*ECAAR NEWS*

*Due to the power outage on August 14th, we have rescheduled our celebration of
the autobiography of ECAAR's founder, Robert J. Schwartz, Ph.D., Can You Make A
Difference? The reception with Dr. Schwartz and the chair of ECAAR's Board of
Directors, James K. Galbraith, will be held at the home of Tina Fredericks, in
Easthampton, Long Island, 7pm to 9pm, Friday September 12, 2003. Dr. Schwartz
will speak about his life as an activist and economist, and Professor Galbraith
will comment on the book by Robert Schwartz and speak briefly about the United
States economy in 2003 and the war in Iraq. Other ECAAR Board members are also
expected to attend. You can become an event sponsor by contributing $1,000, or
donate $100 to attend. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Lucy
Webster at 212-490-6494, or lucywebster@ecaar.org.

* ECAAR's Board of Directors have been active in the media this month:
- In his column in The Texas Observer, http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/faculty/galbraith.html writes: "What
happened to Sergio Vieira de Mello, to his dedicated colleagues at the United
Nations mission in Baghdad, what has been happening to American soldiers and to
innocent Iraqi civilians every single day, was terribly easy to predict. And the
result? A UN staffer put it very well: 'We send our best guy to Iraq and he
comes home in a box.'"
http://www.ecaar.org/Articles/Sergio2.pdf

- In a Der Spiegel Online interview entitled A Form of Looting, George Akerlof,
one of our newest Board members, speaks strongly against the Bush
Administration's economic, foreign, environmental and social policies.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4292.htm

- Al Gore quoted extensively from the Der Spiegel interview in a major policy
speech he gave to MoveOn.org members at New York University recently.
http://www.moveon.org/gore-speech.html

- Board member Lloyd J. Dumas appeared on the PRI radio program "To the Point,"
to talk about The War is Moving our Economy, But at What Cost? in which the
interviewer asks the panelists, "Is the war a crude form of economic planning?"
http://kcrw.com/cgi-bin/ram_wrap.cgi?/tp/tp030805The_War_Is_Moving_th

- In the Los Angeles Times, on July 31st, board member Joseph Stiglitz wrote an
op-ed entitled Terrorism: There's No Futures in It. "The Bush administration's
naive belief in free-market economics reached a new level of absurdity this week
with the proposal to create a futures market in terrorism. The argument behind
the proposal was simple: information is valuable, and information about a
possible terrorist attack is particularly valuable.... What, then, are we to
make of the short-lived proposal by the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency for a terrorism futures market? Did it reflect a brilliant
breakthrough, an extension of market processes into an area where markets, by
themselves, feared to tread? Or did it represent market fundamentalism
descending to a new level of absurdity?" To read the full article go to:
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0731-08.htm

- On openDemocracy.net James K. Galbraith, Chair of ECAAR's Board of Directors,
writes on The Real American Model. "The US economic model that commands around
a third of the world's wealth fascinates and infuriates Europeans. But both
reactions reveal ignorance of its most essential features. The keys to its
success lie not in industry, but in those sectors providing social amenities to
the middle class - health care, education, housing and pensions: systems of
provision that have little to do with the free market."
http://www.opendemocracy.net/debates/article-3-77-1370.jsp

*In an article by Admiral William J. Crowe, the potential costs and technical
problems of the proposed ballistic missile defense system are discussed in
layman's terms. The article quotes extensively from the ECAAR report, "The Full
Costs of Ballistic Missile Defense," the only independent study of the proposed
system. The article appeared in the Las Vegas Review Journal on June 1st, and
is a great example of how ECAAR's research is used to bring important facts and
analysis to the public: "POLITICS AND STRATEGIC DEFENSE: Missiles away: The
nuclear shield comes with a hefty price tag attached. With consuming challenges
facing the United States in the Middle East and North Korea, there may be a
tendency by the public to set aside less-pressing issues. The fact is, however,
there is a significant matter proceeding apace that deserves close attention."

