American Resource Center Newsletter U.S. Embassy Helsinki June/July 2015, Issue 6 1 U.S. Embassy Finland and the University of Helsinki ARC Agreement Renewal On Monday, June 8, U.S. Ambassador Bruce J. Oreck and Helsinki University Rector Jukka Kola signed the American Resource Center Cooperative Agreement. The agreement – originally established in 1993 – ensures continued, close cooperation for an additional five years. This renewal marks the 20 years of cooperation. In his remarks, Ambassador Oreck emphasized the importance of public access for services like the American Resource Center, which are available for all those seeking information on the United States and related topics. The American Resource Center is part of a global network of American Spaces administered by the U.S. Department of State, and currently resides on the 2nd floor of the Kaisa Library - welcome to visit! Photos courtesy of Linda Tammisto, Helsinki University Winning Author Jussi Valtonen Visited the Kaisa Library Finlandia literature prize winning author Jussi Valtonen visited the Helsinki University Library on June 4. He was interviewed by Laura Noreila from the League of Finnish-American Friendship Societies. During the 1-hour interview the audience took the opportunity to ask questions, mainly about the plot and characters of Valtonen’s winning book, “He eivät tiedä mitä tekevät”. Valtonen, an author and a neuropsychologist, was a Fulbright scholar in 2002-2003, and he said that the time he spent there had a tremendous impact on him and his worldview. The event was arranged by the League of Finnish-American Friendship Societies, the Fulbright Center, and the American Resource Center.
Transcript
American Resource Center NewsletterU.S. Embassy Helsinki
June/July 2015, Issue 6
1
U.S. Embassy Finland and the University of Helsinki ARC Agreement Renewal
On Monday, June 8, U.S. Ambassador Bruce J. Oreck and Helsinki University Rector Jukka Kola signed the American Resource Center Cooperative Agreement. The agreement – originally established in 1993 – ensures continued, close cooperation for an additional five years. This renewal marks the 20 years of cooperation. In his remarks, Ambassador Oreck emphasized the importance of public access for services like the American Resource Center, which are available for all those seeking information on the United States and related topics. The American Resource Center is part of a global network of American Spaces administered by the U.S. Department of State, and currently resides on the 2nd floor of the Kaisa Library - welcome to visit!
Photos courtesy of Linda Tammisto, Helsinki University
Winning Author Jussi Valtonen Visited the Kaisa Library
Finlandia literature prize winning author Jussi Valtonen visited the Helsinki University Library on June 4. He was interviewed by Laura Noreila from the League of Finnish-American Friendship Societies. During the 1-hour interview the audience took the opportunity to ask questions, mainly about the plot and characters of Valtonen’s winning book, “He eivät tiedä mitä tekevät”. Valtonen, an author and a neuropsychologist, was a Fulbright scholar in 2002-2003, and he said that the time he spent there had a tremendous impact on him and his worldview.
The event was arranged by the League of Finnish-American Friendship Societies, the Fulbright Center, and the American Resource Center.
WebPickscollected by the ARC staff
Disclaimer: The views expressed on these websites are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect U.S. Government policies. These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or approval by the ARC or the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki, nor can we bear any responsibility for the accuracy, legality, functionality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links.
American Life
Can Reading Make You Happier? by Ceridwen Dovey. The New Yorker, June 9, 2015.It’s becoming clearer why books are good for mental health and interpersonal relationships.http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/can-reading-make-you-happier
How Indie Rock Changed the World by Deborah Cohen. The Atlantic, June 2015.The influence of geeks with guitars on culture, from DIY to social media.http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/06/how-indie-rock-changed-the-world/392057/
In the New Whitney by Ingrid D. Rowland. The New York Review of Books, June 25, 2015.America Is Hard to See. An exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City, May 1–September 27, 2015.http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2015/jun/25/new-whitney-museum/
Joe Mitchell’s Secret by Ruth Franklin. The Atlantic, June 2015.The legendary New Yorker writer freely mixed fact and fiction—much of what he wrote wouldn’t meet today’s fact-checking standards. But maybe literary journalism has lost more than it’s gained.http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/06/joe-mitchells-secret/392048/
Multiracial in America - Proud, Diverse and Growing in Numbers by Pew Research Center. June 11, 2015.As America becomes more racially diverse and social taboos against interracial marriage fade, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that majorities of multiracial adults are proud of their mixed-race background (60%) and feel their racial heritage has made them more open to other cultures (59%). http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2015/06/11/multiracial-in-america/
See All 50 States From the Air by Smithsonian.com.Smithsonian Channel’s popular Aerial America series has filmed its 50th and final state.http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/50-states-aerial-america-smithsonian-channel-series-video-180955480/#bFWj1FCae5Cofw0f.99
Economy & Politics
Bow to Your Billionaire Drone Overlord: Frank Wang’s Quest to Put DJI Robots Into the Sky by Ryan mac. Forbes, May 25, 2015.At 34 Frank Wang has turned his dream of flying robots into the world’s biggest drone company – and a $4.5 billion fortune.http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2015/05/06/dji-drones-frank-wang-china-billionaire/
The New Organic Walmart Is Eating Whole Foods’ Lunch by Leslie Patton and Craig Giammona. Bloomberg BusinessWeek, May 14, 2015.The pioneer of organic groceries has attracted bigger rivals, which are stealing its growth. Offering organic foods is “not unique to millennials – they’ve grown up with it. There’s no cachet”.http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-14/whole-foods-walmart-costco-steal-growth-in-organic-groceries
Taking Care of Our Own: Paid Leave Goes from Progressive Pipe Dream to Political Reality by Lauren Sandler. New Republic, June 2015.This January, in His State of the Union Address, President Obama did something that no president has ever done in a venue of this importance: He called for paid family leave.http://www.newrepublic.com/article/121822/paid-leave-goes-progressive-pipe-dream-political-reality
What to Read on Gay Marriage by Omar G. Encarnacion. Foreign Affairs, April 28, 2015.The following selection of articles and books sheds light on the puzzle of how gay marriage—an idea that not long ago seemed farfetched—is on the brink of gaining legitimacy under the U.S. Constitution. Only ten years ago, gay marriage was illegal in all 50 states; public support for gay marriage stood at a measly 30 percent (today, that percentage has doubled); and gay marriage was controversial enough to serve as a wedge issue for the Republican Party during the presidential campaign of 2004.https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2015-04-28/what-read-gay-marriage
Whose Money Will the World Follow? by Michael Schuman. Bloomberg BusinessWeek, May 14, 2015.The U.S. and China are in a battle for control of the trade and finance that are the foundation of today’s global economy.http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-14/u-s-china-rivalry-whose-money-will-the-world-follow-
Global ChallengesThe U.S. is the Chair of the Arctic Council from May 2015 through May 2017. We will be highlighting Arctic issues in the WebPicks through the chairmanship.
