by Editor | Mar 30, 2022 | AIWS City and Rebuilding Ukraine, News
Boston, March 30, 2022
On April 29, 2022, at Loeb House, Harvard University, Governor Michael Dukakis will present Volodymyr Oleksandrovyc Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, with the Boston Global Forum (BGF) and Michael Dukakis Institute’s Annual Award “World Leader for Peace and Security” at “Laurel for Peace and Security in Ukraine” Conference, co-organized by BGF and the Latvian Transatlantic Organization, with participation of presidents, prime ministers and distinguished thinkers from Harvard University and MIT.
Governor Dukakis stated, “Boston Global Forum and Michael Dukakis Institute honor President Zelenskyy and all Ukrainian people as the recipients of the World Leader for Peace and Security Award for 2022 for their courage and sacrifice for freedom and independence.”
Zelenskyy is brave against the Russian forces, even in the face of assassination threats, has been an integral part of the resistance. His leadership, loyalty, and confidence in Ukraine has made courage contagious throughout the country.
The people of Ukraine have been brave and courageous in the face of a totalitarian regime, in spite of a dictator who wants to control their way of life. The Ukrainian people have stood before tanks, mobbed Russian vehicles, and have held their ground in the country to take up arms and defend their independence.
President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people have had an impact across the globe – uniting the EU and other countries in their fight. They have shown their bravery and courage in the fight for freedom and independence, while maintaining peace and security for all human beings. They are teaching dictators and totalitarian regimes lessons about dignity.
Along with honoring them, BGF calls on our community members to help and support the Ukrainian people in rebuilding their country. The first step in this incredible undertaking is to help Ukrainian students, as they are our hope for the future.
Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova: “We sincerely thank BGF Board for honoring President Zelensky and all Ukrainian people the 2022 World Leaders for Peace and Security Award. We take it as acknowledgement of outstanding bravery and exemplary leadership, demonstrated by our Head of State, his government and military personnel under the challenging and daring times of Russia’s unprovoked attack on our sovereign nation. We deeply appreciate the decision of the BGF Board to support and help Ukrainian students and see it as an important contribution into Ukraine’s future as a prosperous European democracy.”
Previous years, World Leader for Peace and Security Award recipients were Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chancellor Angela Merkel, UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President Sauli Niinisto, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President Ursula von der Leyen, and Riksdag Speaker Andreas Norlen.
About the Boston Global Forum:
The Boston Global Forum (BGF) offers a venue for leaders, strategists, thinkers and innovators to contribute to Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment.
In 2019, the Boston Global Forum, in collaboration with the United Nations Academic Impact, launched the United Nations Centennial Initiative. It began with the release of a major work titled “Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment”. More than twenty distinguished leaders, thinkers, strategists, and innovators put forth unprecedented approaches to the challenges that lay before the world. These contributors include President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Governor Michael Dukakis, Father of Internet Vint Cerf, Former US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Harvard University Professors Joseph Nye and Thomas Patterson, MIT Professors Nazli Choucri and Alex ‘Sandy’ Pentland, and Vice-President of the European Parliament Eva Kaili.
CONTACT:
Further details of BGF and Michael Dukakis Institute are available by contacting Tuan Anh Nguyen, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Boston Global Forum, and Director of The Michael Dukakis Institute for Leadership and Innovation: [email protected]
by Editor | Mar 27, 2022 | Event Updates
Date: 2022, April 1st, Friday
Time: 10:00 am – 1:30pm Tokyo time
Place: Conference room in Imperial Hotel in Tokyo (connect to the world by online)
Introduction
Nobue Mita, representative of Boston Global Forum Japan
Opening Remarks
Governor Michael Dukakis, Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States, Chair of Boston Global Forum
Japanese Leader
Part 1:
“Japan and Taiwan with peace and security in the Age of Global Enlightenment.”
Moderator: Ichiro Fujisaki Former Japanese ambassador to the USA, the president of Nakasone Peace institute
Speakers：
Nobukatsu Kanehara Professor of Doshisha University, former Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2012~2019)
Yasuhide Nakayama former State Minister of Defense, former State Minister for Foreign Affairs
Tsuneo Watanabe Fellow of The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Adjunct fellow of CSIS
Nam Pham former Asistant Secretary of Massachusetts Government, USA
Jun Nagashima Senior Research Advisor of Nakasone Peace Institute, former Lt-Gen.
