Hurricanes, tornadoes and solar eruptions can have profound effects on America's economy, public safety and well-being.
A noon lunch briefing next Tuesday at the Senate Visitor's Center on Capitol Hill, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, will provide an overview of the current state of storm research.
In particular, panelists will discuss work to improve risk assessment and hazard preparedness in order to mitigate vulnerability to storm impacts.
What:
A briefing about severe storms
Featuring:
Roger Wakimoto, assistant director for Geosciences, National Science Foundation
Jenni L. Evans, acting director, Institutes of Energy and the Environment, Penn State
Howard B. Bluestein, professor, School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma
Harlan E. Spence, director, Institute for Study of Earth, Oceans and Space, University of New Hampshire.
Where:
Senate Visitor's Center, Room 212-10
When:
Tuesday, March 24, 2015, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Lunch will be provided.
RSVP: Please contact lisajoy@nsf.gov for more information and/or to reserve a spot.
NOTE: This is a closed event and reservations are required, and must be received by 9 a.m. on Monday, March 23, 2015.
CSFI is looking for
15 volunteers to help with basic tasks during the DCOI event being held in DC
on April 27-28, 2015: http://www.dcoi.org.il
We need volunteers to help with the following:
Admissions
Seating/Escort if needed
Hand out Agendas
Hold Microphones - Field questions
Advance the slides for speakers (If needed)
Advantages of volunteering:
Free Conference Pass
CSFI Certificate of Appreciation
Experience working at international cyber defense event
Opportunity to support CSFI mission
Lunch included
If interested, send your resume and contact information to: contact@csfi.us
David Korten began his professional life as a professor at the Harvard Business School on a mission to lift struggling people in Third World nations out of poverty by sharing the secrets of U.S. business success. Yet, after a couple of decades in which he applied his organizational development strategies in places as far-flung as Ethiopia, Nicaragua, and the Philippines, Korten underwent a change of heart. In 1995, he wrote the bestseller When Corporations Rule the World, followed by a series of books that helped birth the movement known as the New Economy, a call to replace transnational corporate domination with local economies, control, ownership, and self-reliance.
This month, Korten, who is also the co-founder and board chair of YES!, publishes a new book challenging readers to rethink their relationship with Earth—indeed, with all creation, from the smallest quantum particle to the whole of the universe. The world needs “a new story,” he says. “If most species, including Homo sapiens, are to survive, we must recognize Earth as a living being.” Korten talked about his ongoing metamorphosis with YES! Executive Editor Dean Paton.
Dean Paton: Tell me how somebody who was an organizational management specialist, and then a new-economy thought leader, made this leap into what is as much a spiritual proposition as it is a political one—that Earth is a living organism, that we all are essentially a part of this one big life form.
“It comes back to this: Are we a part of nature? Or apart from nature?”
David Korten: It’s not that hard, actually—once you get into the living-Earth frame—to see that Earth is essentially this organization of living organisms creating and maintaining the conditions essential to life. If you’re an organizational expert, or theorist, that raises a really fascinating question: How do these millions of organisms work in concert to maintain life?
Paton: As if everything has an intelligence and everything has a purpose? How is that relevant to your new book, Change the Story, Change the Future?
Korten: The new book sets up the juxtaposition between the old “Sacred Money and Markets” story and an emerging “Sacred Life and Living Earth” story. They’re two totally different frames that lead to two totally different ways of thinking about organizing society. You either see life as a means to make money, or you see money as simply a number useful for keeping accounts in service to life, but of no value in itself. Buying into the “Sacred Money and Markets” story that money is wealth and the key to happiness locks us into indentured servitude to corporate rule.
Paton: You’re saying it’s the traditional development model, or transnational capitalism, that damages Earth as a living community, including not just humans but all life forms. Yet we all depend on money, on the market economy. Do you really think we can just stop that dependence?
Korten: We will still use money and markets, but strip away Wall Street’s control of money’s creation and allocation. There was a time in the United States when most of our financial institutions were local. Which essentially meant that local communities were able to create their own credit, or their own money, in response to their own needs. We still depended on banks, but it was a much more democratic process.
Paton: Like George Bailey’s building and loan in It’s a Wonderful Life.
“We humans live by stories.”
Korten: Exactly. If more of our money circulated in our communities rather than the Wall Street casino, it would facilitate people organizing locally to meet more of their economic needs with local resources. Control of money is the ultimate mechanism of social control in a society in which most every person depends on money for the basic means of living—food, water, shelter, heat, transportation, entertainment. This leads us into the voluntary simplicity movement: The less I’m dependent on money, the freer I am. Realize that the only legitimate purpose of the economy is to serve life, is to serve us as living beings making our living in co-productive partnership with living Earth.
