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Beyond the Plough: The New Faces of Food Nov 27, 2017

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Food demand is expected to increase substantially by 2050 due to rising populations and incomes. With this staggering demand comes an unprecedented business opportunity for small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs. The old guard is changing: young leaders are putting their entrepreneurial minds to work, pioneering innovations and products that tackle challenges to global food security. From channeling funds into “soil to shelf” ventures to using blockchain for produce traceability, entrepreneurs and business executives across the globe are adding new tastes, new roles and new jobs to the food sector. Join the Chicago Council for a conversation with the next generation of agriculture managers who are charging well-beyond the plough to introduce new ways we think about what we eat.

Blue Skies In Beijing: An Evening with China's Environmental Activist Nov 16, 2017

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Prosperity or health – does one have to choose? With massive industrialization and urbanization, China’s environment pays a heavy price. China’s most recent annual environmental report notes that three quarters of Chinese cities cannot meet the nation’s air quality standards, while the water quality of 60 percent of monitored groundwater wells is either “bad” or “very bad.” Ma Jun, this year’s Dr. Scholl Foundation Visiting Fellow and China’s foremost environmentalist, has been exposing these concerns for decades. An innovator, he has pioneered ways to share pollution data with the public and cooperate with international businesses – all while striving to bridge the gap between the government and the public. With the world turning to China for affordable and clean energy leadership, Ma will share his insider’s perspective on a blue – or grey – sky future for Beijing.

Green Gold Rush: The Rise Of Commercial Marijuana Nov 15, 2017

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Is marijuana legal or illegal – can it be both? The legal marijuana industry is poised to add more than a quarter of a million jobs to the economy by 2020. Cost savings from legalization could be over $7.7 billion and tax revenue could range from $2.4 to $6 billion annually. Yet, marijuana remains a federally controlled substance, deterring professionals and investors from entering the market. In the last few months, Canada and Mexico have legalized marijuana at the national level for recreational and medical use respectively. What, if anything, is the United States losing by not adopting a federal legalization policy? As this new industry grows, how can it do so inclusively?

Terrorism And The Dark Web Nov 13, 2017

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How has terrorism changed since 9/11? Rapid globalization and ubiquitous access to the internet, mobile phones, and social media have created a breeding ground for terrorist communication networks to flourish. By using the dark web and messenger encryption, Jihadist organizations are able to infiltrate into bedrooms from San Bernardino to London and radicalize and recruit individuals. With some of the most high-profile attacks across Europe and the US directed remotely by Jihadists in Syria and Iraq, how can national security experts sever radical networks at the root? What can law enforcement do to target Jihadist funding sources, intercept terrorist communication webs, and improve surveillance systems to prevent future attacks?

From the Highline to the 606 Nov 09, 2017

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If someone handed you the keys to the city – what would you do first? Both Dan Doctoroff and Steve Koch, former deputy mayors of New York and Chicago respectively, used their proverbial keys to redevelop and revitalize their cities. Handpicked by their mayors and without previous government experience - both brought a business lens to the task of driving reinvestment during critical times, achieving some big wins and suffering a few defeats along the way. As cities compete for corporate headquarters, skilled labor, foreign direct investment, and even residents – how can they also work together to elevate the quality of urban life? How do cities ensure progress reaches all of their neighborhoods and residents?

The True Cost of Climate Change: Reinforcing Inequality? Nov 09, 2017

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As India, Niger, and the southern United States grapple with historic flooding, new research is illustrating the inclusive costs of climate events and whom they affect the most. A changing environment – via floods, droughts, or storms – affects residents indiscriminately, yet it is the economically disadvantaged who struggle to adapt and recover. The World Bank reports that climate change will drive an additional 100 million people into poverty by 2030, disproportionately affecting developing countries. Will changing weather patterns change demographic maps as those that can leave at-risk areas do? How do we factor inequality into resilience planning for climate change at the local and international levels?

Bending The Arc Towards global Health Equity Nov 08, 2017

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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates that everyone has a right to health. Yet today, 400 million people lack access to essential health services. Thirty years ago, that number was much higher; in recognition of this inequity, Paul Farmer, Jim Yong Kim, Ophelia Dahl, Todd McCormack, and Tom White founded the nonprofit organization Partners In Health to bring high-quality health care to the rural poor in Haiti. The documentary Bending the Arc chronicles the progress and dedication of the organization—which now works in 10 countries around the world—in tackling entrenched diseases, global epidemics, and skepticism among the global community and its institutions. Please join the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Abbott in hosting Dr. Paul Farmer for a screening of Bending the Arc, followed by a discussion about today’s global health challenges, and the importance of public-private partnerships.

The Bomb and the Missiles: Whither North Korea? Nov 02, 2017

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This year has seen North Korea test more than 20 missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles. North Korean state-run media and American experts now claim that much of the United States is in range for a nuclear strike. The rhetoric between the United States and North Korea has been harsh, yet US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has indicated the US is willing to come to the table for talks with North Korea if the country abandons its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Can North Korea be persuaded to abandon its nuclear weapons program? What is the best path forward to promote peace and stability on the Korean peninsula?

Russia, Ukraine, and the Fate of Europe's Borderlands Oct 17, 2017

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A quarter of a century after the Cold War formally ended, Ukraine is at the heart of a new frozen conflict between Russia and the West. With its annexation of Crimea and its support for separatists in the eastern Donbas region, Russia has challenged Ukraine’s independence and tested the strength of its ties to Europe and America. These actions, Anne Applebaum contends, have disquieting echoes throughout Ukraine’s twentieth century history. How has this past, particularly the catastrophic Soviet famine of 1921-34, shaped the present day fight for Ukraine’s destiny? Can the West preserve the independence of Ukraine, as well as the other nations of Europe’s borderlands, and avoid war with Russia?

Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras Oct 16, 2017

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Join the Council on Global Affairs and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for a program on the state of cooperation between Greece and United States on economic and security issues in Southeast Europe.

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