World Affairs Council of Maine

Community Event: Freeport Speech - Examining Local Solutions to Global Challenges with Susan Thornton and Fiona Hill
2025-08-27 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | ME
Our friends at Freeport Speech are hosting an exciting program on Thursday, September 25 at the Freeport Performing Arts Center! Tickets are limited!

Examining Local Solutions to Global Challenges with Dr. Fiona Hill, Susan Thornton and Barrett Takesian

REGISTER

Join Freeport Speech to hear Dr. Fiona Hill, formerly an official at the U.S. National Security Council specializing in Russian and European affairs, in conversation with former diplomat and Russia expert Susan Thornton and non-profit community builder Barrett Takesian in a discussion about strengthening grass roots organizations as a means to alleviate domestic dysfunction that can lead to national security crises.

Dr. Fiona Hill CMG is a senior fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution and Chancellor of Durham University. Hill served as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for European and Russian affairs on the U.S. National Security Council from 2017 to 2019, as well as national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the U.S. National Intelligence Council from 2006 to 2009. Hill has researched and published extensively on issues related to Russia, the Caucasus, regional conflicts, and strategic issues, as well as the link between deindustrialization and political populism. She is the author of the bestselling memoir There Is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the 21st Century and co-author of Mr. Putin: Operative in the Kremlin. In December 2023, Hill was recognized by the United Kingdom as a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, for services to international relations and in July 2024, Hill was appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to be an external reviewer for a Strategic Defense Review for the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom.
Susan A. Thornton is a retired senior U.S. diplomat with almost three decades of experience with the U.S. State Department in Eurasia and East Asia. She is currently a Visiting Lecturer in Law and Senior Fellow at the Yale Law School Paul Tsai China Center. She is also the director of the Forum on Asia-Pacific Security at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy and a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Thornton received her M.A. in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and her B.A. from Bowdoin College in Economics and Russian. She speaks Mandarin and Russian.
Barrett Takesian grew up in Southwest Harbor, Maine. After graduating from Bowdoin College in 2012, he left the private sector to pursue his passion for youth development. What began as small squash clinics in the basement of the YMCA grew into Portland Community Squash (PCS) – a multicultural, multigenerational community center now serving 1,000 members on Noyes Street in Portland. The community squash model has since expanded beyond Maine, inspiring similar efforts across the U.S. and sparking adoption in other arts and sports organizations. Barrett has served as Senior Advisor for Community Squash at US Squash, Maine’s Ambassador for the Afterschool Alliance, and Chair of Portland’s Out of School Time Network. He continues to champion community centers both locally and nationally, contributing to initiatives with the Sport for Development Journal, Laureus Sport for Good, the Aspen Institute, and the Brookings Institution.
Lead Sponsors for this event are David Douglas Stone and Joe and Carol Wishcamper
Net proceeds to beneift Portland Community Squash
Enjoy pre-lecture music by Shaina’s Strings for 30 minutes before the performance.

Community Event: Restoring Family Links with the American Red Cross
2025-08-26 12:30 - 13:30 | Zoom
Dear Community Partners,
We are pleased to invite you to a virtual presentation hosted by the American Red Cross on Restoring Family Links, a vital program supporting international families separated by conflict, disaster, migration, or other humanitarian crises.
Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Time: 12:30 PM (Eastern Time)
Location: Online via Zoom
Zoom Registration Link: Click here to register

This session will provide an overview of how the Restoring Family Links program works, who it serves, and how community organizations can collaborate to support families in need of reconnection and information.
Learn more: https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/international-services/reconnecting-families.html?srsltid=AfmBOorp5ahoENhVRg-9OE03dpO9gRMYlwjxTBGqEgo1kN0ETs6AyW3U
FAQs: https://www.redcross.org/faq.html#Reconnecting-Families
We hope you can join us for this important conversation. Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues and partners who may be interested.
For questions please contact: SAFNNE@redcross.org

August 14th: Members' Coffee and Discussion (Virtual)
2025-08-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
A monthly discussion of world events for members. Virtual session on zoom this Thursday, August 10am-11am. Register HERE
From Joe:
We can start with a brief summary of the Wednesday webinar. After we discuss the current situation in the Mideast, if there is time, we can talk a bit about tariffs (see https://responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-tariffs-2673858212/ but don’t feel at all obliged to read).

