Friday, April 30, 2010

BP Oil Spill Gulf Coast Disaster, Employers New Tactics to Fire Employees, Travel Smarter, New PTSD Treatment - News Headlines 30 Apr 2010

From Denny: The Gulf Coast oil spill, courtesy of "too big to fail high-tech oil platform" from British Petroleum, is dominating the national news as much as Hurricane Katrina did. National disaster is spreading out across the nation like the oil slick that may take another three months to stop - if the relief well is successful. Until then, one-fifth of the nation's seafood supply is at risk along with those marshes that protect the Gulf Coast and the port of New Orleans from devastating hurricanes. And the weather folks are predicting this year to be a particularly violent one for hurricanes when the season starts up on June 1st.

Fortunately, President Obama has come down to Louisiana quickly to listen to the people most impacted instead of hiding in a huddle like President Bush did listening to his political advisors. Bush dismissed the frantic calls from then Louisiana Governor Blanco for a full three days while people were dying in New Orleans.

President Obama is not tone deaf like Bush in a disaster. This President also places the full cost of the clean-up and lost income on the shoulders of BP. Let's hope this administration will strong arm the oil company to pay up and not stick the taxpayers with the bill like energy companies are prone to do here in America. For now, BP seems willing to pay for their environmental disaster of epic proportions. When the bill comes due, everyone get ready and hold your breath to witness if they actually pay it in full.





BP Didn't Plan for Major Oil Spill: (CBS) Company Suggests in Documents that Likelihood of Accident Happening was Virtually Impossible

British Petroleum downplayed the possibility of a catastrophic accident at an offshore rig that exploded, causing the worst U.S. spill in decades along the Gulf coast and endangering shoreline habitat.

In the 52-page exploration plan and environmental impact analysis, BP repeatedly suggested it was unlikely, or virtually impossible, for an accident to occur that would lead to a giant crude oil spill and serious damage to beaches, fish, mammals and fisheries.

BP's plan filed with the federal Minerals Management Service for the Deepwater Horizon well, dated February 2009, says repeatedly that it was "unlikely that an accidental surface or subsurface oil spill would occur from the proposed activities."

And while the company conceded that a spill would "cause impacts" to beaches, wildlife refuges and wilderness areas, it argued that "due to the distance to shore (48 miles) and the response capabilities that would be implemented, no significant adverse impacts are expected..."





Gulf Oil Spill, by the Numbers: (CBS) Up to 5,000 Barrels a Day Are Leaking Into Gulf as Spill Spreads to Cover 2,100 Square Miles

The estimate of crude oil being spilled into the Gulf of Mexico from the well head of the destroyed BP drilling platform Deepwater Horizon was revised upwards. Already experts are suggesting this may become the worst environmental disaster to hit the U.S. since the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound, and it may eclipse even that.

A glance at key statistics from the spill:

• Oil is being spilled at a rate up to 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) a day.

• As of Friday morning, the spill has spread to cover 2,100 square miles.

• It could take up to three months to drill a relief well to plug the leak. At the current rate of leakage, this spill would eclipse the Exxon Valdez disaster, which dumped 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound in 1989.

• Eleven people remain unaccounted for following the April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig; 115 were evacuated, including 17 who were injured, 3 critically. 1 injured person remains in the hospital.

• Nearly 2,000 personnel are involved in the response effort with additional resources being mobilized as needed.

• 79 response vessels have been responding on site, including skimmers, tugs, barges and recovery vessels to assist in containment and cleanup efforts. In addition, six fixed-wing aircraft, 11 helicopters, 10 remotely operated vehicles, and two mobile offshore drilling units have been deployed. Two C-130 aircraft equipped with aerial spray systems were en route Friday afternoon, according to the Defense Department.

• More than 217,000 feet of boom (barrier) has been assigned to contain the spill; an additional 305,760 feet is available.

• According to BP, as of Friday 20,313 barrels (853,146 gallons) of an oil-water mix have been recovered, an increase of 90,000 gallons from Thursday.

• 139,459 gallons of dispersant have been deployed; an additional 51,000 gallons are available. 51,000 gallons more are on hand.

• Six staging areas (Biloxi, Miss.; Pensacola, Fla.; Venice, La.; Pascagoula, Miss.; Theodore, Ala.; Fourchon, La.) have been set up to protect sensitive shorelines.

• More than 400 species of wildlife, including whales and dolphins, face a dire threat from the spill, along with Louisiana's barrier islands and marshlands. In the national refuges most at risk, about 34,000 birds have been counted, including gulls, pelicans, roseate spoonbills, egrets, shore birds, terns and blue herons.








Pamela Fink Says She Was Fired After Getting a Double Mastectomy To Prevent Breast Cancer: (ABC) Fink Says Her Doctors Told Her She Had an 80 Percent Chance of Getting Breast Cancer


A Connecticut woman claims she was fired despite years of glowing reports by her employer after she told them she had tested positive for the breast cancer gene and would undergo a double mastecomy as a preventative measure.

"I was a great employee and I did really great work," said Pamela Fink, 39. "The only thing that changed from the time that I had a great review to when I didn't was my two surgeries."

Fink has filed complaints at the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities as well as the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that she was fired from the Stamford, Conn., company MXenergy because of her genetic testing results.

She is claiming that by doing so, her employer, MXenergy, a natural gas and electricity provider, violated the Genetic Information Nondiscriminaton Act as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act.








GM Under Fire for 'Misleading' Bailout Ad: (ABC) GM CEO Boasts TARP Repayment in TV Commercial; Republicans Say Boast Borders on Fraud


Angry congressional Republicans escalated their attack on General Motors' claim to have repaid U.S. taxpayers for the car maker's bailout, calling it a "lie to the American people."

At issue is whether GM is correct in trumpeting what it says in a national ad and an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal that it has repaid -- with interest and ahead of schedule -- the $4.7 billion in bailout funds that it owed to the government.

The money for the loan repayment came from other bailout funds housed in an escrow account belonging to GM. To critics, that smacks of deception...

The government's remaining stake in GM consists of $2.1 billion in preferred stock and a 60.8 percent stake in the automaker, according to the Treasury Department...





Banks Taking Too Long to Approve Distressed Home Sales, Brokers Say: (ABC) Short Sales in California, Arizona Take Months; May Slow Recovery

Debbie is one of California's many homeowners who have found they can no longer afford the house of their dreams. Although she stopped paying her mortgage last year, she has found a way to avoid foreclosure: a "short sell" of the house for less than she owes on it.

But even though she has found a qualified buyer, she can't get the bank to approve the sale.

"Why are they sitting on this so long?" says Debbie, who bought her two-bedroom cabin in Modesto two years ago for $250,000. She can no longer afford the mortgage after she lost her job as a financial officer, even as the house has lost half its value in the economic downturn.

