United in Service of Defence and Security since 1920 |
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Dear Visitor, Welcome to the March 2022 issue of our monthly e-newsletter - Dispatches. Russia's incursion of Ukraine has us all watching for news and hoping the Ukrainian people are able to rally against the Russian forces. Our recent presentation with Dr Sean M Maloney was an excellent opportunity to help understand Putin's threatened invasion in the Ukraine, and the gravity of strategic nuclear weapons. Dr Maloney shared information Canadians are ordinarily not exposed to. If you were unable to attend, please use the link included below and watch this very informative presentation.
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| Look for the next RAUSI Dispatches in your mailbox Friday, 1 April 2022. All members are warmly welcomed to contribute newsworthy matters to future monthly issues of Dispatches by e-mailing us at admin@rausi.ca. Content submission deadline is Friday, 25 March 2022. Questions or submission? Write to admin@rausi.ca.‍‍‍ We are excited to keeping you informed about RAUSI and our upcoming events and news. If you ever find that this e-newsletter is not for you, simply click on the link to unsubscribe. |
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Message from the President
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 As lawmakers in the House of Commons voted 185 to 151 to approve the extension under the Emergencies Act, with the minority Liberal government backed by the New Democrats, Canada continues on a path that demands critical thinking. Understanding issues that relate to security and defence are paramount and certainly not limited to news about the “Freedom Convoy” protests against the Covid-19 vaccine mandate.
Informed Canadians are needed in order to navigate our future and the provocative articles and presentations on the RAUSI website are a good place to start. I am impressed at the evolution of the Institute as well as the support from its staff, volunteers and directors. As my term as president nears conclusion, it is clear to me that this momentum will continue to craft RAUSI into the "think tank" that it needs to be. I would like to thank the membership for the their support over the last year and challenge them to participate even more in the post-COVID future. United Through Service, Maj Kent Griffiths, MMM, CD (Retired)
President
The Royal Alberta United Services Insitute (RAUSI)
president@rausi.ca |
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‍Strategic Nuclear Moves During the Ukrainian Crisis of 2022 |
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RAUSI's presentation "Strategic Nuclear Moves During the Ukrainian Crisis of 2022" with Dr Sean M Maloney last week was well attended. The timing of the talk, Sean's up-to-the-minute information, and an engaged audience made for an excellent conversation. "A great presentation Sean! Thrilling yet sobering!"
~ Gilbert M. "Thank you to RAUSI. Sean, you provided an incredible brief as always."
~ Steve K. "Thanks! Great to know nuclear signalling exists as it may work to deter use."
~ Ken S. "Very interesting presentation. Particularly interesting discussion on language and dialects in a high context environment. Thanks again."
~ Karine L. At the request of the presenter, this recording is not publicly available. Become a member to receive access! ‍Use code RMCSD22 to receive $10 off Ordinary Membership (voting) or $5 off Associate Memberhip (non-voting). |
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The recognition of military-connected learners in Canada has garnered limited attention, but this area of study remains in its infancy. Military-connected students face real and perceived barriers to higher education that may negatively impact learning, post-military success, and employment if not systematically addressed. This presentation will discuss a conceptual framework which accounts for the inclusion of an underrepresented group of adult learners in postsecondary education. Following a 20-minute presentation, the audience will be encouraged to challenge and discuss with relevant questions. These will be non-partisan discussions aimed at generating thought-provoking responses allowing all parties to become better informed on security and defence. Join us 24 March 2022, 19:00 (Mountain) via Zoom. Register through Zoom to receive meeting connection links.‍ | |
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Rocky Mountain Conference on Security and Defence (RMCSD): Focussing on the WORLDAfter almost 3 years of pandemic news, conflicting national and provincial health policies and ever changing restrictions, we have ceased operating in physical space and moved our operations virtually. RAUSI continues forward as we are "United in Service of Defence and Security." During this transition, our membership numbers are ... suffering. We need people who want to discuss security and defence issues, becoming better informed on these important matters, here in Canada and abroad. Local memberships are down 25% while Out-of-Town (global) memberships are rising. While over 100 people registered for the latest presentation, 70% of attendees were new to RAUSI. Our reach and numbers of attendees at the short RMCSD conferences is growing faster nationally than here in Alberta. We would love to see participation among members increase! We should all feel strongly about our defence and security. Events worldwide are proving we need to get ahead of these issues. Take advantage of these excellent learning opportuniites, and become engaged in thought provoking discussions with some of the best minds of subject matter experts. To continue, RAUSI needs our members to support this evolution from a social group back to our core as a "think tank". Shortly we are holding our Annual General Meeting (hopefully in person), where elections will take place for the President, Vice President and Board of Directors. Join us, renew/enroll today and let's discuss matters of national importance: our defence and security. Our Country deserves it, we should foster it at all costs. |
