April 4

"Every parting gives a foretaste of death, every reunion a hint of the resurrection."

--Arthur Schopenhauer; image: 42 Commando Returns From Afghanistan from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

The First Family and the Family of Man - Liz Losh, Virtualpolitik: "I've been writing and presenting a lot of material about Obama's online video presence and they ways that he uses platforms like YouTube for public diplomacy purposes. As this chronological montage of his YouTube performances shows [see video at link], he has made separate videos addressing Muslim and Jewish audiences on particular holidays, but this one addresses all three faith traditions, before abruptly switching to a fireside track about the economy." Image from

Defending the USA Pavilion: And no, the Shanghai World Expo is not just a trade show - Jose H. Villarreal, Foreign Policy: "Contrary to what reporter Adam Minter wrote recently in his article, 'A Sorry Spectacle: The Uninspiring Saga of the United States' World Expo Pavilion in Shanghai,' the design and execution of the USA Pavilion has been not only impressive but inspiring. The USA Pavilion, which will open its doors on May 1 as part of the first-ever World's Fair hosted in China, will showcase American values, ideas, and culture to an international audience eager for knowledge about the United States and the world. An estimated 70 million people are expected to attend what is officially known as Expo 2010 Shanghai, where more than 240 countries and international organizations will be represented. According to a recent poll conducted by Millward Brown ACSR and Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, the USA Pavilion, currently in the final construction phase, is likely to be among the most popular foreign exhibits for Chinese Expo-goers. This pavilion's anticipated success is a testament to the leadership of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and a group of citizens who think that the world's top economic power and democratic beacon must take every opportunity to nurture the ever-important U.S.-China relationship. Jose H. Villarreal is the U.S. commissioner general to Expo 2010 Shanghai. ... Comment by Bob Jacobson Yes, Jose, but.... Your 'defense' is a mark of your loyalty to the cause and to the US having a good presence at the Shanghai Expo. All Americans would applaud your dedication as Commissioner General. ... As the first Commissioner General of a serious US Pavilion effort in 20 years, your standards must be the highest.

Your evaluation of how the US is represented at the Shanghai Expo and the factors that led to the issues Adam so well addressed will determine the success or failure of US Pavilion efforts at Yeosu, Korea, in 2012 and at the 2015 Milan's Universal Expo -- on a par with Shanghai, but much closer to home and critical to US public diplomacy." Image from article

MPs tell FCO to improve web archive – kable: "Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee has said the Foreign and Commonwealth Office should make its website more user-friendly for researchers. Its annual report on the department for 2008-09 includes a section on its use of new media that highlights the website's role in delivering policy goals and essential services. ... The report notes that the FCO's new media activities are a central element in its efforts to engage in non-traditional public diplomacy, which it has been promoting since 2007. The website is now attracting 120,000 visitors a day, making it the second busiest in the UK and the second busiest foreign ministry site in the world. According to the FCO, 25% of online visitors were seeking visa content and 10% travel advice. ... 'We commend the FCO's efforts to use new media to provide information to and engage with the public to drive public diplomacy campaigns designed to complement its diplomatic efforts,' the report says." Image from

Public diplomacy for Israel: to act or to react? - Yaron Gamburg, My Israel: "In my opinion, Public Diplomacy should embrace both ways and differentiate the messages according to the country or audience in case.

We can't ignore the anti-israel inflammatory propaganda or boycott movements and should cope with them. On the other hand, we have to show people what we contribute to the world, and make sure they have better knowledge of our democracy, hi-tech, science, culture and society. After all, we want people to invest in our economy, to visit Israel as tourists, and support our cause." Image from

Le retour de l’Empire: romance arabo-turque au “nouveau” Moyen-Orient - Culture et politique arabes - Article described by Issandr El Amrani, The Arabist, as "On Turkey's public diplomacy and soft power in the Arab world."

Is Public Diplomacy Beneficial for all Participants? - SEO Guy: "One goal of public diplomacy is to create allies inside other states through education programs or cultural exchanges.

Should this be viewed as enriching individuals, or as a sly attempt to manipulate another country’s domestic politics? This Global Ethics Corner slideshow is part of a weekly series from the Carnegie Council. For more, go to: www.cceia.org." Image from

Home away from home away from home (Vladivostok) - Greg Miller, From Russia With Love: Greg's Russian Exchange: "I also spent some time at the US consulate in Vladivostok while I was here. The first day I visited them, I got a small tour of the inside, and then I went to lunch with the consul general, and some of the other officers. The next day, I went to the consulate again to listen to a speech by a Russian-born citizen who immigrated to the US and eventually became an American citizen. ... After the speech, I went out to eat with the Public Diplomacy Officer and one of the Russians who work at the consulate. Then, on Saturday, they invited me and the other American exchange students to a 'Chili cook off' which they were having at their townhouses.

Angela Craciun - President @ World Mineralogical Organization - peoplepond.com : "Though she has recently dedicated her energy to the World Mineralogy Organization, Angela Craciun

has made a name for herself in the international business community and is responsible for the success of Ar-Thema International Group, Eurolat, Joinis Press Group, and Indigo Magazine, all of which have received recognition for excellence in their respective industries. Moreover, from 2002 to 2003, Angela Craciun was the Director for Public Diplomacy in the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as a trusted representative on such matters as Romanian entry into the European Union." Cracium image from

Internship - Embassy of Denmark, Dar es Salaam – AAU Jobbank: "The Embassy of Denmark in Dar es Salaam is the focal point in the partnership between Tanzania and Denmark. Tanzania is Denmark’s largest programme country and Danish aid to Tanzania covers a variety of areas. For the second half of 2010, two interns will be recruited to work with Public Financial Management/Aid Management and Public Diplomacy respectively.

