 Black History Month 2010: The History of Black Economic Empowerment
3 February 2010
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. The theme for 2010, “The History of Black Economic Empowerment,” recognizes the lives of black men and women who have had successful business careers.
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. In his inaugural address… [more]
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 African Americans in Film Series to Open in Warsaw February 12th
4 February 2010
Throughout February, the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw joins America in celebrating Black History Month. We will honor the struggle and triumphs of millions of American citizens over the most devastating obstacles, as well as their contributions to the nation’s cultural and political life.
To kick off this celebration, the Embassy is partnering with the CSW Zamek Ujazdowski’s KINO.Lab and the Afryka Inaczej Foundation in a series of film presentations, which showcase African Americans in Cinema from 1920 to the present. The series will open on February 12 with the presentation of one of the icons of American cinema – the Oscar winning actor and director Sidney Poitier. The presentations will continue through March, when we will feature the films of Oscar Devereaux Micheaux, widely regarded as the first African-American feature filmmaker. All showings will take place at CSW’s Kino.Lab (ul. Jazdów 2). [more]
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 Secretary Clinton on European Security: “An Anchor of U.S. Foreign and Security Policy”
1 February 2010
In a speech at L’Ecole Militaire in Paris on January 29, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton emphasized that the United States and Europe are essential partners in meeting today’s global challenges and that the United States is eager to strengthen cooperation with a Europe that is strong and unified. Secretary Clinton stressed that the United States objects “to any spheres of influence in Europe in which one country seeks to control another’s future,” adding that “NATO must and will remain open to any country that aspires to become a member and can meet the requirements of membership.” She also stated that the Vienna-based Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and NATO, the two largest and most comprehensive security organizations in Europe, are well-suited to deal with the 21st-century security environment and should be the venues for future discussions.
Secretary Clinton noted that, thanks to the partnership, “Europe is stronger than ever... But as we move forward, a set of core principles will guide us in our approach and in our joint effort.” These principles include… [more]
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 “Duty to Remember”: President Obama delivers video message for Auschwitz Liberation Anniversary
27 January 2010
“Duty to Remember”: January 27, 2010 -- President Obama gave remarks by video commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Auschwitz concentration camp’s liberation at the conference “Auschwitz – Memory, Responsibility, Education” held at the Center of Dialogue and Prayer, in the Polish town of Oswiecim, and also at the International Holocaust Forum “Let My People Live” hosted by the European Jewish Congress in Krakow.
President Obama expressed his gratitude to Poland’s leadership and the people of Poland for “preserving a place of such great pain for the Polish people […] a place of remembrance and learning for the world.”
In his remarks, the President emphasized our “sacred duty to remember,” as well as “the burden of seeing our common humanity; of resisting anti-Semitism and ignorance in all its forms; of refusing to become bystanders to evil, whenever and wherever it rears its ugly face.”
In addition to recalling the evil committed at Auschwitz, President Obama spoke about “man’s capacity for good,” and recalled acts of “compassion” and “resistance” including the “Polish Rescuers and those who earned their place forever in the Righteous Among the Nations.”
He also praised those who survived the Holocaust as “living memorials to the loved ones you left here. And to the spirit we must strive to uphold in our time.” [more]
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 Sara Bloomfield, Director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum honored in Poland
28 January 2010
January 27, 2010 - American Sara Bloomfield, the Director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) in Washington, DC received the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland during ceremonies marking the 65th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. President of Poland Lech Kaczynski presented Ms. Bloomfield with the award for her educational and museum achievements in commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust and for the development of Polish-Jewish dialogue. Ms. Bloomfield has been the Museum director since 1999 and established the Museum’s National Institute for Holocaust Education, Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, and Academy for Genocide Prevention. She also created a series of innovative leadership training programs for law enforcement, the judiciary, and the military.
