Upcoming Events
The Rules-Based International Order: Rhetoric or Reality?
Feb 27: don’t miss out on our upcoming event The Rules-Based International Order: Rhetoric or Reality? on Feb 27 in Wellington, register here, tickets are selling fast.
UN Chief warns of 'age of chaos'. Do our actions live up to our words? Is the rules-based system out of order? And how does New Zealand balance its security 'club' membership without compromising an independent foreign policy?
This is also happening concurrently to a big week in the Hague, where the International Court of Justice is hearing from at least 52 countries - the largest number of parties to participate in any single ICJ case since the court was established in 1945.
AI in Creative Industries Conference, March 5-6, Wellington
Diplosphere is a big fan of partnering with like-minded organisations. One such body is AI Forum NZ - which brings together NZ's AI community - of which Diplosphere is a member. They've got a fantastic event upcoming - the AI in Creative Industries Conference, scheduled for 5-6 March 2024 in Wellington. Contributors include WētāFX, Danijela Horak & Laura Ellis (BBC), Cristobal Velenzuela (Runway), WeCreate, Grimes and DAouda. Day one will delve into technology's cutting edge in production and post-production, while day two will cover policy, ethics, and their impact on creatives. Don't miss this opportunity to shape the AI-powered future of creative industries. Sign up now to be part of the conversation.
Diplosphere Recommends
Maty much enjoyed listening to historians Anita Anand and William Dalrymple in EmpirePod UK discuss the rise, fall, rise, and fall again of Persian empires in their recent series on Iran. The empires may come and go, but Persianate culture and influence has maintained and fanned out across a wide region including into the Indian subcontinent.
Dan also enjoys the EmpirePod UK podcast, especially the pieces on the East India Company and the Atlantic Slave Trade (12 million slaves were transported across the “middle passage!). But recently he has listened to tech/startup Magnus Grimeland of VC firm Antler discuss “Day Zero Investing” into startup founders in the Capital Allocators podcast - he is a great believer in the positive long term benefit of the world’s entrepreneurial talent. One of the globe’s great assets of our times.
ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
Soft power is New Zealand's greatest power - A threat mentality stifles opportunity and independent thinking about our varied world when it comes to foreign policy,
Helen Clark and Don Brash: Aukus - NZ must not abandon our independent foreign policy
NZ joining AUKUS seen as an escalation as reported by China - “This will not only escalate regional arms races and geopolitical confrontations but also undermine peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and even globally.” (link)
Alexei Navalny Wanted to Make Russia a ‘Normal Country’ - The jailed opposition leader who challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin has died in a prison colony.
US UN Security Council veto used for the third time …