SEQUOIA CLUB

WAC 2011: SUPERHEROES OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY Conference Itinerary A Letter from the Executive Conference Chair It is a pleasure to welcome you to the 2011 World th Monday February 7 2011 Affairs Conference! Over the past 28 years, WAC has grown to become a major international conference 5:00PM – 5:25PM with over 750 participants. Registration The dawn of the 21st century has brought with it many pressing issues and raised many crucial 5:30PM – 5:40PM questions. Indeed, it would be trite to remind you of Conference Opening & Introduction these concerns. Instead, we should look towards the future for hope. Ever since the 1990’s, people have said that humanity needs new solutions, that it has entered a transition state. But now that the 5:40PM – 6:20PM global economy is recovering and people are demanding peace, the Lionel Gelber Keynote Address world seems to have turned a new chapter in its history. The future rests in our hands and calls upon innovative ideas and strong 6:20PM – 6:45PM characters to grapple with the state of world affairs. Question & Answer Period This year’s conference will bring renowned and inspiring speakers from across the globe. Our goal is simple. We want to create heroes and heroines who will be capable of leading the world in a new Tuesday February 8th 2011 direction towards peace and economic prosperity. On behalf of the Chairs, I thank you and look forward to our future success. 8:00AM – 9:00AM Shahab Fadavi Akhavan Bonab, Registration Conference Chair 9:00AM – 10:15AM Morning Panel

10:15AM – 10:30AM A Letter from the Editor Break This is the first year we’ve had a journal, and I am hopeful that it will be enjoyed by everyone 10:30AM – 11:30AM attending the conference. My main goal in creating Plenary Session #1 The Report was to provide a snapshot of the conference for all attending as well as provide 11:30AM – 12:00PM additional content which I hope you find interesting. Small Group Discussion #1 Eric Tweel, 12:00PM – 1:00PM Editor-in-Chief Lunch

1:00PM – 2:00PM Plenary Session #2 Front Page...... 1

2:00PM – 2:30PM Keynote Speaker Biography...... 2 Small Group Discussion #2 Speaker Biographies...... 3

2:30PM – 3:15PM Haroon Siddiqui Interview...... 6 Closing Session WORLD AFFAIRS CONFERENCE The Journal on World Affairs

Plenaries I Feb 7-8 2011

Standardized Nuclear Non- Genetically Technology & Clash of Failed States Climate Change Arab-Israeli Currency Proliferation & Modified Food Mass Media Civilizations A threat to world The supporters Conflict Will the Euro Arms Control Risks v. Benefits Is global culture a Assimilation & peace and the skeptics Problems, survive? A selective right culture at all? Religion struggles and or a doomsday solutions clock? Morning Panel: Foreign Interventions

Morning Panel - Cheri DiNovo Morning Panel - David Frum Morning Panel - John McGarry Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo is the Member Best known for coining the term, the John McGarry is Professor and of Provincial Parliament for Parkdale – “Axis of Evil,” David Frum is the author Canada Research Chair in Nationalism High Park and the Deputy Speaker of of six books, including most recently and Democracy in the Dept. of the Legislative Assembly. An “COMEBACK: Conservatism That Can Political Studies at Queen’s University, outspoken social justice activist and a Win Again.” He is a columnist for and a Fellow of the Royal Society of former United Church Minister, DiNovo Canada's National Post and Italy's Il Canada. He has edited, co-edited and is most widely known for her work on Foglio. From 2001 to 2002, Frum co-authored eleven books on ethnic poverty related issues. She was served as advisor and speechwriter to conflict, nationalism, and the politics recognized with the highest medal of President Bush. In 2005, he formed of Northern Ireland. During 2008-09, honour from the government of and led the group Americans for Better he served as Senior Advisor on Power- Ukraine for her work on the Justice, and is a member of the board Sharing to the United Nations bill in Ontario. of the Republican Jewish Coalition. (Mediation Support Unit).

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Speakers Heroes of the 21st century

Dr. Izzeldin Abulaish Keynote Speaker Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, MD, MPH, is a Palestinian physician and infertility expert who was born and raised in the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. He received a scholarship to study medicine in Cairo, Egypt, and then received a diploma from the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of London. He completed a residency in the same discipline at Soroka University hospital in Israel, followed by a subspecialty in fetal medicine in Italy and Belgium. He then undertook a masters in public health (health policy and management) at Harvard University. Before his three daughters were killed in January 2009 during the Israeli incursion into Gaza, Dr. Abuelaish worked as a researcher at the Gertner Institute at the Sheba Hospital in Tel Aviv. He now lives with his family in , where he is an associate professor at the Dala Lana School of Public Health at the .

