gastrodiplomacy

Everybody eats, which is what makes food a perfect choice to resolve conflicts and foster connections among nations. The concept is called "gastrodiplomacy," and South Korea is one of its strongest champions. [...] And even as the government supports its citizens in opening Korean restaurants around the world, it pays special attention to promoting that most ubiquitous of Korean foods: kimchi.

Soldiers got the opportunity to visit cultural sites and learn about the unique history of Korea during a two-day cultural trip hosted by the city of Dongducheon, South Korea. [...] “Cultural learning opportunities, events and trips like these provide Ironhorse Solders and Families knowledge about Korean traditions and norms,” said Capt. James Nance, civil affairs officer, 1st BCT. 

This week Harlem will be infused with Cuban culture in the form of concerts, Cuban food tastings and fashion shows. The inaugural Harlem/Havana Cultural Exchange kicked off Sunday with a two-hour performance at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, but the exchange will hit up various neighborhood institutions throughout the next week.

Wodonga Senior Secondary College’s multicultural peer support students will hold a cultural exchange fundraiser night in Tawonga [...] Organised by students from a variety of backgrounds, all are welcome to come and delve into the students’ culture through food, music and dance. Donations received from the community will go towards Jan Fallon's fundraiser for the Tumaini Miles of Smiles Orphanage in Kenya. 

The Indonesian Embassy of Namibia is promoting Indonesian cuisines, such as martabak (stuffed pancake or pan-fried bread) and lumpia (spring rolls), to introduce Indonesian culture particularly to college students. This is a kind of soft diplomacy by Indonesia. 

For a start the state government noted that it began with the creation of the Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs as a way of resuscitating and promoting the Ijaw culture. Governor Seriake Dickson says that the establishment of the Ijaw House, the completion of the Ijaw Heroes Memorial Park, institution of the Ijaw Film Project, among others are ways that he is ensuring that the Ijaw culture is enriched.

Themed ‘Taste of Pakistani Delicacies’, the show was jointly organised by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and Zaoq Restaurants, Qatar, under the umbrella of PQBF. [...] It was opened to the general public on Friday, where people of multiple nationalities in vast numbers savoured the delights of the Pakistani fruit. 

Summer solstice fire festivals in the Pyrenees. Korean tightrope-walking. Solving math equations on a traditional Chinese abacus… and the Mediterranean diet? The olive-oil-abundant way of eating may seem like an outlier here, but all these things share one common attribute: They’re recognized by UNESCO as cultural treasures worth preserving for future generations.

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