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We're Back...rested and refreshed and ready for another season of timely and stimulating programs. We hope you are as well and we look forward to seeing you beginning with our September program. You can also find the dates and subjects for our fall program by clicking on Monthly Newsletter.

 

We will also be migrating to electronic distribution of our monthly newsletter. If you do not currently receive a monthly email from us, or if you have changed your email address, please let us know by clicking here.

 

The World Affairs Councils of America will be hosting their 2010 National Conference  November 3-5 2010 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. The conference theme is U.S. Foreign Policy: Into the Next Decade. If you register prior to August 15 you receive a discount. For the latest agenda updates you can visit their website at : www.worldaffairscouncils.org/nationalconference. These conferences always feature high-level speakers offering valuable insight into their areas of interest. Discounted rates of $219/night (single or double) are available at the Mayflower Hotel for conference attendees.

 

Finally, Judy Finman will once again be coordinating pre-program dinners for all who are interested...except for September when she will be traveling. Joe Shantz will stand in for her. Contact him at joseph.shantz@comcast.net to reserve your seat..

 

SPONSOR NOTES: The Georgia Ports Authority is the sponsor for the September program and we sincerely appreciate their support. Facilitating global trade through strategic U.S. East Coast gateways, the Georgia Ports Authority is a leader in the operation of modern terminals and in meeting the demands of international busines. Georgia's ports combine industry innovations with proven flexibility to create new opportunities along the entire global logistics pipeline, delivering what the market demands...now!
Savannah Council on World Affairs
Unwinding the Doomsday Clock: Preventing Nuclear Terrorism and Proliferation PDF  | Print |  E-mail
Date: Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010
Time: Membership Social at 7:30
Program at 8:00 p.m.
Location: Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Fahm St. (behind the Visitor's Center) Directions and Map
Access: Open to the public and free for members and students and active military and their dependents. $10.00 charge for non-members.
Sponsor: Georgia Ports Authority
Abstract:

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM: We are privileged to have been selected by the Nuclear Threat Initiative to show their short video, The Nuclear Tipping Point. This thoughtful documentary will provide sobering perspectives from former Secretaries of State George Schultz and Henry Kissinger, former Senator Sam Nunn, and former Secretary of Defense William Perry. It will be shown as part of this presentation...you don't want to miss it!                

 

Mr. William Tobey

Concerns about nuclear terrorism and proliferation have been high on our consciousness for many years and our government has worked hard to keep this from occurring. So far, we have been successful. But we have also observed  North Korea demonstrate nuclear capability, Iran work both clandestinely and openly to develop the technology, and Pakistan safeguard its weapons as it drifts in and out of stability. There is no way to guarantee future success but are there things we can do to improve our chances? The "Doomsday Clock" was a cold war creation to warn us that we were close to failure, and this device still applies when talking about terrorism. Our speaker in September will draw on his extensive background in this area to tell us what has worked, the obstacles that have been encountered, and his thoughts about ways to overcome these obstacles.

Mr. William Tobey is a Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. He was deputy administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation at the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) from 2006 to 2009 and a Harvard Kennedy School graduate (MPP ‘84).

In his position as deputy administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation at NNSA, Tobey led a team of 400 employees, and worked with more than 100 countries to prevent nuclear proliferation and terrorism by detecting, securing, and disposing of dangerous nuclear materials. He managed NNSA’s $2 billion comprehensive nonproliferation and threat reduction programs to secure nuclear and radiological materials, prevent the smuggling of nuclear material across borders and through seaports, halt the flow of nuclear expertise and technology to terrorist organizations or rogue states, and eliminate inventories of surplus nuclear material. Tobey also was responsible for overseeing policy formulation and implementation governing U.S. export controls on nuclear material and technology.

Webiste: http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/experts/1969/william_h_tobey.html