September 6

"War isn't declared in the name of God; it is a human affairs entirely."

--Woodrow Wilson; cited in John Milton Cooper, Jr., Woodrow Wilson (2009), p. 286; image from

Alhurra visits stud farm - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

According to employee survey, BBG is no Surface Transportation Board - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Cuban Five activists will picket in front of BBG headquarters on 13 September - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting: "'Actions in solidarity with the five Cuban antiterrorists unfairly imprisoned in the United States have been organized in that country on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of their incarceration. ... The exhibition titled 'Desde mi Altura,' with works by Antonio Guerrero, will be inaugurated on September 3 in New York, where it will be opened to the public for a month; while activists will picket

in front of the Broadcasting Board of Governors headquarters in Washington D.C. on Monday.' -- Actually scheduled for 13 September at 5:00 p.m, per the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five calendar. See previous post about the activists' arguments with the BBG." Image from

Making humanitarian medical knowledge accessible to all‎ - Abigail Klein Leichman, press release, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Facing square-on the ethical dilemmas that arise in times of conflict, Israeli experts shared their vast experience providing humanitarian aid at home and abroad with 65 medical students and activists from 25 countries. This up-close look at Israel's humanitarian medical programs took place at a four-day Humanitarian Medicine Conference led by 20 public diplomacy fellows studying at Tel Aviv University."

Israel's National Security Concept - Shay Shabtai‎, defpro: "[N]ew fundamental terms must be adopted for a full formulation of Israel’s national security doctrine. ... [Among these is the] term ... 'approval,'

using the gamut of military-security efforts to obtain and preserve approval among key international and regional elements as to Israel’s use of force. Realization of this goal is based on diplomacy, legal steps, and public diplomacy; and more important, the careful upholding of acceptable international law and Israeli law by the fighting forces and serious efforts to ease the situation of the civilian population. The term 'approval' in the military-security circle connects to the broader effort at the level of the political-strategic circle to improve Israel’s international image." Image from

Public Diplomacy and the Case of “Flotillas” - Abeer Bassiouny Arafa Ali Radwan, American Diplomacy: "In this opinion piece, an Egyptian diplomat posits that the Turkish 'flotilla' was a public diplomacy tool with some short-term success in damaging Israel’s standing in the world. –Ed."

Peace Research Update for the Week of September 6, 2010 - Antony Adolf, One World Many Peaces: "Freedman, R. 'The Much Too Promised Land: America's Elusive Search for Arab-Israeli Peace.' Review. Shofar 28, no. 3 (April 1, 2010): 173-176. The final section of the book deals with U.S. President Bill Clinton, who failed in his efforts to achieve peace between Israel and both Syria and the Palestinians, and President George W. Bush who, according to Miller [first name not given], did not try very hard to achieve an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. Miller also deplores the fact that U.S. officials never had a tough or honest conversation with the Israelis on settlement activity, that the U.S. never placed any costs on Arafat for indulging the Palestinian terrorist groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and never imposed penalties on Syria for its failure to practice public diplomacy with Israel."

India Builds Asia's Largest Film School - IndianDiplomacy: "The Public Diplomacy Division of India’s Ministry of External Affairs

was set up in 2006 to address the challenges posed by a rapidly changing global environment. Indian public diplomacy is aimed at a more effective and positive projection of India in the international arena. It also seeks to create a better understanding of India and its foreign policy concerns in major countries around the world and also within India itself. To accomplish these objectives, the Public Diplomacy Division organises a wide range of focused outreach activities including seminars, conferences, workshops and lectures. We also produce books, magazines, documentary films and other material, which is disseminated though India’s missions and posts abroad. We partner with major domestic and international universities, think tanks and research organizations to organize events on subjects that are relevant to India’s concerns. We also have an incoming visitors programme under which we host delegations from various countries and organizations to provide them with a broad-based exposure to India." Image from

No genie in the bottle - Patricia Mukhim, ne Reporter: Daily Dose of Northeast India Vitamins: "The manner in which the public diplomacy division of the Union home affairs ministry is engaging with border states hovers between superciliousness and ignorance. In its effort to reach out to the periphery (the notorious North-eastern states), the division deputed a former ambassador to three states — Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya — to yet again give us a different spin on India’s much-touted Look East Policy.

Former ambassador, Sudhir Devere, who is also currently secretary-general of the Indian Council for World Affairs, was the visiting dignitary assigned this onerous task." Image from

Analyst: Public Diplomacy Can Help Deepen Iran-Azerbaijan Ties: A prominent Iranian academic figure called for a broader practice of public diplomacy as an effective means to further boost the friendly ties between the two neighboring countries of Iran and Azerbaijan - Fars News Agency: "'Activating the public diplomacy, aside from the official and international regulations, can be effective in strengthening the friendly relations between the Muslim nations of Iran and Azerbaijan,' Tehran University Dean Mohammad Reza Koushki said, addressing members of the Caucasus Cultural Center in Iran's northern city of Ardabil on Saturday."

Public diplomacy seminar - Philippine tourism - kristine de villa, phifocy blog: "The early session of our seminar last Aug. 28, 2010 we had the secretary of the Department of Tourism to give us a tiny lecture. ... Tourism is an important factor to the development of the country that is why future diplomats like CDA students must know the factors and how to handle problems concering tourism." Below image from


SEMCDA: Public Diplomacy - Nicole Alves, From my point of view: "'You are the number one ambassadors of your country.' 'experience is the best teacher.' these are one of the many things i would quote that the speaker during the seminar said. He is the secretary of Department of Tourism and his name is Mr. Domingo. ... The main product of our country is us, it's citizens, and not the wealth, size and others but the people itself."

SEM-CDA: Public Diplomacy - Lord Leomer Pomperada, nuggets of thoughts: "A word to describe the seminar is: Powerful. Honestly, it was one of the best seminars that I have ever attended. I learned a lot of things. All of them were very interesting. I had my top three realizations and learnings: First, I have the same belief with Mr. Domingo Ramon, I believe that experience is the best teacher. It is also the reason why I believe that the greatest knowledge that I can learn in school isn’t inside the classroom but about the real life experiences that I have with friends, faculty and fellow officers in the organization. ... Second, I agree that we should be positive citizens. I really liked what he said on being positive Filipinos. ... And the third realization pertains in marketing the country. It is not new to me that the Department of Tourism is one of the areas of the government that receives low budget. Thus, the remedy is the word of mouth marketing."

The Public Diplomacy Forum - Miguel, Phifocy: "Our second forum concentrated on Public Diplomacy and this is not new to us. As a CDA student, we’ve been exposed to this topic and I shall first give a description of Public Diplomacy. According to the Planning Group for Integration of USIA into the Dept. of State: 'Public Diplomacy seeks to promote the national interest of the country through understanding, informing and influencing foreign audiences. It also describes the conduct of foreign policy by engagement with foreign publics.'”

Public Diplomay Seminar - roldana, phifocy: "During the seminar on Public Diplomacy, we were enlightened by the personnal experiences of the speaker about public diplomacy. His talk was informal but very informative. One of the lines that struck me is that 'The number one ambassador of your country is you'."

WASHINGTONIANA


Eight-foot shark caught in Potomac River - Boing Boing (includes image)