BALANCE of CULTURE

BoC's Online Dérive

See some amazing ballpoint pen sketches of war scenes in Afghanistan and Chechnya by a Russian soldier.

Meet Harvard law student Stephanie Grace, who is in hiding due to an email in which she surmises that African Americans are "on average, genetically predisposed to be less intelligent." The cherry on top? She was apparently a sociology major at Princeton. More here.

Lady Gaga's "Telephone" video remake by a group of soldiers in Afghanistan.

Oops! The Milken Institute hosts a conference on water scarcity and climate change...and the panel speakers were all given Fiji water bottles to sip on.

Take a look at this crude email making the rounds on Wall St.

A Brief Look at Sports Diplomacy

After decades of enmity, a disastrous 2001 summit, and near war over Kashmir in 2002, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf arrived in India in 2005 urging for harmonious relations between the two historically hostile states. The reason for his eventual visit? A cricket match between India and Pakistan.

Recent cricket fans via India Buzzing

Perhaps the most well recognized instance of sports-meets-politics was the famous 1971 table tennis game between host China and the U.S., often dubbed "ping pong diplomacy." Though this match perhaps led to a more agreeable future meeting for President Nixon's rapprochement with China, the context in this case actually used culture as an indicator rather than as a collective experience.

But sports diplomacy has been utilized the world over and is often a highly compelling method of large scale connection. Take a look at James Naismith's YMCA, the Harlem Globetrotters' 1951 West Berlin visit, the worldwide craze and politics-based rivalries of association football, the international-yet-inclusive Special Olympics, and of course, the politically-loaded timeline of the Olympics itself. I could go on, for the instances of sports in politics is dense and significant.

















In light of this, I was excited to receive the news this morning that State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced that a group of young Iraqi baseball players will visit Washington to participate in a Sports Visitors baseball/softball program May 3–13, 2010:

The delegation includes 10 boys and girls, ages 15-17, and five coaches who will take part in baseball skills clinics, including one taught by Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Ken Griffey, Jr. After a clinic from the prolific homerun hitter, the delegation will tour Camden Yards stadium, observe batting practice, and take in the Baltimore Orioles game against the Seattle Mariners on May 11th.

The group’s itinerary includes a baseball clinic at the famed Ripken Academy in Aberdeen, Maryland, as well as baseball and softball skills training with American counterparts at local high schools and colleges. Elements covering team building, disability in sports, Title IX and conflict resolution will also be incorporated into their program.

In conjunction with this exchange, MLB donated 27 boxes of bats, helmets, balls, rule books and other equipment to Iraqi baseball and softball players.

The equipment was presented at a ceremony in Baghdad on April 1st hosted by U.S. Ambassador Christopher Hill.

Considering the damaged history and uncertain outlook between the U.S. and the Middle East, sports--one of the softest forms of soft power--appear to be an instinctive way to bridge disparate cultures by providing a model of cooperation, exchange, and fair play. The upcoming baseball exchange with Iraq will hopefully spur real international communication between our societies long after the baseball games and workshops have ended. For sports to instigate an effect beyond "ping pong" diplomacy-type meetings, the diplomacy must continue well beyond the temporal investment of mere sport and game.
















In other baseball news today: how fury over Arizona's new immigration law has spread to baseball, with NY Congressman Jose Serrano calling for 2011's All-Star Game to be pulled from taking place in Arizona.

A discussion of problems regarding the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. See also the biographical drama film Invictus, which reveals the context of the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa following the dismantling of apartheid.

For more information on State's sports exchange programs, see SportsUnited.

Technorati Tags: balance of culture, linda constant, us state department, sports diplomacy, baseball, iraq, india, pakistan, cricket, olympics, jose serrano

"You have a rather nasty habit of surviving."

Via the New York Times:

Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, said on Thursday that he noticed “uncharacteristic reticence and nervousness” among South Korean officials although, metaphorically, “they found a body with a bullet hole in the head and North Korea was the only guy in the room with the pistol.”

Currently there is much speculation about North Korea's deployment of a human torpedo causing the March 26 tragedy-at-sea. But some analysts are skeptical of this theory. Daniel Pinkston, a North Korean expert for the International Crisis Group think tank, remarked that he would be "absolutely astounded" if a human torpedo was the the true source of the South Korean ship sinking.






















From 007 Museum

"They're giving more credibility to a mine," Pinkston tells the LA Times in an article titled, "James Bond theories arise in Korean ship sinking." Pinkston continues: "There seems to be a hole in each of the scenarios being looked at. Some of it sounds like stuff from a James Bond film."

Technorati Tags: balance of culture, north korea, south korea, military ship, submarine

International Klein Blue (IKB)

Yves Klein was born today in 1928 in Nice, France.

Technorati Tags: yves klein

Workshopping: An American Model of Architectural Practice

The Office of the Spokesman at State has just announced the U.S. representative to the 2010 Venice Architecture Biennale: Workshopping: An American Model of Architectural Practice, a series of distinct works which reveal the constantly shifting roles of designers and their relationships to collaborative projects. The exhibition will by curated by Michael Rooks of the High Museum of Art and Jonathan D. Solomon, architect and founding editor of the architectural publication series, 306090 Books.