"At least we got a buyer," she says...








When Airlines Get Nasty, Travelers Get Crafty: (ABC) The Airlines' Financial Funk Has Forced Flyers to Travel Smarter


By any measure, it's been an awful couple of years. While the recession—two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth, according to economists' definition—may be behind us, its painful effects will linger for years to come.

Perhaps no group has suffered more than the airlines. No group, that is, except their customers.

To an uncommon degree, the fortunes of travelers rise and fall with the fortunes of the airlines that serve them. And the fortunes of the airlines have been dismal indeed.

As a group, five of the nine largest U.S. airlines posted 2009 losses totaling almost $4 billion. American, which lost $1.5 billion in 2009 and $2.1 billion the year before, warned in its latest annual report that "it will be very difficult for the Company to continue to fund its obligations on an ongoing basis and to return to profitability if the overall industry revenue environment does not improve substantially..."








Ariz. Gov Signs Bill Revising New Immigration Law: (ABC) Arizona governor signs bill with revisions to new law targeting illegal immigration


Gov. Jan Brewer on Friday signed a follow-on bill approved by Arizona legislators that make revisions to the state's sweeping law against illegal immigration — changes she says should quell concerns that the measure will lead to racial profiling.

The law requires local and state law enforcement to question people about their immigration status if there's reason to suspect they're in the country illegally, and makes it a state crime to be in the United States illegally.

The follow-on bill signed by Brewer makes a number of changes that she said should lay to rest concerns of opponents.

"These new statements make it crystal clear and undeniable that racial profiling is illegal, and will not be tolerated in Arizona," she said in a statement.

The changes include one strengthening restrictions against using race or ethnicity as the basis for questioning by police and inserts those same restrictions in other parts of the law.

Another change states that immigration-status questions would follow a law enforcement officer's stopping, detaining or arresting a person while enforcing another law. The earlier law had referred to a "contact" with police.

Another change specifies that possible violations of local civil ordinances can trigger questioning on immigration status...





Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder With a Jab to the Neck: (ABC) New Research Suggests Numbed Nerves Could Cure Anxiety and Flashbacks in Veterans

A quick jab to the neck may be all it takes for immediate relief of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), according to new research from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Some doctors, however, caution that more research is necessary before the procedure is deemed safe enough for widespread use.

In a study published Friday in the journal Pain Practice, Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB), a ten-minute procedure that applies local anesthetic to a bundle of nerves in the neck, proved an effective remedy for this anxiety disorder, potentially offering an alternative to the pharmaceuticals traditionally used to treat the flashbacks, anger, anxiety, and sleep disturbances caused by PTSD...








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April 30



"The question PD students hear most is something like 'So, what will you do for a job?'"; image from

--Katharine, Public Diplomacy Corps

"Never 'work.' But, if you must, start at the top."

--Advice from poet/diplomat John L. Brown to his son, the compiler of this blog; no link

VIDEO

Secretary Clinton’s Remarks at Reception for the Opening of the USA Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo - Still4Hill, When God blessed Hillary, God blessed America!

SITE OF INTEREST

Mrs. O: follow the Fashion of Mrs. O: What and Whom She’s Wearing: Image from blog


PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Remarks at Reception for the Opening of the USA Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo, Ben Franklin Room, Washington, DC, April 30, 2010 - U.S. Department of State: "SECRETARY CLINTON: This is an extraordinary day to celebrate the opening of the Shanghai Expo and to share it with so many who it is literally true to say without whom this would not have been possible. ... And now, let me ask our Commissioner General to the 2010 World Expo you see there on the screen who has done such a wonderful job making sure that the Pavilion got built, got staffed, got into shape to be able to open. ... COMMISSIONER VILLARREAL: We are thrilled to be joining you from Shanghai. I don’t have to tell you how important this day is for China and the Chinese people as they celebrate the opening of World Expo. As you know, yesterday, we were privileged to receive President Hu Jintao at our pavilion. When I mentioned to President Hu and to Vice Premier Wang Qishan that you were hosting an event in Washington, D.C., contemporaneously with the Expo opening ceremonies, they expressed great appreciation. And in fact, while they were in our first area of – the welcoming area where we have this large sponsor wall with the names of all of the corporate sponsors, Vice Premier Wang Qishan motioned to the president to look at the wall. And the president made a point of mentioning how important all of these corporations are to China and so those of you who are sponsors should be very proud of that. Madam Secretary, I’m joined here by U.S. Consulate and Pavilion staff and some of our student ambassadors. The student ambassadors

performed their first official ambassadorial duties yesterday by helping me welcome President Hu, and I must say they performed marvelously. Today, we received the president of Armenia and a delegation from Hunan. Tomorrow, it is the vice president of Columbia and the secretary of tourism of Mexico. We will also receive tomorrow a delegation of U.S. mayors from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Madam Secretary, your team here in Shanghai, including all of the student ambassadors, are committed to using all of our creativity and energy to fully leverage this very unique public diplomacy opportunity. My deputy commissioner general, Tom Cooney, who is the chief public affairs officer at the consulate, in describing this opportunity has said that there will be more Chinese visiting our pavilion in just six months than the entire China mission will see in more than 20 years." Image from

USC Students to Represent US at World Expo - Suzanne Wu, USC News: "More than 70 million people are expected to visit the USA Pavilion at this summer’s World Expo in Shanghai. Chances are, many of these visitors will be welcomed - in Mandarin - by a USC student. As part of the Student Ambassador Internship Program run by the USC U.S.-China Institute on behalf of the USA Pavilion, students from 38 states nationwide have been selected to serve as national representatives and guides at the event, which begins May 1. USC will send more student ambassadors than any other school in the nation. ... As USA Pavilion Commissioner-General Jose Villerreal told Foreign Policy: 'I am particularly proud that Chinese and foreign guests will be greeted by 160 Mandarin-speaking American college students working as ‘Pavilion Student Ambassadors.’ Drawn from across the United States, from schools small and large, they will add a friendly human touch to America’s representation at the Expo.' ... The theme of this year’s Expo, expected to be the largest World’s Fair in history, is 'Better City - Better Life.' ... For the student ambassadors, working at the event is a unique opportunity to be on the front lines of high-stakes public diplomacy."

