Dipnote - U.S. Department of State Official Blog

A Note on Recent Events in Syria

2012-02-10T14:16

About the Author: Robert S. Ford serves as U.S. Ambassador to Syria.

Editor's Note: This entry appeared first on the U.S. Embassy Syria Facebook page.

First, like people around the world, my colleagues and friends are watching the video coming out of Homs and some of the other Syrian cities in the last days with horror and revulsion. I hear the devastating stories about newborns in Homs dying in hospitals where electricity has been cut and when we see disturbing photos offering proof that the regime is using mortars and artillery against residential neighborhoods, all of us become even more concerned about the tragic outcome… more »

Inequality and the Lost Generation

2012-02-09T23:20

Recent events at the start of 2012 offer a glimpse of the struggles that lay ahead, both in the United States and abroad. From the Occupy Wall Street movement, to young people airing their grievances throughout the Middle East and beyond, all these events are indicative of a larger and more fundamental issue. The issue is one that President Obama framed for Americans clearly in his State of the Union Address:

"The basic American promise that if you worked hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send your kids to college, and put a little away for retirement...[is] the defining issue of our time...how to keep the promise alive... No challenge is more urgent. No debate is more important...we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair… more »

Game-Changing Innovations Through New Relationships With Universities

2012-02-09T15:56

About the Authors: Maura O'Neill serves as Chief Innovation Officer at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and Dr. Alex Dehgan serves as the Science and Technology Adviser to the USAID Administrator.

We are proud to announce the Higher Education Solutions Network Request for Applications (RFA), which invites higher education institutions to compete to join USAID as new strategic, long-term partners to have a greater impact on development through creative partnerships. From USAID's start 50 years ago, partnering with universities and research organizations has been part of the Agency's vision. Over the years we have worked with partners on sector-specific projects, but today we are pursuing an unprecedented relationship with… more »

Harnessing Science, Technology, and Innovation To Promote Global Development

2012-02-08T16:33

About the Authors: Gayle Smith is Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Development and Democracy at the National Security Council. Tom Kalil is Deputy Director for Policy, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Senior Advisor for Science, Technology, and Innovation, National Economic Council.

Today at the White House, senior Administration officials announced a series of new initiatives to promote game-changing innovations to solve long-standing development challenges. Answering President Obama's call to harness science technology, and innovation to spark global development, the Administration… more »

Op-Ed: ‘Delivering Jobs With International Tourism’

2012-02-07T22:57

Deputy Secretary of State Thomas R. Nides authored an opinion piece that appears today on CNN's Global Public Square Blog. The text of his piece also follows below:

"Here's a simple equation that will help the economy: Bringing more international visitors to America equals new jobs here at home. The United States is the world's top tourist destination, but our share of that market has dropped since September 11, 2001.

"International travelers added $134 billion in exports to our economy in 2010, and we know there is appetite for much more. The Department of Commerce estimates that every 65 additional international visitors to the… more »

The Decade of Roma Inclusion and U.S. Engagement on the Human Rights of Roma

2012-02-07T16:56

On February 5, Secretary Clinton met with a young group of Roma civil society activists and professionals in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Roma participants each spoke briefly about their work and their ideas on how to help move the Roma community forward. Many of the Roma youth activists were alumni of the Intern Program for Young Roma, an Open Society Institute initiative held under the auspices of the National Assembly of Bulgaria that announced its fifth intern program on February 6.

In her opening remarks, the Secretary told the activists that "helping to promote and protect the inalienable human rights of Roma everywhere is a long-standing personal commitment of mine, and it is a stated foreign policy priority of this Administration." As part of that commitment, the Secretary announced that… more »

U.S. Supports Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

2012-02-06T20:41

Today, on the Ninth Annual International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, we stand in solidarity with men and women who are working to address and prevent this practice that takes place in many countries around the world. Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) occurs across cultures and religions, although no religion mandates the procedure. It is a practice rooted in beliefs about the “dangers” of women's sexuality, and involves a rite of passage into adulthood that has extremely detrimental consequences on the health and overall well-being of women and girls subjected to it.

It is estimated that 100 to 140 million women globally have undergone this procedure and three million girls are at risk every year. Cutting is often performed by untrained practitioners, employing no anesthesia and often using such instruments as broken glass,… more »

Travel Diary: Europe—An Essential Partner in Addressing Global Security Challenges

2012-02-06T16:39

More: Trip Page | Interactive Travel Map

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Germany and Bulgaria on February 3-5, 2012. In Munich, Germany, Secretary Clinton held bilateral meetings with her European and other counterparts and participated in the 48th Munich Security Conference. This annual event brings together global leaders to discuss common security challenges. In her address to the Conference, the Secretary reaffirmed the fundamental importance of the transatlantic relationship and Europe's role as an essential partner in addressing global security challenges.

"Europe is… more »

U.S. Suspends Embassy Operations in Syria

2012-02-06T13:46

The United States advised the government of Syria that it has suspended all embassy operations effective February 6, 2012, given ongoing violence and a deteriorating security situation. All official U.S. embassy personnel and their family members have departed. In a statement, State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland said:

"We, along with several other diplomatic missions, conveyed our security concerns to the Syrian government but the regime failed to respond adequately. Ambassador Ford has left Damascus but he remains the United States Ambassador to Syria and its people. As the President's representative, he will continue his work and engagement with the Syrian people as head of our Syria team in Washington. Together with other senior U.S. officials, Ambassador Ford will maintain… more »

Travel Diary: 48th Annual Munich Security Conference

2012-02-05T17:39

More: Trip Page | Interactive Travel Map

The 48th Annual Munich Security Conference took place February 3-5, 2012, in Munich, Germany. In this video from the U.S.-European Media Hub, U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany Philip D. Murphy notes that this year marks the first-ever participation by two U.S. Cabinet officials in this event. Ambassador Murphy also describes how the conference has changed over the years, but points out that "one thing that hasn't changed over 48 years is how important the American role is, and how importantly we take that role."

During the conference, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said, "...I have now traveled to Europe 27 times… more »

Honoring American Diaspora Leaders With Roots in the Horn of Africa

2012-02-03T23:10

This week, I joined the White House in honoring 14 leaders in American diaspora communities with roots in the Horn of Africa as Champions of Change. These leaders are helping to build stronger neighborhoods in communities across the United States, and are working to mobilize networks across borders to address global challenges.

