Past Events
De las promesas a los hechos: el estado de las reformas en Chile, Colombia, y Uruguay
On Wednesday, June 28, Global Americans hosted a webinar covering the current state of government reforms in Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay, including labor, tax, social security, and education changes.Global Americans Research Assistant Alejandro Trenchi moderated the conversation between four distinguished panelists: Katherin Galindo Ortiz (Research Coordinator, Colombia Risk Analysis); Tulio Vera (Former Managing Director and Chief Investment Strategist, J.P. Morgan); Mónica Pachón (Associate Professor, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia); and Felipe Schipani (National Representative, Uruguay, Partido Colorado). The discussion explored the political and economic consequences of reforms and why governments face challenges in fulfilling their commitments.
La situación de la seguridad en Ecuador
On August 18, 2023, Global Americans hosted a webinar dedicated to discussing the security concerns in Ecuador. The panel was held in Spanish and was chaired by Guy Mentel, president of Global Americans, and featured three distinguished panelists. These included Mauricio Alarcón, who serves as the Executive Director of Fundación Ciudadanía y Desarrollo; Veronica Arias, a member of the Global Americans High-Level Working Group on U.S.-Ecuador Relations; and María Paula Romo, the former Minister of Government for the Republic of Ecuador from 2018 to 2020.John Feeley, the Executive Director of the Center for Media Integrity of the Americas and a former U.S. Ambassador, along with Peter F. Romero, a former Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs and a former U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador, provided opening remarks.
2023 Guatemalan Presidential Elections: A Discussion of the Current Political and Legal Situation
On June 15, 2023, Global Americans hosted the webinar “2023 Guatemalan Presidential Elections: A Discussion of the Current Political and Legal Situation.” The discussion featured Will Freeman, a Fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations; Edgar Ortiz Romero, Director of Legal Analysis at Fundación Libertad y Desarrollo; Claudia Méndez Arriaza, Editorial Director at ConCriterio; and Jody García, an Investigative Journalist at Plaza Pública. The event was moderated by Adam Ratzlaf, Deputy Director of Global Americans.
Extreme Weather Events and Resilience Efforts in the Caribbean
On June 1, 2023, Global Americans hosted the webinar “Extreme Weather Events and Resilience Efforts in the Caribbean,” which covered extreme weather events in the Caribbean and the region’s resilience efforts. Global Americans Climate Change in the Caribbean Project Lead Jackson Mihm moderated the conversation between experts Ambassador Carlos Fuller, Permanent Representative of Belize to the United Nations, and Elizabeth Riley, Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). As the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season begins, this was an excellent opportunity to hear about the latest efforts to bolster regional climate resilience.
The State of Play in Ecuador: “Muerte Cruzada” and the Dissolution of the National Assembly
On May 23, 2023, Global Americans hosted the webinar “The State of Play in Ecuador: Understanding ‘Muerte Cruzada’ and President Lasso’s Dissolution of the National Assembly. Guy Mentel, President of Global Americans, moderated the panel, which included Nathalie Cely Suárez, a member of our High-Level Working Group on U.S.-Ecuador Relations and former Ambassador of Ecuador to the United States, and Sebastian Hurtado, President and Founder of Prófitas, the top political risk consultancy firm in Ecuador. The experts provided valuable insights regarding the present state of affairs in Ecuador. In addition, they discussed the anticipated consequences for the country and the surrounding region.
Book Launch: Escape a Los Andes La Historia de Mauricio Hochschild ‘El Schindler de Bolivia’
On Tuesday, May 2, Global Americans and Red Latinoamericana para la Enseñanza de la Shoá hosted a discussion with Raul Peñaranda and Robert Brockmann about their newest book, Escape a Los Andes: La Historia de Mauricio Hochschild, El Schindler de Bolivia. Moderated by Global Americans President Guy Mentel, the journalist and historian duo highlighted the long-buried story and discussed why the story of Moritz “Mauricio” Hochschild is important for the region.
