U.S. Cultural Envoys Wrap Up Two-Week Visit in Santa Cruz

U.S. Cultural Envoys Aysha Upchurch and Juliana Calderon will complete their two-week, four-city dance tour of Bolivia on November 23 with two free workshops in Santa Cruz. Please see the attached program for details about the workshops in the Centro Cultural San Isidro and the Centro Boliviano Americano.

President Obama Receives 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

U.S. President Barack Obama

U.S. President Barack Obama was announced as the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner on October 9. The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited President Obama’s “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."  Of special note was President Obama’s outreach to the Muslim world and attempts to curb nuclear proliferation.   The choice made Obama the third sitting U.S. president to win the Nobel Peace Prize.  Other U.S. presidents to receive the prize were President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and President Woodrow Wilson in 1919.  In their selection, the Nobel committee praised Obama's creation of "a new climate in international politics" and said he had returned multilateral diplomacy and institutions like the U.N. to the center of the world stage. "His diplomacy,” noted the Committee, “ is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population."

Native American Meets with Bolivian Indigenous Communities

Joan Timeche, a native American of the Hopi tribe, visited Bolivia September 26 – October 3 as part of the U.S. Speaker program organized by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassy La Paz.  Ms. Timeche met with groups of indigenous community members in La Paz, El Alto, Santa Cruz, and Camiri to discuss issues of common interest to indigenous peoples in Bolivia and the United States.  Ms. Timeche is the Executive Director of the Native Nations Institute (hyperlink to:  http://nni.arizona.edu/) for Leadership, Management, and Policy at the University of Arizona.

Secretary Clinton Appoints Bolivian-born Under Secretary Maria Otero as Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues

Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC

October 1, 2009

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced today the appointment of Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero to serve concurrently as Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. As Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Under Secretary Otero will coordinate the U.S. Government’s policies, programs and projects on Tibetan issues within the context of our bilateral relationship with the People’s Republic of China. (full text...)

2011 Diversity Visa Lottery Program Registration

Applications will be accepted between Friday, October 2, 2009 and Monday, November 30, 2009
WASHINGTON, October 2009 - The Department of State announces the opening of the registration period for the DV-2011 Diversity Visa lottery. Entries for the DV-2011 Diversity Visa lottery must be submitted electronically between noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Friday, October 2, 2009, and noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5), Monday, November 30, 2009. Applicants may access the electronic Diversity Visa entry form (E-DV) at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period. Paper entries will not be accepted. Applicants are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last week of the registration period to enter. Heavy demand may result in website delays. No entries will be accepted after noon EST on November 30, 2009. (more…)

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

During Hispanic Heritage Month, the United States celebrates the culture and traditions of those who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.  September 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the independence anniversary of five Latin American countries:  Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.  In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and 18, respectively.  This year’s national theme is:  “Embracing the Fierce Urgency of Now.” (more...)

U.S. Speaker Discusses Obama Administration During Visit to Bolivia

U.S. Speaker Estuardo Rodriguez poses with school students in Santa Cruz.

Estuardo Rodriguez, Counsel on Media and Communications at The Raben Group in Washington, DC, visited Bolivia August 31 – September 5 under the U.S. Speaker program organized by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in La Paz.  Mr. Rodriguez travelled to La Paz, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz and spoke to a variety of Bolivian audiences about the 2009 U.S. presidential transition.  In addition to describing a number of domestic issues confronting the new president, Rodriguez described President Obama as a leader who has opened doors for new dialogue with foreign countries.

Santa Cruz Binational Center Receives a “Trip to the Sciences”

Acting PAO Gary McElhiney looks on as BNC Santa Cruz Executive Director Luis Alberto Gamarra signs a grant to construct a Science Corner with funding from the United States Department of State.

On September 4, 2009, the U.S. Embassy donated almost $75,000 to the Santa Cruz Binational Center (CBA) to construct a Science Corner. It will form part of the CBA’s new “Big Apple” cultural center and will be open to the public in September 2010.

The Science Corner is called a “Trip to the Sciences,” because visitors of all ages can participate in programs and activities that expose them to different areas of science. The “Expo Science” room will display objects, materials, and scientific equipment in five areas: the human being, technology and energy, the planet, the universe, and DNA at work. The “Techno Science” room will contain 20 computers with internet connections and classroom equipment for science and information technology courses. The video room, with capacity for 80 people, will enable visitors to view scientific videos, documentaries, and even participate in Digital Video Conferences on different topics.

PAS La Paz will help broaden the Science Corner’s programming through the facilitation of U.S. speaker visits and targeted activities for indigenous youth. In addition, the CBA is currently drafting an agreement with Michigan State University that would include a professional exchange of scientists.

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