Black History Month Honors Legacy of Struggle and Triumph

Theme for 2010 is “The History of Black Economic Empowerment”

A man and his son see the bus in which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in 1955, a landmark moment in the civil rights movement.

Washington — Each February, Black History Month honors the struggles and triumphs of millions of American citizens over the most devastating obstacles — slavery, prejudice, poverty — as well as their contributions to the nation’s cultural and political life.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau there are more than 41 million black residents in the United States, including those of more than one race. They make up 13.5 percent of the U.S. population.

In 2009, the inauguration of Barack Obama, America’s first African-American president, lent Black History Month a special significance. Obama took the oath of office January 20, the day after Americans honored the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. with a federal holiday and national day of service.(full text...)

New Martin Luther King Scholars Welcomed to the Embassy

The scholars with Cultural Affairs Officer E.J. Monster

On January 20, Chargé d'Affaires John S. Creamer hosted an event at the embassy for 25 students recently selected to participate in the Martin Luther King/College Horizons program in 2010.  This scholarship program covers three years of English language instruction at the Centro Boliviano Americano .  The goal of this program is to prepare young talented students from public high schools to attend college and to open academic and professional opportunities through learning English.  The U.S. Embassy offers more than 300 English language scholarships to students across Bolivia through various scholarship programs. 

Haiti Receives 10-Year Commitment from International Community

The international commitment to Haiti comes with an acknowledgement that Haiti’s needs are immense and Haitians continue to suffer.

Washington — Countries and international organizations that will pledge money to help Haiti recover from the January 12 earthquake have agreed to hold a donors conference in New York in March and have declared a 10-year commitment to the country.  The needs in Haiti are immense, and the Haitian people are continuing to suffer despite the massive aid and relief effort that mobilized as a result of the disaster, they say.
At the Haiti Ministerial Preparatory Conference in Montreal January 25, the government of Haiti and key donors and partners, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, the European Union, Spain and France, agreed to respect the sovereignty (full text...)

United States Flies Cash to Haitian Microfinance Bank

In a makeshift bank set up in the courtyard of a damaged branch, Fonkoze staff distribute money to customers.

Washington — The U.S. government has put cash in the hands of Fonkoze, the largest microfinance institution in Haiti, in a mission that required close cooperation of the U.S. military, the United Nations and multiple U.S. government agencies.

In the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, Fonkoze was the only bank able to stay open for customers making withdrawals and receiving money transfers. While goods were available for purchase in Port-au-Prince and other locations, many people had no money and commercial bank automatic teller machines were not functioning, according to news reports. (full text...)

Puerto Rico’s “Barge of Hope” Sails to Haiti with Relief Supplies
Donated food and supplies gathered from across the island

Washington, 1/24/2010 — When the powerful earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, Puerto Rico responded with an outpouring of sympathy and aid by collecting approximately 6 million pounds (2.7 million kilos) of food and medicine, plus electric generators, tarps and other goods. But shipping such a vast amount of relief supplies presented a formidable problem, with Haiti’s airport severely congested and its seaport heavily damaged. The solution: a massive barge, 250 feet long and 80 feet wide (76 meters by 24 meters), made available by Pan American Grain, one of the largest food-processing companies in the Caribbean. (full text...)

U.S., Other Nations Coordinating Massive Relief Effort in Haiti
Logistics of aid distribution, from air flights to food, are complex

Washington, 1/24/2010 – A week ago, the United States and other nations faced the daunting task of transporting desperately needed food, water and medical services from Haiti’s Port-au-Prince airport into the city. Today, the massive, multinational relief operation, involving more than 30 nations and 100 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), is steadily overcoming many of these early logistical barriers to deliver ever-larger amounts of assistance to more and more people. (full text...)

International Community Racing to Expand Medical Care in Haiti
U.S. Centers for Disease Control staff join international health teams

Washington, 1/23/2010 – As aftershocks continue to roll through earthquake-ravaged Haiti, Pan American Health Organization officials report progress in providing expanded medical care, while acknowledging that thousands are still in desperate need of care. (full text...)

Bill Clinton to Lead U.N. Program on Jobs for Haitian Youth
Focus to work in earthquake recovery and cleanup

Washington, 1/21/2010 - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has agreed to lead a U.N. program that will offer jobs to Haitian youth as part of the clean-up and recovery following last week’s earthquake. Last spring U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asked Mr. Clinton to become his Special Envoy for Haiti. Now the former president has agreed to take on an additional role — promoting the U.N.’s jobs for cash program. (full text...)

PAO Hosts Reception for 2010 Winter Institute Students

Public Affairs Officer David Hodge hosted a reception at his residence on January 13 for seven Bolivian university students of indigenous background that have been selected to participate in the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders, or "Winter Institute", that will take place January 23 - February 27, 2010, primarily at the University of Arizona in Tucson and Amherst College in Massachusetts.  The group will also visit Boston, New York, and Washington, DC.  The program is offered by the U.S. Department of State.

The program is designed to provide a group of seven highly motivated indigenous student leaders from across Bolivia with a five-week academic seminar and educational travel program that will give them a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, values and institutions, while at the same time enhancing their leadership potential and collective problem-solving skills through training exercises and workshops. 

U.S. Embassy Hosts Conference on Climate Change

Dr. Edson Ramirez describes the disappearance of Bolivia’s glaciers due to climate change.

On December 15, the U.S. Embassy hosted a conference entitled “Climate Change and Biodiversity: Advancing Positive Solutions.” Renowned Bolivian glaciologist Dr. Edson Ramirez and U.S. Embassy Economic Officer Lori Michaelson provided perspectives on the impact of climate change on Bolivia’s glaciers and U.S. policy to confront the challenges of global climate change. The conference included a webcast from Copenhagen that featured three environmental experts who discussed the growing threat of climate change as well as possible conservation strategies to combat environmental degradation and protect biodiversity. (full text...)

U.S. Embassy Gives Presents to Tahuichi Academy Children

NAS Director Susan Keogh (wearing a Tahuichi Hat) with academy manager Tania Aguilera, an instructor and children.

As part of its drug use prevention program, the U.S. Embassy's Narcotics Affairs Division (NAS) presented on December 15 school supplies, soccer balls, vitamins, toothpaste, and toothbrushes to 1,000 children, most of them from low-income families, who are students at Tahuichi Aguilera Soccer Academy in Santa Cruz.

NAS Director in Bolivia Susan Keogh presented the donation and highlighted that the consistent practice of sports and drug use prevention are the perfect combination to keep children away from drugs, crime, and gangs.(full text...)

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