Webinars

The Working Groups of GLITSS host regular webinars on topics of Globalization, Illicit Trade, Sustainability and Security which can be attended live and re-watched on our YouTube channel.

Upcoming Webinars

Stay tuned for more upcoming webinars.

The use of the European Trade Control and Expert System TRACES to collect data on the imports of wildlife to the EU – The marine ornamental fish trade as a case study

We are excited to announce our next webinar “Potential challenges of developing and integrating software applications for illicit trade in real products and services.”

Have a look at our diverse webinars below and subscribe to our YouTube Channel for updates:

In this webinar titled The use of the European Trade Control and Expert System TRACES to collect data on the imports of wildlife to the EU - The marine ornamental fish trade as a case study, we delve into the European Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES), an essential tool for tracking wildlife imports to the EU. Using the marine ornamental fish trade as a case study, Dr. Monica V. Biondo, (Foundation Franz Weber, Switzerland) and Dr. Ricardo Calado (University of Aveiro, Portugal) explore the limitations and opportunities of TRACES as a critical data collector to support wildlife conservation and sustainable trade practices.

Join our host and moderator, Dr. Caroline Fukushima (University of Turku, Finland) in learning about how a European Union biosecurity tracking platform can be transformed into a key wildlife conservation tool with just a few small changes, the challenges facing the marine ornamental fish industry, the state of marine fish conservation, and the political obstacles researchers are facing.

This video is brought to you by COST Action GLITSS (Globalization, Illicit Trade, Sustainability and Security), an EU-funded interdisciplinary research network. For more information about our research, please visit us at https://www.glitss.eu/.

For more information on Dr. Biondo and Dr. Calado's work, visit https://procoralfish.org/. Pro Coral Fish is supported by Foundation Franz Weber (https://www.ffw.ch/en/).

You can read more about the ornamental fish trade in The Revelator's most recent article: https://therevelator.org/ornamental-fish-trade/

GLITSS Webinar: Collecting Data on the Marine Ornamental Fish Trade with the EU TRACES Platform

Integrating machine learning solutions into real products and services presents many challenges throughout its lifecycle. In this webinar, we delve into the journey of developing and integrating software applications, using one application where illicit trade would take place as an example, highlighting key phases and associated limitations.

Beginning with the initial stages of customer engagement and requirement gathering, we navigate the complexities of data acquisition, model development, and deployment. Throughout this process, we may encounter technical obstacles such as code optimization, code quality, and security vulnerabilities. Moreover, the webinar explores the challenges of integrating AI solutions into existing infrastructures, addressing compatibility issues, and ensuring functionality that considers customer feedback. By dissecting the lifecycle of a machine learning project, this webinar offers insights into navigating the multifaceted landscape of software development and integration.

GLITSS Webinar: Challenges of developing & integrating apps for illicit trade in products & services

In recent years, due to economic and political instability around the world, there has been growing concern over the possible infiltration of counterfeit, fraudulent and suspect items (CFSIs) into the nuclear supply chain. CFSIs do not undergo the same rigorous quality assurance procedures as legitimate items and deviate from prescribed specifications. Within the nuclear supply chain, CFSIs can diminish the integrity of equipment, systems, structures, components or devices that contribute to nuclear safety and/or nuclear security. The inadvertent introduction or malicious insertion of CFSIs within the nuclear supply chain could lead to the occurrence of a nuclear security event.

Prevention and risk assessment are essential in containing the security consequences of illicit trade, and technology could play a central role in monitoring – with the aim of reducing the resources available to politically motivated and terrorist actors. Therefore, it is necessary to develop measures to mitigate the nuclear security implications of CFSIs that have infiltrated the nuclear supply chain or prevent their introduction altogether.

Quality Assurance requirements for each supplier category and the quality classification of the procured item or service should be part of the CFSI Program as an integral part of the Integrated Management System and Quality Assurance Program. It is of great importance to comprehensively review existing international legislations and regulations relating to CSFIs and to examine the procurement process in light of the nuclear security implications of CFSIs.

