JANUARY 28, 2007

Citizens for Global Solutions New York
Tri-State Chapter Brunch

Relax, enjoy each other's company, and build community. This event will consist of two distinguished guests*, a full dinner, wine and a cocktail hour. Please invite friends or colleagues who might be interested.

Time: 12:30pm - 4:00pm

Location: Le Petite Auberge Restaurant
Address: 116 Lexington Ave (at 28th Street), New York City

*Jonathan Granoff, President of the Global Security Institute - Mr. Granoff is a distinguished attorney, author, global statesman of many achievements and a dynamic speaker. He will speak on topics of critical importance for our time.

*Aaron Knight, Chief Operating Officer, Citizens for Global Solutions - Aaron will share a few words of greeting and speak briefly about the current programs of Citizens for Global Solutions.

Please RSVP by January 21, 2007 to ira@peikes.com or by telephone to Ira Peikes, Events Chair at 718-847-2136. Checks for $75.00 per person, to cover the costs, should be made payable to CGS TRI-STATE, and mailed to the New York Tri-State Chapter President: Lucy Law Webster, 330 East 38th Street, Apt. 19Q, NY, NY 10016-2759.

JANUARY 24, 2007

Citizens for Global Solutions New York Tri-State
Board Meeting

Citizens for Global Solutions President & CEO Charles J. Brown will address a board meeting - open to members and friends of Citizens for Global Solutions. Seating is limited to 30, so please RSVP early.

Location: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, on 42nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues
Address: 1114 Avenue of the Americas, 46th Floor, Conference Room C & D.

Please bring a photo ID. To RSVP for this event, please send your first and last name to Ira Peikes at ira@peikes.com.

_______________________________________________________

NOVEMBER 13 & 14

Building a Bi-Partisan United States Foreign Policy
for the 21st Century

Annual Meeting 2006
Hotel Palomar
Washington, DC

+ CLICK HERE FOR EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
+ CLICK HERE FOR 2006 CONFERENCE PAGES

_______________________________________________________

DATE: TBA

The Secretary-General Elections: Candidates Forum
New York, NY
Hosted by Bridging Nations

This first ever “UN Forum” will provide the candidates of the next secretary-general elections with an open and public venue to discuss their views and visions for the future of the United Nations. The Candidates Forum will build on the unprecedented transparency of this year’s selection process and provide an opportunity for the world to learn more about the individuals seeking this high post.

Former Canadian Ambassador Allan Rock, speaking before the U.N. Correspondents Association in May, remarked, “…This past February, in Davos, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum managed to get persons who identify themselves as candidates [for UNSG] onto a stage in front of an international audience to talk about their approach to the job. Well, if the World Economic Forum can do it, why can’t the General Assembly of the United Nations?”

The upcoming leadership transition of the secretary-general at the end of 2006 could be the most important succession in the U.N.’s history. The process of U.N. Reform has been a subject of intense focus and debate. Considerable challenges regarding reform of the U.N. system still remain and the matter of who should assume this leadership role at such a pivotal moment in the organization’s history is perhaps the central question facing the member states. It is an opportunity to bring this unparalleled process to the public eye.

Seating is limited. If interested, please contact Julie Berson as soon as possible at: Julie.berson@bridgingnations.org.

Bridging Nations is a non-partisan, non-profit organization in Washington, DC. It focuses primarily on the trilateral relations between India, China and the United States and their role within the framework of the United Nations. Through its conferences, retreats and seminars it seeks to engage and empower leadership to create and execute innovative approaches to bridge peoples and nations. For more information about Bridging Nations please visit: www.bridgingnations.org.

_______________________________________________________

MAY 18, 2006

~GLOBAL GROOVE~
A benefit for Citizens for Global Solutions

Interested in global issues? Like to party? Well, you're invited! Join us on Thursday, May 18, 2006 at club MCCXXIII for the grooviest party inside the beltway! Meet other globally-minded activists. Take a sip of the 'global-tini'. And dance the night away!

+ GLOBAL GROOVE

 _______________________________________________________

NOVEMBER 30, 2005

CITIZENS FOR GLOBAL SOLUTIONS REFRAMING
ENGAGEMENT MEETING

Release of New Research Report on Effective Messaging for Congress on Global Issues

Wednesday November 30^th
12:00PM-1:30PM
The Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
Lunch will be provided
R.S.V.P. by November 27^th to Natasha Khianey at nkhianey@globalsolutions.org

Over the past year, Citizens for Global Solutions, with a grant from the ConnectUS fund, has undertaken a campaign to identify successful approaches for talking to Congress about global issues.  How we say what we say matters and effective messaging is essential to getting Congress to not only hear us but to follow through.  CGS brought together a broad network of NGOs working on a variety of global issues to research what messages members of Congress respond to, and the results, in some cases, are surprising!

