Great Decisions

2024

AAUW’s Great Decisions is a discussion group that uses the topics in the briefing book published annually by the Foreign Policy Association.  In addition, a video on the day’s subject is advertised to members in advance. Meeting eight times per year at PCCF and by Zoom, the group’s discussion is led by a member. Meetings are open to all whether or not they have read the article or watched the video. We are scheduled for the third Thursday of the month, at 6:30.

At this time, the 2024 topics are scheduled as follows:

 

September 19 – High Seas Treaty                                      Leader:  Diane Woolever

Areas of the seas beyond national jurisdiction comprise the high seas, which are facing a degradation of ecosystems due to climate change and the increase in human activities, such as shipping, overfishing, pollution, and deep-sea mining. The recently negotiated High Seas Treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty, will attempt to address these issues. How difficult will it be to convince nations to participate? 

 

October 17 – Understanding Indonesia                              Leader:  Anu Garlapati        

Despite its large size, Indonesia remains virtually invisible to most Americans. But as one of the world’s largest democracies, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, and as an economic driver of ASEAN, why does it fly below the radar? What are current issues in U.S.-Indonesian relations, and what role can the country play in Asia?

November 21 – Pandemic Preparedness                      Leaders:  Renee Caprile and Clare Pokorny

Looking back at the Covid-19 pandemic, there are many lessons to take away in terms of domestic and international policies. Although this pandemic seems to have waned, how can we apply these lessons to future pandemics? Will countries cooperate, and will a consensus emerge on how to manage global health challenges?