For Oscar Morales, Founder of Un Millon Voces Contra Las FARC in Colombia, a peaceful challenge against crime and violence is only a sms away. One text, one click, one million mobilized in a collective voice for positive change. From cellphones to virtual communities, young leaders are creating onramps for millions of citizens to engage against narco-violence in their backyards, cities and nations. And this is only the beginning. From October 14th to 16th, over 100 young leaders, entrepreneurs, policy makers and academics from over 20 countries spanning from Lebanon to Brazil to Sri Lanka gather in Mexico City for the 2009 Alliance for Youth Movements (AYM) Summit to explore ways to advance grassroots movements seeking positive social change through 21st century technology and tools.

This morning, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual, U.S. Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero and Mexican Secretary of Government Fernando Francisco Gómez Mont Urueta ushered the opening day of the AYM 2009 Summit addressing young leaders working to end violence throughout Latin America and around the world. Katie Dowd, State Department New Media Advisor, commented, “I hope these young leaders can empower this generation and generations to come to continue testing the boundaries of technology to effect social change.” Following the opening remarks, Alejandro Marti of SOS Mexico and Elias Kuri of Iluminemos Mexico took the podium and shared their success stories as pioneers of citizen participation and mobilization for peace and security in Mexico. Lee Brenner of Fast Forward Group added, “Bringing together some of the leaders and innovators in social media and social change is inspiring, and it helps develop the creative juices that can make real change!”

Today’s events featured a plethora of panel discussions on new media technologies to amplify the cause, the role of 21st Century women leaders, social media and good governance, and social media as a tool to promote human rights. Panelists included young leaders and entrepreneurs who have become the global agents in the technological pathways toward peace-building and social change. For Rodrigo Nogueira of Viva Favela, an AYM delegate from Brazil reaching out to kids living in the favelas (slums), “Last night and today, I have met people from around the world who all share the same passion. I thought I was alone. AYM offers the chance to empower people to produce changes in real life, not virtually.”

AYM 2009 is sponsored by Causecast.org, Facebook, Gen Next, Google, Hi5, Howcast Media, MTV, MySpace, PepsiCo, Univision Interactive Media, Inc., the U.S. Department of State, WordPress.com and YouTube.

You can watch the live streaming video as key speakers at the AYM Summit address some of the pressing issues of today and answer your questions. Follow participants and speakers throughout the day on Twitter with #aym09. Log on and join in. More updates to come.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/aym_spotlight/ 2009-10-15T21:11:25+00:00 About the Authors: Suzanne Hall, Public Diplomacy Advisor for Canada and Mexico in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and Tina Huang, U.S. Department of State Intern, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Office of Public Diplomacy.

Picture this: a thriving community arts center in the heart one of Mexico City’s at-risk neighborhoods; a peaceful, neutral space for young people to heal, learn and grow; and arts and communication classes inviting students to connect, express and rebuild. In Iztapalapa, Mexico City—a working-class borough home to over 1.8 million Mexicans—this is not merely a vision, but a nine-year-old reality. Since 2000, Fabric de Artes de Oriente (FARO de Oriente) has become a grand-scale community center offering youth of all ages creative alternatives in the form of visual arts, dance, theater, music and radio. On October 14, 2009, representatives from U.S. new media and telecommunications firms as well as the policy making and academic communities took an in-depth look at FARO de Oriente as a model for how arts and technology can equip Mexican citizens, and especially youth, with a better awareness for the positive, constructive alternatives that exist amidst their struggle against narco-violence. This team of leaders and scholars are part of the second State-sponsored “Tech.Del” to dialogue about the role of new media and technology in helping Mexican citizens more effectively engage against drug cartels.

Kicking off the October “Tech.Del,” Ambassador Pascual welcomed the delegation and honored guests yesterday evening at his Mexico City residence. Throughout the evening, media and telecommunications pioneers and student leaders across Mexico joined the “Tech.Del” in conversations about citizen and youth engagement via new media innovations. Roberta Jacobson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Mexico and Canada remarked, "We are excited and grateful to be partners with a group of young American entrepreneurs who have offered their time and expertise to Mexican citizens and groups peacefully challenging organized crime to connect and amplify their voices and reject of drug violence."

Early this morning, the “Tech.Del” continued their discussions on media and technology with a series of high level meetings with Rafael Fernandez de Castro, Presidential Advisor to President Calderon on International Affairs and Competitiveness along with key Mexican officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of Government, Office of the Presidency, Mexican Institute of Youth, and General Secretary of the Center for Investigation and National Security. The focus of the discussions was on ways in which media innovations can enhance citizen awareness and build cultural peace. Jason Liebman, CEO of Howcast and member of “Tech.Del” commented about the challenges of social media adoption, “It has been surprising to learn how prohibitive access to the internet and SMS is for Mexican citizens. The costs on the ground in Mexico are three to five times more than in the U.S.” Another member, James Eberhard, CEO of Mobil Accord said, "We're seeing lots of challenges. It's clear that we need to find a Mexican leader that can mobilize the youth who are hungry for direction."

The delegation’s visit to FARO de Oriente later in the day marked one of the major highlights of the trip. Meeting the staff and students of this busy community center, which serves over 150,000 youth annually, the “Tech.Del” listened to the stories of struggle and triumph that community members faced and how art and technology have been a part of their healing and empowerment as residents of Iztapalapa. Follow the “Tech.Del” visit on Twitter @farodeoriente.

After the visit to Iztapalapa, an afternoon of meetings followed with key industry leaders and stakeholders including a lunch meeting with founders of bourgeoning new media tools against crime and violence, directors of internet and telecommunications firms and Mexican scholars on human rights and civic engagement. Also, stay up-to-date with “Tech.Del” throughout the day on Twitter using the #mextech hashtag.

Following the day-long “Tech.Del” meetings, members of the delegation will join other world leaders and youth activists for the second annual Alliance for Youth Movement conference. Stay tuned for more updates. ]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/tech.del_youth/ 2009-10-14T09:51:58+00:00 About the Author: Irene Marr serves in the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues.

This week, women from across North and South America — from Manitoba, Canada, to Santiago, Chile — gathered in Washington, DC, to participate in the first Pathways to Prosperity Women Entrepreneurs’ Conference, held from October 7 to 9. They met with Secretary Clinton, the inspiration for this conference, in the State Department’s Treaty Room. In her remarks, the Secretary discussed how empowering women was integral to progress, prosperity, and peace in every country, and praised the women for having the courage and commitment to work for a better future. This conference featured dynamic, innovative, and interactive programs linking early career entrepreneurs with more seasoned businesswomen. They are developing mentoring relationships and laying the foundation for an ongoing, sustainable businesswomen’s network, with the support of four women leaders from government and the private sector who are serving as Pathways Envoys. As one envoy noted, it is time to realize the untapped potential of the “collective power of women.”

In May 2009, Secretary Clinton relaunched the U.S. commitment to the Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas Initiative in El Salvador, with a new emphasis on advancing social justice and expanding the benefits of trade, open markets, and economic opportunity for all people in the region, especially groups that traditionally have been marginalized. From learning how to strike a work-family life balance while also generating income, to learning innovative approaches to branding, supply chains, quality control, marketing, and responding to customer feedback, the women received practical skills and knowledge to grow their businesses and experienced a rich and productive exchange and the benefit of “lessons without borders.” Expert panelists from the private sector, non-governmental organization community, and financial institutions conducted workshops on access to markets, finance, technology, and training in leadership skills. They also had the chance to showcase their products and services at an “expo” held at the conference, met with a variety of industry experts, and visited two local businesses run by women. One woman from Mexico reflected that although she felt that she was not at the same educational or experience level as most of the others, “we are all learning from this conference.” She left the conference inspired and committed to taking the lessons learned back to her community.

High-level State Department officials also played a prominent role in raising the profile of women’s economic empowerment. Ambassador Craig Kelly, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, energized the group on opening night as the keynote speaker, giving a succinct overview of the new Pathways vision and underscoring the importance of including women as we move forward toward greater security, economic strength, and regional partnerships. Anne-Marie Slaughter, Director of Policy and Planning, made a special connection with the audience in her remarks about how we in this hemisphere need to work together toward common goals and ideals, stressing the reality that we are “all citizens of the Americas.” Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer inspired the participants with her moving speech, which highlighted the importance of networking, mentoring, and “paying it forward,” in paving the ways to prosperity. She also shared some stories of her travels to Latin America in the 1990s with then-First Lady Hillary Clinton, when she saw firsthand how women with entrepreneurial spirit and aspirations were able to use small grants to transform their lives and those of their children. Under Secretary of Democracy and Global Affairs Mario Otero, who was born in Bolivia, closed the conference with words of encouragement, and highlighted the importance of access to opportunity and financial inclusion.

