Tag Archives: Democratic Institutions

Human Rights in Burma / A U.S. Election Update / Kids And Robots

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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton backs a probe of human rights violations in Burma. We also have three more reports in our continuing coverage of the U.S. midterm elections, including one on President Obama’s campaign travels. The U.S. and Japan mark a 50 year relationship. The U.S.  urges support for the Lebanese government. Obama’s portfolio for his coming trip to India is packed largely with economic issues.  Learn how lost early American films turned up in a Russian film archive. You can study anything, virtually. In an international program for journalists, Bob Woodward stresses the importance of facts. Meet American fine-art photographer Peter Steinhauer and his Southeast Asian inspirations. And finally, here’s yet another reason robots are cool.

A Focus on Human Rights in Burma
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton backs an international inquiry into human rights abuses in Burma and pledges U.S. support for efforts to improve the lives of its citizens. Speaking in Hawaii at the beginning of a 13-day visit to the Asia-Pacific region, Clinton, right, promises to “seek accountability for the human rights violations that have occurred in Burma.”


Obama’s Daily Campaigning
President Obama was warmly welcomed to the popular comedy program The Daily Show, but during his lengthy interview with host Jon Stewart it became clear the appearance was very much a campaign stop. With congressional Democrats facing tough challenges in the 2010 midterm elections, the comedy show’s first interview with a sitting U.S. president was another in a series of more than 25 campaign stops for Obama in recent weeks.

The Muslim Vote in America
The week before national midterm elections in the U.S., discussions over Islam’s place in America is prompting American Muslims to make their voices heard through voting. Various Muslim organizations are working to acquaint American Muslims with the voting process and to encourage voter turnout.

America’s Endangered Senators
On Election Day, only 37 U.S. senators will be chosen, but some of those political contests are among the most contentious in the 2010 elections. The 2010 midterm elections include 12 Democrats and 11 Republicans seeking re-election and 14 “open” seats (no incumbent running) that currently are split evenly between Democrats and Republicans.

The U.S.-Japan Alliance at 50
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara marked the 50th anniversary of the U.S.-Japan alliance with praise for a relationship “based on deep friendship between our people, on mutual respect, and on common goals and values.” The two met in Honolulu on the first day of Clinton’s seven-nation Asia-Pacific tour. 

U.S. Urges Support for Lebanon
The United States urges support for the Lebanese government as it works to reduce the threat posed by instability and conflict, says U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice.

Economy Tops Obama India Agenda
Expanding economic ties and growing business relationships between the United States and India will be atop the agenda as President Obama travels to South Asia beginning Nov. 6. Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs Mike Froman says India represents “one of the most important emerging economic relationships for the United States, both multilaterally and bilaterally.”

“Lost” Silent Films Found
Some of America’s early film history that was thought to have been lost forever has been recovered. Ten films from Hollywood’s silent film era have been found in Gosfilmofond, the Russian state film archive, restored, copied and presented to the Library of Congress. “This is like finding a lost Picasso,” says Pat Loughney, chief of the library’s $200 million Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation. At left, a still image from the 1922 crime drama Kick In, one of the found films.

Learning Virtually Anything
Salman Khan hopes to make his online classroom “the world’s first free, world-class virtual school where anyone can learn anything.” Based in California, the Khan Academy received a $2 million grant from Google to build the software needed to translate its content into the world’s most-spoken languages.

Woodward on Journalism
American investigative journalist Bob Woodward met with some 150 journalists from 125 countries in an interactive session at the U.S. Department of State as part of the Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists, named for the award-winning and pioneering broadcast journalist. Woodward stressed the importance of what he called “neutral fact-getting” and meticulous reporting.

Visions of Vietnam 
American Peter Steinhauer is a successful Hong Kong-based fine-art photographer whose work is displayed in museums and galleries worldwide, and also at the U.S. embassies and consulates in Vietnam and Burma. Steinhauer was inspired by a 1993 trip to Vietnam, and his work primarily consists of landscapes and portraits portraying Vietnamese culture.

Robots Draw Kids to Science
Robots that kick soccer balls, solar-powered vehicles and helmets that offer virtual bike rides were some of the attractions at America’s first national science exposition, the grand finale of two weeks of activities intended to motivate more young people to pursue careers in science. The expo drew an estimated half million visitors to the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Pakistan Talks / A Cholera Outbreak in Haiti / The U.S. Vote

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The United States and Pakistan continue strategic talks. Health officials fear an outbreak of Cholera in Haiti could spread, read what the United States is doing to help. The rule of law in Latin America is on the agenda at a conference in California. The U.S. government is turning to American farms for fuel. Somalia needs more international help. And, we’ve got a pair of reports about the coming elections in the United States.

