Consulate Distributions
Elections, U.S.G official statements, Economy, Environment, Education (Tuesday February 5, 2008)
Tuesday 5 February, 2008 Distribution
Elections:
Super Tuesday and the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election
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The Path to the 2008 Presidential Nomination
Candidates collect delegates toward their party nominations
According to the Green Papers, an organization that tracks the awarding of delegates, Arizona Senator John McCain is leading the race for the Republican presidential nomination. McCain got a big boost January 29 from winning the Florida primary. The Florida Republican Party is one of a few state parties that award all its delegates to the winner, giving McCain 57 delegates to achieve a new total of 98. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is in second place with 59 delegates. (Read more)
U.S. Official statements:
President George W. Bush, State of the Union Address, January 28, 2008
"Our foreign policy is based on a clear premise: We trust that people, when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace.This month in Ramallah and Jerusalem, I assured leaders from both sides that America will do, and I will do, everything we can to help them achieve a peace agreement that defines a Palestinian state by the end of this year. The time has come for a Holy Land where a democratic Israel and a democratic Palestine live side-by-side in peace". President George W. Bush, State of the Union Address, January 28, 2008 (Full text)
Interview by Under Secretary Burns on Palestinian Situation, 25 January 2008
United States continues to support the Palestinian refugees
“Thank you very much. Ahlan Wa Sahlan. Sabah al khair. It is a pleasure for me to be here at Aida Camp. I have not been in Bethlehem in a long time. I want to say first of all, how much we support the United Nations and what UNRWA is doing in this camp as it does throughout the West Bank and Gaza, in Syria, in Jordan and in Lebanon. I think we all, members of the United Nations, have a responsibility to support the Palestinian people who are living under occupation and living in such hardship.” (full transcript)
Presidential Proclamation on National African American History Month
Bush honors achievements, rich heritage of African Americans
During National African American History Month, we honor the achievements and celebrate the rich heritage of African Americans.Throughout our Nation's history, African Americans from all walks of life have offered their talents to the betterment of American society. Scholars such as Frederick Douglass and W.E.B. DuBois were early leaders who placed great importance on educating all people about the need for justice and racial equality. Athletes such as Jackie Robinson and Althea Gibson persevered while breaking the color barrier and competing at the highest levels of sports. (Read more) Rice Says United States Does Not Want Iran as a Permanent Enemy, 25 January 2008
Rice Tells delegates to World Economic Forum U.S. harbors “no permanent hatreds”
Saying the United States “has no permanent enemies,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reached out to Iran, urging the country’s officials to cease their support for violent groups and the pursuit of technologies that could lead to possession of a nuclear weapon. In return, she said, both countries could work together for normalized relations and growing bilateral cooperation. Rice told international delegates to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that disagreements over Iran's continued uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities "can and should be resolved through diplomacy." (Read more)
Economy:
Freest Economies Most Likely To Generate Development, Prosperity
Report ties advances to macroeconomic policies, entrepreneurial vitality
Countries and regions that promote economic freedom are more likely to enjoy prosperity than those that restrict such freedom, according to a report by a business publisher and a research group. Economic freedom strongly correlates with good economic performance of a country or a territory and economic opportunities for its people, according to the 2008 Index of Economic Freedom prepared by The Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation, a conservative policy research group. (Read more)
Environment:
Nations Join Forces To Expand Access to Earth Observations
Developed and developing countries benefit from environmental data
A worldwide effort is under way to expand the access of nations to the range of data being gathered night and day by terrestrial, oceanic, airborne and space-based instruments that monitor the globe. Those who receive such environmental information can use it to make more informed decisions about natural resources, disasters, health threats, food and energy sources, forestry and other vital issues. (Read more)
Education:
U.S. Universities Strive To Increase Student Diversity
University of Virginia wins award for graduate student program
Supporting diversity and creating a sense of inclusiveness for minority and foreign-born students are growing priorities for U.S. graduate schools. The University of Virginia recently received a national award for its new program to support graduate student diversity. The award -- the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS)/Peterson's Award for Innovation in Promoting an Inclusive Graduate Community -- recognizes innovative efforts to identify, recruit and retain minority graduate students. (Read more)