Author Archives: Scott Orr

The Obama Administration’s Egypt Principles / U.S.-S. Korea Free Trade? / Going Fossil Fuel Free

Posted on by

The Obama administration says America’s founding principles are guiding its approach to the unrest in Egypt. The U.S. must work with Middle Eastern countries to spread democracy, a top U.S. diplomat says. The U.S. trade representatives calls for a free trade agreement with South Korea. Though al-Qaida has been weakened, terrorism remains the top threat to the U.S. Can the world be fossil fuel free by 2050?

Democracy in the Middle East
(mobile version)
The Obama administration says that its approach to the situation in Egypt is being guided by American founding principles and by its desire to see the unrest be resolved in a manner that respects the universal rights of the Egyptian people. “The Egyptian people are going to be the drivers of this process,” said President Obama’s Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes. “[W]e don’t see this as a situation where we dictate outcomes.” At right, Egyptians in Tahrir Square watch Obama’s remarks.

Spreading Democracy in the Middle East
(mobile version)
It’s more important than ever that the United States work with Middle Eastern countries to “democratize and open up political systems, economies and societies,” says Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg in testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

South Korean Trade Deal
(mobile version)
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk urges Congress to enact a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea this spring. South Korea is the United States’ seventh largest trading partner and has the 15th largest economy in the world. The FTA is expected to boost bilateral trade by billions of dollars and help create tens of thousands of jobs in both countries.

Terrorism Still Top Threat to U.S.
(mobile version)
The top U.S. intelligence officer says terrorism remains the greatest threat to the nation, though the al-Qaida terrorist group has been weakened. “We’ve apprehended numerous dangerous actors throughout the world and weakened much of al-Qaida’s core capabilities, including its operations, training, and its propaganda,” says Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

Fossil Fuel Free by 2050
(mobile version)
The world has the technical know-how and financial capability to run entirely on renewable energy by the middle of this century, two California researchers say. Mark Jacobson of Stanford University and Mark Delucchi of the University of California–Davis say a large-scale transformation of the world’s energy systems to wind, solar, water, geothermal and other renewable sources would not cost substantially more than continued reliance on conventional power generation.

Counterterrorism Techniques / The U.S. Economy / Chinese-American Mayors

Posted on by

The United States is continually adapting its counterterrorism techniques to respond to evolving terrorist threats, says Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says the U.S. economy continues to strengthen but that unemployment remains stubbornly high. What is more important for the environment and for humans in the long run: clean energy or trees? And there are approximately 40 Asian-Americans currently serving as mayors of U.S. cities.

Janet Napolitano speakingPreventing Terror Threats
(mobile version)
The United States is continually adapting its “counterterrorism techniques to effectively detect, deter and prevent terrorist acts,” says Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. “Working with our federal partners, law enforcement across the country, the private sector, and the American public, we are making great progress in addressing today’s evolving terrorist threats,” Napolitano, right, says.

Bernanke on Economic Recovery
(mobile version)
The U.S. economy continues to strengthen as greater consumer and business spending take hold, but unemployment remains stubbornly high, says Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. “Until we see a sustained period of stronger job creation, we cannot consider the recovery to be truly established,” Bernanke said during a February 9 House Budget Committee hearing.

Solar Panels Versus Trees
(mobile version)
What is more important for the environment and for humans in the long run: clean energy or trees? As the United States continues to develop renewable power sources and encourage homeowners to take advantage of solar and wind power tax credits, clean energy advocates increasingly run into opposition from environmentalists who fear for the trees that are often lost to allow better access to sun and wind.

Chinese-American Mayors
(mobile version)
The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies says approximately 40 Asian-Americans currently serve as mayors of U.S. cities, with San Francisco and Oakland the two largest. At right, San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee (left) and Oakland Mayor Jean Quan (right) join other prominent Chinese-American guests at a White House state dinner for Chinese President Hu Jintao.

The Future of Egypt / U.S., China Work Toward Nuclear Security / Black History Month

Posted on by

The White House says only Egyptians can shape their country’s future. An arms control scholar discusses the newly enacted START treaty. The U.S. and China are working together on nuclear security. President Obama congratulates the people of South Sudan. February is black history month in the United States.


Egypt Must Shape its Own Future
(mobile version)
The White House continues to champion self-determination for the Egyptian people and to condemn the use of violence to achieve political ends. “Who leads Egypt…is a determination that can only be made by the Egyptians,” says White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.

START: A Treaty that “Makes Sense”
(mobile version)
The START nuclear arms reduction treaty signed recently by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is a win for both countries, a Washington arms control scholar says. Tom Collina, research director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association, says the treaty “benefits both sides” and “makes sense from every perspective.”