U.S.-Pakistan Dialogue
The latest round of the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue demonstrates a commitment to strengthening the relationship between the two countries based on values, mutual respect, trust and interests, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says. “We came together in this Strategic Dialogue to discuss how to help the Pakistani people in the areas that Pakistani people themselves had identified as their more important concerns,” Clinton and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said. Aat right, Clinton and Qureshi at an earlier meeting.

Fighting Cholera in Haiti
The U.S. government is working rapidly to respond to a cholera outbreak in northwestern Haiti that officials fear could lead to a country-wide epidemic.

Democracy in Latin America
In California, at a conference of Latin American leaders, the focus was not on past triumphs, but on the issues and challenges that many countries face today in strengthening democracy and the rule of law.

U.S. Calls for More Somalia Aid
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson says more countries need to contribute troops and assets to the African Union Mission in Somalia. He says allowing Somalis to simply fight amongst themselves “is in no one’s interest.”

From Fields to Fuel Tanks
The U.S. government plans to ramp up production and consumption of biofuels to help lessen the country’s dependence on foreign oil, and to create new jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

U.S. Prepping for Midterms
On November 2, Americans will cast their ballots in midterm elections that will determine who will represent them in the 112th Congress, scheduled to convene in January 2011. In electing a new Congress every two years, American voters decide who will speak for them in crafting legislation, determining government spending and overseeing the activities of the executive branch.

U.S. Voters as Decision Makers
When Americans vote in the midterm elections, they will select their future leaders and decide a wide range of ballot issues, including how their taxes are spent or what rights their state constitutions guarantee.

A Busy Day in Brussels || An Environmental Success Story || A “Paradigm Shift” in Health Care

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Busy in Brussels, Secretary Clinton discusses NATO and Pakistan. There’s hope ahead of a crucial vote in Sudan. A new initiative is spurring interfaith action to improve Muslim countries. China and the U.S. are partnering on air quality. Counterfeit drugs are a pandemic. And finally, experts call for a “paradigm shift” in health care in Africa.


NATO’s 21st Century Threats
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates urges members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to focus on 21st century threats such as terrorism, cyber attacks and ballistic missiles. “Relying on the strategies of the past simply will not suffice” says Clinton, right with Gates. The two also express support for the alliance’s proposed Strategic Concept.


Taxing Pakistan’s Wealthy
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urges Pakistan to collect taxes on its wealthier citizens in order to help pay for the country’s recovery from flooding that could ultimately cost tens of billions of dollars.

The Timeline in Sudan
Following a week-long visit to southern Sudan, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice reports that the Sudanese people remain hopeful ahead of a January 9, 2011 referendum on the region’s independence.

“Partners for a New Beginning”
Partners for a New Beginning (PNB), an initiative joining American private sector and civil society leaders to strengthen opportunities in Muslim countries, adds further support to President Obama’s vision of “a new beginning” for the United States and Muslim communities across the globe.

A U.S.-China Success Story
AirNow International, a joint U.S.-China air quality program, is cited as a bilateral success by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson during a visit to the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

The Danger of Counterfeit Drugs
The key to fighting a global “pandemic” of counterfeit drugs is building partnerships among drug companies, pharmaceutical trade groups, law enforcement and customs officials worldwide, experts say. Rubie Mages, a security official with U.S. drug manufacturer Pfizer, says pharmaceutical companies must “monitor the supply chain” and report counterfeit drugs to authorities.

Changing Health Care in Africa
Experts say a “paradigm shift” is needed in health care in Africa to include greater focus on the prevention and treatment of noncommunicable diseases like diabetes and not just infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS. Silver Bahendeka, chair of the International Diabetes Association’s Africa region, predicts that “Africa will have the highest percentage of increase in the number of people with diabetes over the next 20 years.” Left, Archbishop Desmond Tutu is examined for diabetes in South Africa.

Is an Educated Populace Critical to Democracy?

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Close-up of man wearing graduation cap and gown (AP Images)

Urban Prep High School senior Krishaun Branch listens to the school's founder, Tim King, during graduation ceremonies. In 2006, King founded the successful charter school in Chicago to prepare black American males for college and career success. Of the 107 young men graduating this year, 100 percent are bound for college.

Can a true democracy flourish when a significant number of its youth doesn’t finish secondary school?

One has to wonder, especially when reading a recently released report that says that on average only 47 percent of black males (versus 78 percent of non-Latino white males) in the United States graduated from high school in 2007-2008.

Those appalling figures – reported on U.S. national news programs – were provided by the Schott Foundation for Public Education, which promotes quality education for all children. The report, “Yes We Can: The 2010 Schott 50 State Report on Black Males in Public Education,” (PDF, 2.5MB) calls the statistics evidence of both an educational and economic national crisis.

