PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN THE NEWS

NOV 28, 2008
A Leader On Fighting Terrorism
The Miami Herald
Colombia has as much experience with terrorism as any country in the world...But the big story is that Colombia is relying not just on bullets and defoliants, but also on ideas. Colombia has developed an anti-terror model in our own hemisphere that has powerful applications in North Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.  Read more...

NOV 28, 2008
USAID Participates in Global Civil Society Forum in Qatar
MarketWatch
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) encouraged greater partnership with civil society organizations while participating in the Doha Global Civil Society Forum held Nov 26-27, 2008 in Doha, Qatar.
USAID's Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Director Terri Hasdorff participated in discussions highlighting the ever-increasing role of civil society organizations -- which include faith-based organizations, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and universities -- in development. She discussed innovative approaches to governments' inclusive approach with civil society organizations, in particular, through the U.S. Faith-Based and Community Initiative...The Doha Global Civil Society Forum brought together more than 250 participants to discuss and finalize their recommendations to the decision- makers for the International Conference on Financing for Development, also in Doha, from Nov 29-Dec 2, 2008.  Read more...

NOV 26, 2008
Pak-China Friendship Center to be completed in two years
Associated Press of Pakistan
The ground breaking ceremony of Pak-China Friendship Center held here Wednesday will be completed in two years at an estimated cost of two and a half billion rupees. “The project signifies a special feature of cultural relations between Pakistan and China as diplomatic relations between two countries are based on mutual trust and cooperation in all walks of life,” said Minister for Planning and Development, Makhdoom Shahabuddin at the opening ceremony...Chinese Ambassador, Lou Zhoi on the occasion said, “This Center would facilitate Pakistani people to know about the culture and traditions of China deeply.” “It will help strengthening people to people relations with exchange of cultural programmes besides exchanging business, sports and tourism, he added.   Read more...

NOV 26, 2008
MTV Latin America Sets Plans for World AIDS Day
World Screen News
MTV Networks Latin America will celebrate the tenth anniversary of its AIDS-prevention campaign, known as Se(x) Tu Mismo in Latin America, by airing a new documentary and launching a new website on World AIDS Day on December 1..."To celebrate Staying Alive's tenth anniversary is a tremendous milestone for all MTV's around the world," commented Mario Cáder-Frech, the VP of corporate social responsibility and public affairs for MTV Networks Latin America.  Read more...

NOV 25, 2008
U.S. State Dept and the Adobe Found to Launch Online Video Contest to Amplify U.S. Public Diplomacy
The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire
Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Goli Ameri, in conjunction with the Adobe Foundation, will launch an online video contest to amplify U.S. public diplomacy using web-based outreach campaigns and social media platforms on Monday, December 1, at 3:00 p.m. at a National Press Club Newsmaker. The “My Culture + Your Culture = ? Share Your Story” video contest is part of a Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) initiative to encourage cross-cultural community building and mutual understanding via the web and social media platforms. The contest also highlights the newly designed website, exchanges.state.gov, which is a portal to ECA’s Facebook page and its ExchangesConnect social network (connect.state.gov).   Read more...

NOV 25, 2008
Arab-Indian Cooperation Forum to be set up
Yemen News Agency (SABA)
On the fringes of the First Arab Cultural Festival 2008, Arab states and India are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding for the setting up of the Arab-Indian Cooperation Forum...
Yemen's participation in the 1st Arab cultural festival 2008, which would be held early next month in India's capital, New Delhi, will include artistic and dancing shows of Yemeni folklore as well as holding plastic art, heritage and images of various Yemeni areas exhibitions.  Read more...

NOV 25, 2008
Voices of America: U.S. Public Diplomacy for the 21st Century
The Brookings Institution
For generations, America’s standing in the world has been a source of strength, security, prosperity, and legitimacy. That standing is now in peril, according to a wide range of studies that span the political spectrum. America’s tarnished international reputation carries a price. Whether the United States seeks to draw more allied troops to Afghanistan, win votes in international organizations, or undermine support for terrorists, anti- American attitudes obstruct the achievement of national interests...This report presents concrete steps to strengthen America’s efforts to engage, persuade, and attract the support of foreign publics. As part of a comprehensive plan to enhance our government’s public diplomacy, it urges the creation of a nimble and entrepreneurial new non-profit organization, the USA-World Trust, to complement and support U.S. government efforts.  Read more...

NOV 24, 2008
US Taps Online Youth Groups to Fight Crime, Terrorism
Agence-France Presse
The US State Department announced plans on Monday to promote online youth groups as a new and powerful way to fight crime, political oppression and terrorism. Drawing inspiration from a movement against FARC rebels in Colombia, the State Department is joining forces with Facebook, Google, MTV, Howcast and others in New York City next week to get the "ball rolling." It said 17 groups from South Africa, Britain and the Middle East which have an online presence like the "Million Voices Against the FARC" will attend a conference at Columbia University Law School from December 3-5. "The idea is put all these people together, share best practices, produce a manual that will be accessible online and in print to any group that wants to build a youth empowerment organization to push back against violence and oppression around the world," he told reporters. The conference will be streamed by MTV and Howcast, he said.  Read more...

NOV 24, 2008
Experiencing America: Public Diplomacy at Its Best
The Heritage Foundation
Immediately after I was sworn into office, my team and I went to work surveying more than 180 foreign ambassadors serving here...When the surveys came back, there were five main areas of interest, or Five Pillars: The Economy--how our nations can forge deeper economic bonds; Health Care--how we can work together to eradicate worldwide diseases; Science and Technology--how innovation can create foundations for growth; Energy--how we can work together to find new, sustainable forms of energy; and Security--how we can work together to make the world a safer place. Next, we extended the Office of Protocol to be at the forefront of public diplomacy by creating a new outreach division...I'm proud to tell you that in the past 10 months, we have organized nearly 70 outreach events covering the Five Pillars of most interest to them  Read more...

NOV 24, 2008
Virtual vs Real Life
ABC2 News
The State Department is one of several federal agencies now conducting business or holding events on the cutting edge -for all the world to see, " Bill May, US Department of State, Public Diplomacy IT Office, "We're really looking at engaging in mutual understanding, developing understanding between the American people and peoples of other countries."...The government recently sponsored a global jazz concert where musicians from places like Mexico, Australia and Germany participated at the same time...Sweden was among the first to setup a virtual embassy, a replica of its "real life" building in Washington D.C.  Read more...

NOV 24, 2008
Obama: ‘Soft power’ and Hard Reality
BBC News
The Obama presidency could be a good test for the theory that America's power to attract goodwill - its "soft power" - is a key element of its influence around the world...Joseph Nye, the Harvard academic who coined the term "soft power", agrees that Mr Obama has it in spades, but says it will not automatically lead to foreign policy triumphs. "The fact that you have an African-American son of an immigrant become president shows that the American democracy still works," he told the BBC News website. "Now if we wind up failing to co-operate on climate change or getting into a war which is unpopular, Obama's personal symbolism isn't going to overcome that."  Read more...

NOV 23, 2008
Obama can Show Diplomacy on World Stage, Revive America’s Image
The Arizona Republic
Effective public diplomacy lubricates our efforts to deal with important global problems such as terrorism, nuclear proliferation and economic crises. Unfortunately, in recent years, we have communicated with foreign audiences in ways that have not promoted understanding and support...One thing President-elect Obama can do quickly to change the game, and that would cost little or no money, is to make some significant gesture of humility.  Read more...

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