Prior to the event, I had the pleasure of hosting these remarkable individuals for lunch at the State Department, with support from the International diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA). Throughout our lunchtime conversation, I was continually struck by the passion, expertise, insight, and personal commitment of each and every Champion,… more »

Photo of the Week: Advancing International Security

2012-02-03T22:16

This week's "Photo of the Week" comes to us from the First Plenary of the 2012 Session of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva, Switzerland, on January 24, 2012. Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance Rose E. Gottemoeller delivered the opening statement for the United States on the progress on arms control and disarmament that has been made over the course of the past year.

Assistant Secretary Gottemoeller said, "The New START Treaty entered into force on February 5, 2011.… The treaty represents a strong foundation for further bilateral reductions and an important step on the path towards a world without nuclear weapons. Discussions… more »

Pacific Partnership 2012: “Prepare in Calm To Respond in Crisis”

2012-02-03T17:37

“Prepare in calm to respond in crisis.” This was the motto chosen by Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12) Commodore Jim Morgan as 200 participants gathered in San Diego on January 30 and 31 for the Mid-Planning Conference (MPC) for PP12. All four host nations -- Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia -- sent high-level delegations, as did many of our partner nations, including Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, and Thailand.

Pacific Partnership, created in response to the terrible tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people in 2004, will carry out its seventh annual mission from May to September of this year. The program was developed by the U.S. Navy, but has become a demonstrable example of the “whole of government” approach to American policy in the Pacific, including participation by the Department of State, USAID, NOAA, and… more »

Keeping Promises on Food Security

2012-02-03T15:23

Food security representatives from around the world are gathering here at the Department of State today to finish a two-day meeting of the signatories of the L'Aquila Food Security Initiative (AFSI). In 2009 at the G-8 Summit, global leaders, including President Obama, endorsed the L'Aquila Joint Statement on Global Food Security, agreeing to "to act with the scale and urgency needed to achieve sustainable global food security."

This marked a turning point for international efforts to achieve food security worldwide. Leaders committed to a take a comprehensive approach to ensure food security, coordinate effectively, support country-owned processes and plans, engage multilateral… more »

Travel Diary: Secretary Clinton Travels to Germany and Bulgaria

2012-02-03T11:59

More: Interactive Travel Map | Background Briefing En Route Munich

On February 3-5, 2012, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is on travel to Germany and Bulgaria. In Germany, Secretary Clinton will participate in the 48th Munich Security Conference. This annual event brings together global leaders to discuss common security challenges. In her address to the Conference, the Secretary will reaffirm the fundamental importance of the transatlantic relationship and Europe's role as an essential partner in addressing global security challenges. While in Munich… more »

Making ‘Never Again’ a Reality: UNESCO Conference on Holocaust Education

2012-02-02T23:18

The weather in Paris today reflected the mood in UNESCO's conference room -- gloomy with a chance of sunshine. For just as the clouds were heavy, so too was the discussion of Holocaust education and how genocide and hatred still exist despite the global effort to teach the lessons of the Holocaust. And just as the sun poked through at the end of the day, so did the optimism that great minds can come together and tackle this problem.

Just last week, on January 27, the world remembered the victims of the Holocaust on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This week, while still remembering the victims, we sat down to discuss how to make "Never Again" a reality.

The morning started with a welcoming address from Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO. She highlighted the point that as the world becomes more interconnected and a new global history begins… more »

Celebrating World Wetlands Day

2012-02-02T16:16

World Wetlands Day is here! Join us in congratulating our Wetlands Photo Celebration fan favorites -- with images and photographers from around the globe. We have four categories of favorites within our wetlands and tourism theme: plants, landscape, tourists, and wildlife. In the slideshow, you'll see a silt village in Ghana, a gorgeous river in West Virginia, a diver in the coastal wetlands of Mexico, and a beautiful damselfly in Cambodia. Also, many thanks to all of our wetlands tourists and photographers for the hundreds of photo submissions. You can learn more about our World Wetlands Day Photo celebration on our Flickr page. We salute the world's wetlands for their beauty and many critical benefits to humankind. Happy World Wetlands Day 2012! more »

21st Century Statecraft: Continuing the Conversation

2012-02-02T04:14

Technology and new innovations are changing the world in which we live. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is responding to these challenges by adapting our foreign policy agenda to leverage new innovations in service of our diplomatic and development goals. This is 21st Century Statecraft -- complementing traditional foreign policy tools with newly innovated and adapted instruments of statecraft that fully leverage the networks, technologies, and demographics of our interconnected world.

Today marks the end of "21st Century Statecraft Month" at that State Department -- an entire month dedicated to using new tools and engaging new networks in pursuit of addressing today's challenges. During the month, I had the privilege to speak with a group of journalists and bloggers… more »

Partnering With Business To Eliminate Pediatric AIDS by 2015

2012-02-01T15:30

Last week, I was proud to participate in a significant moment in the global AIDS response. I stood with leaders of the private sector at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as they committed to join forces to reach an ambitious, yet achievable, goal -- ending pediatric AIDS by 2015.

The launch of two groundbreaking initiatives -- the Business Leadership Council and the Social Media Syndicate -- will marshal the power of the private sector, converging business acumen, technology, and other assets to support country-led efforts to prevent new infant infections and save mothers' lives.

This exceptional commitment by the private sector stems from the Global Plan towards the Elimination of New Pediatric Infections and Keeping Mothers Alive, launched last year by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and UNAIDS. The Plan's… more »

National Freedom Day and the Fight Against Modern Slavery

2012-02-01T12:07

Seventy years ago, a group of men and women organized at Independence Hall in Philadelphia to lay a wreath before the Liberty Bell to commemorate the date -- February 1, 1865 -- that President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment, banning slavery in the United States. The plan to set aside February 1 was led by Richard Wright, who was born into slavery in 1855. After Emancipation, Wright went to college, joined the army, and late in life became the first African-American in the United States to own a bank. A year after Wright died, in 1948, Wright's legacy was written into law when Congress passed a bill making February 1 National Freedom Day. Harry S. Truman was the first President to declare National Freedom Day, a tradition upheld every year since and reaffirmed again today by President Barack Obama.

As we mark that moment, when Lincoln sent to the states a… more »

U.S., Russia Conduct Joint Antarctic Inspection

2012-01-31T17:22

On January 23, I joined seven other members of a joint U.S.-Russian Federation team that departed Christchurch, New Zealand, for the United States' McMurdo Station in Antarctica to conduct inspections of facilities maintained by other nations in Antarctica. Antarctica is the coldest, driest, windiest, and most isolated continent on Earth. Despite these challenging conditions, there are more than 100 facilities of various sizes and capacities in Antarctica established by almost 30 Antarctic Treaty Parties. The Department of State and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, joined by colleagues from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Russian Antarctic Expedition, co-led the first joint inspection conducted by either country. NSF provided invaluable logistical assistance.