Climate Change, Indigenous & Tribal Peoples in the Caribbean, and a Collective Search for Solutions
On Friday, March 31, Global Americans Research Assistant Alejandro Trenchi moderated a discussion with distinguished panelists Ine Apapoe, University Lecturer at Anton de Kom Universiteit van Suriname; Max Ooft, Policy Officer at the Association of Indigenous Village Leaders in Suriname; Marcia Douglas, Acting Colonel of the Charles Town Maroon Community in Jamaica; Lorenzo Sanford, Chief of the Kalinago People in Dominica. The panelists shared how Indigenous and Tribal Peoples are taking action in the fight against climate change and how regional policymakers could and should look toward better inclusion through rights-based approaches.
Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean
On Wednesday, March 8, Global Americans hosted “Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean – Unpacking Emerging Trends and the 2022 Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy Index.”
The webinar was moderated by Global Americans President Guy Mentel and included the following panelists: Ambassador (Ret.) John Feeley, former U.S. Ambassador to Panama; Nicolás Saldías, Analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit; Sarah Kinosian, Reuters Journalist covering Mexico, Central America, and Venezuela; and Arturo C. Porzecanski, Wilson Center Global Fellow and Research Fellow with American University’s Center for Latin American & Latino Studies. The panelists shared insights from their work and synthesized what their findings mean for the region.
What are the Takeaways for the US from Uruguay’s Transformative Climate Change Measures
On March 1, 2023, Global Americans Associate Editor Jackson Mihm and Research Assistant Alejandro Trenchi shared their takeaways from an article they wrote in September 2022 on Uruguay’s playbook for climate change solutions. The event was co-sponsored by the Beth Emet Dayenu Circle, Interfaith Action Climate Change and Justice Subcommittee, Citizens Climate Lobby Evanston Northshore Chapter, Citizens’ Greener Evanston, and Go Green Wilmette.
Climate Migration in the Caribbean: A Global Americans Report Launch
On Wednesday, March 1, Global Americans and American University’s Center for Latin American & Latino Studies, the Center for Environment, Community, Equity, and The Immigration Lab hosted the launch of our newest report, “Climate Change, Migration, and Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in the Caribbean. Global Americans President Guy Mentel moderated the discussion with panelists Amb. Carlos Fuller, Permanent Representative of Belize to the United Nations; Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian, Director of Social Inclusion at the Organization of American States; Robert Albro, Research Associate Professor at American University; and Allison Fedirka, Director of Analysis at Geopolitical Futures.
The report is part of our Climate Change in the Caribbean project, which brings together U.S. and Caribbean policymakers, scholars, government officials, and civil society representatives to produce a series of working papers and reports covering the effects of climate change in the Caribbean. Learn more here: https://theglobalamericans.org/climate-change-caribbean/
A Look Inside Venezuela With Julio Borges and Paola de Alemán
On Wednesday, February 22, 2023, Global Americans and Florida International University’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy hosted the event “A Look Inside Venezuela” with opposition figures Julio Borges and Paola de Alemán to discuss the evolving political landscape in Venezuela. The event was part of our broader initiative, “The Way Forward for Venezuela.” Learn more about it here: https://theglobalamericans.org/the-way-forward-for-venezuela/
A View From Inside Venezuela: An Expert Panel with Willie Neuman
On Friday, January 27, Global Americans hosted a conversation with author Willie Neuman about his book “Things Are Never So Bad That They Can’t Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela.” Panelists included Maria Caballero Sanchez, Luciana Gandini, and Michael M. McCarthy.
Climate Finance and the Caribbean: To What Extent Will New Initiatives Affect the Region?
On January 18, 2023, Global Americans hosted a virtual event covering the state of financing climate action in the Caribbean. Global Americans Climate Change in the Caribbean Project Lead Jackson Mihm guided the discussion, which covered topics like mitigation & adaption measures, the role of multilateral banks, the COP 27 Agreement on Loss and Damages, the Bridgetown Initiative, and policy implementation. Experts Marsha Caddle, Anaitee Mills, Jade Tjon, Lisa Viscidi, and Kalim Shah offered their perspectives on these and many more topics related to this critical regional issue.
