Cultural Diplomacy News
HUMAN RIGHTS
Official Visit of the Slovenian Prime Minister to Germany – Janez Janša (Chairman of the ICD Initiative for Human Rights & Global Peace) meets German Chancellor Angela Merkel and ICD Director Mark C. Donfried
During his official two-day visit to Germany, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša and German Chancellor Angela Merkel pointed out after talks in Berlin on Wednesday that Slovenia and Germany had the same views on tackling the eurozone crisis. Before his meeting with Chancellor Merkel, Mr. Janša visited the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, where he was interviewed by ICD Director Mark C. Donfried … Continue reading
European Initiative for Media Pluralism
Background and Overview According to most independent accounts, the situation of media freedom and pluralism in the European Union is worsening. European institutions have, so far, refrained from taking a strong stance against individual Member States for such deterioration. This “hands-off” approach seems to have contributed to a negative domino effect, with worsening of legislation … Continue reading
Cultural Diplomacy Below the Line
1.4 billion people are living every day in extreme poverty. That is more than the whole population of China, 4 times the population of the USA, 10 times the population of Russia and over 20 times the population of the UK. In contrast, it takes less than 3 years for 1.4 billion kit-kat chocolate bars … Continue reading
Freedom of Speech Limited in Democracy?
By Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, Vice Chairman of the ICD Advisory Board and Former Luxembourgian Minister of Culture & Religious Affairs The turmoil created by a poem written by Nobel prizewinner Günter Grass has had some astonishing reactions. He was called an anti-Semite and forbidden to cross the border to Israel after he expressed an open concern … Continue reading
Morocco: A Beacon of Hope and an Example to Follow in the Midst of the Arab Spring?
Panel Discussion Between ICD Advisory Board Member Cynthia Schneider and Moroccan Ambassador to Germany Omar Zniber Moderator: Mark Donfried (ICD Director) On Friday morning the Arts festival participants and distinguished guests were welcomed to the Moroccan Embassy. Ambassador Omar Zniber’s fascinating insight into Moroccan culture was complemented by an extremely thorough panel discussion… Schneider I … Continue reading
ICD Speakers´ Corner
Wednesday 29th of February saw the International Freedom of Expression Forum move activities outside of the ICD House and take to the streets of central Berlin in front of the Brandenburg Gate. Given its history as a symbol of hope, unity and progression, the Brandenburg Gate was an extremely poignant and inspiring location for our … Continue reading
John Hemming, Member of European Parliament for Great Britain, on “The Narrow Rights of Freedom of Expression.”
John Hemming’s talk focused on the themes Renate Schroeder touched upon, particularly the need for increased media transparency, and provided a historical and contemporary rundown of the Enlightenment-era press freedoms Western Europeans and Americans often take for granted. He peppered his speech with relevant examples of the curtailing of press freedoms in the US and … Continue reading
“… apparently people need protecting from the ugly truth that’s leading them” – Kathleen Carroll (Executive Director Associated Press; Co-Chair Pulitzer Board)
“Why do governments keep secrets?” Ms Carroll hit the ground running with a rhetorical question that truly summarised the theme of the conference. Over 100 countries worldwide agree with the credo of free information and have all enshrined this is in national law. This is a de facto 5 billion people that have the legal … Continue reading
Rudolf Porsch, Director, Axel Springer Akademie, “Don’t be a Maybe – Challenges and Attitudes in Modern German Journalism”
“Freedom dies by inches” was the opening line of Rudolf Porsch’s discussion of freedom of expression this afternoon. Taking a rather different angle to the subject matter to our many and diverse speakers, Mr. Porsch attached the subject from within, stressing the necessity of protecting press freedom, not from the politicians or the corporations, but … Continue reading
“The Berlin Freedom of Expression Forum – Censorship and Freedom in Traditional and New Media: The Revolution of Media as a Tool of Freedom of Expression” (Berlin, February 28th – March 2nd, 2012)
The Cultural Diplomacy News team and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy are pleased to introduce you to the annual “International Freedom of Expression Forum”. The Forum is an annual conference on the issue of “Freedom of Expression”. The aim of the conference this year is to reflect on the concepts of “freedom” and “censorship” and look at … Continue reading