On eve of Shanghai Expo 2010, China finds 'soft power' an elusive goal - Peter Ford, Christian Science Monitor:

"Chinese authorities have seized on the Shanghai Expo 2010 – the largest in history – as another chance to enhance 'soft power' that is generated by the spread of cultures, values, diplomacy, and trade. The expo opens this weekend. ... Chinese policymakers and academics are increasingly fascinated by 'soft power,' whereby nations coopt foreign governments and citizens through the spread of their cultures, values, diplomacy, and trade, rather than coerce them by military might. ... But this is not enough, says Li Xiguang, head of the International Center for Communications Studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Even the best-paid messengers need a convincing message. 'The United States has built its soft power by making its value and political system … universal values,' he says. 'China will not beat the US in soft power until we have a better and newer form of democracy, freedom, and human rights.' ... Part of the problem, suggests Pang Zhongying, of Beijing’s Renmin University, is that English, unlike Chinese, is an international language. Even with the creation of more than 200 Confucius Institutes around the world teaching Chinese, 'I don’t think China can overcome this difficulty in the short term.' ... 'There is a huge gap between the official Chinese judgment and that of outsiders,' adds Professor Pang. 'There are many intellectuals in China, but a good intellectual is not necessarily an officially recognized one.' The government has opted instead to pursue public diplomacy, or 'overseas propaganda,' as it is known here. ... 'China has a huge soft power deficit,' says Pang. 'The current Chinese model solves problems, of course, but it is also part of the problem. People outside China will pick China’s virtues, but try to avoid its disadvantages. We should learn from such natural choices, from the impression that China can only build roads and schools. That is a problem we must address.'” Elusive image from

Swing and a Miss – Laura McGinnis, manIC: "The Shanghai Expo is officially open and the U.S. pavilion is officially underwhelming--a hastily cobbled tribute to eleventh hour sponsors. The Washington Post quotes a disappointed visitor who criticized the abundance of corporate logos, adding, 'I thought the USA would have some brilliant and exciting stuff. . . . Except for buying some souvenirs, I can't think of anything special about it.' Even its theme (Rising to the Challenge) is mildly cringe-inducing, given that the pavilion nearly folded due to lack of funds. The exposition is of course rife with international swipes and backbiting, a tradition as old as the exposition itself. As Armand Mattelart argues in The Emergence of Technical Networks, expositions have always been symbolic affairs: 'The cosmopolitan rhetoric of universal fraternity and the people's fair scarcely conceals the fact that the universal exposition was a place of rival nationalisms and the production of a public discourse--political and scientific--that consecrated the notion of 'Western civilization' as the beacon of progress for other peoples.' With the current theme of Better City, Better Life, Shanghai is putting an urban spin on the modernization message. But the environment is the same: a roiling mass of people shuttled between one exhibit after another, each nation trying to put on the best show. And in the midst of it, the U.S. pavilion, underfunded by the government and overshadowed by its corporate partners. It may not be selling a fair picture of the United States--but its representation of U.S. public diplomacy is all too clear."

What Americans think of China's rise - Ethiopian Review: "Kamphausen [Roy Kamphausen of the National Bureau of Asian Research] argues while the general public may have a more cut and dry opinion of China, 'the American government has a very focused view.

One could argue that this administration and the previous one have done a not so great job of public diplomacy with their own citizenry in explaining why our relationship with China is important for America’s interest and America’s own economy. The government doesn’t have the same simplistic view that typical citizens might.'” Image from

State Department Briefing on U.S.-China Relations - blogtalkradio.com: "On April 23, 2010 members of the U.S.-China Peoples Friendship Association visited the State Department in conjunction with their 19th biannual Washington Seminar. While at the State Department, Association members listened to a panel session on a range of issues covering the U.S.-China relationship ... . Thomas Hamm, Public Diplomacy Coordinator, Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs discussed people-to-people exchanges between the United States and China."

I wasn't criticising S'pore - Jeremy Au, Straits Times:

"Mr David Adelman, on his first day on the job as United States Ambassador to Singapore, spent much of his first meeting with the Singapore media mending fences. Comments he made about Singapore's political freedom two months ago had annoyed many here. So Mr David Adelman, on his first day on the job as United States Ambassador to Singapore, spent much of his first meeting with the Singapore media mending fences. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, he stressed repeatedly that his earlier remarks - on how he would use public diplomacy to promote political freedom in Singapore - were not an attempt to interfere in local politics. He had earlier presented his credentials to President S R Nathan at the Istana. The 45-year-old former state senator of Georgia said his statement was simply an expression of his pride in the American system. It was not a specific comment about Singapore." Singapore image from

Trade is top of agenda for new US Ambassador - Imelda Saad, TODAYonline: "Newly appointed United States Ambassador to Singapore David Adelman ... said yesterday that enhancing trade with Singapore and the region will be his top agenda, and he expects many high-level trade missions here during his tenure. ... Even before stepping on Singapore soil, Mr Adelman had sparked controversy last month when he said he would use 'public diplomacy' to promote greater press and political freedom in Singapore. A few weeks later, he clarified to say domestic politics was 'something for Singaporeans to decide for themselves'. He reiterated this point yesterday: 'We in the United States are very proud of our democracy but have no interest in interfering in the domestic politics or domestic government of Singapore.' We're glad to answer questions on how our democracy works and, at times, we'll even put on programmes here at the embassy - for example, for discussing upcoming American elections. That's the type of public diplomacy I referred to." Image from article


Interview with a US Ambassador: What do you do for a living? - e-shadow.com:

"What do you do for a living? I’m a Foreign Service Officer with the State Department of the United States, and I’m currently the American ambassador to five countries in the Pacific Ocean: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu, and Tonga. ... What does your work entail? One of the things I like about my job is that every week is going to be different. I have about 80 or 90 people, local employees and Americans who work for me at the embassy, and each week we have internal meetings to discuss their roles and duties. I usually have a number of meetings of people from outside the embassy as well, either local folks who have an interest in something economic, political, commercial, or maybe other diplomats or international organization types. I also do public diplomacy, the last two days I’ve given speeches at different sorts of events trying to make sure that people are well aware that the United States is here, and what our policies are and why we have them." Image from

Chaos at the Broadcasting Board of Governors - Josh Rogin, Foreign Policy: "The Obama administration's eight nominees for the Broadcasting Board of Governors aren't getting waived through any time soon. Republican senators are seeking to use their appointments as an opportunity to shed light on problems they see at the organization. 'The BBG is the most worthless organization in the federal government,' Sen. Tom Coburn, R-OK, told The Cable in an interview. 'It's full of people who know nothing about media or foreign policy. All they are doing is spending money and somebody's got to look into it.'" See also

Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs: Remarks At The 7th Annual Fulbright And Humphrey Alumni Conference - press release, Article Ant: "Anne Patterson, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan:


The late Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright, from my home state, a graduate and later President of the University of Arkansas, was the principal architect of the American educational exchange program that carries his name. Having studied at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar from 1925-28, he well understood the powerful impact on young imagination of a combined international exchange and scholarship experience. He wanted Americans and young people from around the world to benefit from a similar experience. Another extraordinary American politician, the late Senator Hubert Humphrey was widely respected and admired for his liberalism over a long career of service in American politics. After his death, the Humphrey Fellowship program was created to provide mid-career professionals from all around the world with an opportunity to take time off from their important work to study on an American university campus. Since the establishment of the Humphrey Fellowship, nearly 100 Pakistanis have been able to participate in this extraordinary program to refresh themselves, intellectually and professionally, for the important work they do in this country." Patterson image from

8 children from Iraq coming to Md. to learn about baseball - Baltimore Sun: "Eight children from Iraq and five of their coaches will come to Maryland to learn the ins and outs of baseball at Camden Yards and the Ripken Academy in Aberdeen next week, Ripken Baseball announced today. Ripken Baseball, a marketing company that represents former Oriole and Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., is bringing the three boys and five girls -- ages 15 to 17 -- to Maryland, Washington and Virginia as part of a U.S. State Department visitors program. ... This is not the first time Ripken Baseball has worked with the State Department. Ripken was named a public diplomacy special envoy by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2007 and took baseball instruction trips to China in 2007 and to Nicaragua in 2008."

