Pacific Partnership 2012 Departs for Indonesia
Posted by Thomas E. Weinz / May 14, 2012
![USNS Mercy takes on supplies for Pacific Partnership 2012 in Pearl Harbor, HI on May 9, 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0514_pacific_partnership_m.jpg)
I awoke this morning, May 14, to the soft strains of the call to prayer emanating from the stately mosque near my hotel -- an encouraging start to my first day back in Indonesia to prepare for the arrival of Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12). Only two days ago I was on the deck of the incomparable hospital ship USNS Mercy sailing into Pearl Harbor. The scene at Pearl Harbor reminded me of movie versions depicting dockside activities prior to a voyage: there were mobile cranes everywhere, several eighteen-wheelers disgorging supplies, sailors, volunteers, and family members loaded down with duffels, suitcases, boxes, and crates to be tucked into the ship's relatively confined berthing areas.
Pearl Harbor was the initial PP12 interim port; in addition to taking on supplies and personnel, commanding officers met with Pacific Fleet counterparts, held a briefing at… more »
Strengthening Security Partnerships Across the Asia-Pacific
Posted by Andrew J. Shapiro / April 24, 2012
![Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro is greeted by naval officials during his visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on February 15, 2012 [U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur photo/ Public Domain]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0425_shapiro_m.jpg)
The Asia-Pacific is home to half the world's population, more than half the world's GDP and nearly half of its trade. It is home to key allies and emerging powers. It is also home to booming middle classes and growing economic opportunities and is a region experiencing reductions in poverty without parallel in human history.
I recently traveled to the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia, where I saw firsthand how, in the words of Secretary Clinton, "It's becoming increasingly clear that in the 21st century, the world's strategic and economic center of gravity will be the Asia-Pacific."
While this region is experiencing many gains, there are also many challenges, including arms proliferation, piracy, trafficking and smuggling, natural disasters and regional tensions between powerful countries. A top priority for our Bureau's engagement with partners… more »
Pacific Partnership 2012: “Prepare in Calm To Respond in Crisis”
Posted by Thomas E. Weinz / February 03, 2012
![A Micronesian boy holds onto Project HOPE volunteer, Andrew Siler's hand, while Able Seaman Thomas Pearson of Royal Australian Navy, Lt. Michael Bloir, and Project HOPE volunteer Hanna Taylor puts four sticks in a Micronesian boy's leg at Nanpei medical civic action project site for Pacific Partnership 2011 in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, on July 9, 2011. Pacific Partnership 2011 visited the islands of Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Federated States of Micronesia. [Photo By Kristopher Radder]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0203_pacific_partnership_m.jpg)
“Prepare in calm to respond in crisis.” This was the motto chosen by Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12) Commodore Jim Morgan as 200 participants gathered in San Diego on January 30 and 31 for the Mid-Planning Conference (MPC) for PP12. All four host nations -- Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia -- sent high-level delegations, as did many of our partner nations, including Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, and Thailand.
Pacific Partnership, created in response to the terrible tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people in 2004, will carry out its seventh annual mission from May to September of this year. The program was developed by the U.S. Navy, but has become a demonstrable example of the “whole of government” approach to American policy in the Pacific, including participation by the Department of State, USAID, NOAA, and… more »
Tradition Meets Technology: Protocol and 21st Century Statecraft
Posted by Capricia Penavic Marshall / January 22, 2012
![Alec Ross, Senior Advisor for Innovation to the U.S. Secretary of State, responds to questions on his account during a Twitter Q&A session on January 19, 2012. The U.S. Department of State has designated January 2012 as 21st Century Statecraft month. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0122_ross_qa_m.jpg)
The traditions of protocol are some of the oldest in diplomatic history, and its practice has created the framework for international relations. On Friday, January 13, 2012, however, the Office of the Chief of Protocol hosted its first State of the Administration briefing of this year to talk about the use of new technology in diplomacy. The briefing featured the Secretary of State's Senior Advisor for Innovation, Alec Ross, and representatives from Facebook and Twitter along with His Excellency Dino Djalal, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia.
As an initiative of Protocol's Diplomatic Partnerships Division, the State of the Administration speaker series provides foreign ambassadors posted in Washington with opportunities to interact directly with senior members of our government who can provide first-hand knowledge of the administration's work and discuss some… more »
@america Celebrates Its One Year Anniversary
Posted by Dawn McCall and Jason Rebholz / January 14, 2012
![Counselor Don Q. Washington, Robin Lim, Coordinator Dawn McCall, Ambassador Scot Marciel, and Sommers Pierce, Director of the Office of American Spaces, celebrate one year anniversary of the innovative AtAmerica American Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, January 14, 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0114_america_indonesia_m.jpg)
Today, we celebrated the one year anniversary of U.S. Mission Indonesia's innovative American Center -- @america -- and kicked off a month of celebrations. We joined Ambassador Scot Marciel and special guest and 2011 CNN Hero of the Year Robin Lim, an American living in Bali, for the opening day's events. Over 150 guests joined us for the lively celebration, including many of the Indonesian and American organizations that have supported the center over the past year, helping us create a dialogue on a range of topics from the environment, to hip hop, to American literature, to entrepreneurship, and everything in between.
Conceived as a laboratory for innovative, high-tech public diplomacy, @america has transformed public diplomacy for U.S. Embassy Jakarta, reaching new audiences… more »
2011: The Year in Global Partnerships
Posted by Kris Balderston / January 01, 2012
![U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with Chef José Andrés, Culinary Ambassador for the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on September 13, 2011. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2011_0913_clinton_chef_andres_m.jpg)
In 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton continued to champion cross-sectoral partnerships as a cornerstone of her 21st Century Statecraft. In support of her priorities, the Global Partnership Initiative (GPI) focused on four flagship initiatives last year:
Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves
Over the past year, our work on clean cookstoves has continued to thrive. In 2011, we built the Alliance infrastructure and strategic base, launched major communications initiatives, and began a wide range of operational priorities, much of which was either led by the U.S. government or made possible because of our strong commitment.
In May,… more »
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