After an eight-hour flight on board a New York Air National Guard ski-equipped LC-130… more »

Op-Ed: ‘Why the Global Economy Needs Businesses To Invest in Women’

2012-01-30T16:39

Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer and President of the Women in the World Foundation Kim Azzarelli co-authored an opinion piece that appears today on The Daily Beast website. In the piece, Ambassador Verveer and Ms. Azzarelli underscore why the global economy needs the "other 51 percent." The text of their article follows below.

"Businesses are starting to understand what development experts have long known: investing in women pays dividends. Women are more likely than men to put their income back into their communities, driving illiteracy and mortality rates down and GDP up.

"Now a corporate revolution is at hand, one that is moving beyond philanthropy,… more »

A Visit to a Demining Site in Sri Lanka

2012-01-30T00:53

I admit I was slightly relieved when our armored car got stuck in a thick pool of mud about a quarter of a mile down the jungle road that led to the minefield. I had arrived in Sri Lanka just two days earlier, and everyone told me that a visit to the former conflict area of Kilinochchi was essential to understanding the Northern Sri Lankan experience. I, however, was growing increasingly nervous as our bumpy ride brought us closer to the fields where the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lankan military buried tens of thousands of compact but powerful mines as they advanced and retreated through the lives and lands of rural farmers during Sri Lanka's 27-year civil war. After all, our wonderful hosts at The HALO Trust had just finished recounting the alarming frequency of mine discovery in Kilinochchi: they dug more mines out of the ground in Sri Lanka during the first… more »

21st Century Statecraft: Forging U.S. Digital Diplomacy

2012-01-28T03:34

Innovate or die. It's an oft-repeated phrase about the adoption of technology and innovation that evokes Darwinian images of people running scared, trying to stay ahead of the curve just enough not to get trampled by the pack. From the perspective of the State Department, we see a different image -- that of a blank canvas that is being painted a bit every day. We see how harnessing technology and digital networks is making our public diplomacy more strategic and how it is strengthening and amplifying the bonds between individuals and institutions like the State Department.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made 21st Century Statecraft, or using digital networks to advance America's interests around the world, a key part of our foreign policy approach.

So we're continually… more »

Talking 2012 U.S. Foreign Policy Priorities

2012-01-27T16:58

Public outreach and engagement with the American people and media to present and explain U.S. foreign policy is one of the key missions of the Bureau of Public Affairs. Last week, I had the opportunity to spend two days in Miami, Florida, where I visited our Media Hub of the Americas -- one of six State Department media hubs worldwide (Dubai, London, Brussels, Tokyo, Pretoria, and Miami). The hubs are strategically located throughout the world to serve as satellite offices of the Bureau of Public Affairs. The Media Hub of the Americas is the only one located stateside with a two-track goal of communicating America's foreign policy to Spanish-speaking media within the United States and throughout the Americas.

I had a packed schedule principally focused on outlining U.S.… more »

Cultural Ambassador Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Advances People-to-People Diplomacy

2012-01-27T14:33

Building on his efforts to engage youth, U.S. Global Cultural Ambassador Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went "wheels up" from the heart of Afro-Brazil in Salvador to Rio de Janeiro.

"So far, I've really enjoyed Rio. I think it's a great city," Abdul-Jabbar said.

In Rio, Abdul-Jabbar started the day meeting with young people at the Rio em Forma Olimpico Project. While there, Abdul-Jabbar shared how education and English-language learning can propel young people to success.

"I had a wonderful time here today. I met a lot of really nice kids. They're very warm and open. I left them with a message and that is that education opens the door for opportunity," Abdul-Jabbar said.

From the Rio em Forma Olimpico Project, Mr. Abdul-Jabbar met with young people in the community of Alemao. With leaders from the NGO "CUFA" -- who work within the favelas… more »

Photo of the Week: Empowering Young People Through Sports

2012-01-27T13:08

This week's "Photo of the Week" was taken by U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs' employee Beth Payne for the "Serving Abroad…Through Their Eyes" exhibition. The photograph shows a group of children playing soccer in the shadow of the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, India. The U.S. Department of State has a strong commitment to engaging young people worldwide and to using people-to-people diplomacy as a means to create opportunities for greater understanding, including using sports as a means of empowerment.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recently named NBA Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the State Department's Cultural Ambassador. This week, Abdul-Jabbar kicked off his service in Salvador, Brazil,… more »

On 10th Anniversary of Youth Ambassadors Program, Secretary Clinton Meets With Brazilian Youth

2012-01-26T21:40

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton welcomed 45 Brazilian Youth Ambassadors and two educators during their visit to the U.S. Department of State on January 25, 2012. The event marked the 10th Anniversary of the Youth Ambassadors Program with Brazil. Since 2002, students chosen from Brazil's public schools for their leadership and community service have visited the United States for a three-week exchange program sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the U.S. Embassy in Brazil. During their meeting, Secretary Clinton recognized the role of youth in serving their communities. She also highlighted the United States'… more »

Engaging Overseas Audiences on the State of the Union Address

2012-01-26T03:44

Last night, Americans gathered around their television sets -- or computer monitors -- to watch President Barack Obama deliver the State of the Union Address. For the first time, international audiences were able to watch the State of the Union Address live on U.S. embassy and consulate websites. The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP) streamed the speech with a new video player, placed directly on almost 300 English-language embassy and consulate websites and Facebook pages worldwide.

Our missions… more »

Cultural Ambassador Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Touts Education in Brazil

2012-01-25T20:01

Today, Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar kicked off his service as a Global Cultural Ambassador for the U.S. Department of State in Salvador, Brazil.

"I didn't expect to see such a big city here in this part of Brazil. I heard about Rio de Janeiro and I've been to Sao Paulo on my first trip to Brazil. But I didn't know they had big cities out here on the coast. It's quite a place," said Abdul-Jabbar.

Meeting in a community center in the recently pacified favela, Nordeste de Amaralina, Abdul-Jabbar stressed the importance of education as a means of empowerment both within Brazil and beyond.