Liberia: Several Nigerians Arrested in US$2 Million Kidnapping Scheme - AllAfrica.com:

"The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) with the aid of securities at the American embassy, is said to have arrested an unspecified number of Nigerian nationals who allegedly attempted kidnapping an American for a whopping US$2m ransom. When contacted Thursday, the American embassy, through its Public Diplomacy Section issued this statement: '...In response to your inquiry, the Public Diplomacy Section of the US Embassy is saying the Embassy has no comments on the matter, and is advising the New Democrat to contact the Liberia National Police (LNP)'". Image from

South Africa - Budget Vote Overview by Thulas Nxesi MP, Chairperson of the IR & C Portfolio Committee, April 2010 - ISRIA: Nxesi: "The development and streamlining of public diplomacy strategies cannot be overemphasized. The Department must be more visible and less elitist in its conduct of South African international relations policy. The Minister must ensure the strengthening of democratic accountability of foreign policy nationally, and ensure there is a national dialogue internally on the policies South Africa pursues individually or jointly with the international community in pursuit of effective global governance."

Shashi Tharoor's New India: Foreign Policy, Citizen Engagement and New Media - Kamala Kanta, Orissadiary.com: "In India an informed citizen in their private capacity does not get any chance to contribute to public policy: the bureaucracy implements policy and the politicians approve it to be implemented. There is virtually no culture of public debate in any policymaking.

The government is reluctant to consult the academicians for policy formulation and feedback. Academia and bureaucracy share a high level of mutual indifference and distrust. It is a gross failure on the part of the Indian state that it has been unable to engage its citizens in public policy discourse. Interestingly, the foreign ministry has a division of public diplomacy that hardly provides any opportunity for the Indian public to play a role in policy consultation. When apathy of the educated for the political system seems to have got deeper and wider, Shashi Tharoor's [former Junior Minister in the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India a former UN Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information and a PhD from Fletcher School Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA] frank opinion-sharing on twitter attracted many to discuss their views on politics and foreign and security policy." Image from

Engaging Generation Y in public policy - Baker Institute Blog: Insight and analysis from the fellows of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy: "The Baker Institute also offers competitive internship opportunities for Rice undergraduates interested in public policy. The Jesse Jones Leadership Center Summer in D.C. Policy Research Internship Program enables undergraduates to undertake substantive research, and many alumni of the program have later received Rhodes, Fulbright and Watson scholarships. In addition, for the second consecutive summer, the institute is sending four interns to Paris and Brussels, where they will be working with research fellows of the French Institute of International Relations on subjects as diverse as Asian studies and the European Union. The newest internship opportunity launched by the institute is a student-led initiative on public diplomacy and global policymaking in the 21st century. For a week in June, 10 Rice undergraduates will travel to the American University in Cairo and open a research-driven dialogue with AUC students on issues of mutual interest in Egypt and the United States. Key topics to be addressed include education, mass media, women's rights and cross-cultural communication."

Hugo Chávez: taking the battle to the Internet - Mariana Gonzalez Insua, Mountainrunner.us: "Hugo Chávez' tight grip on Venezuelan media threatens to reach new levels. The Venezuelan leader's recent announcement that every country needs to regulate the Internet and the launch of his 'guerrilla' communicational campaign have sparked fears that his control over the media might be extended to the online world. ... Mariana González Insua is a first year student in USC's Masters of Public Diplomacy program." Image from

The Niqab and Integration--The Doha Debates Chez Chiara - Chez Chiara: The purpose of this blog is to explore cross-cultural Saudi/non-Saudi relationships and their broader Arab-Muslim/Western contexts, as well as the background for improving understanding across these cultures: "Ahmed Ahmed Younis is the former National Director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in the US and will shortly take up the post of advisor to senior US government officials. ... He is a member of the US Muslim World Advisory Committee of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). He is also a regular speaker at government conferences, briefings and events covering topics such as terrorist financing, public diplomacy, identity/integration and issues affecting the Muslim American community."

Diplomacy & Social Media: A Good Fit? - Jarad Bernstein, Catchfire Media Blog: "As you may know, especially if you attended this week’s Social Media Club DSM luncheon, I formerly worked in public diplomacy for the Israeli government. Every now and then you might even see me send a tweet somewhat related to those days. Foreign policy continues to be a passion of mine, so I feel lucky to have served in that position. ... Now anybody with internet access and a d[e]sire can learn from the diplomatic newsmakers themselves, or those quite close to them. ... Israel’s U.S. ambassador, Michael Oren,

has conducted a number of YouTube interviews, in which he fields questions submitted via Twitter, while Israel’s consulate in New York conducted a news conference using Twitter during the recent war in Gaza. ... It will be interesting to see what kind of impact, if any, the social media-embracing diplomats make through their efforts. Will we see a steady stream of propaganda, or will there be real interactions that shift opinion and determine policy?" Image from

'Daily Show,' 'Fact Check' Bend Facts To Support Obama - Ken Blackwell, Big Journalism: ‎ "Jon Stewart made the case that George W. Bush had more 'czars' than Barack Obama, and even said that he got that from 'Fact Check.' Well, it looks like we need to fact-check Fact Check, because that citation—and thus Jon’s point—are just dead wrong. Going to that website, they list 35 czars for Bush, but only 32 for Barack Obama. ... For example, ... they list Karen Hughes as 'Public Diplomacy Czar.' But Hughes was the Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Once again, President Obama has one of those too, Judith McHale. This would be Obama’s 34th czar. Once again, Fact Check failed to list her. Once again, The Daily Show staff failed to notice this flaw in its research."

A C B G D - The New Diplomacy 2010: reflective group blog by some of the students on The New Diplomacy module at London Metropolitan University

RELATED ITEMS

Taliban Bestest At Propaganda - Greg Grant, The “speed and decisiveness” of Taliban information operations and its media campaign is its most significant strength. The influence of the Taliban “shadow government” established in local areas is increasing.

