Every Citizen A Diplomat

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.

The U.S. Center would like to alert our readers of the status of our efforts to promote of organizations, provide relevant updates of news feeds/articles and events in Haiti, and to encourage donations to help support the aid, relief, and reconstruction of Haiti.

We will continue to update the web page with relevant information and breaking news, however, due to the U.S. Summit that is ahead and limited staff capacity, we will ease off the blogging and coverage of Haiti.  If your organization or yourself personally has donation information, news related to your work in Haiti or other information, feel free to continue to send us information at outreach@uscenterforcitizendiplomacy.org.

The Center will continue to promote long-term development and reconstruction long after the coverage has turned elsewhere as it is essential our efforts are forward and long-term oriented in order to help Haiti emerge from this devastating natural disaster.  We want to thank you for utilizing the resources we have provided and if you have any comments/suggestions, we encourage you to contact us regarding any feedback you have.

It is official, you are able to apply any donations to Haiti toward your 2009 taxes.  The President signed H.R. 4462 into law on Friday afternoon.  For many organizations still accepting donations via text, online or phone, visit our Haiti webpage.

Following the House, the Senate passed their bill that extends tax benefits to donations made to Haiti this year.  Donors have until the end of February to make a donation for it to deducted from their 2009 taxes.  It now moves to the President’s desk for his approval.

So if you haven’t done so, head to the U.S. Center’s webpage that provides a comprehensive list of organizations accepting donations and what your donation will help support.

NAFSA NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Andy Amsler, NAFSA: Association of International Educators

202.495.2559

Sherry Schwarz, Abroad View Foundation

802.442.4827

Winner Named in Student Diplomat Video Contest

Study Abroad Experience Inspires a Recent Graduate to Help Local Youth Think Globally

WASHINGTON, January 20, 2010 – NAFSA: Association of International Educators and the Abroad View Foundation are pleased to announce Nicole Barrasse, a recent graduate of Keystone College in Pennsylvania, as the winner of the 2009 Student Diplomat Video Contest. During the fall semester, NAFSA and Abroad View watched as students from across the country showed us how their educational experiences abroad shaped them as global citizens, served as bridges to cross-cultural understanding, promoted peace, or positively impacted the local communities in which they studied.  After reviewing dozens of entries and narrowing those down to five finalists, we asked the public to vote.  More than 1,300 votes were cast and combined with the votes from an expert panel of judges to select the 2009 Student Diplomat.

Nicole’s video tells an inspiring story of cultural understanding and global connections as she gives us a glimpse into her study abroad experience in the small agricultural village of Ladakh, India. Nicole stayed with a host family in the village and spent her days farming and learning the local language and culture. The cultural understanding that Nicole developed through this experience not only allowed her to learn about the Ladakhi people, but also to communicate to them how much she appreciated their culture and way of life.

Nicole came away from this experience not only knowing much more about sustainable farming and the Ladakhi culture, but also understanding what it means to be a citizen of the world. “Ladakh has not only taught me life lessons, but also what it truly means to be connected to the world around you,” she says in her video.

Nicole is now home in Pennsylvania and plans to start a local effort to inspire youth in her community to think more globally.

The Student Diplomat Video Contest was open to undergraduate students who studied abroad during the fall semester or had recently returned from a study abroad experience. Entrants were asked to focus their short videos on how their study abroad experience helped to advance global understanding.  In addition to being named the 2009 Student Diplomat, Nicole will be awarded a cash prize of $300.

To read more about the 2009 Student Diplomat, or to watch her video, visit www.nafsa.org/studentdiplomat.

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With nearly 10,000 members, NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world’s largest professional association dedicated to international education. The Abroad View Foundation seeks to foster global understanding and cultural awareness among study abroad students and international students.

Some encouraging news from Capitol Hill today for those following the Haiti earthquake.  Amid the events and reactions surrounding the recent Massachusetts election to fill the late Senator Kennedy’s seat, over 150 Representatives put together a bill that will allow donations that were made to Haiti (even by way of text messaging!) to receive 2009 tax benefits. The bill (H.R. 4462) passed unanimously by voice vote early this afternoon and is expected to pass quickly through the Senate in order to be on the President’s desk by the end of the week.

If you have already donated, make sure to keep any records, receipts, or your phone bill that show you donated and include it when filing your taxes.  For those who haven’t donated, now would be a great time to do so in order to receive 2009 tax benefits.  The cutoff date (in the House bill) is March 1, 2010.

For those who have already given or want to help advance this bill, CARE has set up an advocacy site for you to contact your Senators to urge them to pass the bill that encourages additional donations to Haiti and provide 2009 tax benefits to any donations made between December 31, 2009 and March 1, 2009.

An event that may be of interest to public/citizen diplomacy and soft power aficionados.

Joseph Nye will be speaking at the Portcullis House in London tomorrow at 1:30pm EST. As part of the British Council’s 75th Anniversary celebration, Nye will be a part of the Lecture Series: Talking without Borders, focusing on Soft Power and Public Diplomacy.

