"HUNGER BANQUETS" AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY A

UNCLAS ROME 002194

SIPDIS


FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME
FOR THE AMBASSADOR FROM AMB TONY HALL
STATE FOR A/S DINA POWELL, IO DAS LAGON, A/S PRM DEWEY,
IO/EDA, IO/PPC, R, IIP, PA
NSC FOR MELINE
USDA FOR U/S BOST, FAS - MCHAMBLISS AND LREICH
USAID FOR DAA/DCHA WGARVELINK, FFP LANDIS, DCHA/OFDA, LPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO OPRC EAGR AORC PHUM EAID PREF PREL FAO WFP
SUBJECT: "HUNGER BANQUETS" AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY A
PROPOSAL

REF:(A) Rome 4673

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Summary
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1. (U) I would like to bring to your attention a big public
diplomacy success story in hopes that our experience might
work as well for your mission as it did for us. It has the
potential to bring broad media attention to the story of
U.S. generosity -- a story that needs to be told.


2. (U) Last Fall, USUN Rome focused world media attention
on the United States as a humanitarian leader in the fight
against hunger through a "hunger banquet" that I hosted at
my residence. The event colorfully brought the plight of
the hungry to invited guests by dividing them in the same
access-to-food proportions found generally in the world.
The press loved it. From India to Wales to Australia,
articles praised the initiative. Letters from teachers,
kids, and community groups applauded the effort to
highlight the realities of poverty.


3. The "hunger banquet" (we called it a "Special
Thanksgiving Reception") demonstrated the worldwide market
for stories on humanitarian themes and offered a platform
to spotlight America's tradition of generosity. This
initiative carries significant public diplomacy potential
and could be mobilized in many countries to support the
U.S. and its response to world humanitarian crises. Such
themes have particular resonance among Muslim populations,
as recently shown in a study by the Council of Foreign
Relations (see para 7). We propose expanding the "hunger
banquet" format world wide for use alongside Embassy
efforts to highlight and celebrate our own Thanksgiving
holiday in November. End Summary.

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Rice for "Cookie-Pushers"
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4. (U) During our 2004 Thanksgiving celebration, we hosted
at the Ambassador's residence a reception that borrowed
from a "hunger banquet" format used by a well-known
humanitarian NGO. The purpose was to vividly introduce
guests to the world's wide disparity in the availability of
food. Upon arrival, guests chose a color-coded card that
separated them into three categories: 60 percent were
served rice under a tent outside and represented the 60
percent of the world's population that lives without
sufficient food security; about 25 percent ate rice and
beans in the residence foyer, just barely inside the door,
as do about 25 percent of today's people; and just a
handful was served a posh meal, complete with crystal,
china, and wine. After about 30 minutes, everyone was
gathered inside to talk about the event, and we then opened
a traditional buffet. The numerous Ambassadors present
loved the format, and we received afterwards complaints
from others who would have wanted to be invited. [Note: We
used the NGO's user-friendly format that has been
duplicated all over the U.S., including on Capitol Hill,
and by universities and grass roots organizations. A
banquet planning kit gives easy-to-follow tips for the host
organization, including background materials that we used
for an information sheet faxed to guests in advance. End
Note.]


5. (U) In addition to our normal Mission contacts, we also
invited a small group of journalists, one of whom posted a
piece that caught international media attention. Articles
on the event ran on page three in the "International Herald
Tribune", the front page of "The Daily Telegraph", and in
the "Indian Express", the "Sydney Morning Herald", and the
"The Sunday Times" of London. The Ambassador spoke with
several local and national BBC radio stations. He was
interviewed by Radio Europe and the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation. The Mission received notes of thanks from all
over the world for having the courage to demonstrate the
realities of poverty to a group of international diplomats.
Even months later, the buzz over our "hunger banquet"
continued among UN Rome-based permreps.


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Proposal: With a Little Help for Our Friends
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6. (U) Our "hunger banquet's" broad media response came at
a time when there was an urgent need to engage world
audiences with positive images of the United States. Our
success suggests that there may be an important public
diplomacy opportunity to spotlight our humanitarian
initiatives in Africa, Southeast Asia and among Muslim
populations. A worldwide hunger banquet hosted by U.S.
diplomatic missions would most certainly punctuate the
United States as a leader in the Millennium Development
Goal effort to cut the number of hungry people in half by

2015.


7. (U) An "international hunger banquet" might also help
soften the USG image in light of the rise in anti-
Americanism worldwide. It would present an opportunity to
discuss U.S. humanitarian assistance with embassy contacts,
many or most of whom are not aware of the important role
the United States plays in humanitarian assistance. We
note, for example, the Council on Foreign Relations recent
report that shows humanitarian assistance is the one
subject on which the USG can effectively engage Muslim
audiences, change opinions about its policies, and reduce
widespread anti-Americanism. It noted that Muslim focus
groups, when learning via media reports of U.S. tsunami
relief efforts in Indonesia or our support for women's
rights in Morocco, significantly improved their attitudes
toward the United States. "It makes a real difference to
Muslims' views of America when they learn of U.S. aid in
areas that matter to them," the report concluded.

Hall


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2005ROME02194 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED