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20 March 2008
This Week from Washington -- March 20
Podcast on U.S. society and foreign policy issues
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This is a weekly update from America.gov.
This week, the latest news on Kosovo, regional politics in South America, foreign aid through the Internet, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Kosovo may be Europe’s newest nation, but its significance extends well beyond the region, especially to the Muslim world. U.S. special envoy for Kosovo Ambassador Frank Wisner says that a secure, Muslim-majority state inside the European whole is a terrific signal that the Muslim world and the non-Muslim world can live side by side in peace and cooperation.
Wisner urged members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to build on their recent statement of support through political and economic measures. While the Muslim world faces many regional challenges, the Balkans share historical ties to the Middle East that should not be overlooked.
Kosovo needs help as it moves forward. An international fund is being formed by the European Community and the World Bank which will focus on rebuilding key infrastructure that will tie Kosovo to the Balkans, and the Balkans to Europe.
Possible violence in South America’s Andean region involving Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador was recently averted because of the trade and economic interests that bind the region together. The region has had its share of political turmoil over the years. But increasing trade has made the countries dependent on each other for mutual prosperity.
These regional economic ties helped calm nationalist sentiments calling for military action after a Colombian military raid into Ecuador. Colombian forces were pursuing a left-wing guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which has been trying to overthrow the Colombian government for more than 40 years. Venezuela and Ecuador accused Colombia of violating Ecuador's sovereignty and sent troops to the Colombian border.
Latin American leaders reached agreement on ending the crisis for now at a March 7 meeting in the Dominican Republic. Mistrust still exists between the parties, but regional cooperation helped ease the crisis. Brazil and the Organization of American States played positive roles in the situation.
The top American foreign aid official, Henrietta Fore, is inviting people involved in international development to access a new Internet network known as the Global Development Commons to share information about ways to reduce poverty.
In a YouTube video posting, she encouraged nongovernmental groups, individuals, government officials and business representatives to use the online network to exchange ideas about helping the world’s poor.
The commons is a virtual space where those who give or receive foreign aid share ideas in real time. It is not owned by any government, business or other entity. The users are the owners. Aid officials are encouraging all charitable groups and development organizations to achieve greater online presences through social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace because of their reach and popularity.
The artists honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 represent many of the styles that have shaped American music. Pop icon Madonna, blues harmonica player Little Walter, singer-songwriters John Mellencamp and Leonard Cohen, and British rockers the Dave Clark Five were inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony in New York on March 10.
Over the 23 years since the first group of inductees included Elvis Presley and Little Richard, defining what represents “rock ’n’ roll” continues to evolve. The Hall of Fame calls Madonna one of the most ferociously original artists in music today. For many artists and musicians, socially and politically conscious messages are part of the fabric of rock ’n’ roll.
John Mellencamp is famous for melodic hits like “Jack and Diane” and “Small Town.” Mellencamp was born in Indiana and his music has helped raise awareness of issues important to Americans living in the heartland. He co-founded Farm Aid, a nonprofit organization that works in behalf of farmers and their families, in 1985.
This podcast is produced by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs. Links to other Internet sites or opinions expressed should not be considered an endorsement of other content and views.
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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