Here is the information from the British Council website (where you are also able to live stream the event):

On the first anniversary of President Obama’s inauguration, US political theorist Joseph Nye will give a lecture at Portcullis House, London, available to view live here on 20 January 2010. The talk begins at 1830 (GMT) [1:30pm EST]. The player will be active a few minutes before that.

Join the Conversation

Submit your questions live to the speaker: Please click on the top left-hand link in the player.

Suggested Twitter hashtag: #nyebc

Themes

• What is “Smart Power” and how can it influence international strategy in Afghanistan?
• Can a country build trust and engagement while simultaneously fighting wars?
• How are technology and democracy shaping international relations?
• Will ‘soft power’, ‘hard power’ or ‘smart power’ emerge as the defining form of 21st century diplomacy?

Ideas, cultures and people are mixing with unprecedented frequency and speed. Formal politics is increasingly unable to manage connections between people now free of geographical limitations. Under such conditions, the primary challenge for traditional institutions of public diplomacy is to engage people internationally in a meaningful way. In his speech for the British Council, Professor Nye will examine the concepts of public diplomacy, both formal and informal, and their contribution to contemporary and future international relations.

Joseph Nye is University Distinguished Service Professor and former Dean of the Kennedy School. He has served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Chair of the National Intelligence Council, and Deputy Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science and Technology. His most recent books include Soft Power; The Powers to Lead; and The Power Game: A Washington Novel.

The U.S. Center has created a web page to bring together all relevant and useful information regarding the crisis in Haiti for individuals looking to get involved.  Organizations that are accepting donations by mail, online, phone and even text message, as well as those looking for volunteers to help staff medical missions and rescue efforts.  Also included is a live Twitter feed along with recommended individuals and news feeds to follow in order to stay up to date with the conversation taking place among individuals around the world.  State Department and Embassy information has been included for those with connections to Haiti. (Note: The Center has verified each organization accepting donations.  For additional organizational verification, the Center recommends Charity Navigator.)

The world is abuzz and thousands of individuals are asking, “How can I help?”  The U.S. Center is striving to answer this question and more by providing an easy way to become educated on the situation, find an organization to support, and engage with the world to help aid the people of Haiti in their great time of need.  By sticking to the Center’s mission of promoting organizations already doing great work, this is one more way the Center can become involved and help individuals connect with organizations to become engaged themselves.  If you have skills you want to offer in Haiti, let us know and we will work to find an organization that is looking for volunteers.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Haiti individuals, families, friends, and relatives suffering from this devastating earthquake and to those dedicated to relieving their pain by offering basic services we so often take for granted.  It is in these times when our true colors show and we can find commonalities in humanity that are often hidden underneath our differences.  Let us learn from the actions of the many brave individuals that come from different backgrounds, nations, ethnicities, races, and ideologies that are extending a hand in friendship and cooperation, and who have pushed their differences aside in order to help a nation emerge out of the chaos that surrounds it.  Let us continue this forward, long after the media has moved on to other issues and events and work to sustain these efforts to find common ground on which to stand together. Together, we can make a difference, one person at a time, one conversation at a time, one helping hand at a time, and one handshake at a time.

All the best to everyone out there!

Sincerely,

The U.S. Center staff

With relief efforts voraciously being organized by several international organizations and countries supplying funds for relief, people around the United States are wondering how they can be of assistance to the citizens of Haiti. There are a variety of ways you can help, from a simple text message to direct donations to international relief organizations such as the American Red Cross and UNICEF.

Text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 through the American Red Cross.

Text “YELE HAITI” to 501501 to donate $5 to Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (Wyclef Jean’s Foundation).

MSNBC.com has a list compiled with phone numbers if you would like to get involved in any way.

UNICEF is also accepting donations that will go directly to relief efforts in Haiti.

President Obama also urges American citizens to visit the White House website where you will find a link to donate and contribute to the disaster relief efforts which are ongoing.

Major news agencies such as CNN, , Reuters, NPR, and FOX Newsall have full coverage of the story and links to where you can find ways to help and donate.

Read Idealist.org’s article on Disaster Relief volunteering

The U.S. Center also has an extensive list of international organizations who work to provide disaster relief. To find one that services Haiti and is currently providing relief assistance, visit the U.S. Center’s Development Assistance page and see how you can help!

Also, if you have family members or loved ones living or working in Haiti and are unable to contact them, the Red Cross urges you to call the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens. The number provided is 1-888-407-4747.

The thoughts and prayers of all of us at the U.S. Center go out to our brothers and sisters in Haiti. It is often during these times of cataclysmic events that we find the opportunity to reach out to other people of other nations and cultures to provide a helping hand in the name of humanity. The work of citizen diplomats cannot be lauded more than during the aftermath of these types of events.

*Note: The Center is not endorsing these organizations, but giving you information to start you out.