“Peace, as distinct from the end of War, can only be achieved through Diplomacy.”
--Professor Alan K. Henrikson, “The Diplomatic Factor in American History,” Inaugural Lecture given by Professor chair holder of the Lee E. Dirks Professorship in Diplomatic History at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, May 2, 2012; Henrikson image from
EVENT
Public Diplomacy Event at the National Press Club- Ghazni 2013 Photo Exhibition - Mahtab Farid, U.S. Public Diplomacy in Afghanistan... Event: Ghazni 2013 Photo ExhibitionWhere: National Press Club- Zenger Room Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 Time: 2-5 in the Afternoon Location:
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
China and U.S. Diplomacy - Mu Chunshan, diplomat.com: “The Bo Xilai and Chen Guangcheng incidents have added some excitement to what would otherwise have been a dreary political atmosphere in China . China watchers
have spent much time commenting on the likely impact the incidents will have onChina ’s future. ... Tara D. Sonenshine, the new U.S. Undersecretary of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs who took up her new post last month, made China the first country she visited. While here, she steered clear of politics and instead visited the Education Ministry and several universities. About 20 young Chinese, including myself, were invited for a dialogue session. During the session, which lasted about an hour, I got the sense that the U.S. is very concerned about its image among Chinese young people. Chinese youths raised the Bo and Chen incidents, but she avoided commenting. Instead she talked about culture and other ‘soft’ topics. It was smart of her to do so, but left Chinese with many questions as well as answers.” Image from article
have spent much time commenting on the likely impact the incidents will have on
Where is the outrage? - Kori Schake, Foreign Policy: “State still has an institutional culture defined by reporting -- describing what is happening rather than affecting change. It has barely changed its practices despite an explosion of information sources in the past twenty years. It continues a professional development model that invests nothing in our diplomats, producing generalist foreign service officers in an age when detailed knowledge is at a premium.
Almost the entirety of its training budget goes to language, yet it typically does not produce diplomats proficient enough to debate American policies in the language of the country they are stationed. It considers ‘public diplomacy’ somehow separate from the fundamental tasks of diplomacy. Despite a renaissance of private philanthropy and emergence of remittances, USAID still has not answered the fundamental question of what functions in foreign assistance need to be undertaken by governments. These are problems of institutional culture, not problems of funding. But if the problem is money, why isn't the State Department fighting for it?” Image from
100-Day Blog - m_mcfaul [Michael McFaul, US Ambassador to the Russian Federation] blog [in Russian and English] : "I ... have had the opportunity to increase cultural connections between our two countries. In my previous job at the White House, I didn’t have much time to participate in cultural outreach. Here, I have found this set of activities to be one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. ’American Seasons’ is the brand we have given our yearlong effort to showcase to Russians the depth and diversity of culture in the
our festival of traditional American folk music, including gospel, zydeco, Cajun and bluegrass, and jazz legend Herbie Hancock. I love this part of my job! Beyond programs associated with our ‘American Seasons,’ I have had the chance to expose my family to some Russian culture and history, including visits to the Pushkin Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Russian History, and the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War; a trip to Sergiyev Posad; and a couple of fantastic performances at Igor Butman’s jazz club. I hope in my next one-hundred days that we will have time to do more of these activities. As a means of engaging more directly with the Russian people, I have opened accounts on Twitter and Facebook. In just three months, my Twitter followers number nearly 25000 while the amount of my ‘friends’ on Facebook has climbed to 3,459, with over 500 subscribers. These media are new for me. Sometimes, in trying to be open and spontaneous, I have tweeted thoughts that could have used more reflection and refinement. But on the whole, I am very pleased with how much I can learn from these platforms through direct interaction with Russian citizens all over this giant country. Follow me on Twitter at @McFaul and Facebook at www.facebook.com/amb.mcfaul. As Secretary Clinton said in her speech on the ‘Foundations of Smart Power’ at the Virginia Military Institute: ‘part of doing business differently means using new tools to engage more people in more places, and reaching beyond governments to talk directly to people. This is what we call 21st century statecraft. So our ambassadors are now blogging, and yes, tweeting. Every Embassy has a Facebook page. And we’re doing more than just talking. We’re listening and hearing from communities we’ve never been able to reach before.’ I truly value our interaction through our various social media platforms, and will be more disciplined about responding to your questions and comments. This is the advice I have followed during my first one-hundred days in
Russian Roulette at Voice of America – Helle Dale, Heritage Foundation: “Depending on Russian government-funded media to broadcast news from Voice of America (VOA) is about as brain-dead as depending on Russian spaceships to send American astronauts into space or depending on Russian fuel supply for the U.S. ground and air forces in Afghanistan . The outcome will surely not be in America ’s interest. And yet, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has contracted with Voice of Russia for rebroadcasting VOA programs in English. The BBG has closed down most of its own radio transmitters around the world and even closed down VOA’s Russian-language broadcasting in 2008.
The board’s reasons are, firstly, to cut costs and, secondly, to move away from radio toward other more glamorous media, like satellite television and the Internet. The fact remains, however, that most of the BBG’s global audience are still radio listeners, and the wayU.S. radio programming now gets on the air is through contracts with local broadcasters. Unfortunately, relying on others for rebroadcasting U.S. programs gives them de facto control of programming content and leads to self-censorship.” Image from
The board’s reasons are, firstly, to cut costs and, secondly, to move away from radio toward other more glamorous media, like satellite television and the Internet. The fact remains, however, that most of the BBG’s global audience are still radio listeners, and the way
IBB staff tries to avoid Senate confirmation of new BBG CEO - BBGWatcher, USG Broadcasts/BBG Watch: "The International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) Director Richard Lobo and his staff are working behind the scenes on Capitol Hill trying to get approval for legislation that would limit Congressional oversight of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the federal agency in charge of taxpayer-supported U.S. international broadcasts, and allow them to hire a new CEO who would not be subject to Senate confirmation and Congressional oversight."
