| A Message from our Office
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| Message from David Dumke, GPII Executive Director
Devastating Earthquake Reminds Us of the Importance of Emergency Management
The toll from the devastating earthquake which struck Turkey and Syria has already topped 50,000, and that figure will almost certainly climb in the coming days, weeks, and months. Some have described the scene as Armageddon. Tens of thousands remain missing, and hundreds of thousands of Turks and Syrians are without shelter, clothing, and food in the middle of winter. Relief workers from those countries, and from nations around the world, have descended upon the stricken region.
Global Perspectives & International Initiatives applauds the efforts of several local groups, including UCF student groups, who are doing their part to call attention to this terrible tragedy and provide critically needed aid to the victims. Please consider making a contribution to these noble efforts. One story about their efforts can be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=HmsoDjc21zw
The horrors of these events sadly ring familiar. Other regions have suffered from extreme weather, natural disasters, and other emergency occurrences in what seems like an increasing frequency. For example, in September 2017 Puerto Rico was ravished by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. In 2005, New Orleans was hit by Hurricane Katrina. More recently, the Florida Gulf Coast was hit by Hurricane Ian. In all cases, the devastation wrought by these storms, like the earthquake in the Easter Mediterranean, floods, Tsunamis, and droughts, raise inevitable questions about preparation, response, and resiliency.
While the suffering of victims is naturally paramount, questions inevitably emerge not only about emergency services – which are clearly needed in all corners of the globe, including in the US and territories administered by Washington – but also about governance, public policy, resources use, climate change, migration, conflict resolution, and foreign aid. Indeed, one of the most fundamental roles of any society is the ability to maintain order and provide relief and protection for people in harm’s way.
GPII will partner once again with the Washington and Istanbul-based Hollings Center in hosting a dialog conference on emergency response in the Eastern Mediterranean in November. While this conference offers little respite to the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria, we hope it will produce some useful policy recommendations for governments, think tanks, relief organizations, and others involved in emergency service planning and implementation. One of our goals will be to look at other examples where emergency services have proven both adequate and inadequate in providing services when natural and man-made disasters strike. We will rely heavily on the expertise of UCF’s faculty, who have worked in academia, government, and in non-government organizations on these and related issues.
Dr. Gonul Tol, Director of the Middle East Institute’s Turkish Program, has been a frequent collaborator with GPII. Dr. Tol happened to be in Turkey when the quake hit. Tol recently wrote a piece in Foreign Policy suggesting that corruption and misrule have added to the hardship of an already terrible situation. Her article can be found here:
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/02/10/turkey-earthquake-erdogan-government-response-corruption-construction/
The article captures the growing anger felt not just at the enormity of the quake itself, but the alleged shortcomings in preparation and response. In recent days, the Turkish government has begun investigating building contractors. However, prior to the quake, the government openly bragged about loosening building codes as a way to spur construction. This is one of many facets of this problem. There are other questions about the use of the army in first responder situations, whether emergency service agencies were prepared, and the speed at which vital services are rendered. The situation is even bleaker in Syria, which is in the midst of a lengthy civil war. The earthquake hit in areas not controlled by the central government, which makes the allocation of emergency services even more daunting.
Incidentally, Turkey is set to hold a national election in the coming months. Irrespective of geography, people have shown a knack for punishing their governments who are perceived as failing to provide emergency services in a timely and efficient manner. In the 1990’s, the Mubarak government in Egypt was lambasted for not providing prompt services to earthquake victims. Instead, the Muslim Brotherhood was credited for getting doctors and emergency workers into the field quickly. One can plot President George W. Bush’s steep political decline by FEMA’s woeful performance in wake of Katrina. His father was blamed for inadequate response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992. In 1988, Bush won Florida by 22%, but in that November’s election he eked out a narrow 1.9% victory in the Sunshine State. More recently, the response to Irma and Maria in 2017 led to mass protests in Puerto Rico and the subsequent forced resignation two years later of Governor Ricardo Rosello.
The point being that emergency response is truly a global issue, and no region is immune to its repercussions. That people will continue to suffer the devastating impact of disasters is inevitable. But decision-making, planning, and effective organization are essential in mitigating the cost. Militaries across the world are formed not only to react to developments, but first and foremost to be prepared for all eventualities. It should only be expected that the most important decisions involving disasters are made ahead of time, not solely in response to the unexpected.
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– David Dumke, Executive Director, UCF Global Perspectives & International Initiatives
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Join Major League Baseball, UCF’s Puerto Rico Research Hub, and UCF Athletics for this exciting FREE introductory baseball/softball event for kids ages 5-12 at the UCF Softball Complex on Saturday, March 4, at 12:30pm (check-in opens at 12:00pm).
No prior experience or baseball/softball equipment is necessary.
Wear comfortable athletic clothing and come ready to have fun! Participants and their families are encouraged to stay and watch the University of Central Florida baseball team take on Georgia Southern at 4:00pm.
