About the Author: Ertharin Cousin serves as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies in Rome.
Hearing a classroom of the poorest of Bangladeshi schoolchildren sing “We Shall Overcome,” first in Bangla and then in English, provided an emotional yet joyful beginning to my final day in the field. We visited the Follatahat Bangladesh Government Primary School and met with student beneficiaries of the World Food Program's (WFP) school feeding program. Our traveling team received a briefing on the latest results of this USDA-funded program. I was delighted to learn that since 2002, when the program began, beneficiary schools such as Follatahat have seen enrollment increase by 16 percent, attendance increase by 14 percent, and dropout numbers decrease by 10 percent.… more »
The Women's Entrepreneurship Summit (WES), which took place last Friday, represents the first-ever Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) high-level policy and public-private partnership to recognize the important role women play in driving economic growth. The Summit was jointly hosted by the Japanese and U.S. governments -- the APEC Chairs for 2010 and 2011, respectively. In attendance was a talented group of women from across 21 APEC economies, including a venture capitalist from Japan, a second-hand clothing entrepreneur and women's rights activist from Papua New Guinea, and a beauty queen turned media mogul… more »
This week, policymakers and businesswomen from the 21 member states of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation organization (APEC) are discussing how to promote women's entrepreneurship. As a representative from the Office of Global Women's Issues wrote this week, “In a time of ongoing economic uncertainty, one thing is sure: entrepreneurs and small businesses represent critical sources of economic growth and innovation.”
According to a UN report, Asia-Pacific economies are losing an estimated USD 42-46 billion annually due to the lack of women in the workforce. Women's economic under-participation can result from many reasons --… more »
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was awarded the George McGovern Leadership Award for advancing the international community's efforts to address global hunger at the World Food Program USA's 9th annual awards ceremony and reception. The event was held on Tuesday, October 5, in the Benjamin Franklin Room of the Department of State. Video and transcript will be available soon.
Former Senator and Goodwill Ambassador to the World Food Program George McGovern presented the award to Secretary Clinton. Executive Director of the World Food Program Josette Sheeran and President and CEO of WFP USA Richard Leach also participated. more »
About the Author: Richard Snelsire serves as Spokesman at U.S. Embassy Islamabad.
A U.S. delegation inaugurated a handmade carpet exhibition hosted by the USAID/Pakistan Jobs project and Carpet Training Institute October 5 in Lahore. The exhibition was followed by a certificate distribution ceremony to 24 successful master trainees who completed three-month training in carpet weaving using the Turkish knot.
"The U.S. is happy to honor the culture and tradition of Pakistan by supporting the carpet industry," U.S. Consul General Carmela Conroy said at the exhibition. "Together we can forge a better future for all Pakistanis."
The USAID-funded project taught 24 master trainees Turkish knot-weaving skills and these trainees are now training unemployed men and women from Southern Punjab. Once the training is completed, trainees will… more »
Last Thursday, the U.S. Department of State launched TechWomen, a ground-breaking program that will link women from the Middle East and North Africa working in technology with their counterparts in Silicon Valley.
This program will identify 38 women who are emerging leaders in technical fields from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the West Bank and Gaza, and bring them to the United States for a five-week, project-based mentoring program at leading technology companies.
Today, we bring you a new occasional feature on DipNote: "Readers Write." Look for more comments -- and replies -- highlighted on the blog in the weeks to come!
In response to a previous blog posting, Dr. Eileen N. in California had written:
"Focusing on health in children is important, but their adult parents must be healthy too. Any global health care system strengthening program must include provision for sustainable changes and improvements to the entire healthcare system no matter what age the people it serves may be. Although admirable and a start, a healthy child program runs the risk of consuming healthcare resources at the expense of the greater good, just as disease specific programs do. Broaden the program out in order to create… more »
In April 2010 a popular uprising brought down the Government of Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. The Provisional Government that filled the power vacuum was soon put to the test when ethnic violence erupted in the south of Kyrgyzstan in early June, creating a fragile environment for an inexperienced Provisional Government in a country of strategic importance to the United States. To support the efforts of U.S. Embassy Bishkek and the U.S. Government to ensure the stability of the Provisional Government… more »
Last week, I joined leaders and representatives from around the world at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City. I met with key international players from the Asia-Pacific region and had the opportunity to underscore the United States' enduring commitment to the region and the importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing the global and transnational issues that affect us all.
Secretary Clinton and I attended President Obama's bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Kan of Japan and Premier Wen Jiabao of the People's Republic of China. I also attended meetings with leaders and representatives from Mongolia,… more »
DipNote is the official blog of the U.S. Department of State —a place to share stories, discuss experiences, and inspire new ideas on the important foreign policy issues of the day. more »
Nice to read the post. Very impressive work done by u people. thanks. I am happy to see these projects are running very successfully and effectively. I think…
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Ask the FBI to check out Hulie'e palace, Alii Drive, Kona Big Island. Saw a van full of scantily dressed women come out of there. Maybe that's the headquarters.
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Lots of sex trafficking going on in Hawaii. Why do they get a free pass? Why are they allowed to sex traffic with impunity? Lots of corruption down dat way…
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Oct. 5: Secretary Clinton will deliver remarks at the 12th Annual Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit at approximately 10:30 a.m. on October 6. Full Text» more »
Secretary Clinton (Oct. 5): "Bulgaria is not only a NATO ally and a member of the European Union, but a close partner on ... the important challenges and opportunities that we face together." Full Text» Video» more »
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![Replay Slate: Sec. Clinton accepts the George McGovern Leadership Award, Oct. 5, 2010. [State]](https://web.archive.org/web/20101006024641im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_1004_WFP_Replay_m.jpg)
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![Five-month old patient waits with his father and mother for medical care, Apr. 29, 2009. [AP File]](https://web.archive.org/web/20101006024641im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_1004_global_health_m.jpg)
![Civilian Response Corps members in Kyrgyzstan, 2010. [State Department Photo]](https://web.archive.org/web/20101006024641im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_1004_scrs_kyrgyzstan_m.jpg)
![Officials participate U.S. Global Leadership Coalition roundtable, Sept. 28, 2010. [AP File]](https://web.archive.org/web/20101006024641im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_1003_ppd_discussion_m.jpg)
