Women's Empowerment
Improving the status of women is one of the most critical forces to make international development a success. “Women are key to economic progress and stability. Investing in opportunities for women is not only the right thing to do; it is the smart thing to do,” said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

For years, Secretary of State Clinton has been a vigorous advocator of women’s empowerment. She staked her claim as an advocate for global women’s issues in 1995, when, as First Lady, she gave an impassioned speech at a United Nations conference in Beijing.

The Aftermath of the Midterm Elections 2010
The result of the recent midterm congressional elections means divided government for at least the next two years, as Democrat President Obama will have to share power with Republicans in the House of Representatives. Democrats retained control of the Senate, but with a reduced majority.

The Republican victory gives its House members the power to elect the chamber’s leader, the speaker, who will set the agenda for what measures are considered on the floor and has a major say in selecting the chairmen of House committees.

President Obama stressed the need for compromise in a November 3 news conference, saying the results showed “no one party will be able to dictate where we go from here, that we must find common ground in order to … make progress on some uncommonly difficult challenges.”

Literature: Women's Empowerment
HALF THE SKY by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn: Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn call women's rights the moral issue of the 21st century. Their book, Half the Sky, explains how female empowerment is one of the most effective tools for eradicating poverty and extremism. The authors plead for a worldwide grassroots movement in support of the women of the world, their education, health (with a strong emphasis on reproductive health), economic and political empowerment, and human rights.
THE BREADWINNER by Deborah Ellis: Young Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan. Because he has a foreign education, her father is arrested by the Taliban, the religious group that controls the country. Since women cannot appear in public unless covered head to toe, or go to school, or work outside the home, the family becomes increasingly desperate until Parvana conceives a plan. [...] Deborah Ellis spent several months talking with women and girls in Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan and Russia. This suspenseful, timely novel is the result of those encounters. (scholastic.com)

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In Focus: Ambassador Murphy's Heroes
Our Ambassador Philip Murphy has introduced his heroes to the audiences during his town hall meetings. In this month’s edition and in coming editions, we will focus on President John F. Kennedy.

On November 18, Ambassador Murphy delivered a speech on "Diversity in Education and the Workplace in the U.S." at the Berlin School of Economics and Law. During his remarks he pointed to the civil rights legislation, initiated during the administration of President Kennedy. Watch the video HERE.

WORLD AIDS DAY (December 1)
HIV/AIDS is one of the most serious public health problems of our times. Educate your students!

United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP-16
Through its webcasts, CO.NX is providing you access to dozens of live, 90-minute programs taking place at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP-16. Programs — hosted at the U.S. Center at COP-16 in Cancun, Mexico — run from November 29 through December 10. Learn more and participate in interactive webcasts and webchats with leading climate change experts.

International Education
Open Doors 2010, supported by a grant from the Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, is a comprehensive information resource on international students and scholars studying or teaching at higher education institutions in the U.S., and U.S. students studying abroad.