The picture doesn’t seem much brighter in the numbers provided by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) at the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics.

Looking at the 2008 high school dropout rates for both sexes, IES found that 9.9 percent of blacks dropped out and 18.3 percent of the Hispanics did.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that blacks represent about 12 percent of the total U.S. population; Hispanics about 15 percent.

Economic concerns aside, can high percentages of secondary school dropouts in almost a third of the population bode well for a democracy?

On Being American

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As a daughter of immigrants, I’ve been very disturbed by Arizona’s immigration law and recent calls for courts to re-evaluate the citizenship-by-birth clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

As I have written before, my parents originally came from Taiwan to the United States to study. While they were here, they had me and my brother, and eventually decided to become naturalized citizens.

Because I have lived in the United States most of my life, I speak with an American accent and have American mannerisms. But my Asian hair texture, skin tone and eyes still seem to be what some people use when guessing my nationality. Although I am a U.S. citizen, thanks in part to the 14th Amendment, it seems not everyone understands this.

A few years ago, for example, my son’s teacher invited me to join his class at lunchtime. I was pleased by the opportunity to meet his classmates and anticipated being asked what I do for a living and other questions kids typically pose to visitors.

Instead, the only question I received was, “Do you speak English?”

At first, I was so stunned by the question that I couldn’t respond. I finally stammered out a brusque, “Yes,” then held my tongue as I felt my face flush with embarrassment and a touch of anger. Why would this child — who herself looked to be of Hispanic origin — wonder if I speak English? I may have Asian features, but why should this call into question my language ability?

The girl’s innocent question triggered a number of similar, unpleasant memories. Growing up, people sometimes would “compliment” me on how well I speak English — something I always found mildly offensive and ironic, considering how often my classmates asked me to edit their English compositions. (You can see where that led me, career-wise!)

Another question people would ask me was, “Where are you from?” When I would tell them that I was born in Buffalo, New York, they would respond, “No, I mean, where are you FROM?” I knew they really were asking, “What is your ancestry?” but I hated the implication that I’m not really American because of my ethnicity. (This past weekend a stranger in a grocery store asked me the same question, and I had to struggle to answer him politely.)

Yes, my parents are originally from Taiwan, but I’m American. I have a U.S. birth certificate, a Social Security number and a U.S. passport. I can contribute to political campaigns, vote in U.S. elections and work for the federal government. I am an Asian-American woman, not an Asian one.

As a co-worker wrote, you really can’t separate diversity from democracy in the United States, and immigration is part of what has made America strong. But it looks as though some people — adults and children — are still learning those facts.

Portrait of Peggy B. Hu in front of Yellowstone Lake

The author during a family vacation to Yellowstone National Park

Engaging the Next Generation of Leaders

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Students at Pampanga High School in San Fernando, the Philippines

Students at Pampanga High School in San Fernando, the Philippines

Every August 12 for the past 10 years, the United Nations has celebrated International Youth Day, an initiative to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth.

In honor of International Youth Day this year, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) has assembled a slideshow and a series of blog posts highlighting some inspiring stories about what people are doing to expand access to public education, teach leadership skills, and achieve other goals under the program. CIPE is a partner with the State Department in the “Democracy is…” campaign.

A participant in the Tashabos Youth Entrepreneurship Education Program in Afghanistan

A participant in the Tashabos Youth Entrepreneurship Education Program in Afghanistan

“CIPE has long understood that democracy and strong economies are mutually reinforcing; a society that provides opportunities for its young people allows them to become proactive, productive, and responsible citizens,” the organization said in a statement.

“Today’s youth are tomorrow’s political and business leaders. For progress and reform to take hold, young people must feel engaged and empowered to advance democratic and market-oriented reforms in their countries. Giving young people a voice helps to ensure their needs are met and helps to develop their abilities as citizens,” CIPE said.

Please take a look and share your thoughts!

U.S. July 4th Celebrations Often End with a Russian Bang

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Real cannons accompany the U.S. Army Band playing the 1812 Overture near the Washington Monument.

Real cannons accompany the U.S. Army Band playing the 1812 Overture near the Washington Monument.

Nothing brings together an international audience like the U.S. Independence Day celebrations held on the National Mall every July 4th.

Hundreds of thousands of people – many representing countries from every corner of the globe – come to Washington to enjoy the fireworks, concerts and other entertainments of “A Capitol Fourth.” It’s a joyous party, and the guests of honor are U.S. freedom and democracy.

