The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2021

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2021 15 generations, regain its reputation as the world’s “indispensable” nation and, not incidentally in Power’s view, do good. PDAA Honors Outstanding Public Diplomacy Initiatives W inners of the 2021 Public Diplo- macy Association of America’s annual awards for excellence in public diplomacy showcased U.S. support for democracy and human rights, combat- ing trafficking in persons, encouraging entrepreneurship and crafting calibrated messaging on immigration policy. There were four winners. Public Affairs Section, U.S. Con- sulate General Hong Kong & Macau. Confronted with the Chinese Communist Party’s harsh crackdown on democracy and human rights in Hong Kong, as well as attempts to implicate the United States in the resulting political unrest, the consulate’s public affairs section (PAS) launched a campaign on multiple media platforms to push back. U.S. Diplomats Push Vaccine Diplomacy F rustrated U.S. diplomats are pressing Washington to move faster on donat- ing COVID-19 vaccines abroad, Politico reported on May 13, even after the State Department elevated vaccine diplomacy, appointing former USAID Administra- tor Gayle Smith as coordinator for global COVID response and health security. The diplomats pointed out that China and Russia have been using donations of their homegrown vaccines (Sinopharm and Sputnik V, respectively) to extract political concessions from nations seeking aid. The White House announced on May 5 that it supports a World Trade Organization initiative to waive intellec- tual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines, making the technology freely available to the whole world. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the announcement as a “monumental moment in the fight against COVID-19” that reflects “moral leadership.” However, even if the European Union goes along with the request (which is not a foregone conclusion, given Ger- man Chancellor Angela Merkel’s staunch opposition to such waivers), it will take months before recipient countries are able to manufacture their own doses. In the meantime, Foreign Service officers in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa continue to urge the Biden administration to release its entire stock- pile of AstraZeneca vaccines to COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access). A May 11 Washington Post profile notes that Samantha Power had been pushing that approach even before becoming USAID Administrator. “The United States can reenter all the deals and international organizations it wants,” she wrote in the January-February issue of Foreign Affairs , “but the biggest gains in influence will come by demonstrating its ability to deliver in many countries’ hour of greatest need.” By spearheading global vaccine distribution, the United States could beat China at the biggest soft-power contest in I n this new podcast, Foreign Service Officer Josh Lustig and former FSO (now a licensed realtor in the Washing- ton, D.C., area) Tanya Salseth interview members of the foreign affairs community to crowdsource the best finan- cial and investment advice. “So many of us have gotten great information from our colleagues, people who might live on the other side of the world, and oftentimes that information is gotten by com- pletely accidentally sitting next to them in the cafeteria, hearing that they’re doing something cool and then learn- ing about it from them and maybe trying it yourself,” Lustig said in their first podcast. “It’s really exciting for us to be able to give that experience and make it global.” Episodes so far include building side hustles and investing in hotels, with FSO Acquania Escarne; “conserva- tive” investing in turnkey new construction in Florida, with retired FSO Matt Shedd; a discussion with Diplomatic Security Agent Joe Burk- head about his experience purchasing 90 rental units; and planning for Foreign Service retirement with financial planner and FS family member William Carrington. “It’s a podcast featuring smart people talking about life, investing, personal finance and other peculiarities that come with the international nomadic lifestyle,” says Lustig. Podcast of the Month: The Embassy Wealth Podcast: http://bit.ly/embassy-wealth The appearance of a particular site or podcast is for information only and does not constitute an endorsement.