Jun Osawa Senior Research fellow of Nakasone Peace Institute, Former Senior Fellow of National Security Council Secretariat, Former Deputy Counsellor, National Security Council Secretariat.
Ming-Chun “Bruce“ Chen Ph. D. Taiwan Consul General in Japan
Q&A
Part 2:
“Solution to prevent cyber-attack in the Age of Global Enlightenment.”
Speakers:
Jun Osawa Senior Research fellow of Nakasone Peace Institute, Former Senior Fellow of National Security Council Secretariat, Former Deputy Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary, National Security Secretariat.
Jun Nagashima Senior Research Advisor of Nakasone Peace Institute, former Lt-Gen.
Zlatko Lagumdzija Former Prime Minister of Bosnia & Herzegovina
Professor Francesco Lapenta Representative of BGF in Rome
Moderator: Nguyen Anh Tuan CEO of BGF
Q&A
Closing Remarks: Nguyen Anh Tuan CEO of BGF
by Editor | Mar 27, 2022 | AIWS City and Rebuilding Ukraine, News
Former Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zlatko Lagumdzija, co-founder of AIWS City, and Board Member of Nizami Ganjavi International Center – NGIC, wrote on his Twitter after he visited and supported Ukrainian children:
“No one has right to stay sided while innocent people are suffering as a result of Ukraine war. Letting it go is the stairway to hell for all of us individually and collectively.”
He appeared on video posted by NGIC:
https://twitter.com/lagumdzijaz/status/1507684292570370056?s=24&t=rDwJO1dw1-Oyn3WN4lZo7Q
On Tuesday March 29, 2021, Governor Michael Dukakis, Chair of Boston Global Forum, co-founder of AIWS City and Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, CEO of Boston Global Forum will issue a special letter for a special campaign and program to support Ukraine. Please access to Ukraine.AIWS.City from 9:00 am, EST, March 29 to support Ukrainian people. Prime Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija is one of leaders to join this campaign.
by Editor | Mar 27, 2022 | AIWS City and Rebuilding Ukraine, Event Updates, News
On March 24, 2022, Speaker of the Riksdag Andreas Norlen welcomed President Zelensky’s speech at the Riksdag. “I’m honoured that the president of Ukraine wants to address parliament during a raging war,” said Norlen.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Sweden to help rebuild his country as he marked one month since the Russian invasion during an address to the Swedish parliament.
“This is a month now,” Mr. Zelensky said during a speech by video link on Thursday. “We have not seen a destruction of this scale since World War Two.
“Just look at what the Russian army has done to our country… A month of bombings similar to what we have seen in Syria,” Mr Zelensky said, adding 10 million people have been displaced.
He called on “Swedish companies and state to come rebuild” the country.
Speaking through an interpreter, he also raised the alarm about the possibility of Russia using nuclear and chemical weapons.
His speech was broadcast live before members of the 349-seat Riksdagen which gave him a standing ovation.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/national/20017519.zelensky-asks-help-rebuilding-ukraine-address-swedish-parliament/
https://www.thelocal.com/20220323/ukraines-president-zelensky-to-address-swedish-parliament/
by Editor | Mar 27, 2022 | Global Alliance for Digital Governance, News
The conference will examine the role of Artificial Intelligence in European security and defense and in European democracy and elections. The premise of the conference is that, given the state of world affairs, 2024 will represent a significant test of our Union’s resilience. By strengthening our security and defense, our democracies, and our electoral processes, we can pass it successfully.
Confirmed speakers:
✔ Dragoș Tudorache, MEP, Chair of the European Parliament Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence (host)
✔ Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament
✔ Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President of the European Commission
✔ Věra Jourová, Vice President of the European Commission
✔ Mircea Geoană, NATO Deputy Secretary General
✔MEP Katalin Cseh, Vice-President Renew Europe, European Parliament
✔ Yll Bajraktari, CEO of the Special Competitive Studies Project and former Executive Director of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence.
