"Congress has contracted with various movie theaters around the nation to host the House and Senate."
--Rowan Scarborough, "Congress has new shelter in case of attack," The Washington Times, noting that this is taken as a precaution "if attacks prevent legislators from convening in Washington"; image from
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
Sonenshine to leave public diplomacy post at State, sources told BBG Watch - BBGWatcher, usgbroadcasts.com: "BBG Watch has learned that the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs will soon be leaving her post at the State Department and her representational role at the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the federal agency in charge of U.S. international broadcasting. According to sources, Tara Sonenshine told her staff of her intention to leave her job this summer. In addition to her public diplomacy duties at the State Department, she was representing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and current Secretary of State John Kerry at BBG board meetings. ... Sonenshine’s
part-time tenure at the BBG has not been easy. She has been exposed to more than usual level of incompetence on the part of the International Broadcasting Bureau senior staff and had to put up with extremely poor judgement or indifference on the part of some BBG members who have since resigned. But unlike some BBG members, she quickly realized that the IBB bureaucracy was a big part of the problem, a source told BBG Watch. Her boss, Hillary Clinton, had called U.S. international broadcasting 'defunct.' She had to have been listening to what Sonenshine was telling her about the IBB bureaucracy and some of the BBG members, as well as some of the media executives they brought on board. Together with IBB officials, they have created one of the biggest public diplomacy disasters for the U.S. in Russia when former Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) managers fired dozens of journalists who were reporting on human rights abuses and political and economic corruption within the Putin government." Image from
In USIB, it's not duplication, it's "parallax." In that case, no need for reform - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting: "USIB, if its limited budget continues to be drained by duplication, and if its scarce resources are divided
among competing entities, has no chance of competing with the real competition out there in the real world. ... In the television age, preservation of multiple USIB entities is folly." Image from article
Department of State Public Schedule, Tuesday, April 13, 2013: "UNDER SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TARA SONENSHINE 4:30 p.m. Under Secretary Sonenshine participates in a roundtable discussion on public diplomacy at Ithaca College, in Ithaca, New York," posted rockycoastnews.blogspot.com
Economic Sanctions as Temper Tantrums - Rob Asghar, PD News–CPD Blog, USC Center on Public Diplomacy: "Harsh international sanctions against
... Sanctions are ... the antithesis of public diplomacy." Image from
Ipanema meets Maui - Paul Rockower, Levantine: "Listening to 'The Girl from Ipanema' in Hawaiian Slack Key guitar style. This is cultural diplomacy at its finest."
Israel Festival in Virginia Beach to include murals - Sandra J. Pennecke, hamptonroads.com: "When the Simon Family Jewish Community Center celebrates Yom Ha'Atzmaut, or Israel's Independence Day, its grounds and building are transformed into just about anything that's related to Israeli culture. Attendees of the Israel Festival, held from 12:30 to 5 p.m. April 28, will enjoy traditional Israeli cuisine, shopping, arts and crafts, music, dance performances, inflatables, face painting, camel rides and more. Held yearly, the event is open to people of all backgrounds and religions.
There will be a scaled-down version of the Western Wall again with the opportunity to place notes there and later have them transported to Israel for placement in the real wall. One addition this year is Walk the Land 65, a visual representation highlighting Israel's innovative and humanitarian gifts to the world since it became a country 65 years ago. The collection of educational murals will be spaced out throughout the campus, which is located at 5000 Corporate Woods Drive, allowing attendees to 'walk the land.' The United Jewish Federation is one of scores of participants throughout the world taking part in Walk the Land 65. The Federation has united with Celebrate Life!, coordinated by the Afikim Foundation and sponsored by the World Zionist organization, the Israel Ministry for Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs." Image from entry, with caption: Micah Schachet-Briskin, left, Jonathan Peck, Tia Einhorn and Sarah Lais, all fifth-graders at the Hebrew Academy of Tide-water, display two of the murals that will be part of the Walk the Land 65 exhibit at this year's Israel Festival at the JCC.
