Masako Toki
March 31, 2016
Students and teachers from Japan and Russia will join peers from the United States at a conference on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament convened by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and featuring former US Secretary of Defense William Perry. The annual conference will take place April 15-16 at Santa Catalina School in Monterey.
Dr. William Perry and his daughter, Ms. Robin Perry, at The Commonwealth Club in January in San Francisco.
At the 2016 Critical Issues Forum (CIF) conference, students from six Japanese high schools (Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo), three Russian high schools in closed nuclear cities (Lesnoy, Novouralsk, and Zelenogorsk), and seven US high schools in four different states (California, Connecticut, Hawaii, and Wisconsin), are scheduled to present their studies on the topic of “Global Nuclear Vulnerability: Lessons for a More Secure and Peaceful World.” The CIF program is managed by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.
Dr. William Perry, Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton, will participate as a guest speaker at the conference during the morning of April 16, along with his daughter, Ms. Robin Perry. Dr. Perry is well known for his nuclear disarmament, nonproliferation and nuclear security leadership, especially for his op-ed pieces advocating a world free of nuclear weapons, co-authored with other former high-ranking governmental officials. His appearance in Monterey is part of his ongoing efforts to draw attention to issues related to nuclear policy and disarmament.
This year’s CIF participants will examine the dangers of the current nuclear weapons situation, and investigate how close we have come to nuclear weapons use. These young leaders from around the world will tackle one of the most pressing and challenging security issues of our time, exploring how international nonproliferation and disarmament regimes are working to prevent nuclear weapons technology from being spread or used.
The April 15-16 CIF conference is the culmination of a semester-long program for high school students that is designed to develop critical thinking skills and to engage students and teachers around issues related to international peace and security. All participating students are expected to present and exchange their findings on their chosen topic in a creative and innovative way, followed by an open discussion centered on a question and answer session with their peers and teachers. Students will also engage in interactive and cross-cultural activities during the conference, and will have the opportunity to interact with graduate students studying nuclear disarmament issues in the Institute’s Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies program.
This year’s CIF program is funded by the United States-Japan Foundation, a New York-based organization supporting activities to deepen friendship and understanding between American and Japanese citizens, and the Tokyo Club, Japan’s oldest and most prestigious private club. For more information on the CIF program, please visit the CIF website and view this short video.
Time and Location
Friday, April 15, 2016
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday, April 16, 2016
8:30 AM – 1:45 PM
Mary Johnson Recital Hall
Santa Catalina School
1500 Mark Thomas Drive
Monterey
Contact: Masako Toki, 831-915-6162
