January 30

"An artist is somebody who produces things that people don't need to have."

--Andy Warhol; Warhol image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Remarks at the Announcement of the Open Book Project - Remarks, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, Ben Franklin Room, Washington, DC, January 28, 2013, U.S. Department of State: "Through the Open Book Project, we will work to expand access to free, high-quality, open education materials in Arabic, with a focus on science and technology.

Our hope is to lower geographic, economic, and even gender-based barriers to learning. Anyone with access to the internet will be able to read, download, and print these open materials for free or adapt a copy that meets the local needs of their classrooms or education systems." See also: Jane Morse, "Arab League, U.S. Launch Open Book Project," iipdigital.usembassy.gov. Image from, with caption: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Ambassador Mohammed Al Hussaini Al Sharif of the League of Arab States announce the launch of the Open Book Project at the State Department January 28.

The Diplomacy of Art - Hillary Clinton, vanityfair.com: "In my line of work, we often talk about the art of diplomacy as we try to make people’s lives a little better around the world. But, in fact, art is also a tool of diplomacy. It reaches beyond governments, past the conference rooms and presidential palaces, to help us connect with more people in more places. It is a universal language in our search for common ground, an expression of our shared humanity. That’s why Art in Embassies is so important.

The Museum of Modern Art first envisioned this global visual-arts program in 1953, and President John F. Kennedy formalized it at the U.S. Department of State in 1963. Working with over 20,000 participants globally, including artists, museums, collectors, and galleries, this landmark public-private partnership shares the work of more than 4,000 American and international artists annually in more than 200 U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world. These can be exhibitions, permanent collections, site-specific commissions, or two-way artist exchanges." Image from entry, with caption: Artists whose work has been displayed in U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world, from left: Cai Guo-Qiang, Kiki Smith, Shahzia Sikander, Marina Abramović, Carrie Mae Weems, Nick Cave, Pedro Reyes, Fred Tomaselli, Jeff Koons, Jenny Holzer, Julie Mehretu, Jim Drain, and Seton Smith; photographed on the balcony of the U.S. State Department, in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Embassy closes amid Egyptian violence - Cheryl K. Chumley, The Washington Times: "The U.S. Embassy in Cairo shut down Tuesday, as more than 120 were reported injured in the escalating violence that has marked Egypt over the past few days. United Press International reports that emergency services for U.S. citizens would only be offered 'to the extent possible,' according to an embassy statement. 'Due to the security situation in the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy, our public services will be closed, including visa services and the Information Resource Center,' the statement continued, according to UPI."

Public Schedule for January 30, 2013 - U.S. Department of State: "UNDER SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TARA SONENSHINE 8:00 a.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine hosts a CO.NX digital video conference with embassies in the Middle East and North Africa region, at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE) 9:00 a.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine hosts a CO.NX digital video conference with embassies in Europe, at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE) 12:00 p.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine meets with visiting Brazilian Youth Ambassadors, at the Department of State. (CLOSED PRESS CVOERAGE [sic])"

Hot topic: no shortage of reports on public diplomacy - diplomacy.edu: "Public diplomacy has become a ‘hot button’ issue, not just for diplomats but for a whole clutch of non-state actors – those active in business, culture, education, the media, public affairs and scholars, and even tourism – all of whom contribute to PD and are affected by it. Why is PD so relevant? One simple reason is that the field of international affairs is no longer the preserve of those that wear striped pants and morning coats. Management of global issues involves a huge range of official agencies and even more, lots of non-official activists. They need to understand the levers of influence available to them and the modalities of getting their objectives to mesh into an increasingly open foreign affairs process. As an emerging discipline, PD also offers potential for one’s own original contribution. Ministries of foreign affairs around the world have woken up to the need for and power of public diplomacy. Back in 2008, Britain’s FCO produced an interesting report: Engagement: Public Diplomacy in a Globalised World. In a foreword by Jim Murphy MP, then Minister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the report’s opening sally is: There are two responses to globalisation.

One is to run and hide and the other is to engage. That same year, the Brookings Institute launched its report Voices of America: U.S. Public Diplomacy for the 21st Century presenting ‘concrete steps to strengthen America’s efforts to engage, persuade, and attract the support of foreign publics’. Five years later, such reports still make regular headlines and public diplomacy has taken on a life of its own. In 2011, a third player, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, made available to the public a fine document on public diplomacy that is worth a read, giving practical insight into how a foreign ministry can exploit this new set of approaches to building stronger foreign relations, especially in partnership with diverse actors, including non-official agencies.  According to Amb. Kishan Rana, co-lecturer on Diplo’s Public Diplomacy course, this publication is ‘especially useful in de-mystifying a discipline that is sometimes cloaked in needless complexity. It also shows how public diplomacy connects with many disciplines and deserves wide support, as well as participation.’ Once a specilised term, public diplomacy is increasingly becoming a hot topic. Bruce Gregory, an adjunct professor at George Washington University and at Georgetown University who previously served as the executive director of the US Advisory Communication on Public Diplomacy, has helpfully provided his choice of books, articles, and websites on the subject, too." Image from

