International Focus Magazine Prototype Edition | Page 13

Columbia University. When he was elected the 34th
President of the United States, he was in a position
to put his philosophy into practice.
The story of the sister cities movement in America is really his story, which, if you put the two words
together is also “history.” He said,“There is no problem before the American people—indeed before the
world—that so colors our thinking, our actions, as
does the problem of preserving the peace and providing our own security.” That sentiment is as relevant today as it was then, perhaps even more so.
The result of the conference was an organization
called People to People Partnerships which evolved
into sister cities, sometimes called “twins” or “partners.” Each is a non-profit, grassroots volunteer
organization for person-to-person diplomacy. Although there had been a form of “twinning” between a German and a French city as far back as the
9th century and one between England and France
in 1920, America’s first relationship was between Toledo, Ohio, and Toledo, Spain, in 1931. It wasn’t until President Eisenhower, though, that the idea was
formalized on a larger scale. In the beginning, it
was administered by the National League of Cities,
but in 1967, it became a separate entity called Sister
Cities International. The stated mission was to “promote peace through mutual respect, understanding
and cooperation—one individual, one community
at a time.”
Currently there are 2,121 partnerships between
545 US cities and those in 145 countries on 6 continents. Activities involve educational and cultural
exchanges, business development and trade, and humanitarian projects, among others.
Rather than quoting statistics, however, it is important to know the way that these relationships
work. Houston has 18 independent sister cities: Abu
Dhabi, U.A.E.; Baku, Azerbaijan; Basra, Iraq; Chiba,
Japan; Grampian, Scotland; Guayaquil, Ecuador;
Huelva, Spain; Istanbul, Turkey; Karachi, Pakistan;
Leipzig, Germany; Luanda; Angola; Nice, France;
Perth, Australia; Shenzhen, China; Stavanger, Norway; Taipei, Taiwan; Tampico, Mexico; and Tyumen,
Russia. Each was approved by the Houston City
Council and signed by the Mayors of both cities.
The umbrella organization, Sister Cities of Houston,

Rather than quoting statistics, however,
it is important to know the way that these
relationships work. Houston has 18
independent sister cities: Abu Dhabi,
U.A.E.; Baku, Azerbaijan; Basra, Iraq;
Chiba, Japan; Grampian, Scotland;
Guayaquil, Ecuador; Huelva, Spain;
Istanbul, Turkey; Karachi, Pakistan;
Leipzig, Germany; Luanda; Angola;
Nice, France; Perth, Australia; Shenzhen,
China; Stavanger, Norway; Taipei, Taiwan;
Tampico, Mexico; and Tyumen, Russia.

was begun in 1993, more than thirty years after our
first partnership—that with Taipei, Taiwan, in 1961.
While all of them cooperate on certain projects,
each has it’s own activities. Examples of joint programs include an annual Fall Concert, a spirited
soccer tournament, Networking Dinners where
different Consuls General share information about
their country, and the Thanksgiving Day Parade. A
project for youth is the Young Artist, Writers, Filmmakers Competition for recognition on an international basis and cash prizes. Each year, the five
Muslim sister cities—Abu Dhabi, Baku, Basra, Istanbul, and Karachi—lead other organizations in
hosting a city-wide Iftar Dinner during Ramadan.
It is free and open to everyone, regardless of race,
religion, country of origin or other differences.
The Mayor and other officials speak, along with an
Islamic scholar who gives insights about fasting and
various aspects of the holiday. By imparting knowledge and understanding, 1700+ attendees become
open to other religions and cultures—a good antidote to xenophobia.
Just to name a few projects of individual sister cities, Houston students visit Stavanger, then host their
Norwegian counterparts when they come here on

see “Sister Cities” con’t. on pg. 56

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