"It was very rewarding for me today to talk to the young people about their education because a lot of them didn't understand how important it is. So I was happy to remind them that their education will supplement everything that they try to… more »

Conversations With America: The Role of Religion in Foreign Policy

2012-01-25T14:54

More: Questions Submitted on DipNote | Text Transcript

Suzan Johnson Cook, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, held a conversation with Dr. Chris Seiple, President of the Institute for Global Engagement, on the role of religion in foreign policy. The discussion was moderated by Cheryl Benton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public… more »

Egypt’s Transition to Democracy

2012-01-25T13:23

On January 24, 2012, the White House Press Secretary issued the following statement:

"This week, Egypt achieved several historic milestones in its transition to democracy. Yesterday, democratically-elected representatives of the People's Assembly met for the first time since Egypt's revolution, and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces transferred legislative authority to them. Today, Field Marshal Tantawi took steps to lift the state of emergency that has existed in Egypt for several decades. And tomorrow, Egyptians will commemorate the anniversary of the revolution that made Egypt's transition to democracy possible.

"We congratulate the Egyptian people and their government on these important steps… more »

A Triumph of Coordination

2012-01-24T23:14

Western Uttar Pradesh was once seen as the world's largest reservoir of polio virus. Four districts, namely Moradabad, Bareilly, Rampur and Badaun, were considered the "Hot 4" and for many years, people speculated that the last polio cases would be from these districts. But the skeptics were wrong. The districts pulled together, involved all ministries, not just the health sector, and held everyone accountable for performance. The District Magistrates took charge and became personally involved in solving any obstacles that would crop up. Vacant medical officer positions were filled and progress was monitored closely.

Across India messages travelled the TV and radio airways. Celebrities and sports legends lent their support. Rotarians urged everyone to participate, provided much needed financing, and rolled up their sleeves to help out during the campaigns. CORE and… more »

U.S.-Canada Arctic Expedition Surveys the Extended Continental Shelf

2012-01-24T15:16

In the enduring spirit of friendship and cooperation, the United States and Canada conducted their fourth joint mission to map the continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean this past summer. The 2011 Arctic mission traversed more than 5,600 total miles and reached more than 1,230 miles north of the Alaskan coast. It marks the completion of a successful five-year collaboration between the United States and Canada to collect the scientific data necessary to determine the extent of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles (referred to as the extended continental shelf) in the Arctic. Determining the extent of the continental shelf is important because a country has rights to manage and protect the resources of its continental shelf.

Collecting these data was not a trivial endeavor, especially in the Arctic's ice-covered waters. The 2011 joint mission spanned nearly… more »

Secretary Clinton Chairs First Meeting of the International Council on Women’s Business Leadership

2012-01-24T04:22

On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton held the first meeting of the International Council on Women's Business Leadership (ICWBL) at the Department State in Washington, D.C. The ICWBL serves the U.S. government in an advisory capacity on major issues in international business and economic policy, including the effective integration of business interests and women's economic empowerment into overall foreign policy; the role and limits of international economic institutions from a gender-specific perspective; and the Department of State's role in advancing and promoting the role of women in a competitive global economy.

The ICWBL will meet at least once a year and at such other times and places as are required to fulfill the objectives of the Council. Subcommittees and working groups will meet as appropriate for their assigned responsibilities.… more »

It’s All About You: ‘My State Department’ Launched

2012-01-23T18:36

I think just about everything on www.state.gov is interesting, but you might not take the same interest in food security, women's issues, or the human rights reports that I do. With the site's roughly 100,000 pages of content (and growing), we set out to create a way to help you, the end user, more easily access the categories of information that matter most to you.

That's what's behind the pilot release of My State Department -- an optional, customizable interface that makes the most of the vast electronic collection that comprises www.state.gov so you can be better informed and stay on top of foreign policy topic areas that you find most interesting or in which you want to become… more »

Tradition Meets Technology: Protocol and 21st Century Statecraft

2012-01-22T15:56

The traditions of protocol are some of the oldest in diplomatic history, and its practice has created the framework for international relations. On Friday, January 13, 2012, however, the Office of the Chief of Protocol hosted its first State of the Administration briefing of this year to talk about the use of new technology in diplomacy. The briefing featured the Secretary of State's Senior Advisor for Innovation, Alec Ross, and representatives from Facebook and Twitter along with His Excellency Dino Djalal, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia.

As an initiative of Protocol's Diplomatic Partnerships Division, the State of the Administration speaker series provides foreign ambassadors posted in Washington with opportunities to interact directly with senior members of our government who can provide first-hand knowledge of the administration's work and discuss some… more »

Changing Society: The Power of Inclusive Thinking

2012-01-20T22:35

As a child, I had to sit on the sidelines as my friends played on neighborhood playgrounds that were not designed for wheelchair users. In those days, it probably never crossed the minds of playground designers that children like me were excluded. We were excluded, and more importantly, the problem continues for millions of children today.

The "right to play" is a universal human right enumerated in Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The right to play is the right to rest and leisure, and with it the right to engage in recreational activities. It is important to recognize that play environments often do not sufficiently take people with disabilities into consideration in their design. The onus is often on parents to push… more »

Ambassador Cousin To Lead World Food Programme

2012-01-20T21:55

We congratulate Ambassador Ertharin Cousin on her appointment this week as the next Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP). We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with WFP and the other the UN food agencies based in Rome. The WFP has a long and illustrious history of responding to the world's most pressing food and hunger crises, and under the energetic leadership of Ambassador Cousin, we are confident that it will continue its remarkable work as a leader of global efforts to eradicate hunger.

As the Ambassador to the UN food agencies in Rome, Ambassador Cousin has already worked closely with WFP, FAO, IFAD and other Rome-based international organizations and diplomatic missions to ensure… more »

A Call to the “Innovation Generation”

2012-01-20T16:51

As the United States and nations worldwide work to build their economies within the context of the global marketplace, the ability to innovate is the most basic and essential underpinning. As I travel worldwide or meet with foreign guests in Washington, D.C., one of the most common questions for me is to describe the U.S. system which leads to innovation. What are the policies which support innovation and what are the practices on the ground which propel innovation? My response always touches on the need to invest in education and scientific research, to value and protect intellectual property rights, and to support a system which allows failures while celebrating success, which seeds promising ideas with funds, and which nurtures future innovators.

