Addressing Alaskans: Latitude Attitude
Thu, Mar 11, 2010

Maurer’s home in Naramata, BC has received numerous awards for architecture and sustainable design.
Born in Germany, Florian Maurer has practiced architecture in White Horse, Yukon Territory, Lana, Italy and Naramata, BC. In the Yukon Maurer designed many buildings in isolated communities and a harsh climate. His designs adapted to the conditions of Canada’s North and provided an alternative to generic imports from the South. Hosted by the Alaska Design Forum at the Anchorage Museum, Florian Maurer spoke on “Latitude Attitude” as part of the Latitude Lecture series on March 8th.
- Allen + Maurer Architects Ltd. (includes mostly photos from Florian Maurer’s slideshow presentation at Anchorage Museum)
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Addressing Alaskans: Fiftieth Anniversary of Alaska’s Federal Court
Thu, Mar 4, 2010
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, the Cook Inlet Historical Society hosted a panel discussion including Chief Judge Ralph R. Beistline, District Judges H. Russel Holland, James K. Singleton and Magistrate Judge John D. Roberts Jr. at the Anchorage Museum on February 18th.
Moderated by Judge Beistline, Judge Holland recounts the history of the court system in Alaska from 1800 to statehood, followed by Judge Magistrate Roberts Jr. who discusses the role of the magistrate in Alaska. Judge Singleton concludes the presentation describing where the Alaska court system stands today.
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Addressing Alaskans: Senator Lisa Murkowski
Thu, Feb 25, 2010
F
ollowing her recent trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan in January, Senator Lisa Murkowski returned home to Alaska sharing her “Global Insights” at a luncheon hosted by the Alaska World Affairs Council on Friday, February 19.
She discusses her meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, touring Islamabad, Pakistan and the importance of reforming the education system in the region.
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Addressing Alaskans: Why Africa is Poor
Thu, Feb 18, 2010
Recently selected as one of Foreign Policy’s 2009 “World’s Top 100 Global Thinkers,” Dr. George Ayittey is a Distinguished Economist and professor at American University in Washington D.C. He is also president of the Free Africa Foundation which he founded in D.C. in 1993. His talk given at the Alaska World Affairs Council focuses on the mantra of his organization – “Africa is poor because she is not free.”
- George Ayittey on the BBC: Freedom of Expression was not invented by the West
- Huffington Post: “Obama Victory Shames Africa” by George Ayittey
- Radio Free Africa
- Free Africa Foundation
- Amazon: Books by Dr. George Ayittey
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Addressing Alaskans: “Superfreakonomics”
Thu, Feb 4, 2010
Co-author of the international best seller Freakonomics, Stephen Dubner was the key note speaker at the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation’s 2010 annual forecast luncheon. He talks about many of the topics covered in his most recent book, Superfreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance on this week’s edition of Addressing Alaskans.
- Stephen J. Dubner Official Website
- NT Times: Freakonomics Blog – Stephen J. Dubner
- PBS Charlie Rose: Stephen Dubner, “Superfreakonomics”
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Addressing Alaskans: Port Mackenzie Economic Impact
Thu, Jan 28, 2010

Port Mackenzie rail extension proposed routes
In early 2008 the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the Alaska Railroad Corporation proposed to build and operate a rail line connecting the Borough’s Port Mackenzie to the existing Alaska railroad system. The proposed rail would provide freight services between the Port and Interior Alaska. In his talk recorded at the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, former Anchorage mayor Rick Mystrom contends the Port Mackenzie rail extension project is the boost Alaska’s economy needs to increase jobs, transportation routes and the competitiveness of Alaska’s coal.
- Rick Mystrom’s presentation at the Anchorage Chamber (PDF)
- Port Mackenzie Rail Extension
- Mat-Su Borough: Port Mackenzie Project Info
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Addressing Alaskans: Alaska Sudan Medical Project
Thu, Jan 21, 2010
The Alaska Sudan Medical Project began in the summer of 2007 when two Alaskan doctors, Dr. Jack Hickel of Anchorage and Dr. Jill Seaman of Bethel joined forces to build functioning wells and a health center in a remote and impoverished village in Southern Sudan. This past September Dr. Seaman received the MacArthur Fellowship “Genius” Award for her work in Sudan and this past week Dr. Jack Hickel stopped by the Alaska World Affairs Council to give an update on where the Alaska Sudan Medical Project stands today.
- Alaska Sudan Medical Project
- Line One: Dr. Jack Hickel
- APRN: Bethel Doctor Wins MacCarthur Fellowship (31 Dec 2007)
- APRN: The Power of One-Anchorage Doctor Building Hospital in Sudan (22 Sept 2009)
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Addressing Alaskans: Innovating Bureaucracy
Thu, Jan 14, 2010
This week on Addressing Alaskans, learn more about how government agencies and businesses are using Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia and blogs to improve operations in the workplace. The Alaska World Affairs Council hosts, Andrea Baker, director of Enterprise 2.0 at Navstar Inc. in Washington D.C. on “Innovating Bureaucracy: Getting the Government to Share.”
- Andrea Baker: Enterprise 2.0 Evangelist
- Andrea Baker (immunity) on Twitter
- Gov 2.0 Hero: Andrea Baker
- Navstar Bloggers: Andrea Baker
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Addressing Alaskans: Democracy in Crisis
Thu, Jan 7, 2010
A former Cordova “fisherm’ am”, Riki Ott experienced the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill first hand in 1989. To deal the the long-term impacts of the spill, today she is a public speaker, author, scientist and a citizen activist raising awareness about the “Democracy in Crisis.”
Comparing democracy to the great and powerful Oz, Riki Ott describes the hands behind the curtain pulling the levers in the United States government.
Hosted by BIONEERS in Alaska at the Snow Goose theater in Anchorage, Ott’s talk entitled “Democracy in Crisis: It’s Time to Change the Rules,” was recorded on December 9.
- Ultimate Civics
- Citizens United
- The Story of Stuff
- YouTube: the Story of Cap & Trade
- Riki Ott Official Website
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Addressing Alaskans: Southcentral’s Energy Plan
Thu, Dec 31, 2009


Susitna hydroelectric power project
In early December, the Alaska Energy Authority released the Regional Integrated Resource Plan (RIRP) outlining energy options in the Railbelt Region of Alaska over the next 50 years. From Susitna and Chakachamna hydroelectric projects, to geothermal energy from Mt. Spurr and wind power projects on Fire Island, RIRP analyzes all energy projects currently being considered by the State of Alaska as the Cook Inlet natural gas supply runs low. Jim Strandberg, project manager from Alaska Energy Authority presented the Southcentral’s Energy Plan at a monthly meeting of the Renewable Energy Alaska Project held on December 9th at the Anchorage Museum.
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