessions are planned for Thursdays from 9:30 – 11:30 AM. The sessions will be in person in Chapman Hall in room 808A.
Participants are expected to obtain the 2024 Great Decisions program materials from FPA.ORG and to read the topic sections prior to each session. The materials are purchased separately. Those who participated in Spring 2024 already have the materials. The books are available in print ($35) and various e-book formats (est. $25).
Contact the moderator for details at [email protected] and to reserve your space. The book has all the topics we will cover in Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 – so one purchase will cover both semesters.
Moderator: Bud Sielaff, a retired business executive with degrees in engineering, marketing and finance. Bud is a member of MILE and has been a moderator of the Great Decisions program since Fall 2018. He has a business strategy background, has had extensive international travels, and closely follows world events as an interested citizen.
Great Decisions discussions resume in the Fall of 2024. Below is the information for the discussions they will be having this semester.
Great Decisions is a discussion forum that follows a curriculum developed by the Foreign Policy Association (www.fpa.org). The program is supported by the Great Decisions program materials which presents basic information on each topic. Participants read the topical section for that week, then come to the sessions to discuss their various points of view with one another. Active participation is encouraged, but not required.
This autumn we will have 4 sessions using the Great Decisions materials and 2 open discussions on current events – with the topics chosen by the participants. In an age where our political discourse has become more polarized, Great Decisions provides an excellent opportunity for open, fair, objective discussions - and helps the participants understand multiple perspectives on these topics.
Here are the autumn topics (as described by FPA):
NATO’s Future - October 10
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has come under increased scrutiny, not because NATO troops are involved in the conflict, but because of its role in relations between Russia and its neighbors. Will expanding membership in NATO protect countries, or will it further provoke Russia?
Understanding Indonesia – October 24
Despite its large size, Indonesia remains virtually invisible to most Americans. But as one of the world’s largest democracies, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, and as an economic driver of ASEAN, why does it fly below the radar? What are current issues in U.S.-Indonesian relations, and what role can the country play in Asia?
High Seas Treaty – November 7
Areas of the seas beyond national jurisdiction comprise the high seas, which are facing a degradation of ecosystems due to climate change and the increase in human activities, such as shipping, overfishing, pollution, and deep-sea mining. The recently negotiated High Seas Treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty, will attempt to address these issues. How difficult will it be to convince nations to participate?
Pandemic preparedness – November 14
Looking back at the covid-19 pandemic, there are many lessons to take away in terms of domestic and international policies. Although this pandemic seems to have waned, how can we apply these lessons to future pandemics? Will countries cooperate, and will a consensus emerge on how to manage global health challenges?
Open discussions – with topics selected by the participants will be October 31 and November 21.
There will be no session October 17.
The sessions are planned for Thursdays from 9:30 – 11:30 AM. The sessions will be in person in Chapman Hall in room 808A.
Participants are expected to obtain the 2024 Great Decisions program materials from FPA.ORG and to read the topic sections prior to each session. The materials are purchased separately. Those who participated in Spring 2024 already have the materials. The books are available in print ($35) and various e-book formats (est. $25).
Contact the moderator for details at [email protected] and to reserve your space. The book has all the topics we will cover in Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 – so one purchase will cover both semesters.
Moderator: Bud Sielaff, a retired business executive with degrees in engineering, marketing and finance. Bud is a member of MILE and has been a moderator of the Great Decisions program since Fall 2018. He has a business strategy background, has had extensive international travels, and closely follows world events as an interested citizen.
"Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification." ~~ Martin H. Fischer