September 30

"The real test of a relationship is how quickly you can get out of bed after making love to check your email." Image from

--The boss of a wired company -- speaking a decade ago

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Ann Stock Travels to Moscow October 2-4 for Media Meeting of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission - Media Note, Office of the Spokesperson, U.S. Department of State: "Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Ann Stock will lead the United States’ delegation to a Media Sub-Working Group meeting of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission (BPC) October 2-4 in Moscow. Assistant Secretary Stock and Russian Ambassador Mikhail Shvydkoy will open the meeting and deliver opening remarks on ways in which the United States and Russia may partner together to strengthen people-to-people exchanges

through education, culture, media, and sports.  During her visit, Assistant Secretary Stock also will meet with other Russian counterparts to advance the vital business of the Education, Culture, Sports, and Media Working Group, which she and Shvydkoy co-chair. Assistant Secretary Stock has assumed the authorities of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and will co-chair in this capacity. Dawn McCall, Coordinator of the Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP), and Mikhail Gusman, First Deputy Director General of the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS, will host the second meeting of the BPC Media Sub-Working Group. Coordinator McCall and 11 media leaders from the United States, representing such institutions as the San Francisco Chronicle, Yahoo!News, the Newspaper Association of America, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the International Center for Journalists, and leaders of several U.S. schools of journalism, will continue the dialogue on the changing nature of the media arena

they started with their colleagues from Russia in Boston last March. They will hold sessions on the Business of Media, the Evolving Practice and Profession of Journalism, New Media Technologies, meet with journalism students from the Russian State Humanities University, and conduct a roundtable discussion on Ethics in Journalism. An agreement will be signed during the meeting for an exchange of 24 young journalists from each country in 2012 and 2013, funded and administered by the Knight Foundation, the International Center for Journalists, and the Union of Journalists of Moscow."  Above image from; below Image from

Senate Appropriations Committee rejects BBG proposal to drop VOA Chinese radio and TV - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Secret Cables Reveal Exercises Used as Cover for US Military - southasiarev.wordpress.com: "The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today called attention to secret cables from the US Embassy in Manila published by the website Wikileaks.org revealing the use of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the annual Balikatan joint military exercises as 'legal cover' for the involvement of US military forces in combat operations in the Philippines. ... 'Even so-called humanitarian missions are being used as a ‘public diplomacy tool’ with the aim of

drowning the issues of sovereignty and military interference,' pointed out the CPP. In another cable prepared by former Ambassador Kristie Kenney dated January 17, 2008, she said that these 'humanitarian missions' 'are relatively inexpensive activities (which) are critical to ensuring future access to these ports and deflecting leftist and elitist critiques of U.S.- Philippine military engagement.' 'The US imperialists continue to treat Philippine sovereignty with utter contempt,' said the CPP. 'The Filipino people must heighten their patriotism and continue to struggle to put an end to US military interventionism.'” Image from article

Cosplay Diplomacy‎ - Eddie Walsh, The Diplomat: "Cosplay – in which participants dress up as fictional, typically sci-fi or manga characters – is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. It’s a potential source of soft power that Japanese policymakers should be keeping a better eye on. ... Initially, Cosplay was a specialized form of costuming, with most Cosplayers making their own costumes.

But it ultimately caught on with the appearance of commercial, pre-made Cosplay costumes. Still, in the early days it was limited to Japanese cultural influences, particularly anime and manga. ... [A]round 2008 ... Cosplay established a major presence at both San Diego Comic-Con and Dragon*Con, the largest comic book and sci-fi conventions in the world. ... Japanese public diplomacy practitioners should take notice of the growing US interest in Cosplay." Image from article

Members suggested that the United States restrictions on Chinese Reporters - 77ed.com: "Most Americans think that China is the world’s most likely to challenge the United States of America countries .... many people even think that China will replace the dominant position of the United states. The United States lawmakers finally realized this challenge. This is not only the military and economic challenges, but also extends to the media and public diplomacy. At least, Congress determined that some people face these challenges."

Palestine UN bid: Where does China stand?‎ - Aljazeera.com: "Today ... it is China's interest in improving its image in the Muslim world as well as its 'long-term desire' to obtain strategic parity with the United States that encourage China to lend its backing to the PA attempt to gain recognition in the UN. Bordering Pakistan and home to 10 million Uighur Muslims, who insist on their distinct, non-Chinese identity, China has serious security concerns along its north western border as evident in recent knife attacks. Officials in Beijing are of the opinion that supporting the Palestinian cause is a 'valuable public diplomacy tool' which will not only help China improve its standing amongst Muslims, but will, at a minimum, fend off any potential Arab criticism of Beijing's unsympathetic attitude towards

Uighurs. Meanwhile, supporting Palestinians can considerably boost China's approval rating in the Arab world, thereby further encouraging Arab governments to look to China 'as a potential check on unrestrained American dominance'. With US popularity at its lowest point on both the state and public levels, and a diminishing Western influence in the horizon, the Palestine UN bid has provided China with a golden opportunity to further expand its soft power in a region that is of immense strategic importance to China's uninterrupted economic growth, and hence the successful execution of its military modernisation plans." Uighurs image from

