Air Force One

Posted on 15 March 2011 by Sara Lichterman

In Japan, the nuclear crisis grows. The U.S. and Brazil partner to boost the farm sector in Mozambique, while a U.S. groups partners with Ethiopia on a clean water initiative. After decades of conflict, Sri Lanka is showing great economic and developmental promise. An ambitious agenda was set out during preliminary meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. And finally, for globetrotting presidents, Air Force One is the perfect ride.

In Japan, Nuclear Crisis Grows
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The Japanese government is telling citizens within 30 kilometers (48 miles) of a damaged nuclear power plant to stay indoors to protect themselves. The March 15 advisory said people near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant should attempt to prevent exposure to the colorless, odorless radiation which escaped from reactors.

U.S., Brazil Partner on Farming
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An agricultural collaboration among the United States Agency for International Development, the Brazilian Cooperation Agency and the government of Mozambique is set to bolster the latter’s farm sector. Mozambique imports most of its food, much of it from its neighbor South Africa, but many Mozambicans cannot afford the imported food.

In Ethiopia, a Clean Water Push
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Lori Pappas is the founder of the Global Team for Local Initiatives, which seeks to increase access to drinking water for the people of Ethiopia.

A Recipe for Peace in Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka’s government needs to hold those who committed injustices and abuses during the country’s civil war accountable and work to create a political climate that will facilitate healing and durable peace, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake says. After decades of conflict between the government and Tamil rebels, Sri Lanka is showing great economic and developmental promise that can benefit its whole population, says Blake.

APEC 2011 Concludes
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Preliminary meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), the premier economic organization in the Asia-Pacific region, concluded March 12, setting an ambitious agenda for enhanced partnership in 2011. APEC fosters growth and prosperity by facilitating economic cooperation and expanding trade and investment throughout the region.

Air Force One
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It is unquestionably the most exclusive ride in the world: the gleaming, blue-and-white jumbo jet that answers to the call signal Air Force One.
It’s an American icon, as recognizable as the Statue of Liberty or the Grand Canyon — the airplane that will take President Obama on his second journey to Latin America March 19. At right, Obama arrives at Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City, April 16, 2009.

Nuclear Accidents in Japan / Russians Visit U.S. Parks, Lakes / Dazzling Indian Art

Posted on 14 March 2011 by Sara Lichterman

The March 11 earthquake in Japan triggered accidents at two nuclear power plants. President Obama’s visit to El Salvador during his trip to Latin America will underscore the strong U.S.-El Salvadoran relationship. Depsite challenges, U.S. aid is reaching the Libyan people. A group of Russian park officials visit protected sites in Florida to observe conservation efforts, while Russian hydrologists visit U.S. lakes to study watershed management practices. And finally, many dazzling pieces of Indian art are currently on display at the Kennedy Center as part of the maximum INDIA festival.

Reactor Accidents in Japan
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Nuclear experts are on the relief team that the U.S. Agency for International Development sent to Japan after the March 11 earthquake, which triggered accidents at two nuclear power plants. At the Fukushima Daiichi and the Fukushima Daini facilities, the cooling systems meant to dissipate the intense heat of the reactor core failed. Explosions occurred at the Daiichi facility, though their cause is not clear. At right, hospital patients awaiting evacuation risk radiation exposure.

U.S.–El Salvadoran Relations
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The United States and El Salvador have enjoyed strong political and economic ties for more than two decades, and President Obama’s visit during a five-day, three-nation trip to Latin America is designed to underscore the value of that relationship.

U.S. Aid Reaching Libyan People
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Although the security situation in Libya is preventing a U.S. Disaster Assistance Response Team from entering the country, Obama administration officials say U.S. humanitarian assistance is arriving through nongovernmental organizations on the ground.

Russians Visit U.S. Parks
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A group of Russian park officials recently visited several federally protected sites in the state of Florida to gain firsthand insight into issues such as wildlife conservation, resource management, the role of volunteerism and the balance between public access and environmental conservation.