U.S. in the World – Talking Global Issues with Americans: A Practical Guide presents messages tested to resonate with the American public, and therefore provides a base for our discussion.  But do Members of Congress and congressional staff respond like the public?

During the meeting on November 30, the final report on our findings will be presented.  We hope these messaging recommendations will aid all our efforts as together we advocate a principled and cooperative U.S. engagement.  New ground has been broken that can help your cause!

 _______________________________________________________

NOVEMBER 4-6, 2005

Global Solutions, Local Connections: making the global local one activist at a time

La Fonda Hotel
Santa Fe, New Mexico

From November 4th through the 6th, 2005, Citizens for Global Solutions, in collaboration with Americans for Informed Democracy,  the Society for Law and Global Policy, and KUNM 89.9 Public Radio, held its annual conference at the La Fonda Hotel in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The weekend was filled with powerful discussions, debates, workshops, film viewings and live performances by local artists.  We even sponsored a film festival one evening and an elegant reception in honor of one of our keynote speakers.

Nearly 400 people gathered together to learn what they could do in their own communities to affect positive global change. 

Click here for conference highlights.

______________________________________________________
 

APRIL 13, 2005

WITNESS FILM LAUNCH – FEMALE CHILD SOLDIERS IN THE DRC

Washington, DC --  On April 13,  2005, Citizens for Global Solutions hosted the Washington DC premiere of the new WITNESS film on female child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Produced by Bukeni Beck, the film used compelling testimony of former child soldiers to address such issues as sexual exploitation of girls, rape as a weapon of war and the forced recruitment of children. Following the launch, Citizens for Global Solutions hosted a panel discussion with the following speakers: 

• Bukeni Tete Waruzi Beck, Filmmaker AJEDI-Ka

• Charles Brown, Citizens for Global Solutions

• Adeyinka M. Akinsulure-Smith, Bellevue/ NY Program for Survivors of Torture

• Richard Dicker, Human Rights Watch

• Ozong Agborsangaya, Search for Common Ground

CLICK HERE FOR A TRANSCRIPT OF THE PANEL DISCUSSION

The film premiere and panel discussion were a great success. Over 100 people, from all educational and vocational backgrounds attended the event. In addition, Mr. Beck's moving documentary garnished interest from several media outlets as well as fellow filmmakers and film festivals.

Bukeni Tete Waruzi: Mr. Bukeni Tete Waruzi Beck is a field worker from the Democratic Republic of Congo (eastern DRC), Director and founder of AJEDI-Ka/Project Enfants Soldats. He has worked as a researcher on child soldiers in the great lakes region and is trained as an economist earning his degree from the Evangelical University in Africa based in Bukavu.

“Since working on the issue of child soldiers, I’ve been arrested four times and beaten twice. But we have still managed to demobilize over 300 child soldiers.”
                                         – Bukeni T. Waruzi Beck, AJEDI-ka

______________________________________________________
 

JOHN BOLTON: WRONG MAN TO REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES AT THE UN

Organizations and former U.S. Ambassadors hold press conference to oppose nomination.

On April 7th, the United States Senate will hold hearings on the nomination of John Bolton as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. John Bolton is the wrong man for the job. Based on his history of derision for the United Nations and his poor performance as Undersecretary, Bolton lacks the skills and credibility necessary to address such key issues as North Korea's and Iran's nuclear programs, global poverty, and making the UN more effective.

WHAT: Press conference featuring former U.S. Ambassadors as well as a wide spectrum of organizations opposing the nomination of John Bolton as UN Ambassador.
The www.StopBolton.org campaign (run by Citizens for Global Solutions) will show its TV ad running in targeted states across the U.S. The ad features Bolton condemning the United Nations: ''If the UN secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference.'' 1994 Global Structures Convocation.

WHEN: 9:30am-11:00am, Monday, April 4

WHERE: National Press Club, First Amendment Room, 529 14th Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

WHO:
• Ambassador Jonathan Dean, Former U.S. representative to the Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction Talks, Vienna
• Charles J. Brown, President & CEO, Citizens for Global Solutions
READ TRANSCRIPT
• Morton H. Halperin, Executive Director, Open Society Policy Center