US Foreign Policy and the World
Photo credit: YUGA member Nicole, who attended the speech
Photo credit: State Department
YEA enewsletter: March 2010
In This Issue
The US and the world
YUGA and Foreign Policy
Haiti is still in our hearts and minds
A glimpse at the many ways the US is involved with other countries around the world!
What You Can Do
The US and the world
We live in a global society. In today's world, national issues are more often than not also international issues. If you watch the news or read a magazine or even just listen to the radio, it becomes clear how important it is to have a sense of global understanding and awareness. That's what YUGA is all about... Young people like you, across the United States, who aim to promote global change through increased understanding, awareness and action on domestic and international issues.
In terms of foreign policy, the United States has long been considered a global superpower with tremendous influence in many areas including the economy, military and even culture. For these reasons, US foreign policy, or the way we interact with other nations, is extremely important here and abroad. By understanding the United States' role in the world and how our foreign policy affects the lives of others near and far, we are both empowered by that knowledge and on the track to becoming better global citizens.
Here's how our country's foreign policy operates: The foreign policy of the United States is implemented by the State Department. The US Agency for International Development (better known as USAID) also plays an important role in implementing development assistance programs around the world. Together, the State Department and USAID's mission is to create a more secure, democratic and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community. There are five key values that US foreign policy commits to follow:
- Loyalty: Commitment to the United States and the American people.
- Character: Maintenance of high ethical standards and integrity.
- Service: Excellence in the formulation of policy and management practices with room for creative dissent.
- Accountability: Responsibility for achieving US foreign policy goals while meeting the highest performance standards.
- Community: Dedication to teamwork, professionalism, and the customer perspective. http://www.state.gov/
Though foreign policy has always been important to our government, the United States largely stayed out of foreign affairs prior to the World Wars. This changed when the United States joined its European allies to defeat Germany in WWI and the Axis powers in WWII. Following WWII, the United States and the USSR engaged in the Cold War. This idealogical "war" dominated US foreign policy until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The last 20 years have presented a number of issues for US foreign policy including what the post-Soviet world will look like as well as how military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan will affect both this generation and generations to come.
Fun Fact: NGOs play a large role in US foreign policy. They often partner with the US to help deliver and implement aid projects. For example, USAID is Plan USA's largest institutional donor. USAID provides grant funding in many development areas including health, habitat, learning, and livelihood. Read on to see how US foreign policy, USAID and Plan USA come together in the rebuilding of Haiti.
The purpose of foreign policy is not to provide an outlet for our own sentiments of hope or indignation; it is to shape real events in a real world." - President John F. Kennedy
YUGA and Foreign Policy
Members of YUGA recently had a wonderful opportunity to hear about the future of US foreign policy when they attended the 54th United Nations' Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York City. This year, featured speaker Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke about the prominent role of women in US foreign policy and the MDGs.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that were agreed upon by all UN member states in 2000 form a basis for much of our foreign policy (if you need a quick recap of the MDGs, look below). Goal number three of the MDGs, the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women, is a crucial step towards achieving all of the other MDGs since women have a critical role to play in creating global stability and peace around the world. Secretary Clinton outlined 3 important issues that the US was tackling worldwide to achieve gender equality. They were global health, food security, and climate change. Both President Obama and Secretary Clinton strongly believe in integrating women throughout the world in our foreign policy development.
Secretary Clinton expanded on this point in her speech saying, “Today, this principle is also at the heart of the foreign policy of the United States. We believe that women are critical to solving virtually every challenge we face as individual nations and as a community of nations. Strategies that ignore the lives and contributions of women have little chance of succeeding.”
Learn More: Watch the Speech
Check out the reactions of YUGA members Nikki, Kirby & Li Hua who went to Secretary Clinton's speech! What were their favorite quotes?
- "Women's rights are human rights, and human rights are women's rights."
- "Talent is universal, but opportunity is not."
Secretary Hillary Clinton is many things to many people! She is the current Secretary of State. In this position, she negotiates, interprets, and (if need be) terminates treaties and agreements. She acts as President Obama's main advisor on US foreign policy. AND, she is in charge of negotiations between the United States and other nations!
Haiti is still in our hearts and minds
Plan has been working in Haiti since 1973. Ideas from all different vantage points (Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), governments, foreign policy, etc.) concerning the best ways to rebuild the country have been discussed following the devastating earthquake in January. How is Plan involved?
Many have proposed that representatives of donor states, government agencies, NGOs (non-profits) like Plan, and international organizations should meet with Haitians to discuss their communities’ needs. Plan has always made it part of its mission to not just deliver aid but to empower people and communities to better their own lives. A great opportunity exists for the Haitian people, who have shown tremendous resolve, to become active participants in the future of their nation. Plan recently worked with UNICEF to gather the input of children and young people in their country's Post Disaster Needs Assessment. Plan is working with many other NGOs now to share that information with governments and organizations, including the United States, that will be donating money to reconstruct Haiti.
What was the top concern of those young people? Getting back to school! Plan USA was selected recently by the Haitian government to implement the country’s education restoration effort alongside the Ministry of Education, UN agencies, and local and international NGO partners.
Learn more: Plan and Better World Books
A glimpse at the many ways the US is involved with other countries around the world!
President Obama's video message appeared during the Freedom Festival in Berlin, Germany, where U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton represented the United States at the 20th anniversary celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Nov. 9, 2009.
What you can do!
Learn more: Did you know that John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961 to promote world peace and friendship?
Watch: Watch what Plan staffers have to say about the Haiti earthquake and hope for the future.
Donate: Make a donation to Plan to help support causes all around the globe.
Join: Learn more about YUGA and how to create your own YUGA group! YUGA is a great way to meet new people and talk with others about issues affecting the world today. You and your friends are the future, and by being aware of world matters, you will help to make a better future.
*The MDGs are a set of eight clearly-defined, time-bound and measurable development goals geared towards reducing poverty and ensuring that globalization benefits all of the world’s people. They provide a common development strategy for the international community and help to improve coordination between international organizations, international financial institutions, governments, aid agencies, and civil society groups. The US government is committed to achieving these goals.
