Welcome to the May edition, leading with Ukraine's Defence of Freedom and conversations with Aspen Kyiv, plus an in-depth story on New Zealand's rising sea levels.

Welcome to Arotake-Raumati, the Summer Review, where we reflect on our activities over the past six months. Many of you have taken part in our online seminars, workshops and stayed connected via The Lookout.

A few highlights are:

• Rt. Hon. Sir Bill English joining the board

• Launching Te Kākano, our Supporters Programme

• Multi sector engagement in our seminar on Misinformation Challenges

The sea level is rising twice as fast as previously forecast around parts of New Zealand, according to research published by NZ SeaRise, putting our two largest cities at risk decades earlier than expected.

Over three days, from Monday 9th May to Thursday 12th May , the Aspen Institute together with City of Miami, brought action to climate change discussions at the first Aspen IDEAS: Climate with hundreds of scientists, policymakers, activists and business leaders.

“Is anything worse for the environment than war? People can’t get away with that kind of behavior. And they cannot be financed and doing it by our dependence on fossil fuels.” House Speaker, Nancy Pelosie

Watch Recording: A conversation with our partner, The Aspen Institute Kyiv as they share their first-hand experience of what is at stake in Ukraine and explore the implications of the war on Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and the World.

The Aspen Health Strategy Group explore the disconnect between correctional health and community-based structures of care, the intertwined relationship between incarceration and behavioural health, the influence of structural racism, and the community health impacts of incarceration, with many relevant lessons for New Zealand.

Welcome to the April edition of ‘The Lookout’, bringing you a global perspective on issues that matter. In this edition, we pay tribute to Secretary Madeleine Korbel Albright, former Trustee of the Aspen Institute and founder of the Aspen Ministers Forum (AMF).

As Russia’s war spills into cyberspace, there is a growing risk of large-scale cyber disruptions well beyond Ukraine. How did the digital world become so vulnerable to big shocks? What can be done to create resilience?

The Aspen Institute mourns the passing of Secretary Madeleine K. Albright. A diplomat, professor, author, and business leader, she was the first female US Secretary of State—an iconic fixture in American foreign policy circles with a truly essential voice. She leaves an enormous legacy as a longtime champion of the Aspen International partners in our role in promoting a free, just, and equitable society. Vale Madeleine.

In this edition we put the 'unintended consequences of autocracy' in-focus leading with a speech from the former Minister of Finance of Ukraine and Chair of Aspen Kyiv, calling for the global community to do more.

Stand With Ukraine.

In its work around the world, the Aspen Institute strives to promote a free, just, and equitable society. The illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia threatens that vision and the values we hold dear.

The relationship between the United States and its European allies has been stressed over the last several years. The NextGen Network, launched by the Institute’s international Partners in collaboration with Microsoft, says that we need to look to a new crop of leaders to address challenges such as climate change and threats to democracy. Their latest report brings millennial and Gen Z perspectives to the table and includes recommendations for a vibrant transatlantic partnership.

Welcome to Year of the Water Tiger and the first edition of The Lookout for 2022 bringing you a global perspective on issues that matter.

Scientific studies increasingly confirm what human beings across cultures and throughout time have long recognised: we are wired for art. The arts in all of their modalities can improve our physical and mental health, amplify our ability to prevent, manage, or recover from disease challenges, enhance brain development in children, build more equitable communities, and foster wellbeing through multiple biological systems.

A far reaching conversation with a group of experts discussed the state of pure (basic) research in New Zealand co-chaired by Aaron Mertz, Director of Aspen Institute’s Science & Society Program and Christine Maiden Sharp, CEO of Aspen Institute New Zealand.

“Overall, New Zealand underspends and undervalues science & research. Pure science is vital to remain economically competitive and needs to be more inclusive and relevant, to increase trust and impact”.

Participants from diverse backgrounds, young and old, joined international experts from Singularity University, Google NZ and Massey University for MISINFORMATION CHALLENGES, Aspen’s fifth seminar in the Future Challenges: Systems thinking and Values based Leadership series, a two-day online event exploring misinformation issues in a year that has been dominated by pandemic induced fake news.

Graeme Acton, Asia Media Centre Manager said:

The level of debate was an extremely good combination of real world dynamics, academic thought leadership and insightful points of view from a varied group of people.

In the face of bad news, bad information compounds the damage. As we are overcome by uncertainty and very real unknowns regarding the pandemic, politics, war and natural disasters we encourage you to fully understand the scope of the disinformation challenge, but here are some steps you can take to prevent transmission.

Photo: On a footpath in Queenstown Aug 2021