Justin C. Yu, Chinese American community leader, joins CUSIB Advisory Board - BBGWatcher, USG Broadcasts/BBG Watch: "The Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting (CUSIB), which has been instrumental in helping to save Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts to China, Tibet and other nations without free media, has recruited Chinese American community leader and journalist
Justin C. Yu as a member of its advisory board. CUSIB has also been advocating on behalf of Radio Free Asia (RFA) and other U.S. taxpayer-funded international broadcasters being targeted for cuts by the executive staff and some of the members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)." Yu image from article
The Israeli consul is selling ‘brand Israel’, but very fewin one upper west side synagogue are buying - Philip Harris, mondoweiss.net: Comment by Nevada Ned: “Brand Israel is a flop even when marketed to an audience predisposed to be receptive. Finkelstein’s new book Knowing Too Much covers the same theme: American Jews are distancing themselves from Israel . Along these lines, it’s worth while to remember that one of the top PR executives in the US , Charlotte Beers, worked for the GWBush regime in 2001-2003. She held the title of Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. She attempted to overcome the bad image of the US in the Arab world. She dealt with it as a 'marketing problem'. She failed, too. PR is not enough. You have to change the policy. The Palestinians are supported by nearly the entire world (except for the US and Israel ). Israel could change the situation by (for example) releasing Palestinian prisoners, or accepting the offer from the Arab world that has been on the table for several decades. But more hasbara? It’s not working any more.”
Turkey-Israel relations in the shadow of the Arab Spring: The need for a new paradigm - Emrah Usta, anixneuseis.gr: The policies put into practice by
In the Middle East ... an alternative public diplomacy is essential to the roadmap by the UN, makes it indispensable of the applicable policies for
Iran helps release of Turkish reporters in Syria - artesianews.com: “As in Syria , Turkey and Iran back opposing factions in Iraq in what some analysts call a proxy conflict tinged with sectarian tension. Turkey ’s role as a NATO member troubles Iran , whose nuclear program alarms the West. Yet the regional heavyweights have close business ties and keep their public diplomacy civil.”
Sharing Turkey’s Centuries-Old Coffee Tradition with a Food Truck audio, video] - theworld.org: "Anchor Marco Werman meets up with members of The American Turkish Association. They’re at the end of a five-city tour in their Mobile Turkish Coffee Truck. The idea is to spread the word about Turkey’s centuries-old coffee tradition." Via
Silver Spoon Socialists Flex Muscles In Brazil - Eric Ehrmann, Huffington Post: “Prominent families like the Matarazzos, Gerdaus, Suplicys and Odebrechts in Brazil and the DiTellas, Ashkenazis, Fortabats and Graivers in Argentina have always had quiet family connections on the right and the left. But the social equality reset and the world-wide outsourcing of international propaganda and public diplomacy work by the State Department, and the Pentagon -- called disinformation during the Cold War -- is helping to disrupt the traditional social networks they have used for mediation. Latin America's pink cocktail would be shaken, not stirred without a proper Hollywood connection.
InHaiti , where Brazilian U.N. peacekeeping troops provide security for his aid operation, Oscar winner Sean Penn hopes critics of his charity work die of colo-rectal cancer. Meanwhile, the former husband of Madonna is amping up the social equality advocated by Cristina Kirchner and Hugo Chavez to the growing number of show business public diplomacy enthusiasts who use cause related marketing to boost their incomes and box office power.” Image from
In
Cultural Engagement as Glocal Diplomacy - Robert Albro, PD News–CPD Blog, USC Center on Public Diplomacy: "Perhaps it is time for us to think of cultural diplomacy in more 'glocal' terms. Here I am not so much referring to the popular mantra, 'think globally, act locally,' as pointing to the ways that the expressive content of cultural diplomacy: is not self-evident; circulates among publics in particular ways; is often understood by audiences in terms of already familiar and available concepts, beliefs, or values; and if it resonates, is typically appropriated into local frameworks of meaning and relevance. It is impossible, in other words, to understand the extra-local content of cultural diplomacy apart from its local context. ... In glocal terms, whether dealing with global popular culture or with the universalizing discourses and practices of human rights, we should be considering how the subjects, recipients or audiences of these culture industries, global discourses and frameworks, are also at the same time agents of them, sources for them, and authors of them. Promotion of a more 'glocal diplomacy' – the translation of the global and its often creative elision with the local – remains mostly disregarded, given the constant pressure to 'control the message.'”
Public and Cultural Diplomacy: A group blog by students at London Metropolitan University London Metropolitan University
In addition he argues that reputation was always important in world politics, but credibility has become more vital because of a ‘paradox of plenty’, therefore politicians should use more often soft power rather than hard power, since it is more effective. Reflecting the definitions of Public Diplomacy and Propaganda the question arises if those two concepts are the same thing. There are indeed some who would argue that Public Diplomacy has the same intentions like Propaganda, both concept´s [sic] purpose is to narrow and close the minds of the people, by trying to tell them what to think. However, there will probably never be a universal agreement on both concepts, since both are difficult to define”. (b) The Internet, The Social Media, Diplomacy, and the Individual - mfl0014 (c) America – The Public Diplomacy of Freeing the National Wealth to only the Few in the Land of the Free – secks. Image from
Monday May 14th - newasiapolicypoint.blogspot.com: "Shadow Nato Summit IIII: Commitments, Capabilities and Connectivity: Implementing NATO's New Strategic Concept. Among the participants: “Ms. Antonella Cerasino, Head of NATO Countries, Public Diplomacy Division.”
