Informal diplomacy can bring results, Cowan explains at Central European University in Budapest

CCLP director Geoffrey Cowan gave a talk at Central European University in Budapest on May 21 to discuss the famous "shirt-sleeves" summit at Sunnylands between US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlighting the diplomatic power of such informal meetings. Photo by CEU/Daniel Vegel. "Although the meeting between Obama and Jinping was not official, they did come to an important environmental agreement to phase out harmful hydrofluorocarbons (greenhouse gases)," reports CEU. "There's something about the importance of this kind of informal meeting and maybe we don't do enough of it," said Cowan. "It's the 'gift of time' -……Continue Reading Informal diplomacy can bring results, Cowan explains at Central European University in Budapest

West Antarctic ice collapse ‘could drown Middle East and Asia crops’

The Guardian quotes senior fellow Dan Glickman in an article on climate change. ""Agriculture is a huge world-wide industry that requires stable weather, 'or else', and we might just be entering the 'or else' period," Dan Glickman, agriculture secretary under Bill Clinton and a co-chairman of the conference, told The Guardian."……Continue Reading West Antarctic ice collapse ‘could drown Middle East and Asia crops’

Geneva Overholser on Abramson and Sulzberger: The Two Who Couldn’t Tango

This guest post was written by senior fellow Geneva Overholser. Follow the discussion on her personal blog. The reasons for Jill Abramson's firing as editor of The New York Times are no doubt many and complex. But one thing is clear: the editor-publisher relationship failed, spectacularly. This classic journalistic partnership, when it works, is like a good marriage. Full of successes and challenges, warmth and tension, it requires constant open communication and full-hearted dedication on the part of both parties. Also loyalty. A good editor ensures that the publisher is never blindsided. A good publisher ensures sufficient editorial independence to do good……Continue Reading Geneva Overholser on Abramson and Sulzberger: The Two Who Couldn’t Tango

Geoff Cowan honored with Choate Rosemary Hall 2014 Alumni Award

CCLP director Geoffrey Cowan was recently honored with the 2014 Alumni Award from Choate Rosemary Hall. "Geoff Cowan '60 is being honored for his distinguished career promoting the greater good through communications, including his influence in the fields of law and public policy, broadcasting and journalism, and the humanities and higher education." Choate Rosemary Hall also published a feature on Geoff Cowan, highlighting his role as president of Sunnylands, along with his many other endeavors:……Continue Reading Geoff Cowan honored with Choate Rosemary Hall 2014 Alumni Award