If the fundamentals are right, innovation proceeds, economies grow and solutions to tough problems, including energy… more »

Photo of the Week: Building Friendship in The Gambia

2012-01-20T15:21

This week's “Photo of the Week” was submitted by U.S. Air Force Captain Alden Y. Gilroy to the Office of Art in Embassies for the “Serving Abroad…Through Their Eyes” exhibition. Pictured is First Lieutenant Matthew Suber, who was serving as the Force Protection Officer during Exercise AFRICA ENDEAVOR, the largest communications exercise on the African continent. The Gambian Army hosted the event at Fajara Barracks, which is also home to many families of their soldiers.

Captain Gilroy describes the photograph: “Children nearby were playing near the exercise administrative building, and we went outside to visit them, and say hello during one of our breaks. The children always lingered near the fences curious about all of the foreign armed forces and beckoned for… more »

Taking Diplomacy to New Heights

2012-01-19T18:34

On Wednesday, January 18, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's All-Time Leading Scorer and New York Times' best-selling author, will serve as a Global Cultural Ambassador.

As a Cultural Ambassador, Mr. Abdul-Jabbar will work with young people worldwide and use people-to-people interactions as a means to create opportunities for greater understanding. He'll kick-off those efforts next week in Salvador and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Click here to learn more.

"I am excited and honored to serve my country as a Cultural Ambassador for the U.S. Department of State," said Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who has focused his efforts after his NBA career on engaging youth through socially-minded projects and education. "I look forward… more »

The Entrepreneurial Spirit of the Arab Spring

2012-01-19T03:01

In the midst of the political and economic revolutions and evolutions of the Arab Spring, there is a theme emerging. It isn't as popular to talk about as the power of social media for mobilization, and it hasn't received the same media coverage as the crowds in city squares across the Middle East and North Africa, but it's a vital part of what is happening in our world.

As venture capitalist Craig Hanson so aptly stated in the San Jose Mercury News, "Entrepreneurship is the next phase of the Arab Spring."

We talked about Craig's message a great deal yesterday when we hosted the 25 entrepreneurs from Jordan who accompanied His Majesty King Abdullah II on his visit to meet with President Obama this week. At a luncheon here at the State Department, we connected these… more »

Music Helps Revive Afghanistan’s Cultural Heritage

2012-01-18T21:52

Razor wire pierces the orange sky as we drive through Kabul's haze and rush hour traffic to the Afghan National Institute of Music (ANIM). For the second year in a row, ANIM is hosting famed Afghan and international musicians for its "Winter Music Academy," an opportunity for the students to work with master teachers. Tonight, the wide community of ANIM's supporters -- including representatives from the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Section, which funds both the winter academy and ongoing Access English micro-scholarships -- has the delight of hearing these masters in concert. In the front row are representatives from the World Bank, and after the first song -- Henri Duparc's "L'invitation au voyage," sung by Kabul-born artist Mashal Arman -- one whispers to another, "You are in Kabul, not Paris. Kabul! Can you believe it?"

I can believe it, and not only because… more »

Secretary Clinton Presents 2011 Awards for Corporate Excellence

2012-01-18T04:22

The U.S. Department of State presented the thirteenth annual Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) on January 18, 2012, during a ceremony in the Benjamin Franklin Room of the Harry S. Truman building, Washington, DC. The prestigious ACE recognizes the important role of U.S. businesses in advancing good corporate governance and democratic principles worldwide. The award honors exemplary business practices, corporate social responsibility, and innovation in a company's overseas operations.

You can view a transcript of the Secretary's remarks here. more »

Can Mobile Money Transform a Country?

2012-01-17T21:14

Two years after the earthquake, Haiti is rebuilding not just brick by brick, but click by click.

The earthquake left behind a government in rubble, an economy in shambles, and a people living in makeshift camps, coping with enormous loss. Against this backdrop, the possibility of progress lives not just in the resilient spirit of the Haitian people, but also in the simple power of their mobile phones.

In June 2010, USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched the Haiti Mobile Money Initiative (HMMI). This program leveraged the private sector and the ubiquity of mobile phones to bring financial services to Haitians, 90 percent of whom didn't have… more »

Travel Diary: Secretary Clinton Emphasizes U.S. Focus on Democratization in Africa

2012-01-17T19:48

More: Interactive Travel Map | Photos

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, and Cape Verde on January 16-17, 2012, to demonstrate U.S. commitment to post-conflict return to peace, good governance, and economic development as well as to emphasize U.S. focus on democratization.

In Liberia, Secretary Clinton attended President Sirleaf's inauguration and presided over the in-house dedication of the new U.S. embassy compound to demonstrate America's commitment to an enduring friendship with the people of Liberia, as well as the importance of our bilateral relationship with the Liberian Government. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Secretary Clinton… more »

Teaching Respect for All, on MLK Day, and Every Day

2012-01-16T14:43

Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the visionary leaders of the civil rights movement, and recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace prize. Every year around this time we are reminded of his amazing vision and dream as his legendary speeches play on the television and radio, and as his well-known words flood our Facebook and Twitter timelines.

Just 45 years ago, Dr. King said, "Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal." Those words immediately remind me that there are basic fundamentals necessary for building real and lasting peace. This year, as we celebrate Dr. King, I am a part of a team that is gearing up for a big event to launch an initiative that I think Dr. King would be proud of -- "Teaching… more »

Travel Diary: Secretary Clinton Travels to Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, and Cape Verde

2012-01-16T12:29

More: Trip Page | Background Briefing

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, and Cape Verde on January 16-17, 2012, to demonstrate U.S. commitment to post-conflict return to peace, good governance, and economic development as well as to emphasize U.S. focus on democratization.

While in Liberia, Secretary Clinton will attend President Sirleaf's inauguration and preside over the ribbon-cutting of the New U.S. Embassy Compound in Monrovia. In Cote d'Ivoire, she will meet with President Ouattara to showcase our support for national reconciliation and strengthening democratic institutions following successful legislative elections… more »

Year in Review: U.S. Diplomacy in South and Central Asia

2012-01-15T16:32

2011 was an eventful year for all of us working in South and Central Asia. I've had the opportunity to reflect on the year and wanted to single out a few highlights. Secretary Clinton's visit to India in July advanced our ongoing strategic dialogue and underscored the continued growth in the U.S.-India partnership. Similarly, her visit to Central Asia in October affirmed our strong commitment to seeing a more prosperous and secure region that helps to bolster the stability of Afghanistan. We witnessed the first ever peaceful democratic transition of power in Central Asia when President Otunbayeva -- a recipient of… more »

@america Celebrates Its One Year Anniversary

2012-01-15T00:27

Today, we celebrated the one year anniversary of U.S. Mission Indonesia's innovative American Center -- @america -- and kicked off a month of celebrations. We joined Ambassador Scot Marciel and special guest and 2011 CNN Hero of the Year Robin Lim, an American living in Bali, for the opening day's events. Over 150 guests joined us for the lively celebration, including many of the Indonesian and American organizations that have supported the center over the past year, helping us create a dialogue on a range of topics from the environment, to hip hop, to American literature, to entrepreneurship, and everything in between.