Russians Study U.S. Lakes
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A delegation of Russian hydrologists recently visited Lake Tahoe and two other nearby U.S. lakes on a program sponsored by the California-based Tahoe-Baikal Institute designed to find solutions to shared economic and development problems.

Dazzling Indian Art
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Many works of art are currently on display at the Kennedy Center in Washington as part of the maximum INDIA exhibition, a 20-day festival of music, theater, art and artifacts. At right, pankas, or handcrafted fans, by the artist Jatin Das.

New Humanitarian Aid for Libya / Food Costs Soar Globally / A Monumental Work by an Indian Artist

Posted on 7 March 2011 by Sara Lichterman

President Obama announces more humanitarian aid for Libya. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton unveils a new initiative on women’s leadership. Global food prices have reached record highs. Learn about the legacy of the Alliance for Progress, launched by President Kennedy in 1961. And an Indian artist offers up a monumental work.

More Humanitarian Aid for Libya
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President Obama says the United States and other countries will stand with the people of Libya and announces additional U.S. humanitarian assistance to support international aid organizations in Libya. Both the United States and Australia support democracy and human rights around the world and will stand with the Libyan people, says Obama in remarks with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Women’s Leadership Initiative
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton launches a new initiative aimed at using international exchanges to nurture women in leadership positions around the world. “Women’s Leadership: The Next Hundred Years” is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and is bringing 100 women leaders from 92 countries to the United States this year to explore women’s political, economic and civic leadership.

Food Prices Reach Record High
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Global food prices reached a record-high level in February, driven mainly by higher prices for cereals, meat and dairy products. The increases have raised concerns that millions more people could be pushed further into poverty and civil unrest could result, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

The Alliance for Progress
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In 1961, President John F. Kennedy launched the Alliance for Progress, an ambitious foreign-aid program for Latin America which called for broad social and economic reforms. Although the Alliance is perhaps largely forgotten now, it marked a fresh approach to U.S.-Latin American relations, says Arturo Valenzuela, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.

Maximum India’s Falling Fables
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Indian artist Reena Saini Kallat’s monumental installation, Falling Fables, celebrates and mourns the passing of time and disappearance of architecture. On display at “maximum INDIA,” a 20-day festival of dance, theater, music, art and crafts at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, the work is a massive fallen pillar covered with more than 30,000 hand-crafted rubber stamps, Kallat’s signature motif.

Biden to Europe / Not a “Facebook Revolution” / Rare Russian Stamps

Posted on 4 March 2011 by Sara Lichterman

Vice President Biden travels to Russia, Finland and Moldova. The events in the Arab world should not be termed a “Facebook Revolution,” a panel of media experts warns. And a rare collection of Russian stamps was recently uncovered at the Smithsonian.

Biden’s Europe Trip to Focus on U.S.-Russia “Reset”
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During a during a March trip to Europe, Vice President Biden plans to “take stock” of the reset in relations between the United States and Russia that began after President Obama’s January 2009 inauguration. He also will visit Finland and become the first U.S. vice president to visit Moldova during the trip.

Not a “Facebook Revolution”
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Though social media may have been an important tool for the political upheaval in the Arab world, many media experts say that discussion over its role should not divert attention from the courage being shown by people standing up for their rights. Speaking at a panel on this issue, Michael Nelson, a Georgetown University professor, said, “At the end of the day, the Internet is not causing this revolution, but it is enabling it.”

Photo Gallery: Russian Imperial Stamps
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One of the best collections of Russian stamps in the world was recently found in a storage vault at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Postal Museum. The collection, composed of more than 14,000 Russian stamps, is truly exceptional in terms of its quality and rarity. At right, a rare 1896 design that was rejected because it did not include an image of post horns. The post horn was used throughout Europe to sound the arrival and departure of mail coaches and became the international symbol of mail service. The design ultimately approved for this stamp included the Russian Imperial eagle with thunderbolts across post horns.