As I listened to women tell their personal stories, and watched them make new connections with other entrepreneurs, I could feel that there was true momentum building for a network that will extend well beyond the conference. These women were not only inspired by the speakers and moved by their meeting with the Secretary, they were also discovering the power of collective action. It was great to be part of this experience.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/pathways_to_prosperity_women_economic_growth/ 2009-10-09T21:51:50+00:00 About the Author: Joshua Buxton serves as Vice Consul at the U.S. Consulate General in Monterrey, Mexico.

The morning of August 30, 2009, found a group of over 200 excited volunteers gathered in a valley among the mountains of Santiago, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Equipped with picks, shovels and 3,000 pine saplings, these volunteers came together to reforest an area that had been badly burned by a raging fire in March of the previous year.

The event was the fulfillment of the promise of Mexico’s first ever green race, the Inaugural EUA-Mexico 10K, which took place on July 5, 2009, in Parque Fundidora in Monterrey. The race was organized by the U.S. Consulate General in Monterrey in cooperation with Pronatura Noreste A.C., a Mexican nongovernmental, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization dedicated to nature conservation. The race event generated tremendous enthusiasm in the community, and the participant registration space completely sold out with 1,500 runners.

One of the event’s numerous gold sponsors, the U.S. bank GMAC, generously pledged to donate two trees on behalf of every runner. The Comisión Nacional Forestal, Mexico’s government forest organization, was so impressed by the project that they donated an additional 3,000 trees, bringing the total to 6,000. The additional 3,000 trees are to be planted in the reforestation site’s more difficult-to-access areas during the first week of September 2009. The reforestation site was located by Pronatura, working with the Comisión Nacional Forestal and the Cumbres National Park. They found a local landowner desiring to reforest his damaged land. Pronatura worked with the landowner and Cumbres National Park to obtain the required guarantees to ensure the trees would be protected for years and years to come.

The day before the reforestation event, Pronatura’s forestry experts arranged for an in-depth training workshop for the 20 team leads responsible for providing the requisite guidance for the more than 200 volunteers. The 20 teams, all named after animals (Crocodiles, Sharks, Rabbits), assembled on the morning of the event to listen to welcoming remarks from the U.S. Consul General, the head of Sustainable Development Projects for GMAC and the executive director for Pronatura Noreste. Then the volunteers enthusiastically got to work digging and planting. Numerous volunteers came along with their children, making the day a festive family event.

This has been the driest summer the area has experienced since 1982, and event organizers glanced optimistically at the overcast skies in the hopes that the young trees would soon receive nourishing rain. One hour into the reforestation effort, the skies opened, unleashing their first heavy rains of the season, much to the delight of the volunteers and organizers. No one will know for quite some time what the actual tree survival rate will be. But, at the time of this posting, the trees are adjusting to their new home, enjoying the rain that has been falling since their installation in the Santiago mountains.

The race and reforestation events have generated a great deal of enthusiasm in the community. Plans to repeat the race again next year are already in the works, and event organizers are looking forward to carrying the momentum of the reforestation project into future green events. The Consulate remains extremely grateful to Pronatura, along with all of the sponsors and volunteers that made both the July 5th race and the August 30th reforestation a reality.

Related Entry: U.S.-Mexico 10K Race Goes Green.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/reforestation_mexico/ 2009-09-07T23:17:55+00:00 About the Author: Suzanne Hall serves as the Public Diplomacy Advisor for Canada and Mexico in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

"Tech.del" to Mexico: Part 1 | "Tech.del" to Mexico: Part 2

On August 29, 2008, Elías Kuri was a hard-working Mexican businessman without a public profile, and not necessarily seeking one.

At the close of the day on August 30, 2008, Elías Kuri’s successful efforts to encourage his fellow citizens to take to the street and call for an end to violence made him and the civic leaders who worked with him the talk of the town and all of Mexico.

Mr. Kuri was motivated to take action after learning of the kidnapping and murder of 14 year old Fernando Martí, son of famous Mexican businessman Alejandro Martí. He sent out an email to a group of friends and worked with local civil society leaders, such as Angel Corona of CONSEGU (the National Committee of Community Participation), Ana Franco of México Unido Contra la Delincuencia (Mexico United Against Crime), and others to call for a march. Following the advice of his young daughter, Mr. Kuri named the movement Iluminemos México (Let’s Illuminate Mexico). This Sunday marks the first anniversary of an event that brought together the old and young, women and men, students and workers who chose to peacefully march on the streets of Mexico City in a collective call for an end to violence. Thousands of Mexican citizens walked Reforma Avenue, the capital’s main boulevard, toward the Zócalo central square where they sang the national anthem and lit candles.

Tech.Del participants — including AT&T, MIT Media Lab, Microsoft, Facebook, Liberty Concepts, FastForward Group and the Adefro Group — had the opportunity to meet Mr. Kuri, Mr. Corona, and many other inspiring Mexicans working to find positive ways to work to overcome violence in their country. We spoke with representatives of Mexico United Against Crime, the National Committee of Community Participation and SOS — Sistema de Observación por la Seguridad Ciudadana (Observation System for Citizen Security). These initiatives seek to build secure communities through citizen participation. You’ll find their sites include at least some interactive features, connecting with users, volunteers and the Mexican public.

We also spoke with representatives from Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, and Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico City campus) to discuss how they are engaging students — the innovators and future leaders — to understand their rights and realize their potential as agents of change. We met with representatives of the private sector, including TelMex, the Carlos Slim Education Foundation, Televisa and Fábrica Interactiva — Substance®. And finally, we met with representatives of the federal government, including the President’s office, Secretaría de Gobernación and the Ministry of Foreign Relations, to discuss how President Felipe Calderon’s administration is working to connect with civil society.

So where do we go from here?

The participants have come up with too many ideas to list (and keep coming up with more), but here are a few:

• develop a 2.0 space where the sophisticated efforts happening in the capital can be shared with regions, including Ciudad Juarez where we visited earlier in the week;

• motivate Mexican students, artists and non-governmental organizations to share their inspired grassroots efforts through i-reporting;

• investigate how Mexican NGOs can work with and through U.S.-based Latino NGOs, especially in cases where personal security is at risk;

• explore how to lower the cost of sending SMS texts to allow NGOs to more easily and cheaply reach the community; and

• examine how to improve encryption of text messages and emails so that Mexican citizens can trust the source of the incoming message.

Implementation will be a challenge but Illuminemos, Mexico United Against Crime, and other concerned organizations continue to lead the way.

On Sunday, August 30, Illuminemos will roll out a web-based project of incredible potential: an online map showing the location of where crimes have been committed. To address personal security concerns, Mexicans who choose to upload information to the map can opt whether to include their name, email or other identifying information. Through the launch event, Illuminemos will spread the word on this new tool through broadcast and print media, urging Mexican citizens to contribute to building an extensive crime reporting and pin-pointing mechanism.

Mexicans themselves continue to be the headline innovators when it comes to refocusing energies away from deadly headlines and toward positive, grassroots opportunities.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/tech.del_mexico_3/ 2009-08-29T20:56:55+00:00 About the Author: Chad A. West serves in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

The Binational Center (BNC) in Cochabamba, Bolivia recently honored 28 of its John F. Kennedy Scholars during an August 7 workshop entitled "Manos de Desarrollo" ("Hands for Development"). The students were able to participate in group building activities, share ideas, and meet with Chargé d' Affaires, Ambassador James Creagan. The activities were all part of the BNC's efforts to recognize the efforts of the JFK Scholars to develop their English-language and leadership skills.

The JFK Scholars program is just one of many English-language programs conducted overseas. These programs have the ability to dramatically improve opportunities for their participants, and perhaps no other public diplomacy activity has such a powerful impact on improving the image of the United States abroad. In Bolivia, English programs are especially effective in reaching traditionally underserved minority communities. The JFK Scholars in Cochabamba receive English classes, course materials, and even local transportation expenses to ensure that they are able to attend their courses and complete the three-year program. Many of the students are able to access information about the United States that was previously unavailable to them. Their desire to learn more about the United States was evident during the workshop.

Speaking to the JFK Scholars, Ambassador Creagan congratulated the students for being motivated to study the English language and American culture, and then spoke about the importance of leadership, using President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as examples during momentous times in American history. From there, the ambassador moved directly into a question and answer session with the students. The students were a bit shy. No one seemed to want to be the first to throw out a question, but it was not long before the group was engaged in conversation. The discussion covered various topics from the types of food one can find in Texas to the ambassador’s opinion on life in Bolivia. The final question came from a young woman who wanted to know the ambassador’s perspective on the state of relations between the United States and Bolivia. Ambassador Creagan responded that while the general relationship is very strained at the moment, it is important for both sides to keep looking for avenues of cooperation on issues of mutual interest.