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Technology and Media Climate Change Clash of Civilizations

Mitchell Stephens Tom Harris Tarek Fatah

Mitchell Stephens is the Tom Harris is Tarek Fatah has written for author of A History of Executive Director the (until he News, an extended history of the science- was put on the of journalism that has been based, apolitical newspaper’s ‘No-Fly List’ translated into four g r o u p , t h e after they, as he claims languages and was a New I n t e r n a t i o n a l “succumbed to Islamist York Times "Notable Book Climate Science pressures”) the Globe and of the Year." His well Coalition. He also Mail, the National reviewed book, the rise of the image the fall of the lectures at Carleton Post and TIME magazine on word, a historical analysis of our current University in Ottawa, Canada where he the failures of multiculturalism and the threat communications revolution, was published in 1998 teaches a second year Earth Sciences course posed by Islamism to Canada and the West. In and is available from Oxford University Press. — “Climate Change, a geological 2002, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Professor Stephens is also the author of Broadcast perspective”. Tom’s basic education was in Jubilee Medal. News, the most widely used radio and television thermo-fluids and energy sciences and he In February 2007, Fatah was included by news textbook, and the co-author of Writing and has Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Maclean's magazine on a list of 50 Reporting the News. Mechanical Engineering. Tom has over 30 Canadians described as "Canada’s most well years experience working as a mechanical known and respected personalities." He is a co- engineer and project manager, science and host of "Friendly Fire," the evening show on CFRB Sergei Zelenev technology communications professional 1010. In 2007, he was awarded the Press Freedom and media and S&T advisor to a former Award by the National Press Club. An economist by Opposition Senior Environment Critic in education, Sergei Zelenev Canada’s federal Parliament. studied in Russia and the US: he received MA in Haroon Siddiqui international economic Bruce Cox relations in 1972 and PHD Haroon is a former in economics in 1975 from Mr. Bruce Cox’s national editor and Moscow State Institute of relationship with editorial page editor of the International Affairs Greenpeace began Toronto Star. Upon his (MGIMO-UNIVERSITY). In 1993 he completed the years before he departure, he was given management program — the executive MBA b e c a m e t h e the title of “editor program at New (Stern School of executive director emeritus”. He is the past Business) earning MBA. He authored a book on of Greenpeace president of PEN Canada transnational corporations and social policy as well Canada. Before and is the chair of as many articles on economic and social coming to work for International PEN’s Writers-in-Exile Network. He development published in Russian and English. Greenpeace in 2004, Bruce spent two is on the board of directors of the Calmeadow decades bringing his passion for the Foundation, the Canadian Club of Toronto and the Upon obtaining his doctorate in 1975 he worked environment to provincial and federal advisory board of the Ryerson University School of as associate professor of political economy at politics and held positions with the Ontario Journalism. In 2002, he was awarded the World MGIMO-University in Moscow, serving as well as ministries of Energy and Environment and Press Freedom Award by the National Press Club. a Vice-Dean of the Department of International at Toronto City Hall. Bruce is an He shared a 1983 National Newspaper Economic Relations. In 1981 he joined the UN enthusiastic advocate for change in Award for spot news reporting. In 1992 and Secretariat in New York as an Economic Affairs Canada’s energy sector, promoting an column writing in 1998. Siddiqui received a Officer. Since then he has been working at the UN energy revolution that will see the phase Professional Man of the Year award from Indo Secretariat in the socio-economic field, performing, out of dirty technologies such as nuclear Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and a media as required, analytical, normative and managerial and coal while ushering in an era of award from the Canadian Islamic Congress. In functions. He oversaw the preparation of the climate friendly, renewable and sustainable 2000, he became a member of the Order of Ontario, Comprehensive report on the implementation of alternatives. During Bruce’s tenure as for crafting "a broader definition of the Canadian the outcome of the World Summit for Social Executive Director at Greenpeace, he has identity," inclusive of our First Nations, French Development submitted to the 24th special Session led the organization through a period of Canadians and newer Canadians. In 2001 he of the GA and contributed to the preparation of the significant growth including the opening of became a Member of the Order of Canada, for draft text of the Madrid International Plan of new campaigns on Oceans and Tar Sands advocating "fairness and equality of opportunity" Action on Ageing submitted to the Second World and an increase in budget and staff of over at home and "a broader role for Canada in the Assembly on Ageing. 50 per cent. global village." Apart from working at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, twice Mr. Zelenev worked in Africa, participating in the peace- keeping missions in Namibia and South Africa in 1989–1990 and 1993–1994 respectively.