U.S., Mexico Unite Against Drugs / “Heavy” Team Aids after NZ Quake / 50 Years of the Peace Corps

Posted on 3 March 2011 by Sara Lichterman

The U.S. and Mexico vow to work together to fight drug trafficking. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton calls for a new nuclear weapons treaty. The U.S. and international relief organizations are increasing their efforts to airlift those fleeing from the violence in Libya. The Los Angeles “heavy” team has flown to New Zealand to help after the earthquake. And, the Peace Corps turns 50.

U.S., Mexico Anti-Drug Efforts
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President Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon pledged to work more closely to thwart continuing illicit drug trafficking and its related violence. “As I’ve said before, President Calderon and the Mexican people have shown extraordinary courage in the fight for their country,” Obama said during a joint press conference at the White House.

A Nuclear Materials Treaty
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton calls for the Conference on Disarmament to move ahead quickly on a proposed multilateral treaty that would ban the production of nuclear-weapons using fissile materials. “Our long-term goal, our vision, is a world without nuclear weapons,” says Clinton.

Airlifting Libyan Refugees
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President Obama announced that U.S. planes will fly Egyptian citizens home from Tunisia, where they fled to escape weeks of violence in Libya. Obama’s announcement came as an internationally-backed airlift began, with more than 50 flights carrying migrant workers home.

“Heavy” Team Aids after NZ Quake
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After the February 22 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, The U.S. Agency for International Development called the Los Angeles County Urban Search and Rescue “heavy” team. Within about 30 hours, the 74-member unit and all their equipment were flying across the Pacific. Explains Los Angeles Battalion Chief Larry Collins, “It’s heavy muscle coming in.”

Peace Corps Marks 50 Years
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On March 1, the Peace Corps celebrated 50 years of service. President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps as a challenge to American college students to give up two years of their lives to help people in countries in the developing world. Over five decades, more than 200,000 volunteers have served 139 host countries. At right, the community of Likpe Todome in the Volta region of Ghana with their Peace Corps volunteer, Leanne Polachek.

U.S. Anti-Crime Aid to Mexico / The Peace Corps is 50 / Russian Imperial Stamps

Posted on 3 March 2011 by Sara Lichterman

The United States is stepping up efforts to help Mexico fight crime. The Peace Corps celebrates its 50th anniversary. An all-women technology delegation of leading U.S. innovators and entrepreneurs heads to Africa to help offer opportunities for women and girls. Some dentists are going green. And more than 14,000 rare Russian stamps were recently uncovered at the Smithsonian.

U.S. Anti-Crime Aid for Mexico
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The United States can accelerate the implementation of its security assistance to Mexico and other countries in the fight against transnational criminal organizations, a senior Obama administration official says. The announcement comes ahead of a meeting between Mexican President Felipe Calderón, left, and President Obama in Washington.

For African Woman, Tech Opportunities
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The United States sends an all-women technology delegation of leading U.S. innovators and entrepreneurs to Liberia and Sierra Leone to help offer opportunities for women and girls. “While in West Africa, the group will explore how technology can increase opportunities for women and girls,” the State Department says in an announcement.

When Your Dentist Turns Green
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A movement is building to “green” America’s 125,000-plus dental offices. Since Ina and Fred Pockrass founded the Eco-Dentistry Association in 2008, dental offices in 45 states and 13 other countries have pledged to reduce their impact on the environment.

Photo Gallery: Russian Imperial Stamps
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One of the best collections of Russian stamps in the world was recently found in a storage vault at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Postal Museum. The collection, composed of more than 14,000 Russian stamps, is truly exceptional in terms of its quality and rarity. At right, a rare carmine proof stamp, created in 1863, that was never produced. The stamps were ultimately issued in blue for use under the Ottoman Empire by Russian post offices in the Levant. The inscription reads “Dispatch small parcel to the Orient.” The Russian Imperial double-headed eagle is depicted with the orb and scepter in its claws.