Before the workshop concluded, the students broke into small groups for discussion on a series of questions, including "What does it mean to be a young person in Bolivia?" and "What needs to change in Bolivia?" Each group made brief presentations to the larger group. Despite their youth, they had an intimate grasp of the challenges most adversely affecting Bolivia today. One group noted that "Bolivia must rid itself of official corruption to promote social and economic development." The exercise was the most successful part of the workshop, with every student showing a deep interest in the views of the other participants and a genuine appreciation for the diversity of opinions expressed.

Many U.S. embassies can point to stories like this as evidence of the impact of our English-language programs. These programs provide recipients with an important first step, whether they pursue higher education in the United States or their home countries, seek employment in the private sector, or venture to become small business owners. Learning English is a vital skill for anyone living in the modern world, and it ensures that intercultural communication continues successfully.

Related Entry: Binational Centers in Latin America Promote Mutual Understanding]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/english_teaching_binational_centers/ 2009-08-28T21:37:55+00:00 About the Author: Suzanne Hall serves as the Public Diplomacy Advisor for Canada and Mexico in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

"Tech.del" to Mexico: Part 1 | "Tech.del" to Mexico: Part 3

How can civil society groups working on diverse projects—including graffiti, rap music and education—better reach disadvantaged communities and youth in the barrios of Juarez? How can journalists in Juarez and across Chihuahua State better communicate the positive elements of the region, encouraging citizens to play an active role in civic life? How can university students at Tec de Monterrey and other institutions in Juarez better organize both with each other and with other campuses across Mexico to become agents of change?

These are some of the questions that tech.del participants addressed during a series of roundtable events with civil society stakeholders in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on Tuesday, August 25. Tech.del participants—including representatives from Facebook, Microsoft, AT&T, Adefro Group, Liberty Concepts, FastForward Group and MIT Media Lab—explored how technology can help these grassroots organizations better communicate both within their own team frameworks, as well as to the communities they seek to engage. The idea is to support Mexican civil society efforts to address the violence, renewing and strengthening civil society in Juarez, the State of Chihuahua and all of Mexico. Tech.del participants repeatedly encouraged these groups to use the tools that make the most sense for their particular context—whether mobile-based SMS texting, online applications or simple face-to-face contact with the right people—to deepen the roots of civil society in Mexico. By introducing and advising on effective communication strategies, tech.del participants are helping Mexican citizens, particularly youth, to address the challenges they face.

After our meetings in Juarez, we flew to Mexico City, landing around midnight last night. We are about to begin another full day here on the ground in Mexico City, engaging with civil society groups, mobile providers, university students and professors as well as representatives from the Mexican government to discuss these same issues, but from the context of the capital city.

Our goal is to tease out deliverables and implement them as quickly as possible with the contacts we made in Juarez, and will make today in Mexico City.

Stay tuned for another installment reporting on our efforts.
]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/tech.del_mexico_2/ 2009-08-26T19:25:55+00:00 About the Author: Suzanne Hall serves as the Public Diplomacy Advisor for Canada and Mexico in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

"Tech.del" to Mexico: Part 2 | "Tech.del" to Mexico: Part 3

I am writing from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, a city with 1.3 million residents right on the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to El Paso. Mexican drug cartels are engaged in violent conflict — among themselves and with Mexican security forces — for control of narcotics trafficking routes along the U.S.-Mexico border. Juarez is one of the focal points for President Felipe Calderon’s aggressive and courageous efforts to fight back against drug cartels who sow fear and violence on an everyday basis in the local population. The cartels are willing to use any means of communication at their disposal to disseminate their messages of fear — from as basic as hanging a banner across an interstate overpass, to glorifying their lifestyle through traditional songs known as “narcocorridos,” to more savvy means like uploading violent videos to YouTube. State is sponsoring the visit of representatives from U.S. new media and telecommunications firms, as well as an academic to look at how new media and technology tools can help Mexican citizens amplify their voices against narco-violence.

This “tech.del” is the first that we have organized in the Western Hemisphere. We arrived yesterday in Juarez and kicked off our visit with a night border tour organized by Customs and Border Patrol agents. The idea was to give tech.del participants an idea of the breadth and depth of the U.S.-Mexico bilateral relationship. Our border is characterized by an enormous amount of trade in goods and people, both licit and illicit. Today we will have the opportunity to meet with NGOs, journalist associations, business associations and academics from Juarez and the surrounding region who are working with local citizens to improve the security situation on the ground here. Our goal will be to listen to their objectives and the challenges they face, and review how existing technological applications can provide a venue for citizens of Juarez and beyond to better organize, share information on criminal acts and overcome personal security concerns to take a proactive stand against drug cartel violence.

After a full day of meetings in Juarez today, we will fly to Mexico City later this evening. On Wednesday, the tech.del participants will meet with Mexico City-based mobile providers, federal government representatives, NGOs and academics to hear the view from the capital. Working with the Mexican government, our starting point is that any long term solution to the challenge of drug violence in Mexico needs to include a grassroots, citizen-based response. Our goal is to identify real deliverables, partnering with the various Mexican institutions we will meet to create a space for the citizens of Mexico to feel secure in finding their voice against the cartels.

I will continue to blog on this visit over the coming days and hope you will check back for updates.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/tech.del_mexico/ 2009-08-25T20:33:55+00:00 About the Author: Andrea Zumbrum serves as a public diplomacy intern in the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

U.S. embassies and consulates abroad are uniquely positioned to reach out directly to citizens of other countries to share aspects of American culture. Our partnerships with Binational Centers (BNCs) are one of the best means we have to do so. BNCs serve as educational hubs in both capitals and other cities in many countries. They offer people of all ages — young kids through elderly citizens — opportunities to learn English, access libraries and learn more about American culture.

There are more than 120 BNCs in 18 countries throughout Latin America. The first BNC in Latin America was established in Buenos Aires in 1927 by local leaders, including resident Americans, to promote mutual understanding between Argentina and the United States. Others were established along similar lines in virtually every major city in the region. BNCs were at one point directed and funded by the U.S. Information Agency but are today independent institutions and rank among State’s primary public diplomacy partners in the region.

To better promote this people-to-people diplomacy, State’s Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) Bureau hosted 50 Binational Center Directors and several embassy public affairs officials from Latin America in a conference on “Re-launching the Partnership” between BNCs and the State Department. The conference took place in Washington, D.C. on August 11 and 12, 2009.

BNC conference participants represented the entire region and came from huge metropolises such as Buenos Aires and Lima, as well as smaller regional cities. Brazil alone was represented by 11 BNCs, from Manaus in the Amazon to Londrina in the south. The conference received a huge boost from Franklin Fellow Marsha McLean, who brought decades of private sector management experience to the organization of a dynamic and integrated program.

Conference participants enjoyed keynote remarks from Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale and WHA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Craig Kelly. Both emphasized that BNCs offer a vital form of direct diplomacy. Ambassador Kelly emphasized the importance of “people-to-people” diplomacy achieved through the BNCs, and Under Secretary McHale stressed the importance of two-way diplomacy, where both parties act as listeners and doers.

Over the course of two days, BNC directors heard from State officials who specialize in English-language teaching, educational advising, alumni networking, exchange programs, new media, and library information resources. A conference highlight was a “Café Society” lunch that allowed attendees to participate in small-group discussions with these experts.

Enthusiasm grew over the course of the conference as participants connected and shared ideas for collaborative possibilities. At the conclusion of the conference, BNC directors and embassy representatives left with a renewed sense of direction and purpose in their relationship. BNC Director Claudionor Lobão Borges Júnior, of Maranhão, Brazil, spoke for many when he said in the closing session that the conference represented a true turning point for his BNC, for the State Department-BNC relationship, and for his own professional life.

For a better sense of the activities of a Latin American BNC, check out the website for the BNC in Medellin, Colombia.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/binational_centers_latin_america/ 2009-08-19T16:17:58+00:00 Yesterday, Secretary Clinton met with Colombian Foreign Minister Jamie Bermúdez. Secretary Clinton said:

"The foreign minister and I...discussed the bilateral defense cooperation agreement that our governments hope to sign in the near future. This agreement ensures that appropriate protections are in place for our service members. It will allow us to continue working together to meet the challenges posed by narco-traffickers, terrorists, and other illegal armed groups in Colombia. These threats are real, and the United States is committed to supporting the Government of Colombia in its efforts to provide security for all of its citizens.

I want to be clear about what this agreement does and does not do. First, the agreement does not create U.S. bases in Colombia. It does provide the United States access to Colombian bases, but command and control, administration, and security will be Colombia’s responsibility, and any U.S. activity will have to be mutually agreed upon in advance. The United States does not have and does not seek bases inside Colombia.