Paton: How does that translate into actions? If we get a thousand people to say, “I’m a living being born of and nurtured by a living Earth,” how does that stop fracking? How does that stop the Russians from pumping all the oil out of Kazakhstan and selling it around the world?
Korten: It makes very clear that destroying the natural living systems on which our existence depends, in order to get a quick energy fix or a quick profit, is literally insane.
Paton: So if we’re all living beings “born of a living Earth,” as you say, where does that start to show up in our lives?
Korten: A big piece of it has to do with recognizing the implications of our dependence on money. This goes back to development as a process of separating people from their means of subsistence production. The more people become alienated from their self-production, the more they become dependent on money—and the more they become dependent on the people who control the creation and allocation of money.
Paton: You mean when I’m dependent, I accept fracking.
Korten: Yeah, you say, “I need that money. They’re going to pay me to frack my property.”
Paton: Do you really think Americans are going to be able to cast off the belief that money is king?
Korten: I’d say a lot of people are casting it off.
Paton: Most of us respond to a 10-dollar bill. Or a bonus at work. Or a new car.
Korten: But we respond to that because we accept the “Sacred Money and Markets” story that money is wealth, a fabrication that is literally killing us.
Paton: So you say that our choice is between working with Earth and working against her?
Korten: It comes back to this: Are we a part of nature? Or apart from nature?
Paton: Why do you insist we adopt this “Living Earth” story?
Korten: Because we humans live by stories.
Paton: And that means…?
Korten: It means that to organize as ordered societies, we need a shared framework—basic values and assumptions—so that when I relate to you, I’ve got some idea of how you’re going to respond, because we share our basic story.
Paton: Do we have a choice?
Korten: Yeah, change or die. Quite literally. You really can’t grasp the new story—as a society—and continue to live the way we live. First you begin to move toward more voluntary simplicity, which is, literally, reducing your dependence on money. You start doing more things yourself. You pay much more attention to your relationships, to the gift economy. You perhaps get a deeper sense of being part of and a contributor to a living universe evolving toward ever greater complexity, beauty, awareness, and possibility. What would that mean for society, and then what does it mean for how I live? What is my contribution to the change society needs? I have a responsibility to be part of this change—which begins by changing the story.
Despite the aggression and abuse she has suffered at the
University of El Salvador because she is a trans woman, Daniela Alfaro is
determined to graduate with a degree in health education. “There is very
little tolerance of us at the university. I thought it would be different
from high school, ... MORE > >
“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it
from our children” – an ancient Indian saying that encapsulates the essence
of sustainability as seen by the world’s indigenous people. With their deep
and locally-rooted knowledge of the natural world, indigenous peoples have
much to ... MORE > >
It is a hot, steamy day in Sri Lanka’s northwestern Mannar
District. Mid-day temperatures are reaching 34 degrees Celsius, and the
tarred road is practically melting under the sun. Sarojini Tangarasa is
finding it hard to walk on her one bare foot. Her hands constantly shake and
she has to ... MORE > >
Despite being one of the world's fastest expanding economies,
projected to clock seven-percent GDP growth in 2017, India – a nation of 1.2
billion – is trailing behind on many vital social development indices while
also hosting one-fourth of the world's poor. While the United Nations
prepares to ... MORE > >
Food security has become a key issue of the U.N. climate
negotiations this week in Geneva as a number of countries and observers
raised concerns that recent advances in Lima are in jeopardy. While food
security is a core objective of the U.N. climate convention, it has
traditionally been ... MORE > >
In the movie “A Day Without a Mexican“, the mysterious
disappearance of all Mexicans brings the state of California to a halt. Would
the same thing happen in some Latin American countries if immigrants from
neighbouring countries, who suffer the same kind of discrimination, went
missing? The ... MORE > >
As the Iranian nuclear talks hurtle towards a Mar. 24
deadline, there is renewed debate among activists about the blatant Western
double standards underlying the politically-heated issue, and more
importantly, the resurrection of a longstanding proposal for a Middle East
free from weapons of mass ... MORE > >
Right now, the United Nations is negotiating one of the
world’s potentially most powerful policy documents. It can influence
trillions of dollars, pull hundreds of millions out of poverty and hunger,
reduce violence and improve education — essentially make the world a better
place. But much depends ... MORE > >
On the night of Aug. 14, 2014, 10-year-old Hari Karki woke up
to his grandfather’s loud yelling in the family’s home in Paagma, a small
village in east Nepal. He was warning Hari’s family to move out of the house
immediately because they were getting flooded. It had been raining non-stop
for a ... MORE > >
Hidden by the struggles to defeat Ebola, malaria and
drug-resistant tuberculosis, a silent killer has been moving across the
African continent, superseding infections of HIV and AIDS. World Cancer Day
commemorated on Feb. 4 may have come and gone, but the spread of cancer in
Africa has been ... MORE > >
World leaders from government, finance, business, science and
civil society are attempting to negotiate a legally binding and universal
agreement on climate change at the upcoming 21st United Nations Climate
Change Conference being convened in Paris in December. If achieved, which
appears ... MORE > >
A week of climate negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland Feb.