Conceived as a laboratory for innovative, high-tech public diplomacy, @america has transformed public diplomacy for U.S. Embassy Jakarta, reaching new audiences… more »

OECD Adopts Recommendation for Internet Policy Making Principles

2012-01-14T16:55

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) finished 2011 with an important step in international efforts to ensure the Internet remains an open platform that is secure and reliable, continuing to spur free expression and association, innovation, prosperity and job creation. As part of its mission to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world, OECD members adopted a Recommendation of the Council on Principles for Internet Policy Making.

The Recommendation was born at a U.S.-initiated high-level meeting earlier this… more »

Year in Review: The Pivot Towards the East Asia and Pacific Region

2012-01-14T04:39

2011 was a momentous year for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP) as the culmination of much hard work that reflects the vision articulated by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in an editorial for the November 2011 issue of Foreign Policy. This strategy guided the Bureau's activities from reinvigorating already strong relations with treaty partners, building new partnerships with emerging powers in the region, such as China, engaging with multilateral institutions, expanding trade and investment, forging a broad based military presence, and advancing democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Our long-standing treaty allies continue to serve as the bedrock… more »

Investment: The Path to a Prosperous Future in Haiti

2012-01-13T14:51

Yesterday, Haiti commemorated two years since the earthquake of January 12, 2010. Those of us who went through the earthquake spent the day remembering the colleagues and loved ones we lost that afternoon and thanking God that we survived.

Today, we are back at work, and we look to the challenges that remain: half of the rubble created by the quake is still there, and more than 500,000 people still live in tents. The commitment of the U.S. government toward Haiti remains strong and, together with our international partners, we support the Haitian government's continued efforts to clear rubble, rebuild neighborhoods, and find long-term shelter for the displaced.

Most of Haiti's woes did not begin with the earthquake,… more »

South Sudan Women Working To Overcome Food Insecurity

2012-01-13T13:37

I have spent a lot of time in many countries in Africa, usually countries suffering from some type of man-made or natural disaster. While no agriculture expert, my eyes are trained enough to seek out and identify problems and solutions that touch on food insecurity. I usually find a somewhat despairing situation.

Recently, after travelling on the bumpy to non-existent "roads" of South Sudan, I came away impressed -- impressed with the hopeful vision of a country that has enormous potential to move quickly into a state of relative food self sufficiency, perhaps within less than a generation.

And the women of South Sudan are playing a big part in the country's drive towards recovery. According to Ofeni Ngota Amitai, the minister of agriculture for Morobo county, women are critical to helping the country move away from humanitarian interventions towards… more »

Photo of the Week: Celebrating Water Resources

2012-01-13T12:36

Our "Photo of the Week" comes to us from James Rivera, who serves at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. James submitted this photograph to the Office of Art in Embassies for the "Through Their Eyes...Service Abroad" exhibition. His image captures the Nile River, with two boats silhouetted in the orange and yellow glow of a beautiful sunset.

James' image reminds us of the beauty and importance of our planet's natural resources, particularly our water resources. The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with the Ramsar Convention Secretariat are celebrating World Wetlands Day on February 2, 2012. To help us celebrate,… more »

Embracing the New Year’s Opportunities for Change

2012-01-12T20:57

When I served as Political-Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia in the late 1990s, noisy and crowded diplomatic events -- dinners, receptions, national day parties -- were the best place to meet with Tunisians who assumed that President Ben Ali's mukhabarat had bugged all offices. They believed the safety of the noise and crowds at diplomatic events protected candid conversations. But sometimes, even diplomatic receptions didn't work out as planned: one night, my wife and I hosted a reception at our residence in Gammarth, where a large number of human rights and civil society activists showed up, probably to the horror of the few Tunisian government officials who dared attend. At the end of the reception, the mukhabarat arrested a number of guests whom we had gathered in one location, inadvertently facilitating a crackdown.

Foreign diplomats cynically nicknamed… more »

Support for Congolese Refugees in Rwanda—Perspectives for 2012

2012-01-11T16:04

As one makes the final approach into Kiziba Refugee Camp, located at more than 2,000 meters above sea level in the verdant hills above Kibuye town in western Rwanda, you are treated to spectacular views of the shimmering waters of Lake Kivu several hundred meters below. The camp, home to 18,950 registered refugees who fled fighting in the eastern portion of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is divided into 10 neighborhoods, each divided into five villages which include approximately 70 houses. Refugees live in detached family houses of 4.5 x 3.5m built with wooden poles with the sides covered with mud and the roofs made from plastic sheeting. Kiziba is well managed by the Government of Rwanda (GoR) with technical and financial assistance from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the American Refugee Committee (ARC). ARC has embarked… more »

Launch of the Frontline Healthcare Workers Coalition

2012-01-10T22:39

Frontline health workers are an essential component of health systems worldwide -- without them, there is no access to care for people living with HIV or anyone else. Yet in 2012, the World Health Organization estimates a shortage of at least one million frontline health workers worldwide, with Africa the region in greatest need. PEPFAR, in collaboration with partner countries, is pursuing a number of initiatives to respond.

Our efforts are being reinforced by many actors around the globe. A growing number of health organizations, recognizing the life-saving impact frontline health workers offer, are committed to employing innovative strategies to address the crisis. Tomorrow, 37 of these organizations from the public… more »

Outreach Program Expands Economic Empowerment for Afghan Women

2012-01-10T20:59

On December 20, the U.S. Embassy Kabul's Public Affairs Section completed a 10-day outreach and engagement program with prominent Muslim-American businesswoman and magazine owner, Ms. Tayyibah Taylor, on the theme of entrepreneurship. During this period, the program reached nearly 500 Afghan men and women -- in face-to-face engagements with audiences that ranged from uneducated merchants and artisans, university students and emerging entrepreneurs, to sophisticated, urban businesswomen, civil society organizations, community leaders, and provincial council members.

