MonTREP researchers speak at joint NPS/CNS conference

MonTREP researchers and GSIPM faculty members Jeffrey M. Bale, Sharad Joshi, and Gordon Hahn all gave talks at a panel on “Leaderless Jihad? Terrorist Attacks in the New Millenium and Lessons for the Future,” a panel which Professor Bale organized. The panel took place at 10 am on October 17 at the 2009 ISSS-ISAC Conference, which was co-sponsored by NPS and CNS and held over a three-day period at the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa in Monterey. Professor Bale’s talk was on the March 2004 Madrid bombings, Professor Joshi’s talk was on the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, and Professor Hahn’s talk was on recent Chechen terrorist operations. In addition, there was a talk on counterterrorist radicalization strategies by Lorenzo Vidino (a postdoctoral fellow at the Belfer Center at Harvard University). The panel chair and discussant was Professor Phil Williams, director of the Ridgeway Center for International Security Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Despite being on the last day and in the last time slot, the panel was attended by over 20 people, a relatively large audience for the conference.

J.D. Yuan Reports on Summer Activities

From Singapore comes this report of Prof. J.D. Yuan’s recent publications and interviews:

*  July 8, TV interview from Channel News Asia, on the Xinjiang riots.
*  July 29, Washington Observer interview on the first round of US-China
Strategic and Economic Dialogue
*  July 31, “China and the US: G-2 by Another Name?” Asia Times,
*  August 5, Bloomberg TV, live interview on Asia Business News on
Clinton’s North Korea trip.
*  August 8, “After the Clinton Trip: A Window of Opportunity?
OpinionAsia

CNS Conducts International Safeguards Course

Thirty graduate students and professionals took part in an intensive one-week course entitled “International Safeguards Policy and Information Analysis” that was conducted at the Monterey Institute of International Studies on May 18-22, 2009. The course, for individuals interested in pursuing careers in nonproliferation and nuclear safeguards, was designed and implemented by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Read more about it here.

Critical Issues Forum (CIF) Spring Student Conference

— U.S., Russian High School Students Present Research On Nuclear Disarmament

More than 70 students and teachers from 10 U.S. high schools and 10
schools in Russia’s closed nuclear cities gathered to present their
research on “Nuclear Disarmament: Challenges, Opportunities, and Next
Steps” at the spring 2009 Critical Issues Forum (CIF) conference April
23-24 in Monterey.

The conference is the culmination of a semester-long program designed to increase
students’ awareness of nonproliferation and disarmament issues and enhance
critical thinking skills.

All the students’ presentations were very creative, enjoyable, and
well-researched.  Presentations included student-produced movies, NPT
Review Conference simulation, skits revolving around nuclear weapons
history, current events in nuclear development, and interactive activities.

With the still-lingering excitement of President Obama’s historic speech
on April 5th in Prague calling for a world without nuclear weapons, many
of students’ presentations at the conference featured recent developments
in nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation issues.

Dr. Patricia Lewis, Deputy Director and Scientist-in-Residence at the CNS,
and former director of the UNIDIR, gave a keynote presentation with a
title of “Passing the Nuclear Baton: Nuclear Disarmament and the Next
Generation.”

This year marks the 20th anniversary of CNS.  Over the past two decades,
CNS has dedicated itself to training the next generation of
nonproliferation specialists and raising global public awareness. The CIF
is one of the flagship educational outreach programs the Center has
established to accomplish its mission.

In addition to high school student presentations, MIIS students
specializing in nonproliferation, and junior CNS staff members who also
study nonproliferation, shared their experiences on how they ended up
studying nonproliferation issues, and inspired the CIF high school
students to pursue their dreams.

The April 24th Monterey County Herald carried a long story of the CIF
conference with three large photos.

The Russian students and American students also took advantage of
opportunities for cultural exchange, building friendships.

CNS Staff Speak Out on Iranian Satellite Launch

CNS staff members Liviu Horovitz and Gaukhar Mukhatzhanova wrote a letter to the editor of the International Herald Tribune regarding the West’s negative response to Tehran’s recent launch of its first domestically developed satellite into orbit. Horovitz and Mukhatzhanova cite President Obama’s pledge to “extend a hand to hostile nations if they are willing to unclench their fist” and suggest it is now time to introduce a more nuanced approach to Iran. Read the full version of the letter at http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/19/opinion/edlet.php.

CNS Organizes Seminar in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

On February 10-11, the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, conducted a training seminar in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, a  measure intended to strengthen national export control systems around the globe. The U.S. Department of State provided financial support for the event. Speakers included representatives from the EU, the UN, the US State Department, the nongovernmental organization VERTIC, and the governments of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Amy Smithson, Margarita Sevcik, Dauren Aben, and Kenley Butler represented CNS. This is the third UNSCR 1540-related event organized by CNS, with the previous two being held in Almaty, Kazakhstan (2006) and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (2007).

CNS Staff Member Briefs Local Audiences on Disarmament Initiatives

CNS staff member Kenley Butler was the luncheon speaker at this week’s meeting of the Salinas Rotary Club where he briefed approximately 80 in attendance on recent global initiatives to move towards nuclear disarmament. In recent months, Kenley has spoken to several local groups, including the Carmel Foundation, the Sons in Retirement of Pebble Beach, and the Rotary Club of Carmel Valley.

Zilinskas to Speak on Agroterrorism

Ray Zilinskas, senior scientist at JMCNS, will be a featured speaker at the Monterey County Health Education Consortium’s January 22 seminar for health professionals entitled, “Keeping the Salad Bowl Safe: How We Prevent and Investigate Foodborne-related Illnesses.” Zilinskas will speak on “Agroterrorism, Post-harvest Food Sabotage, and Emergency Preparedness.”  See the attached pdf for additional information.

J.D. Yuan Speaks at Woodrow Wilson Panel on China-Pakistan Relations

J.D. Yuan, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at JMCNS and associate professor of international policy studies, is one of three speakers at a panel entitled “Storm Clouds Ahead for the ‘All-Weather Allies’? Today’s Pakistan-China Relationship,” sponosred by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.  You can watch a live webcast of the panel on January 26 at 3:30 p.m., eastern time.