The Foreign Service Journal, March 2016

20 MARCH 2016 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL W ith personal stories, we gain insight and connection. We step out of our own shoes and, for just a moment, experi- ence what it would be like to be someone else. By contrast with much news coverage, where surface facts and events are often skimmed, personal sto- ries show how individuals, through their own words, are affected. The U.S. Agency for Interna- tional Development’s new website, Extreme Possibilities: USAID Stories, uses the personal testimony of those from whom we seldom hear— project beneficiaries—to inspire support for the critical work that the aid agency performs. From fighting against stigmati- zation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community in Colombia, to prevent- ing sexual violence against young girls and assisting survivors of sex- ual violence against women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the site tells the stories of incredibly brave individuals across the planet. Their words are accompanied by a background narrative and stunning photos. Each story shows how USAID has been help- ing through programs and advocacy. Visitors to the site may view stories by country or program “priorities” (e.g., Power Africa, Let Girls Learn, Feed the Future). An interactive map helps browsers visualize USAID’s reach, offering the option to click on colorful pins to read a personal story. In addi- tion, the map illustrates examples of quantifiable results stemming fromUSAID’s work. For example, one “results” pin highlights the fact that USAID has helped improve the diag- nostic performance of 70 percent of Ukraine’s tuberculosis labs. Extreme Possibilities offers a visu- ally compelling way to become more informed about the extreme poverty issues that affect so many. The new site is eye-catching and easy to use, which will surely result in readers who are more aware and empathetic. —Dastan Sadykov, Editorial Intern SITE OF THE MONTH: Extreme Possibilities: USAID Stories ( https://stories.usaid.gov) ern Europe, Africa, South/Central Asia and the Caribbean; and one individual each in Oceania and South America. At the end of 2015, eight political appointees were awaiting confirmation by the Senate—three headed for Western Europe, two each to the Caribbean and international organizations, and one to Latin America. Not a bad job if you can get it. —Devon Fitzgerald, Communications Intern CFR Compares Candidates on Foreign Policy T he Council on Foreign Relations has added a valuable new section to its website: “Campaign 2016: The Candi- dates &The World.” Its stated goal is to provide the public with a comprehensive guide to the foreign policy views of the men and women currently vying for the presidency—a place where voters can track and compare where the candidates stand. In organizing the information, CFR first identified the foreign policy issues with the most potential to decide can- didates’ electoral fates: China, Cuba, defense policy, energy and climate change, immigration, Iran, the Islamic State, national security, North Korea, Russia and trade. There is a page for each issue contain- ing a collection of useful background materials and interactive presentations created by CFR experts that readers can use to develop their own opinions before moving on to the candidates’ views. The China page, for example, contains primers on the Chinese Communist Party, religious freedom, media censor- ship and maritime disputes. Candidates’ views on each issue are presented with- out commentary. In addition to the Campaign 2016 site, CFR offers a handy election guide, “Can- didates InTheir Own Words”—a regularl y updated repository of transcripts of each presidential candidate’s speeches, interviews and op-eds on foreign affairs topics. Full transcripts of each televised presidential debate are also available. n —Shannon Mizzi, Editorial Assistant