On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan stood before the Brandenburg Gate in West Germany and voiced his now-famous challenge to the Soviet leader: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.“ The Berlin Wall did fall on Nov. 9, 1989, 20 years ago Monday. Reagan’s speech before a crowd of 20,000 was a vital catalyst, says Romesh Ratnesar, deputy managing editor of Time magazine and the author of “Tear Down This Wall.“

A vigilant, civically engaged populace is critical to protecting democracy and keeping demagogues at bay, author Mike Signer told the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond last night. Signer, an adjunct professor in Virginia Tech’s Master’s in Public and International Affairs Program, is the author of “Demagogue—The Fight to Save Democracy From Its Worst Enemies.“

Mike Signer, an author and former Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, tonight discusses “the fight to save democracy” at the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. Signer, an adjunct professor in Virginia Tech’s master in International Affairs program, is the author of “Demagogue—The Fight to Save Democracy from its Worst Enemies.“

The nation must get its economic house in order so it can deal better with a dangerous world, Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th, said in Richmond yesterday. Speaking to the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond, Cantor called for economic sanctions against Iran—“the world’s most notorious sponsor of terrorism.“

Virginia and the federal government need to get behind offshore drilling to bring money and jobs to the state, an energy company executive says. “We have the [energy] resources,“ said the executive, J. Larry Nichols.

The World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond has announced a series of seminars focused on important world issues. They begin next month. The series, co-sponsored by the Virginia Historical Society, is also planned in conjunction with the League of Women Voters. The events are Thursdays at 7 p.m. from Feb. 5 through March 26. Topics are:

Stabilizing the real estate market is key to ending this financial crisis, a banking executive told the World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond. John A. Allison IV, chairman of BB&T Corp., spoke to about 200 people at the Omni Richmond Hotel last night. Allison, 60, spoke about the financial crisis, its causes and possible cures.

Even as the U.S. presence is on the verge of receding in Iraq, America needs to stay engaged with that key Middle Eastern nation, two international experts said in Richmond yesterday. “Iraq could be a positive force in the region,“ said former Iraqi defense official Nazar Janabi. But, Janabi said, “that will require some strategic patience” on the part of America.

Janabi Newton Two experts with extensive personal experience in Iraq will discuss the next steps for that country at a World Affairs Council program in Richmond tomorrow. Nazar Janabi served from 2004 to 2006 as director general for defense policy and requirements in the Iraqi Ministry of Defense. He is a Next Generation fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, focusing on Iraqi and Middle Eastern security issues and democratization in the region.

Clare Sisisky leads a staff of eight teachers and 130 students at the Center for the Humanities at Hermitage High School. Understanding other cultures is a large part of the focus of theCenter for the Humanities at Hermitage High School in Henrico County. For her advancement of those goals, the center’s director, Clare Sisisky, has received the Award for Excellence in the Teaching of International Studies.