Second, there will be no significant permanent increase in the U.S. military presence in Colombia. The congressionally mandated cap on the number of U.S. service members and contractors will remain and will be respected.

And third, this agreement does not pertain to other countries. This is about the bilateral cooperation between the United States and Colombia regarding security matters within Colombia.

Our hemisphere faces a number of pressing challenges, from the economic crisis to the climate crisis to public health concerns, such as H1N1 virus, to narcotics trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime. These all demand our attention and our collaboration. And so the United States and Colombia are committed to working together and to making it possible for us to deliver results for the people of our two countries."

Read the Secretary's full remarks with Foreign Minister Bermudez or more about the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA).]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/colombia_defense_cooperation_agreement/ 2009-08-19T13:57:58+00:00 About the Author: Suzanne Hall serves as the Public Diplomacy Advisor for Canada and Mexico in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Secretary Clinton hosted Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa and Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon for a trilateral ministerial meeting at the State Department on Thursday, July 16, 2009. Secretary Clinton has met with Secretary Espinosa and Minister Cannon on various occasions over the last few months, but this was the first opportunity for the three to focus on issues relevant to North America.

The ministers discussed at length the upcoming North American Leaders’ Summit during a meeting and working lunch. In her public remarks, Foreign Secretary Espinosa announced Mexico will host the next Leaders’ Summit in Guadalajara, Mexico, from August 9 – 10, 2009. The leaders will focus on improving North American competitiveness and economic recovery, promoting clean energy and combating climate change, and protecting the safety of our citizens. President Obama plans to participate in the summit.

Beyond the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), many people are not focused on the many ways our three countries work together on North American, hemispheric, and global issues. The North American Leaders’ Summit was originally launched in 2005 to underscore how the United States, Canada, and Mexico could work collectively to pursue opportunities and face common challenges. Guadalajara will be the fifth annual Summit, and the first in which President Obama will participate.

Working North American issues is a different kind of foreign policy. North America has been my “beat” for just a few months, and it is amazing how so many topics go beyond the typical diplomatic realm. North American issues directly touch the everyday lives of our citizens. We are dealing with state and local issues like border management, how to retrain our work forces in a time of economic crisis and how we deal with H1N1 influenza. There are many who refer to North American policies as “intermestic” – concurrently international and domestic. Often times, the local politics surrounding these issues make the work an uphill climb. However, we are taking them on, working hand-in-hand with our Mexican and Canadian colleagues, finding solutions that make sense for all of our citizens.

In past summits, North American leaders agreed to advance coordination on a wide range of issues, including economic competitiveness, pandemic flu, consumer safety, border security, emergency management, and energy security. This coordination has led to concrete benefits for our citizens. For example, the North American Plan for Avian and Pandemic Influenza was created to improve our coordinated response in the event of an outbreak. The plan was vitally important to our strong and ongoing response to the outbreak of the novel H1N1 flu earlier this year, and will prepare us for a potential return of the flu in the fall. We also work on a trilateral basis to ensure food and consumer safety, reduce the costs of cross-border trade, and cooperate on the development of more efficient energy technology.

During the next North American Leaders’ Summit in Guadalajara, our leaders will relaunch our partnership to the benefit of the more than half a billion North American citizens.

President Obama summed up North American potential best during his visit to Mexico City on April 16, 2009: “What makes us good neighbors is a simple truth -- that our people share so much more than common challenges and common interests. We also share values and ideals.”]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/north_america_foreign_policy/ 2009-07-16T21:16:47+00:00 About the Author: Andrew Lewis is a Program Officer at the U.S. Department of State Foreign Press Center (FPC).

The State Department’s Foreign Press Center’s role is to help foreign journalists in their coverage of the United States. It’s with this in mind that the FPC invited several journalists from Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean to the U.S. for a week-long tour engaging the issue of transnational crime, especially trafficking in persons, drugs, and arms.

Our friends in Mexico perhaps know the human cost of trafficking all too well. Over 10,000 (including some journalists) have been killed so far since that country’s shift to an aggressive stance against criminal enterprise. But the surprise for our other journalists was that these criminal enterprises had infiltrated their countries as well.

For the interviewees, responding to questioning by journalists on FPC tours is never a cakewalk. We typically ask our embassies around the world to recommend highly motivated, highly professional journalists for participation, and their questions often probe difficult aspects of the relationship between the U.S. and their countries.

Some of the toughest questions this group has asked so far involve numbers. With what degree of certainty can we say how much money arms traffickers earn from their trade, or how do we reliably estimate the number of drug abusers in the U.S.? Reliable statistics, especially explaining illegal activities, are notoriously hard to obtain.

Next to the hard data, an intimate look at both the highs and lows of human emotion was on the itinerary. We spent a day with the Fulton County Drug Court in Atlanta, Georgia. Exposure to institutions like these give the journalists a sense of what U.S. communities are doing to combat not only drug production and transport, but the demand side of the problem as well. Some defendants, former addicts clean for years, told us stories of healing themselves, rebuilding families and finding jobs. Others, mostly relapsed and unmotivated offenders, were sent to seek motivation to stick with the program in what Judge Doris Downs, who presides over the court, hoped was their last stint in jail.

Dealing with some of the most serious offenders and yet boasting an impressive success rate, journalists found both parallels to their own countries in the Fulton County program. In Costa Rica, successfully recovered addicts campaign against drugs, much as successful drug court participants share their stories with peers as inspiration. Yet in Guatemala, even completely clean former addicts struggle with discrimination in finding employment.

We will spend the remainder of this trip continuing to explore multiple perspectives on these issues. The Atlanta Police, the Georgia branch of D.A.R.E., and CETPA, an organization addressing substance abuse by Latinos, are all on the agenda. This tour has been a professional as well as cultural exchange for our guests, and we’ll hopefully be able to round things out with the only appropriate introduction to Atlanta: hot dogs, cheese fries, and super-sized cups of Coca Cola when the Braves play the New York Mets tonight at Turner Field.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/transnational_crime/ 2009-07-16T17:40:47+00:00 About the Author: Silvio Gonzalez serves as Public Affairs Officer at U.S. Consulate Ciudad Juarez in Mexico.

For five consecutive days, June 25-29, the sounds of contemporary American composers captivated and entertained Chihuahua’s youth through the sounds of Sonitus, an El Paso (Texas) based string quartet.  Quartet members, all of whom come from Texas, and in some cases trace their heritage back to Chihuahua, performed in Nueva Casas Grandes, site of Paquime – an ancient town with connections to the Hopi Nation of the American southwest; Cuauhtemoc, the state’s third largest city and proud of its three cultures; Creel – the gateway into Chihuahua’s highlands (sierra) and the Raramuri people; and finally, the state capital of Chihuahua City, celebrating the 300th anniversary of its establishment.

The U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez organized the recitals and master classes as part of its on-going outreach activities to underscore the history that connects the United States and Mexico and, in this area, the ancient routes that linked Mexico’s northwest with the American southwest –  through Mimbres and Santa Fe Trail and the old Camino Real.

Paquime, a city built by the ancestors of Native American Hopi in the middle of the desert, marked the first stop.  At the Museum of Northern Cultures, archeologists (some of whom are American scholars who have been digging in the area for more than twenty years), local community leaders and youth listened to the rhythms and enjoyed the first performance of an American string quartet in the region.  During the master classes, students and parents moved along to the sounds of Sonitus, as they explored and learned all about the fundamentals of music: time, beat and harmony.

The following day, Sonitus performed at the Mennonite Community Center to a group proud of its peaceful coexistence.  The string quartet joined forces with a local youth cameratta and a choral group, embodying the essence of the region. Sonitus’ musical director and Juarez native Osvaldo Mendoza, who is currently a Masters’ degree candidate at Baltimore’s Peabody Conservatory and graduate of University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), encouraged the young participants to follow and expand their dreams – to dream big!  There’s no greater image than seeing a fledgling violinist share a moment with, being inspired by, one of the string quartet’s members.

On the third day, we traveled to the heart of the Tarahumara Mountains, where the native Raramuris invited Sonitus to perform inside the centuries old Mission of San Ignacio Arareko.  The beautiful chapel, its interior illuminated by sunrays and candles, sits in the middle of an extraordinarily green valley – coming from Juarez, one cannot believe it exists in Chihuahua.  Although we could not communicate with most of the attendees, music gave us a chance to exchange ideas, enjoy each other’s company and even observe a community meeting.

Chihuahua City was the final stop.  We started at the city’s main library with a master class for children, who attended with their parents.  A final recital took place at the Chihuahua Chamber of Commerce.  Chamber members and the public enjoyed the performance.  This cultural event underscored the importance of public-private partnership to support the arts and education. 

