Global Connections

Two years ago, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said, “We need to work toward a world in which access to networks and information brings people closer together and expands the definition of the global community.” This week, I saw her call to action happening live, as a group of six Internet Freedom Fellows, brought together by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Mission in Geneva, sat down to break bread with UNESCO and the United Nations Foundation here in our Washington D.C. offices
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As the United States, indeed the world, prepares for the eventual departure of Hillary Rodham Clinton as Secretary of State, I want to draw your attention to a new, in-depth New York Times Magazine profile of this ‘rock star’ diplomat. The opening paragraphs are about her commitment to clean cookstoves!
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Being a mom to Molly and Frankie is the most challenging role I’ve taken on. Two years ago, my youngest daughter, Molly, contracted whooping cough. As any parent can relate, it’s scary when your kids get sick, especially when the doctor isn’t sure what’s wrong. Just after we found out that she had whooping cough, I learned that Molly was part of the largest outbreak in decades...
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The United Nations Foundation’s energy and public affairs team, led by UN Foundation President Timothy E. Wirth, have been in Brazil the past week for the Rio+20 summit. There has been a buzz in the halls about energy, touching two points: There’s a BIG and urgent need to enable everyone in the world to have access to electricity and modern fuels, and that creates a market opportunity.
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After months of hard work and planning, I took my seat Tuesday morning in the Rio+Social audience, plugged in my computer, my phone, and my other phone, opened up all of my social media channels, and waited anxiously for the program to begin. As others took their seats and plugged in, I witnessed first-hand a connection between those in the room and the thousands of tweets that began to stream in with the hashtag #RioPlusSocial.
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Ten years ago today, the continent of Europe was certified polio-free. This was a critical landmark and helped to accelerate efforts to stamp out the disease everywhere.
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