Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) operating international volunteer programs. In 2010, CCS celebrates its 15th anniversary, and the worldwide efforts of 25,000 volunteers. Volunteers work side-by-side with local people to support community-led initiatives in caregiving, teaching, healthcare and community development. CCS operates in 12 countries worldwide and offers volunteers short-term placements.
Visit their website to find out where and how you can volunteer.
The USCCD would like to honor and recognize International Women’s Day by announcing a Round Table Discussion on U.S. Citizen Diplomacy’s Role in Global Women’s Issues at the U.S. Summit & Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy.
The discussion will focus on the current status of the citizen diplomacy efforts to advance women’s rights, dedicate itself to finding effective problem solving methods and develop recommendations for action in the 21st Century. The discussion panel (names to be released at a later date) will create a report prior to the Summit to serve as the foundation for discussion.
In a speech today, Secretary Clinton said, “One hundred and eighty-nine countries represented at Beijing adopted a Platform for Action that pledged to increase women’s access to education, healthcare, jobs, and credit, and to protect their right to live free from violence. We have made great progress, but there is a long way to go. Women are still the majority of the world’s poor, unhealthy, underfed, and uneducated. They rarely cause violent conflicts but too often bear their consequences. Women are absent from negotiations about peace and security to end those conflicts. Their voices simply are not being heard.”
By working together, we can alleviate women’s suffering around the world and be a part of a major movement for the betterment of women and the global society as a whole.
Search for an organization that focuses on Global Women’s Issues on the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy’s organization database
Attend or watch Global Innovators in Peacebuilding, the U.S. Institute for Peace’s event on March 11, 4:30pm EST
Join Amnesty International’s International Women’s Day event
Visit the International Museum of Women’s Women on the Map to honor women who have impacted your life
Visit the Red Cross’ website and engage in the many online activities they have going on throughout the week
Visit International Women’s Day website
Engage in the conversation on Twitter
Secretary Clinton’s Remarks on International Women’s Day
2010 International Women of Courage Award – State Department
Highlighting sexual violence on International Women’s Day – UNAIDS
Women and girls are key to security – Politico.com
Women’s Day 2010 – NATO – Youtube.com
World Marks International Women’s Day – VOA News
President Obama signed the Travel Promotion bill into law today, enabling the U.S. to join the likes of Greece, Australia and Mexico, all who have national organizations to promote international travel. The bill will establish a nonprofit group to promote the U.S. as a travel destination to international visitors. Roger Dow, president & CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, supports the bill by saying, “By signing the Travel Promotion Act, President Obama has acted to support the power of travel to serve as an economic stimulant, job generator and diplomatic tool.”
The tasks the new corporation will carry out include promoting the U.S. as a travel destination, explaining and clearing up any misconceptions regarding travel and security procedures/policies, enhancing research and development activities to promote international travel to the U.S., and to identify and overcome barriers of entry for foreign visitors.
According to a recent CNN article on the bill, Oxford Economics estimates the new corporation could add 1.6 million new international visitors each year who will spend $4 billion during their stay in the U.S. To help fund the organization, visitors entering the U.S. will be required to pay a $10 fee when applying to enter the U.S. This has been the main source of controversy of the program as some groups say this will turn potential visitors away from visiting the U.S. and will therefore take their money elsewhere. When compared to other entrance fees travelers are required to pay, the $10 fee (good for two years) seems like a tiny obstacle to visitors already spending thousands of dollars to fly into the U.S. This fee is only required for individuals not paying for a visa and will cease to exist after 2014, so to enter the U.S. for four years (on top of other fees), it will only cost a visitor $20.
Hopefully the advocates of this program are right and we can generate an additional 1.6 million foreign visitors to the U.S. The best way to improve our image abroad and show the world our true identity outside of Washington is by letting them see the greatest asset the U.S. has…its citizens.
Our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the recent earthquake in Chile. While the world’s attention was on Haiti and its devastation, Chile certainly deserves our attention as well. The damage may not reach the scale seen in Haiti, but resources and assistance are still needed to help those affected by the powerful earthquake. In response to the earthquake, the US Center has once again set up a page devoted to Chile and ways to donate, get involved and resources to educate yourself on the situation that is unfolding in the South American country. To access this page, please visit: http://www.uscenterforcitizendiplomacy.org/misc/chile/
Thanks!
Derek
The House Foreign Affairs Committee will be holding a hearing of interest to citizen/public diplomacy advocates this Thursday at 2:00pm EST. The topic will be “Restoring America’s Reputation in the World: Why it Matters.” The hearing will bring Andrew Kohut, President of Pew Research Center and Joseph Nye, Ph.D., University Distinguished Service Professor, among many other titles, at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, as witnesses. The hearing will take place in Room 2172 of the Rayburn Office Building. No word on whether a webcast will be provided, but I’m sure there will be ways of tapping into the hearing.