All participants will receive a free PLAY BALL T-shirt, wristband, and bat and ball set to take home!
Space is limited. Visit www.PLAYBALL.org/events to reserve your child’s spot now!
More Info | All are welcome | Register here
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UCF Washington Week Events
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The Office of Global Perspectives and International Initiatives hosted a successful week of events in Washington D.C. from January 23rd until the 27th. Events included a Washington D.C. Area Alumni and Friends Reception at the Florida House. More than 150 UCF alumni and friends living and working in the D.C. area attended the event and were greeted by Congressman Darren Soto and Congresswoman Laurel Lee who stopped by the event.
The week continued with a panel discussion titled Migration: Policy, Economics, Climate Change, Women & Conflict at the Rayburn House Office Building. The panel consisted of Ambassador Roya Rahmani, former Afghan Ambassador and Senior Advisor at the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center; Andrew Selee, President of the Migration Policy Institute; Matthew Rooney, Senior Advisor George W Bush Institute; and Dr. Fernando Rivera, Director of UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub. This panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Yara Asi, Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida’s School of Health Management and Informatics and a Visiting Scholar at the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University.
The wrap up of the week was with the UCF Global Appreciation Dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel which was attended by ambassadors, cultural and education attachés, and other distinguished partners and guests from several counties including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Trinidad and Tobago, France, Jamaica, Chile, Mexico, Netherlands, and Aruba.
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UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub Receives $500K to Expand Research
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The UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub (PRRH) has been awarded $500,000 in funding to expand its research capabilities to better track key social and economic trends. The funding is part of the FY2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which supports a range of domestic and foreign policy priorities.
“This funding will be instrumental in expanding the capacity of the hub, which is vital given the presence of the diaspora here in Central Florida,” says Zoé Colón, senior advisor to the PRRH and associate director of Global Perspectives & International Initiatives, who spearheaded UCF efforts to secure the funds. “I am also thrilled about the increased opportunities for students to get involved in research at the hub.”
U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (Kissimmee), whose father is Puerto Rican, was instrumental in including funding for the PRRH in Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill last summer. This was later lumped into the year-ending omnibus, which included all outstanding appropriations bills. “Rep. Soto has been a champion for the Puerto Rico Research Hub since day one and want to thank him for believing that education and research are pathways to advance and enhance the lives of our community members,” says Dr. Rivera, the Director of the PRRH.
Read more
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Dr. Reynolds Speaks to WFTV 9 on Neo-Nazi Suspected of Plotting to Attack Baltimore Power Grid
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On Monday, February 6, 2023 WFTV (Channel 9) ran the story of the arrest of two neo-Nazi’s, one here in Central Florida, who were planning to attack and shut down the power grid in Baltimore Maryland. Included in their reporting were statements from Dr. Ted Reynolds, who is the Director of Terrorism Studies with the Office of Global Perspectives and International Initiative at the University of Central Florida.
Start Watching
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Arab American Student Association Kicks Off
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A newly established Arab American Student Association (AASA) at UCF launched their first meeting to welcome interested students and introduce the AASA, its mission, and goals. Georgio Sayegh, the association's president stated that it will serve to create community for the UCF Arab American students. He added, “It is not a requirement to be Arab to join the association.” Sayegh wants people from outside the culture to be able to participate and learn from the association's events.
Mirvate El Jerdi, Senior Coordinator and Special Adviser for Middle East and North Africa at GPII is the faculty adviser of the Arab American Student Association. “We need to have this association as a community that overarches all the Arab countries and be a home for students from different backgrounds, whether they are born here or studying here,” El Jerdi said.
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Relentless Courage: Ukraine and the World at War - Opening Reception at the Orlando Museum of Art
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Dr. Hakan Özoğlu, Director of the Middle Eastern Studies at UCF, represented GPII at the opening reception of Relentless Courage: Ukraine and the World at War, presented by the Ginsburg Family Foundation at the Orlando Museum of Art.
The exhibit showcases a collection of images from the frontlines of the war in Ukraine by “world-class photographers that captures the humanity, perseverance, and determination of a nation’s fight for freedom and independence against all odds.”
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| Global Perspectives TV Show
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UCF Global Perspectives Hosts Congressman Nick Rahall, former US House of Representatives
David Dumke sits with Nick Rahall to discuss his time spent in Congress. He served nineteen terms from 1977 to 2015. His accomplishments include bringing Mining and Environmental groups together. He also shares on the difference of how issues are dealt with in the past as to the present.
Start Watching
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Double Earthquakes Devastate Türkiye and Syria
C. Morgan Ellinor, Terrorism Studies Intern
Ellinor examines the devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria. She discusses
the damage and the brutally cold temperatures that has been hindering rescue efforts.
Read more
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|  | UCF GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
AND INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES
4356 Scorpius Street, Orlando, FL USA 32816
Phone: 407.823.2337 | Fax: 407.823.2526
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