Public diplomacy

Anastasia Edel, The New York Times, Jan. 19, 2019; original article contains links The American president has changed my relationship with both my old country and my new one. image (not from article) fromExcerpt: American attitudes toward Russia and Russians have always been hostage to the larger relationship between our nations. During the Reagan years, Russia was the “evil empire,” purveyor of nuclear arms, spies and Hollywood villains. The Russians repaid in kind: At a New Year’s show in the Kremlin Palace that I attended at the tender age of 9, the antagonist was an agent of the “rotting West” sent to steal Soviet children’s gifts. But there were always counterpoints. Which American intellectual didn’t lose him or herself in “The Brothers Karamazov”? Which Soviet dissident didn’t hope to be shouldered by the American government, the guarantor of human rights, dignity and freedom of conscience? As we listened to the Voice of America on crackling radio transmitters in our tiny Soviet..

rw.usembassy.gov/embassy/kigali/grants/public-diplomacy-grants/ US Embassy Kigali image (not from entry) from U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE U.S. EMBASSY KIGALI, PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTIONFunding Opportunity Title: U.S. Embassy Kigali PAS Annual Program Statement Funding Opportunity Number: PAS-RW-FY19-01 Deadline for Applications: July 31, 2019 CFDA Number: 19.040 – Public Diplomacy [JB emphasis] Programs Total Amount Available: $Variable Maximum for Each Award: $25,000A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONThe U.S. Embassy Kigali Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.Purpose of Small Grants: PAS Kigali invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural ties between the U.S. and Rw..

The Sunday Times Sri Lanka; see also (1) (2) Image (not from article) from So this is what we have come to. Our budding (and some budded) diplomats will, over the coming years, be let loose in the capitals of the world to tell whoever is willing to listen that Sri Lanka is a country like no other. (see 1) In some ways it is truly a country like no other. The way some of our politicians conduct affairs and still others have their hands dipped in even more dubious deals leave more than a lasting stench in the civic nostril. When one heard the other day about advice proffered by Minister Tilak Marapana to our diplomats in the making, it seemed that something was decidedly wrong. It seemed as though Minister Marapana had switched portfolios and had taken to promoting age-old products such as spices and tea — with or without sympathy — without even a word to us faithful followers of the political gymnastics that our leaders and the lesser political breeds engage in providing the world-weary..

By: Jonathan Hicap, Manila BulletinPublished January 18, 2019, 3:29 PMThe Philippines recorded the biggest growth rate in the number of hallyu, or Korean Wave, clubs and members in Southeast Asia in 2018, according to a year-end report released in South Korea.According to the Korea Foundation’s global hallyu status report for 2018, the number of hallyu fans reached 89.19 million in 113 countries including the Philippines, an increase of 16.06 million or 22 percent, compared to 73.12 million in 2017. The number of fans clubs worldwide also increased to 1,843 in 2018 from 1,594 in 2017, or a gain of 249. Among regions, Asia and Oceania posted the highest number of hallyu fans with 70.05 million in 457 clubs followed by Americas with 11.8 million in 712, Europe with 6.56 million in 534, and Africa and the Middle East with 230,000 in 140. (Clockwise from top left) BTS, iKON, EXO, Jung Hae-in, Wanna One and Sandara Park. (Photos: Twitter, YG Entertainment and Jonathan Hicap)The report defi..

Tapinto Millburn, tapinto.net/articles/short-hills-conductor-to-lead-beethoven-s-9th-at-carnegie-hall Matthew image from entryExcerpt: SHORT HILLS, NJ - Singapore-born American conductor, George Mathew, founder and Artistic Director of Music for Life International, has emerged as one of the leading forces in the classical music world bringing symphonic music to focus on global humanitarian issues and crises at the beginning of the 21st Century. In recent seasons, he has appeared in the US, Australia, Jordan, India, Panama, Morocco, Netherlands, and South Africa as conductor and ambassador for transformative action through music. Mr. Mathew and MFLI were honored with the 2016 Robert and JoAnn Bendetson Award for Public Diplomacy [JB emphasis] from the Institute for Global Leadership at Tufts University for their services to global public diplomacy through music. ...

