August - September 2007

如果您對下列項目有興趣，請與美國文化中心資料館聯絡。電話：2723-3959轉 202。

九月三日     美國勞工，放假
九月廿五日  中秋節，放假

To receive or reserve any of these items, please contact the American Cultural Center Resource Service at 2723-3959, ext. 202 or accrs@mail.ait.org.tw.

September 3     Labor Day.  Closed.
September 25   Mid-Autumn Festival.  Closed.

Economics & Trade

  1. Burton, David and Alessandro Zanello.
    "Asia Ten Years After."
    Finance and Development, June 2007, pp. 22-25.  (article)
    "A decade after the Asian financial crisis, the region is growing rapidly but still has a long to-do list." (From Finance and Development)
    　

  2. Sedney, David.
     China's Proliferation and the Impact of Trade Policy on Defense Industries in the United States and China.  
    U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, July 12, 2007, 8 pages.  (pamphlet)
    "Preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related materials remains one of the foremost security concerns of the U.S. Government. These proliferation activities and sales of conventional weapons and technology to states that behave irresponsibly, particularly Iran, directly impact our security and the lives of our servicemen and women and those of our allies." (From USCC)

     Click here for USCC's page on Hearing on China's Proliferation and the Impact of Trade Policy on Defense Industries in the United States and China, July 12-13, 2007.

International Relations

  1. Brown, David G.
    "China-Taiwan Relations: Dueling in the International Arena."
    Comparative Connections, July 2007, pp. 93-101. (article)
    "Much of the confrontation has been in the international arena: over the Olympics, in the WHO and other international organizations, and for diplomatic recognition. There has been little movement on cross-Strait functional issues such as cross-Strait charter flights and finalizing arrangements for Chinese tourists coming to Taiwan." (From CSIS)
    　

  2. Cliff, Roger and David A. Shlapak.
    U.S.-China Relations After Resolution of Taiwan's Status. 
    RAND, July 13, 2007, 24 pages.  (pamphlet)
    "Identifies the principal pathways by which Taiwan's status might be resolved and analyzes the likely impact on U.S.–China relations." (From RAND)
    　

  3. De Castro, Renato Cruz.
    China, the Philippines, and U.S. Influence in Asia.
    American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, July 2007, 9 pages.  (pamphlet)
    "During his January 2007 visit to Manila, Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared that Sino-Philippine relations are experiencing a 'golden age of partnership' as the two countries upgrade bilateral cooperation and launch more dialogues on political, defense, and sociocultural affairs. This visit underscored the ongoing, rapid improvement in bilateral relations since Arroyo's state visit to Beijing in 2004 and the prospect that the Philippines may be turning from the United States toward China as its main security and economic partner in Asia." (From AEI)
    　

  4. Romberg, Alan D.
    "Election 2008 and the Future of Cross-Strait Relations"
    China Leadership Monitor, Summer 2007, 29 pages.  (article)
    "The policies adopted by the next Taipei administration will, of course, be decisive in determining the course of those relations over the next four or even eight years. However, the campaign itself will shape both the way the next administration approaches cross-Strait issues and the mindset of Mainland policymakers as they prepare to deal with the new Taiwan leadership. It will also condition U.S. attitudes toward the winner." (From China Leadership Monitor)
    　

  5. Schriver, Randall.
    Pro-Taiwan (But Not Anti-China).
    Pacific Forum CSIS, July 3, 2007, 2 pages.  (pamphlet)
     "In 2003, while still serving as deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia, Randall Schriver was asked by Taiwanese reporters what the U.S. view would be on the proposal for Taiwan to hold a national referendum in conjunction with the 2004 election. Schriver gave a rather lengthy, rambling and convoluted answer that could have been summarized in a more concise form by saying, 'it depends.' The same remains true today. " (From CSIS)

Politics and Society

  1. Moteff, John.
    Critical Infrastructure: The National Asset Database.
    (CRS Report for Congress)
    Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service, July 16, 2007, 16 pages.  (pamphlet)
    "The Office of Infrastructure Protection (OIP) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been developing and maintaining a National Asset Database.  The Database contains information on over 77,000 individual assets, ranging from dams, hazardous materials sites, and nuclear power plants to local festivals, petting zoos, and sporting good stores." (From the CRS Report)
    　

  2. Obama, Barack.
    "Renewing American Leadership."
    Foreign Affairs, July-August 2007, pp. 2-16.  (article)
    "After Iraq, we may be tempted to turn inward.  That would be a mistake.  The American moment is not over, but it must be seized anew.  We must bring the war to a reasonable end and then renew our leadership -- military, diplomatic, moral -- to confront new threats and capitalize on new opportunities.  America cannot meet this century's challenges alone; the world cannot meet them without America." (From Foreign Affairs)

Global Issues

  1.  "The Truth about Recycling."
    The Economist, June 9, 2007, 5 pages.  (article)
    "This article offers a global survey of the state of materials recycling, weighing the economics, the techniques and momentum of the practice.  There are several major concerns in the recycling industry -– first, local governments in the United States and Europe often find that recycling isn’t an economically viable practice because the costs of collecting, transporting, and sorting materials outweigh the market price.  Another concern is whether recycled materials are bought and used in another manufacturing process which turns out a product that will end up ultimately in a landfill anyway. In some cases, products headed for recycling are disassembled in ways that release harmful gases into the environment, or expose workers to toxins." (From IIP)