A Pledge on Nuclear Security
(mobile version)
The United States and China pledge to cooperate on combating nuclear proliferation and to establish a Center of Excellence on Nuclear Security in China. The collaboration will facilitate exchange of information and best practices, creation of training courses and technical collaboration to improve nuclear security throughout Asia.

Recognizing South Sudan
(mobile version)
The Obama administration says it intends to recognize the new, independent south Sudanese state in July and it is beginning the process of withdrawing Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. “After decades of conflict, the images of millions of southern Sudanese voters deciding their own future was an inspiration to the world and another step forward in Africa’s long journey toward justice and democracy,” President Obama says.

Black History Month
(mobile version)
Each February, Black History Month honors the struggles and triumphs of millions of American citizens and their contributions to the nation’s cultural and political life. February was chosen because it includes the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and the abolitionist Frederick Douglass. At right, Carter G. Woodson, founder of Black History Month.

Obama at the Chamber of Commerce / Solar Panels Versus Trees / Remembering Reagan

Posted on by

President Obama calls for U.S. businesses to help boost competitiveness. The U.S. and Russia sign the START nuclear arms reduction treaty. Is it a good idea to chop down trees to accommodate a solar energy system? Some of U.S. President Reagan’s accomplishments outlived him.

Obama on Competitiveness
(mobile version)
President Obama says U.S. businesses, working together with the government, can make the economy more competitive. In a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Obama calls on U.S. companies to help make the United States “the best place on earth to do business.”  Left, Obama is greeted by U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue.


Egypt Is “Not Going Back”
(mobile version)
President Obama says after nearly two weeks of political unrest in Egypt, the country “is not going to go back to what it was….The Egyptian people want freedom. They want free and fair elections. They want a representative government. They want a responsive government,” Obama says during a Fox News interview.

New START for U.S., Russia
(mobile version)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov exchange diplomatic documents in Munich, concluding a two-year effort to reduce nuclear arsenals to their lowest levels in more than 50 years. Clinton, right, and Lavrov, left, sign instruments of ratification to implement the New START treaty which reduces the number of nuclear warheads to 1,550 for each nation from 2,200 warheads.

Solar Panels Versus Trees
(mobile version)
What is more important for the environment and for humans in the long run: clean energy or trees? As the United States continues to develop renewable power sources and encourage homeowners to take advantage of solar and wind power tax credits, clean energy advocates increasingly run into opposition from environmentalists who fear for the trees that are often lost to allow better access to sun and wind.

Reagan’s Enduring Legacy
(mobile version)
February 6 was the 100th anniversary of the birth of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, whose policies brought about the end of the Cold War and new freedom in Europe. Among his accomplishments, President Reagan advanced three key principles that remain fundamental to security relationships in Europe: “trust, but verify”; no artificial divisions into “blocs” or “spheres of influence”; and “mutual assured destruction” is not an acceptable nuclear deterrence policy.

The Latest on Egypt / Combating Human Trafficking / Panda Diplomacy

Posted on by

The Obama administration renews its call for early political change in Egypt. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton calls for continued efforts against human trafficking. The U.S. is in a race to get 1 million electric cars on the road. Peter John Brownlee of the Terra Foundation for American Art talks about race and art history. And finally, a pair of pandas are staying put in Washington.

Robert Gibbs at podiumU.S.: Violence in Egypt Must Stop
(mobile version)
The White House strongly condemns “outrageous and deplorable violence” that has broken out in Cairo and other Egyptian cities and has renewed its call for political change to begin in the country. “It is imperative that the violence that we’re seeing stop and that the transition that was spoken about last night begin immediately,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, right, says.

Combating Human Trafficking
(mobile version)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the United States must continue to work to address human trafficking. Calling it an issue of “grave importance,” Clinton tells the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons that “anywhere from 12 to 27 million people are currently held in forced labor, bonded labor, or forced prostitution.”

An Electric Cars Race
(mobile version)
In his State of the Union address, President Obama challenged the United States to become the first nation with 1 million electric cars. Cleaner vehicles are part of the federal government’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build “clean” industries that provide new jobs.

On Race and American Art
(mobile version)
Peter John Brownlee, associate curator at the Terra Foundation for American Art, fielded questions about depictions of African Americans in American art during a digital video conference with Palestinians in Jerusalem. “I took that as an opportunity to go through a few slides and talk about how issues of race have evolved,” Brownlee says.

The Panda Program
(mobile version)
The United States and China renewed their partnership to save the giant panda during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s January visit to Washington. Under an agreement signed January 20, the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park will continue to host two pandas, Mei Xiang (meaning Beautiful Fragrance) and Tian Tian (More and More), first loaned by China to the United States in 2000.