California Is Literally Sinking Into the Ground by Nathan Halverson. Mother Jones, June 10, 2015.California is sinking—and fast. While the state’s drought-induced sinking is well known, new details highlight just how severe it has become and how little the government has done to monitor it.http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2015/06/california-sinking-drought-ground-water
How This Library Paid $1 to Install Its Solar Panels by Mary Hansen. Yes! Magazine, June 2, 2015.In West Virginia, Solar Holler helps nonprofits install solar panels for less than the price of a cup of coffee.http://www.yesmagazine.org/new-economy/how-this-library-paid-one-dollar-to-install-its-solar-panels
Wave Goodbye by Jeremy Miller. Browsings - The Harper’s Blog, May 29, 2015.Following John Muir’s footsteps through California’s high country. http://harpers.org/blog/2015/05/wave-goodbye/
Arctic Issue: What Happens in the Arctic Does Not Stay in the Arctic by Kåre Aas, Ambassador of Norway to the United States; Geir H. Haarde, Ambassador of Iceland to the United States; Ritva Koukku-Ronde, Ambassador of Finland to the United States; Björn Lyrvall, Ambassador of Sweden to the United States; and Peter Taksøe-Jensen, Ambassador of Denmark to the United States. Huffington Post, May 26, 2015.What happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic. The effects of the changing climate and diminishing sea ice, the economic opportunities present in the form of minerals and energy resources, new and more efficient shipping routes, and increased tourism to the region will only increase its importance in the years to come. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amb-kare-aas/what-happens-in-the-arctic-does-not-stay_b_7445208.html
White House Launches $ 34 Million Plan to Help Developing Countries Prepare for Climate Change by Chris Mooney. The Washington Post, June 9, 2015.Bangladesh is one of three countries targeted for climate readiness assistance in the first phase of a new $ 34 million White House initiative, to be announced Tuesday at the U.S. Institute of Peace. The administration, including its key international aid agencies like USAID, but also scientific ones NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, will be collaborating with partners ranging from Google and the American Red Cross to the UK Government to help developing countries get ready for a warmer world.http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/06/09/the-obama-administration-wants-to-help-developing-countries-map-their-climate-risks/
International Relations
Another Reason to Support the Trans-Pacific Partnership by Mel Martinez and Francis Rooney. National Interest, June 11, 2015.In Washington, it seems that there is rarely an opportunity to pursue a singular policy that strengthens U.S. relations with multiple regions. With constraints on budgets and the inboxes of policymakers, it often seems that attention and resources for one region come at the expense of another. While that is often the case, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a vital chance for policymakers to strengthen relationships with partners in two key regions. http://nationalinterest.org/feature/another-reason-support-the-trans-pacific-partnership-13094
The “Islamic State” Crisis and U.S. Policy by Christopher M. Blanchard et al. Congressional Research Service, May 27, 2015.There is debate over the degree to which the Islamic State organization may directly threaten U.S. homeland security or U.S. facilities and personnel in the region. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/R43612.pdf
Putin on the Brakes: EU Sanctions are Set to Expire—Here’s What to Do Now by David Horn and Marik String. Foreign Affairs, June 8, 2015.The conflict in Ukraine might reach a turning point this summer as EU sanctions against Russia near their expiration date and the “Minsk II” ceasefire in eastern Ukraine comes under increasing strain. Russian troops are reportedly massing near Ukraine’s borders, and observers are documenting up to 80 daily ceasefire violations, including a separatist offensive last week. Ukrainian leaders are bracing for intensified violence in the weeks ahead when, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk, “the chances of a new [Russian] offensive are very, very high.” https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russian-federation/2015-06-08/putin-brakes
What Motivates Terrorists? by Simon Cottee. The Atlantic, June 9, 2015. One of the most frequently asked questions about terrorism is also the most intractable. Why? Why do they do it? Why do people join terrorist groups and participate in acts of terrorism?http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/06/terrorism-isis-motive/395351/
What the New U.S. Troops Will Do in Iraq by Marcus Weisgerber. The National Journal, June 11, 2015.U.S. officials hope that sending another 450 American troops to Iraq will speed up the pace of coalition airstrikes against Islamic State fighters. So far, more than 4,000 strike missions have not halted the terror group’s territorial expansion.http://www.nationaljournal.com/defense/isis-iraq-us-troops-20150611
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Enjoy the summer!Our next newsletter comes out in August.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (LGBT Pride Month) is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. The Stonewall riots were a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.
EJ|USA: LGBT Rights in America Today http://1.usa.gov/1T72EQ6