Chinese retro-public diplomacy - John Brown, Notes and Essays: "How I wish a bright graduate student with a background in Chinese culture/Chinese language would consider writing a paper on China's public diplomacy as an anachronistic 'imitation' of US Cold War public diplomacy. The censorship-obsessed mainland authorities are following the USA Cold-War script, as they see it: 'ideologically safe' international TV propaganda programs not offensive (above all) to the homeland leadership; 'educational,' i.e, 'indoctrinating' cultural centers overseas; well-controlled people-to-people exchanges.

I'm simply amazed by how even intelligent commentators in the U.S. see Chinese PD as a 'threat' to America -- it's more like an aged dinosaur, moaning and groaning, about to die because the social-media comet (pardon the bad metaphor) has crashed on Mother Earth." Image from

RT (Russia Today) will be "available globally on smartphones, iPad and tablet devices" via Yamgo mobile TV network - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Interesting move by Swedish embassy in london - newdigitalculture.wordpress.com: "Swedish embassy replacing furniture with new swedish design and opening up its doors during London design week, in a new take on openness in public diplomacy."

Stoutt outlines comprehensive plan to repair VI education system - bvinews.com: "Independent First District candidate Preston Stoutt recently outlined a comprehensive plan which he believes will significantly improve the quality of education delivered in the Virgin Islands. Stoutt is contesting the First District seat against the incumbent Andrew Fahie who is also Minister of Education. ... Stoutt said . ... 'Education serves as the tentacles of our society as it relates to jobs, socio-economics, crime rates and in general, the sustainability of our VI Territory.

Instead of using ‘perception management’ or ‘public diplomacy’ as a tool to engage and sway the general public regarding our educational system we should be ‘managing the expectations’ of the parents and Territory when it comes to the education of our children and their future. Educational needs are being dealt with on a superficial level instead of delving deep into ‘the core’ part of our educational system.'” Stoutt image from article

Time to Teach Those Around South China Sea a Lesson? - Samuel Wade,
chinadigitaltimes.net: "The author is an analyst at the China Energy Fund Committee, 'a nonprofit, non-governmental think tank devoted to public diplomacy and researches on strategic issues with emphasis on energy and culture.'”

RELATED ITEMS

How the State Department Came After Me: For telling the truth about what I saw in Iraq - Peter Van Buren, Foreign Affairs: "We have been battered to death with public statements from the Secretary of State on down demanding the rights of bloggers and journalists in China, Burma and the Middle East be respected. While the State Department does not lock its naughty bloggers in basement prison cells, it does purposefully, willfully, and in an organized way seek to chill the responsible exercise of free speech by its employees. It does this selectively; blogs that promote an on-message theme are left alone (or even linked toby [sic] the Department) while blogs that say things that are troublesome or offensive to the Department are bullied out of existence. This is not consistent with the values the State Department seeks to promote abroad. It is not the best of us, and it undermines our message and our mission in every country where we work where people can still read this.

I have a job now at State that has nothing to do with Iraq, something I enjoy and something I am competent at. To me, there is no conflict here. I'd like to keep my job if I can, and in the meantime, I'll continue to write. I have no need to resign in protest, as I don't think I've done anything wrong absent throwing a few pies at some clowns and bringing to daylight a story that needed to be told, albeit at the cost of some embarrassment to the Department of State. That seems to me compatible with my oath of office, as well as my obligations as a citizen. I hope State comes to agree with me. After all, State asks the same thing of governments abroad, right?" Van Buren image from article. Via LB. See also.

What’s behind the U.S.-Pakistan rift - David Ignatius, Washington Post: President Obama’s goal remains a political settlement with “reconcilable” elements of the Taliban, and secret contacts have been continuing around the world.

"World media tycoons" meet at the World Media Summit in Beijing and say nothing especially interesting - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting.

Image from article

AMERICANA

Meghann Curtis

mecurtis@vassar.edu

Vassar College Class of 2001

Major: Undecided

So what about me? Why am I here--in this class that is? I ask myself the same question. I can't speak a word of German, I've never lived in Germany,

I'm not German by decent [sic] and I'm not trying to fulfill a requirement. My mother did live in West Germany for a time, however, and when she was there, she had this nanny who didn't speak English but taught her how to play this little piece on the piano. My mother taught that piece to me too--its [sic] the only thing I can play besides "Heart and Soul". [sic use of non-American punctuation]  I think that is my only connection to Germany. Anyway, I digress. So what brings me here?

--Ms. Meghann Curtis, evidently the new Deputy Assistant Secretary for Academic Programs U.S. State Department; above image from; below image from

MORE AMERICANA (VIA AUSTRIA)

Arnold commissions statues... of himself