Previous Programs

Public Affairs Section Activities

September, 2006

The American President Series

美国总统专题系列活动

“As a nation, Americans place no greater responsibility on any one individual than we do on the president. We ask the president to be executive, diplomat, military leader, and consoler. The greatest chief executives thrive at balancing the numerous roles they are expected to play; others stumble because they cannot master one of the many duties of the office.” Smithsonian Museum of American History

We invite you to learn about U.S. history from the perspective of some of the men who have served as president of the United States. Beginning July 6 we will focus our Weekly Forums on different U.S. presidents – their lives and the challenges they faced.  Prior to the Weekly Forum we will show videos on the presidents and the historical eras in which they served. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the United States, practice your English and exchange ideas with U.S. Consulate officials. We look forward to meeting with you every Thursday, 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. on the third floor of the Garden Hotel.

September 1

• American Film Night
  Host:  Deborah Turner
  Time: 7 pm – 9 pm
  Why are Americans so fat? Two words: fast food. What would happen if you ate nothing but fast food for an entire month? Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock does just that and embarks on the most perilous journey of his life. The rules? For 30 days he can't eat or drink anything that isn't on McDonald's menu; he must wolf three squares a day; he must consume everything on the menu at least once and super size his meal if asked. Spurlock treks across the country interviewing a host of experts on fast food and an equal number of regular folk while chewing down at the Golden Arches. Spurlock's grueling drive-through diet spirals him into a physical and emotional metamorphosis that will make you think twice about picking up another Big Mac.

September 7

• Video Screening: The American President – Episode X: The Balance of Power
  Time: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m
• Weekly Forum
  Topic: President Washington and Kennedy
  Speaker: Darcy Zotter, American Consulate Officer
  Time: 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

September 12

• English on the Job Series
  Host:  Deborah Turner
  Time: 6:45 pm – 9 pm

September 14

• Video Screening: American Culture Series I: They Make America -- Rebels
  Time: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Weekly Forum: American Pop-Culture: Introduction
  Speaker: Akunna Cook, Officer, U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou
  Time: 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Web-Chat with Consul General Goldberg

September 15

• American Film Night
  Host:  Darcy Zotter
  Time: 6:45 pm – 9 pm
  Two teenage boys from New York are traveling down south when a series of coincidences lands them in jail charged with first degree murder. They can't afford the $50K for an attorney so they call the lawyer cousin of one of the boys. Vinny is a stereotypical New Yorker who is initially a complete disaster, but can he get them off the hook?

September 21

• Video Screening: American Culture Series II: Broadway: The American Musical -- Tradition
  Time: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Weekly Forum: American Pop-Culture: Music
  Time: 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  Speakers: Jim Turner, David Muehlke, Eric Aldrich, Officers, U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou

September 22

• Tangning Reading Club: The World is Flat
  英文读书沙龙: 《世界是平的》
  Host: Darcy Zotter, Press and Culture Consul, US Consulate General Guangzhou
  Venue: Tangning Reading Club, Tangning Bookstore, 37 Hua Le Lu, Guangzhou
  (广州市越秀区��路37�首层 ��书店内书畔�)
  Time:  19:30-21:30
  Join Darcy Zotter, Press and Culture Consul, on a lively discussion of Thomas Friedman’s new book, The World is Flat at the Tangning Bookstore, 37 Hua Le Lu, Guangzhou. Tel: 83855749, 83665237.
  Due to limited seating, phone reservations are recommended.

September 26

• Editing Skills:  The importance of communicating accurately and effectively in English
  Host:  Deborah Turner
  Time: 6:45 pm – 9 pm

September 28

• Video Screening: American Culture Series III: Mountain Stage – Blue Special
  Time: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Weekly Forum: American Pop-Culture: Music
  Speaker: Fred Rocafort, Officer, U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou
  Time: 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.