Institute of Current World Affairs
@icwa.org
We advance American understanding of international cultures and affairs by sending young professionals abroad on two-year independent writing fellowships.
For ICWA's 100th anniversary, alumni @brynbarnardart.bsky.social, Kenneth Cavander, Jean-Benoît Nadeau & Roger Reynolds will discuss how art can bridge national & economic divides. Open to the public. Register to join us on Nov 14 at @swedeninusa.bsky.social in DC: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-world-...
November 11, 2025 at 10:15 AM
For ICWA's 100th anniversary, alumni @brynbarnardart.bsky.social, Kenneth Cavander, Jean-Benoît Nadeau & Roger Reynolds will discuss how art can bridge national & economic divides. Open to the public. Register to join us on Nov 14 at @swedeninusa.bsky.social in DC: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-world-...
For ICWA's centenary, ICWA alumni Joseph Battat, Bacete Bwogo, William Foote & Joel Millman will discuss tariffs & anti-migration policies dominating the international agenda. Open to the public. Register to join us on Nov 14 at @swedeninusa.bsky.social in DC: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-world-...
November 9, 2025 at 4:21 PM
For ICWA's centenary, ICWA alumni Joseph Battat, Bacete Bwogo, William Foote & Joel Millman will discuss tariffs & anti-migration policies dominating the international agenda. Open to the public. Register to join us on Nov 14 at @swedeninusa.bsky.social in DC: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-world-...
Join us at @hrc.org in Washington, DC on Nov 13, when returning David Mixner LGBTQ+ Fellow Edric Huang will deliver his end-of-fellowship talk about the role of LGBTQ+ rights in Taiwan’s democracy & what the movement says about the country. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbtq-righ...
November 5, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Join us at @hrc.org in Washington, DC on Nov 13, when returning David Mixner LGBTQ+ Fellow Edric Huang will deliver his end-of-fellowship talk about the role of LGBTQ+ rights in Taiwan’s democracy & what the movement says about the country. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbtq-righ...
Join us at @hrc.org in Washington, DC on Nov 13, when returning David Mixner LGBTQ+ Fellow Edric Huang will deliver his end-of-fellowship talk about the role of LGBTQ+ rights in Taiwan’s democracy & what the movement says about the country. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbtq-righ...
October 28, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Join us at @hrc.org in Washington, DC on Nov 13, when returning David Mixner LGBTQ+ Fellow Edric Huang will deliver his end-of-fellowship talk about the role of LGBTQ+ rights in Taiwan’s democracy & what the movement says about the country. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbtq-righ...
Executive director Greg Feifer @gregoryfeifer.bsky.social visits Peter Bird Martin Fellow Brett Simpson @brettvsimpson.bsky.social in Tromsø, Norway.
October 17, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Executive director Greg Feifer @gregoryfeifer.bsky.social visits Peter Bird Martin Fellow Brett Simpson @brettvsimpson.bsky.social in Tromsø, Norway.
A local Rowland befriended fries churros out of the back of a car at a children's event at an evangelical church in Brazil.
August 20, 2025 at 12:40 PM
A local Rowland befriended fries churros out of the back of a car at a children's event at an evangelical church in Brazil.
While visiting the beach town of Cumbuco in northern Brazil, Rowland met empty nesters @mudarorumoviagens, who have been on the road for 9 months in their VW Kombi, driving up the coast from São Paulo. "When will you make your way back to São Paulo?" Rowland asked. "Who knows," they said.
August 11, 2025 at 3:15 PM
While visiting the beach town of Cumbuco in northern Brazil, Rowland met empty nesters @mudarorumoviagens, who have been on the road for 9 months in their VW Kombi, driving up the coast from São Paulo. "When will you make your way back to São Paulo?" Rowland asked. "Who knows," they said.
Rowland Robinson with his Forro dance school group at a collective birthday party during the "Fiesta Junina." Forro is the typical dance style from northeastern Brazil that is performed frequently throughout June & July to celebrate the Catholic saints.
August 5, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Rowland Robinson with his Forro dance school group at a collective birthday party during the "Fiesta Junina." Forro is the typical dance style from northeastern Brazil that is performed frequently throughout June & July to celebrate the Catholic saints.