Pakistan, US wrongly reported death of Pakistan Taliban head in propaganda coup for insurgents – TODAYonline: Pakistani spies say Pakistan and U.S. intelligence wrongly reported the death of the head of the Pakistani Taliban in a CIA-drone strike and the brash, ruthless commander is now believed to be alive. The reports that Hakimullah Mehsud survived the January attack in an area close to the Afghan border will raise questions over the quality of the intelligence being gathered in the region as well as the wisdom of anonymously briefing reporters about the development at the time. The announcement Thursday represents something of a propaganda coup for the insurgents. U.S. officials were not immediately available for comment.

Anti-Israel Propaganda Shown to Arabic Students? - Charles Johnson, Claremont Conservative:

Look at how the event is promoted: "Unlike any other film ever produced on the conflict, 'Occupation 101' presents a comprehensive analysis of the facts and hidden truths surrounding the never ending controversy and dispels many of its long-perceived myths and misconceptions." Would it surprise you to know that the film has been reviewed as basically propaganda against Israel? Image from

Thursday, April 29, 2010

America Boycotts Arizona, BP Oil Spill Impacts Wildlife, Enraged Wall Street Protestors, Strange News Stories - News Headlines 29 Apr 2010

From Denny: It's a thorny issue. How do you balance your own safety and security with keeping out criminals from another country? We have enough of our own criminals to deal with as it is. That's the question Arizona folks kept asking themselves, and, out of frustration came up with this Nazi style "show me your papers" as their answer.

Unfortunately, this type of law has room for a lot of abuse. It isn't just about racial profiling. It goes to freedom of movement for all citizens. You would think carrying a driver's license would answer this issue and this separate law would not be necessary. Here in Louisiana you have to prove who you are, prove you are an American citizen or other place of birth before being allowed a license to drive. Now if they would just start checking people for how many DUIs they amassed before they allow them to renew those same driver's licenses and there would be fewer deaths on the road from drunk drivers in this state... but I digress.

Seriously, Arizona needs to rethink this new law because no one wants to visit a police state. I've lived under martial law overseas and it is very unnerving. You can get arrested for the dumbest things, be innocent and still get executed or thrown in jail. America does not need to become a police state like the Republicans have long dreamed of doing here.

Perhaps Arizona will prove to be a testing ground for a new wrong direction for this country to march off in thinking it will cure all the woes. The Republicans and Arizona also need to ask themselves that if they want all this federal government protection and immigration control then they need to get serious about paying for those taxes it will take to create that presence. You can't complain about the government, limit its size and then demand services.

*** Living here in Louisiana, I am ever mindful of the recent British Petroleum oil spill. In short, the United Kingdom and its BP owes the Gulf Coast states and the American government billions of dollars to clean up their mess. Just like Toyota they have lied to us: repeatedly. Of course, being Big Business, they decided to downplay the situation and claimed it was far less crude oil spilling out than was true - try 75% less than the truth.

There should be an international court and a ready-and-waiting firing squad with shoot-on-sight standing orders to execute lying CEOs as soon as the words come out of their annoying mouths. Fining these guys a few million just isn't enough to stem the tide on the arrogant attitudes, wrong and oh, so destructive, behaviors.

Even $500 billion was not a large enough fine like the American government did to Toyota when they lied and failed to report quickly enough to the federal government, ordering recalls of their vehicles. Until we get serious about making it a 50% take on their gross profit for a ten year period will Big Business get the idea to play straight with us. They only respect tough - not nice, not polite, not easy.


*** As to being tough, why in the world is this White House willing to even consider allowing Iran a place at the table or podium to spout off their usual destructive rhetoric - and in our own backyard? At some point President Obama needs to use some unusual moves to challenge this defiant Iran with a defiance of our own: reject his visa to attend the nuclear summit. He's just using this summit to expand his world presence and place of leadership. He's trying to bully his way into being accepted as a nuclear power along with other countries of good reputations. Show the world he is no leader. Make him wait another five years - if he's still in office.


*** And three strange news stories... Mad as hell protesters march on Wall Street firms and scare the daylights out of them in their lobbies until the police quietly escort them away. Recently, a hermit in India has been found to be living without food and water for - are you ready for this video? - 50 years! Jesus Christ always said, "Man does not live by food alone" so there may be something to consider here as an unusual possibility that strays form the norm. And then there's that "flirting gone bad" where a guy told a woman she was fat at a party and so she tackled him and bit off part of his ear prize fighter style. Those women in Nebraska are more than corn huskers; they are a force to be reckoned with!






More City Councils Move Toward Arizona Boycotts Over Immigration Law: (CBS)

While a number of local lawmakers want their states to adopt immigration measures similar to Arizona's, there is also a growing crop of lawmakers aiming to shun the state for its controversial measure.

The city of San Francisco was at the head of the trend, when its board of supervisors on Tuesday considered a measure to off the city's economic ties with Arizona. The board has yet to officially approve the boycott, but San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has imposed an immediate moratorium on city-related travel to Arizona.

The Arizona law at the center of the controversy, signed by Arizona's governor on Friday, would require immigrants to carry documents verifying their immigration status. It would also require police officers to question a person about his or her immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that person may be illegally in the country.

City councils in Washington, D.C. , and Los Angeles are also considering economic boycotts of Arizona,..





WH: Oil Spill Could Impact Offshore Drilling Plans
: (CBS)


The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico could impact President Obama's plans to consider new offshore drilling sites, administration officials said today.

The White House announced today that it is sending three cabinet members to oversee the effort to control and clean up the spill, which is much worse than first thought. Liberal activists are pointing to the disaster as a reason for the president to reconsider his decision to open up the southern Atlantic coastline and some other areas to offshore drilling.

Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner emphasized today that no plans for new drilling have been established yet and that the president's decision was simply "the beginning of a process" to consider new plans over the next five years.

"There will be ample opportunity for public input, ample opportunity for congressional and governor input," Browner said. "What's occurring now will also be taken into consideration."

Asked if the White House might call for a pause in all offshore oil drilling, because of the incident, Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior David Hayes said, "everything is on the table."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that Mr. Obama has expressed his concern over the spill and will be examining the cause while considering how it could impact the plans for new drilling.

"Could that possibly change his viewpoint? Well, of course," Gibbs said...





10 Animals Most At Risk from Gulf Oil Spill: (CBS)

...Here's a selection of animals at risk in the open water, along the coasts and in the wetlands.

1. North Atlantic Bluefin Tuna: The Great Bluefin Tuna, prized for sushi and sashimi, is one of the species most in danger of slipping into extinction. Traveling down across the Atlantic seaboard, bluefin tuna spawn in the Gulf of Mexico between mid-April and mid-June.