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Arms Control Failed States Standardized Currency

Dr. Trevor Findlay Dr. David Welch David Watt

Dr. Findlay spent thirteen David A. Welch is David Watt is a Senior years in the Australian CIGI chair of Currency Strategist and diplomatic service, with global security at Vice President based in postings in Tokyo, Mexico the Balsillie School Toronto, specializing in the City and Geneva. He was a of International Canadian dollar. David member of the Australian Affairs (BSIA). He contributes to the daily delegation to the is also a professor North American Focus, the C o n f e r e n c e o n of political science weekly Canadian Dollar Disarmament, as well as at the University of Pulse and the monthly Currency Report delegations to the UN Waterloo, and has received three major Card. Prior to joining RBC, David spent General Assembly and UN Disarmament teaching awards in the last two years. Dr. over 5 years as a Senior Economist Commission in New York. Appointed in 1986 to Welch is also an accomplished author. focusing on FX and fixed income strategy the newly-established Peace Research Centre at the Currently, he is completing a book on the with another Canadian financial ANU as inaugural Foreign Affairs Disarmament Vietnam War and will subsequently begin institution. He started his career at the Fellow, he later became Senior Fellow and acting a major project on security theory. Bank of Canada, and has previously head of the Centre for two years. This was worked at Canada Mortgage and Housing followed by four years at the Stockholm Corporation as a Senior Fixed Income International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in Strategist. David holds a Masters of Sweden, where he established the institute's Ian Spears Economics from Queen's University, where program on peacekeeping and regional security. Though Ian Spears he also undertook advanced graduate From 1998 to early 2005 Dr. Findlay was Executive teaches courses in studies. He has also completed the Director of the London-based Verification i n t e r n a t i o n a l Canadian Securities Course, with Honours. Research, Training and Information Centre relations and the (VERTIC), a non-governmental organization that p o l i t i c s o f focuses on the verification of international developing areas Martin Schwerdtfeger agreements, particularly in respect of arms control, (specifically disarmament, the environment and peace accords. Africa), his Based in Toronto, Martin Dr. Findlay was chair of the Independent research interests Schwerdtfeger joined the Commission on the Verifiability of the have focused largely on problems and Economics department at Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 2000. prospects for conflict and conflict TD Bank Financial Group resolution in African states. His earlier in March 2010. Prior to Steve Aplin research concerned the difficulties in joining TD Bank Financial negotiating and implementing power- Group, Martin worked Steve Aplin grew up sharing agreements in the aftermath of with IHS Global Insight during the Cold War, and civil wars. More recently, he has been doing macroeconomic like millions of others lived considering the opposite approach, the forecasts and analysis for Latin American under the ever-present possibility that secession or, more radically, economies. He holds a B.Sc. degree in Economics threat of nuclear the redrawing of Africa’s borders, might from the University of Buenos Aires and an M.A. annihilation. In 1983 he provide an alternative to conflict degree in Economics from Duke University. volunteered for Operation resolution. Both of these issues have been Dismantle, a group As an economist, Martin’s chief informed by an approach to politics which dedicated to nuclear responsibilities include analyzing and forecasting borrows from political realism. Mr. Spear’s disarmament. He was the global economy. Martin also contributes most recent publication, an edited book, is encouraged when, only ten regularly to a wide variety of TD publications and a collection of papers which considers the years later, Russia and the U.S. actually began to provides frequent economic commentary to the emergence of political entities in different dismantle nuclear weapons. His interest in nuclear media. parts of the world which have many of the non-proliferation and disarmament increased attributes of statehood but do not yet enjoy when he became professionally involved in the recognition from the international civilian nuclear industry. Today he is a strong community. They are in effect ‘states- advocate of peaceful nuclear energy, and believes within-states’. the civilian industry is humanity’s best hope for stemming proliferation. Mr. Aplin is Vice President, Energy and Environment, at The HDP Group, an Ottawa consultancy. He blogs about Canadian energy issues at canadianenergyissues.com.