Senior Chinese legislator urges larger role for public diplomacy - Shanghai Daily (subscription) - [From Google entry]: "Wang Jiarui, minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, stressed the importance of public diplomacy."
news - utraxa.blogspot.com: “Irina Rukin ... of the Academy of Natural Sciences, doctor of economic sciences, professor, head of socio-economic regions of Russia IERF, a member of the Coordinating Council, Head of International Relations Committee of the fight against corruption, the president of the fund to support social initiatives, public diplomacy and philanthropy.”
Martin Löffelholz: Clear communication sends right messagefor growth - CEO Speak: "Communication is a key pillar of any organization, and effective communication is the engine that drives its growth, believes journalist-cum-professor Martin Löffelholz. ... Löffelholz, 52, has fingers in many pies.
Apart from leading SGU, he also serves as the head of the Ilmenau Centre for Public Diplomacy Research and Training.” Image from article
RELATED ITEMS
Around world, Obama's presidency a disappointment - AP: In a world weary of war and economic crises, and concerned about global climate change, the consensus is that Obama has not lived up to the lofty expectations that surrounded his 2008 election and Nobel Peace Prize a year later. Many in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America were also taken aback by his support for gay marriage, a taboo subject among religious conservatives. But the Democrat still enjoys broad international support. In large part, it's because of unfavorable memories of his Republican predecessor, George W. Bush, and many people would still prefer Obama over his presumptive Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Via CP III on facebook
Analysis: Why we must name all drone attack victims - Chris Woods, Informed Comment: The Bureau of Investigative Journalism has so far identified by name 317 civilians killed in US attacks in Pakistan. Between 170 and 500 further civilians have yet to be identified. Part of the justification for the US carrying out drone strikes without consent is their reported success. And naming those militants killed is key to that process. Al Qaeda bomber Fahd al-Quso’s death was widely celebrated.
Yet how many newspapers also registered the death of Mohamed Saleh Al-Suna, a civilian caught up and killed in a US strike in Yemen on March 30? By showing only one side of the coin, we risk presenting a distorted picture of this new form of warfare. There is an obligation to identify all of those killed – not just the bad guys. Image (and spelling) from
Yemen: U.S. drone strike kills 11 al-Qaeda militants - AP, USA Today: Two suspected U.S. drone strikes killed 11 al-Qaeda militants in southern Yemen on Saturday, Yemeni military officials said.
Air Force Document: Drones Can Be Used To Spy On Americans: “Incidental” surveillance data can be held for 90 days - Steve Watson, Infowars.com: A newly discovered Air Force intelligence brief states that should fleets of unmanned drones accidentally capture surveillance footage of Americans, the data can be stored and analyzed by the Pentagon for up to 90 days. The instruction, dated April 23, admits that the Air Force cannot legally conduct “nonconsensual surveillance”
on Americans, but also states that should the drones”incidentally” capture data while conducting other missions, military intelligence has the right to study it to determine whether the subjects are legitimate targets of domestic surveillance. “Collected imagery may incidentally include US persons or private property without consent,” the instruction states. The Air Force can take advantage of “a period not to exceed 90 days” to use the data to assess “whether that information may be collected under the provisions of Procedure 2, DoD 5240.1-R and permanently retained under the provisions of Procedure 3, DoD 5240.1-R.” it continues. Image from article. Via ACP III on facebook.
'Pentagon's anti-Muslim propaganda courses residual from influence of neo-conservatives' [video] - presstv.ir: Army Lt. Col. Matthew A. Dooley, taught an optional course at the Joint Forces Staff College which proposed taking a war on Islam "to the civilian population wherever necessary," which he likened to the bombardment of Dresden and nuclear destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. America's top military officer Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned the teaching of this course in the strongest possible terms. In an interview with Press TV's U.S. Desk on Saturday, James H. Fetzer, an American philosopher and former Marine Corps officer in Oregon, talked about the reason behind the Pentagon fanning the flames of Islamophobia among U.S. troops by proceeding with and holding such courses at Joint Forces Staff College. Fetzer said, "There is a situation at the Pentagon with these courses that are being taught as a form of anti-Muslim propaganda [that] appear to be residual from the vast influence of the neo-conservatives who were in the Department of Defense advisory board which extends all the way from Dick Cheney, to Donald Rumsfeld, to Paul Wolfowitz, … and a host of others including General Richard Meyers who served as a chief of staff."
This Is Not a Joke: Government Issues Study of a Study About Studies - Alyssa Newcomb, abcnews.go.com: The Pentagon was inundated with so many studies in 2010 that it commissioned a study to determine how much it cost to produce all those studies. Now the Government Accountability Office has reviewed the Pentagon’s study and concluded in a report this week that it’s a flop.