✔ Tobias Vestner, Head of Security and Law Programme, Geneva Centre for Security Policy
✔ Torsten Reil, founder and CEO, Helsing
✔ Nathalie Smuha, Researcher on AI, KU Leuven, Faculty of Law
✔Richard Youngs, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Event moderator: Gry Hasselbalch, Senior Key AI Ethics Expert InTouchAI.eu
Organizer: Renew Europe, through MEP Dragoș Tudorache, Chair of the Special Committee for Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Age (AIDA)
Focus areas: Artificial Intelligence in European security and defense, Artificial Intelligence in democracy and elections
Date and location: March 30 2022, 2:30pm to 5:30pm, Brussels, livestreamed on LinkedIn
Parliament’s Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age (AIDA) adopted its final recommendations on Tuesday, concluding 18 months of inquiries.
The adopted text says that the public debate on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) should focus on this technology’s enormous potential to complement humans.
The text warns that the EU has fallen behind in the global race for tech leadership. As a result, there is a risk that standards will be developed elsewhere in the future, often by non-democratic actors, while the EU needs to act as a global standard-setter in AI.
MEPs identified policy options that could unlock AI’s potential in health, the environment and climate change, to help combat pandemics and global hunger, as well as enhancing people’s quality of life through personalised medicine. AI, if combined with the necessary support infrastructure, education and training, can increase capital and labour productivity, innovation, sustainable growth and job creation, they add.
The EU should not always regulate AI as a technology. Instead, the level of regulatory intervention should be proportionate to the type of risk associated with using an AI system in a particular way.
The Global Alliance for Digital Governance highly recommends this event. The Global Alliance for Digital Governance connects organizations, think tanks, influencers, experts, and citizens to contribute to building International Laws, International Accord on AI and Digital, while simultaneously working with governments and international organizations towards this goal.
Boston Global Forum (BGF), Club de Madrid and AI World Society (AIWS) proposed an initiative: establishing a Global Alliance for Digital Governance (GADG). This is a part of Social Contract for the AI Age, Framework for AI International Accord, BGF Conference of July 1st, 2020, and the book Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment.
GADG will bring outcome of this conference to governments and for BGF High Level Dialog on Cyber Defense.
by Editor | Mar 27, 2022 | Statements, News
Boston Global Forum was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Madeleine Albright, a great foreign policy adviser to Governor Michael Dukakis in his presidential campaign.
Governor Michael Dukakis statement: “Madeleine was really special, and remember: she was a real pioneer in the foreign policy world. She was one of my top advisors during the 1988 presidential campaign, and I remember meeting with her and a couple of her top aides- Wendy Sherman was one of them- at the State Department shortly after she was appointed Secretary. I don’t remember seeing another woman in or around the Department! And she was a real advocate for her positions and a strong and principled foreign policy. I thought the world of her.”
BGF sends our deep condolences to Secretary of State Albright’s family, friends, and colleagues.
BGF recommends the writing about former Secretary of State Albright from Anne-Marie Slaughter, the CEO of New America, University Professor Emerita of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University. Professor Slaughter is also a staff on Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis’s presidential campaign.
I first met Madeleine Albright in 1988, when I was a very junior staffer on Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis’s presidential campaign and she was one of his foreign-policy advisers, alongside Harvard professor Joseph S. Nye, Jr., who was already a star in the foreign-policy firmament. Madeleine was teaching at Georgetown, and was already a political veteran, having worked with Walter Mondale, Edmund Muskie, and Geraldine Ferraro.
Virtually anyone connected to the Dukakis campaign or Democratic foreign-policy circles would have predicted that Nye was going to become Secretary of State at some point, not Madeleine. But, eight years later, it was who Madeleine secured the post – the first woman ever to do so. She was working for a different president, Bill Clinton, whose wife, Hillary Clinton, was a passionate and effective feminist.
It was widely reported at the time that Hillary had lobbied hard for Madeleine’s appointment, just as of course men have lobbied for other men for centuries. But it was the first time I saw the power of networks of women in power, and it was a turning point for an entire generation of women in foreign policy.