Looking forward to seeing all who can make it.

Iran, Israel, and the United States III: The View from the Gulf
2025-08-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Iran, Israel, and the United States III: The View from The Gulf
With Susannah George, Gulf Bureau Chief, Washington Post
Moderated by Allison Hodgkins, World Affairs Council of Maine
Wednesday, August 13 at 7 p.m. — via Zoom
Susannah George has been the Washington Post’s Gulf bureau chief, based in Dubai, leading coverage of the oil-rich monarchies of the Persian Gulf and their neighbor, Iran. She previously spent four years The Post’s Afghanistan-Pakistan bureau chief, where she covered the fall of the Afghan government and the return of the Taliban to power. She is a prize-winning journalist with deep experience in reporting from the Middle East, including assignments in Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, and Tunisia during the Arab Spring and in Iraq on multiple tours. She headed the Associated Press’s Baghdad bureau. She is currently transitioning back to the paper’s headquarters in Washington D.C.
The discussion will provide expert insight on the role of Congress in navigating the evolving dynamics between Iran, Israel, and the United States. Whether you’re interested in foreign policy, security, or current events, this conversation will provide critical insights into the challenges and opportunities facing U.S. strategy in the region. Registration for members is covered by annual membership dues. Suggested donation for the general public $10. Registration for Maine Students is always FREE!

Iran, Israel, and the United States II: the view from Washington D.C.
2025-07-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Iran, Israel, and the United States II: The View from Washington D.C.
With Elisa Catalano Ewers, Adjunct Senior Fellow at RAND Corporation, Principal with Scalare Advisors
Moderated by Christopher E. Barr, Director, World Affairs Council of Maine
Wednesday, July 9 at 7 p.m. — via Zoom
Join the World Affairs Council of Maine for another timely weeknight webinar on the evolving situation between Iran, Israel, and the United States. This session features Elisa Catalano Ewers, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a leading expert on U.S. policy in the Middle East, with moderation by Christopher E. Barr.
The discussion will provide expert insight on the role of Congress in navigating the evolving dynamics between Iran, Israel, and the United States. Whether you’re interested in foreign policy, security, or current events, this conversation will provide critical insights into the challenges and opportunities facing U.S. strategy in the region.Registration for members is covered by annual membership dues. Suggested donation for members of the general public $10. Registration for Maine Students is always FREE!

About our Speakers

Elisa Catalano Ewers is a leading voice in national security policy issues related to the Middle East and North Africa, counterterrorism and security cooperation, and the workings of multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, World Bank and International Monetary Fund.She has over 25 years of experience as a chief advisor in the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government, in think tanks and academia, and as a strategy consultant in the private sector. She served during both the Obama and George W. Bush administrations, at the National Security Council, Departments of State and Defense, at U.S. Embassies overseas and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. She was selected for Senior Executive Service, as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense.
In her role as a senior professional staff member of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Elisa led the committee’s work on Middle East and North Africa, Nonproliferation and Arms Control, and International Economic policy. She served as the principal advisor on these foreign policy and national security issues to the Democratic members of the U.S. Senate. Additionally, she exercised oversight over billions of dollars in related U.S. funding and programs related to some of the most pressing foreign policy challenges of the day.
As an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, Ms. Ewers’ analysis appeared in such outlets as The Washington Post, Newsweek, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, War on the Rocks, BBC, CNN, and XM Radio. Elisa was an adjunct faculty member in the graduate programs at The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Prior to her time in government service, Elisa had a distinguished private sector career in consulting and institutional asset management with Booz Allen Hamilton and Wellington Management Company.
She currently is an adjunct senior fellow at RAND Corporation, and a principal with Scalare Advisors. She also is a member of the executive board of directors of the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society. She resides in Washington D.C. with her husband, Major General John Ewers, USMC (ret), their sons John and Lloyd, and their labrador Gracie.
Moderator: Christopher E. Barr is a foreign policy professional with over a decade of experience at the intersection of U.S. foreign policy, Congress, and the Middle East and North Africa. Most recently, he served as the Senior Legislative and Policy Analyst for the Democratic staff of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he worked from June 2013 to March 2025. His main focus areas were the Middle East and North Africa, non-proliferation, and international financial institutions, on which he provided analysis and policy guidance to the Committee Chairman. Chris has traveled throughout the Middle East and North Africa, and lived, studied and worked in Cairo, Egypt before his time on the Foreign Relations Committee. Chris holds a Juris Doctor (JD) in International and Corporate Law, with a focus on Islamic Jurisprudence, from the New York University School of Law. He also earned a Graduate Diploma in Middle East Politics and Economics from The American University in Cairo, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Princeton University. Chris currently lives in Yarmouth, Maine.