The study of a study of studies began in 2010 when Defense Secretary Robert Gates complained that his department was “awash in taskings for reports and studies.” He wanted to know how much they cost. Two years later, the Pentagon review is still continuing, which prompted Congress to ask the GAO to look over the Pentagon’s shoulder. What they found lacked military precision. The GAO found only nine studies that had been scrutinized by the Pentagon review, but the military was unable to “readily retrieve documentation” for six of the reports. The Department of Defense’s “approach is not fully consistent with relevant cost estimating best practices and cost accounting standards,” the GAO concluded. In fact, they often did not include items like manpower, the report found. The Pentagon “partially concurs” with the GAO’s report. The cost of the study of the study of the studies was not available from the GAO. Via MC on facebook. Image from
Rule of law? Not in China: Legal reform hasn't helped activists such as Chen Gangcheng - Renee Xia, latimes.com: The "deal" for Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng to leave China for legal study in the United States is not without pitfalls, but other outcomes could be worse. Even if Chinese authorities honor the promises apparently made to U.S. officials to let him travel, they have conceded little on human rights. One thing is clear: Whether Chen stays or goes, his story is emblematic of the failure of legal reform in China today.
China Escalates Philippines Dispute, as US Continues to Intervene: Both countries are becoming increasingly nationalistic, in part because of US meddling - John Glaser, antiwar.com:China escalated its dispute with the Philippines over an island in the South China Sea on Thursday, halting Philippine bananas at customs for longer inspections and launching a propaganda campaign calling claims on the island infringement of Chinese sovereignty. Armed vessels from the Philippines and China were engaged in a long standoff after Chinese fisherman trespassed into contested waters last month, prompting swift reaction from both navies. Recent joint U.S.-Filipino military exercises and explicit defense guarantees to the Philippines from Washington have heightened tensions considerably.
Below image from article
Is US orchestrating South China Sea conflict? - Voice of Russia: A war of nerves is going between China and the Philippines on account of the disputed Huangjang Island (Scarborough reef) in the South China Sea. The parties have brought into action propaganda and other levers of pressure in order to prove their sovereignty over this oil and gas rich water area. The Philippine activists are going to hold mass anti-Chinese actions near Chinese diplomatic missions in the country and abroad.
In a way it can remind of the demonstrations in defence of human rights in China, which were held in different countries of the world during the round-the-world Olympic fire relay race before the Olympic Games-2008 in Beijing. In response, China has warned its citizens in the Philippines that they should not leave their houses without need, not yield to provocations and abide by the increased security measures. The head of the MFA of the Philippines Albert del Rosario that the USA was ready to defend the Philippines in case of a conflict in the South China Sea. An expert of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems Konstantin Sivkov believes that Washington wouldn’t mind fishing in the South China Sea troubled waters. Image from article
For U.S., the Olympics have become away Games: Bids by Chicago and New York to host events have been rejected in recent years, and the problem between international and U.S. Olympic officials isn't just about money - David Wharton, latimes.com: When the 2012 London Olympics begin less than three months from now, it will mark an anniversary that Americans might not want to celebrate.
Ten years have passed since the Games last took place on U.S. soil. And with the bidding process extended years in advance, this country's next opportunity will not come around until 2022. "That's a problem," said Anita DeFrantz, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from Los Angeles. "We like hosting this event. It's important to the psyche of our people." Image from article, with caption: Beginning with a festive opening ceremony, the 1984 Games in Los Angeles were almost too glitch-free to be believed. Potential problems such as traffic jams, overcrowded venues and unbearable heat and smog had sparked much concern, but never materialized. By most accounts, the trouble centers on revenue sharing.
Human Rights, Not So Pure Anymore - Samuel Moyn, New York Times: Human rights have succeeded in combating totalitarianism and preventing atrocities but have proved less able to promote the good life for people suffering less spectacular wrongs. That human rights have come down to earth since the days of the glamorous dissidents doesn’t make them useless. But it does mean that the utopia they call to mind is now inseparable from the realities of the world as it exists — from states to international bodies to transnational movements. For that reason, Chinese dissidents and their Western allies will need to be even more creative than their predecessors were in using human rights norms to achieve a reformed government.
The Poetry of Al Qaeda and the Taliban - Faisal Devji, New York Times: Violent ideological conflict is far from the sole, or even the most popular, subject of militant poetry. In fact, explicit political statements are a recent adaptation. Although the arid piety of cleric and mosque are rejected in these poems for the pleasures of the bedroom and tavern, they do not display a prurient interest in sin but rather an exercise in freedom, where even the most observant Muslim can adopt a critical distance from the regulations of his faith.These poems are not merely propagandistic; they move beyond the hard politics of the Taliban to form a bridge to the world outside the movement. And the rest of the world would do well to pay attention, because their ideals are more likely than any Taliban communiqué to survive the insurgency and to play a role in the remaking of Afghanistan. By excluding the aesthetic dimension from our analyses of militant texts like those recovered from Osama bin Laden’s Pakistani lair, we miss a crucial opportunity to confront the humanity of their authors.
Syria: The Truth against the NATO’s lies. La Verità contro la PROPAGANDA NATO (ENG/ITA) - latest-news-today.com: This video shows: A) the reality of Syrian Observatory composed by a single person (Osama Ali Suleiman aka Rami Abdul Rahman) who lives in Coventry (England) B)example of NATO’s propaganda lies C) examples of lies from Amnesty and HRW D)news and events about Syria censored in the West E) events shown in the West with the opposite meaning from the NATO’s propaganda etc. F) the way to act of “rebels” or “peaceful protesters” or “revolutionaries.”
Does PR industry in Sri Lanka add value to the media? - daily Mirror (Sri Lanka): Many may argue that there can be no ethics in this profession because the practice itself is akin to manipulation and propaganda. A belief among many in the media is that the term ‘public relations ethics’ is an oxymoron: Either an unreal possibility, or smoke and mirrors to hide deception.