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Arab-Israeli Conflict Genetically Modified Food Closing Panel

Berl Nadler Cecil Forsberg Second City

Berl Nadler is partner of Cecil W. Forsberg is The Second City, the world's premier comedy Davies Ward Phillips & a professor of theatre and school of improvisation, specializes Vineberg LLP, one of Microbiology at the in sketch comedy Canada's leading law University of Guelph and has been firms, where he conducts a where he has been delighting wide-ranging business law since 1973. He has a audiences for over practice in that firm's B.S.A. and M.Sc. 50 years. The Toronto and New York degrees from the Second City has offices. Mr. Nadler has been U n i v e r s i t y o f resident companies recognized as a leading lawyer in The Best Saskatchewan and a Ph.D. from McGill in Chicago and Lawyers in Canada, the Lexpert®/American University in Microbiology and postdoctoral Toronto consisting Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in training in London, England. His areas of of six actors/ Canada, the Lexpert® Guide to the Leading US/ research include molecular biology and writers each and Canada Cross Border Lawyers in Canada and the biochemistry of glycosyl hydrolases, three National Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory. He is also phosphohydrolases and transgenic swine Touring Companies with five actors each. The listed in Who's Who in Canada. In addition to his R&D. He has more than 100 peer-reviewed shows consist of short scenes, songs, and practice, Mr. Nadler is a frequent speaker at publications. improvisations ranging anywhere from 10 professional conferences and has published articles seconds to 10 minutes long. and papers on a wide range of legal topics. He was Arlene Stein for a number of years an Adjunct Professor at The Second City format is a two-act Osgoode Hall Law School. Arlene Stein is the revue – primarily scripted – followed by a third Program Director at act of improvisation. The show is written by the Evergreen Brick cast over an eight to ten week rehearsal period. Noura Erakat works. Ms.Stein Most of our material is generated in the previously worked at improvisational sets – where audience Noura Erakat is a U of T’s Hart House members often contribute suggestions for the Palestinian attorney and where she was the topics to be performed. If an improvised piece activist. She is currently an director of Events is particularly strong, that piece is further adjunct professor of and Catering for 10 refined the next day in a rehearsal session with international human rights years. Arlene has led large scale food the director of the revue. Over the rehearsal law in the Middle East at conferences, as well as spearheading student process, new material is introduced into the Georgetown University and community programs. Ms. Stein brings scripted show. Themes develop and the actors and the Legal Advocacy knowledge and experience to the topic of and director craft the scenes into a fully realized Coordinator for the Badil Center for Palestinian genetically modified foods. production. Refugee and Residency Rights. Prior to her time on Capitol Hill, Noura received a New Voices Fellowship to work as the national grassroots organizer and legal advocate at the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation where she helped seed BDS campaigns nationally as well as support the cases brought against two former Israeli officials in U.S. federal courts for alleged war crimes. Noura holds law and undergraduate degrees from the University of California at Berkeley. She has worked and studied in Israel and Palestine; she interned at Adalah: The Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel; studied at Hebrew University; and volunteered in Palestinian refugee STAFF camps throughout the West Bank and Lebanon. Shahab Fadavi: Conference She currently serves on the Board of Split this Rock and the Trans-Arab Research Institute.Her Chair publications include: "Litigating the Arab-Israeli Eric Tweel: Editor-in-Chief Conflict: The Politicization of U.S. Federal Courts" in the Berkeley Law Journal of Middle Eastern and Kaleem Hawa: Writer Islamic Law and "Arabiya Made Invisible: Between Shashwat Koirala: Writer the Marginalization of Agency and the Silencing of Dissent" in a Syracuse Press anthology. Eamon O’Keefe: Writer Omar Abboud: Writer