Iran, Israel, and the United States: Where are we and how did we get here?
2025-06-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Iran, Israel, and the United States: Where are we and how did we get here?
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
7:00-8:00 PM via ZOOM
With Rebecca Davis Gibbons, University of Southern Maine, Harvard Belfer Center’s Project on Managing the Atom
And Sam Lair, Research Associate, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation,
Moderated by Allison Hodgkins
Registration for members is covered by annual membership dues. Suggested donation for members of the general public $10. Registration for Maine Students is always FREE!

Coffee and Discussion (In-Person)
2025-06-19 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-05-15 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Falmouth Memorial Library, 5 Lunt Road, Falmouth, ME, 04105, United States
A monthly discussion of world events for members. In-person meetings are held every third Thursday of the month at the Falmouth Memorial Library, 10am-11am. Register HERE

2025 Annual Meeting: Your World Starts Here!
2025-06-12 17:30 - 20:00 | Coffee by Design, 1 Diamond Street, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Please join us on Thursday, June 12, from 5:30-8:00 PM at Coffee by Design for the Annual Meeting of the World Affairs Council of Maine. We will get the business out of the way early, then relax and celebrate all we’ve accomplished this year while enjoying some refreshments from Seas Catering.
We will also have a silent auction fundraiser online and during the reception. Items include original works of art from artists in Maine and abroad, experiences that include some amazing “date night” packages, and restaurant gift cards. Be sure to bid early and often to get one-of-a-kind items! And bring a credit card, which will be the easiest way to bid using our online auction site. The bidding will end at 7:30 PM on June 12. You can also bid in person at the Annual Meeting. Items will be available at the meeting. If you’re not able to attend the meeting, the WAC will contact you via email to deliver your winning items.
Bidding is now open for our online Silent Auction!

Program:
5:30 – 6:00 PM: Annual Membership Meeting – State of the Council, Voting for Directors, David Plumb, President and Board Chair
6:00-7:00 PM: Reception & Silent Auction viewing
7:00-7:30 PM: Awards and Recognition, Allison Hodgkins, Executive Director
7:45 PM: Silent Auction Winners Announced, Julie Mueller, Program Committee Chair

