East-West Views

Chat with Fereidun

Senior Fellow Fereidun Fesharaki gave a fascinating presentation about America’s (and Hawaii’s) energy future Wednesday evening to a gathering sponsored by the Friends of the East West Center.

His message: We’re about to join the rest of the world in paying substantially higher prices for gasoline at the pump, no matter what happens geopolitically, domestically or even in alternate energy options.

It’s all, he says, primarily a case of supply and demand.

For a complete report on Dr. Fesharaki’s talk, go HERE

Thanks for visiting the new East-West Center sponsored web log, East-West Views.

This blog has been created to help inform our East-West Center community and reach others interested in the Center and the Asia Pacific region. What you will find on this blog Continue Reading »

While the current unrest in Tibet has many obvious causes, including longstanding resentment over “neocolonial” attitudes by the Chinese and the idea of making a statement while the world’s eyes are focused on the Beijing Olympics, there is something else afoot as well.

China researcher Chris McNally says the unhappiness in Tibet is symptomatic of problems facing Chinese leaders throughout the nation, including a widening income gap, environmental problems and human rights concerns.

Read Chris’s article here and let us know: Do you think events in Tibet reflect a broader and perhaps more systemic problem in rapidly-growing China?

By Denny Roy

Ma Ying-jeou

The milestones continue:

Taiwan’s democratization reached one milestone in 2000 with the passage of control of the executive branch from the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party, KMT) to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). With the return of the KMT to power following the recent elections, which I observed first-hand, yet another and equally important turning point has occured. Continue Reading »

Last month, East-West Wire article went out based on NOAA climate guru Eileen Shea’s keynote address to the EWC International Graduate Student Conference, in which she made the case for “climate mainstreaming” – the idea that the effects of climate change must now be factored into virtually every important policy decision and planning process.

Do you agree? Have you had an experience in your own work where this has been an issue? Post a comment and “heat up” the discussion…

By G. Shabbir Cheema

1969 EWC ID

I joined East-West Center as a degree grantee in 1969. The Center provided me with unique opportunities to understand different cultures, identify with Asia Pacific region, forge life long friendships and gain cutting edge knowledge of political science. The “Saga” cafeteria (where I first met my lovely wife), Jefferson Hall reading room and mail boxes, and the Japanese Garden were some of the common places where the students met soon after returning from their respective academic departments at the University of Hawaii. Continue Reading »

The 2008 East-West Center Association International Conference, “Building and Asia Pacific Community: Unity in Diversity” will be held in Bali, Indonesia, November 13-15, 2008.

Join us for a professional networking conference bringing together East-West Center researchers, alumni, students, friends, and other interested professionals to discuss key issues in the region. Continue Reading »