June 1

"The Revolution is only possible through comedy."

--Sociologist Bob Black, as cited in the blog abduzeedo; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Student ambassador: USA Pavilion is more than corporate might - Dan Redford, Shanghai Daily:

[Evidently a letter from a guide at the US pavilion at the Shanghai Expo]: IT is no secret that the USA Pavilion at the World Expo has been receiving mixed, sometimes bordering on harsh, reviews. Reports from Huffington Post, The New York Times, NPR and countless blogs seem to paint a picture of the USA Pavilion as merely a billboard for corporate America. ... I think that the criticism is fair in some regards, but I believe that it is a symptom of an old adage, 'We are our own worst critics.' The USA Pavilion is more than just the building, and its significance goes well beyond the movies and the interactive exhibit that promotes the sponsors. ... Beyond the pavilion, Expo-goers get to see other elements of American culture. Over the past few weeks, student ambassadors and other representatives have organized activities, such as concerts and friendship tours to other cities in China, to give the Chinese people an American experience. These events are more than just shows of soft power; they share America's diversity and creativity. ... Certainly, having 70 or so Mandarin-speaking young Americans interacting directly with Chinese people on a daily basis makes a difference for public diplomacy - especially when 40,000 Chinese are filing through the pavilion on any given day. ... To be fair, the USA Pavilion doesn't have some of the features of other pavilions. There is nothing about our history, our education system or our role in global affairs. It would be nice to include elements explaining American democracy and to show elements of our past and present that have come to define us as Americans. But the Expo itself is about more than promoting individual countries. Instead, it's about establishing a commitment to creating a better world for us all. We all know these aren't realities. The Expo is about the next step. (Shanghai Daily condensed the letter.)" Image from

Public Diplomacy - Rachelle, This is my Trail: "So, I had lunch yesterday with Ambassador/Commissioner General to the Expo Jose Villarreal. He was wearing this very suit. Then he was back to the Expo to welcome the one millionth visitor to the US Pavilion, this nine-year-old girl from Wuxi. She looks cute in her cowboy hat (a gift for being the one millionth visitor).One million is a lot of people! And to think the US almost didn't have a Pavilion at all. Craziness! Whatever happened to public diplomacy anyway? It's a huge mistake for the government not to support these things (at least when they take place in China, our best frienemy). The USA Pavilion at the Expo will see more people in six months than the all of the consulates in China see in THIRTY YEARS. Yes, thirty years. And that's including all the people we reject for visas, who won't have the most positive view of the US after their experience at the consulate.One of the other people at lunch was the Shanghai Consulate's Information Officer, who is a Public Diplomacy Foreign Service Officer. It was interesting to talk to him about the foreign service, public diplomacy, and how close the US came to committing the biggest faux pas ever in not participating at the Expo. … At any rate, Secretary Clinton, Ambassador Villarreal and others pulled it together


in the end, and have seen a million visitors in the first month. They also have a blog in both Chinese and English, which is smart, because what this Expo is really about is reaching out to the Chinese people. It's called Public Diplomacy. Perhaps we should get back to that. First step: Don't fail Rachelle on the Foreign Service Exam next time!!! Well, I'm off to see the USA Pavilion (and whatever other things I don't have to wait in line for) myself today." Image from

America's message to the "barbarian" Middle East – Lena, Global Chaos: "Al Jazeera's Jassim Azzawi hosted another amazing 'Inside Iraq' discussion this week, which focused on Iraq's current position at a "crossroads". Of course, Fisk and Al Tikriti represent the local, Middle Eastern perspective, while Burkman is there to 'speak for the Americans.' And well, he did... Not only did he call all the people in the Middle East 'barbarians' living in the desert in the 6th century, but he also 'admitted' that Bush and Cheney lied to the American people about the WMDs in Iraq, because they had to 'change' the region. ... Honest? Fair enough. Too blunt? Certainly. And, too sad for American public diplomacy, no matter the conceptualization of it. Yes, Burkman, a 'premier political consultant and strategist' in Washington, certainly does not represent the official perspective of the American government. And yet, his profile and involvement, as well as the views he expresses, conspicuously reflect the line of the previous administration. What is more, he represents opinions held by a sizable chunk of the U.S. population. Is this the message that some of the American people want to send to the Arab world?"