Clinton Condemns Libyan Violence / Growing U.S. Farm Exports / Hoops Diplomacy

Posted on 28 February 2011 by Sara Lichterman

The chorus of condemnation of the Libyan government continues with remarks from the U.S. representative to the U.N. and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The U.S. is promoting its agricultural products worldwide. As they prepare to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, U.S. officials believe governments must foster innnovation. Armenian, Turkish and U.S. athletes meet on the basketball court.

The World Speaks “With One Voice”
The world has spoken “with one voice” and “with an unusual and important sense of urgency” in condemning the Libyan government’s violence against its people, says Susan Rice, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations. Rice speaks at the White House following President Obama’s meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Clinton on Libyan Violence
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton calls for Libya’s leader, Muammar Qadhafi, to be held accountable for violent acts “which violate international legal obligations and common decency.” “These violations of universal rights are unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Clinton, right, tells the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Growing U.S. Farm Exports
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U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says that the United States will continue to aggressively promote its agricultural products around the world. “We are very focused on exports, and we are doing it in a very strategic way,” Vilsack said during the 2011 Agricultural Outlook Forum.

Fostering Innovation
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Fostering and supporting innovation is a key message the United States government wants to convey as it prepares to host the annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in November. Speaking at a recent meeting in Washington, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Robert D. Hormats says “government policies can help create an environment conducive of innovation.”

Hoops Diplomacy
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Two dozen Armenian and Turkish basketball players came to the U.S. for a second round of hoops diplomacy January 29-February 12. The teams, who first met in August 2010 at a U.S.-hosted basketball program in Turkey, aimed to learn about scholastic sports and leadership, and trained with former professional star Gheorghe Mureşan, at right, in Izmir and in Washington, D.C.

U.S.-Brazil Talks / From Egypt, Inspiration / Drumming for the Deaf

Posted on 24 February 2011 by Sara Lichterman

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton holds bilateral talks with Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota and previews President Obama’s trip to South America. Clinton also calls peaceful protests in Egypt inspirational. A group of Russian national park and nature reserve managers is visiting the U.S. to exchange ideas about managing protected areas. And, we have two reports on a program that brought Louisiana’s Southern University Marching Band drum line to North Africa.

U.S.-Brazilian Talks
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Secretary Clinton, above, and Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota held broad-ranging talks on U.S.-Brazilian issues, regional concerns and President Obama’s upcoming trip to South America in March. Obama’s trip “comes at a time when we are cooperating closely, and our bilateral work on issues and global challenges, including food security and human rights and clean energy and global inequality, is key to both of us,” says Clinton.

From Egypt, Inspiration
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Secretary Clinton says Egyptians have inspired Americans through their “extraordinary example of nonviolent, peaceful protest.” In a social media dialogue, she urges Egyptians to remain vigilant, but says the United States stands ready to assist them.

U.S. and Russia Talk Parks
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A group of Russian national park and nature reserve managers is visiting the U.S. to exchange professional information and experience about managing protected areas. Vsevolod Stepanitsky, the delegation leader and a deputy director in the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, says that Russia might find U.S. practices in wildlife management, environmental education and public outreach applicable.

American Drummers in Algiers
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In a program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, drummers from Louisiana’s Southern University Marching Band entertained residents in Algiers, Benthala, Sidi Fredj, and Tiaret, from January 31 to February 5.

Drumming for the Deaf
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Members of Louisiana’s Southern University Marching Band drum line, right, performed before several hundred people at the Mohamed V National Theatre in Morocco with Moroccan musicians who, like many members of the audience, were deaf. “It really gives new meaning that if you are deaf, blind, come from a different country or speak a different language, music is basically a universal language,” says drummer Alexander Riggins.

Clinton on Afghanistan/ A New U.S. Representative to Afghanistan, Pakistan / America I AM

Posted on 18 February 2011 by Sara Lichterman

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton outlines a three-point plan for Afghanistan. Veteran diplomat Marc Grossman will be President Obama’s new special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, succeeding the late Richard Holbrooke. In the U.S., the time might be just right for wind power. Volcanoes are currently a hot topic for the U.S. and Russia. And learn about American I AM, an exhibit showcasing the contributions of African Americans to life in the U.S.

