Consul General Conducts 4th of July Quiz in Can Tho
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| Consul General Ken Fairfax presents the library director with a souvenir gift |
On July 8, 2009, Consul General Kenneth Fairfax traveled to Can Tho to attend the 4th of July celebration hosted by the city’s Union of Friendship Organizations. He also conducted a program at the U.S.-Vietnam Studies Corner for more than 50 students, local officials and library users. He used questions from the July 4th Quiz (provided by the International Information Programs at the State Department) to create an interactive quiz for the audience. After participants successfully answered the questions, the Consul General provided background information on each question by sharing interesting stories about American history. Many participants expressed their pleasure with this program.
Happy Birthday to the United States from the Mekong Delta
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| Consul General Fairfax, surrounded by local dignitaries and Can Tho residents from all walks of life, celebrating the 4th of July |
On July 8, 2009, the Can Tho City Union of Friendship Organizations (CTUFO) organized a celebration, attended by Consul General Kenneth Fairfax, which marked the 233rd anniversary of American independence. Since the United States and Vietnam normalized relations, the CTUFO has hosted this event every year, gathering together city leaders, Can Tho natives who studied or worked in the United States, Americans living in Can Tho, and local companies trading with U.S. partners. The event also served to highlight cooperative efforts between the two countries on environment, trade and education, such as the Delta Research and Global Observation Network (DRAGON) center.
Consulate Hosts Speaker on Women’s Health
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| Dr. Camacho Carr exchanges experiences with doctors and midwives at HCMC University of Medicine and Pharmacy |
From June 28 to July 2, Dr. Katherine Camacho-Carr, Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies, Nursing College at Seattle University, visited Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong Province. During her trip to Vietnam, she gave presentations on topics related to women’s health to medical doctors, nurses, and midwives at the Nursing Department-University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tu Du Hospital, HCMC Nurses’ Association, and Hung Vuong Hospital. Dr. Camacho Carr also spoke to approximately 150 women workers at Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park in Binh Duong Province on pregnancy and child care. In addition to providing lectures on specific healthy living measures for mothers and children, Dr. Camacho Carr spoke about the economic costs to society when women do not receive needed medical and preventive care measures.
SSI Speaker’s Workshop on Economics and Environmental Reporting
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| Professor Rusty Todd with the participants of theworkshop in front of the Saigon times building |
From June 23-26, the Ho Chi Minh City Public Affairs Section and the Saigon Times Group co-organized a four-day workshop on economic and environmental reporting for 30 economic reporters and editors from Ho Chi Minh City and key industrial provinces of Southern Vietnam. Hosting the workshop was the Saigon Economic Times, a renowned economic newspaper based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s business and economic center.
Introducing himself as an ex-reporter, the University of Texas Professor and former Asian Wall Street Journal reporter Rusty Todd provided Vietnamese reporters with up-to-date knowledge on economic and environmental reporting that included New Models for Writing Business Journalism, Basics of Business Journalism and Environmental Economics, Dominant Issues—Globally and in Southeast Asia, The Financial Crisis and the Environment in Business Journalism, International Regulation and Data Sources, Covering the International Economy, Covering International Capital Markets, and Writing About Companies. Participants asked Professor Todd a range of challenging questions about economics in general, as well as his experience reporting on economic, business, and environmental issues. The speaker’s lectures generated sustained interest and enthusiasm over the four days of training. This program promotes U.S.-Vietnam cooperation in assessing and reporting economic and environmental issues stemming from rapid economic growth as well as the global financial crisis. Reporters Get Up-Close Look at Underwater Recovery Missions
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| Reporters learn about the technology aboard the USNS Heezen |
On June 24, 2009, Vietnamese and international reporters were invited aboard the USNS Bruce Heezen, an oceanographic survey ship conducting search operations for American servicemen missing from the Vietnam War. Manned by a civilian crew, the USNS Bruce C. Heezen provides oceanographic capabilities in coastal and deep ocean waters and is ideally suited to detect aircraft crash sites on the ocean floor. The USNS Heezen was in Vietnamese territorial waters June 11-25 for the 95th search mission of the U.S. Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP. During the media tour, reporters heard from scientists and technicians about the ship's capabilities and some of the information gathered by the team in the areas along Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen and Quang Nam, where many American aircraft fell during the war. The United States and Vietnam have cooperated during POW/MIA accounting missions since the 1980s, with both countries recently recognizing the 20-year anniversary of regularly scheduled joint search operations.
Acting Consul General Participates in Opening Ceremony: Institute on Social Work
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| Seated, starting second from left Professor Emeritus Dr. Vo Tong Xuan, Acting Consul General Angela Dickey, Rector and vice-chairman of the People’s Committee Mr. Le Ming Tung, and Neal Newfield, Associate Professor. AGU and WVU students and faculty and a Pacific Links representative are among others joining the opening ceremony |
On May 25, Angela Dickey joined An Giang University Rector and vice-chairman of the People’s Committee, Le Minh Tung, Rector Emeritus Dr. Vo Tong Xuan, and others for the opening of the fourth summer institute on social work organized by An Giang University and West Virginia University. Along with Dr. Neal Newfield, associate professor of Social Work at West Virginia University, and faculty and students from WVU as well as An Giang University, Ms. Dickey and Rector Tung celebrated the launch of the three-week “Social Work and Community Health Summer Institute” at AGU. The workshop is also sponsored by Pacific Links Foundation. Rector Tung described social work as “a meaningful task,” and Ms. Dickey applauded this example of international cooperation on health issues.
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