There Is No War Against Islam - Ammara Ahmad, chowk.com:

"Dr. Daniel N. Nelson holds a doctorate from John Hopkins. He is the CEO of a consulting firm and the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences in the University of New Haven. He worked with the U.S Government on several issues like the National Security, Disarmament and Foreign Policy. … Me: How do you view the phenomenon of terrorism? Do you think the US needs some serious revision in terms of its foreign policy to remove the causes of terrorism? DNN: I understand your words. But I am not quite sure of the underlying meaning. You know, first, the American foreign policy didn’t cause terrorism. So I begin with that fundamental point. The president and the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, made significant changes in the conduct of the American foreign policy. Here in this Consulate and in Islamabad as well, there is a lot more money for public diplomacy, for example. May be still not enough, but it has improved the situation. And I think this is a different face to the American foreign policy. Even those people who dislike or hate the United States are dealing with people who better understand [their position]. I think these changes are leaving a significant effect not only on the image of United States but also on the efficacy of its foreign policy." Image from

40 Years In The Desert: What an Unbelievable Clusterf%$# - Matthew Saroff, 40 Years In The Desert: "The Israeli Defense Forces have intercepted a convoy of ships intending to run the Israeli blockade on Gaza, and at least 9 deaths have been reported.Considering that at least one of the passengers in the convoy was a Nobel Peace Prize winner, it looks like this an absolute disaster for Israel, and a victory for the 'Free Gaza Movement'. My first thought is that, on the part of Israel, 'It is worse than a crime: it is a mistake,* because there will be significant negative repercussions for years on Israel's foreign policy and public diplomacy. ... The interdiction of shipping with armed boarding parties in international waters is routine for both drug smuggling and human trafficking.Still, it's a stupid thing, and the deaths are senseless."

Karabakh settlement requires 'transformation of stereotypes' - News.Az: "News.Az interviews Armenian-born Phil Gamaghelyan,

managing editor of the Journal of Conflict Transformation. ...[Q:] Might public diplomacy play its role in improving relations between Azerbaijanis and Armenians? [A:]There cannot be a sustainable resolution without extensive public diplomacy, as relations between the Azerbaijani and Armenian societies cannot be improved without public diplomacy. At the same time, public diplomacy alone cannot resolve the conflict. Resolution of the conflict will require simultaneous progress on a number of levels, including on the level of people to people contacts. Gamaghelyan image from article

Tokyo Community News: June 2010 events - People For Social Change: "Women2Women - America" will take place from August 3 - August 10, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The goal of Women2Women is to provide young women students from around the world with the opportunity to learn, network, and acquire the leadership and professional development skills needed to succeed. Participants will also meet and interact with their counterparts from around the world. The core theme of Women2Women - America is 'Claim Your Seat at the Table.' Sub-themes include cultural leadership, government and public service, and media technology and media literacy. The purpose of the conference is to empower young women to become future leaders. To be accepted into Women2Women, applicants must demonstrate interest in leadership development, the democratic process and public diplomacy. Readmore: http://cambodiajobs.blogspot.com/2010/05/conference-on-women2women-america.html"

My life as study abroad - Paul Rockower, Levantine: "I wandered out into my new home. Off to get lost in a new city;

there are precious few things I enjoy more than that. I ventured out into the mid-morning and just wandered about. I am already percolating plans for Taiwan PD." Image from

CULTURAL DIPLOMACY

Diplomacy and Fights - ‎LA Downtown News Online: "If you want to learn how to solve your problems diplomatically, check out Ms. Farah Pandith, Obama's Special Envoy to Muslim Communities under Sec. Hillary Clinton, as she headlines 'There Is No 'Us and Them': A Public Forum on Cultural Diplomacy' from 7-10 p.m. [May 27] at the Central Library with musical performances by the Naser Musa-Jim Grippo Trio."

All politicians love a monument - ‎The Age: "In Australia, government funding for galleries and museums as a proportion of total expenditure has systematically gone backwards or rarely, stayed the same. … [E]xhibition monumentalism - the blockbuster - holds enduring political appeal. The cultural double of popularism and people voting with their feet; something not lost on politicians. But it creates pressure on big institutions where one success simply becomes the benchmark for the next. … Don't get me wrong, I like blockbusters. We've long got over the debate about popularism versus serious scholarship. They provide opportunities for curators and art historians and the broader public like their engagements with galleries and museums to be event-based. Governments like blockbusters too.