Students and opinion makers who are fans of the consulate’s new Facebook page followed Sonitus during the group’s tour.  You may also take a look at the page to watch video and learn more about the string quartet’s visit to Chihuahua.

About the Author: Ruth Urry serves as Alternate Representative, U.S. Delegation to the Organization of American States.

The air is steamy, and everyone is standing around anxiously. It’s but a few moments before the Secretary arrives for her breakfast meeting with the foreign ministers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and we’ve worked hard to get everything prepared for her arrival.

This meeting, held on the margins of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OASGA), is an important opportunity for Secretary Clinton to discuss with her counterparts the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. President Obama has requested $45 million from Congress to fund this initiative, which is dedicated to the strengthening of regional security by addressing transnational threats. Trade and development are also on the agenda, as we recognize the link between development and human prosperity.

As we are scurrying around, setting up the final touches, participants start poking their heads in. First, the cameramen start arriving, and then the print journalists.  The foreign ministers begin arriving, and their ambassadors. They all know each other well, so they begin mingling.  It has the atmosphere of a class reunion, since these ministerials are a chance for all of the foreign ministers to catch up in the same place. The CARICOM foreign ministers meet on a regular basis since so many nations in the Caribbean share similar interests in the fields of security, trade, the economy, and the environment. Tourism is a mainstay of many of the Caribbean economies.

Secretary Clinton sought this meeting with CARICOM because she wanted to build on the positive momentum established at Summit of the Americas when President Obama met with his Caribbean counterparts in April.  The Secretary will encourage CARICOM to work with the U.S. Trade Representative to convene a Trade and Investment Council (TIC) meeting later this year.  She will also promote increased cooperation between CARICOM and the United States on regional security issues, such as the upcoming Caribbean-U.S. Dialogue on Security Cooperation to be held later this year.  Meetings such as these are important because the Secretary can exchange views with delegations on issues of mutual concern, in a frank setting.

All of a sudden, we hear the signal that the Secretary has arrived.  We hear her entourage coming up the steps, we’re positioned in front of the head table, and are ready for action!

Question: What are the most pressing challenges faced in the Caribbean region which the U.S. can help alleviate, and by what means?

Secretary Clinton:The Summit of the Americas held April 17-19, 2009, in Trinidad and Tobago came at a time of great challenge and great opportunity for the U.S. and the Americas. The consequences of a historic economic crisis are being felt across the hemisphere, putting new pressure on peoples and governments that are already strained. Migration to and from each of our nations has serious implications for all nations. The safety and security of our citizens is endangered by drug trafficking, lawlessness, and a host of other threats. Our energy challenge offers us a chance to unleash our joint economic potential, enhance our security, and protect our planet. And too many citizens are being denied dignity and opportunity and a chance to live out their dreams in Cuba and all across the hemisphere.

These are some of the issues President Obama and I discussed at the Summit of the Americas , where we met with the leaders of the 33 other democratically-elected nations from the Western Hemisphere . The subject of many of these meetings and conversations has been launching a new era of partnership between our nations. The message we brought to the Summit is clear—the United States wants to engage our hemisphere. We are neighbors and friends and partners on so many fronts. We obviously have disagreements with some of the leadership in certain countries in Latin America . But we approach that from a practical, not an ideological perspective. Practically, we think that vibrant markets and open political systems and dynamic democracies and free speech and good governance and the rule of law are in the best interests of the people of all of these countries.

We want to help every country realize that dream for their own people. So let’s be united against the scourge of drug trafficking which robs people of their freedom, of their future, which undermines civil society. Let’s work together on social inclusion so that no group of people are excluded from any country’s civil, social growth. Let’s work together on health and education and our young people.

Question: I note that you and Pres. Chavez have agreed to reinstate Ambassadors to Caracas and Washington. Aside from bringing Venezuela into line with our other partner countries in the hemisphere, what specific benefits derive to each country from a renewed and improved relationship?

Secretary Clinton: At the Summit of the Americas, Secretary Clinton discussed with President Chavez the return of ambassadors to their respective posts in Caracas and Washington. As we have stated previously, exchanging ambassadors will help advance U.S. interests. It is necessary for improving communications and our bilateral relations.

The subject of many of our meetings and conversations at the Summit of the Americas, held in Trinidad and Tobago from April 17-19, was the launching of a new era of partnership between the U.S. and nations throughout the hemisphere. Over the past few days, we’ve seen potential positive signs in the nature of the relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela. But as President Obama has stated, the test for all of us is not simply words, but also deeds. I believe that the signals sent so far provide at least an opportunity for frank dialogue on a range of issues, including critical areas of democracy and human rights throughout the hemisphere. We will not see eye to eye with every regional leader on every regional issue, but what we showed at the Summit is that we can make progress when we are willing to break free from some of the stale debates and old ideologies that have dominated and distorted the debate in this hemisphere for far too long. We showed that while we have our differences, we can—and must—work together in areas where we have mutual interests, and where we disagree we can disagree respectfully. We showed that there are no senior or junior partners in the Americas; we’re simply partners, committed to advancing a common agenda and overcoming common challenges.

Read the Secretary’s responses to additional questions here.

At the Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago where leaders from virtually every nation in the hemisphere gathered, President Obama addressed the opening ceremony of the Summit of the Americas on Friday night:

“All of us must now renew the common stake that we have in one another. I know that promises of partnership have gone unfulfilled in the past, and that trust has to be earned over time. While the United States has done much to promote peace and prosperity in the hemisphere, we have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms. But I pledge to you that we seek an equal partnership. (Applause.) There is no senior partner and junior partner in our relations; there is simply engagement based on mutual respect and common interests and shared values. So I’m here to launch a new chapter of engagement that will be sustained throughout my administration. (Applause.)

To move forward, we cannot let ourselves be prisoners of past disagreements. I am very grateful that President Ortega—(applause)—I’m grateful that President Ortega did not blame me for things that happened when I was three months old. (Laughter.) Too often, an opportunity to build a fresh partnership of the Americas has been undermined by stale debates. And we’ve heard all these arguments before, these debates that would have us make a false choice between rigid, state-run economies or unbridled and unregulated capitalism; between blame for right-wing paramilitaries or left-wing insurgents; between sticking to inflexible policies with regard to Cuba or denying the full human rights that are owed to the Cuban people.

I didn’t come here to debate the past—I came here to deal with the future. (Applause.) I believe, as some of our previous speakers have stated, that we must learn from history, but we can’t be trapped by it.

The President reiterated areas of opportunity for new partnerships, from stimulating the economy throughout the hemisphere, to alleviating poverty, to using the hemisphere’s vast resources to revolutionize energy use as we know it. Once again he addressed the need to stop the flow of drugs and guns across borders, saying that he is “making it a priority to ratify the Illicit Trafficking in Firearms Convention as another tool that we can use to prevent this from happening.”

The President closed his remarks on issues that have long dominated relationships between the Americas, and which have already seen broad change in these first few months:

“There’s been several remarks directed at the issue of the relationship between the United States and Cuba, so let me address this. The United States seeks a new beginning with Cuba. I know that there is a longer—(applause)—I know there’s a longer journey that must be traveled to overcome decades of mistrust, but there are critical steps we can take toward a new day. I’ve already changed a Cuba policy that I believe has failed to advance liberty or opportunity for the Cuban people. We will now allow Cuban Americans to visit the islands whenever they choose and provide resources to their families—the same way that so many people in my country send money back to their families in your countries to pay for everyday needs.

Over the past two years, I’ve indicated, and I repeat today, that I’m prepared to have my administration engage with the Cuban government on a wide range of issues—from drugs, migration, and economic issues, to human rights, free speech, and democratic reform. Now, let me be clear, I’m not interested in talking just for the sake of talking. But I do believe that we can move U.S.-Cuban relations in a new direction.

As has already been noted, and I think my presence here indicates, the United States has changed over time. (Applause.) It has not always been easy, but it has changed. And so I think it’s important to remind my fellow leaders that it’s not just the United States that has to change. All of us have responsibilities to look towards the future. (Applause.)

I think it’s important to recognize, given historic suspicions, that the United States’ policy should not be interference in other countries, but that also means that we can’t blame the United States for every problem that arises in the hemisphere. That’s part of the bargain. (Applause.) That’s part of the change that has to take place. That’s the old way, and we need a new way.”

Today, Secretary Clinton conducted a digital town hall meeting from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Secretary Clinton said: “This digital town hall seems particularly fitting to hold here in the Dominican Republic on the eve of the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago. Here in the Dominican Republic, I feel very much at home. We are linked by geography and history, by common values and cultural heritage. And now, we are finding new and innovative ways to engage one another, expand our dialogue, create new partnerships, solve the problems that we face together.”