Also honored at Wednesday’s ceremonies, were Piotr Cywinski , Director of the Auschwitz Museum, who received the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Poland Reborn, and Avner Shalev, Chairman of Yad Vashem, who was also awarded the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. [more]
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 President Obama Delivers “State of the Union” Address
28 January 2010
On January 27, President Obama delivered the annual State of the Union Address before a joint session of the U.S. Congress. It is a unique moment for the President to address the public on a broad spectrum of issues, including economic recovery and job creation. This year, the White House is using technology to make sure the President's State of the Union Address reaches as many people as possible. Full Text of the Speech
Next week, the President will answer questions in a special online event, live from the White House. Visit YouTube.com/CitizenTube to participate. [more]
Other Links on the State of the Union:
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 White House Announces U.S. Delegation to the Anniversary of Auschwitz’s Liberation
26 January 2010
President Barack Obama announced his selection of distinguished Americans who will serve in the U.S. Presidential Delegation to the 65th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp on January 27. The Honorable Julius M. Genachowski, Chariman of the Federal Communications Commission, the son of Holocaust survivors, and with two decades of experience in the public and private sectors, is heading the delegation. Chairman Genachowski is joined by the Honorable Lee Feinstein, the U.S. Ambassador to Poland, the Honorable Hannah Rosenthal, U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, the Honorable Susan S. Sher, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama, and Roman R. Kent, Chairman of the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Vice-President of the International Auschwitz Committee, also an Auschwitz survivor. Also joining the U.S. delegation are two more Aushwitz survivors, Charlene P. Schiff and Edwarda Sternberg-Powidzki. The delegation embodies America’s commitment to our common duty to remember and preserve the tragic memories and lessons of the Holocaust. [more]
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 Secretary Clinton on Internet Freedom: “A Foundation for Global Progress”
22 January 2010
In a major policy address broadcast yesterday from the Newseum in
Washington D.C., Secretary Clinton addressed the issue of Internet
Freedom. The Secretary stated, “The spread of information networks is
forming a new nervous system for our planet. There are more ways to
spread more ideas to more people than at any moment in history... The
internet is a network that magnifies the power and potential of all
others.”
Full Text of Speech | More on 21st Century Statecraft | Secretary Clinton’s Statement on Google Operations in China
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America Presents Damian Bednarz—Thursday, January 28
26 January 2010
The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw invites you to an “America Presents” program on the role of new media in elections. Damian Bednarz, Special Assistant in the Office of Policy and International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy, will meet the Warsaw public at the U.S. Embassy’s next America Presents program on January 28 at 17:00 at the Koszykowa Library, ul. Koszykowa 26/28 (Entrance F). Mr. Bednarz, who spent two years working on new media with the Obama for America campaign, will discuss the role of new media in elections. In addition to a discussion of new media on the campaign trail, Mr. Bednarz can discuss the U.S. role in addressing the latest global energy challenges.
Mr. Bednarz covers regional energy issues in Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East and domestic efforts on renewable energy, climate change, and a national ocean policy. A graduate of Seton Hall University and Marist College, Mr. Bednarz researched Polish political parties and the mechanics behind coalition building as a Fulbright Scholar in Warsaw from 2004-2005.
The event will be in English and simultaneously translated into Polish. It is open to general public. If you would like to attend this event please RSVP to AmericaPresents@state.gov. [more]
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 Alumni Association Members Tour American Artist Bruce Nauman Exhibit
22 January 2010
On January 14, 2010, over 30 members of the Alumni Association gathered at the Center of Contemporary Art of Zamek Ujazdowski in Warsaw to view the work of one of the most distinguished American contemporary artists, Bruce Nauman. Cultural Attaché Chuck Ashley, Curator Pawel Polit, and President of the Alumni Association Jacek Nieckula welcomed the guests to this special tour of the exhibit “No/Nie.” The works, which cover three decades of Bruce Nauman’s career, are representative of the artist’s reflection on the human condition. [more]
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 Ambassador Feinstein Honors Memory of Jan Nowak-Jeziorański
21 January 2010
Ambassador Feinstein, along with Polish Defense Minister Bogdan Klich, General Franciszek Gągor, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, Warsaw Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, and Jacek Kozłowski, Governor of Mazowieckie Province, attended a wreath-laying to mark the fifth anniversary of the death of Jan Nowak-Jeziorański. Nowak-Jeziorański, the legendary “Courier from Warsaw” and a prime mover behind Poland’s successful efforts to join NATO, was a life-long patriot and political activist. Nowak-Jeziorański served during World War II as a courier between the commanders of the Home Army and the Polish government in exile, participated in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, and survived to document the horrors that occurred on Polish soil during the Nazi occupation. After the war, Nowak-Jeziorański actively promoted a free and independent Poland, heading Radio Free Europe’s Polish section until 1976. He was national director of the Polish American Congress from 1979-1996, and served as a consultant to the National Security Council regarding Polish affairs. [more]
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 Secretary Clinton Visits Haiti
20 January 2010