From the 2008 Venice Architecture Biennale: the Symbiotic villa, designed by Zaha Hadid, was dedicated to the Next-Gene 20 Project in Taiwan.

The exhibition will highlight Peachtree Center by Atlanta-based architect John Portman; On the Water, Rising Tides and Palisades Bay by New York-based architect Guy Nordenson; New York City (Steady) State by the New York-based firm Michael Sorkin Studio; and Flip-A-Strip by the Los Angeles-based think tank cityLAB, among others.

Workshopping: An American Model of Architectural Practice was selected by an open competition and followed the recommendation of the Federal Advisory Committee on International Exhibitions (FACIE), convened by the National Endowment for the Arts for the review of architecture applications.

Exhibition director Kazuyo Sejima chose "People meet in architecture" for the title of this biennale, which will "be an experience of architecture possibilities, to understand how architecture expresses new ways of living, about an architecture created by different values and approaches. I would be very happy if we could feel where our society will go through this exhibition," she explains. The biennale will take place from August 29 – November 21, 2010 in Venice, Italy.

Related news: La Biennale di Venezia at the Expo Shanghai 2010

Technorati Tags: balance of culture, expo shanghai 2010, venice biennale 2010, architecture

State and Hirshhorn Museum Host 2nd Annual "Democracy Is..." Global Video Competition

On Thursday, April 29 at 8:00 p.m., the U.S. Department of State and the Hirshhorn Museum will host the second annual Democracy Video Challenge Sneak Peek at Hirshhorn's Ring Auditorium (located at 7th and Independence Ave., SW). This public screening marks the only opportunity for audiences in the Washington area to see contest submissions in a theater before finalists are announced in May.

Hirshhorn Museum

NBC 4's Aaron Gilchrist will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the evening and Steve Grove, YouTube's Director of News and Politics, will deliver brief remarks.

Selected 2010 Democracy Video Challenge submissions from each region of the world will be showcased. Following the screening, representatives of the Democracy Video Challenge partner organizations will be available for a discussion with the audience.

The premiere is open to the diplomatic community and media, as well as film, democracy, and social media enthusiasts. Please send your RSVP, including your name and organization, to democracyvideochallenge@state.gov.

Technorati Tags: balance of culture, linda constant, us department of state, hirshhorn museum, democracy is..., video challenge

North Korean Human Rights Week 2010

I love this time of year for myriad reasons, but mainly because of the international recognition of human rights policies that get pushed to the forefront by likeminded NGOs, government officials, global leaders, as well as extraordinary progressive citizens. If you know me personally, chances are you're well aware that I've worked exclusively on international human rights policies on various platforms--from supporting international human rights NGOs at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (heavily on both Agenda Items 9 and 13, most recently) to face-to-face partnerships with our representatives on Capital Hill.

North Korean border officers

North Korean Human Rights week originally launched in 2004 in Washington D.C. It has been sustained by an influential group of individuals with vastly different backgrounds and stories from all over the world--but we share a strong common bond of belief that North Korean citizens deserve to utilize their primary rights to navigate their own destinies instead of being used as pawns in a political game that gorges an elite few while starving millions (and by "starving" I do not mean only in nutrition and health--but clearly their lack of physical well-being automatically prevents them from realizing their fundamental progress as human beings).

North Korean Human Rights Week 2010 kicks off in Seoul, South Korea for the first time, with several other events in various locations around the globe. North Korean defectors, South Korean leaders, and worldwide activists will bring attention to the human rights violations that Kim Jong-il’s regime has inflicted on North Korean citizens, as well as individuals and families the world over. The various exhibits, talks and roundtables are not to be missed.

Below is the official statement from Robert R. King, Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues:

I want to thank the organizers of North Korea Freedom Week for continuing to call international attention to human rights in North Korea. I regret that I am unable to attend this year’s events in Seoul, but I welcome your decision to hold the first North Korea Freedom Week in South Korea.

The North Korean Human Rights Act enshrines the commitment of the American people to promote respect for the human rights and the well-being of the North Korean people. As President Obama and Secretary Clinton’s Special Envoy for this effort, I recognize the great value of the work done in collaboration with civil society organizations in the United States and South Korea which are dedicated to improving human rights in North Korea. Through our collective efforts, we are increasing the flow of information into and out of North Korea and promoting human rights and laying the groundwork for civil society development.

The United States Government remains deeply concerned about human rights in North Korea and the plight of North Korean refugees. This concern is a reflection of our national values. As President Obama said, “Support for human rights and human dignity is ingrained in America.” Respect for human rights by the North Korean government will have a significant impact on the prospect for closer ties with the United States and will be necessary for that country to participate fully in the international community.

Improving human rights for the North Korean people requires that we all work together. Through cooperation with nongovernmental organizations who share our firm commitment to the welfare of the North Korean people, we can make progress. Thank you for your efforts.