2025 Governor's International Breakfast - Maine: Gateway to the Arctic and the North Atlantic
2025-06-09 07:00 - 09:30 | Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring St, Portland, ME, United States
Join the World Affairs Council of Maine and the Maine International Trade Center for the 2025 Governor’s International Breakfast. June 9, 2025, the Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland
Maine is shaping the future of the Arctic and North Atlantic collaboration as a vital gateway to emerging Arctic trade routes and a leader in sustainable innovation. Maine offers unparalleled opportunities for global partnerships in business, research, and environmental stewardship. This year’s Governor’s International Breakfast will explore how Maine’s strategic connections and expertise can unlock new possibilities in this dynamic region. In addition to remarks from Governor Mills, we will hear from Bernadette Jordan, Consul General of Canada in Boston, and a panel with discussion with Ben Ford, Honorary Consul for Iceland, Lt. Cl (ret) Darryl Lion, and Nathaniel Shehata, Eimskip’s Vice President of Liner Services.
Program:
7:00 AM: Doors Open – Coffee and Networking
8:00 AM: Opening Remarks
8:15 AM: Panel Discussion
9:00 AM: Governor’s Remarks
9:25 AM: Closing Remarks
9:30 AM: Adjourn

$30 for members, $35 for non-members

Coffee and Discussion (Virtual)
2025-06-05 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-05-01 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-03 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-03-06 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-02-06 10:00 - 11:00 | ME
Join us via zoom on the first Thursday of every month, 10am-11am, for our members Coffee and Discussion meeting. A zoom link will be sent to your email upon registration! Register HERE

Escalating Tariffs, Shifting Alliances: Impact on Trade and Global Prosperity
2025-05-07 20:00 - 21:00 | ME
Escalating Tariffs, Shifting Alliances: Impact on Trade and Global Prosperity with Dr. Deborah Elms, Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation, moderated by Prof. Julie Mueller.
Dr. Elms will help us unpack the real-world impact of the Trump Administration’s sweeping changes to U.S. trade policy and what they mean for Maine, the nation, and our interconnected world. Drawing on her deep expertise, she’ll explore the ripple effects of new tariffs and shifting alliances and the broader implications for economic growth and community well-being.
Whether you’re a local business owner, educator, student, or a globally curious Mainer, this is your chance to join a thoughtful conversation, ask questions, and connect with others who care about Maine’s place in an ever-changing world.
Reserve your spot today!
About our speaker
Dr. Deborah Elms is Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation in Singapore and a leading expert on international trade, tariffs, and supply chains. She previously founded and served as Executive Director of the Asian Trade Centre and was President of the Asia Business Trade Association. Dr. Elms has written extensively on the rapid increase in tariffs, particularly those initiated by the United States, and their widespread effects on both direct targets and the broader global economy. Her work frequently examines the risks and unintended consequences of tariffs as a policy tool, highlighting the ripple effects through global supply chains and the potential for significant economic disruption. She holds a PhD in political science from the University of Washington and is a sought-after advisor, speaker, and commentator on trade policy worldwide

Special Event: Exploring the world through art and wine!
2025-04-24 17:30 - 20:00 | Thos. Moser Freeport Showroom & Gallery, 149 Main St, Freeport, ME, 04302
Join us to sample a unique selection of wines from the Mediterranean basin with New York wine critic Jamal Rayyis. This special evening is being hosted for the World Affairs Council at Thos. Moser’s Freeport Showroom & Gallery, in conjunction with their exhibit “My Other Place: Maine Artists Explore the World.”
The evening will include eight tasting flights paired with appetizers that highlight the unique flavors of the regions that inspired the artworks in the exhibit. Our special guest will guide us through his specially curated selection and share the stories of the places and the people behind the labels. Places are limited!
TICKETS: $100 ($175 for 2) Includes eight tasting flights with paired appetizers, plus a welcome beverage.

All proceeds will support our educational outreach and public diplomacy programming. Flight sponsors will receive a complimentary bottle of wine.
Make an advance bid by emailing info@wacmaine.org – put Silent Auction in the subject line

From Yerevan to Jerusalem with Ambassador Edward Djerejian
2025-04-02 17:00 - 19:00 | University of Southern Maine, 102 Wishcamper, 34 Bedford St, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Join the Armenian Cultural Association for an insightful discussion on the evolving geopolitical relationships between Armenia and the broader
Middle East. The conversation will examine Armenia’s strategic challenges, the balance of power in the region, and efforts to prevent further hostility and instability.
Speakers
The Honorable Edward P. Djerejian
Former US Ambassador Djeredjian served 8 US Presidents from John F. Kennedy to William Clinton. He recently served at the head of the Baker Center in Houston, Texas and during his tenure served as Ambassador to Syria and Israel. Currently, Ambassador Djeredjian is a Senior Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government with a project on Middle East Policy.
Anthony Barsamian
Anthony Barsamian is former Chairman and Trustee of the Armenian Assembly of America and Managing Partner at Hutchins Barsamian Mandelcorn, LLP.