Many are seen - indeed, some are developed - as exercises in cultural diplomacy. The mix of art and assured public appeal surrounded on opening night by a panorama of the elite from the worlds of art, diplomacy, government and business and the media is now as intuitive to politicians as is a supermarket meet-and-greet a week out from an election. This kind of pre-scripted programming and worthy popularism seems to have created a secure cul-de-sac where cultural torchbearers in public office have all but vanished. I suspect that we're already well on the way of the American model where those with a passionate private interest and a strong sense of public responsibility will increasingly shape the conduct of public galleries and museums." Image from

The Wild Swans: Original Artworks By Her Majesty The Queen of Denmark: ‎press release, PR Newswire: "Meridian International Center will present an exhibition of original decoupage set designs and costumes created by HM the Queen of Denmark for the recent film adaptation of the well known Hans Christian Andersen tale, The Wild Swans. TRH the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark will officially inaugurate the exhibit on June 3, and it will remain open to the public from June 4 – July 3, 2010 at Meridian's Cafritz Galleries in the White-Meyer House. ... Meridian International Center, a non-partisan, non-profit institution based in Washington, DC has strengthened international understanding through the exchange of people, ideas and culture since 1960. Meridian's Art for Cultural Diplomacy program organizes high quality exhibitions in collaboration with government ministries, museums, artists, collectors and experts around the globe. For over 25 years, Meridian has employed art to build bridges among people worldwide and its exhibits have traveled to 320 cities in 44 U.S. states and 50 countries."

Garden Diplomacy - Nicole Rousmaniere, ‎Mainichi Daily News: "On May 4, Queen Elizabeth traveled with Prince Philip to Norwich, 186 kilometers northeast of London, to open a new addition to the 900-year-old Cathedral there. The Cathedral and the people of Norwich can boast of a small, rather special Japanese karesansui dry garden arrangement. The Queen viewed the garden and met its designer. It is now certainly the only cathedral in Britain with a Japanese garden within its consecrated ground. …


Japanese gardens have been a quiet part of cultural diplomacy for more than a century. They were often important components of the international exhibitions that became popular in the late 19th century. There were notable Japanese gardens at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia and the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. Not to be outdone, the Japan-British Exhibition of 1910 in White City in the Shepherd's Bush district of London boasted two Japanese gardens, covering approximately 11 acres. The principal Japanese garden designer was the celebrated Izawa Hannosuke. Perhaps the epitome of Japanese garden diplomacy is a magnificent garden created by Isamu Noguchi in the UNESCO building headquarters in Paris. UNESCO's Garden of Peace was a gift by the Japanese government in 1958. The garden is filled with 80 tons of stone selected by Noguchi and brought from Japan. Directly behind the Peace Fountain is the Nagasaki Angel, suspended from the wall. This statue was originally part of the facade of Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki. It survived the destruction of the cathedral by the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, and was donated to UNESCO by the city of Nagasaki in 1978. With all the talk of the importance of 'soft power' (using attraction as power) in today's increasingly fractured political climate, isn't it time to re-examine garden diplomacy as a different and subtle alternative that encourages a much-needed sense of reflection and even pleasure in our daily lives?" Image from article: The dry garden at Norwich Cathedral, which was designed by Graham Hardman, National Chairman of the Japanese Garden Society in the United Kingdom.

Promoting Nigeria through arts writing - ‎Akintayo Abodunrin, NEXT: "The role of arts journalists in advancing Nigeria’s global relations was the focus of a workshop themed ‘Journalism and Cultural Diplomacy,’ organised by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), on Wednesday, May 19. Dramatist and former deputy editor of the Guardian, Ben Tomoloju, and editor, Guardian on Sunday, Jahman Anikulapo, facilitated the session held at Merit House, Abuja. ... In his presentation titled ‘Arts Journalism and Cultural Diplomacy’, lead facilitator, Ben Tomoloju, gave different definitions of culture, but noted that there is no difference between arts and cultural journalism, though people tend to think there is. ... The dramatist also discussed the role of the arts journalist in reporting cultural diplomacy and cultural relations. “The arts journalist may operate conveniently within either of these two. But it is more likely that, in a practical sense, one will be more of a diplomat than a journalist, while the other will be more of a journalist than a diplomat,” he said, while adding that, “intellectually, the arts journalist must be grounded in matters pertaining to the national interest of societies within his scope of operation.” See also.

