C. Fred Bergsten on the "G-2" of China and the United States

The Annual Awards Banquet approaches! In less than a week members can hear Peterson Institute for International Economics director C. Fred Bergsten speak about the future of the world economy after the crushing losses of 2008.

Dr. Bergsten is a highly sought-after expert in his field. Recently he testified before the United States House of Representative's subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment. In his testimony, Dr. Bergsten predicts (surprising no one) that China will soon pass Japan as the world's second largest economy. Dr. Bergsten advocates the formation of an "informal G-2," a working partnership between the United States and China, finding solutions to mutual problems such as global warming and guiding the world's economy into recovery. He makes some compelling arguments for such a relationship:

• "the two together accounted for almost one half of all global growth during the four-year boom prior to the crisis;"

• "they are the two largest trading nations;"

• "they are the two largest polluters;"

• "they are on opposite ends of the world's largest trade and financial imbalance: the United States is the largest deficit and debtor country while China is the largest surplus country and holder of dollar reserves; and"

• "they are the leaders of the two groups, the high-income industrialized countries and the emerging markets/developing nations, that each now account for about one half of global output."

Together, China and the United States can exert a huge amount of power in correcting the world's economy and working to end global warming, if the friendly bilateral relationship Dr. Bergsten recommends can be achieved. It will take some compromises from both sides, but as Dr. Bergsten describes the "G-2," one can't help but be excited at the possibilities.

The text of Dr. Bersten's testimony can be found here. To hear more from Dr. Bergsten on the future of the global economy and the United States' place in it, attend our Annual Awards Banquet on Monday, Oct 5th at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City. For all the details and to register, see our website.

2008 Berkley Lecturer James Goldgeier in the news

Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow and 2008 IRC Berkley Lecturer James Goldgeier is quoted in the Sept. 21st edition of Newsweek. Mr. Goldgeier discusses approval of the Obama administration in Eastern Europe:

"George W. Bush was perceived as being very supportive of East Europe’s efforts to join NATO and the EU. Now the first signal being sent by the new president is that he wants to improve relations with Russia. That has Eastern Europeans thinking, what is this president all about? How will he manage Russia? Will he look out for our interests?"

To read the whole article, visit Newsweek online.

Our 2009 Berkley lecturer will take place on Dec. 4th and feature Prof. Allison Stanger, professor of international politics, director of the Rohatyn Center for International Affairs at Middlebury College, and author of the new book, One Nation Under Contract: The Outsourcing of American Power and the Future of Foreign Policy.

The Berkley Lecture is an annual event which brings experts in foreign policy and international affairs to Kansas City. The winner of the Berkley Award for International Achievement will also be announced. To reserve your spot, visit us at the IRC website.

C. Fred Bergsten on the G-20 Summit

C. Fred Bergsten, who will give an address in Kansas City at our annual Awards Banquet on October 5th, is in the news today giving his opinion on Pres. Obama and the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh. The audio file can be found at the Peterson Institute website here.

Tickets are still available to see Dr. Bergsten, as well as William Neaves of the Stowers Institute and Danny O'Neill of the Roasterie, at our Awards Banquet on October 5th at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center. To register and for more information, please visit the IRC website (http://www.irckc.org/)

IRC Newsletter released

We at the IRC have released our quarterly newsletter and tentative program schedule for the next six months. Leading off, of course, is our fast-approaching annual Awards Banquet on October 5th. The IRC blog has profiled honorees Fred Bergsten and Danny O'Neill of The Roasterie, both will appear along with Stowers Institute president William Neaves. IRC members should sign up by Sept. 30th.

Coming in December, author and international politics expert Allison Stanger will deliver the year's Eliot S. Berkley lecture. Prof. Stanger's new book, One Nation Under Contract: The Outsourcing of American Power and the Future of Foreign Policy, will be released next month. Further details on Prof. Stanger's speech, as well as a more detailed profile, will be featured at a later date.