The internship will help you to apply your technical skills in practice and further develop your competencies in your field of study." Image from

Thanks, John Brown, for covering DOTCOM's adventures! - DOTCOM: PH International -- Connecting students across the globe. "Just heard that DOTCOM's trip has received a bit of coverage in a U.S. public diplomacy blog. Thanks, John Brown."

CULTURAL DIPLOMACY

Symphony moves history forward - Nguyen Le Hung and Lan Hoang, Viet Nam News: "Ascending Dragon, the biggest cultural exchange between Viet Nam and the US, has created a buzz among the Asian country's music scene. ... On a Tuesday afternoon two weeks ago, two-time Grammy awards winner the Southwest Chamber Music (SWC), a dauntless American new classical ensemble, spectacularly entered Ha Noi's music scene with Ascending Dragon. More ambitious than anything done before between the United States and our dynamic Asian country, the event promised to revive and satisfy a thirst for knowledge and entertainment, and so much more. 'It's a dream-come-true,' said Dr Tran Thu Ha, People's Artist and former director of the VNAM. 'We've longed for such an event for years and years.' The dream came true when the ensemble was recommended to the US State Department by Congressman Adam Schiff, representative of California's 29th District. The ensemble then received a highly competitive grant for the project. 'This is perfect timing,' Nguyen Hai Anh, deputy director general of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's International Co-operation Department, said of the Viet Nam-US musical and cultural exchange programme, adding that it had helped increase understanding between the people of the two countries.

The programme's significance is that artists from the two countries have jointly performed in both nations, particularly in celebration of Ha Noi's 1,000th anniversary, said Anh. He lauded the US State Department's efforts in creating favourable conditions for this musical and cultural programme, one of the largest after the New York Philharmonic, which performed in Viet Nam last year. 'Viet Nam wishes to promote multi-faceted co-operation with foreign countries, including the US, not only in economics and trade but also in music and culture,' Anh said. 'Cultural exchanges between the US and Viet Nam will be brought to new levels, thanks to this performance by the Southwest Chamber Music (SCW) and their Vietnamese counterparts in Ha Noi and HCM City. The musicians have brought not only the music, but also a message of friendship. Their performance will be a highlight in cultural diplomacy between the two nations this year,'" Anh told Viet Nam News. Image from article -- Harmony: Vietnamese and American artists paint a sound portrait of a bright future.

Here comes the Broadway - Bibek Bhandari, Republica: "American Voices Foundation, an organization dedicated to cultural engagement in countries emerging from conflict, is putting together a Broadway show with a local caste this weekend. John Ferguson and Michael Parks Masterson from the Foundation will present a compilation of Broadway acts including the ever popular 'Rent' and 'Grease' on April 3 at Moksh Bar in Pulchowk, Lalitpur.

'It’ll be a surprise,' the duo said, who was on an invitation by the Embassy of United States in Nepal." Image from article

Phil Epp to speak on Kazakhstan trip - Newton Kansan: Artist Phil Epp will present 'Kansas to Kazakhstan' at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Newton Public Library, 720 N. Oak St. Epp, a well-known painter and photographer from the Newton area, participated in the American Artists Abroad initiative of Art in Embassies, a program of the U.S. State Department. He spent 10 days in Kazakhstan where his artwork was displayed. He gave lectures, conducted master classes, met with Kazakh students, artists, media and government officials, all as a means of person-to-person cultural diplomacy."

Festival of parallels - Pallab Bhattacharya, The Daily Star: "Better late than never. For the first time, Delhi will host a festival of Bangladeshi feature films from April 16 to 18, showcasing the works of five leading directors of the parallel cinema movement of Bangladesh.

The three-day festival, to be held at Siri Fort auditorium II, will screen seven films with English subtitles by five directors including Tareque Masud and Catherine Masud, Enamul Karim Nirjhor and Mostafa Sarwar Farooki. ... While one can always argue that many more important directors of Bangladesh parallel cinema and their works could have been included in the festival, the Bangladesh High Commission should be given credit for making a beginning by having the first such festival organised in Delhi as films constitute a key component of a country's cultural diplomacy." Image from article: Scene from the film “Ontorjatra”.

Locating Singapore in India's Strategic Radar - Rahul Mishra, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses: "The week ending 28 March 2010 was dominated by Singapore in terms of India’s politico-military and cultural diplomacy moves. ... It started with Minister for External Affairs S.M. Krishna’s visit to Singapore . ... He ... visited the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and applauded the faculty there for its outstanding academic contribution to strengthening cultural linkages between India and Southeast Asia. He also updated the media on developments regarding the proposed Nalanda University in India. The visit underscores the cultural linkages India shares with Singapore."

Zimbabwean student sets out from Morocco to South Africa “in search of an authentic African voice” - Caroline J. Mailloux, SW Radio Africa: "On 29 March 2010, Errol Tapiwa Muzawazi, a 26-year old Zimbabwean national and student of international humanitarian law will lead a group of 8 students and professors on the Pan-African Study Tour 2010, a 7-month educational expedition across 21 African countries from Morocco to South Africa. The first of its kind by a black African, the expedition seeks to synthesize diverse African perspectives on Africa to serve as a positive change agent against modern media portrayal of the continent as home to war, disease, hunger, and corruption. ... When Errrol Tapiwa Muzawazi left Africa for studies in Europe seven years ago, he was struck by the distorted image of Africa in the international media. He set to work fostering productive dialogue with Polish and international students and founded the Society for African Affairs at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. ... In 2009, the Polish Ministry of Science and Tertiary Education, in the first ever competition to recognize the contribution of foreign students to the Polish academic environment, awarded Muzawazi with title of 'Best Foreign Student in Poland'

for his work in African cultural diplomacy in Europe." Image from