*Several members of ECAAR and other prominent scholars will participate in a
conference entitled "Conflict and Development," Thursday September 4, 2003 at
the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, The Netherlands. The conference
will include:
- Welcome by Professor J.B. (Hans) Opschoor (Rector of the Institute of Social
Studies);
- Morning session on "Rational Choice Approaches and Quantitative Methods in the
Study of Conflict": Chair: Mr Piet Terhal (ECAAR-EEV)
Professor Mansoob Murshed (Prince Claus Chair Holder 2002-2003, Institute of
Social Studies) on Globalisataion and the Rise of Conflict in Developing
Countries
Dr Anke Hoeffler (Centre for the Study of African Economies (CSAE), Oxford
University) on Poverty and Conflict
Dr Sam Perlo-Freeman (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
and the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol on Military Expenditure
in Developing Countries
- Afternoon session on "Qualitative Approaches": Chair: Professor Manas
Chatterji (State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton, and member of ECAAR
Board of Directors)
Professor Kevin Clements (Secretary General Interrnational Alert London and the
University of Queensland) on Peace, Peacebuilding and Justice
Professor Bas de Gaay Fortman (Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM),
University of Utrecht) on Early, Early Warning: Collective Violence in a
Multi-Dimensional Setting
Professor Mohammad Salih (Institute of Social Studies) on Development as
Conflict
Professor Georg Frerks (Clingendael Institute, Utrecht and Wageningen
Universities) on TBA
For registration information please email Ms. Annet van Geen (vangeen@iss.nl) by
August 26th.

*CALL FOR PAPERS: We are currently soliciting papers for The ECAAR Review 2005,
tentatively titled, "Space Weapons and Space Technology." This volume will
include both peaceful and military uses of space; we have already several papers
on the uses of space for weapons, and are particularly interested in papers
discussing possible peaceful uses for space. Persons interested in submitting
work for consideration should contact Kate Cell at katecell@ecaar.org.

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*LINKS*

*ECAAR recently joined OneWorld.net, an Internet portal and global network of
over 1500 organizations working in human rights and sustainable development. As
a OneWorld partner, ECAAR will be able to reach a wider international audience,
take part in peer learning exchanges with other OneWorld network, and network
with organizations worldwide with similar goals and interests. OneWorld
resources available to everyone include:
- free Global Daily Headlines: http://us.oneworld.net/section/us/subscribe
- articles on Arms & Military:
http://us.oneworld.net/section/us/armsandmilitary
- OneWorld articles on Yahoo! News.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wl/oneworld/?u

*www.economythatworks.org is "information and resource central," designed to
help people who care about low-wage workers and their families and the
conditions, issues and policy solutions that affect them. The materials featured
on the site were developed and written by the team at Douglas Gould & Co., Inc.
and are based on extensive opinion and media research that we initiated at the
request of the Ford Foundation. The project is called For An Economy That Works
for All. Some of what you will find on this site:
- Reports with the latest findings and research
- Tool Kit for use by advocates, with resources and tips to help you communicate
about key issues
- Opportunities Calendar, where you can view upcoming events as well as post
events of interest for advocates
- Forum to share views and information helpful in moving the public dialogue
toward an economy that works for all

*14 million refugees and up to 25 million internally displaced persons (IDPs)
live in temporary shelters throughout the world. Although some people ultimately
return home or move to another country, the number of refugees and IDPs
continues to grow. Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
sponsor a site aimed at middle and high school students and their teachers,
called "Visit a Refugee Camp." Learn about the basic needs in a refugee camp:
shelter, food, water, sanitation, and health care. Hear the personal stories of
refugees and relief workers. Find out how 39 million people are forced to live
today. http://www.refugeecamp.org/
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*IN OTHER NEWS*

*From Environmental News Service (ENS): Monrovia, Liberia, July 22, 2003- A halt
to extraction and trade of Liberian gold, diamonds and timber would help stop
the fighting that has killed at least 600 civilians in the capital in the past
five days, according to the Environmental Lawyers Association of Liberia and two
other nongovernmental organizations.