The media in Sri Lanka both print, electronic and even the internet is being well regulated. The words regulation and media at first sight may seem like acronyms, since free media may sometimes be perceived as unregulated to the uninitiated. But to insiders, it is wellknown that there are many rules, regulations and norms that apply. Journalists cannot write stories without proper sourcing, checking and being mindful of defamation laws or even rules and regulations that are indigenous to the country. Image from article
15 Beautiful, Tragic Chinese Propaganda Posters - whtevr.com: Featured is the below:
Orwell's '1984' takes on added significance in 2012 - Aaron Frechette, Herald News: PAWTUCKET, R.I. — The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre is presenting a riveting modern stage adaptation of George Orwell’s “1984” through May 27. “1984” was published in 1948 by British satirist George Orwell. It tells the story of a fictional totalitarian state known as Oceania (a combined state of the United States and the United Kingdom). This stage version of “1984” very much reflects our modern times. Last Sunday’s post-show interactive forum discussed “Big Brother in Our Hip Pocket “Social Media, Smartphones, and The End of Privacy.” Orwell worked for BBC and saw the role of propaganda used as a state mind control toolIn an acknowledgment of the power of propoganda, an otherwise sparse set at the Gamm has a backdrop of the world’s propaganda art, mainly from the 1940s. The audience discussed the role of social media sites, like Twitter and Facebook, and the role they play in an Orwellian-style erosion of privacy.
That brought up questions of how we consent to such privacy infringements. It even brought up questions over we are really consumers or products in the age of social media. “We don’t pay for these things. We’re not a customer of them, we’re a product … to be sold.” Another chimed in: “I step onto the block and say, ‘auction me off.’” It will be interesting to see how the new privacy dynamic continues to play out as we see even more technological advances in the electronic age and people live their lives in an increasingly voyeuristic culture. Image from article, with caption: Actor Jim O’Brien portrays the role of Winston Smith at the Gamm Theatre’s modern stage adaptation of George Orwell’s "1984." Above him, “Big Brother” is watching, preparing to give its orders.
Propaganda and Social Fears through Science Fiction (Film History) - The Good the Bad and the Insulting: Reviewing books, video games and every film under the sun: The genre of science fiction has long served as a method of tackling social worries and concerns since before the dropping of the atom bomb in the closing days of the Second World War. From its early incarnations to modern films, many productions have served as either a moral lesson or an attempt to focus upon fears present at the time of its creation. The best examples of this can be seen in those created during the Cold War and the “Golden Age of Science Fiction” which was the 1950s. 1956’s Invasion of The Body Snatchers
is primarily seen as being a film of anti-Communist propaganda and a warning against infiltration, with each person in the town being no greater than any other. Having no dreams, ambitions or individual aspects which puts them above their fellows, and their only task being to serve the unseen force which has control over them. At the same time it has also been regarded as having been a criticism of McCarthyism, the paranoia caused by Communism in America. ogether, the above mentioned film and Them! serve as the best example of how widespread political commentary and the addressing of contemporary issues was within science fiction. That films of this time could cover a widespread range of social anxieties. From obvious issues being generated by an ongoing arms race and an impending destruction to criticising the methods of the government and rampant paranoia, even during a continued espionage and propaganda war. That the genre responded to and addressed a wide range of social concerns even as they were taking place. Image from article
The Wedding Song — In Tunis As the Nazis Come - Will Kirkland, allinoneboat.org: The Wedding Song [2008] is deeply felt film of young women’s friendship under the extreme stress of wartime as the Nazis come toTunis in November of 1942. The Allies have just landed in Morocco and Algeria . The Germans, pushing aside their French Vichy partners, want to use the easy geographic defense of Tunis to mount a counter offensive — and add to the extermination of "European’ Jewry." Nour [Olympe Borval] is about 16, Muslim and in love with a young man who can’t find a job. Myriam [Lizzie Brocheré] is the same age, Jewish, not in love with the wealthy man her mother insists she must marry, and is best friends with Nour — living in near poverty in the same building around the common courtyard. The two share secrets and risks as their blooming sexuality begins to have its way. Myriam takes Nour’s place in bed so her friend can go visit her boyfriend, Khaled [Najib Oudghiri,] clandestinely. Without a job, her father will not let the marriage happen, but desire, even in the Muslim young, is strong.
Nour celebrates her friend’s wedding preparations even though Myriam is resistant to the charms or wealth of Raul [Simon Abkarian -- who may be familiar to you from Persepolis or Army of Crime, the "real" Inglorious Bastards.] Nazi boots begin to fall on the narrow stone streets, reverberating up the stone walls and into the windows. Allied bombs fall, sometimes terrifyingly close, and along with Nazi propaganda leaflets add to anti-Jewish sentiment among the Muslims. Although Myriam and her mother live exactly like their Muslim neighbors, and speak Arabic as well as French, the Jews are regarded as being set apart — from ancient prejudices as well as from the increased Francophile leanings among Tunisian Jews after the imposition of the French Protectorate in 1881, which seemed to guarantee them wider rights than under the Ottoman Arabs. The incipient nationalism of many Tunisians, chaffing under the French, was fed by Nazi propaganda claiming to be fighting on the same side as the Muslims against the Jewish, English and American threats. "They promise us our freedom if we help them." Image from article
SOVIETICA
Abakumov's [Viktor Abakumov, head of Ministry of State Security - MGB] search for Jewish spies did reach the families of politburo members. Polina Zhemchuzina, Molotov's [commissar for foreign affairs] was arrested in January 1949. She denied the charges of treason. In his one act of rebellion, Molotov abstained from the vote to condemn his wife. Later, though, he apologized: 'I acknowledge my heavy sense of remorse for not having prevented
Zhemchuzhina, a person very dear to me, from making her mistakes and from forming ties with anti-Soviet Jewish nationalists ... ' The next day she was arrested. Zhemchuzhina was sentenced to forced labor, and Molotov divorced her. She spent five years in exile in Kazhakhstan, among kulaks, the kind of people her husband had helped to deport in the 1930s. It seems that they helped her to survive. Molotov, for his part, lost his position as commissar for foreign affairs."
