OCTOBER
Wednesday 25th October, 8.00 pm
The Belt and Road Initiative
a talk by
Paul Gillespie
Paul Gillespie, former Foreign Policy Editor and regular columnist
for the Irish Times. The Belt and Road Initiative is a colossal
plan to open up land links between China and Europe through
central and west Asia, Iran, Turkey, the Levant and the Balkans.
Alongside that will be a maritime route through the South China
Sea, the Indian Ocean, African ports, the Red Sea and the
Mediterranean. In his talk Paul will explore concerns raised and
also the potential for positive change which Xi Jingping’s New
Silk Road initiative brings with it, as China seeks to become a
middle-income power by 2021, the communist party’s 100th
anniversary year, and by 2049 a wealthy one, 100 years on from the
revolution that brought it to power.
Following Paul's talk I notice that the Belt and Road Initiative
is gathering force in Ireland as Kazakhstan will be opening an
embassy in Dublin in the New Year, with a view to expanding trade
and attracting investment. A particular area of interest to them
is that of the financial services sector as they hope to learn
from the expertise in Dublin's IFSC in furthering their ambitions
to make Astana a regional financial hub. All part of their avowed
intention to join China's New Silk Road!
NOVEMBER
Wednesday 29th November, 8.00 pm
The Role of Drama in Early Childhood Education
a talk by
Dr. Carmel O’Sullivan
Dr Carmel O Sullivan, TCD School of Education Carmel is a former
Head of the School of Education in Trinity College and an
international educational consultant. She will discuss recent
reform in Early Childhood Education and the role that a Drama in
Education pedagogical approach can play in enhancing the quality
of teaching and learning in early years classrooms.
NOVEMBER
Friday 10th November, 7.00 pm
A Painterly Return to my Hong Kong Childhood
a talk and slideshow by
Veronica Heywood
.
The intimate setting of the upstairs book room at
Piggybank(Eduventure), National Museum of Childhood Fundraising,94
Lower George's St, Dún Laoghaire provides the venue for this very
special evening of unique reminiscences.
DECEMBER
Wednesday 6th December, 8.00 pm
Christmas Food Fest
by Yanyi Blake and Shu Rong
Our Christmas Party will be, like the last 3 years, a FoodFest –
demonstrations and tasting of Chinese dishes prepared and cooked
for us by Yanyi and Shu.
Please note we will be inside downstairs in our regular Barbeque
venue,
Centenary Methodist Church/Wesley House,
Leeson Park,
Dublin 6.