2. Sea Turtles: Five of the world's seven sea turtle species live, migrate and breed in the Gulf region. Kemp's ridley is the world's most endangered species of sea turtle, and one of its two primary migration routes runs south of Mississippi. Loggerhead turtles, also endangered, feed in the warm waters in the Gulf between May and October.

3. Sharks: Shark species worldwide are in decline. The grassbeds south of the Chandeleur Islands are very close to the oil spill. These grasses are a known nursing area for a number of shark species, which are now beginning their spawning season in the Gulf. Whale sharks, the world's largest fish, feed on plankton at the surface of the water and could also be affected.

4. Marine mammals (whales, porpoises, dolphins): Oil spills pose an immediate threat to marine mammals, which need to surface and breathe. Not only does the oil pose a threat, but also the nasty toxins that the oil kicks off into the air. A resident pod of sperm whales in the spill area could be at risk along with piggy sperm whales, porpoises and dolphins.

5. Brown Pelicans: The state bird of Louisiana, the pelican nests on barrier islands and feeds near shore. Brown pelicans only came off the endangered species list last year, but they've had a rough time in past seasons with storms. Their reproductive rates are low. Breeding season just started, and with eggs incubating the oil could pose a significant threat.

6. Oysters: The coastal waters around the very tip of Louisiana’s boot-shaped coast are home to some of the most productive oyster farms in the country. Oils and hydrocarbons are toxic to oysters. Unfortunately, hydrocarbons can persist in coastal sediments for months or even years. Louisiana oyster farmers, many of whom barely scrape by with high fuel costs and global competition, could have trouble weathering the oil spill if their harvests are affected.

7. Shrimp and blue crab: Coastal marshes are key to the life cycle and development of Louisiana shrimp and blue crab — both staples of the local seafood industry. Inshore shrimp season will open in mid-May, while brown shrimp are in their post-larval and juvenile development stages.

8. Menhaden and marsh-dwelling fish: The young offspring of species such as mullet, menhaden and marsh-dwelling forage fishes are especially vulnerable at this time of year. Menhaden is a little fish you've probably never heard of, but people all over the world use it everyday. Menhaden fish oil and meat are used in everything from cosmetics to animal feed. Louisiana is one of the world’s biggest suppliers and the oil spill comes smack in the middle of menhaden spawning season.

9. Beach-nesting and migratory shorebirds: Overdeveloped beachfronts all along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida have made life difficult for several species of plovers, sandpipers, terns and oystercatchers. Those that build their nests on the ground and feed on invertebrates are susceptible to oil on the beaches. Some migratory shore birds fly nearly the length of the Western Hemisphere and use barrier islands in the Gulf for key resting and refueling spots on their journey.

10. Migratory songbirds — warblers, orioles, buntings, flycatchers, swallows and others: About 96 species of neo-tropical songbirds make a 500-mile journey without a pit stop across the Gulf of Mexico. The next two weeks mark the height of their migration as they travel north from Central and South America to breed in North America. The smoke from controlled burns to mitigate the oil spill could affect the migration, but the impacts will be difficult to monitor.





Iran Claims Top Billing at U.N. Nuclear Conference: (CBS)

The world stage is set for a showdown next week, but this time, the nuclear summit will not be hosted by President Obama in Washington, but by the International Atomic Energy Agency at United Nations headquarters, and Iran's defiant President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, at left, is to be a featured speaker.

The event is the latest review conference of the global Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. They take place every five years, as mandated by the treaty, and this year, the stakes couldn't be higher...





Wall St. Protesters March Through Bank Buildings: (CBS/AP) Chanting Protesters Enter Buildings With Offices for JPMorgan Chase, Wachovia and Wells Fargo

Thousands of workers and union members angry over lost jobs and the taxpayer-funded bailout of banks are marching on Wall Street.

Thursday's rally was organized by the AFL-CIO and an association of community groups. The protesters included people hurt by the mortgage crisis and held up signs saying "Wall Street Overdrafted Our Economy" and "Reclaim America."

Noisy protesters with signs took over two bank building lobbies on Thursday in a prelude to a Wall Street rally by workers and union leaders angry over lost jobs, the taxpayer-funded bailout of financial institutions and questionable lending practices by big banks.

Hours before the scheduled rally, more than 100 people entered a midtown Manhattan building housing JPMorgan Chase offices. They handed a bank executive a letter requesting a meeting with the CEO, and chanted "Bust up! Big banks!" and "People power!"

...They then walked a few blocks up Park Avenue and crowded into the lobby of the Seagram Building, where Wells Fargo and the bank it merged with in 2008, Wachovia, have offices.

The protesters held up signs reading, "Save Our Jobs" and "Save Our Homes." One included a Great Depression-era photograph. Police arrived on horseback as curious office workers watched the scene unfold from their windows...





Man Claims 70 Years Without Food


Scientists are studying an 82-year-old hermit in Ahmedabad, India who claims to have survived without food or water for most of his life. The goal is to discover new human survival strategies.



Watch CBS News Videos Online





Police: Woman Bites Man After Being Called Fat: (CBS/AP) Nebraska Police Say Woman Tackles And Bites Man's Ear After Being Called Fat

Police say a 24-year-old man is missing a chunk of his right ear that was bitten off by a woman who didn't like being called "fat." Police spokeswoman Katie Flood said officers were called to a Lincoln hospital around 3:25 a.m. Wednesday to talk to the injured man.

He told them that he'd been bitten at a party.

Flood said officers later learned that the injured man and two others had been arguing with other people at the birthday party. Flood says the man told 21-year-old Anna Godfrey that she was fat.

Officers said Godfrey then tackled the man and took a bite.

Flood said the ear chunk was not found...





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Those Funny Mothers Day Quotes and Trivia

From Denny: Check out the sampling from one of many funny posts just in time to enjoy for Mothers Day! From the latest Mothers Day cartoons to funny facts about Mothers Day traditions around the world to funny quotes from mothers and about mothering to laugh out loud "how you know you are a mother when..."






Check this out on the way to facts about Mothers Day:

So when do they think the first celebrations of a Mother's Day were honored? As with so many traditions it goes back to ancient Greece where that culture celebrated the Mother of the Gods, Rhea. Their version of the perfect mother received gifts of cakes made with the sweetest honey, lovely flowers and drinks at dawn. Sounds pretty good to me. Make my drink a Margarita on the rocks with Silver Patron Tequila - though I'm not so sure alcoholic drinks were on that Mother's Day menu. :)

Well, we all know you can't talk "ancient" without bringing up the ancient Egyptians into the conversation. They honored the glorious goddess Isis because she was celebrated as the Mother of the Pharaohs - and we all know it's good PR to talk good about the government when getting your head cut off is at stake.