8-13 are setting the stage for what promises to be a busy year. In order to
reach an agreement in Paris by December, negotiators will have to climb a
mountain of contentious issues which continue to overshadow the talks. One
such issue ... MORE > >
Bill Anderson Fund Webinar –
The BAF Student Advisory Council will be hosting Insight into an Academic Career in
Hazard and Disaster Mitigation, the second in a 3-part series
of professional development webinars.
This event will take place on Thursday, February 26, 2015 from
2:00pm – 4:00pm EST. Free of charge and open to students and
young professionals, interested in emergency preparedness and response, this
webinar will take place online, opening the discussion worldwide. The moderator
will be Nnenia Campbell, Research Assistant, Natural Hazards Center and Council
Liaison/Program Chair of the BAF Student Advisory Council.
It will focus on
careers in academia and will include presentations from respected scholars in
the field. Speakers include:
Reginald DesRoches, Ph.D.,
Chair of the Karen and John Huff School and Professor of Civil and
Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology
Kathleen Tierney, Ph.D., Director of the Natural
Hazards Center and Professor of Sociology at the University of Colorado
Boulder
Ann-Margaret Esnard, Ph.D., Professor at the Andrew Young
School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University
Keith Yearwood, Ph.D., Lecturer in the Department of
Geographical Sciences at the University of Maryland.
Are you motivated, hard-working, and enthusiastic? Maybe you should think about becoming a VOA intern!
General Information
Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: Current enrollment at an accredited college or university, though exceptions are occasionally made for outstanding high-school students
Deadline: Rolling (6-12 weeks before desired start date)
Compensation: Voluntary and unpaid (though a transportation stipend is provided)
Credit: College credit is available, depending on student's school
Fields: Engineering, Journalism, Language Broadcasts, Public Relations, Special English, TV Technical Studio Operations,TV to Africa, and Information and Library studies.
Benefits: Provides "real world" experience in a diverse and dynamic international broadcast organization
Interns accepted into the program will be required to submit a security form two weeks prior to their start date. All answers must be typed. Access the form through the following link: http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/SF86_July2008.pdf
* Note to international students: Unfortunately, we are unable to assist in the procurement of United States visas.
Internships By Department
Creative Services
Fields: branding, advertising, marketing, graphic design, animation, and production
Duties: research advertising, marketing, and promotional campaigns for different platforms; conceptualize and produce campaign components; plan projects; and design methods to promote the Voice of America and its products
Interests: advertising, marketing, promotions, graphic design, and animation
Requirements: an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a college or university degree program, with creativity; excellent skills in writing and communication; energy and initiative; the ability to multi-task; and the ability and desire to learn
Application: Send resume, cover letter and a brief, ideally pertinent, writing sample to Michelle D. Harris (mharris@voanews.com). Social media experience preferred.
Apply in February-March for Summer internships, in July-August for Fall internships, and Oct.-Nov. for Spring internships.
Technology, Services, and Innovation (TSI)
Fields: broadcasting/Internet technology, computer support, international business planning, project financial analysis, audience/media research, and geographic information systems (GIS)
Duties: tailored to the skill/interest level of the intern, including technical (engineering design or computer programming), analytical (data base research), or business support (international market research) projects (nb. TSI manages broadcast transmission, program delivery, and technical support; TSI internships do not entail any work in the studio with cameras, microphones, etc.)
Interests: engineering, technology, business
Requirements: some engineering, technical, or computer background, strong analytical/mathematical skills, ability to problem-solve
Application: send resume and cover letter to Terry Balazs (tbalazs@bbg.gov)
Note: TSI also offers a few paid summer internships to full-time students (U.S. citizens only) with appropriate technical qualifications.
Language Programming
Fields: Journalism, Broadcasting, Communications, International Relations, Government
Duties: Research and production of daily audio, video programming, series, special reports, social media and mobile (45 languages). Depending on intern’s assigned team, duties may include: research for stories or profiles, news events, features and special topics; camera work; interviews; logging; transcription; organizing footage; collection of b-roll; writing; editing audio/video.
Requirements: Undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a college or university degree program, creativity, excellent research, writing and communication skills, energy and initiative, ability to multi-task and a desire to learn new skills.
