Many exciting opportunities are popping up from the U.S. Foreign Policy Association. Readers may find it useful to see these in one place and so, voila: 1. The U.S. FPA wants more bloggers. Apply here! Take it from one who knows, blogging for the FPA is an immense opportunity, offering you a chance to […]
You may have heard that there is a little shindig going on in Hollywood today. Yes, I’m talking about the Academy Awards. I have to admit, I’m not all that big on award shows, so it’s not really been on my radar. After all, it doesn’t have anything to do with the U.S. role in […]
I don’t like it when it appears that the U.S. is letting down our allies. Two recent examples suggest that the U.S. can be less than loyal when it comes to how we treat allies. The House Foreign Affairs Committee voted this week to submit a resolution to the House recognizing the massacres of hundreds […]
1. On March 3rd, the Obama Administration announced its support to declare the bluefish tuna endangered and to ban international trade of the fish. Japan is not happy and Europe is divided. Sushi aficionados in Japan and elsewhere have consumed bluefin for decades, causing the fish’s population to plummet. This month, representatives from 175 countries […]
Relations between the U.S. and China have become strained of late. Currency values, climate change, computer hacking, Tibet, arms sales to Taiwan, and debt concerns are just a few of the many challenges burdening the relationship. According to this newswire report, the two countries are working on addressing these issues. Two high level U.S. emissaries […]
Secretary Clinton is in Chile and met with President Bachelet today to offer U.S. assistance in dealing with the quake aftermath. What is the U.S. doing to help Chile? We are offering satphones and so much more. Here is a great summary, in Secretary Clinton’s own words: I was planning to be in Chile today […]
When I was in Uganda last month I was fortunate to learn more about an interesting parliamentary internship program being carried out by the Center for International Development (CID) of the State University of New York (full disclosure: I used to work there). Supported by Higher Education for Development (which uses fairly small grants to […]
Another major earthquake has hit a hemispheric neighbor and the U.S. is standing by to offer assistance. President Obama released an official statement of support to the people of Chile and took to the White House lawn to offer the following remarks: From what I can tell, Chile will probably not ask for U.S. assistance […]
Sorry for the lack of posts lately, I’ve been doing some traveling. I’m trying to get back into my regular routine but posting may be infrequent for a few days as I settle in. I would like to note this video report from MSNBC that highlights the efforts and sacrifices made by one of our […]
A quick post to direct readers to the new climate change portal website, run by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. Launched earlier this month, the site is intended to be a one-stop-shop for all U.S. climate related information. According to the NOAA, the site is designed to address […]
Veteran Canadian diplomat Daryl Copeland has been on the ramparts of diplomatic studies for several years now, advocating a kind of diplomacy he calls Guerrilla Diplomacy. Last week, at the International Studies Association convention in New Orleans, a panel of expert academics reviewed Copeland’s thesis and generally applauded his ideas. I also had a chance […]
Many journalists and commentators have examined and illuminated the role of new media and technology in the on-going protests in Iran. Exposing the electoral fraud perpetrated by Ahmedinejad last year and the violent repression of resultant protests certainly called for the skill of traditional journalists and the new media capabilities of Iranian citizen witnesses and […]
In 2005, global warming doomsayers warned that Hurricane Katrina was so destructive that it could attributed only to a threat as pervasive as global warming. Similarly, this winter’s record snowfall in the Eastern U.S. has led many, mainstream media outlets to link the unusual weather events to accelerating climate change. In stark opposition, others arguing […]
This week I returned from a trip to Uganda. While there I saw evidence of the favorite topic of many in the international development community – the role of Chinese foreign assistance in Africa. Across the street from the parliament building is an enormous construction site with working ongoing 24 hours a day, 7 days […]
I have written before about Robert Kennedy’s trip to South Africa in 1966 (that post is here). A movie has just been made about that trip and the connections between the anti-apartheid and American civil rights movements. “RFK in the Land of Apartheid: A Ripple of Hope” is directed by Tami Gold and Larry Shore […]