Please read the full article here:
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/legacy-of-first-female-us-secretary-of-state-madeleine-albright-by-anne-marie-slaughter-2022-03
https://www.loc.gov/item/2018651375/
by Editor | Mar 20, 2022 | AIWS City and Rebuilding Ukraine, News
Do not believe for a moment that the 24 February full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia is “Putin’s war” and Putin’s war only. Do not imagine that the Russian people are mere innocent by-standers to the systematic attacks against civilian populations and to the bombings and shellings that are laying the country waste and reducing cities to smoking piles of rubble. The large majority of Russians who admire and support their leader’s actions are complicit to the crimes of war and crimes against humanity committed by his army in Ukraine. By being accomplices, they share the moral responsibility for these heinous crimes.
The full stadium of ecstatic youths with shining eyes who chanted slogans of Russian victory on 18 March in Moscow are carbon copies of the Hitlerjugend who once roared out their heartfelt support for their Fuhrer’s atrocities. Nor were the elders with them, there and all across Russia, any less guilty. In a sad spectacle for the whole world to see, they loudly announced their glee at the shedding of Ukrainian blood and their readiness to dance on Ukrainian graves. They could not forgive the Ukrainian people their desire to be free, independent and in charge of their own destiny.
As for President Putin sanctimoniously (and with mocking irony) quoting from the Bible at that 18 March rally, that was an obscenity pure and simple.
by Editor | Mar 20, 2022 | AIWS City and Rebuilding Ukraine, News
On March 18, 2022, European Commission President von der Leyen, BGF World Leader for Peace and Security Award 2020 recipient, spoke at the 8th Cohesion Forum:
“Millions of Ukrainians are seeking shelter in the European Union – torn from their families and country by Putin’s bombs. The scenes of war are devastating.
But the images of European citizens welcoming refugees show another picture – they show hope.
Ukraine and the European Union have never been closer.
Until Ukrainians can safely return home, and rebuild their independent and democratic country in peace, we will welcome and support them. Because they are part of our European family.
That is why, last week, the European Commission put forward CARE. This package of Cohesion Action for Refugees makes cohesion funds available for Member States. This will help them to build reception centres, mobile hospitals and schooling for children. It can provide employment support, for example training and language courses, or childcare facilities. CARE will help Member States to welcome Ukrainian refugees quickly and humanely.
For me, this is a truly inspiring example. Because it shows what a difference cohesion policy can make. Both as a short term response to crisis and a long term investment in democratic resilience. And the good thing is, there are so many examples like these, everywhere in our Union. From our pandemic response, where cohesion funds supplied ventilators, hospital beds and medical equipment. To the green transition. They all demonstrate the impact of cohesion policy in the everyday lives of Europeans.
We all know the great strengths of cohesion.”
by Editor | Mar 20, 2022 | AIWS City and Rebuilding Ukraine, News
Laurel for Peace and Security in Ukraine Initiative called world leaders, especially BGF World Leader for Peace and Security Award recipients, to consolidate and unite to support Ukraine.
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, BGF World Leader for Peace and Security Award 2018, discussed invasion of Ukraine with European leaders and President Zelenskyy in London.
Mr. Niinistö met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in London on March 16, 2022 to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The pair also spoke with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.
Niinistö was in London for a two-day summit of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). The JEF is a British-led multilateral framework for defense cooperation that includes the five Nordic countries, the three Baltic states and the Netherlands.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, the president said that Finland can be assured of receiving “full support” from the UK, whatever decisions Finland may take regarding its security and defense.
Johnson said that cooperation between the UK and Finland will be strengthened in the near future.
Niinistö said he had a lengthy discussion with Johnson about the conflict in Ukraine. He stressed that the primary focus of NATO and EU countries was de-escalating the situation and halting the unnecessary killing and suffering of civilians.
When asked about Finland’s relations with Russia, Niinistö stated that there is no going back, as the financial consequences and deep mistrust of Russia triggered by the war will continue long into the future.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke at the Conservative Party Spring Forum in Blackpool, England, on March 19, 2022
He said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a “turning point for the world,” arguing that a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces would herald “a new age of intimidation.”