 

 Official Text

  1. 「美國2007年人口販運問題報告台灣部分 (第二列名單)。」
    "Trafficking in Persons Report - 2007 Report: Taiwan (Tier 2)"
    OT-0710, June 12, 2007, 7 pages.
    "Taiwan authorities do not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, they are making significant efforts to do so." (From AIT)
    　

  2. 「美國在台協會台北辦事處處長楊甦棣美國獨立紀念日酒會演講詞。」
     "Remarks by Director Stephen M. Young at AIT's Fourth of July Reception. " 
    "Taiwan faces new challenges as it confronts the increasingly globalized world of the twenty-first century and manages its complex relationship with its huge neighbor across the Taiwan Strait.  But I remain optimistic about this island's future prospects, based upon the remarkable accomplishments I have been fortunate enough to witness during my five stays here over the past forty-four years." (From AIT)
    　

  3. 「愛滋病對台灣造成之人道及經濟衝擊。」
    ﹝    美國在台協會台北辦事處處長楊甦棣演講詞，2007愛滋防治高峰會﹞
    "    The Human and Economic Impact on Business in Taiwan."
    (Remarks by AIT Director Stephen M. Young at 2007 HIV/AIDS Summit)
    OT-0712, July 13, 2007, 4 pages.
     " HIV/AIDS poses as great a threat to international security and the global economy as terrorism and natural disasters.  According to the statistics, over 40 million people are infected with HIV globally.  This number could grow to 75 million by the year 2015.  Clearly this is something we need to take seriously." (From AIT)

International Information Program Webchat Transcripts

  1. June 14
    Expert Discusses Technology, Classroom Activities Design.
    14 pages.
    "How can technology enhance English-language instruction for young learners aged 4-11?" (From IIP)
    　

  2. June 19
    Scholar Says Terrorism Will Continue for Generations To Come.
    5 pages.
    "There is a widely held assumption that the ranks of terrorists are filled with seriously psychologically disturbed individuals. Who but a crazed fanatic, the thinking goes, would kill innocent victims in the name of a cause or willingly become a human bomb? But Post asserts that terrorists are psychologically 'normal' in that they are not clinically psychotic."     (From IIP)
    　

  3. June 20
    Expert Discusses Women in Terrorist Organizations.
    6 pages.
    "Professor Mia Bloom points out that many women were prominent in the 1970s and 1980s in Latin American and European terrorist organizations and, with Germany's Red Army Faction and Second of June Movement, made up as much as one-third of the group's personnel. The change from women functioning in mostly supportive roles to women taking more active, operational roles (such as suicide bombers) is more recent development in global terrorism."     (From IIP)
    　

  4. June 27
    State's McMurray Discusses Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking.
    5 pages.
    "It is a discussion of U.S. and international efforts to protect the world's natural treasures."     (From IIP)
    　

  5. June 27
    Professor Hafez Discusses the Mythology of Martyrdom in Iraq.
    3 pages.
    "Jihadists in Iraq formulate a number of arguments to justify their terrorist activities. To avoid overwhelming their audiences with information and complicated discourse, however, jihadists often simplify their message by relying on emotional narratives relying on the image of the 'heroic martyr.'"     (From IIP)
    　

  6. June 29
    Biofuels Expert Discusses the Revolution in Biotechnology.
    5 pages.
    "Biofuels represent a rapidly growing energy option in the midst of climate change, the rise of emerging economies, the world’s rapid urbanization and the revolution in biotechnology. They have a significant role to play in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and are attracting both government and private sector investment."    (From IIP)
    　

  7. July 18
    Expert Discusses MCC’s Eligibility and Selection Process.
    9 pages.
    "Maureen Harrington, vice president for policy and international relations at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) – answered questions in a July 18 USINFO Webchat on Millennium Challenge Corporation's annual eligible and threshold country selection process."     (From IIP)
    　

  8. July 18
    Democracy Dialogue on the Role of Nongovernmental Groups in Society.
    7 pages.
    "In democratic societies, citizens often create independent bodies that serve their community or their country. These groups, known as civil society organizations or nongovernmental organizations, support and occasionally challenge the work of the government."     (From IIP)
    　

  9. July 26
    Democracy Dialogue on Criticism of Nongovernmental Organizations.
    7 pages.
    "In some countries around the world governments are starting to view nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as a threat to their power. After two decades of steady expansion of democracy-building programs worldwide, many governments are cracking down on such activities."     (From IIP)

UPCOMING WEBCHATS

To Sign up for USINFO Webchats, please go to:
 http://usinfo.state.gov/utils/chatemailreg.php


August 14, 2007   World Youth Building a Future: Young Americans and the Interfaith Movement

August 15, 2007   Democracy Dialogues: The Role of NGOs in a Democracy

August 15, 2007   NGOs and Policy Advocacy
　

美國文化中心活動
 American Cultural Center Events and Programs
For the Full schedule, please click here.
詳細活動內容，請點選這裡。