--Timothy Snyder, Bloodlands: Europe between Hitler and Stalin (2010), pp. 350-351; Zhemchuzhina/Molotov image from
FATAL ATTRACTION
Hormones make 'sexy cads' look like 'good dads' - Dan Vergano, USA TODAY: "Why do women delude themselves about men who are terrible 'boyfriend' material," asks marketing professor Kristina Durante of the University of Texas at San Antonio, lead author of the forthcoming experiment report in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. "It's not just that they are attracted to them, but they actually see them as different people." Why does she say that? In the study, Durante and her University of Minnesota and Singapore Management University colleagues sought to explore psychological observations that women were more attracted to stereotypical masculine faces— symmetrical with strong jaws and sharp cheekbones ("I say Ryan Gosling to students now, because George Clooney is too old for them ," Durante says) — when they were at the most fertile part of the menstrual cycle. Some researchers have suggested hormones such as estrogen peak just then, firing their desire to run off with a good-looking cad.
IMAGE
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Around world, Obama's presidency a disappointment - AP: In a world weary of war and economic crises, and concerned about global climate change, the consensus is that Obama has not lived up to the lofty expectations that surrounded his 2008 election and Nobel Peace Prize a year later. Many in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America were also taken aback by his support for gay marriage, a taboo subject among religious conservatives. But the Democrat still enjoys broad international support. In large part, it's because of unfavorable memories of his Republican predecessor, George W. Bush, and many people would still prefer Obama over his presumptive Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Via CP III on facebook
Analysis: Why we must name all drone attack victims - Chris Woods, Informed Comment: The Bureau of Investigative Journalism has so far identified by name 317 civilians killed in US attacks in Pakistan. Between 170 and 500 further civilians have yet to be identified. Part of the justification for the US carrying out drone strikes without consent is their reported success. And naming those militants killed is key to that process. Al Qaeda bomber Fahd al-Quso’s death was widely celebrated.
Yet how many newspapers also registered the death of Mohamed Saleh Al-Suna, a civilian caught up and killed in a US strike in Yemen on March 30? By showing only one side of the coin, we risk presenting a distorted picture of this new form of warfare. There is an obligation to identify all of those killed – not just the bad guys. Image (and spelling) from
Yemen: U.S. drone strike kills 11 al-Qaeda militants - AP, USA Today: Two suspected U.S. drone strikes killed 11 al-Qaeda militants in southern Yemen on Saturday, Yemeni military officials said.
Air Force Document: Drones Can Be Used To Spy On Americans: “Incidental” surveillance data can be held for 90 days - Steve Watson, Infowars.com: A newly discovered Air Force intelligence brief states that should fleets of unmanned drones accidentally capture surveillance footage of Americans, the data can be stored and analyzed by the Pentagon for up to 90 days. The instruction, dated April 23, admits that the Air Force cannot legally conduct “nonconsensual surveillance”
on Americans, but also states that should the drones”incidentally” capture data while conducting other missions, military intelligence has the right to study it to determine whether the subjects are legitimate targets of domestic surveillance. “Collected imagery may incidentally include US persons or private property without consent,” the instruction states. The Air Force can take advantage of “a period not to exceed 90 days” to use the data to assess “whether that information may be collected under the provisions of Procedure 2, DoD 5240.1-R and permanently retained under the provisions of Procedure 3, DoD 5240.1-R.” it continues. Image from article. Via ACP III on facebook.
'Pentagon's anti-Muslim propaganda courses residual from influence of neo-conservatives' [video] - presstv.ir: Army Lt. Col. Matthew A. Dooley, taught an optional course at the Joint Forces Staff College which proposed taking a war on Islam "to the civilian population wherever necessary," which he likened to the bombardment of Dresden and nuclear destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. America's top military officer Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned the teaching of this course in the strongest possible terms. In an interview with Press TV's U.S. Desk on Saturday, James H. Fetzer, an American philosopher and former Marine Corps officer in Oregon, talked about the reason behind the Pentagon fanning the flames of Islamophobia among U.S. troops by proceeding with and holding such courses at Joint Forces Staff College. Fetzer said, "There is a situation at the Pentagon with these courses that are being taught as a form of anti-Muslim propaganda [that] appear to be residual from the vast influence of the neo-conservatives who were in the Department of Defense advisory board which extends all the way from Dick Cheney, to Donald Rumsfeld, to Paul Wolfowitz, … and a host of others including General Richard Meyers who served as a chief of staff."
This Is Not a Joke: Government Issues Study of a Study About Studies - Alyssa Newcomb, abcnews.go.com: The Pentagon was inundated with so many studies in 2010 that it commissioned a study to determine how much it cost to produce all those studies. Now the Government Accountability Office has reviewed the Pentagon’s study and concluded in a report this week that it’s a flop.