BEDIA hosts acclaimed UK Nation Brand expert: ‎Ngonidzashe Dzimiri, Sunday Standard: "United Kingdom-based author and expert in the field of Nation Branding, Simon Anholt, will be in Botswana for a stimulating Masterclass being hosted by BEDIA. ... Ludo Mokotedi, Deputy Director, Brand Botswana told Sunday Standard: 'The master class will be a platform that will present key stakeholders with an opportunity to discuss some of the critical success factors for implementing a nation brand strategy.' ... As the notion of nation branding is a fairly new one for Botswana, Mokotedi highlighted that as Brand Botswana it is their belief that it is critical that some of the information and knowledge gaps that they have witnessed so far be identified and addressed. ...

[T]his one-day intensive training course will convene representatives from various institutes who are critical in developing and maintaining a country’s competitive identity or image. ... Organisations active in tourism promotion, foreign policy, trade and export promotion, cultural relations and cultural diplomacy, foreign direct investment promotion, sporting and other events, private sector decision makers, strategists and analysts in all sectors make the list." Image from

Pratibha Patil to meet her Chinese counterpart - ‎NDTV.com [May 27]: "President Pratibha Patil will meet her Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao on Thursday in the first state visit by an Indian head of state to China in 10 years. ... Ahead of her visit, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said in New Delhi that Patil's visit "signals our unequivocal commitment to deepen and expand our strategic and cooperative partnership with China."Political dialogue, cultural diplomacy and economic cooperation will be the crucial components that will be utilized to achieve this."

‎OIC - Statement of H. E. Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference At The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy - ISRIA (subscription; no text available).

RELATED ITEMS

Our Epic Foolishness - Bob Herbert, New York Times:

For a nation that can’t stop bragging about how great and powerful it is, we’ve become shockingly helpless in the face of the many challenges confronting us. Image from

Op-Chart: The States of War - Ian Livingston, Heather Messera, Michael O’hanlon and Amy Unikewicz, New York Times: The news from the battlefields in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Shaming North Korea; Its sinking of a South Korean naval vessel deserves worldwide condemnation, and the upcoming World Cup soccer tournament would provide a stage - Paul B. Stares, latimes.com: As the largest sporting event on the planet with an estimated "cumulative" TV viewership of 35 billion to 40 billion — yes, billion –– people, the World Cup offers an unparalleled stage for shaming and further isolating North Korea. This could take various forms. Although FIFA prohibits players from using their "compulsory equipment" for political or religious statements, discretionary items are not covered. Thus teams or individual players could wear black armbands or wristbands,

perhaps emblazoned with the number 46, to signify solidarity with the bereaved. Image from

A Well-coordinated Attack - Ari Bussel, Canada Free Press: The Terror Convoy was willing to do whatever is necessary (though not quite imaginable to sane people), including attack the soldiers boarding the ships, thus knowingly risking the lives of the children and others they brought along with them to the journey . ... Human life has no value to the enemy; yet Israel spares nothing to protect both the lives of her own citizens and those of all others, including her enemies’. ... The public diplomacy assault has started. The editor in chief of a liberal site where this series of Postcards once appeared has announced: In an obscene act proving the criminality of Israel’s leaders, 16 humanitarians on the Gaza aid flotilla have been killed, with 60 more wounded. Israelis justified the mass executions saying that the commandos when they landed, in international waters, on the main boat of the flotilla, were attacked with sticks and metal rods. Amazing they didn’t blow up the whole boat, with 600 civilians from 50 countries on board.

Israel criticized over raid on Gaza flotilla: Accused of using disproportionate force, Israel defends its raid, saying its soldiers were ambushed as they boarded an aid ship in international waters. Activists say any skirmish was self-defense - Edmund Sanders, latimes.com:

The Israeli military did not permit any of the detained passengers to speak to reporters or communicate with family members. The passengers include members of the European Parliament, journalists and artists. Image from

Israel's Gaza Flotilla Fiasco: Israel had no obligation to allow the ships to reach Gaza, but surely there was a smarter way to stop them - Max Boot, wall Street Journal (subscription): Israel's actions in boarding the flotilla of ships bound for the Gaza Strip were entirely justified and perhaps even unavoidable. Unfortunately they turned into a tactical and strategic fiasco that does further damage to the Jewish State's tattered international reputation.

