The Foreign Service Journal, November 2003

of Congress’ country study of China covers geographic information as well as the different periods of Chinese history ( http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/ cs/cntoc.html ). Among think tanks, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has an active China program directed by Minxin Pei and Michael Swaine, including partnerships with the Chinese policy community ( http:// www.ceip.org/files/programs/ china-home.ASP ). T he Center for Strategic and International Studies also has a dynamic program conduct- ed by its Freeman Chair in Chinese Studies, presently held by Bates Gill ( http://csis.org/china/index.htm ). CSIS released a study in August titled “China’s New Journey to the West: China’s Emergence in Central Asia and Implications for U.S. Interests.” The Woodrow Wilson Center’s large Asia program encompasses study of developments in China, such as the 2003 report “China After Jiang,” which analyzes trends and transitions in Chinese politics ( http://wwics.si. edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=topics. home&topic_id=1462 ). T he Nixon Center’s China program is directed by David Lampton, a professor of Chinese studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Its latest report is “U.S.- China Relations in a Post-September 11th World” issued in 2002 ( http:// www.nixoncenter.org/ch inapro- gramindex.htm ). A number of nonprofit organiza- tions maintain useful Web sites on dif- ferent facets of the U.S.-China rela- tionship. The National Committee on United States-China Relations is an educational organization established by scholars and civic, religious and business leaders in 1966 that encour- ages U.S.-China citizen contacts ( http://www.ncuscr.org ). T he U.S.- China Business Council was founded in 1973 to expand U.S.-China busi- ness and economic ties ( http:// www.uschina.org/public/wto ). T he United States of America-China Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1993 by a Chinese businessman and an American businessman ( http://www.usccc.org ). – Benjamin Bodnar, Editorial Intern Do You Look Like Your Dog? Do you look like your dog? Do you know others who do? Have you ever wondered why some people look like their dogs? Well, stay tuned. An international contest for owners with look-alike dogs is set to become a new TV game and reality show, promoters announced recently ( www.doyou looklikeyourdog.com ). O n the show, N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 3 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 13 C YBERNOTES Site of the Month: www. PeaceCorpsWriters.org Almost everyone who lives and works in a foreign country has the impulse at one time or another to write about it. Peace Corps authors have seized on the Internet revolution to nurture the writing habit among fellow volunteers; it is an initiative that Foreign Service writers may find of particular interest. The Peace Corps Writers Web site was launched in 1999, to fulfill the Peace Corps mission to “bring the world back home.” However, making the listings of returned Peace Corps Volunteers’ books and writings, along with reviews, available online is not only an educational opportunity for Americans to learn about the world; it is also meant to be an inspiration to other RPCV writers. A bimonthly e-zine features new books by Peace Corps writers, an interview with a writer, book reviews and letters. The site also contains a bib- liography of more than 1,100 books by over 325 RCPV writers, and resources for both readers and writers. Among them are a list of friendly agents and publishers, information on self-publishing and publishing-on-demand, and other very useful links such as “How to Write A Novel in 100 Days” and “Opportunities for Writers.” The site is edited by John Coyne, a secondary-school English teacher in Addis Ababa from 1962 to 1964, who is manager of communications for the College of New Rochelle. Site designer and webmaster Marian Haley Beil taught high school math in Ethiopia from 1962 to 1964, and worked with Coyne on publishing RPCV Writers & Readers , the Web site’s predecessor, from 1989 to 1998. Declining subscriptions for the printed newsletter brought about its demise in 1998, but numerous communications of praise for the publication led to its relaunch online.