Ms. Taylor traveled to four provinces in support of this program: Kabul; Kapisa in the north; Nangarhar in the east; and Kandahar in the south. Ms. Taylor's program underscores the State Department's objectives of expanding women's economic empowerment, particularly in South Central Asia, where Ambassador… more »

Ensuring Food Security Remains a High-Level Priority

2012-01-10T17:36

2011 saw many changes for the Secretary's Office of Global Food Security and several advances in our international agenda. I joined the growing team in June, and am proud of our progress over the year. I eagerly anticipate more accomplishments as we take the reins of the L'Aquila Food Security Initiative (AFSI) group and through U.S. leadership of the G-8 in 2012.

AFSI signatories' endorsement of the L'Aquila Joint Statement on Global Food Security at the 2009 G-8 Summit marked a turning point for international efforts to achieve sustainable global food security. Under the Joint Statement, the United States and other donors agreed to be accountable for delivering a comprehensive approach to improving food security, which entails effective coordination, support for country-owned processes and plans, and engagement of multilateral institutions to promote food security… more »

Haiti—Two Years Post Earthquake: What You May Not Know

2012-01-10T02:24

The power of Haiti's heritage and its people is tremendous. For America, Haiti has held, and continues to hold, a unique and rich role in African-American history. Before and since the earthquake in 2010, Haiti has faced great challenges -- ones they are working to confront and to lead the international community in helping them solve. The U.S. government -- and the American people -- has had the privilege of being a steadfast partner in Haiti's efforts. As we approach the second anniversary of the 2010 earthquake, it is important to remember those who lost so much; and, to honor Haitians' unrelenting commitment to realize a more prosperous and stable nation by shining a light on some of the progress toward the great future they seek.

There is so much work still to be done -- by the government and people of Haiti, international partners, the private sector, and non-governmental… more »

Advancing U.S. Economic Statecraft in 2012

2012-01-09T21:52

This time last year, I made three, broad resolutions for 2011: to continue promoting U.S. job creation; to seek and build overseas economic alliances; and to protect U.S. businesses and their interests. Beyond these three, I also resolved to exploit every opportunity to foster prosperity at home and abroad. It is clear to me that my bureau's hard work and resilient efforts paid off during 2011. In the wake of the Arab Awakening, we took quick steps to foster economic recovery in the region, including through promotion of entrepreneurship and U.S.-Middle East business relationships. This fall, we seized long-standing opportunities for expanding economic growth by finalizing trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea,… more »

Join a Discussion on Religion and Foreign Policy

2012-01-09T20:14

Update: Watch the video here.

Suzan Johnson Cook, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, will hold a conversation with Dr. Chris Seiple, President of the Institute for Global Engagement, on the role of religion in foreign policy. The discussion will be moderated by Cheryl Benton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, and will be available to view here on DipNote, the Department of State's official… more »

The Year in 21st Century Statecraft

2012-01-09T15:26

Reflecting on 2011, it is obvious that connection technologies are playing an ever-greater role in shaping the world around us. The beginning of the year witnessed the events of the Arab Spring, with political movements organized and accelerated with the help of social media. This past fall, the world watched videos online that were captured on smart-phones by Syrian activists, documenting attacks on peaceful protests. The world watched as hundreds were injured and killed by their government for exercising their universal rights. And just weeks ago, demonstrations in Russia were organized online to protest allegations of election fraud, with social media influencers playing important roles.

As information networks become more ubiquitous and powerful, new movements and power structures are forming, others are being disrupted, and the speed of communications is making… more »

Egypt: Reaffirming Respect for All at Coptic Christmas

2012-01-09T00:34

Over the course of my career as a United States diplomat, I've spent many a Christmas holiday in countries across the Middle East. From Beirut to Tunis, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Baha'is, and peoples of all religions, celebrate and acknowledge the importance of faith, a hope for the future, and goodwill toward all. Yet, something I saw a few days ago in Cairo reminded me of another important tenant of the season: tolerance.

I had the privilege of joining our Ambassador Anne Patterson in attending two Christmas services on January 6. First, we went to a moving celebration at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church near Tahrir Square. Then, in the evening, we attended a Coptic Christmas ceremony at Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral.

In both churches, there were celebrations of the joy of the season alongside somber moments of remembrance for those who lost… more »

A Year of Women on the Frontlines of Progress

2012-01-07T23:57

As we look back on 2011, it is inspiring to know that women have been on the frontlines of so many transformative events that have changed our world. From participating in peaceful protests in Tahrir Square, to winning the Nobel Peace Prize, women have been an indisputable force for progress. As we move into 2012, however, we must step up efforts to ensure that women's progress continues to flourish and address the challenges that remain.

We made a major push in 2011 to coalesce U.S. government and international commitment in support of women as peacemakers and peace-builders. This effort culminated in the release of the U.S. National Action Plan (NAP) on Women,… more »

#AskState: Spokesperson Nuland Holds Twitter Briefing

2012-01-07T02:30

More: January 2012 Designated "21st Century Statecraft Month"

Today, State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland held a Twitter briefing, answering questions selected from the U.S. Department of State's 10 official Twitter feeds. Spokesperson Nuland will answer questions submitted via Twitter each Friday during the month of January. Questions can be submitted using the hashtag, #AskState.

Throughout the month of January, U.S. officials in Washington, D.C. and at U.S. Missions abroad will host digital engagements across multiple social media platforms on a wide array of issues to directly… more »

Improved Nutrition, Agricultural Development Helps Bring Hondurans Out of Poverty and Hunger

2012-01-06T20:06

One of the most exciting moments in my recent media tour of U.S. and UN food security projects in Honduras came in the middle of a lush vegetable field in the township of Las Pavas. Surrounded by lettuce, broccoli, carrots and radishes, Nora Diaz told me that thanks to their home garden, her family -- unlike many in Honduras -- was able to stay together.

As part of the USAID ACCESSO initiative that targets 18,000 poor rural households in Honduras, the Diaz family was given assistance in the form of training, fertilizer, seed, and irrigation that allowed them to grow better and more nutritious food for their family. It also allowed them to produce a surplus that can be sold to generate income. Thanks to this, Mr. Diaz did not need to leave his family in search of work in the city, or abroad.

Mario Corea Pineda has gone a step further. He is a small farmer… more »

Photo of the Week: “Serving Abroad…Through Their Eyes”

2012-01-06T19:29

Each week, we will be highlighting a U.S. government photograph from around the world as part of our "Photo of the Week" segment. This week's photograph comes to us from the Office of Art in Embassies. Taken by retired U.S. Army Lieutentant Colonel Richard A. Fisher, the photograph captures the descent of the U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and U.S. Embassy Bern staff members from the Matterhorn in southern Switzerland. Lt. Colonel Fisher submitted the photograph for consideration in the "Serving Abroad...Through Their Eyes" exhibition.