To see our schedule for the first half of 2009, as well as a profile of IRC member Sylvan Siegler and a feature on the International Classroom Partnership Program, please see our
IRC Sept. '09 Newsletter

The IRC is on Wikipedia

To any and all members of the IRC: In case you ever have trouble explaining what the IRC or our mission is, you can now point to Wikipedia. Like all articles on Wikipedia, the IRC's article can be edited by anyone and is always a work in progress. If you are not Wikipedia-savvy but would still like to make an edit, please let us know.

International Relations Council at Wikipedia

More on Danny O'Neill and the Roasterie, 2009 Awards Banquet Honoree

People attending the IRC Awards Banquet on Monday Oct. 5th will hear from Danny O'Neill, our 2009 Award for Contributions to International Commerce and Community Service winner. O'Neill is the president, owner, and "Bean Baron" of Kansas City institution The Roasterie.

The Roasterie Cafe is frequently described as the best coffee (and coffee shop) in the city, and The Roasterie-branded coffee is gaining national recognition, thanks to a recent mention in O, the Oprah Magazine. Roasterie coffee is carefully selected from coffee crops across the globe, air-roasted, specially packed, and served to happy customers daily. Of course, we at the IRC love our coffee, but our recognition actually goes to The Roasterie for the company's fair trade practices and international charity work.

The Roasterie prides itself in paying "a fair price" for coffee, far more than many other companies, which allows small farms to continue to operate rather than fold under the pressure of competition from corporate farms. The Roasterie's St. Drogo foundation is so-named for the patron saint of coffee and goes to communities that produce the coffee beans that eventually become Roasterie coffee. Programs are running in coffee-producing communities in Brazil, Costa Rica, and Colombia. So far the foundation has funded community-based projects such as school and community center construction, and donated educational tools such as computers. The Roasterie also supports WaterPartners (www.water.org) which works to provide clean and safe water sources to communities in Africa, South Asia, and South America.

The Roasterie Coffee is available at grocery stores, restaurants, and (naturally) coffee shops across Kansas City.

The Roasterie Cafe is located in Brookside at 6223 Brookside Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64113.

The Roasterie Plant is open for tours on Saturdays at 9:00 AM. The plant is located at 1204 W 27th Street

The Roasterie Website
O'Neill (BeanBaron) on Twitter

To do this weekend: The Kansas City Japan Festival!

Japan has always been something of a puzzle in the American popular imagination-- at once the ancient homeland of fearsome samurai and giggling geisha; birthplace of Hello Kitty and conveyor belt sushi. There are so many cliches associated with the "Land of the Rising Sun," it is hard for the average Kansas Citian to form her own objective opinion.

Fortunately, this weekend curious Midwesterners will have the chance to take in a variety of Japanese art and cultural presentations at the 2009 Greater Kansas City Japan Festival, presented by the Heart of America Japan-America Society. Presentations will include Japanese language and calligraphy, martial arts and dance, and unique Japanese arts such as bonsai.

The Japan Festival will take place on Saturday from 10AM to 8:30 PM at the Carlsen Center at Johnson County Community College campus at 12345 College Blvd. in Overland Park. For more information, check the website here.

Call for suggestions!

The IRC is working on a massive listing of businesses in the Kansas City area that work internationally for our upcoming Kansas City Global initiative. We are searching as best we can but we would love suggestions from our members. Our list will contain the company name, mailing address, phone number, email address, website address, and a short description. So far we have categories of:

International businesses and trade organizations
Humanitarian and political organizations
Faith-based groups
Educational groups
Professional groups
Cultural/arts groups

We are open to any suggestions. Let us know in the comments of the blog, or on Facebook or LinkedIn!

To do this weekend: Kansas City Irish Festival, First Friday

St. Patrick's Day isn't the only time that Kansas Citians can celebrate Irish culture. The Kansas City Irish Fest will take place today through Sept. 6th at the Crown Center Square in downtown Kansas City. There will be live music, food, and shopping. Tickets are $10. For more info, visit http://www.kcirishfest.com.

Also of interest is the Crossroad District's First Friday. Art galleries, restaurants, and other businesses welcome all visitors in a unique "arts walk." Galleries feature local artists as well as works from around the world. For a listing of September's events, visit http://www.kccrossroads.org/

Happy Labor Day from the IRC!