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Haiti on January 16, 2010, where she met with Haitian President Preval and USAID Administrator Shah. Following their meeting, Secretary Clinton said, "We had a very good meeting about all the priorities of his government. We are focused on prioritizing humanitarian assistance - water, food, medical help, to those who are suffering.... We discussed the priorities of restoring communications and electricity. We agreed we would be coordinating together ...to achieve these goals." Speaking on U.S. relief efforts in Haiti, Secretary Clinton said “I’m so proud… of our private citizens, the generosity of the American people. This is a terrible, horrible catastrophe for the people of Haiti, but I think that the outpouring from America and beyond should give them some reason to hope.” [more]
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Ambassador Feinstein speaks at the Foreign Investors Summit in Warsaw
19 January 2010
On January 19, Ambassador Feinstein spoke at the opening session of the American Chamber of Commerce’s Foreign Investors Summit in Warsaw. The event inaugurated the 20th anniversary of AmCham’s presence in Poland. Ambassador Feinstein remarked, “One of my top priorities as Ambassador is working closely with the Polish Government to further strengthen our economic relationship to the mutual benefit of both countries.” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy Waldemar Pawlak and American Chamber of Commerce Chairman Roman Rewald also spoke at the Summit. [more]
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 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2010: “Through Service, We Honor his Legacy”
20 January 2010
To celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service and honor Dr. King’s life and legacy, President and Mrs. Obama, and 10 Cabinet Secretaries and senior Administration officials participated in community service projects in Washington, DC. Led by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the King Center, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is an opportunity for all Americans to come together to help meet the needs of their communities and make an ongoing commitment to service throughout the year. This year, the King Day of Service includes thousands of projects – from delivering meals and refurbishing schools to reading to children, promoting nonviolence and more – spread across all 50 states. The President, First Lady and their family visited So Others Might Eat, an organization dedicated to helping people get off the streets and empowering them to make lasting changes in their lives. The First Family served food to homeless and hungry men, women, and children.
“Dr. King dedicated his life to advancing social justice and equal opportunity for all,” President Obama said. “But more than forty years after his death, there is still much work left to be done. Through service, we honor his legacy by helping our neighbors, strengthening our communities and meeting the challenges we face together. I encourage all Americans to not only continue Dr. King’s work through service today, but to make service a part of your lives every day.” [more]
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 Haiti Earthquake Relief
15 January 2010
On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, causing catastrophic damage inside and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The United States Government has mobilized resources and manpower to aid in the relief effort. “I've directed my administration to launch a swift, coordinated and aggressive effort to save lives and support the recovery in Haiti,” said President Barack Obama in a public address on January 14. “The losses that have been suffered in Haiti are nothing less than devastating, and responding to a disaster of this magnitude will require every element of our national capacity -- our diplomacy and development assistance; the power of our military; and, most importantly, the compassion of our country.” Please click here to read the full-text transcript or watch the video of the President’s remarks.
Here is how everyone can help:
• In the United States: donate $10 to the American Red Cross – charged to your cell phone bill – by texting "HAITI" to "90999."
• In other countries: contribute online to the Red Cross
• Find more ways to help: Center for International Disaster Information. [more]
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 Ambassador Feinstein and Marshal of the Polish Senate Open U.S. Historical Exhibit
12 January 2010
On January 12, U.S. Ambassador Lee Feinstein and Bogdan Borusewicz, Marshal of the Polish Senate, proudly opened the exhibit “The U.S. in Polish Historiography and Periodicals from 1764-1919.” The exhibit illustrates how the U.S. was perceived by Poles in those years, and is a fascinating and compelling reminder that the relationship between the Polish and American peoples extends much further back than the formal relationship between our two countries. It is composed of materials from the collection of Warsaw Public Library, including newspapers, memoirs, photographs, and drawings. Special attention is given to key topics, including the American Revolution, the U.S. Declaration of Independence and Constitution, Polish immigration after the November Uprising in 1830, Polish participation in the U.S. Civil War, American relief efforts for Poland during World War I, and the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1919. The exhibit was previously displayed at Warsaw Public Library and the Silesian Library in Katowice, and is now on display at the Polish Senate. [more]
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 Release of the Security Review Conducted After the Failed Christmas Terrorist Attack
7 January 2010
President Obama announced that the immediate review of the U.S. security and intelligence systems following the attempted terrorist attack on Christmas Day has been completed. The President stated that, “Rather than a failure to collect or share intelligence, this was a failure to connect and understand the intelligence that we already had. That’s why we took swift action in the immediate days following Christmas, including reviewing and updating the terrorist watchlist system and adding more individuals to the "no fly" list, and directing our embassies and consulates to include current visa information in their warnings of individuals with terrorist or suspected terrorist ties. Today, I’m directing a series of additional corrective steps across multiple agencies... These reforms will improve the intelligence community’s ability to collect, share, integrate, analyze, and act on intelligence swiftly and effectively... But even the best intelligence can’t identify in advance every individual who would do us harm. So we need the security — at our airports, ports, and borders, and through our partnerships with other nations — to prevent terrorists from entering America.” [more]
• Read the President's remarks.