Rowland Robinson shares some photos from his new base in Brazil. In May, he accompanied non-profit workers to Cracolandia or "Crackland," a region of São Paulo known for its high incidence of drug use. In the video, he dances with folks living on the street--you can spot him by his patagonia!
July 31, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Rowland Robinson shares some photos from his new base in Brazil. In May, he accompanied non-profit workers to Cracolandia or "Crackland," a region of São Paulo known for its high incidence of drug use. In the video, he dances with folks living on the street--you can spot him by his patagonia!
Edric Huang walked in the parade with Nagoya University designated associate professor Euan McKay, who has formed support networks for LGBTQ+ faculty across Japan & conducted research on LGBTQ+ university students’ experiences.
July 21, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Edric Huang walked in the parade with Nagoya University designated associate professor Euan McKay, who has formed support networks for LGBTQ+ faculty across Japan & conducted research on LGBTQ+ university students’ experiences.
This year, Nagoya Rainbow Pride attracted over 50,000 visitors & 1,200 parade participants. Nagoya is the capital of Aichi Prefecture, the first Japanese prefecture to recognize same-sex couples & their children as a family with its “Familyship Oath System” in early 2024.
July 21, 2025 at 1:31 PM
This year, Nagoya Rainbow Pride attracted over 50,000 visitors & 1,200 parade participants. Nagoya is the capital of Aichi Prefecture, the first Japanese prefecture to recognize same-sex couples & their children as a family with its “Familyship Oath System” in early 2024.
Tens of thousands of people—including Edric Huang—attended this April rally to recall KMT legislators. Booths lined both sides of the street for people to sign petitions in their home districts. So far, 31 petitions to recall Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators have reached the final stage.
July 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Tens of thousands of people—including Edric Huang—attended this April rally to recall KMT legislators. Booths lined both sides of the street for people to sign petitions in their home districts. So far, 31 petitions to recall Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators have reached the final stage.
Taiwanese rapper Yang Shu-ya performs “2045,” about her anger if war broke out between China & Taiwan. Behind her, the words “Protect Taiwan! Reject the United Front” create a direct link between the KMT party & the CCP’s tactics to influence & ultimately invade Taiwan.
July 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Taiwanese rapper Yang Shu-ya performs “2045,” about her anger if war broke out between China & Taiwan. Behind her, the words “Protect Taiwan! Reject the United Front” create a direct link between the KMT party & the CCP’s tactics to influence & ultimately invade Taiwan.
Edric Huang joins worshippers weaving through the city’s streets, hoisting up palanquins with Matsu & her daughter deities & setting off firecrackers. A procession of “Yige” floats parade through the streets to the tune of remixed Taiwanese folk songs & modern pop songs.
June 12, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Edric Huang joins worshippers weaving through the city’s streets, hoisting up palanquins with Matsu & her daughter deities & setting off firecrackers. A procession of “Yige” floats parade through the streets to the tune of remixed Taiwanese folk songs & modern pop songs.
Every year, in the third month of the lunar calendar, thousands embark on pilgrimages in central Taiwan to celebrate Matsu, the goddess of the sea. One such pilgrimage, known as “Beigang Welcomes Matsu” was held April 16-20, starting & ending at Chaotian Temple in Yunlin county.
June 12, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Every year, in the third month of the lunar calendar, thousands embark on pilgrimages in central Taiwan to celebrate Matsu, the goddess of the sea. One such pilgrimage, known as “Beigang Welcomes Matsu” was held April 16-20, starting & ending at Chaotian Temple in Yunlin county.
@brettvsimpson.bsky.social sent these stunning photos from aboard the Dana, a Danish research vessel that sailed for 3 weeks on the ice-edge east of Greenland. "Seeing so much Arctic ocean & wildlife from the confines of a ship is both world expanding and contracting," she reports.
June 6, 2025 at 12:02 PM
@brettvsimpson.bsky.social sent these stunning photos from aboard the Dana, a Danish research vessel that sailed for 3 weeks on the ice-edge east of Greenland. "Seeing so much Arctic ocean & wildlife from the confines of a ship is both world expanding and contracting," she reports.
Native Sámi reindeer herders are “hit twice” by climate change, first by the transformation of the environment on which they depend, then by climate mitigation, as Europe’s green energy development concentrates in the north, @brettvsimpson.bsky.social reports: www.icwa.org/norway-arcti...