Speaking of an ancient culture, the Chinese are rather sentimental about how they celebrate motherhood. The tradition with them is that their family name often begins with the character for the word "mother." It's the way they like to honor their ancestral mothers who brought their line into this world.





You Know You Are Really A Mom When...

* You want to take out a contract on the kid who broke your child's favorite toy and made them cry.

* You consider finger paint to be a controlled substance.

* You mastered the art of placing food on a plate without anything touching.

* Your child insists that you read "Once upon a Potty" out loud in the lobby of the doctor's office and you do it.





My Mother Taught Me...

To Value A Job Well Done: If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.

Time Travel: If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!

Logic: Because I said so, that's why.


*** Make sure to pay a visit to The Mother Post for the full post and all the funny links from several other Mothers Day posts to enjoy:

Funny Mothers Day Quotes and Trivia - Cheeky Quote Day 28 Apr 2010


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April 29



“To say nothing, especially when speaking, is half the art of diplomacy.”

--Will Durant; image from

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Morning Bell: The Ahmadinejad Victory Tour‎ - Conn Carroll, Heritage.org:

“'Bizarre and unsafe' is a generous assessment of the Obama administration’s efforts to protect America from Iran’s nuclear ambitions so far. The Obama administration must change course. The United States should impose and enforce the strongest possible sanctions, even if doing so requires action outside of the U.N. framework, and step up public diplomacy efforts to discredit the regime’s legitimacy and offer support to opposition groups, such as the Green Movement. Most importantly the Obama administration must make the commitment to create and sustain a layered missile defense system, designed to counter every range of Iranian missiles in all stages of flight, including those that threaten the territory of the United States and its allies." Image from

Getting the Message Across: Better Broadcasting to Iran - Mehdi Khalaji, PolicyWatch #1651, Washington Insittute for Near East Policy: "Persian-language radio and television broadcasts are among the main tools of U.S. public diplomacy toward Iran. Yet both of Washington's primary outlets for such broadcasting -- Radio Farda (RF) and the Persian News Network (PNN), an arm of Voice of America (VOA) television -- have been harshly criticized since their inception. ...[T]he best way to ensure strong and effective public diplomacy toward Iran is first to depoliticize U.S. government-funded Persian-language media, and second to continue raising standards, making the news organizations more professional, objective, balanced, and technologically savvy."

The Hill writer writes VOA broadcasts to Iran "to no avail," but spokespersons cite 30% audience – Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

A mostly positive assessment of VOA Persian News Network and RFE/RL's Radio Farda - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Confirmation of the new BBG members: indecision and uncertainty - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Religion and U.S. foreign policy‎ - Leonard Leo, Washington Post: "Congress created USCIRF [U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom] in 1998 as an independent and bipartisan commission to make freedom of religion abroad a key aspect of our nation's public diplomacy, national security and economic development objectives.

USCIRF was created to monitor religious freedom in the international community based on international standards, and to advise the President, Secretary of State and Congress on the facts and circumstances of religious freedom globally, and provide specific policy recommendations for strengthening freedom of religion for all faiths." Image from

New US Ambassador to S'pore wants to advance trade with region‎ - Imelda Saad, Channel News Asia: "The new US Ambassador to Singapore presented his credentials to President S R Nathan on Thursday, about a month after the US Senate confirmed his nomination. But even before he stepped on Singapore soil, Mr Adelman sparked controversy last month, saying that he would use 'public diplomacy' to promote greater press and political freedom in Singapore. A few weeks later he clarified that statement saying domestic politics is 'something for Singaporeans to decide for themselves.'"

America for Americans, Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans - Philip Murombedzi, The Zimbabwe Guardian: "America's public diplomacy is in tatters. The US can no longer be viewed as the leader in human rights.

With China and Asian giants taking centre stage, that country can no longer claim economic superiority. Mr Obama can no longer claim to represent an administration that is different from George W Bush's. In fact, with Mr Bush you knew what to expect, but with Mr Obama the rhetoric is different from the action. Who is the hypocrite?" Image from

We can't return to our special relationship with the United States - Brian Bow, Globe and Mail: "The White House can only do so much to 'manage' the bilateral relationship, even at the best of times, and these are very challenging times for Mr. Obama’s administration. While seeking stronger ties at the top, Canada must continue to invest in the kinds of diplomatic coping strategies that it struggled to develop in the 1980s and 1990s: building networks and transnational alliances, lobbying Congress, engaging in public diplomacy, grappling with the U.S. legal system, trying to contain American power through formal institutions. That’s a lot to ask of a shaky, shortsighted minority government, but there really is no alternative, and the stakes couldn’t be higher."

World Expo a Launch Pad for ‘New Public Diplomacy’ - Antoaneta Bezlova, IPS:

"Shanghai is playing host to the most ambitious World Expo ever, designed to demonstrate that the country’s communist party leaders are fully in control and the conductors of a carefully scripted ascent to global authority. ... Officially, Beijing intends to use Shanghai for the formal launch of its 'public diplomacy' and the Expo as a showcase of the country’s soft power – its culture, design, tourism and hospitality. 'Public diplomacy is a new concept for us,' said Tang Xiaosun, international relations expert with the Foreign Languages and Trade University in Guangzhou. 'China is now so much the focus of international attention that we need to make sure we have the means to influence public perceptions abroad ourselves.' ... Speaking to the press in March, foreign minister Yang Jiechi said the Expo would be the launch pad for China’s new 'public diplomacy'. 'Public diplomacy emerges with the requirements of the time and now it is just the right moment for China,' he said at a press conference during the annual session of the parliament. 'We are full of optimism that it can accomplish great things.'" Image from

Thimphu Silver Jubilee Declaration - press release, Press Information Bureau: "The President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, His Excellency Mr. Hamid Karzai; the Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina; the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan, His Excellency Lyonchhen Jigmi Yoeser Thinley; the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, His Excellency Dr. Manmohan Singh; the President of the Republic of Maldives, His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Nasheed; the Prime Minister of Nepal, His Excellency Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal; the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, His Excellency Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani; and the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, met in Thimphu, Bhutan, on 28-29 April 2010 for the Sixteenth Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). ... ‎In order to commemorate the 25th anniversary [of SAARC] , the Leaders laid emphasis on effective communications and public diplomacy. They drew attention in this regard to the need to reach out to different sections of the South Asian community, particularly its students and youth, private media, private sector, think tanks, civil society, and institutions of economic development."