2013 Rotary Peace Fellows Seminar Leave a comment - tvo320, wordpress.com: "I enjoyed all of the presentations especially the 'Peace through Diplomacy in Bosnia Herzegovina' by Casey Crocket and Brothers through Bullets: Veterans Building Peace in Vietnam by Nissa Rhee.
Casey discussed her experience with the Office of Public Diplomacy in the US Embassy in Sarajevo where she focused on small educational and cultural programs to bring the US and Bosnia Herzegovina together. I loved her community read project with the book 'One Bosnia and Herzegovina, One Book' that focuses on encouraging the youth and giving them hope for the future." Image from entry, with caption: 2013 Rotary Peace Fellows’ Seminar
Should Jordan be Palestine? - Daniel Tauber, Jerusalem Post: "A Palestinian-ruled Jordan ... represents a danger almost identical to, perhaps even greater than, a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria, and no hasbarah (public diplomacy) activist or ambassador complaining about how the two-state solution was already implemented is going to change that."
Ricardo Añino, Director of the Tribuna Americana at Casa de America in Madrid, At IE [video] - ir.blogs.ie.edu: "In an interview with Waya Quiviger, Executive Director of IE’s Master in International Relations, Ricardo Añino talks about public diplomacy and the importance of communication with foreign publics in establishing a dialogue designed to inform and influence."
The Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) National Forum 2013: Civility in Australia - artsonline.monash.edu.au: "There is a growing realisation that our inability to deal with a broad range of problems is largely attributable to the destructive ways in which the issues are being addressed. This raises a crucial and increasingly controversial question 'what exactly do we mean by Civility [.]' CHASS is pleased to announce its annual National Forum to investigate this topic at Parliament House, Canberra on Thursday 20 June 2013. Eminent speakers from across the country will address the following topics [including]: ... Soft Power – Public Diplomacy[.]"
News and events - South Asia Masala, asiapacific.anu.edu.au: "New book announcement: Enriched Relations: Public Diplomacy in Australian Indian Relations, edited by David Lowe and Amit Sarwal (Delhi: Readworthy, 2013)."
3L Hansen Named a Finalist in Prestigious Presidential Management Fellows Program - today.law.utah.edu: "[Q:] How long have you been interested in government service? What sparked that interest? [A, Laura Hansen:] My first introduction to public service and the change that an individual can make was when I was pretty young. My father became involved with the fight to preserve Utah's open lands when a ski resort tried to develop into Snake Creek Canyon. He taught me to never be afraid to take a stand and fight for something you believe in. However, it wasn't until I went to Cambodia in 2007 that I really wanted to get involved with public service myself.
The experience opened my eyes to the world beyond my comfort zone and as soon as I came home I enrolled in my international relations class. I was fascinated by the power of words through diplomacy and how human relationships may prevent nation-states from using force and going to war. Going into government service and working with the State Department then seemed the best way for me to get involved with public diplomacy, and my internship with the U.S. Mission to NATO further cemented my desire to get involved with public service." Hansen image from entry
David Meron’s love of language led to diplomatic career - Leslie Krowchenko, DCNN: "David Meron, a 1975 graduate of Marple Newtown High School and public diplomacy officer with the U.S. Department of State, conducted the French and Spanish classes in the students’ second language during a Hometown Diplomats visit to his alma mater. As a student in Virginia Bridgman’s French class at Marple Newtown High School, David Meron thought his ability to 'parler français' would come in handy should he visit Dufferin Terrace in Old Québec or the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Little did he know it would benefit his career. A public diplomacy officer in the U.S. Department of State, Meron returned to his alma mater, April 12, as part of the Hometown Diplomats Program. He addressed students in world language and history classes to discuss 'what we do and why it matters.' 'The world is a lot smaller than when I was sitting in these auditorium seats,' said Meron. 'Think how much more competitive you will be if you can speak one, two or three world languages.'