Technorati Tags: balance of culture, kim jong il, north korea, south korea, united nations, north korean human rights week, washington dc, seoul, robert r king, UNHCHR

World Malaria Day 2010

The international malaria community has less than 1 year to meet the 2010 targets of delivering effective and affordable protection and treatment to all people at risk of malaria, as called for by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon. It's hard to believe that today, a child dies of malaria every 30 seconds and there are 109 malarious countries in 4 regions across the globe. All able countries should focus some of their resources on this continuing epidemic.

Below is the official statement from the U.S. Secretary of State:

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC

On April 25, the United States will join the global community in observing World Malaria Day. We have made progress on prevention and control since the first World Malaria Day in 2007, but there is much more to do to stop the spread of this preventable and curable disease.

Malaria is one of the greatest threats to the health of nearly half the world’s population. It is the fifth leading cause of death from infectious diseases worldwide and the second leading cause of death in Africa, after HIV/AIDS. The most vulnerable among us — children, pregnant women, and people living with HIV/AIDS — are the hardest hit by malaria.

The United States is committed to reducing the threat of malaria worldwide through the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Global Health Initiative will help coordinate PMI efforts with broader health goals of both the U.S. government and our in-country partners.

On Thursday, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, the President’s Malaria Initiative Coordinator Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer, and CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden released our new six-year strategy to combat malaria. By 2014, our goal is to cut malaria illnesses and deaths by 50 percent in most affected countries of sub-Saharan Africa. We are also working to curtail the spread of drug resistant disease in Southeast Asia and the Americas.

On this World Malaria Day, I reaffirm our commitment to the goal of ridding the world of this disease once and for all.

If you're reading this blog post, chances are you're used to spending more on a light lunch than what a life-saving mosquito net costs. While there are many charitable efforts worthy of your contributions, the reality is that without health, a person is literally unable to participate in an education--the ultimate path to opportunities integral to escaping poverty. For this reason alone, health is the ultimate launching pad that desperately needs more of our attention. From 2004 through 2009, the global community has increased international malaria funding ten-fold, with a five-fold increase in global production of insecticide-treated nets to 150 million. Please join the international community in our continued efforts toward the eradication of this disease:

http://www.worldmalariaday.org/take_action_en.cfm
http://www.rollbackmalaria.org/worldmalariaday/actnow.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/201004221039.html
http://www.nothingbutnets.net/nets-save-lives/

Cumulative action from every able individual around the world is the ultimate way to prevent the spread of this disease. Many thanks from BoC to the global community!

Technorati Tags: balance of culture, linda constant, world malaria day 2010, Ban Ki-Moon, Hillary Clinton

Iran, North Korea and Myanmar at Expo Shanghai 2010

Expo Shanghai 2010 will feature three countries not usually present in "diplomatically cordial situations": Iran, North Korea and Myanmar.













The Iran pavilion theme is "Blending of Diverse Cultures in the City" and will be situated right next door to North Korea's pavillion, the first time the isolated nation is participating in a world expo.

North Korea's pavilion will represent "The Paradise for People." Recently the North Korean government announced their plans of becoming a "great, prosperous and powerful nation" by 2012.

Myanmar's pavilion will showcase holy temples and traditional building styles under their theme of “Better Urbanization with Harmonized Eco-System.”

Technorati Tags: balance of culture, north korea, expo shanghai 2010, iran, myanmar, burma

The Kareem Salama Tour: music diplomacy in the Middle East

On Monday, April 26, American country/pop singer and songwriter Kareem Salama will depart the U.S. for Cairo, Egypt to launch a 7-country, 1-month tour of the Middle East. Last June, President Obama gave a speech in Cairo where he appealed for “a new beginning” in America’s relationship with the Muslim world.

From the Office of the Spokesman at State:

Salama will be accompanied by three other accomplished musicians: Dan Workman, JJ Worthen and Michael Whitebread. After a three-day stop in Egypt, the band will continue on to Morocco, Kuwait, Bahrain, Syria, Jerusalem and Jordan. During the tour, Salama and his band will perform in public and private settings, do community outreach events and interact with youth in every country on the tour.

The Kareem Salama Tour is designed to bring to audiences in the Middle East a rising American musical talent, representative of America’s diversity of faith and heritage, who can serve as a bridge between Americans and the peoples of the Middle East. Funding for the tour is being provided by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs’ Office of Press and Public Diplomacy.

In the summer of 2008, Kareem Salama played to enthusiastic audiences in London, Berlin, Paris, Rome, Genoa, and Amsterdam, also with funding from the Department of State and private sponsors. Salama’s first album, Generous Peace, appeared in 2006, followed by This Life of Mine a year later. His song “A Land Called Paradise” provided the soundtrack for an award-winning music video celebrating the diversity and vitality of the American-Muslim community. His newest release will coincide with the current tour and will feature material from the first two albums and several new songs.

Technorati Tags: balance of culture, linda constant, Kareem Salama , public diplomacy, state department, music diplomacy, cairo, president obama, muslim relations