The current Ebola outbreak has claimed thousands of lives and has been declared a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” by the World Health Organization. The alarming rate of new infections in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, and the spread of cases beyond West Africa to the US and Europe, continues to challenge the international community’s existing strategies for controlling the infectious disease. Isolated Ebola epidemics have occurred in the past, but what explains the virulence of this particular outbreak and how can it be contained? What essons are governments, NGOs, and doctors learning from this crisis to help them prepare for future outbreaks?

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Why should businesses invest in nature?

Because it is one of the smartest investments they can make, according to Mark Tercek. The services that nature provides— clean water, air, and protection from storms, floods, and other disasters— can help businesses reduce costs, mitigate risks, and protect assets. Join The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and The Nature Conservancy CEO, Mark Tercek, for a discussion on how business, government, and society can thrive by investing in nature.Mark Tercek is president and chief executive officer of The Nature Conservancy and author of the bestselling book Nature’s Fortune: How Business and Society Thrive by Investing in Nature.

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