Calls for Calm in Egypt / Obama’s Agenda / When Trust is a Must

Posted on by

The U.S. calls for calm in unrest-torn Egypt and urges governments in the Middle East and North Africa to engage with protesters. Obama’s newly minted agenda for 2011 America will require the backing of Congress. Financial companies need the public’s trust.

Close-up of Secretary Clinton

Democracy in Egypt
(mobile version)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urges an orderly and peaceful transition to democratic and economic reforms in Egypt, but also acknowledges that it will take considerable time. In a series of television news interviews, Clinton, above, said that violence, looting or criminal acts will not move the political process forward in a productive way that will be satisfying for the Egyptian people.

U.S. Calls for Calm in Egypt
(mobile version)
The Obama administration calls on the Egyptian government to restrain its security personnel and on anti-government protesters to express themselves peacefully as it continues to monitor the country through its fourth consecutive day of political unrest. “These protests underscore that there are deep grievances within Egyptian society, and the Egyptian government needs to understand that violence will not make these grievances go away,” says Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

U.S. Urges Engagement with Mideast Protesters
(mobile version)
The Obama administration urges governments in the Middle East and North Africa to “actively respond” to the concerns of younger populations who are voicing their protests in the streets. 

Obama’s Agenda Need Support on Capitol Hill
(mobile version)
In his State of the Union President Obama called for new investments in education, infrastructure and technology, among other items, but his plans will go nowhere without backing on Capitol Hill. Spending and other economic issues will likely dominate the first few months of the new Congress, two former representatives tell participants in a U.S. Department of State digital video conference.

Companies Bank on Trust
(mobile version)
Reports of excessive executive compensations, greed, irresponsible risk-taking and a lack of transparency have amounted to the greatest challenge to financial companies’ credibility in years. It has also been a wake-up call to companies in all sectors.

Obama’s Energy Agenda / Mideast Protests / Rebuilding Haiti

Posted on by

President Obama outlined a bold energy agenda in his State of Union address. The U.S. urges governments in the Middle East to engage with protesters. The Afghan parliament opens in Kabul. We’ve got a report on how financial institutions must polish their public images. Many U.S. cities are hosting Iranian film festivals this winter. And, finally, another look at photo galleries on the rebuilding effort in Haiti.

Obama’s Energy Agenda
(mobile version)
President Obama sees a future in which Americans will drive electric vehicles and get their power from wind, solar, biomass, natural gas and nuclear plants. In his State of the Union address, Obama called for heavy investment in clean energy to help the United States transition to a stronger and more sustainable economy.

Winning the Future with Renewable Energy
(mobile video)
President Obama speaks about how innovation and investment in clean energy technology can help protect the environment while creating new jobs and growing the economy. 

U.S. Urges Engagement with Mideast Protesters
(mobile version)
The Obama administration urges governments in the Middle East and North Africa to “actively respond” to the concerns of younger populations who are voicing their protests in the streets. 

Afghan Parliament Opened
(mobile version)
The Afghan parliament opened on January 26 in Kabul, and the Obama administration calls this “a significant milestone” for the country’s democracy and its people. The United States “joins the Afghan people in celebrating today’s achievement and we encourage the Afghans to begin an inclusive dialogue on electoral reform,” says National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer.

In Business, Reputation Matters
(mobile version)
Many companies know they need to maintain a good reputation to do or improve business, but rarely have they faced the kind of reputational challenges as financial and related industries do today, experts say.

Iranian Film Festivals in U.S.
(mobile version)
Several U.S. cities are holding Iranian film festivals this winter, allowing Americans to see what Iranian filmmakers have to say about their country.

A young boy at a shelter in HaitiPhoto Gallery: Rebuilding Haiti, One Year Later
(mobile version)
One year after a 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti, the United States continues its commitment to help the Haitian people build back better. Housing remains a critical issue, and USAID has partnered with several organizations to build transitional shelters. Explore this photo gallery about the rebuilding process. At right, a young boy peeks in at his mother in their newly constructed transitional shelter in Carrefour, Haiti.

Obama Condemns Moscow Attack / The Transition in Tunisia / A Landmark Turns Green

Posted on by

President Obama strongly condemns the deadly terror attack in Moscow. The U.S. supports a peaceful transition in Tunisia and Tunisian Americans are keeping a close eye on developments in their homeland. The State of the Union address is more than just a speech. Learn which New York City landmark has gone green.

Obama Condemns “Outrageous” Moscow Attack
(mobile version)
President Obama strongly condemns the bombing of Moscow’s busiest airport, calling the deadly attack an “outrageous act of terrorism against the Russian people….I want to express the solidarity of the American people with the Russian people in the aftermath of this premeditated attack against innocent civilians,” Obama says in a statement.