Great Decisions 2025: Library Discussion Series
2025-03-25 15:00 - 16:30 | ME
2025 Great Decisions Library Discussion Series
Great Decisions is the largest and longest-running discussion program on foreign policy in the United States. Each year, the Foreign Policy Association selects eight critical foreign policy issues facing the United States and invites the public to discuss them within their community – however defined. To support the conversation, the Foreign Policy Association also commissions an annual briefing book with essays by noted experts on the selected topics. The World Affairs Council of Maine has organized an annual Great Decisions discussion session since 1980 – most recently in partnership with the Falmouth Memorial Library. Each session is led by a Council member with expertise or interest in the topic who will guide participants through the questions outlined in the briefing book. Participants are also encouraged to complete the annual ballot at the end of the series.
This year’s series begins Tuesday, March 25th, and continues through May 13th.

This year, the Foreign Policy Association has selected the following topics. The order of topics and session facilitators will be announced before the first session. Registration is for the eight-part series.

U.S. Foreign Policy at a Crossroads
U.S. Changing Leadership of the World Economy
U.S. China Relations
India: Between China, the West, and the Global South
International Cooperation on Climate Change
The Future of NATO and European Security
AI and American National Security
U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East after Gaza

How do I participate?

There is no cost to participate in the series, although registration is limited to facilitate discussion. Please sign up as soon as possible, but no later than March 18th. Participants should obtain a copy of the 2025 Briefing Book* from the Foreign Policy Association HERE (eBook versions HERE). Review each chapter in advance of the session, as well as the session glossaries. There will be two copies available for in-library use at the Falmouth Memorial Library courtesy of the World Affairs Council of Maine. *Series sponsors will receive a complimentary copy (see below).
Note: the Foreign Policy Association no longer produces documentary-style videos to accompany the briefing book. They do offer a pre-recorded “Master Class” lecture by Professor Jeffrey S. Morton, Florida Atlantic University for each topic that can be purchased through VIMEO. Recordings of the World Affairs Council of Maine’s public lecture series will also be available at wacmaine.org and on Channel 5.

*Series sponsors and World Affairs premium members will receive a complimentary copy of the briefing book upon request. Please contact Allison Hodgkins, at ahodgkins@wacmaine.org to request yours.

Nuclear Weapons: U.S. Politics, Activism, and Global Views
2025-03-21 18:00 - 19:30 | University of Southern Maine, 102 Wishcamper, 34 Bedford St, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Nuclear Weapons: U.S. Politics, Activism, and Global Views
Dr. Stephen Herzog
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

Dr. Lauren Sukin
London School of Economics and Political Science
Nuclear weapons are gaining renewed salience amidst the war in Ukraine and growing tensions among nuclear-armed states. At the same time, a global movement of governments and activists is promoting a treaty banning nuclear weapons, which currently boasts membership of 73 countries. How do we understand global nuclear politics in 2025? How is public opinion responding to current nuclear trends? Can current activist strategies to change public opinion about nuclear weapons work in this difficult climate? Please join experts Dr. Herzog and Dr. Sukin for a presentation and discussion of nuclear weapons, anti-nuclear activism, and global public opinion. This promises to be an interesting conversation featuring important new data and research.
Date: Friday, March 21, 2025
Time: 6:00-7:30 pm
Location: Wishcamper 133, Portland Campus
All are welcome, if possible, please RSVP to rebecca.gibbons@maine.edu

This session is cancelled:Coffee and Discussion (In-Person)
2025-03-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Falmouth Memorial Library, 5 Lunt Road, Falmouth, ME, 04105, United States
CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF REGISTRATION.

