I can’t tell you how many countries they are running campaigns in but I do know BondPR International though not yet in the Top 20 list is currently running campaigns in 50 countries through its own offices, regional hubs and established delivery partners, working for companies like Autodesk and Regus. Reach out…. we are there.

Pope

Living in Rome as I do, one becomes used to reading about the latest Pope Watch News: from condom usage in Africa to global interfaith dialogue, to his favorite flavor of gelato (Pope John Paul II was apparently a fan of marron glace - the verdict is still out for the current Pope Benedict).

I loved the recent announcement that His Eminence was starting a Facebook page, a YouTube channel, providing content for iPhones, and joining the wacky world of Twitter.  What a hipster, that Popester.  Who knew?

It’s all part of the celebration to mark the World Social Communication Day (May 24), founded by the second Vatican Council following a decree on the media of Social communications back in the 60’s.  The church uses “Social Communications” to refer to the mass media in general – so not necessarily referring to the “social networking” phenomenon that are embodied by Twitter, Facebook, etc.  This Vatican decree overturned a previous Church position that was critical of the liberty of the press, and the day has been used to give an annual update to the followers of the Catholic Church and to foster communication amongst the faithful.

PR, of course, is all about communication, and the exploding social media phenomenon insists that this now be two-way communication with our stakeholders and our community influencers in order to survive.

The Vatican has clearly recognized that it needs to keep on top of its PR game as much as any multi-national corporation in order to maintain visibility and credibility in the global marketplace.  To survive in the competitive area – jockeying for position amongst innumerable faiths and, every more increasingly, the growing tide of “non-faiths” (agnostics and atheists) – the Catholic church must maintain this critical two-way dialogue in a meaningful way with its “customers”.  They must strive to ensure that they don’t migrate to the “competition”,  and try to attract new customers interested in buying its celestial “product”.

How successful will the Holy See be in his endeavor ( www.pope2you.net )?  Will the young, and the not-so-young, flock to the papal Facebook page or track Benedict’s Twitter updates or stay tuned to the Vatican YouTube channel  (http://www.youtube.com/vatican?gl=IT&hl=en-GB )?  Will the content be engaging, uplifting, valuable, provocative, inspiring?  Will the church be able to utilize this medium as an effective crisis control tool?  Will the Pope follow in Ashton Kutcher’s footsteps and surpass a million followers?

God only knows.

See a small sampling below from: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kosova, Middle East, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the UK and the US!

Australia

Christmas means summer, schoolchildren get six weeks holiday and many professionals close their office from Christmas Eve to Australia Day on January 26. Christmas Day is spent outdoors, swimming, surfing or fishing, with seafood and cold meats hamper (picnic), though many still like a traditional roast dinner. Santa comes down the chimney on the night of December 24 and eats a piece of cake left out for him. However, it is too hot for the reindeer so he is pulled by six white boomers (kangaroos). The Christmas tree is decorated with candy canes (chocolate would melt!). The presents under the tree are handed out on Christmas Day, December 25, often by the family patriarch with a Santa hat and a tinnie (tin can of beer)!

Happy Christmas!

Austria

Christmas-time begins in early December when you begin to see small wooden huts in the streets and squares where people meet after work or shopping to have a special hot drink called Punsch. These huts, or Punsch-Stand, are often accompanied by small wooden shops where you can buy little presents. Before the main Christmas celebration on December 24th, the children often have a day with their aunt, uncle or some other friend of the family, which gives the parents the chance to secretly decorate the Christmas tree. In the evening we exchange presents and have a great dinner with family, relatives and/or friends. Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr!

Belgium

In Belgium, Christmas is celebrated - and presents are opened – on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, during which families usually gather around for a festive meal. Christmas is therefore really considered a family occasion, and is symbolized by a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and little lights all around the house. The largest tree can be found on the Grand Place in Brussels every year. For a lot of people, Christmas also still has a religious connotation, and many people therefore have a little stable under the tree featuring the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the three Kings, and go to midnight Mass on Christmas’ Eve. Zalig Kerstfeest and Joyeux Noël!