GLITSS Webinar: Counterfeit, Fraudulent & Suspicious Items in the Nuclear Supply Chain

The webinar shares with the audience the experiences of the
Research Group on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings
(University of Pécs) with the operation of the so-called Escapetruck.

The Escapetruck is an educational programme that is based on
interactive learning. In this programme, a container is transformed
into an escape room furnished like the workplace of a prostitute who
is exploited by traffickers. The programme specifically targets the
youth and those who are most vulnerable to trafficking.

The webinar provides a short introduction to trafficking in human beings, which is followed by a showcasing of the Escapetruck during operation. After that, specific aspects of operating the Escapetruck are shared.

Finally, the webinar concludes by providing the know-how on how
to build a similar escape room based on the Hungarian experience.

GLITSS Webinar: Escapetruck – An Interactive Learning Programme for Awareness-raising

Several critical consumption initiatives exist in Italy. One emblematic example concerns citizens’ initiatives supporting entrepreneurs who denounce mafia extortion attempts in the South and beyond. These consumers choose to buy ‘ethical’ products from these entrepreneurs who declare that they do not pay protection money or have denounced the mafiosi who asked them to do so.

In an era where consumer choices have never been more powerful, the webinar “Combating Illegal Trade by Promoting Critical Consumption” discusses the strategic role of consumers in making ethical decisions and explores how our purchasing habits can either support or undermine illegal trade practices, shining a light on the significant impact of critical consumption.

GLITSS Webinar: Combating Illegal Trade by Promoting Critical Consumption

The webinar discusses the effectiveness of the Lacey Act in combating wildlife trade compared to EU regulations on this matter, which are connected to CITES. The presenter concludes that the Lacey Act is more effective in capturing illegal wildlife trade, not just endangered species.

In the second part, the webinar dives into the problem of distinguishing between legal and illegal trade in considering which to combat as legal trade in animals does not imply that it is sustainable, contrary to what is usually believed. The presenters highlight this by showing the extensive volume of the legal trade in invertebrates as investigated via the Law Enforcement Management Information System (LEMIS).

GLITSS Webinar: Shall the EU follow the example of the US in wildlife trade regulation?

The illicit trade of Ukrainian Amber and Czech Moldavite has become a pressing regional concern, presenting challenges for authorities, law enforcement, and stakeholders invested in preserving our natural heritage.

This webinar explores the causes of amber and moldavite's attractiveness, including the characteristics facilitating their easy smuggling.
It delves into the deposits, extraction processes, and legislative gaps contributing to the emergence of a grey market for these precious resources and recent changes in Ukrainian legislation that have transitioned amber extraction and trade from the grey area into legality.
Furthermore, it introduces the legal framework and current law enforcement efforts against illicit trade with Moldavite in the Czech Republic.

GLITSS Webinar: The Phenomenon of Czech Moldavite & Ukrainian Amber Illicit Trade: Policy Responses

The webinar explores whether the drug business is a free market and whether it is riddled with violence or consists of a series of smooth and sophisticated operations between sellers and buyers, facilitated by intermediaries all the way from wholesale to retail.

Explore the mechanisms by which drug production and trade can be governed with the settings in which such governance does not take place.

GLITSS Webinar: The Cocaine Industry: Governance, Territory, and Violence

GLITSS COST Action networking activities organised through a Grant Awarding Process encompass the mobility of researchers and innovators and presentations at conferences organised by third parties.

This video explains how participants' activities can be funded under the project.

GLITSS COST Action Grant Info Video

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COST Association

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation.

COST Action GLITSS (CA21133)

The Cost Action GLITSS is a network of scholars, practitioners and civil society representatives working on Globalization, Illicit Trade, Sustainability and Security. It aims at bringing together scholars and practitioners in the area of illicit trade who work in institutional silos and hardly cooperate with each other. GLITSS intends to contribute to create an epistemic community of experts on illicit trade matters.