Regarding the Summit, Secretary Clinton said: “This summit upcoming today and the work we do in its wake presents an opportunity for us to further a recovery that reaches all of the people of the Americas.  In Port of Spain, President Obama and I will share that the United States is eager to listen to the ideas and concerns of our friends, partners and allies. But we are committed to working with you to keep our people safe and secure, to protect and harness our natural resources, and to widen opportunity and prosperity. To achieve the shared prosperity we seek, we must integrate our commitment to democracy and open markets with an equal commitment to social inclusion.”

Further, Secretary Clinton said: “There is so much to talk about, but today, I want to focus on just three areas where our work as partners can address the human cost of the global recession. As we take on these challenges, we must remind ourselves that in our diverse hemisphere, one size does not fit all. We need to look at the unique needs of each country and shape our effort to meet those needs in a spirit of openness and cooperation.  First, a principal area of investment must be education. And as I said earlier this morning at the school, that is the lynchpin of economic progress. The United States will invest $30 million in education projects in the region. While enrollments have swelled throughout our hemisphere, too many young people still don’t complete their studies, or they’re not benefiting from the quality of education they richly deserve.”

The second topic Secretary Clinton addressed was food security.  Secretary Clinton said: “Our hemisphere produces bountiful harvests. This is a very fruitful region of the world. But in places of extreme poverty where people subsist on less than one dollar a day, hunger stalks them. It malnourishes children. It stunts growth and mental development. The consequences of hunger show up in homes, workplaces, and schools. We have seen the effects of malnourished people too weak to work, chronically hungry children struggling to learn. So food security is not only a source of suffering. It is a direct threat to economic growth and global stability. Based on President Obama’s initiative announced at the G-20 conference to double food assistance, the United States will be providing nearly $100 million in food assistance to countries most affected by hunger in the Western Hemisphere. But our goal must be to reach the roots, the causes of food insecurity.”

Secretary Clinton then said: “The third area is perhaps the most fundamental of all. It is hard for people to escape poverty or fulfill their potential when they’re not physically safe in their homes and neighborhoods, their schools, their workplaces, or on the roads traveling for commerce or pleasure. So none of the advances that we make can be achieved without improvements in public safety and efforts to stem all forms of violence, including violence in the home. We all think about the violence that the drug traffickers bring with them, and this must be our highest priority. The United States must work to reduce demand for drugs and stem the flow of guns and drug profits traveling from our country for use in the drug trade.

To that end, President Obama recently announced measures to ensure that our country is doing all we can along the Mexican border. In Mexico, when I had the privilege of visiting, I announced that the United States was pledging additional resources to support training, equipment, and other means of bolstering President Calderon’s courageous struggle against the drug traffickers. This is part of the Merida Initiative, to improve security in Central America, an $875 million dollar commitment over two years.  As we do more in Mexico and Central America, however, we know we face threats in the Caribbean. I had discussions about this with both President Preval and President Fernandez. That is why we are planning a strategic security dialogue with the Caribbean countries to confront rising crime, illicit trafficking, and border security issues, like disaster preparedness.

The organized criminal networks operating throughout the hemisphere are adapting, and we must adapt as well. We have a very high proportion of young people in Latin America and the Caribbean. These young people are on the front lines, as those watching us today on the internet are, for online civil society. And I believe the young people of this hemisphere have untold power to stop the drug trafficking that goes on that undermines their communities, their safety, intimidates and corrupts governments and institutions.”

Secretary Clinton concluded: “Now, while some bristle at the challenges this new global landscape presents, it also offers unprecedented opportunities for cooperation, collaboration, and fresh approaches to solving problems from extreme poverty to climate change, from drug trafficking to trade. I see that at work right here in the Dominican Republic. ...Our leaders are essential for that process, but it is people who will decide what progress we make. It is people who will either be complacent or active; people who will be acquiescent or protesting of what they see as unfair conditions or poor governance or corruption that literally takes food from their tables and undermines their futures. I want to see a hemisphere in which, working together, we give every single boy or girl the chance to live up to his or her God-given potential. That is our promise and that is our hope. And I look forward to working with you to achieve it.”

Read the Secretary’s full remarks here.

About the Author: Jerome Oetgen serves as the Public Affairs Officer at U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spent six productive hours on the ground in Port-au-Prince yesterday (Thursday, April 16).  Upon her arrival, the Secretary met with President Rene Preval at the Presidential Palace.  In a joint news conference afterwards she pledged that the Obama Administration would support the President, the Prime Minister, and the Government of Haiti in its efforts to help the people of Haiti, because “our commitment is to the people of Haiti.”  Several times during her visit, the Secretary mentioned her long-standing ties to Haiti, which she first visited with her husband as newlyweds and “spent a wonderful time exploring the country and meeting many Haitians who shared their homes and their experiences with us.”

After the Palace, Secretary Clinton visited a medical clinic operated by doctors and other medical personal from the U.S. Navy hospital ship COMFORT in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince. The COMFORT is on a ten-day visit to Haiti during which it is providing free medical care (including surgery) to thousands of Haitians who seldom have an opportunity to see a doctor. The Secretary toured the clinic, greeted patients, and thanked the U.S. Navy doctors and the many civilian volunteers for their outstanding work.

After the clinic visit, she was off to the Inter-American Woven Garment factory, beneficiary of the U.S. Congress’s “Haitian Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement” (HOPE) II Act of 2008.  HOPE II aims at promoting a market-based economy in Haiti, increasing employment, enhancing the rule of law, eliminating barriers to U.S. trade, combating corruption, and protecting internationally recognized human and worker rights. The garment factory that the Secretary visited is among the early success stories of HOPE I and II legislation, which facilitates public-private sector partnerships and has already resulted in the creation of approximately 11,000 jobs in Haiti.

There was the inevitable press scrum and real sense of excitement at the factory.  It took us a few minutes to organize the reporters and happy onlookers as the Secretary toured the factory and before she gave remarks.  The above photo depicts one of the garment workers, listening carefully to the Secretary’s remarks.  I think it’s important – amid all the urgent travel and high-level dialogue – to keep before us the faces of the people, both in Haiti and the United States, for whom we make these efforts.  It was an inspirational day all around.

At the recent Haiti Donors Conference, Secretary Clinton said: “… [T]he Secretary General referred to Cité Soleil.  It was a no-man’s land.  Now there is a new sense of security and freedom in its streets.”

Two years after its inauguration, the $20 million Haiti Stabilization Initiative’s (HSI) integrated approach to civilian-led stabilization and reconstruction has brought real, palpable change to Cité Soleil.  The initiative has done what it said it would do: create enough momentum of both security and development in Cité Soleil to enable this vital hub to stabilize enough for real development to begin.

Progress, as in the rest of Haiti, is fragile, uneven and by no means assured.  The Haiti Stabilization Initiative, however, has opened the door to Cité Soleil, building momentum that, with continued support from the Government of Haiti, the private sector and the donor community will ensure that the positive developments continue.  HSI marks two-years with the bulk of its projects completed or near completion, funding obligated and essentially spent, with one remaining major component scheduled for completion in early September.  HSI is now focused on its team’s efforts to identify synergistic opportunities and leverage projects with other donors and the private sector.

HSI is a pilot project designed to test and demonstrate a whole-of- government, civilian-led approach to stabilization, and led by a cross-cutting team of USG experts.  HSI was designed by the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) in concert with elements of the Department of Defense, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, with broad input from the U.S. Mission to Haiti. Support comes from Section 1207 of the 2006 National Defense Authorization Act which transfers funds to civilian agencies for stabilization and reconstruction.  Oversight is provided by S/CRS.  HSI was designed with a specific implementation unit for ensuring flexibility and speed in implementation.

The project focuses on Cité Soleil, a volatile enclave of 300,000, located in metropolitan Port-au-Prince and completely lost to Haitian government control until the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) reclaimed it through military operations at the beginning of 2007. 

HSI focuses on building community, opportunity and security, and is made up of quick-impact activities in job-creating infrastructure, strengthened judicial procedures and community policing.  These build on existing USAID and Embassy programs.  Initial activities were operational within weeks of the official launch of HSI in April 2007, providing credibility with Cité Soleil residents and the Haitian Government.

WHY HSI WORKS
MINUSTAH efforts to retake control of Cité Soleil were critical to long term success and a necessary precursor to the U.S. Government program, especially in light of the absence of any viable Haitian National Police presence.  Military action alone, however, would not have been enough.  Building on S/CRS’ core principles guiding conflict transformation, HSI sought to fill the gap between the establishment of security and the inevitable wait for a government of Haiti donor-supported presence to establish itself.  Facilitating the return of the Haitian National Police to the area for the first time in over a decade through construction of police stations, training and the introduction of community policing has been vital to this momentum.