June 4, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Native Sámi reindeer herders are “hit twice” by climate change, first by the transformation of the environment on which they depend, then by climate mitigation, as Europe’s green energy development concentrates in the north, @brettvsimpson.bsky.social reports: www.icwa.org/norway-arcti...
“It was incredibly eye opening to see the varying types of work being done across continents, as well as inspiring to feel part of a larger community fighting for change.” Rowland Robinson attends the Harm Reduction International Conference 2025 in Bogota, Colombia.
May 29, 2025 at 7:55 PM
“It was incredibly eye opening to see the varying types of work being done across continents, as well as inspiring to feel part of a larger community fighting for change.” Rowland Robinson attends the Harm Reduction International Conference 2025 in Bogota, Colombia.
Portugal and the rest of Europe are going through considerable changes in their drug market, most notably the growing number of "designer drugs," synthetic analogues of prohibited substances devised to skirt the law, Rowland Robinson reports from Lisbon: www.icwa.org/portugal-par...
May 20, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Portugal and the rest of Europe are going through considerable changes in their drug market, most notably the growing number of "designer drugs," synthetic analogues of prohibited substances devised to skirt the law, Rowland Robinson reports from Lisbon: www.icwa.org/portugal-par...
The point of NATO exercises like “Arctic Forge” isn’t just to practice but also learn from each other. The North Americans might bring the gear & fancy gadgets, but the Nordics know how to fight when it’s freezing, @brettvsimpson.bsky.social reports: www.icwa.org/nato-arctic-...
May 5, 2025 at 8:25 AM
The point of NATO exercises like “Arctic Forge” isn’t just to practice but also learn from each other. The North Americans might bring the gear & fancy gadgets, but the Nordics know how to fight when it’s freezing, @brettvsimpson.bsky.social reports: www.icwa.org/nato-arctic-...
"The biggest thing I've learned over the past year is that drug policy impacts everybody," Rowland Robinson said, opening his talk for Governor Janet Mills' Monthly Opioid Response Seminar Series. Catch the rest here: us02web.zoom.us/w/8895690476...
May 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
"The biggest thing I've learned over the past year is that drug policy impacts everybody," Rowland Robinson said, opening his talk for Governor Janet Mills' Monthly Opioid Response Seminar Series. Catch the rest here: us02web.zoom.us/w/8895690476...
Surf’s up! Executive Director @gregoryfeifer.bsky.social recently visited Rowland Robinson in Porto and the two went surfing in the Atlantic.
April 17, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Surf’s up! Executive Director @gregoryfeifer.bsky.social recently visited Rowland Robinson in Porto and the two went surfing in the Atlantic.
The US traditionally provides 25% of the UN budget & 28% of funding for the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. While the impact of Washington's funding freeze is not yet clear, it seems to be driven by ideology rather than strategic problem solving, Rowland Robinson reports: www.icwa.org/commission-n...
April 15, 2025 at 6:38 AM
The US traditionally provides 25% of the UN budget & 28% of funding for the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. While the impact of Washington's funding freeze is not yet clear, it seems to be driven by ideology rather than strategic problem solving, Rowland Robinson reports: www.icwa.org/commission-n...
Prachi Vidwans visits the tomb of Heo Hwang-ok (33-188 CE), the queen consort of the founding king of the Gaya confederacy, in the modern city of Gimhae, east of Busan. The queen is said to be a princess of Ayodhya, a kingdom in present-day India.
April 8, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Prachi Vidwans visits the tomb of Heo Hwang-ok (33-188 CE), the queen consort of the founding king of the Gaya confederacy, in the modern city of Gimhae, east of Busan. The queen is said to be a princess of Ayodhya, a kingdom in present-day India.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the post-Cold War era of polar peace has been coming to a close. Three years later, most circumpolar collaborations with Russia remain on ice, and military & economic tensions are rising, @brettvsimpson.bsky.social reports: www.icwa.org/arctic-front...
April 7, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the post-Cold War era of polar peace has been coming to a close. Three years later, most circumpolar collaborations with Russia remain on ice, and military & economic tensions are rising, @brettvsimpson.bsky.social reports: www.icwa.org/arctic-front...