Indonesian Envoy

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Indonesia’s new ambassador to the U.S. is Dino Patti Djalal. That’s the news from Southeast Asia Program Senior Adviser & Director Ernie Bower of the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), based in this capital. Bower wrote in his regular Asian updates Djalal, 45, current presidential spokesman in Jakarta, is very familiar with the U.S. Djalal served for many years in the Indonesian embassy here. He grew up and went to school in this country, and also in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Oil Spill

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Leaders from the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), OCA and APIAVote visited the Gulf Coast on July 7-10 to gather first-hand accounts of the oil spill’s impact on the Asian Americans there, about 80 per cent of whom are in the seafood industry. Through focus groups with over 25 Vietnamese fishermen, they learned “the most pressing concern for people is finding a job to support their families and pay bills while they are unable to fish,” said JACL National Executive Director Floyd Mori. George Wu, Executive Director of OCA and chair of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), reported on “the language access problem” of the Asian American community. The leaders’ findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Call MC 311

MONTGOMERY, Maryland–Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett has launched MC311, the county’s new online and telephone information system. The public is now able to access Montgomery County government information and non-emergency services online or by calling a single number: 3-1-1. “One of my objectives is to create ‘greater responsiveness and accountability’ in meeting the needs of a very diverse county, said Leggett. “As part of this overall objective, I believe a County government that ‘listens’ must have a single, one-stop phone number for service requests, information, and complaints and a web portal where County residents can enter their own requests, get their own information, and track the progress of the work requested.”

AAA-Fund

WASHINGTON, D.C.–The Asian American Action Fund, based here, has endorsed Joe Fernandez for the open Attorney General seat in Rhode Island. It said the former Providence, City Solicitor and corporate litigator is poised to become the first Asian American elected to statewide office in New England. “He has a strong record of bringing positive change as Providence’ chief lawyer-fighting corruption, creating jobs, and decreasing crime,” it said, adding he’s one of the country’s few Asian American statewide candidates.

‘Works of Art’

NEW YORK, NY–“Works of Art,” written by Paul Juhn and directed by Andrew Pang will be screened August 1 at the International Latino Film Festival, presented by HBO under the Shorts Program (“Cinedulce Shorts”). Venue is Chelsea Theaters, located at 260 West 23rd Street, between 7th & 8th Avenue. The film stars Paul Giamatti, Paul Juhn, Sara Kim, Ken Leung, Caitlin Miller and Joel de la Fuente.

Lao Culture

SEATTLE, Washington–This other Washington will be the venue of two events this month by the Lao Heritage Foundation (LHF). These are the Summer Camp for dance, music, & culture (August 2-13) and Forte Artistic Showcase (August 14). LHF President Niphasone Souphom said more details will be posted on www.laoheritagefoundation.org as information becomes available. She also announced the other forthcoming events of LHF, based in the nation’s capital. These are Sixth annual benefit dinner and cultural show (September 18, in Washington, D.C.) and Annual benefit dinner and cultural show, to be held here in Seattle on November 13.

Historians

SEATTLE, Washington–California Lt. Gov. Mona Pasquil was the keynote speaker at the at the Filipino American National Historical Society’s 13th National Conference, held at Seattle University here last month. “A Quest for Emergence-A Retrospective” was the theme for the national gathering of writers, teachers, artists, film makers, scholars and community-based historians. The national conference featured inter-generational workshops, plenary sessions, an Authors’ Reception, and evening dinner-dance.

Housing Priority

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Dr. Rajiv Shah, administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), told Politico on July 12 it would focus more on housing, citing the hurricane season. Priority would be on improving damaged homes, less costly than building new houses. In related news, in a July 9 New York Times op-ed, Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive of Haiti and former President Bill Clinton stressed the participation of the nongovernmental organizations, businesses and government ministries, and donors. They are co-chairs of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission.

Bill on Thailand

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Rep. Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment, hailed on July 1 the House passage of on Res. 1321 by a vote of 411 to 4. Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA) managed the resolution on the House floor. Faleomavaega, who served as a delegate to American Samoa’s Constitutional Convention, said: “The resolution reaffirms the support of the United States for a strong and vital alliance with Thailand, calls for restoration of peace and stability in Thailand and urges all parties involved in the current political crisis to renounce the use of violence and resolve differences peacefully.” He noted Thailand is a major trading partner and a force for stability in Southeast Asia.

NAM Fellowship

CALIFORNIA–New America Media (NAM) and the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), with Journalists Network on Generations, announced August 2 is the deadline for journalists to submit proposals for a fellowship to attend GSA’s 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans–thanks to a grant from the MetLife Foundation for 14 journalists to the conference. Selected journalists will receive a $1,500 stipend for their proposed projects, as well as expenses to attend the conference. Each Fellow will participate in a special day-long pre-conference session on November 19.