Greenland Navigates: Autonomy, Climate, and U.S. Foreign Policy
2025-03-18 17:30 - 19:30 | Bernstein-Shur, 100 Middle St, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Great Decisions 2025: U.S. Foreign Policy at a Crossroads
Greenland Navigates: Autonomy, Climate, and U.S. Foreign Policy
On March 11, 2025, Greenlanders head to the polls in the face of growing demands for independence and repeated calls from President Trump to bring the self-governing territory under U.S. control. How will the outcome shape the future of the world’s largest island? Join us Tuesday, March 18th to hear renowned scholars Amanda Lynch and Charles Norchi explore Greenland’s delicate balancing act amidst its own aspirations for self-determination, increased geopolitical competition in the Arctic, and a rapidly changing climate.
https://www.jonaa.org/content/as-greenland-decides
Our Speakers:
Charles H. Norchi is the Benjamin Thompson Professor of Law in the University of Maine School of Law, Visiting Professor in the Climate Change Institute of the University of Maine and the Institute for the Environment at Brown University, Fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences, Co-Chair of the International Institute for Law, Science and Policy (Geneva, Switzerland), Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, member of the Arctic Council of the Hague Initiative for Global Justice and member of the World Affairs Council of Maine Advisory Board. Dr. Norchi has published widely on international law, international security, the Arctic and Afghanistan.
Amanda H. Lynch is the Sloan Lindemann and George Lindemann, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Environment and Society, Professor of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences at Brown University, Visiting Professor in the Climate Change Institute of the University of Maine and Visiting Scholar in the University of Maine School of Law. A pioneering climate scientist, she developed the first Arctic regional climate system model and has published extensively on climate science and policy, with a focus on polar regions. Dr. Lynch Chairs the Research Board of the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
📅 Date: TUESDAY March 18, 2025
📍 Location: Glickman Family Room, Glickman Library, USM Portland
⏰ Time: 5:30 – 7:30
Tickets:
$15 for members
$20 non-members
Maine Students FREE
REGISTER HERE

Greenland Navigates: Autonomy, Climate, and U.S. Foreign Policy
2025-03-18 17:30 - 19:30 | ME

The Future of NATO and European Security, Adm. (ret) Greg Johnson and Dr. Sonja Kreibich,
2025-03-05 17:30 - 20:00 | Bernstein-Shur, 100 Middle St, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Great Decisions 2025: U.S. Foreign Policy at a Crossroads
The Future of NATO and European Security
with
Adm. (ret) Greg Johnson and Dr. Sonja Kreibich,
Join us for the third public lecture of our 2025 Great Decisions program: “The Future of NATO and European Security,” featuring Admiral (ret.) Greg Johnson and Dr. Sonja Kreibich of the German Consulate. Admiral Johnson, with his extensive naval career and strategic expertise, will offer invaluable insights into NATO’s evolving role in maintaining global security. His firsthand experience in military operations and international cooperation will provide a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the alliance. Dr. Sonja Kreibich, representing the German Consulate, brings a crucial European viewpoint. Her diplomatic background and deep understanding of European security issues will illuminate the continent’s evolving defense strategies and the importance of transatlantic cooperation in an era of geopolitical uncertainty.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain profound insights into the future of European security and NATO’s pivotal role in maintaining global stability.
📅 Date: March 5, 2025
📍 Location: Bernstein-Shur, 100 Middle Street, Portland
⏰ Time: 5:30 – 8:00
Tickets:
$15 for members
$20 non-members
Maine Students FREE
REGISTER HERE

Maine Jewish Film Festival
2025-03-01 17:00 - 2025-03-09 16:00, 2025-03-01 08:00 - 17:00 | ME
The annual Maine Jewish Film Festival will take place from March 1-9. This year’s lineup includes a Colombian documentary about a community of orthodox Jewish converts in Cali, a French legal docudrama, a documentary about a renowned Polish painter who is still in the news today, an Israeli documentary about a Dutch philosopher, a documentary about an Indian boy who wants to become a dancer, and a documentary focused on how to find human connection in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Full details, schedule, and tickets at www.mjff.org.
This is a community event shared to encourage global engagement in Maine. Please contact the organizers directly for questions or assistance. #MaineisGlobal!