U.S. Backs Peaceful Tunisia Transition
(mobile version)
The Obama administration supports Tunisia’s democratic transition following the ouster of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley says.

Tunisian Americans Upbeat
(mobile version)
Many of the estimated 14,000 Tunisian Americans are celebrating the fall of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and say they are doing what they can to bolster the emerging democracy in their homeland. Tunisian Americans are watching events unfold in their native country with memories of a painful past tempered by a hopeful vision of its future.

A Speech Rich in History
(mobile version)
When President Obama addresses leaders of the U.S. federal government on January 25 he will be fulfilling a constitutional obligation and following a long-standing tradition of American presidents.

A Green Empire State Building
(mobile version)
New York’s Empire State Building, which has 102 floors to heat and cool, is one of America’s biggest “green building” success stories. After a two-year, $20-million building retrofit that cut the building’s energy consumption by 38 percent, property managers recently signed a contract to purchase all electricity for the building from a company that offers only renewable energy.

An Oil Spill’s Legacy / Local Business is Key in Africa / International Artists in Iowa

Posted on by

The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has prompted regulatory changes in the United States. You can take part in an international conference on women entrepreneurship. An expert believes local business will lead economic growth in Africa. And, finally, meet a Pakistani novelist and an Iranian filmmaker who are taking part in an International Writing Program at the University of Iowa.

New Offshore Drilling Rules
(mobile version)
The worst oil spill in U.S. history has triggered a shake-up of the U.S. Department of the Interior and prompted new rules that officials hope will keep oceans safe from future accidents. The department is creating two new independent agencies, one to approve oil and gas leases and the other to enforce worker safety and environmental regulations. Right, the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig burns after an April 2010 explosion.


Investing in Women
(mobile version)
From January 24 to 26, the U.S. Department of State and the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey will bring together 125 women entrepreneurs from across Europe and Eurasia to discuss innovative ways to expand female-led businesses. Get the details on how you can participate in the inaugural “Invest for the Future” conference.

In Africa, Local Business is Key
(mobile version)
William Duggan, the co-author of The Aid Trap, believes an initiative like the Marshall Plan could work to stimulate economies in Africa. Duggan says local business is the key to meaningful, long-term economic growth and development.

Home Boy Author Studies in Iowa
(mobile version)
H.M. Naqvi is a Pakistani writer born in London who has lived in Europe, the Middle East and the United States, and who has worked variously as an international banker, performance-poetry promoter, creative writing instructor and literary editor. Naqvi is the author of a first novel, Home Boy, and is one of the 38 writers who attended the three-month International Writing Program at the University of Iowa in the fall of 2010.

An Iranian Writer and Filmmaker in Iowa
(mobile version)
Iranian filmmaker and writer Farangis Siahpour says “finding the place and time for a writer is half the battle of writing.” She found both in Iowa. Siahpour, left, is one of several artists from the Middle East who attended the 2010 International Writing Program at the University of Iowa.

Economic Strides at U.S.-China Summit / Iran Talks / A Drumbeat in Iraq

Posted on by

Economic progress was all in a day’s work for President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao. The United States hopes upcoming international talks with Iran will be meaningful. The USAID is working toward transparency and efficiency. A new idea for African farmers is a winner for a Uganda man. Finally, meet Tom Teasley, a percussionist on a mission.

One-Day Summit Yields Economic Strides
(mobile version)
President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao agreed to move toward liberalized global trade and investment and to oppose measures that could lead to protectionism. During a one-day summit in Washington, Obama, right, and Hu emphasized “their strong commitment” to engage in talks to conclude the World Trade Organization’s Doha Development Agenda, which would foster greater global trade liberalization.

The Upcoming Talks With Iran
(mobile version)
The United States is hoping for a “meaningful and practical negotiation process” when it joins five other nations in talks with Iran about its nuclear activities. The State Department also said the Obama administration is willing to discuss an updated deal to provide nuclear fuel for Iran’s Tehran Research Reactor.

USAID Announces Reforms
(mobile version)
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announces new policies aimed at improving efficiency, increase transparency and setting a new standard for the field of development, says USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah.

A Winning Idea for Farmers
(mobile version)
Johnstone Baguma Kumaraki of Uganda won the 2010 Africa Rural Connect online contest for developing ways to increase the capacity of small-scale rural maize farms. Farmers across Africa will benefit from Kumaraki’s idea, which is aimed at providing them with better storage and marketing options.

In Iraq, a Different Drummer
(mobile version)
World-renowned percussionist Tom Teasley frequently tours the United States and other countries as a musician and cultural communicator, most recently visiting Iraq through a program of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. At right, Teasley works on rhythms with young Iraqi percussionists.