Barack Obama Becomes 44th President of the United States

Shortly after noon EST (1700 GMT) January 20, Barack Obama took the presidential oath of office, becoming the 44th president and first African-American leader of the United States.
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts administered the oath of office to Obama on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. “I will faithfully execute the office of the president of the United States,” Obama said as he placed his hand on the Bible last used to inaugurate President Abraham Lincoln in 1861.


More information at our web site:
http://uruguay.usembassy.gov/usaweb/2009/09-022EN.shtml

President Obama's Inaugural Adress

Moments after taking the oath, President Obama gave his first speech, known as the Inaugural Address. He spoke not only to Americans, but to millions across the globe who closely watched the 2008 campaign, election and transition.

More information at our web site

http://uruguay.usembassy.gov/usaweb/2009/09-022EN.shtml

Youth Ambassador Wins Laptop in State Alumni Draw

State Alumni Romina Castellini (Youth Ambassador 08) receives a laptop computer from John Dickson, the director of the Office of Public Diplomacy Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs for the U.S. Dept. of State, left, and Embassy Public Affairs Officer Robert Zimmerman, December 17, 2008.

Romina is one of more than 100 Uruguayan alumni that joined the State Alumni network during International Education Week celebrated in mid-November, following Ambassador Baxter's appeal announcing that those who registered would be entered into a raffle to win a laptop.

The embassy also raffled off five State Alumni flash drives to lucky registered alumni. State Alumni (https://alumni.state.gov/) is an online interactive network for all past and current participants of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs.

U.S. Official Will Discuss Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas

On September 24, leaders from countries in the Western Hemisphere that have free trade agreements with the United States met in New York to announce the launch of the Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas initiative. Pathways will deepen existing partnerships and cooperation to ensure that the benefits of free trade and open investment are broadly shared throughout the societies of the region.

On Thursday, December 18, 2008, at 1 p.m. EST (16:00 in Uruguay), Craig Kelly, principal deputy assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, will join us for a live webchat to discuss the events of the follow-up meeting that took place December 10 and what steps are being taken to strengthen trade partnerships in the Americas.

Craig Kelly was the U.S. ambassador to Chile from 2004 to 2007. From 2001 to 2004 he was executive assistant to Secretary of State Colin Powell. Before that, he served for two years as executive assistant to Thomas Pickering, who was then the under secretary of state for political affairs.

Kelly has served in a variety of overseas posts, including Bogota, Rome and Paris. In Washington he has served in the Western Hemisphere and European bureaus as well as at the National Security Council. He has a Ph.D. in Romance languages and European history from the University of California – Los Angeles and speaks Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese. He has a diploma from the Ecole Nationale d'Administration in Paris and attended the National War College in Washington.

This webchat will take place at http://statedept.connectsolutions/wha. No registration is needed. Simply choose "Enter as a Guest," type in your preferred screen name and join the discussion.

The transcript of this webchat will be available on Ask America's webchat page, where information about upcoming webchats is also available.

More information on the Pathways to Prosperity in Americas initiative is available online.

The Many Faces and Facets of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, widely regarded as one of the greatest U.S. presidents, is the subject of a new exhibition, One Life: The Mask of Lincoln. The exhibition offers rare photographs and other objects that bring visitors tantalizingly close to a man who remains an elusive figure.

One Life: The Mask of Lincoln opened on November 7, 2008, and runs through July 5, 2009. More information on the exhibit is available on the Web site of the National Portrait Gallery.

Missouri State Representative Rachel Storch Vists Uruguay

Missouri State Representative Rachel Storch, center, stands with Ambassador Baxter and Eisenhower Fellows Carina Novarese, Daniel Pagliano, Pablo Fernandez, Claudio Paolillo and Ricardo Zerbino during a courtesy call Friday, December 12, 2008.

As a state representative, Rachel Storch is a member of three committees - Budget, Ways and Means, and Appropriations and also serves as a Deputy Whip for the Democratic Caucus.

During her fellowship, she will meet with government officials, industry representatives, non-profit executive directors, and scholars to explore the potential for partnerships between the public and private sectors in Missouri, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

More information on the Eisenhower Fellows program is available on the organization's website.

Celebrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, defines human freedoms in 30 different articles. Promoting human rights is a daily practice for many Americans, who affirm human freedom and dignity in their everyday endeavors.

http://www.america.gov/publications/ejournalusa/1108.html

Scripps Research Vessel Roger Revelle Visits Montevideo

U.S. Chargé D'Affaires Robin Matthewman visited the oceanographic research vessel Roger Revelle, December 3, 2008 while berthed at the port of Montevideo to take on supplies and equipment as well as a contingent of scientists who are initiating a research cruise along the southern coast of Argentina.

The vessel is operated by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, one of the oldest and largest centers for ocean and earth science research, graduate training, and public service in the world. Revelle is the second of three new-generation AGOR oceanographic ships built by the U.S. Navy for operation by oceanographic institutions.

The current ship's position may be tracked online

Western Hemisphere Ambassadors Will Participate in Forum

December 5 11:00am EST (1600GMT)

Come and join in a live chat with U.S. Ambassadors from six countries including Paraguay, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Argentina, Uruguay, and Guatemala.

Schedule of Events:

11:00-11:30am
U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay Liliana Ayalde
U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica Peter Cianchette

11:30am-12:00pm
U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua Robert Callahan
U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Earl Anthony Wayne

12:00-12:30pm
U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay Frank Baxter
U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala Stephen McFarland

https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/wha

U.S. Leaders Celebrate Life on World AIDS Day

For World AIDS Day, December 1, United States leaders are calling on Americans to celebrate life and commemorate those who were once dying but are now living and thriving in the fight against the global epidemic of HIV/AIDS.

The State Department encouraged its posts to mark AIDS Day 2008 by “celebrating the work of the dedicated men and women in nations affected by HIV/AIDS who are choosing life, saving the lives of their fellow countrymen and women, and creating hope for a future free of HIV/AIDS.”

“On World AIDS Day, we recommit ourselves to the global challenge of combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and to showing our compassion for those affected here at home and around the world,” President Bush said in a proclamation on World Aids Day.

Visit to "Liceo Jubilar Juan Pablo II"

Ambassador Frank Baxter visited the “Liceo Jubilar Juan Pablo II”, the first private high school in Uruguay where students attend without paying tuition. It has open its doors to the school system in the country, giving the most needy students a chance to learn and graduate from high school, who, otherwise, would not be able to escape the tough social situation they are in.


The high school is located in a very poor neighborhood called Casavalle and it arose as a result of parents’ hard work in order to have a high school for their kids to continue studying after graduating from elementary school.


The porpose of the visit was to meet the Principal, Gonzalo Amelius, who participated in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program 2008, and to get acquainted with their programs.