CANCELLED: Coffee and Discussion (In-Person)
2025-02-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Falmouth Memorial Library, 5 Lunt Road, Falmouth, ME, 04105, United States
Due to insufficient registration, this session must be cancelled. Please join us at the next on-line session on March 6th

Greenland: Reshaping Arctic Diplomacy and US Strategy
2025-02-19 08:00 - 17:00 | ME
Great Decisions 2025: US Foreign Policy at a Crossroads
Greenland: Reshaping Arctic Diplomacy and US Strategy
Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: TBD

Join the World Affairs Council of Maine for the fourth event in our 2025 Great Decisions Series, “US Foreign Policy at a Crossroads.” As climate change transforms the Arctic landscape, Greenland has become a focal point of international attention. Its strategic location, vast natural resources, and evolving political status present both challenges and opportunities for US diplomacy and global security. This timely discussion will explore the complex dynamics shaping Greenland’s future and its impact on global affairs, particularly U.S. foreign policy and Arctic cooperation.

Featured Speakers:
Charles H. Norchi, JD, LLM, JSD
Benjamin Thompson Professor of Law, University of Maine School of Law
Director, Center for Oceans & Coastal Law

Professor Norchi is an expert in international law and Arctic policy. His extensive experience includes serving as the Fulbright-Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arctic Scholar in Iceland and advising on ocean and coastal law issues worldwide.

Amanda H. Lynch, PhD
Sloan and George Lindemann Jr. Distinguished Professor of Environment and Society, Brown University
Chair, Research Board of the United Nations World Meteorological Organization

Professor Lynch is a leading atmospheric scientist specializing in Arctic climate systems. Her groundbreaking work includes developing the first Arctic regional climate system model and exploring the interplay between climate science and environmental governance.

Our distinguished speakers will address:

Greenland’s evolving role in Arctic geopolitics

The impact of climate change on regional dynamics

US policy challenges and opportunities in the High North

The future of international cooperation in the Arctic

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights into one of the most pressing issues in contemporary international relations. We look forward to your participation in this engaging and informative discussion.
📅 Date: March 19, 2025
📍 Location: TBD
⏰ Time: 5:30 – 7:30
Tickets:
$15 for members
$20 non-members
Maine Students FREE
REGISTER HERE

U.S.-China Relations with Susan Thornton
2025-02-06 17:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
Great Decisions 2025: U.S. Foreign Policy at a Crossroads
NOW ONLINE — U.S. – China Relations
with Susan Thornton
Join us for a compelling evening as the 2025 Great Decisions program continues with an insightful lecture on “US-China Relations” by Susan Thornton, former Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, moderated by a distinguished expert in the field. Susan Thornton, a seasoned diplomat with over 25 years of experience in Eurasia and East Asia, will delve into the complexities of the US-China relationship in an era of increasing global competition. Drawing on her extensive diplomatic career and deep understanding of East Asian affairs, Thornton will offer unique perspectives on navigating one of the most critical bilateral relationships in today’s geopolitical landscape. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the future of US-China relations and their impact on the global order. Join us in shaping the conversation on this pivotal international relationship and be part of the dialogue that influences the future of U.S. foreign policy in Asia and beyond.
📅 Date: February 6, 2025
📍 Location: ONLINE – Registered participants will receive a link via email
⏰ Time: 6:00-7:30 PM
Tickets:
$15 for members
$20 non-members
Maine Students FREE
REGISTER HERE