A 1975 grad, Meron majored in international economics and received a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Following stints as an account executive for Berlitz Translations Services and international flight attendant and corporate trainer for United Air Lines, he joined the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer. Meron completed his fourth overseas assignment in 2011 as the Chief of the Consular Section at the Consulate General in São Paulo, Brazil and will soon begin serving as the Public Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy in Lomé, Togo." Image from article, with caption: David Meron, a 1975 graduate of Marple Newtown High School and public diplomacy officer with the U.S. Department of State, conducted the French and Spanish classes in the students’ second language during a Hometown Diplomats visit to his alma mater.
Education Coordinator - jobregistry.nafsa.org: "Location: Washington, D.C. Employer: British Council ... Main Duties and Responsibilities: Support a range of programs and events run by the education team, including the regional Higher Education Series and Going Global conference [;] Liaise with the communications team to support the education team’s strategy and activities - including webpage updates, blog posts, newsletters, and customer relations management (CRM) database [;] Manage external engagement tracking (Scorecard) and program activity calendar for the education team [;] Coordinate UK engagement at strategic events and conferences hosted by other organizations [;] Support the British Council’s students and alumni engagement in the US [.] Requirements [:[ Undergraduate degree in relevant subject such as international relations, public diplomacy, political science, liberal arts, communications, education[.]"
RELATED ITEMS
More Help for Syrian Rebels - Editorial Board, New York Times: Eager to find ways to speed Mr. Assad’s fall, or at least change his calculations, President Obama is edging, cautiously but appropriately, toward greater support for the rebels. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday that Washington would double aid to the opposition’s military wing by providing an additional $123 million in “nonlethal” assistance like body armor and night-vision goggles. Some $385 million in humanitarian aid had already been committed. The president has wisely resisted calls to supply American weapons and to intervene directly. Assisting the rebels is not the whole answer. Mr. Obama and Europe should keep trying to persuade Russia to abandon its unconscionable support for Mr. Assad and to work cooperatively to stabilize the region. Below image from
Blocking Syrian Refugees Isn’t the Way - Bill Frelick, New York Times: Keeping displaced people penned up inside Syria is not a solution that can ensure their safety. Governments outside the region need to step up their support for the front-line states to minimize the destabilizing impact of the massive refugee inflows.
Can the Foreign Service Reform Itself? If so how and where to begin? - Patricia H. Kushlis, Whirled View: The Foreign Service grievance process, as currently constituted, is crippled by illogical, unnecessarily complex procedures and structural conflicts of interest. This must change. Article includes recommendations on how.
AMERICANA
Wealthiest Americans Only Winners in Recovery, Pew Says - Frank Bass, bloomberg.com: "The U.S. economy has recovered for households with net worth of $500,000 or more, a new study shows. The recession continues for almost everyone else. Wealthy households boosted their net worth by 21.2 percent in the aftermath of the recession, according to the study released today by the Pew Research Center. The rest of America lost 4.9 percent of household wealth from 2009 to 2011. Pew attributed the disparity to gains during that period in the stock and bond markets, benefiting affluent households, while the housing market’s decline hit others harder. The report underscores the nation’s growing income inequality, with the top 13 percent of households recovering their losses from the 18- month recession that ended in June 2009, and the rest of the country continuing to hemorrhage wealth."
The Hand That Feeds Us - Sara Hope Anderson, New York Times: "When the large bank I had worked for underwent 'restructuring' a few months before, I quickly became one of nearly 12 million unemployed people in the United States. That’s about the same number of people who watched the
zombie drama 'The Walking Dead' this season, and more than the entire population of Ohio." Image from
10-year-old boy unable to speak after being shot 5 times at birthday party - Jessica Chasmar, The Washington Times: A 10-year-old California boy is clinging to life after being shot five times while in the front yard at a family member’s birthday party late Saturday night. Sacramento County police said Eric Raya was playing with another child in front of a North Highlands home when a car pulled up and shot him, News10 reports. “It was a black car. The car just stopped and started shooting them,” Monica Raya, the boy’s older sister, told the station. “My brother was injured and nobody saw who shot [him].”
SOVIETICA
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