*On Hiroshima Day - Nuclear Weapons Apartheid: As we remember those who died in
the horrible conflagrations at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, let us not forget about
those living who suffer every day from the United State's addiction to nuclear
weapons. ( Econ-Atrocity, 8/6/03) http://www.fguide.org/Bulletin/hiroshma.htm

*This Jeffrey Sachs article appeared in the London Financial Times August 13.
Entitled The Real Target of the War in Iraq was Saudi Arabia, the article
begins: "The crucial question regarding Iraq is not whether the motives for war
were disguised, but why. The argument that Iraq posed a grave and imminent
threat was absurd to anybody not under the spell of round-the-clock White House
and 10 Downing Street spin. But the actual reasons for launching the war remain
obscure. The plot thickened with the release last month of the US Congressional
investigation into September 11. It seems increasingly likely that Iraq was
attacked because Saudi Arabia was deeply implicated in the terrorist attacks."
Read the entire piece at: http://www.ecaar.org/Articles/sachs.pdf

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*ECAAR PUBLICATIONS*

* The ECAAR Review 2003. This year's edition is titled, "Conflict or
Development?" and has a regional focus on Africa, the site of most of the
world's current armed conflicts. In its pages some of the leading economists of
the day analyze and reflect on the relationships among military spending,
domestic and foreign policy, security, and human welfare. Features include
country studies and sections on business and conflict and "Trends in World
Military Expenditure." Written in clear English, with informative maps, tables,
and graphs, the series is designed to inform the debate among policymakers,
activists, journalists, academics, students, and citizens worldwide.

*You can order the Review at http://www.ecaar.org/Review_files/order.htm

*We believe the Review can be a valuable teaching tool in economics, political
science, and international relations courses. If you are interested in teaching
this book, please contact Kate Cell (Katecell@ecaar.org)for a copy to review.

* "The Full Cost of Ballistic Missile Defense." The study estimates that the
total life-cycle cost for a layered missile defense system could reach $1.2
trillion through 2035.
*You can get a bound printed copy of the report for shipping costs only
by writing to Cat Cohen, Operations Manager, at catcohen@ecaar.org, or
download the PDF file for free.

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*ACTION CORNER*

*The Urgent Call to End Nuclear Danger is building a large, diverse Speakers
Bureau that encompasses many different regions, different levels of honoraria,
and topics related to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. If you are
interested in being on the list, please contact Manisha Rose Snoyer at
youth@urgentcall.org. UrgentCall.org is a joint project of the Institute for
Defense and Disarmament Studies in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Fourth Freedom
Forum in Goshen, Indiana, and the Nation Institute in New York City. The Urgent
Call is a rallying cry for those who are worried about the drift toward nuclear
catastrophe or the use of other weapons of mass destruction-a disaster which
could happen in the United States, in a distant land, or in several different
places. The Urgent Call offers a means for us to show that our concern is deep
and widely shared. By expressing a shared view of what is wrong and what needs
to be done, the usually silent public can have an impact in Washington and in
other capitals around the world. Their website is http://www.urgentcall.org/

*Anyone who would be willing to put an ECAAR flyer up on a departmental bulletin
board or similar venue, please contact Thea Harvey, Development Manager at
theaharvey@ecaar.org.

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We would like News Notes to be a way for ECAAR members and our community to keep
in touch. We will include, if you send them to us, notices on events and
publications that you are involved with.
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*?UPCOMING EVENTS*

*September 4, 2003. Conference on "Conflict and Development" at the Institute
of Social Studies in The Hague, The Netherlands. For more details see item
above.

*September 12, 2003. Celebration of Can You Make a Difference?, the
autobiography of ECAAR founder, Robert J. Schwartz, PhD. Reception with Dr.
Schwartz and James K. Galbraith at the home of Tina Fredericks, in East Hampton,
Long Island, NY, from 7-9pm. For more information or to make a reservation,
please contact Lucy Webster at 212-490-6494, or lucywebster@ecaar.org.

*September 29th and 30th, 2003. ECAAR-Russia hosts a workshop on "Inequality and
Democratic Development" in Moscow. It will be followed by a conference on
"Russia's Long-term Economic Development". Russian and foreign scholars and
representatives of business are expected to participate.

*January 8-10, 2004. An International Conference on Conflict, Peace and
Development in South Asia will be held at Colombo, Sri Lanka. Although the
focus of the meeting will be on political, ethnic, religious and regional
conflicts within and between countries in South Asia, theoretical papers related
to Peace Economics and Peace Science; environmental, resource and conflicting
issues in health care; and development in general are also welcome. For details
and registration contact Professor Manas Chatterji, Binghamton University, tel:
607-777-2475,
email: mchatter@binghamton.edu

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* For more information about ECAAR, please visit our website www.ecaar.org
* To become a member of ECAAR, please click http://www.ecaar.org/Membership.htm
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