• Read the summary of the security review (pdf).
• Read the President's Directive on corrective actions (pdf).
• Read the transcript of this press briefing with Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano, Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Brennan, and Press Secretary Gibbs.
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U.S. Air Forces Experts Lay a Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw
15 January 2010
On January 13, 2010, a team of seven U.S. Air Force Airmen participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Grób Nieznanego Żołnierza) in Warsaw to honor some of Poland’s nameless heroes. Please click here to watch the video. The ceremony took place during a longer visit to Poland, when U.S. Air Forces experts traveled around the country to meet with Poland’s military leaders. [more]
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 Secretary Clinton on Development: “A Strategic, Economic and Moral Imperative”
8 January 2010
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke yesterday to a packed house at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, DC, where she outlined the U.S. approach to development. The Secretary emphasized that development is “as central to advancing American interests and solving global problems as diplomacy and defense.” She stated, “We are adopting a model of development based on partnership, not patronage [and] working to elevate development and integrate it more closely with defense and diplomacy in the field.”
The Secretary also stressed the need to increase America’s investments in innovation, and to put women and girls in the front and center of our development work. She commented, “Well, you know the proverb, ‘Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, but teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime?’ Well, if you teach a woman to fish, she’ll feed the whole village.
“Development, democracy and human rights can and must be mutually reinforcing. We pursue development for many reasons: to improve lives, fight poverty, expand rights and opportunities, strengthen communities, secure democratic institutions and governance; and in doing so, to advance global stability, improve our own security, and project our values and leadership in the world.”
The full text of the Secretary’s speech can be found here. [more]
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 What Does Democracy Mean To You?
8 January 2010
The U.S. Department of State has launched the second edition of the Democracy Video Challenge for young filmmakers and democracy activists across the globe. Contestants (age 18+) complete the phrase “Democracy is…” in a short video (three minute maximum). Three video finalists will be selected from Poland, and will compete in the worldwide competition for the grand prize. The grand prize consists of an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, New York and Hollywood to attend gala screenings of the winning videos, gain exposure to the U.S. film and television industry and meet with creative talented, democracy advocates, and government leaders.
The Polish edition of the competition is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw and Consulate General in Krakow, in cooperation with MTV Polska, Centrum Edukacji Obywatelskiej, and the Off Plus Camera Film Festival. The worldwide edition is in cooperation with the Motion Picture Association of America, NBC Universal, Recording Industry Association of America, and YouTube. [more]
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 “Adopt a Polish Soldier” Program Sends Care Packages to Polish Soldiers in Afghanistan
4 January 2010
To recognize the dedication and sacrifice of the 2,000 Polish soldiers serving in the Ghazni Province of Afghanistan, the Washington-based American Polish Forum (APForum) created the "Adopt a Polish Soldier" program, the first large-scale care package initiative for Polish soldiers. On December 19, 2009, volunteers gathered in Arlington, Virginia, to wrap 2,000 care packages destined for Afghanistan. The packages included candies, cookies, letters, and the traditional Polish Christmas wafer, “opłatek.” [more]
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 Jazz Ambassadors Photo Exhibition by Marek Karewicz Opens at American Corner in Gdańsk
23 December 2009
Counselor for Press and Culture Lisa Helling officially opened an exhibition of photographs of American Jazz legends taken during their concerts in Poland by renowned Polish photographer Marek Karewicz. The opening took place on December 16th at the American Corner in Gdansk.
The exhibition consists of over a dozen archival photographs showing many of the greats of American Jazz – including Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz – who travelled to Poland under State Department’s “Jazz Ambassadors” program of the 1950-1970s. Mr. Karewicz, who attended the opening, shared some of his memories of those years with the audiences. Saxophonist Przemek Dyakowski performed evergreens.
The exhibition will be open to the public at the American Corner in Gdańsk until February 29, 2010, on weekdays from 9:00 – 17:00. [more]
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 What Does Democracy Mean to You? The 2010 “Democracy is…” Photo Contest Now Open!
17 December 2009
The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw is happy to announce the launch of the second edition of the “Democracy is…” photo contest, sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw and the Center of Citizenship Education (CEO). The contest is part of the second edition of the Democracy Video Challenge, a global video competition with the same theme. What does democracy mean you? Show us by submitting your photo by the February 28, 2010 deadline. The “Democracy is…” photo contest is open to young people between the ages of 15 and 17. The winner will receive prizes from the Center of Citizenship Education and from the U.S. Embassy and we will display the best photographs at a special photo exhibition. Please click here for contest rules and more details in Polish. [more]
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