Should be an interesting event to follow. Will try to post updates.
More to come on the Summit as well. Have been putting together quite the group to lead this historic event. Check back soon for updates.
Des Moines University will be hosting a Global Health lecture by Dr. Ben Gaumer, D.O. on Friday, March 5th at noon. Dr. Gaumer will be speaking about U.S. Naval hospital ships and their role in humanitarian disaster relief. The talk will last around an hour and will be held in Lecture Hall 2 in the Academic Center (AC). Lunch will be provided to the first 30 attendees.
For more information visit the University’s website or call 515-271-1400
Des Moines University’s address is 3200 Grand Ave. Des Moines, IA 50312
The U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy (USCCD), in partnership with the U.S. State Department and in support of more than 1000 U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) conducting citizen diplomacy activities, will convene a historic U.S. Summit for Global Citizen Diplomacy on November 16-19, 2010 in Washington, DC. The goal of the Summit and ten year Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy is to double the number of American volunteers of all ages involved in international activities at home or abroad, from an estimated 60 million today to 120 million by 2020.
The U.S. Summit & Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy supports current efforts of President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Judith McHale to make global citizen diplomacy a national priority. Secretary of State Clinton will serve as Honorary Summit Chair alongside an Honorary Citizen Diplomat Chair. The President is being called upon to speak at the event, the first since President Eisenhower addressed a similar gathering on September 11, 1956 to call Americans to greater involvement in international relations. Fifty-four years later in an increasingly globalized world, the call is as relevant and urgent as ever.
“If we are going to take advantage of the assumption that all people want peace, then the problem is for people to get together and to leap governments – if necessary evade governments – to work out not one method but thousands of methods by which people can gradually learn a little bit more of each other.” -President Eisenhower, September 11, 1956
The U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy was established as a national resource to promote, honor and strengthen the vast network of U.S. organizations dedicated to providing opportunities for Americans to engage as global citizen diplomats. Citizen Diplomacy is defined as the concept that the individual has the right, even the responsibility, to help shape U.S. foreign relations “one handshake at a time.” Citizen diplomacy involves volunteers, and occurs through cultural, professional and educational exchanges, study abroad, international voluntary service, connecting classrooms around the world through new technologies, and more. Reaching out across borders via person to person programs and activities, U.S. citizen diplomats create a reservoir of goodwill and relations among the United States and other nations that is sustained even during times of foreign policy disagreements, and are a critical private sector component of our national foreign policy.
The 2010 U.S. Summit broadens the momentum generated from the work of hundreds of citizen diplomacy organizations and the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy.
Since 2004, over 80 community-based meetings have recommended national action to increase citizen activity in international relations.
In 2009, over 200 leaders in international affairs throughout the country met in forums funded by the Gilman Foundation and Johnson Foundation. All strongly endorse the national initiative. Reports conducted by the Brookings Institution and CSIS, among others also urge a revival of citizen diplomacy as a critical private sector component of U.S. public diplomacy.
Thousands of Americans representing all 50 states and citizens throughout the world have signed a letter to the President urging his endorsement of the summit and initiative. Signatures include leaders, faculty, and students from prestigious universities and colleges around the nation, top executive leadership, staff, and members of corporations and organizations around the world, and individuals representing over 60 countries.
House Resolution 569, supporting the work of citizen diplomacy organizations and encouraging the President’s endorsement of the U.S. Summit & Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy, has been signed by 31 members of the United States Congress including members of both political parties and the Foreign Relations Committee.
In preparation for the summit, more than one hundred NGO leaders are working in twelve private sector task force groups and to solicit proposals from citizen diplomacy organizations to be presented at the summit. These organizations will respond to a challenge for new, innovative best practices that will increase the number of Americans engaged with the world. They represent international organizations working in the sectors of Business, Community-based Organizations, Development Assistance, Faith-based Organizations, Global Health, Higher Education, International Cultural Engagement, International Voluntary Service, K-12 Education, Sports, Travel & Tourism, and Youth Service.
Reports on five critical issues impacting citizen engagement in international affairs will be prepared and presented.
In response to President Obama’s 2009 call to action to the American people “to take our share of responsibility for global responses to global challenges,” six global challenges will be addressed by summit proposals and participants:
Preserving the Environment, Reducing Poverty and Disease, Increasing Respect for Human Rights, Creating a Globally Competent Society, Encouraging Cultural Engagement, Achieving Food Security, and Securing U.S. & Global Financial Security.
“Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.” -President Barack Obama, November 2009
• Focus national and international attention on the impact of citizen involvement in international activities and demonstrate why citizen diplomacy is a vital public diplomacy tool in America’s outreach to the world;
• Establish the United States as a collaborative world leader in the promotion of international understanding through the interaction of Americans with people throughout the world;
• Showcase 120 new innovative and collaborative programs by U.S. citizen diplomacy organizations that enhance current best practices, leverage new technologies to expand involvement, increase opportunities for international volunteer service in the United States and abroad and engage international partners;
• Energize and inform the private sector and connect potential funders with innovative citizen diplomacy programs and initiatives;
• Establish a set of measurable outcomes in twelve sectors of citizen diplomacy activity by which to track progress and growth; and
• Provide a launch point for the ten year marketing campaign and Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy.
By 2020, the U.S. Summit & Initiative for Global Citizen Diplomacy will double the number of global citizen diplomats in the U.S. to 120 million and create an American citizenry dedicated to solving global issues through collaboration with their counterparts around the world…one handshake and two smiles at a time.
The U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy (USCCD) is excited to announce today the launch of a comprehensive expansion of resources and search capabilities available on our Web site.
The online database of non-profit U.S. citizen diplomacy organizations has grown over 300% from just one year ago to now include more than 1000 resources.
A new user friendly search function has been added to help users research and navigate the expanded options and more quickly locate the right fit and opportunity to be globally involved.
Please take a moment to explore the new search page!
With everything going on in terms of the economy, health care, American’s wanting to become more isolated, the scathing political divide our country is in, the Haiti earthquake, and the many more events that cause us to shake our heads in disbelief, grief, or sheer anger, I found a story that was inspirational to say the least, with Spencer Ackerman describing the protagonist, Mohammed as “practically superhuman.”
The story is rooted in the shroud of darkness that encompasses Blackwater (now Xe) and its operations in Iraq. After the questionable engagement of the guards’ actions in Nisour Square that left 17 dead, including Ali, Mohammed’s son, Mohammed spoke to a reporter about the situation and his efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
Mohammed flew to the US to testify in front of a grand jury and when the case was finally thrown out and Blackwater tried to pay $100,000 per death at the Square, he refused to accept the money. Mohammed later sued Blackwater the night the second anniversary of his son’s death.
During the interview, Mohammed recalls when American forces entered Baghdad in 2003 where he and Ali greeted the Army with juice, water and candy. Ali even rode atop one of the Humvees for a photo opportunity with the soldiers.
Skipping ahead to after the incident, Mohammed remembers his friends asking him if his feelings toward Americans has changed. His reply is simply astonishing, “I honestly separate distinctly between Blackwater and the American people and the American government. I honestly love America and the American people. What happened to my family is totally isolated from the American people and the government.”
But Mohammed doesn’t stop there, after receiving a $10,000 condolence payment from the US Embassy, he and his family returned $5,000 of the payment and requested that it be donated to a family who has lost a loved one in the Iraq War. Mohammed explains, “My wife labeled it as a gift from a mother who sacrificed a son on the path to freedom, a gift from Ali’s family to whichever US military family the embassy chose, to any soldier’s family that was killed here in Iraq, who lost his life in Iraq for the sake of Iraq.”
A true hero in today’s world. If only more attention would be placed on the Mohammed’s of the world.
*Disclaimer: Any views or opinions are my own and are not associated with the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy
Last week, President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton each submitted profound articles to Newsweek Magazine, encouraging American citizens to contribute in any way possible to the people of Haiti. Their calls to action have resonated throughout the United States as Haiti has seen an influx of foreign aid from daily supplies such as blankets, food, water, and toiletries to direct humanitarian action in the form of religious organizations and other international nongovernmental organizations. However, both leaders have emphasized the need for continued aid and the increased efforts of citizen diplomats.
President Obama declared that “governments alone are not enough” in the effort to restore hope and provide aid to Haiti. This is a void that only citizens can fill! In the past weeks in the aftermath of the earthquake, the American people have exemplified the kind of generosity needed to provide the Haitian people relief. Nevertheless, the need is great and only with the help of the international community can the people of Haiti overcome the immeasurable obstacle ahead of them.
Obama and Clinton’s messages have come at crucial point, not only in direct regards to the catastrophe in Haiti, but also at a time when the need for citizen diplomats has been the greatest. Just as President Clinton declared a call to action in 2008 after the disastrous hurricanes hit Haiti, so does the U.S. Center call all citizens to action in 2010 and beyond. 2010 may very well be the year of the citizen diplomat, culminating with a Summit on Global Citizen Diplomacy, in which the U.S. Center is actively promoting and gaining sponsors who are pledging their support on Capitol Hill. Therefore, a call to action could not have come at a more vital time. Citizen diplomats: what will YOU do to change the world in 2010?!?!
Please visit the new comprehensive site launched by the U.S. Center to see how you can help.