GAO says BBG needs to take additional steps to address overlap in international broadcasting - BBGWatcher: "The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress, conducted a study of how various Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) language services–offices that produce content for particular languages and regions– overlap with another BBG service by providing programs to the same countries in the same languages. GAO identified 23 instances of overlap involving 43 of BBG’s 69 services. Often called the 'congressional watchdog,' GAO investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars. GAO recommended that BBG systematically consider in its annual language service reviews (1) the cost and impact of overlap among BBG entities’ language services and (2) the activities of other international broadcasters."

Fired Kazakh journalists ask new RFE/RL president for reinstatement - BBGWatcher, usgbroadcasts.com

Ivan Tolstoy leads Radio Liberty in Exile innovative online video discussion on Tamizdat [includes video] - BBGWatcher, usgbroadcasts.com: "Using Google Hangout live video technology, the same one used by

President Obama for online interactions, Radio Liberty in Exile recorded a video discussion on Russian emigre literature known as 'Tamizdat.' Google Hangout, a feature of Google+, emerging as a potent alternative media platform for those who feel ignored by the mainstream media television, The Times of India recently reported in an article on new media trends. In a show of solidarity with Radio Liberty journalists who were fired by the previous Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) management, the video discussion was led from his home library in Prague by Radio Liberty broadcaster and literary critic Ivan Tolstoy who still works at RFE/RL." Image from entry

Afghan orchestra set to hit the right notes: Country's first post-Taliban orchestra set to travel to the US to disprove stereotypes associated with Afghanistan - Jennifer Glasse, aljazeera.com [includes video]: "In a crowded rehearsal room at Afghanistan's National Institute of Music, the country's first post-Taliban orchestra is preparing for its international debut. ... The orchestra plans on playing in Kabul in February before its US tour. Its one concert last year in Kabul was vastly oversubscribed. 'Last year we had to turn more than 200 people away,' says [Dr Ahmad] sarmast the school director.

'We wanted everyone to have a chance to come this year.' Sarmast's office was a hive of activity the day Al Jazeera visited. His staff was trying to purchase uniforms for the orchestra from local stores in Kabul, and ensure that the last of the US visas were approved. ... 'I think their presence in Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center will change the perception about Afghanistan,' he says. 'I think it's important to show that in spite of reports about suicide bombing, killing, destruction, and corruption, there's been many positive changes in Afghanistan - one of which is the establishment of the National Institute of Music in Afghanistan.'" Via CR on Twitter, image from

Friends of IPD Meeting - ipd.or.id: "On 28 January 2013, IPD held a Friends of IPD meeting which was attended by representatives of donor governments including AusAID, the Netherlands and Norwegian Embassies as well as the Vice Rector II of Udayana University, and representatives from the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Presidential Advisory Council. The meeting discussed IPD’s programmatic and technical development and areas where support is needed. The agenda was: a. Programmatic Development b. Institutional Development c. Discussion and Agenda for Future Cooperation [.] Mr. Dadang Sudiyarto, from the Ministry of Education, gave a presentation on how to register donor funds with the government of Indonesia. In 2013, the Public Diplomacy Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will conduct programs on capacity building for democracy in Egypt, Fiji and Myanmar. There is also possibility to have program on election to support Tunisia, since Tunisia will have election in June this year. The prospect of MoFA and IPD cooperating in delivering these programs was discussed. At the end of the meeting, attendees visited IPD’s new facilities including the auditorium and guest houses for which construction was finalised in December."

The op-ed as a strategic tool of public diplomacy: Framing of the 2011 Egyptian revolution - Guy Golan, Public Relations Review, posted at academia.edu: "The current study examines how the op-ed section of two prominent international newspapers were used for the articulation of

public diplomacy issue stands by international experts who made an attempt to influence both government policy and public opinion abroad." Image from

武8L0 | Activity | - Boycott KETK: "In addition, the city CPPCC Friendship with Foreign Countries Committee revealed, Yao Ming as the Shanghai Public Diplomacy Association Vice President and Honorary Ambassador,louboutin pas cher, will also be in the public diplomacy to play a unique role. For Friendship with Foreign exchange activities this year, Shanghai will be China and the United States Basketball cultural exchange project as a starting point,parajumpers, the tailor 'Yao Ming and the Shanghai Exhibition”,hollister france, Yao Ming and you make friends'."