Rule of law? Not in China: Legal reform hasn't helped activists such as Chen Gangcheng - Renee Xia, latimes.com: The "deal" for Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng to leave China for legal study in the United States is not without pitfalls, but other outcomes could be worse. Even if Chinese authorities honor the promises apparently made to U.S. officials to let him travel, they have conceded little on human rights. One thing is clear: Whether Chen stays or goes, his story is emblematic of the failure of legal reform in China today.
China Escalates Philippines Dispute, as US Continues to Intervene: Both countries are becoming increasingly nationalistic, in part because of US meddling - John Glaser, antiwar.com:
Below image from article
Is US orchestrating South China Sea conflict? - Voice of Russia: A war of nerves is going between China and the Philippines on account of the disputed Huangjang Island (Scarborough reef) in the South China Sea. The parties have brought into action propaganda and other levers of pressure in order to prove their sovereignty over this oil and gas rich water area. The Philippine activists are going to hold mass anti-Chinese actions near Chinese diplomatic missions in the country and abroad.
In a way it can remind of the demonstrations in defence of human rights in China, which were held in different countries of the world during the round-the-world Olympic fire relay race before the Olympic Games-2008 in Beijing. In response, China has warned its citizens in the Philippines that they should not leave their houses without need, not yield to provocations and abide by the increased security measures. The head of the MFA of the Philippines Albert del Rosario that the USA was ready to defend the Philippines in case of a conflict in the South China Sea. An expert of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems Konstantin Sivkov believes that Washington wouldn’t mind fishing in the South China Sea troubled waters. Image from article
For U.S., the Olympics have become away Games: Bids by Chicago and New York to host events have been rejected in recent years, and the problem between international and U.S. Olympic officials isn't just about money - David Wharton, latimes.com: When the 2012 London Olympics begin less than three months from now, it will mark an anniversary that Americans might not want to celebrate.
Ten years have passed since the Games last took place on U.S. soil. And with the bidding process extended years in advance, this country's next opportunity will not come around until 2022. "That's a problem," said Anita DeFrantz, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from Los Angeles. "We like hosting this event. It's important to the psyche of our people." Image from article, with caption: Beginning with a festive opening ceremony, the 1984 Games in Los Angeles were almost too glitch-free to be believed. Potential problems such as traffic jams, overcrowded venues and unbearable heat and smog had sparked much concern, but never materialized. By most accounts, the trouble centers on revenue sharing.
Human Rights, Not So Pure Anymore - Samuel Moyn, New York Times: Human rights have succeeded in combating totalitarianism and preventing atrocities but have proved less able to promote the good life for people suffering less spectacular wrongs. That human rights have come down to earth since the days of the glamorous dissidents doesn’t make them useless. But it does mean that the utopia they call to mind is now inseparable from the realities of the world as it exists — from states to international bodies to transnational movements. For that reason, Chinese dissidents and their Western allies will need to be even more creative than their predecessors were in using human rights norms to achieve a reformed government.
The Poetry of Al Qaeda and the Taliban - Faisal Devji, New York Times: Violent ideological conflict is far from the sole, or even the most popular, subject of militant poetry. In fact, explicit political statements are a recent adaptation. Although the arid piety of cleric and mosque are rejected in these poems for the pleasures of the bedroom and tavern, they do not display a prurient interest in sin but rather an exercise in freedom, where even the most observant Muslim can adopt a critical distance from the regulations of his faith.These poems are not merely propagandistic; they move beyond the hard politics of the Taliban to form a bridge to the world outside the movement. And the rest of the world would do well to pay attention, because their ideals are more likely than any Taliban communiqué to survive the insurgency and to play a role in the remaking of Afghanistan. By excluding the aesthetic dimension from our analyses of militant texts like those recovered from Osama bin Laden’s Pakistani lair, we miss a crucial opportunity to confront the humanity of their authors.
Syria: The Truth against the NATO’s lies. La Verità contro la PROPAGANDA NATO (ENG/ITA) - latest-news-today.com: This video shows: A) the reality of Syrian Observatory composed by a single person (Osama Ali Suleiman aka Rami Abdul Rahman) who lives in Coventry (England) B)example of NATO’s propaganda lies C) examples of lies from Amnesty and HRW D)news and events about Syria censored in the West E) events shown in the West with the opposite meaning from the NATO’s propaganda etc. F) the way to act of “rebels” or “peaceful protesters” or “revolutionaries.”
Does PR industry in Sri Lanka add value to the media? - daily Mirror (Sri Lanka): Many may argue that there can be no ethics in this profession because the practice itself is akin to manipulation and propaganda. A belief among many in the media is that the term ‘public relations ethics’ is an oxymoron: Either an unreal possibility, or smoke and mirrors to hide deception.
The media in Sri Lanka both print, electronic and even the internet is being well regulated. The words regulation and media at first sight may seem like acronyms, since free media may sometimes be perceived as unregulated to the uninitiated. But to insiders, it is wellknown that there are many rules, regulations and norms that apply. Journalists cannot write stories without proper sourcing, checking and being mindful of defamation laws or even rules and regulations that are indigenous to the country. Image from article
15 Beautiful, Tragic Chinese Propaganda Posters - whtevr.com: Featured is the below:
Orwell's '1984' takes on added significance in 2012 - Aaron Frechette, Herald News: PAWTUCKET, R.I. — The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre is presenting a riveting modern stage adaptation of George Orwell’s “1984” through May 27. “1984” was published in 1948 by British satirist George Orwell. It tells the story of a fictional totalitarian state known as Oceania (a combined state of the United States and the United Kingdom). This stage version of “1984” very much reflects our modern times. Last Sunday’s post-show interactive forum discussed “Big Brother in Our Hip Pocket “Social Media, Smartphones, and The End of Privacy.” Orwell worked for BBC and saw the role of propaganda used as a state mind control toolIn an acknowledgment of the power of propoganda, an otherwise sparse set at the Gamm has a backdrop of the world’s propaganda art, mainly from the 1940s. The audience discussed the role of social media sites, like Twitter and Facebook, and the role they play in an Orwellian-style erosion of privacy.