Global Americans thanks the Open Society Foundations for their generous support of the Climate Change in the Caribbean Project. To learn more about the project, its findings and recommendations, and its High-Level Working Members, visit the project homepage at this link: https://theglobalamericans.org/climate-change-caribbean/
Venezuela en 2023: ¿Qué significan los nuevos acontecimientos para la región?
El 12 de enero de 2023, Global Americans organizó el evento “Venezuela en 2023: ¿Qué significan los nuevos acontecimientos para la región?”. Guy Mentel, presidente de Global Americans, estuvo acompañado por los expertos venezolanos Stefania Vitale, Michael Penfold y Luis Vicente León. Durante el evento se discutió la situación política actual en Venezuela, incluyendo temas como los desafíos de la oposición de cara a las próximas elecciones primarias, la relación de Venezuela con Estados Unidos, las perspectivas del sector petrolero, el estado de las negociaciones, entre muchos otros.
Caribbean Energy Security: Challenges and Opportunities
On November 3, 2022, Global Americans co-hosted a virtual event with the Caribbean Policy Consortium covering the state of energy security in the Caribbean. Global Americans and Caribbean Policy Consortium Fellow Scott MacDonald guided the discussion, which covered topics like southern Caribbean energy, sustainability, resilience, and U.S. policy implications. Experts Anthony Bryan, Legena Henry, Anaitee Mills, and Ivelaw Griffith offered their perspectives on these and many more topics related to this critical regional issue.
Una conversación con Eva Copa, alcaldesa de El Alto
Conversamos con la líder ambiental colombiana Heiny Palacios. En 2017, Heiny asumió la coordinación de la Red Nacional Jóvenes de Ambiente, convirtiéndose en la primera y única mujer afrodescendiente en ocupar ese cargo. Actualmente Heiny es la Directora de la Red Jóvenes de Ambiente del Nodo Chocó.
Durante nuestra entrevista, Heiny Palacios nos comentó que la Red Jóvenes de Ambiente del Nodo Chocó, es la única organización que se dedica a promover el cuidado del medio ambiente en la juventud del Chocó. Heiny es reconocida por sus populares campañas ambientales y su extenso trabajo comunitario. Su trabajo es completamente honorario.
Post-Summit of the Americas Assessments for the Hemisphere: A Caribbean Perspective
Global Americans President Guy Mentel moderates a discussion about the Summit of the Americas and its implications for the Caribbean and the hemisphere more generally. Participants: Georges Fauriol (Global Americans Caribbean Fellow and Co-Chair, Caribbean Policy Consortium) David Lewis (Co-Chair, Caribbean Policy Consortium) Amparo Mercader (Partner, PwC) Richard Feinberg (Professor Emeritus, UC San Diego and Member of the Global Americans International Advisory Council) Alicia Nicholls (Research Fellows, Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy, & Services).
Una Conversación con Luis Gilberto Murillo
Conversamos con Luis Gilberto Murillo, miembro de nuestro consejo asesor internacional, ex gobernador del Chocó y ex ministro de Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible de Colombia, sobre su histórica candidatura a la vicepresidencia colombiana. Guy Mentel, Director Ejecutivo de Global Americans, moderó la discusión.
A Conversation with Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Holguín
In one of his first U.S.-facing public conferences, Foreign Minister Holguín discussed Ecuador’s perspective on its relationship with the United States, the country’s trade and investment agenda, and its response to regional and global challenges. Ivonne A-Baki, the Ambassador of Ecuador to the United States, and Michael J. Fitzpatrick, Ambassador of the United States to Ecuador, offered opening remarks. Guy Mentel, the Executive Director of Global Americans, moderated the discussion.
Las relaciones entre Uruguay-EEUU: Una Mirada Hacia Adelante
Conversamos con Agustín Iturralde, Amparo Mercader e Ines Bonicelli sobre las relaciones entre Uruguay y Estados Unidos. Guy Mentel, Director Ejecutivo de Global Americans, moderó la discusión.
