Posted by Babs Chase on Mar 06, 2008 - 10:04 AM
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 (Super Tuesday #2!)
For those who enjoy U.S. politics, there is nothing better than the excitement of an election or primary day, and an election like this one is a dream come true for political enthusiasts. Because of that, this was the perfect day for us to spend time with the political party representatives as you can feel the energy and passion in the room as their candidates race to the finish line. The excitement is catching for our journalists, and the questions flow with the representatives from the Democratic and Republican parties. One thing that I have learned in this position is that foreign media often know more about our political process than a lot of our own citizens.
Category: Behind the Scenes More entries by Babs Chase | Comments (0)
Posted by Mark Lagon on Mar 05, 2008 - 12:23 PM
![Trafficking in Persons image [State Department image]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/UNGA/field/2008_0305_trafficking_bh_m.jpg)
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is a source country for men, women and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor, and for the fifth consecutive year has been placed in Tier 3, the lowest tier, in our annual Trafficking in Persons Report because it is making no discernible efforts to combat the trafficking of its citizens.
As the Ambassador-at-Large for Trafficking in Persons, my job…
Category: East Asia and the Pacific More entries by Mark Lagon | Comments (8)
Posted by Kathy Eagen on Mar 05, 2008 - 08:24 AM
![WIREC 2008 opened on Mar. 4, 2008 in Washington, DC [State Dept. photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/UNGA/field/2008_0305_wirec_bh_m.jpg)
The energy was high as the first wave of registrants entered the Washington Convention Center to get credentialed for the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference 2008. Everywhere you turn a different language is being spoken, connections are being made, ideas debated, and greetings fly as old friends meet once again on the fringes of this ministerial-level meeting.
This is the third in a series of meetings regarding the rapid deployment of renewable energy to mitigate climate change. Months of planning have finally come…
Category: Policy More entries by Kathy Eagen | Comments (5)
Posted by DipNote Bloggers on Mar 04, 2008 - 08:58 AM
![A Palestinian burns tyres during a rally in the West Bank town of Hebron, Mar. 3, 2008. [AP]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/UNGA/field/2008_0304_gaza_bh_m.jpg)
Should the U.S. engage Hamas as part of its efforts to bring about peace between the Israelis and Palestinians?
Category: Question of the Week More entries by DipNote Bloggers | Comments (61)
Posted by Babs Chase on Mar 03, 2008 - 06:10 AM
![Karen Hughes with reporters in Austin, Texas Mar. 2, 2008. [State Dept. photo by Babs Chase]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/UNGA/field/2008_0303_fpc_bh_m.jpg)
Saturday, March 1, 2008
The State Department’s Foreign Press Center (FPC) is mandated to help foreign journalists better understand the U.S. government and American culture and society so their coverage of events in the United States is more accurate and thorough. To accomplish this, we arrange "reporting tours" that bring foreign media to the United States to write on a specific topic, and during the tour put them into contact with government and private sector decision opinion leaders who are knowledgeable in that area. Our latest tour is bringing 25 media from around the globe to visit the U.S. on a reporting tour themed "How Americans Vote: The Processes and Issues Surrounding the 2008 Presidential…
Category: Policy More entries by Babs Chase | Comments (15)