His Excellency Muhammad Saleh Bin Bduwah Al Darmaki Inagurates American University in The Emirates Masters Degree In Diplomacy - dubaiphotomedia.com:

"Chairman of the Board of trustees at American University in the Emirates (AUE) His Excellency Muhammad Saleh Bin Bduway Al Darmaki inaugurated the gulf regions first degree in diplomacy during a reception on the AUE campus. The Master degree program is a two year degree in diplomacy based on the American style curriculum with courses in areas such as negotiation, conflict resolution, international relations, world religion, protocol, and etiquette. ... Razzaq, President of AUE stated I believe, increasingly all of us are becoming aware of the challenges we face today that require a complex, multidimensional approach to public diplomacy at the backdrop of the international relations and diplomacy we study." Image from

State Department's Judith A. McHale to Speak at 189th Commencement - colbymagazine: "Judith A. McHale, under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs at the State Department and former president of Discovery Communications, will deliver Colby’s 189th commencement address Sunday, May 23."

Ciolek Named to Presidential Fellows Program - USC News: "Public diplomacy graduate student Melanie Ciolek

earned USC's only spot in the Presidential Fellows Program — run through the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress — and will travel twice to Washington, D.C., to explore the connections between the presidency and the development of American public diplomacy strategy." Ciolek image from article

Importance of public diplomacy in the contemporary world - Joe, The New Diplomacy 2010 E: "In the present contemporary world with the spread of democracy has created a new environment in the international system to win hearts and minds of people by governments. This is what public diplomacy does by trying to influence foreign nationals and the public with values, policies and actions of their governments to be supported. Public diplomacy can be defined as the efforts of one nation to influence public or elites of the next nation for the purpose of using foreign policy to its target."

How has my opinion about the role of diplomacy in world politics changed since the start of the module? - Natalia, The New Diplomacy 2010 D: "I am impressed by the power of public diplomacy in world politics, as well as how strong the role diplomacy itself possesses in the international arena."

My Understanding Of Diplomacy Today - Camara, The New Diplomacy 2010 A: "In the start of this module, I thought diplomacy was all about cooperation between two states which have their embassies in each other’s country. However, since this module has come to nearly its end, I have learnt a lot of things. These lies particularly from the important role played by Foreign Ministry, multilateral and public diplomacy, not to mention the great work played by NGOs in contemporary diplomatic world."

RELATED ITEMS

Obama’s Entrepreneurship Summit: Propaganda or Progress? - Devon Pendleton, trueslant.com:

Despite the fluff, spin and potential futility surrounding the whole gathering, Obama should still be lauded for holding it. Image from

War propaganda from Afghanistan – Glen Greewald, Salon: The Government and media follow through and declare the war effort broken and the strategy a failure? No; they just pretend it never happened and declare the next, latest, glorious Battle the real "make-or-break decisive test" -- until that one fails and the next one is portrayed that way, in an endless tidal wave of war propaganda intended to justify our staying for as long as we want, no matter how pointless and counter-productive it is. Apparently, if the U.S. Army invades a foreign country, anyone who fights against that invading force -- including a 15-year-old boy -- is a "war criminal" and a "Terrorist," even the Worst of The Worst, which is, of course, all that we're currently holding at Guantanamo. Now that's some robust propaganda.

Pentagon Detonates Afghan Propaganda Bomb – James Gundun, The Trench: From what we can tell the Taliban is getting stronger and the US strategy is in serious jeopardy.

We’ve outlined why at the city level in Marja, regional level in Kandahar, and at the national level. The Taliban’s resiliency would also better explain why the Pentagon is engaged in a psy-ops campaign that centers around US Special-Forces and dead Taliban commanders. Image from

Ron Paul: Iran Sanctions and War Propaganda - David Kretzmann, Freedom Chatter: Great discussion on the House floor from Ron Paul, one of the few members of Congress who understands the flawed logic of sanctions and the false accusations against Iran. Sanctions do not come instead of war, they merely open the door for war and violence. If the U.S. really thinks that blocking free trade in numerous countries around the world will lead to peace, we are in trouble.

Taliban Propaganda Watch (Rc South) – 290115utc Apr 10 - Milnewsca. Contains items dated April 28.

The Abysmal Failure of Tariq Ramadan's Propaganda Tour – Pamela geller, Atlas Shrugs: Stealth jhadist nonpareil Tariq Ramadan's books are not selling at all, despite the onslaught of press he's been getting -- coupled with the extra PR support from a freelance publicist that the ACLU hired for him on his whirlwind tour of America. Not to mention the tacit support of the jihadist in the White House. His publisher seems to think that this is all well and good and that Oxford should continue to shell out money to schlep him across the US. I think they are fools. He's a subversive scumbag who seeks to destroy all that is good in the West. Remember, he despises you.

Iraq: detainees testify of systemic torture at secret prison - Xeni Jardin, Boing Boing: Human Rights Watch has released a report detailing the systematic torture and abuse of detainees at the Iraqi-run secret prison at Muthanna airport in Baghdad. The organization interviewed 42 of the 300 detainees recently transferred from the clandestine prison to another prison facility.

Could drone pilots be tried for war crimes? - Xeni Jardin, Boing Boing: Pilots waging America's undeclared drone war in Pakistan could be liable to criminal prosecution for "war crimes," a prominent law professor told a Congressional panel today.

China – Propaganda Department sets rule for covering Shanghai Expo and Qinghai earthquake - Reporters Sans Frontières

Yiyi Lu: Soft Power Lessons for Beijing from a Chinese Petitioner – Wall Street Journal: In terms of China’s soft power in the West, Beijing does not seem to be in a much stronger position than the petitioner who attempts to make officials listen to her and support her claims. It is a similar uphill battle for Beijing to try to influence Western perceptions and opinions. The difference is that, while the petitioner understands the importance of remaining calm, Beijing seems to lose its temper and get personal all too easily. Beijing is clearly aware of its soft power deficiency in the West. That is why it has invested heavily in projects from Confucius Institutes to new foreign-language newspapers and television channels in an effort to boost its image and influence. However, Beijing’s liability to get angry and personal whenever confronted by perceived Western bias and unfair criticisms suggests that it hasn’t fully appreciated the extent of its soft power deficit.

No matter how much injustice Beijing may feel it has suffered and how unfairly it has been treated, it must recognise that it is in a very weak and disadvantaged position with regard to soft power. To overcome the perceived mountain of western prejudice, distrust and hostility, it has no choice but to show the same self-control and forbearance of a petitioner. Image from

New Arabic news channel to compete with Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya? - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Al Jazeera English recalls the conversation that led to the channel's creation - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Kadyrov: Extremist distortions of Islam must be countered - Interfax: Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov said propaganda work must be stepped up to counter the militants' ideology. "A propaganda campaign must embrace the whole of Russia. Bandits sit on the Internet, interpreting the Koran and the Hadith of their own free will. They misinform and manipulate the younger generation," Kadyrov told foreign reporters.

AMERICANA


Cream of Wheat 1956 ad: breakfast is better with ice-cream! – Boing Boing. Image from article