Application: Send resume, cover letter expressing desired focus of internship. Please state if you are a native language speaker in any of the 45 languages in which we broadcast. Apply to: VOA-Internship-Program@voanews.com
Public Relations
Fields: public affairs, communications, writing, event planning, website management
Duties: research and draft web articles and press releases, lead VOA studio tours, communicating with outside media, event planning, and promoting Voice of America projects and programs
Interests: public affairs, international relations, journalism, website content management
Requirements: enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate college or university degree program, excellent writing and communications skills, interest in international news, energy and initiative, ability to multi-task. Experience with photography, blogging, posting to websites, or social media campaigns preferred.
Application: Send resume, cover letter, and a brief, ideally PR-related, writing sample to VOA Public Relations (askvoa@voanews.com).
Learning English
Fields: Journalism radio, television, Internet, social media, teaching
Duties: writing news-related stories using a limited vocabulary for English learners; audio production, web article posting and social media audience engagement.
Interests: current affairs, journalism, English teaching
Requirements: excellent writing, research and social media skills
Application: send resume, cover letter, transcript(s), and two writing samples (news-related or features items) to Hai Do (hdo@voanews.com)
TV Technical Operations
Fields: television studio set-up and operations, broadcast system engineering, videography,
Duties: assisting TV technicians in setting up and operations in lighting, audio, camera control, video tape playback, and floor direction; assisting in the project management, design and installation of broadcasting systems and facilities; assisting mobile camera teams in capturing news events
Interests: general television studio operations, broadcast system engineering, electronic news gathering
Requirements: general knowledge of and interest in television studio production and field camera operation; familiarity with production and technical terms; background and/or study in electrical or electronics engineering or systems project management
Duties: write daily show descriptions for our TV Facebook pages, assist with various video field shoots, edit various projects on Final Cut Pro and DaletPlus editing systems, run teleprompter for live TV shows, videotape logging, topic research, guest recruit, guest greeting, and other duties.
Interests: television production, international and Africa affairs, journalism.
Requirements: research experience, demonstrated interest in Africa and international affairs, communications skills, ability to meet deadlines and to work under pressure.
Application: send cover letter and resume to Roblyn Hymes (rah@voanews.com).
Workplace Engagement
Fields: Business, communication, leadership, intercultural communication, broadcasting or liberal arts
Duties: event planning, event photography, drafting articles for the employee newsletter, conducting interviews for the newsletter, attending and taking notes at meetings, posting content to the intranet site (SharePoint), analysis and compilation of data (in Excel spreadsheets) plus possible social media postings. Please note that some of the information that the interns see is confidential and interns are expected to maintain strict confidentiality.
Interests: communications, international relations, business, writing.
Requirements: Undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a college or university degree program. Flexible on the degree program, but most relevant for business, communication, international or intercultural communication students. Students should be familiar with Microsoft Office products.
Application: send cover letter and resume to Nancy Coviello (ncoviello@voanews.com).
Media Asset Management Branch
Video, Audio and Print Library Collections Assistant:
Fields: Library science, Media Asset Management; Radio & Television broadcast production, Collection Development; Archiving; Musicology**
Duties: May include all or some of the following activities: shot-level cataloging of video content; responding to producer requests for video, audio or textual background material; search internal databases, indexes and digital asset management system; search internet or agency subscription databases; assist with circulation procedures; assist with processing stock footage, audio, or music materials into the collection; assist research staff to pull and cue video content; assist with video retirement processes including inventory listings, updating collection data and shelf-reading or applying labels and barcodes; assist pairing script and other associated information with digital assets.
Interests: Media collection management; current news and international affairs, other subject specialties related to broadcast communications; special libraries
Requirements: graduate or undergraduate study in Library Science, Communications, Broadcast journalism, musicology or related major, detail oriented; good communication skills.
Application: send resume and cover letter to Pam Commerford, Media Asset Management Branch Chief (pcommerford@voanews.com )
**For Ethnomusicology majors - special opportunity to work with our collection of legacy African Music recordings in the Leo Sarkisian collection. This is a joint project by the English to Africa Service and theArchive and Research Service. Contact Heather Maxwell, Multi-Media Production Specialist, for information on this project hmaxwell@voanews.com
Program Acquisitions Assistant:
Fields: Television
Duties: Screening and logging video programs; editing new program masters on FCP and AVID; locating and keeping track of programs to be edited; following guidelines given for specific programs; prepare and/or adapt scripts for a number of acquired programs used by VOA language services in their television programs.
Interests: Television production
Requirements: Undergraduate in television broadcasting; FCP and AVID editing skills; familiarity with production and television technical terms, attention to detail, organizational skills, communications and writing skills, and ability to work under pressure.
Application: Send resume and cover letter to Jorge Bustamante, Chief of Acquisitions Service (Jbustama@voanews.com)
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