MPD in China 2013: Differentiating Corporate Responsibility in China and the U.S.-
Dao-Chau Nguyen, PD News–CPD Blog, USC Center on Public Diplomacy: "On a recent MPD trip to Beijing, a research group focused on Corporate Diplomacy. We listened to Chinese corporate social responsibility (CSR) experts including practitioners from a state-owned enterprise (SOE), a corporate philanthropy magazine, and several public affairs firms, all of whom shared their thoughts on the different concepts of CSR that currently divide the East and the West. ... [U]ntil protecting human rights and ensuring environmental sustainability becomes a part of China’s national agenda, China’s idea of CSR will continue to be a breed apart from that found in the United States."

Basketball diplomacy in Iran - dw.de: "Tensions between Iran and the US were intensifying in 2008 when American basketball player Kevin Sheppard went to play for the Iranian league. A German filmmaker has brought his unusual story to the cinema. ... Filmmaker Schauder is a basketball fan himself, and is married to an American with Iranian roots, so the story was close to his heart from the beginning. In 2008 he first learned that a handful of American basketball players were active in the Iranian Super League. 'When I heard that Americans were playing such an American sport in Iran, I immediately thought of the so-called ping-pong diplomacy of the 1970s,' Schauder said.

Chinese and American table tennis players played an important role in improving political ties between the two countries in the 1970s. The film director was curious to find out whether the American basketball players were having a similar influence in encouraging cultural understanding between the US and Iran. By making a film about one of them, he wanted to take a closer look at the reality in the 'enemy' country and do away with prejudices that had developed." Image from article, with caption: Sheppard played soccer before starting his successful basketball career.

RELATED ITEMS

Targeted killings: they are too secret: The administration should spell out criteria for the assassination of suspected terrorists abroad - Editorial, Los Angeles Post: We agree that the U.S. shouldn't have to sit on its hands while terrorists plan imminent attacks on Americans. But using drones to kill terrorists anywhere in the world because they might attack Americans in the future is a dramatic departure from traditional warfare.

And while drone attacks may be more surgical than other sorts of airstrikes, they do kill innocent bystanders. The administration hasn't been forthcoming enough about the legal and practical judgments underlying targeted killings. In the coming weeks, the Senate Intelligence Committee will have an opportunity to demand answers about targeted killings when it holds hearings on Brennan's nomination to head the CIA. Image from

Meanwhile, “Ten Things You Should Know About the State Department” - Peter van Buren, We Meant Well: Your Department of State, right on the cusp of budget time, has released a self-pleasuring “fact sheet” of what it thinks it does with your tax money, helpfully titled “Ten Things You Should Know About the State Department.”

Some of it is over-the-top performance art hilarious, like the unsupported statement that “We directly support 20 million U.S. jobs (No. 1)” and “In South Sudan, Libya and many other countries we worked through various means to foster democracy and peace (No. 3).” Image from entry

Iran arrests journalists accused of working for "counterrevolutionary," i.e. foreign, media - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Saudi propaganda claims of plots and assassinations - As'ad AbuKhalil, The Angry Arab News Service: For several days, House of Saud media peddled an explosive story: they claimed that a Syrian diplomat in Saudi Arabia (who it turned out was a part-time contractor) came to the Saudi government with this story: that he was ordered by the Syrian government to undertake bombing in Mecca. The story did not say if he also had sought the assistance of Mexican drug cartel or Texan car salesmen.

Two Versions of Mao's China: History Retouched as Propaganda - globalvoicesonline.org: On January 29-30, 2013 one of the top ten micro-blogs in Sina Weibo, the most influential micro-blogging platform in China, has a set of historical photos showing two versions of the Chinese history during Mao's Era (1949-1976). The micro-blog, in the form of a collage, published by @Pongyoung with a brief comment: “How history has been amended?”, has been retweeted 13362 times with 2237 comments within one day. The photos and their explanation were originally published by the history channel [zh] of ifeng.com. In order to help our readers see the difference between the two versions of the Chinese history, the collage is cut into 10 photo sets with a brief explanation. Among the photo sets:

The umbrellas and those carrying them had obstructed the stage and thus deleted.

The missing person is Ren Bishi, a CCP military and political leader. The photo was taken in 1940 with Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong. Ren was deleted because he was criticized for being sick and hospitalized in USSR in during the Chinese liberation war.

Accidental propaganda and the Basi Revolt paintings - Ina Alleco R. Silverio, bulatlat.com: The issue of art as propaganda has already been settled long ago, and no one but reactionaries and the politically conservative and naïve will contest the historic and moral validity of claims that art should serve specific political purposes such as exposing social corruption and providing viable alternatives to it. There are art works, however, that are inherently political regardless of what the artist intended.