In Afghanistan, a 3-Part Plan
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the United States is following a three-part strategy to support transition in Afghanistan, a process through which Afghans will “take responsibility for their own future.” The plan, she says, includes a military offensive against al-Qaida terrorists and Taliban insurgents, a civilian campaign to bolster democratic institutions in Afghanistan and Pakistan and an intensified diplomatic push.

Grossman is New U.S. Af-Pak Rep
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Veteran diplomat Marc Grossman will be President Obama’s new special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, succeeding Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, who died in December. Speaking at the Asia Society in New York, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Grossman “knows our allies and understands how to mobilize common action to meet shared challenges.”

Time for Wind Power
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The U.S. government is pushing for large-scale wind power development, and a recent study says that costs for electricity generated by onshore wind are now on par with costs for coal-generated power. President Obama has called for 80 percent of U.S. energy to come from renewable sources, such as wind power, by 2035.

A Hot Topic for U.S., Russia
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Russian and U.S. scientists are planning research on a 4,000-kilometer long arc stretching from the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East across the Aleutian Islands chain to mainland Alaska where volcanoes and other geological event have occurred. Dr. John Eichelberger, program coordinator of the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program, says that ongoing cooperative research between the United States and Russia in this field is vital.

America I AM
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The exhibit America I AM: The African American Imprint looks at the contributions of African Americans to life in the United States and recently came to the National Geographic Museum in Washington for Black History Month. The exhibition presents multimedia displays and more than 200 historical and cultural artifacts, including the guitar at right, which the musician Prince played at the Super Bowl.

Clinton on Civil Society / World Food Prices / Color in Freedom

Posted on 16 February 2011 by Sara Lichterman

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton calls for enhanced engagement between civil society groups and the United States. Food prices are up by 29% worldwide. President Obama’s Global Health Initiative will turn its focus to solutions for the poorest, most rural areas around the world. A top diplomat discusses President Obama’s Western Hemisphere policy. Some effortless fixes can reduce greenhouse gases. Finally, meet African-American artist Joseph Holston.

Clinton on Civil Society
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Speaking at the inaugural Strategic Dialogue with Civil Society, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton calls for more interaction between civil society groups and U.S. officials. At right, Clinton meets with Azeri civil society leaders in 2010 and emphasizes the importance of engaging with groups outside government that work to improve their countries.

Food Prices up 29% Worldwide
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The World Bank says global food prices have risen 29 percent from a year ago, driven by a combination of weather shocks and food export bans, which are forcing millions more people into extreme poverty. “This is (a) serious cause for concern,” says World Bank President Robert Zoellick.

Health Care for the World’s Most Needy
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President Obama’s Global Health Initiative will turn its focus to community-based approaches and health care solutions for the poorest, most rural areas around the world, says Dr. Rajiv Shah, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). “That is our battleground, and I’m proud to say that is where USAID will try to lead the fight,” he says.

U.S. Western Hemisphere Policy “Informed,” “Optimistic”
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President Obama’s Western Hemisphere policy is “informed, engaged, dynamic, collaborative and optimistic,” says Arturo Valenzuela, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Energy Conservation Targets
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Energy efficiency programs target relatively inexpensive and effortless fixes that can have a big effect on greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, many U.S. states are pushing ahead with energy-saving targets for power companies. Together, these states will help the United States reduce emissions in a significant way.

Color in Freedom: Journey Along the Underground Railroad
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Artist Joseph Holston creates art based on African-American subjects, saying he feels that African Americans should have “a voice through art.” His series Color in Freedom: Journey Along the Underground Railroad, which is currently touring the U.S., goes beyond the conventional understanding of the Underground Railroad as a historical episode and instead conveys a broader narrative about the African American experience. At right, the final movement of Color in Freedom shows the fruition of the struggle for freedom.

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