And the ambitions go further: to use Scottish Water’s land for wind-power generation, to export water technology (it already does so, to Canada) and what it grandly calls “water diplomacy”. At one level this seems to mean Scottish Water’s support for the international charity WaterAid, helping with water projects in Africa and other poor parts of the world.

The framework does have an interesting reference on closer coordination and collaboration between State and Defense: ”where DOD runs public-facing websites, we have developed closer coordination with State on editorial oversight and content selection.” This may mean State, likely the regional bureaus to be specific, has input to Defense-run sites.

The report from the Inspector General’s office says that’s because the State Department’s programs are poorly run. It says some programs need to be restructured and another federal agency — the Labor Department — may need to take over others.

Together with the other Filipino achievers whose works and talents have been recognized in New Zealand, Ivy continues to do our country and people proud! Indeed, Ivy is among our valued links in enhancing Philippines-New Zealand cultural relations and people-to-people ties. This is cultural diplomacy at its best!

North Korea's cultural diplomacy started during the Korean War and has not changed a great deal since that time. The mission has always combined a Stalinist style ruler-worship with, more practically, a way to press for foreign donations for the impoverished county.

A century before cultural diplomacy became a buzzword for governments around the world, Japan scored a spectacular success -- Washington's cherry blossoms, which have become one of the US capital's top tourist attractions.

As long as the U.S. military is the point-man for American involvement in Afghanistan, however, it is the use of hard power — force — that will capture public attention. The predominant effort, if we are to be at all present in that foreign country, should consist even more of soft power missions than it already does.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ (ECA) SportsUnited division announced a basketball exchange program that will send four Zimbabweans -- three teenage girls and a coach -- to the United States for twelve-days of dynamic activities as part of the new Empowering Women and Girls through Sports Initiative.