HSI’s goal was to quickly stabilize the bitter and violent Cité Soleil gang-led environment so that regular U.S. Government programs, other donors and the GOH could begin to work normally.  The key to HSI’s success in facilitating the relatively rapid transformation of this distressed community has been its unflagging focus on multi-sectoral integration in a specific geographic zone.  No activities were undertaken in isolation or without linkages to as many other relevant elements as possible.  HSI was mandated to use its projects as leverage for buy-in from other programs and actors, or as a catalyst to generate other activities.  There is nothing unique about the type or scope of the projects themselves; the difference lies in the original conception of the initiative as a whole and in dedicating staff specifically focused on its implementation.

Speed also played an important role, differentiating HSI from most programs that take two years from budgeting to first expenditures.  Conceptualized as the “pointy end of the carrot,” HSI bypassed business as usual – leaving many in the private sector and in NGOs amazed at its positive and concrete response to their ideas. This gave the program enormous credibility in a community inured to broken promises by the donors and the government of Haiti.  HSI proved to be different, and leveraged that difference into a new attitude on the part of nascent or reborn community grassroots organizations.  As much as this was a stabilization program or a development program, it was an anti-gang program.

CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION
Cité Soleil today is a changed environment.  It is less a hair trigger population ready to react on command or in reaction to any number of catalytic events—man-made or natural—and more of a community increasingly trying to work together.  This represents a depoliticizing of conflict and a more pragmatic focus on grassroots self-interest.  The stage has been set for regular aid, training, health, education, and microenterprise programs to begin operating, and they are.  Elements of Haiti’s private sector are coming around to the idea that there is value in promoting and supporting training and education opportunities and are beginning to consider reinvesting in the larger neighborhood.  We can say that in two years, despite difficulties both internal and external, HSI did what it said it would do, in one of the most difficult places in the Western Hemisphere.

Read more in Deployment Stories: Supporting Stabilization Efforts in Haiti.

About the Author: Suzanne Hall serves as Public Diplomacy Advisor in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.  She is currently in Santo Domingo.

Secretary Clinton arrived here in Santo Domingo last night on her first visit to the Dominican Republic as Secretary of State.  The Dominican people have received the Secretary with such warmth, and the local media has been buzzing with her visit since it was first announced on Monday. 

We are here on site at FUNGLODE in the heart of Santo Domingo waiting on the Secretary’s arrival to begin a digital town hall.  FUNGLODE, the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development, provides a think tank-like space to analyze and formulate innovative responses to political, social and developmental issues confronting the Dominican Republic today.  Given FUNGLODE’s mission, it’s the perfect space to roll out Secretary Clinton’s major public outreach event during her visit.

Secretary Clinton’s engagement here will be a unique one.  The Secretary will address a group of about 150 Dominican citizens from all walks of life: students, teachers, business people, representatives of non-governmental organizations, media and a few Dominican officials, including First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández.  Secretary Clinton will speak about what the United States hopes to achieve at the Fifth Summit of the Americas, which starts later this evening in Port of Spain, Trinidad.  Her opening remarks will touch on the main Summit themes, including human prosperity, energy security, climate change and sustainable development. 

Here comes the 2.0 aspect of the event: following her remarks, Secretary Clinton will take questions from the Dominican audience, as well as from a virtual audience composed of people from throughout the hemisphere tuned into the event via a live video streamed on townhall.america.gov.  Many of these people—whether from Brazil, Canada, Guatemala or Colombia—submitted questions online in advance in Spanish, Portuguese, English and French.  The Summit of the Americas impacts all citizens of the hemisphere, and the Secretary felt it was crucial to open up this event to as many people of the region as possible.  The online hub serves as the perfect multiplier to get out the Secretary’s remarks and allow her to interact with a massive audience that reaches far beyond the walls of this auditorium. 

Following her digital town hall, the Secretary will go straight to the airport, where she will depart for Port of Spain and join President Obama for the launch of the Fifth Summit of the Americas later this evening.  She’ll carry with her the concerns and issues raised by the participants of the digital town hall here in Santo Domingo.  Since the Summit is intended as a framework to bring direct and positive impact to the peoples of the hemisphere, the comments from the live and digital audiences here at FUNGLODE will impact how Secretary Clinton and the rest of the U.S. delegation engage with their counterparts on site at the Summit of the Americas.

This is new media and web 2.0 tools at work, shaping diplomacy in real time.

On Friday, April 17, 2009, Digital Town Hall of the Americas will be streamed live on the Department of State’s Social Media Hub for the Fifth Summit of Americas—watch live at 11:15 AM (ET).  You can participate in the discussion about issues that affect the entire hemisphere—join the conversation!

My name is Merrie Archer.  I’m a senior planning officer at the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization.  I’ve been with S/CRS for three and a half years.  And I deployed to Haiti several times over the course of 2006 and 2007, the first several times with a team of interagency partners from USAID, other areas of State Department, INL, Diplomatic Security, folks from SOUTHCOM, and other folks from DOD as well.

The conditions at the time, especially in 2006, were still very dangerous.  It was impossible to travel around the country in anything other than armored vehicles.  And even to and from the hotel, we had to be under guard with armored vehicles.  And when we went to the areas that we were sent to work in, we had to go with a relatively large deployment of Diplomatic Security, and usually UN peacekeeping escorts as well.

We deployed because we were designing and then setting up a special initiative to respond to the instability in Port-au-Prince.  It was called the Haiti Stabilization Initiative.  And effectively, it was the very first time that this kind of initiative was set up.  It’s a multisectoral activity really designed to pull together all of the different capabilities of the U.S. Government and target them toward one geographical area that was the locus of instability and, you know, provide some sort of assistance there.

We ended up calling it the Haiti Stabilization Initiative, affectionately known as the pointy end of the carrot, basically because the UN peacekeeping mission was supposed to be providing the pointy end of the stick, and our initiative was the development that would allow the security gains that they made to be sustained.  So now, effectively, two years down the road, this particular area – Cite Soleil – we wouldn’t say it’s completely rid of the gang members and the political instability that was there, but life has resumed as usual, and it has reincorporated, for the first time in over a decade, into the rest of the broader city.

One of the really interesting parts of my time there was – having spent part of my career working in and on Haiti for different organizations, was going back and seeing some of the local and international partners that I had worked with in the past and interact with them, and have them be able to sort of have confidence in what we were putting forward because they knew me, they knew me from several incarnations down there in other activities.  And seeing some of the folks, such as the women’s groups in Cite Soleil who, at one point, had been only focusing on the violence perpetuated against women by the gang members, the rapes and whatnot, transform themselves into an organization that was channeling assistance to folks to sort of regain productive lives.

Having spent much of my career in the field before coming to Washington to work with S/CRS – and it was exceptionally good for me to be able to get back out in the field and do a reality check – what it enabled me to do was to come back with the sense of what’s important, what we can accomplish, and how we can accomplish it.  So I would go out again in a heartbeat.

Related Entry: Ambassador Herbst discusses the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization and the Civilian Response Corps.

“I want to state to you, Prime Minister, how impressed and grateful we are for the leadership that you and President Preval have shown.

We have seen a tremendous commitment by the Government of Haiti in the face of tremendous difficulties, most particularly four hurricanes in one year. It’s almost impossible to even imagine. But the government has come forth with a recovery plan that lays out very clear priorities, which we intend to work with the Government of Haiti and the people of Haiti, with businesses, NGOs, academics, the religious community, as well as other international partners to address. This is important not only for the people of Haiti, but for all the people of our region. You know, our lives are linked in so many ways, and we share a common space and a common future.

At the Haiti Donors Conference yesterday, officials of the Haitian Government and the international community discussed the plan that the Haitian Government has put forth. This will respond to Haiti’s short-term reconstruction needs while addressing the longer-term development goals. We appreciated the prime minister’s leadership at the conference and the constructive engagement of Haiti’s government. They have set realistic and achievable goals.

And I assured the prime minister again today that the United States will remain a committed partner throughout this process. The Obama Administration is very willing to work with you, Prime Minister. And as an expression of our commitment, I announced at the conference the United States will provide more than $280 million in assistance to Haiti in 2009.

During my visit tomorrow, I will be meeting with President Preval and other officials, and I look forward to working with both the president and the prime minister. We want to help Haiti because Haiti deserves our help.