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Celebrating One of Our Own for International Women's Day |
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LCdr Anna Kocot, OSM, CDLCdr Kocot joined the Naval Reserve in 2001 as a Naval Warfare Officer and received her Bridge Watchkeeping certificate in January 2006. In the past few years, she has served in HMCS Tecumseh in various leadership roles including Deck Officer, Training Officer, and Operations Officer. She was promoted to her current rank in 2019 and is currently both the Executive Officer of HMCS Tecumseh and the Staff Officer Administration for Naval Reserve Western Region. LCdr Anna Kocot is a Director of RAUSI, serving with the Programs Committee. | |
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Visit our website to see articles like these throughout the month. Russia Planning Post-Invasion Arrest and Assassination Campaign in Ukraine, U.S. Officials Say‍ |
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| ‍Aris Messinis/AFP/GETTY IMAGES |
| ‍RAUSI takes note of recent intelligence pointing to strategic scenarios being considered by Putin to achieve his goals to overtake governance in the Ukraine, as detailed on foreignpolicy.com. | |
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Ukraine and Taiwan’s Fates Are Not Linked |
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| ‍Abaca Press/Alamy Stock Photo | |
| ‍"A conflict in Ukraine would not present an opportunity for China to invade Taiwan, because China’s foreign policy is not linked to Russian actions in Europe." All eyes are on the West and NATO now, to see how strongly they respond to Putin. Will China be emboldened, even if their foreign policy is not connected? | |
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Follow us on social media to see articles like these throughout the month. Why Vladimir Putin won't back down in Ukraine |
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shocked the world, but in many ways Vladimir Putin has been building up to this for some time. For Putin and at least some Russians, the villains of the crisis are not only Ukrainian nationalists, but also western governments. The West is seen as having one set of standards for itself, and another for countries like Russia. Understanding this aspect of Putin’s perspective on the world is crucial to understanding why he’s been so unwilling to back down in the face of what he sees as western intransigence and hypocrisy. |
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War in Ukraine has implications for Arctic co-operation, climate change research
Situation underscores need to modernize military capacity in Canada's North, says analyst
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Russia's invasion of Ukraine may seem half a world away, but it has implications for northerners and for circumpolar collaboration on important issues, including climate change, according to Robert Huebert, an associate professor at the University of Calgary whose work focuses on Arctic security and sovereignty. The situation also underscores gaps in the Canadian government's approach to its northern defences, Huebert said in an interview with CBC News. |
| | Stefan Hendricks/Alfred Wegener Institute
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EUSI 2022 Security and Defence Symposium: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in War & Peace
Saturday, 5 March 2022
Alberta Aviation Museum (11410 Kingsway, Edmonton) |
| The Edmonton United Services Institute, in partnership with the 700 Wing RCAF Association, and the Royal Alberta United Services Institute invite all civilian and military members of civil society to the Annual Security and Defence Symposium: Unmanned Vehicles (UAV) in War and Peace; Operational Issues in Military & Civilian Space. The event will not be recorded. Those interested should be sure to attend on Saturday! Zoom attendance is possible via prior arrangements only. E-mail rcaf.jackson@gmail.com to have your name added to the list. The Zoom link will be e-mailed the night before the conference. Cost: No charge for the symposium / $100 for Mess Dinner
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RAUSI is a Canadian-based forum for global civilians, humanitarian, military and international police communities to present original thought on trending issues, in their formative stages, as they relate to global security and defence. Formed in 1920 as a think tank, RAUSI later evolved into a service organization for veterans in the decades following the World Wars. In this new era, RAUSI has evolved back into a think tank, publishing original content, curating extant articles, and sponsoring speaker’s symposia which amplify cross-disciplined models of 21st century security and defence. |
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Copyright © 2022. The Royal Alberta United Service Institute, All rights reserved.
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