Bulgaria

Bulgarians are orthodox and the whole family gathers around the table on Christmas Eve. The meal consists of an odd number of Lenten dishes in compliance with the rules of fasting: traditional sarmi (stuffed wine or cabbage leaves), beans, seasonal bread (pastry with a fortune in it), stuffed peppers, fruits and nuts. The oldest man in the house sits at the head of the table and the family prays. After breaking the ritual bread, the first piece is left for the Holy Mother, and the rest is given out to the members of the family according to their age, starting with the oldest. Bulgarians don’t clean up the table when dinner is over, so that the deceased can enjoy dinner too. The next morning (in the smaller villages) a group of young men (koledari) visit every house. They bless the hosts of the houses and get presents from them – fruit, nuts, candies, small amounts of money. Children find their presents under the Christmas tree in the morning. Vesela Koleda! Весела Коледа!

Croatia

In many parts of Croatia, Christmas celebrations begin on St. Lucy’s day, December 13th, when families plant wheat seeds to grow by Christmas Eve. The green wheat shoots are then tied together with a ribbon, and placed with a lit candle at the Christmas table, symbolizing life and fertility. The traditional ornament for Christmas trees is dough baked in the shaped of a heart (Licitar heart), which are adorned with colorful designs and short sayings or morals. Children usually receive presents from St. Nicholas on December 6th, St. Lucy on the 13th, and Santa Claus (older people often say they are from Jesus) on Christmas day. The whole season’s celebration, marked with numerous carols and appropriate feasts, lasts until the Epiphany, January 6th. Sretan Božić!

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic children get Christmas presents on the evening of December 24. Most of them wake up that day early in the morning and impatiently wait for the evening. In the meantime, they pass the time by decorating the Christmas tree or helping to bake typical Christmas sweets. One more thing: it is believed that if a child does not eat for the whole day till the Christmas dinner, he or she will see “a golden pig” because of hunger. There are not many children known for seeing that golden pig, but they all finally get their gold - in the form of the wistfully-awaited Christmas presents. Veselé vánoce!

Denmark

Christmas is a family event with a big dinner on December 24th (roasted duck followed by risalamande as desert - a rice pudding with whipped cream, served with cherry sauce). Then the candles on the decorated Christmas tree are lit up and we dance around the tree and sing Christmas carols. Either the presents are under the Christmas tree or Julemanden (Father Christmas) turns up with a big sack full of presents (a family member is generally mysteriously missing at this point). After the presents are distributed and opened, the rest of the evening is spent talking and looking at the children playing with the presents. Glædelig Jul og Godt Nytår!

Estonia

It’s traditional to be with families at Christmas (Jõulud). Estonians like to visit their families from the 24th to the 26th of December and do not go out with friends as much or go out drinking in the bars. There is Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, where the specialy is pork and pickled cabbage or blood sausage. There is a Christmas tree in every home, a tradition that dates back to Russian times when Christmas was prohibited. Presents are opened in the evening of the 24th or 25th when Santa Claus (Jõuluvana) visits. Our people are not too religious, but during Christmas more people visit church.

France

Young children leave their shoes by the fire on Christmas Eve for a gift from le Père Noël, while the older children and adults go to church at midnight and then return home for a late supper called le réveillon. Children decorate their Christmas gift lists with pictures and then leave them on the windowsill overnight, weighed down with a little sugar so they won’t be missed by Father Christmas. The galette des rois (almond cake) is enjoyed by all, and the lucky recipient of the piece with the prize (la fève) is adorned with a paper crown. Joyeux Noël!

Germany

Christmas preparations begin on the eve of December 6th -Nikolaustag. Children put a shoe or a boot outside their bedroom door, window or by the fireplace on the evening of December 5th, hoping to find it full of sweets, biscuits, nuts and fruit the next morning. Germans hang up Advent wreaths of holly with four red candles in the center, and light one candle each Sunday until Christmas Eve. Children count the days until Christmas using an Advent calendar, opening a window a day to find a Christmas picture inside. Christkind - the baby Jesus - comes on Christmas Eve, bringing the tree and all the presents. Frohe Weihnachten und ein gesundes neues Jahr!