concoursn.com Deadline: 15 April 2019 image (not from entry) fromThe U.S. Mission in Morocco’s Public Affairs Office (PAO) has announced that funding is available through the Public Diplomacy [JB emphasis] Grant Program for projects ranging in value from $5,000 to $25,000. Projects for lesser or greater values will be considered on a case by case basis.Grants are intended for committed and organized civil-society organizations, local representatives of civil society, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, cultural institutions, and academic institutions. All grantees must have a non-profit status. The objectives of the Public Diplomacy Grant Program are to promote positive relations between Morocco and the United States; reinforce shared values; and connect Morocco’s emerging leaders to the American people through projects that:Strengthen understanding of U.S. values and institutions; highlight U.S. culture, including American Studies, English language teaching/learning, and stu..

Greer Fay Cashman, The Jerusalem Post, January 20, 2019 The event involving the Tel Aviv International Salon for Young Professionals will be held at Hangar 11 at the Port of Tel Aviv on Monday evening, January 28. Image from article, with caption: University of Haifa president Prof. Ron Robin honors Younes and Soraya Nazarian with a plaque commemorating the family’s contributions to the University. It’s rather neat when your name is part of the title of a program in which you are appearing. American actress, comedienne, writer and television producer Roseanne Barr – who is contemplating making aliyah, and whose current trip to Israel has been orchestrated by author and syndicated columnist Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, whose column appears in The Jerusalem Post and who is the founder of the World Values organization – will appear with him in Tel Aviv in a conversation titled “No Holds Barred.” The event involving the Tel Aviv International Salon for Young Professionals will be held at Hangar..

John Kiesewetter, wvxu.org, Jan 18, 2019 The Voice of America Bethany Station opened in 1944.The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting will celebrate the 75th anniversary of West Chester Township's Bethany Station with yearlong programs highlighted by a presentation by VOA White House Bureau Chief Steve Herman on March 6. Events include a talk by Rod Serling biographer Nicholas Parisi; a program on sound effects from the golden age of radio; a "Hamvention" by the West Chester Amateur Radio Association; and a free four-part series of programs called "The Voice of Truth in America: Celebrating 75 Years of the VOA Bethany Station" with the MidPointe Library System.The Art Deco West Chester relay station, 8070 Tylersville Road, operated from 1944 to 1994. Jack Dominic (right), National VOA Museum of Broadcasting director, and Steve Mayhugh, MidPointe Library West Chester director, in the old VOA control room at the Bethany Station on Tylersville Road.CREDIT COURTESY VOA MU..

Allison Kaplan Sommer, haaretz.com Adopting a sympathetic tone, the Israeli prime minister is reaching out to the Iranian public online and telling them he feels their pain An Iranian cleric walks past the old main bazaar in Tehran, July 23, 2018.Ebrahim Noroozi/APTrump says would meet Iranian leaders 'anytime with no preconditions' Netanyahu is optimistic about Iran exit from Syria. Top brass in Israel are less convincedPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been intensifying the frequency of his public outreach to Iran, in a kinder, gentler social media campaign that stands in contrast to President Donald Trump’s recent round of Twitter saber rattling. Whether Iranian citizens appreciate or reciprocate the concern for their well-being expressed in the four videos the Israeli premier has posted on multiple social media channels – complete with Farsi subtitles – is difficult to gauge. Benjamin Netanyahu ✔@netanyahu This is a tough story. But you need to hear it 10K3:05 PM -..

ghanaweb.com Image from article, with caption: Casa África delegation pose with the minister of Tourism Casa África, a Spanish public diplomacy [JB emphasis] institution, has opened the call to find two Ghanaian artists to tour Spain next July and perform in some of the most important music festivals on Southern Europe. Through the website www.ghanavisavis.com, any Ghanaian artist can register from today until next 15th February. The Ghana Vis a Vis is hosted by this Spanish institution with the support of the Ghanaian Government, through its Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the collaboration of the Spanish Embassy in Accra and the Ghanaian Embassy in Madrid. The call is open to any Ghanaian band, that will have the opportunity to perform in front of a group of Spanish cultural promoters, coming to Accra on 15th to 17th March. The ‘Ghana Vis a Vis’ is the 10th edition of this cultural cooperation project that aims to generate a better knowledge of African music in Spain and ha..