La Guerra en Ucrania: Miradas desde América Latina
Conversamos con Nicolás Albertoni, Arlene B. Tickner y Ariel Gonzalez Levaggi sobre la invasión rusa a Ucrania. Guy Mentel, Director Ejecutivo de Global Americans, moderó la discusión.
Esta conversación tuvo lugar el 28 de febrero de 2022 en Twitter Spaces. Síganos en Twitter para recibir el análisis de nuestros contribuidores y escuchar más conversaciones como esta.
A Region in Transition: Building a Post-Pandemic Economy in the Caribbean
On Wednesday, December 1, Global Americans and the Caribbean Policy Consortium, with support from the U.S. Embassy in Suriname, hosted a virtual panel on social and economic development in the Caribbean. Panelists: Mavrick Boejoekoe, Founder of the Youth Education and Leadership Foundation and CPC Fellow (Suriname) Scott MacDonald, Research Fellow at Global Americans and CPC Fellow Trisha Tannis, Chairman, Barbados Private Sector Association Oslene Carrington, CEO, Guyana Economic Development Trust. Moderator: Guy Mentel, Executive Director of Global Americans.
Disinformation in Latin America (English)
As part of our ongoing efforts to analyze the impact and combat the spread of disinformation in the Western Hemisphere, Global Americans invites you to join a discussion on foreign misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda in Latin America and the Caribbean. This virtual event will feature Global Americans Executive Director Guy Mentel in conversation with representatives of our four partner institutions and organizations: Dr. Andrés Cañizález (Director, Medianálisis (Venezuela)), Dr. Arlene Tickner (Professor, Universidad del Rosario (Colombia)), Juan Pablo Cardenal (Researcher, CADAL (Argentina)), and Dr. Marco Fernández (Research Professor, TEC de Monterrey (Mexico)).
Thank you to Gloria Mejía for providing simultaneous interpretation for the event.
Seminario sobre la Desinformación en América Latina y el Caribe
On August 26, 2021, Global Americans—in collaboration with the Columbia University Journalism School, Centro para la Apertura y el Desarrollo de América Latina (CADAL), Medianálisis, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, and Universidad del Rosario—convened a seminar on disinformation and misinformation in Latin America and the Caribbean featuring dozens of journalists, academics, and private sector and civil society leaders from across the Western Hemisphere. Here, Guy Mentel and Andres Chong-Qui Torres discuss Global Americans’ ongoing research on foreign disinformation and misinformation in Latin America, while expert panelists Ana Méndez, Alfonso Grimaldo, Raúl Peñaranda, and Juan Pablo Cardenal discuss such phenomena in the context of Panama, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and beyond.
El pasado 26 de agosto del 2021, Global Americans, en colaboración con la Escuela de Periodismo de Columbia University, el Centro para la Apertura y el Desarrollo de América Latina (CADAL), Medianálisis, el Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey y la Universidad del Rosario, realizaron un seminario sobre desinformación en América Latina y el Caribe. Decenas de periodistas y académicos junto con líderes del sector privado y de la sociedad civil de todo el hemisferio occidental han participado de dicho seminario. En este resumen, Guy Mentel y Andres Chong-Qui Torres discuten la investigación en curso de Global Americans sobre desinformación extranjera y desinformación en América Latina, mientras que los panelistas expertos Ana Méndez, Alfonso Grimaldo, Raúl Peñaranda y Juan Pablo Cardenal discuten estos fenómenos en el contexto de Panamá, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile y Perú, entre otros países.
Charla: The Biden-Harris Vision for Colombia and the Colombian-American Community
“Charla: The Biden-Harris Vision for Colombia and the Colombian-American Community” evaluates how a Biden-Harris administration might engage Colombia and the Western Hemisphere in ways different from the past four years.
Panelists:
United States Senator Robert Menendez
United States Representative Ruben Gallego
Moderator:
Claudia Palacios, Journalist and Author of ¿Te Vas o Te Quedas?