In cities all around the United States, no Fourth of July is complete without lots of music. Bands everywhere play the rousing marches of John Philip Sousa and other American composers. But in the nation’s capitol – as in many U.S. cities – the grand finale very often is Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, which commemorates Russia’s defense of Moscow against the onslaught of Napoleon’s army.

I’ve always wondered about the story behind these very unlikely musical bedfellows. Here’s what I learned:

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky played the 1812 Overture for American audiences during his 1891 visit to the United States. But the piece did not become a July 4th staple until 1974, when it was played by the Boston Pops Orchestra under the wand of Arthur Fiedler, a conductor who helped popularize classical music with the general public. His version of the 1812 Overture included a steeple-bell choir and actual cannons.

It’s those cannons, I think, that make the 1812 Overture perfect for a July 4th national party. Cannon fire was popular at Independence Day celebrations back in the 1830s, long before zoning ordinances and safety concerns severely limited their use.

And, since U.S. democracy enfolds people of many different races and ethnicities, what’s wrong with ending Fourth of July celebrations with a Russian bang?

Hardest Unpaid Job in the World

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Those who follow Michelle Obama closely could probably describe her interests in a few words. What comes to me is “healthy eating” and “fighting childhood obesity.”

Just as her husband has made health care and financial reform key issues of his presidency, Michelle Obama has causes she champions. One of them is fighting childhood obesity. The first lady has promoted healthy eating by planting a White House garden. She has highlighted the importance of exercise, by hula-hooping. Recently, the first lady launched the “Let’s Move” campaign, a national initiative to “help our kids to be more physically active, and make healthy, affordable food available in every part of our country.”

There’s no rule saying a first lady has to take on an issue. But many first ladies have. For Laura Bush, wife of George W. Bush, it was reading. Lady Bird Johnson, wife of Lyndon B. Johnson, favored environmental issues.

In fact, there are no official first lady duties at all, and yet Patricia Nixon, wife of President Richard Nixon, once described the role of first lady as “the hardest unpaid job in the world.”

First Lady historian Myra Gutin once summed up the power of American first ladies like this: “If they go somewhere, if they advocate an idea, if they use the White House podium and say ‘I care about this,’ it’s something that gets a lot of attention,” Gutin said. “Other first ladies around the world are not treated in the same manner.”

I would certainly agree that the issue of childhood obesity is getting greater attention now that Michelle Obama speaks frequently about it. Do you agree that other first ladies are not treated the same? Should they be?

Rival Power-Sharing

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I have been watching, with great enthusiasm, as British politicking has led to the formation of a new government with Prime Minister David Cameron of the Conservative party and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, a Liberal Democrat.

The two have long been rivals. Cameron admitted he once answered, when asked what his favorite joke was, “Nick Clegg.” And yet, thanks to a power-sharing deal, they are now the team to lead their country.

It makes me wonder, how would American politics be different today if the president had to share power with his former electoral rival? Imagine if John McCain were Barack Obama’s vice president?

It initially was supposed to be that way. The second place finisher was to become vice president. It didn’t work out so well. In 1796, Federalist John Adams became president and Thomas Jefferson of the Democrat-Republican party won the vice presidency. In office, Jefferson saw his role to be that of an opposition leader and spent much of his time planning his campaign against Adams in the next election – which he won.

Jefferson didn’t have it much easier when he was president. His vice president, Aaron Burr, though of the same party, was not a fan of Jefferson, having lost the presidential race to him. One of the few constitutional duties of the vice president is to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate. Angry with Jefferson, Burr cast tie-breaking votes that went against the president’s wishes.

In 1804, Jefferson led the effort to pass the 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which requires presidential and vice presidential candidates to run together on a ticket.

It will be interesting to see how British politics unfolds under this new leadership. Do you think Cameron and Clegg can put their rivalry aside for the sake of governing?

Statement by Secretary Clinton on South Africa's Freedom Day

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Statement by Secretary Clinton:

On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the people of the Republic of South Africa as you celebrate the sixteenth anniversary of your democracy. The April 27, 1994 elections were the culmination of decades of struggle and opened a new era of equality and opportunity in South Africa. I was honored to attend the inauguration of President Mandela and witness first-hand the historic excitement of those days.

Your story serves as an inspiration to people around the world yearning to be free. And your progress is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of democracy.

The partnership between the United States and South Africa is rooted in our shared values and common aspirations. Our two countries share the goal of ridding the world of discrimination in all its forms, promoting broad-based prosperity and opportunity, and supporting democracy and the rule of law.

We have much to learn from one another, and much to accomplish together. The U.S. – South Africa Strategic Dialogue that we launched last month provides a framework for meeting our common challenges. The United States believes in South Africa’s promise and we are committed to our partnership.

I offer you my warmest wishes as you celebrate this momentous anniversary.