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You have been quoted as saying “freedom of We have seen extreme reactions in Europe to speech is not absolute.” Could you the recent influx of Muslim immigrants, such substantiate this and describe why you hold as the minaret ban in Switzerland and the this belief? ban of the niqab in France. Why do you think Europe is gravitating towards this It's certainly true in Canada because its the right-wing approach, and do you think it is law of the land. It's not my opinion, I am just justified? repeating what the law says. The law says that freedom of speech is not absolute, for the No, of course not, it's not justified. First of all, same reason other rights are not absolute. we are living in the post 9/11 era. The Very few rights are absolute. My freedom to phenomenon in Europe is probably not much swing my arm stops at your cheek. different than the So, most rights have to work in phenomenon in Quebec. balance of other rights. My right to “Many Christians Europe itself is freedom of speech also stops when I have broken free undergoing a great libel you, or I defame you. There are identity crisis. Because of An Interview with anti-hate laws in Canada, as in the from the chains of the European Union, Haroon Siddiqui on ... which have many Christianity.” many smaller nations serious penalties, including sending have been steadily losing Multiculturalism you off to jail. Those are the laws of their sovereignty. the land. Those who believe that freedom of Secondly, they are no longer a Christian At the upcoming World Affairs Conference, speech is totally free are living in a dream continent. They're a Christian majority you will be talking about the clash of world, it's just not so. continent, but not really a Christian continent, civilizations. Without giving away your but they seem to confuse between the two, speech, what issues will you be touching on? You grew up as Muslim minority in India, including the Pope. The Pope used to say and immigrated to Canada later on in your There's nothing to give away. I will outline the Europe is Christian continent. Excuse me sir, life, where you remain a Muslim minority. your Holiness, we live in a democracy. A American approach of the melting pot versus How where the two experiences different? the Canadian approach of multiculturalism, democracy is not a Christian country, it's a Christian majority country, which is and I am going to take the side of Canadian They're not much different. First of all, it is a democratic, which is secular, which in all multiculturalism. The argument is very huge minority [in India], of 160 million, which people have equal rights. And now the Pope simple, that is part of our constitution, it is is five times the population of Canada. It it is seems to have learned. He's not saying such entrenched in our Charter of Rights. Section 27 the third biggest Muslim population in the nonsense as he used to say. The flip side of the of the Charter says world after Indonesia and coin is that many Christians have broken free Canada is a Pakistan, so you don't really from the chains of Christianity, especially multicultural country. “The debate really forces feel like a minority. The second Catholicism, and broken out of the power of Not only that, it goes thing is that in India, it is a four us to re-examine our own church. This is similar to what happened in on to say, which a lot thousand year old civilization, Quebec [during the Quiet Revolution]. People of people don't democratic secular law.” which has people of every kind, are talking about this a lot in Europe, as they realize, is that the and every hue, and every are in Quebec, and there is a sort of paranoia Constitution should ethnicity, and every linguistic surrounding it. But the more they talk, the be interpreted accordingly. Which is like no minority, and every religion. So you grow up happier I am – let them get their paranoia out other country in the world, perhaps, with the in a virtual parade of different traditions. exception of Belgium. The observant Jewish into the public square, and people will learn persons notices this and says, ‘I can't work on What do you think is the best way to remove from that. When I say I oppose the banning of Saturday because it is my Sabbath’. However, the stereotype in the West of Muslims as the hijab, I'm not holding a Muslim position, in response, the employer says, 'Well, my being radical extremists that advocate I'm offering a democratic secular position. biggest sales are on Saturday.' According to terrorism? [Supporters of the ban] say that the nuns can the Constitution the employer must make wear their garb, but a woman can not wear Well at one time we used to have stereotypes reasonable efforts to accommodate religious her hijab. On what legal basis, on what secular of Catholics, Irish Catholics or Italian belief, or the multicultural beliefs of this principle, on what democratic law do we ban Catholics or Spanish Catholics, then we had particular person. And the employer says, these things? So the debate really forces us to stereotypes of Japanese Canadians, we had 'Okay, I respect that, but my business is not a re-examine our own democratic secular law. stereotypes of Chinese Canadians, we had charity,' so the compromise of the agreement When you [oppose this ban], you are likely to stereotypes and anti-semitism towards Jews, was that the employer can hire someone else be misunderstood, people say, 'Ah! You say and there still is in many ways. Now, the latest that day, and the Jewish person can make it up that because you are a Muslim!" But no, I also stereotypes is against Muslims. The Muslims by working Sunday maybe, or Monday, or support the right of an Orthodox Jewish are not being interned like the Japanese, but whatever. Or adjusting his holiday schedule. person to wear his Kippah, the nun to wear that does not mean they are not being So there is this constant give-and-take that this her garb, and other religious and cultural stereotyped. They constantly complain of job multicultural imperative forces people to take beliefs of others peoples. discrimination. It's the same kind of part in. discrimination Kippah wearing Jews faced. But slowly, I am sure people will learn. Eric Tweel

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