Israel's Attack on the Gaza Flotilla, Western Media Propaganda, and & the UN's Convention on the High Seas - Tim King, Salem-News.Com: The Flotilla by every account, was in international waters. This being the case, Israel or any other nation had a right to board it, if they believed it was involved in either piracy or the slave trade.

However, there was no suspicion or allegation of either of those things. The vessels contained vast amounts of relief supplies, ranging from thousands of pounds of concrete, to toys, food, medical supplies and wheelchairs. Image: Pro-Palestinian supporters gather outside Spain's Foreign Ministry on Monday during a protest against Israel. Israeli naval commandos stormed a flotilla of ships carrying aid and hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists to the blockaded Gaza Strip, killing nine passengers in a botched raid that provoked international outrage and a diplomatic crisis.

Israel Goes PR Through Propaganda - politicaltheatrics: Maariv, Haaretz, Yedot Ahronot, Jerusalem Post: Israeli TVs and tens of other Israeli media outlets seem to be recruited by the government of Israel now. As the aid convoys approach Gaza by the Mediterranean, the media outlets step up its propaganda and PR campaign. The propaganda portrayed in these media outlets will never succeed to changing the damaged image of Israel. Israel will only get good PR when it gives the children of Gaza new life.

Lieberman: Gaza aid convoy is violent propaganda against Israel - Haarezt.com: Foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman

called the 8-ship Freedom Flotilla scheduled to arrive in Gaza on Friday night violent propaganda against Israel’s sovereignty, Israel Radio reported on Friday. Image: "That's Minister for Foreign Affairs Avigdor Lieberman, if you have difficulty recognizing him. His portrait is adorned in a red lipstick overlay with the words, in German, meine Liebe!, my love/mydear one, in Gothic script. It's the creation of one 'Lahav', e-mail: bigeyes.express@gmail.com. Now, I know that the left in Israel considers Lieberman a fascist. And I know that his name is 'Lieberman'. But to draw overt attention, via the German Gothic element, to Nazi reminisces [sic] or, perhaps, to recall homoerotic memories of Max Hansen (*) of Berlin? That was his only creative graphic choice? After all, Lieberman is Moldavian. Lahav couldn't have found a more relevant model? He just had to link up with the German/Nazi association, eh? And while I agree, it's not Rabin in a SS uniform, it is unmistakeably [sic] intended to draw a subliminal link with Nazi art flavor. But he's alright, that Lahav, he won't have to flee Israel like Hansen needed to flee Germany."

South Korea delays plans for propaganda to the North, but radio broadcasts continue - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Pakistan lifts Facebook ban after conditions met, and more net censorship in the news - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Communist Propaganda Show Airbrushed From Shanghai - James T. Areddy, Wall Street Journal: With a series of installations that has received world-wide attention, Zhang presents decades worth of before-and-after photos to illustrate how some of the most famous images of Mao Zedong, as well as ordinary Chinese, were altered to send political messages. Days after Zhang offered the Foreign Correspondents Club Shanghai a sneak preview of his works in the “Re-Visioning History” show at the Oriental Vista Gallery, the Shanghai Municipal Cultural Bureau ordered the gallery to remove them.

Propagit - Propaganda and Agitation Posters - paul0v2, Abduzeedo: The Department of Propaganda and Agitation (propagit) develops posters for the education of the proletarian mass and the bureaucrats, seeking the accomplishment of the brilliant Soviet way of life! Let go of capitalism, click and may you be as well illuminated by the generous red star! This project is created by Egon Zakuska - born in 1980, and resides in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Working as a designer and illustrator, Zakuska is fan of constructivist poster artist from the Soviet Union, specially Alexander Rodchenko. When Studying sociology, he faced "Marxists fanatics devotees of Lenin and Trotsky". He decided to spread the "idea" through their art as seen in Propagit, which is nothing but a play on the Soviet Agitprop, the department for agitation and propaganda responsible for dissemination of the ideology, from where came the many artists he's fan of. Propagit is a tribute to them, a satire, and is also a tribute to the "Marxists fanatics devotees of Lenin and Trotsky", who he came into contact and often satirizes. Image from article