Haiti was making tremendous progress until the national disasters so tragically and unfairly interrupted that progress. In 2007, Haiti had the highest rate of GDP growth since the ‘90s, and there was no doubt Haiti was on the right track. Things happen. Hurricanes happen. But we think by focusing on security, job creation, infrastructure development, sustainable agriculture, we’re going to be able to help the people and the Government of Haiti. And it’s a great honor for me to be standing here with the prime minister.”

Read the transcript of the Secretary’s press availability with Haitian Prime Minister Michele Duvivier Pierre-Louis or more about the Haiti Donors Conference.

This is the third in a series of four videos introducing the Fifth Summit of the Americas. The Summit will be held in Trinidad and Tobago April 17-19, 2009 under the theme of “Securing our Citizens Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability.”

How are we connected in the Americas?  There’s a lot more than geographic proximity linking the people of the Western Hemisphere.  Although we live in a region of rich cultural diversity, being a citizen of the Americas connects us all.  Learn more about our connections in this video.  Visit the Fifth Summit of the Americas Digital Town Hall to learn, share and discuss how we all can work together throughout the Americas.

This is the second in a series of four videos introducing the Fifth Summit of the Americas. The Summit will be held in Trinidad and Tobago April 17-19, 2009 under the theme of “Securing our Citizens Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability.”

How do I benefit from the Summit of the Americas?  Whether or not you’re one of the millions of people who directly gain from a summit initiative, if you live in the Americas, the summit is shaping your world for the better.  Learn how in this video.  Visit the Fifth Summit of the Americas Digital Town Hall to learn, share and discuss how we all can work together throughout the Americas.

Secretary Clinton will conduct a digital town hall in anticipation of the Fifth Summit of the Americas, a regional meeting of all 34 democratically elected leaders of the nations of the Western Hemisphere.  You may participate in the discussion about issues that impact the entire hemisphere.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will conduct Digital Town Hall of the Americas, a live web-based discussion, from the Dominican Republic on Friday, April 17, 2009, in anticipation of the Fifth Summit of the Americas to be held April 17-19 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The event will provide an opportunity for Secretary Clinton to launch a conversation with citizens from across the Western Hemisphere to discuss the Summit’s themes of securing our citizens’ future by promoting human prosperity, energy security and environmental sustainability, as well as the situation in Haiti, where she will visit and attend meetings on Thursday, April 16.

Digital Town Hall of the Americas will be streamed live on the Department of State’s Social Media Hub for the Fifth Summit of Americas (http://townhall.howcast.com/), powered by Howcast. Content will also be featured on Ustream, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, Orkut, and Hi-5. Secretary Clinton will answer questions submitted through these sites prior to the event as well as from the local Dominican audience in attendance. Please refer to the above web site for further detail on the Digital Town Hall of the Americas as it becomes available, including confirmed time and venue.

The Social Media Hub, run under contract with Howcast, is a robust information resource that provides a platform for community interaction on Summit themes. Interaction will be facilitated through web chats, discussion forums, and the ability for visitors to upload their own videos and guides. In addition, the Hub will feature on-location interviews with world leaders and Summit participants throughout the event.

Adding background and perspective to the discussion that will take place between the region’s 34 democratically-elected leaders, the site will feature videos on the following topics: “What is the Summit of the Americas?” “How do I benefit from the Summit of the Americas?” “How are we connected in the Americas?” And, “How can I participate in meeting the Summit of the Americas goals?” The Hub will continue as an information resource after the Summit, providing community forums on topics of interest for the hemisphere and serving as a repository for all documents related to U.S. Summit participation.

At today’s conference, Secretary Clinton said: “Now, for some of us, Haiti is a neighbor, and for others of us, it is a place of historic and cultural ties. But for all of us, it is now a test of resolve and commitment. Now, some may ask, and I am sure there are some in my country and my Congress who may ask, why a small nation in the middle of the Caribbean should command so much attention. Why should countries in the Western Hemisphere, Europe, the Middle East and Asia offer assistance to Haiti in the midst of a global economic downturn (inaudible)? And I think the answer is very clear. Because what happens in Haiti affects far beyond the Caribbean and even the region. This small nation of 9 million people is on a brink. It is on a brink of either moving forward with the help of the collective community or falling further back. And it, as well as this region, will be shaped to a large extent by the decisions that we make.”

The Secretary added, “Now, like many nations, Haiti struggles against crime, particularly the global scourge of drug trafficking. But reforms to improve policing, strengthening the justice system and fighting corruption are now underway. And a peacekeeping force, led so ably by Brazil, has helped to bring stability to many communities.  Haiti made these strides through the efforts of its government and its citizens and many of the nations and institutions represented here. This represents the full range of resources and relationships, from businesses and universities to NGOs and religious and cultural groups, as well as committed individuals, which is at the heart of smart power.

The trajectory of progress for Haiti, however, has been undermined by the combined winds of hurricanes and the global economic recession. So Haiti is in danger of stalling. This conference gives us all an opportunity to reignite its path to progress by working as a team with Haiti at the helm to advance a comprehensive, long-term strategy for Haiti’s growth, by coordinating hemispheric and international efforts, by targeting clear goals, by setting benchmarks to gauge our progress, and deploying our diverse skills and resources efficiently and effectively.

The president and the prime minister have identified what Haiti needs to stay on track. And with these priorities as our guide, we can make progress. Now is the time to step up our investment in Haiti, not just because the situation is dire and because the consequences of inaction could lead to significantly greater human suffering, but because Haiti has a real opportunity to make substantial progress. It has a plan to do so, and it has demonstrated the determination to carry it out.

Just think, for $150 we can pay to send one Haitian child to school for a year, or we can immunize 15 children. That is a tiny fraction of the costs of solving these problems if they escalate over time. The United States will target our support toward four areas that President Preval and Prime Minister Pierre-Louis have requested, all of which are essential for national and regional progress. First, the Haitian people need and deserve to be secure. They must be able to travel safely to work and school, and participate in civic lives without fear of violence. Second, the country needs stronger infrastructure, particularly roads, which are the circulatory system of any robust economy. And going along with the infrastructure needs is the need for jobs. So we can accomplish two things at once: putting people to work, building roads and other infrastructure throughout the country.

Third, last year’s hurricanes blew a hole in the government’s budget. Now Haiti is facing a huge deficit which will make it harder for them to meet their own goals and the needs of their people. Their debt obligations further constrain their ability to lay the groundwork for the future. And fourth, agriculture – you heard the prime minister refer to it – once again, providing a strong agricultural base for the people of Haiti to become more self-sufficient, as well as to move toward reforestation as part of that agricultural initiative, will give Haiti tools for growth it desperately needs. Now on each of these issues, we will lend our assistance and we seek partners with other nations to maximize our collective impact.”

Further, Secretary Clinton said, “Now, this work is not only a matter for governments, but it is a mission for the people of our country. I’ve heard from many individuals and groups who care deeply about Haiti, but they don’t know how to invest their time and money in a way to make a real impact. We will, through our government, help to create a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that the Haitian Diaspora and the United States can contribute to. And we will help coordinate other NGOs, particularly those that have been started by Haitian Americans who want to give back and are looking for the best way forward.”

At the conclusion of her remarks, Secretary Clinton said, “Every poor nation that has worked hard to gain a foothold in the global economy that has been knocked off their footing is looking to see what we can do together. I’m confident that we will make not only significant pledges here, but we will match those pledges by our follow-up efforts and our coordination, and that we will demonstrate to ourselves as well as to the people of Haiti and far beyond that we can, working together, make a significant difference.”

Read the Secretary’s full remarks here.

The Obama administration announced a series of changes in U.S. policy to reach out to the Cuban people in support of their desire to freely determine their country’s future. In taking these steps to help bridge the gap among divided Cuban families and promote the freer flow of information and humanitarian items to the Cuban people, President Obama is working to fulfill the goals he identified both during his presidential campaign and since taking office.

All who embrace core democratic values long for a Cuba that respects basic human, political and economic rights of all its citizens. President Obama believes these measures will help make that goal a reality.

Specifically, the President has directed the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Commerce to take the needed steps to:

• Lift all restrictions on transactions related to the travel of family members to Cuba.

• Remove restrictions on remittances to family members in Cuba.

• Authorize U.S. telecommunications network providers to enter into agreements to establish fiber-optic cable and satellite telecommunications facilities linking the United States and Cuba.

• License U.S. telecommunications service providers to enter into roaming service agreements with Cuba’s telecommunications service providers.

• License U.S. satellite radio and satellite television service providers to engage in transactions necessary to provide services to customers in Cuba.

• License persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to activate and pay U.S. and third-country service providers for telecommunications, satellite radio and satellite television services provided to individuals in Cuba.

• Authorize the donation of certain consumer telecommunication devices without a license.

• Add certain humanitarian items to the list of items eligible for export through licensing exceptions.

Read more about these steps in the White House fact sheet.