That brought up questions of how we consent to such privacy infringements. It even brought up questions over we are really consumers or products in the age of social media. “We don’t pay for these things. We’re not a customer of them, we’re a product … to be sold.” Another chimed in: “I step onto the block and say, ‘auction me off.’” It will be interesting to see how the new privacy dynamic continues to play out as we see even more technological advances in the electronic age and people live their lives in an increasingly voyeuristic culture. Image from article, with caption: Actor Jim O’Brien portrays the role of Winston Smith at the Gamm Theatre’s modern stage adaptation of George Orwell’s "1984." Above him, “Big Brother” is watching, preparing to give its orders.
Propaganda and Social Fears through Science Fiction (Film History) - The Good the Bad and the Insulting: Reviewing books, video games and every film under the sun: The genre of science fiction has long served as a method of tackling social worries and concerns since before the dropping of the atom bomb in the closing days of the Second World War. From its early incarnations to modern films, many productions have served as either a moral lesson or an attempt to focus upon fears present at the time of its creation. The best examples of this can be seen in those created during the Cold War and the “Golden Age of Science Fiction” which was the 1950s. 1956’s Invasion of The Body Snatchers
is primarily seen as being a film of anti-Communist propaganda and a warning against infiltration, with each person in the town being no greater than any other. Having no dreams, ambitions or individual aspects which puts them above their fellows, and their only task being to serve the unseen force which has control over them. At the same time it has also been regarded as having been a criticism of McCarthyism, the paranoia caused by Communism in America. ogether, the above mentioned film and Them! serve as the best example of how widespread political commentary and the addressing of contemporary issues was within science fiction. That films of this time could cover a widespread range of social anxieties. From obvious issues being generated by an ongoing arms race and an impending destruction to criticising the methods of the government and rampant paranoia, even during a continued espionage and propaganda war. That the genre responded to and addressed a wide range of social concerns even as they were taking place. Image from article
The Wedding Song — In Tunis As the Nazis Come - Will Kirkland, allinoneboat.org: The Wedding Song [2008] is deeply felt film of young women’s friendship under the extreme stress of wartime as the Nazis come to
Nour celebrates her friend’s wedding preparations even though Myriam is resistant to the charms or wealth of Raul [Simon Abkarian -- who may be familiar to you from Persepolis or Army of Crime, the "real" Inglorious Bastards.] Nazi boots begin to fall on the narrow stone streets, reverberating up the stone walls and into the windows. Allied bombs fall, sometimes terrifyingly close, and along with Nazi propaganda leaflets add to anti-Jewish sentiment among the Muslims. Although Myriam and her mother live exactly like their Muslim neighbors, and speak Arabic as well as French, the Jews are regarded as being set apart — from ancient prejudices as well as from the increased Francophile leanings among Tunisian Jews after the imposition of the French Protectorate in 1881, which seemed to guarantee them wider rights than under the Ottoman Arabs. The incipient nationalism of many Tunisians, chaffing under the French, was fed by Nazi propaganda claiming to be fighting on the same side as the Muslims against the Jewish, English and American threats. "They promise us our freedom if we help them." Image from article
SOVIETICA
Abakumov's [Viktor Abakumov, head of Ministry of State Security - MGB] search for Jewish spies did reach the families of politburo members. Polina Zhemchuzina, Molotov's [commissar for foreign affairs] was arrested in January 1949. She denied the charges of treason. In his one act of rebellion, Molotov abstained from the vote to condemn his wife. Later, though, he apologized: 'I acknowledge my heavy sense of remorse for not having prevented
Zhemchuzhina, a person very dear to me, from making her mistakes and from forming ties with anti-Soviet Jewish nationalists ... ' The next day she was arrested. Zhemchuzhina was sentenced to forced labor, and Molotov divorced her. She spent five years in exile in Kazhakhstan, among kulaks, the kind of people her husband had helped to deport in the 1930s. It seems that they helped her to survive. Molotov, for his part, lost his position as commissar for foreign affairs."
--Timothy Snyder, Bloodlands: Europe between Hitler and Stalin (2010), pp. 350-351; Zhemchuzhina/Molotov image from
FATAL ATTRACTION
Hormones make 'sexy cads' look like 'good dads' - Dan Vergano, USA TODAY: "Why do women delude themselves about men who are terrible 'boyfriend' material," asks marketing professor Kristina Durante of the University of Texas at San Antonio, lead author of the forthcoming experiment report in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. "It's not just that they are attracted to them, but they actually see them as different people." Why does she say that? In the study, Durante and her University of Minnesota and Singapore Management University colleagues sought to explore psychological observations that women were more attracted to stereotypical masculine faces— symmetrical with strong jaws and sharp cheekbones ("I say Ryan Gosling to students now, because George Clooney is too old for them ," Durante says) — when they were at the most fertile part of the menstrual cycle. Some researchers have suggested hormones such as estrogen peak just then, firing their desire to run off with a good-looking cad.
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