Patrick joined AIDemocracy in June 2010 as their new Global Peace and Security Fellow. Although, this actually marks the return of Patrick to AIDemocracy because in 2008, he served as the Global Peace and Security Program’s intern. Also in 2008, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a Minor in International Studies from Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA. Before rejoining AIDemocracy, Patrick was a Legislative Aide for PA State Senator Lisa M. Boscola for about a year-and-a-half. After spending some time “inside the beltway” he decided he wanted to try some “outside the beltway” work, which brought him to Washington, D.C., oddly enough. He canvassed on behalf of Save the Children for a time in the D.C./Virginia area until he joined Global Zero, which is an international, non-partisan movement dedicated to the elimination of all nuclear weapons. He ventured on a six-week road tour across the Midwest of the United States to screen a new documentary film making the case for “Zero” entitled “Countdown to Zero.” The film is from the same makers of “An Inconvenient Truth” and will be released in theaters this July. Patrick’s interests are too numerous to list but his primary ones are youth empowerment, the anti-war/peace movement, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, cultural diplomacy and the broader use of the arts to build understanding and peace, and efforts to democratize the social structures and institutions with which we interact with throughout our lives. He is incredibly excited to be back at AIDemocracy and is particularly looking forward to working with young people all across the United States on issues of individual and collective peace and security. However, outside of AIDemocracy, Patrick enjoys learning and trying out new tech. (especially Apple tech), cooking (I love a good burger!), watching his DVR religiously (e.g. Glee, Top Chef, etc.), watching and playing sports (e.g. Football, Baseball, World Cup Soccer), and spending as much time with his girlfriend as possible!
Patrick McDermott – Global Peace and Security Fellow
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Get Used to the Orange Jumpsuit
The date is Tuesday, September 11th, 2012. I had just gotten back from seeing my family for the Christmas holiday. I’m sitting in the living room of my apartment, and I’m on my computer getting ready to write a critique of US foreign policy 11 years after 9/11. But just when I’m about to begin, there’s a knock on my door. I’m wasn't accustomed to getting knocks on my door, as I lived in an apartment complex and visitors were few and far between. In looking through the peephole, I realized there were two police officers standing outside my door. … [Read more...]
Be2021′s First Campus Event!
AIDemocracy's University of Pittsburgh has organized the first Be2021 Campus Event of the year and it's going on tonight! They've put together a stellar Art Exhibition and Discussion (ambitious I know!) and I am sure it will a phenomenal success. Stay tuned to The Conversation to find out how it all went, but if you're in or near Pittsburgh, get down to this event tonight and check out some of the stellar work that student artists have put together to answer the question, "where should we be in 10 years?" You can find out more about the event … [Read more...]
Get Your House Rep. to Support Cutting Spending on Nuclear Weapons TODAY!
Here are some stats that may surprise you: Every year the US spends more than $30 billion maintaining the country’s arsenal of nuclear weapons. Today, the nuclear arsenal still exceeds 5,000 warheads. According to estimates, the US is expected to spend over $700 billion (you read that right, $700 billion!) over the next ten years to maintain weapons that were built during the Cold War, a war that's been over for more than 20 years. Representative Ed Markey (MA-7) has written a “Dear Colleague” letter to his fellow representatives asking … [Read more...]
No one likes to be guilt-tripped
Let me set the scene for you. I used to take the Metro in D.C. every night to get home from work. On one particular night, I was heading to an event after work. On my way to the Capitol South Metro, right outside the escalator to head down to the platform, there were a bunch of protesters putting on what's commonly referred to as a "stunt." What they were protesting is U.S. militarism in Honduras and they chose to display their -- let's call it displeasure, by having two protesters lie on the ground, with red paint on their white shirts, with another … [Read more...]
Qaddafi Out, US In
There have been a lot of news stories that have dominated the headlines this week. An East Coast Earthquake that shook all of DC and went as far north as Toronto, Steve Jobs resigning as CEO of Apple (particularly sad for an Apple geek like me), and the anticipation about where Hurricane Irene will make landfall. However, the one headline I believe has the most impact of all of them is how the Libyan rebellion forced Muammar al-Qaddafi out of Tripoli. The rebellion hasn't found him yet, but they believe he is hiding in his hometown of Sirte. And if the … [Read more...]
AIDemocracy Goes to the White House!
A few weeks ago I got an e-mail. Attached to the e-mail was an invite to attend the Welcoming Ceremony for German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the South Lawn of the White House. The ceremony is a tradition anytime the President welcomes a foreign dignitary to the United States for an official state visit. Obviously, I jumped at the opportunity, and brought two of our interns along, Rachel, our Development program intern, and Yasmine, our Student Organizing intern. It was, needless to say, a great experience to be on the South Lawn, amongst all of the … [Read more...]
What does the 10th anniversary of 9/11 mean to you?
Recent headlines on the death of Osama Bin Laden have led some to believe that the tragedy of 9/11 is behind us. We don’t believe this for an instant, and are counting that you don’t believe it either. So today, we are asking you to join the new Be2021 campaign to address the many challenges that we continue to face as a generation, a nation and a planet. In the wake of 9/11, Americans for Informed Democracy launched a national conversation among young people about the US role in the world. We’ve engaged over 100,000 students on hundreds of … [Read more...]
Can the Taliban “Reintegrate” When Foreign Troops Are Still in Afghanistan?
What I mean by reintegrating is what NATO is defining as "reintegration." It's the process which NATO is employing to try and get Taliban foot soldiers (not the leadership) to voluntarily lay down their arms, register them with the government in Kabul and then submit biometric data so they can qualify for the perks and benefits that come with laying down one's arms. Spencer Ackerman of the blog Danger Room highlights this program in his article today on how the Taliban don't seem to be heeding the call for "reintegration." I am all for incentives for … [Read more...]
Fatima’s Story in Pittsburgh: Report from an AIDemocracy Chapter Conference on Global Health Disparities
Last Friday and Saturday, the brand new chapter of Americans for Informed Democracy at the University of Pittsburgh held its inaugural event to kick off the launch of its chapter. Most people might think an inaugural event might be a film screening or an info. session to launch their chapter. However, the students at UPitt like to do it big...their inaugural event was an entire conference on global health as affected by development, environment and conflict! Heady stuff I know for a first event, but that's how our students like to do it. And I can say to … [Read more...]
US Intervention in Libya: An Exercise in Hypocrisy?
I don't believe anyone can deny, nor has denied, that Col. Gaddafi would have without doubt committed mass atrocities against the Libyan opposition if it were not for military intervention in the form of an imposition of a no-fly zone over the country. It would have been a horrific humanitarian disaster and although I advocate for the use of non-violence even amidst violent conflict, I can't necessarily argue that preventing such an event from taking place is entirely unjustified. As the President stated in his speech last Monday night, the United … [Read more...]