Cohosts:
Professor Eduardo Gamarra, Florida International University
Guy Mentel, Executive Director, Global Americans
Extractive Industries in the Amazon webinar
With funding from the United States Embassy in Suriname and the sponsorship of the Youth Education and Leadership Foundation and Global Americans, we are pleased to present “Indigenous Rights and Extractive Industries in the Amazon,” a two-day virtual conference on human rights and environmental issues in the Amazon.
Speakers:
– Mark Pieth, Professor at the Basel Institute of Governance, former Chair of both UN Illegal Drug Trafficking and OECD Anti-Bribery Working Groups
– Luz Nagle, Professor at Stetson University Law School and former Judge in Medellín
– Bruce Zagaris, Partner with Berliner Corcoran & Rowe LLP & Founder of the International Enforcement Law Reporter
– Julia Marisa Sekula, Climate Security Program Coordinator at Instituto Igarapé
Moderator: Guy Mentel, Executive Director, Global Americans
Indigenous Rights in the Amazon
With funding from the United States Embassy in Suriname and the sponsorship of the Youth Education and Leadership Foundation and Global Americans, we are pleased to present “Indigenous Rights and Extractive Industries in the Amazon,” a two-day virtual conference on human rights and environmental issues in the Amazon.
Indigenous Rights in the Amazon
September 23, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT
Speakers:
– Luis Gilberto Murillo, Colombia’s former Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development
– Ine Apapoe, Lecturer at the Anton De Kom University of Suriname
– Magda Monteza, Strategic Planning Specialist, Panamanian Ministry of Government
– Jorge Andrés Forero Gonzáles, Director of Peacebuilding, Al Centro (Colombia)
Moderator: Guy Mentel, Executive Director, Global Americans
Corruption, Oil, and the Role of External Agencies in the Caribbean
With funding from the United States Embassy in Suriname and the sponsorship of the Youth Education and Leadership Foundation and Global Americans, we are pleased to present “Good Governance and Corruption in the Caribbean,” a two-day virtual conference on governance issues in the Caribbean.
July 31 at 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM EDT: “Corruption, Oil, and the Role of External Agencies in the Caribbean”
Opening by: Mavrick Boejoekoe, Chairman of the Youth Education and Leadership Foundation
Moderator: Guy Mentel, Executive Director, Global Americans
Speakers: Dr. Anthony T. Bryan, Senior Associate, Americas Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Rayah Bhattacharji, Senior Program Manager, Projekta Suriname
Dr. Scott B. MacDonald, Chief Economist, Smith’s Research & Gradings; Research Fellow, Global Americans
Good Governance and Corruption in the Caribbean
With funding from the United States Embassy in Suriname and the sponsorship of the Youth Education and Leadership Foundation and Global Americans, we are pleased to present “Good Governance and Corruption in the Caribbean,” a two-day virtual conference on governance issues in the Caribbean.
July 30 at 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM EDT : “Good Governance and Corruption in Suriname and Guyana”
Opening by: The Honorable Karen L. Williams, U.S. Ambassador to Suriname
Moderator: Dr. M Schalkwijk, Scientist at NIKOS; former Director of the Institute of Graduate Studies
Speakers: Sharda Ganga, Director Stg. Projekta
Dr. Georges Fauriol, Senior Associate, Americas Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Drs. S. Jabbar, Chairperson of the Institute for Public Finance
The State of LGBT+ Rights in the Americas
Speakers: Ivan Chanis Barahona, Human Rights Defender and President of Fundación Iguales; Margarita Salas, LGBT+ Rights Defender and President of VAMOS (Costa Rica); Hunter T. Carter, Partner/International Practice Co-Leader, Arent Fox LLP; Javier Corrales, Professor/Chair of Political Science, Amherst College; Gabriela Zavaleta, LGBTQ rights activist and president of Más Igualdad Perú; Guy Mentel, Executive Director, Global Americans (moderator)