The "Serving Abroad...Through Their Eyes" photography exhibition is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Defense and the… more »

Leveraging the Tools of 21st Century Statecraft

2012-01-05T23:51

When I joined the State Department three short months ago, I was so pleased to be joining an institution that has been at the forefront of digital diplomacy; reinforcing our diplomatic leadership by using digital networks and technologies in service of U.S. foreign policy goals. Secretary Clinton has called this "21st Century Statecraft" -- complementing traditional foreign policy tools with the networks and technologies of our interconnected world.

Underscoring our commitment to these efforts, January is the Department's 21st Century Statecraft month and we'll be taking advantage of the truly participatory nature of social media to bring people virtually into the State Department briefing room to ask their foreign policy questions. State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland will… more »

Year in Review: Democracy, Human Rights and Labor

2012-01-05T20:22

In her keynote remarks at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in early November, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paused to reflect on the last 12 months: "What a year 2011 has been for freedom in the Middle East and North Africa."

For people in that region and around the world, this past year brought exceptional progress and challenges. Some dictators fell, while others tyrants teetered, and in Syria, yet another clung to power by inflicting terrible suffering on his own people. Demands for free and fair elections and for governance that can provide both human rights and fundamental economic needs spread from country to country and across the globe. TIME Magazine named "The Protester" as its Person of the Year. Whenever I traveled -- from Sudan to Russia… more »

Ten Things You Should Know About the Bureau of Counterterrorism

2012-01-04T20:34

Keeping America safe from terrorism begins abroad. In the race to protect the United States and stay "one step ahead," we must develop innovative strategies, creative diplomacy, and even stronger partnerships. How do we do it all? Here are ten things you should know about the new Bureau of Counterterrorism.

1. We build foreign counterterrorism capacity. We build international partner counterterrorism capacity in the civilian sector and contribute to efforts in the military and defense sectors. We develop and support implementation of antiterrorism assistance in the law enforcement, rule-of-law and counterterrorism finance sectors, on topics ranging from cyber-security to money laundering prevention to crisis response to prison de-radicalization.

2. We stood up and co-chair a new… more »

Helping Guatemala Cultivate a Better Future

2012-01-04T16:44

Cooperativa Agricola Integral Mujeres Quatro Pinos (Integrated Women's Agricultural Cooperative) in the central highlands of Guatemala is a heartening example of what women can accomplish when they set their minds to it, work together and receive the necessary investment support.

I visited Quatro Pinos' vegetable production, processing, and marketing operation last month on a media tour of Guatemala as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations agencies in Rome.

In just six years, the cooperative has grown from a group of 35 women with small vegetable plots to a 350-member cooperative that manages 415 acres of land. Since the fall of 2010, they have quadrupled their production from 450,000 to 2 million pounds of vegetables. They grow snow peas, English peas, string beans, and mini carrots that they then process, package and export -- much to the… more »

Photography Exhibition To Honor Service Abroad

2012-01-04T15:11

The Department of State's Office of Art in Embassies (AIE) is pleased to partner with the Department of Defense on a historic exhibition of inspired photographs from overseas service, to be titled "Serving Abroad... Through Their Eyes," as part of AIE's year-long 50th anniversary celebration in 2012.

Any current or former military, civil, and Foreign Service officer may submit a single, compelling photograph from their service abroad for consideration as one of up to a thousand selected for inclusion in an expressive video artwork display. The image captured in the photograph should be of daily life, friendship, places, faces, loss, or triumph and taken since the year 2000. Submissions will be accepted now through February 20, 2012. Rules, entry forms, and guidelines may be found by visiting… more »

Year in Review: Educational and Cultural Affairs

2012-01-03T16:54

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) had a busy and exciting 2011, marked by a bevy of accomplishments, quick responses to foreign policy challenges, and a swath of new people-to-people exchange programs that help advance American standing and interests around the world.

Many of our most exciting programs responded to the needs and opportunities generated by changes in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. Throughout these regions, ECA bolstered English teaching and the Fulbright Program. We also added new International Visitor Leadership Programs to give rising leaders in countries like Tunisia and Libya a look at American entrepreneurship and democratic, transparent governance.

Our cultural and historical preservation work also helped raise the U.S. profile abroad. For instance we restored the historical citadel of Herat, our… more »

Protecting and Assisting the World’s Most Vulnerable Populations

2012-01-02T17:36

With an estimated 40 million displaced people worldwide, up to 12 million who do not have citizenship to any country, and some 10.5 million refugees around the globe, the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) assists persecuted and uprooted people through our support to international organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and by advocating for their protection through humanitarian diplomacy. From the Arab Awakening to the crisis in the Horn of Africa, global political upheaval and conflict have presented many humanitarian challenges, and as 2012 begins, I'd like to take a moment to share a few examples of the work we did last year.

Refugee Admissions: The United States welcomed more than 56,000 refugees… more »

TechCamp Goes to Bucharest

2012-01-02T05:40

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton launched the Civil Society 2.0 initiative two years ago to build capacity among grassroots organizations. Since then, the State Department has dedicated itself to increasing the digital literacy of those working in civil society through the TechCamp program, orchestrating half a dozen camps around the world with more planned for 2012.

Our most recent project, TechCamp: Bucharest, was held in the Romanian capital's historic Central Library and hosted in partnership with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Romanian Ministry of Communications and Information Society, the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), and the National Democratic Institute (NDI). The agenda focused on helping working-level staff from non-governmental… more »

2011: The Year in Global Partnerships

2012-01-01T16:45

In 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton continued to champion cross-sectoral partnerships as a cornerstone of her 21st Century Statecraft. In support of her priorities, the Global Partnership Initiative (GPI) focused on four flagship initiatives last year:

Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves

Over the past year, our work on clean cookstoves has continued to thrive. In 2011, we built the Alliance infrastructure and strategic base, launched major communications initiatives, and began a wide range of operational priorities, much of which was either led by the U.S. government or made possible because of our strong commitment.

In May,… more »

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T15:25

All of us at DipNote -- Andrea Curran, Edward Dunn, Victoria Esser, Luke Forgerson, Sarah Goldfarb, Jeff Jackson, Hannah Johnson, Tamika Johnson, Eric Jones, Anne McCarthy, Thomas Ogden, and Daniel Schaub -- wish you a healthy and joyous 2012! more »