Greece

On Christmas Eve children travel from house to house offering good wishes and singing kalanda (Christmas carols), often accompanied by small metal triangles and little clay drums. Afterwards, the children are given sweets or coins in appreciation. The Christmas feast is the main attraction, when lamb and pork are roasted in ovens and open spits, and on every table are loaves of christopsomo (Christ bread). This bread is usually made in large sweet loaves of various shapes and the crusts are engraved and decorated in some way that reflects the family’s profession. While Christmas trees have become popular in Greece, the main symbol of the season is a shallow wooden bowl with a piece of wire suspended across the rim; from that hangs a sprig of basil wrapped around a wooden cross. A small amount of water is kept in the bowl to keep the basil alive and fresh. ΚΑΛΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ!

India

In India, because of British influence, Christmas & New Year greetings is quite acceptable, and since the majority of the population understand and speak English, the greeting is done in a typical anglicized style. Both the events are quite well accepted in India, and there is no typical greeting in local language. So, Happy Christmas!

Ireland

In the olden days in Ireland the home would be cleaned from top to bottom to get it ready for festive Christmas decorating. Holly was used to decorate the entire house and a single, lighted candle was placed in the window on Christmas Eve to welcome the Holy Family looking for shelter. In more modern times it is tradition to visit friends and relatives on Christmas Eve, do some last minute Christmas shopping, and go to midnight mass. Christmas dinner consists of an amazing array of foods from turkey and spiced beef to brussel sprouts, bread sauce and whiskey soaked pudding. Happy Christmas!

Israel

For the eight days of Hanukkah, each evening families light candles, sing the holiday’s special songs and prayers and eat the holiday’s special food, including latkes (potato pancakes). Friends, neighbors or family are often invited over to light the candles to celebrate this annual festival of lights. Today 144,000 Christians live in Israel, mostly Christian Arabs, residing mainly in Jerusalem and Nazareth. As the land on which Jesus was born, Israel remains central to tourists and pilgrims worldwide at Christmastime, and the mass as the Church of Nazareth is covered by media throughout the 5 continents. Happy Hanukkah!

Italy

Exchange of gifts in most parts of Italy takes place on Christmas Eve or Day, though in the north gifts are also exchanged for Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy), a rich young Christian Martyr who is venerated as a saint by both Catholic and Orthodox Christians. Her feast day is December 13, by the unreformed Julian calendar the longest night of the year; with a name derived from lux, lucis “light”, she is the patron saint of those who are blind. On January 6^th, in Rome and other parts of Italy, children await a visit from la Befana (an old witch flying on a broomstick) who brings gifts for the good and punishment for the bad, asking Jesus forgiveness for refusing food and shelter to the three wise men.  In Rome, cannons are fired from Castel St. Angelo on Christmas Eve and a 24-hour fast ends with an elaborate Christmas feast as small presents are drawn from the Urn of Fate. Throughout Italy many people celebrate with Christmas trees, stockings, and Santa Claus and his reindeer delivering presents on Christmas Day. Buon Natale e felice Anno Nuovo!

Japan

As the main religion is Buddhism and Shinto (only 1% of Japanese are Christians), Christmas is more a commercial event than a religious one, with lights and Christmas displays in houses and businesses. On Dec. 23^rd the Japanese Emperor’s birthday is celebrated and the 25^th is not a national holiday. On Christmas Eve, Japanese eat a special Christmas cake, purchased by the father on the way from work. Year-end presents, Oseibo, are given to people who have done you a favour during the year, such as business colleagues, teachers, etc. (these differ from Christmas presents, given to close family and friends). Year-end parties are common (bonenkai, or forget-the-old-year parties) and result in public displays of intoxication throughout the season. The bigger Japanese holiday season is New Years, when family and friends gather to celebrate together. メリークリスマス !

Kosova

Until the 1970s, teenagers and children used to line up, tallest to shortest in height, and go from home to home to receive treats at Christmastime (walnuts, quinces, fruit, and cooked wheat). The tallest would lead the line and would say ‘cluck, cluck!’, like a chicken, and those following would try to sound like baby chicks. These traditions gradually disappeared in most areas toward the end of the 1980s due to the socialist influence. Nowadays, a Christmas-like celebration takes place on New Year, with Christmas trees, a visit from Shen Kolli (Saint Nicholas), and gift-giving in the celebration of the New Year.

Middle East

The start of Muslim calendar/year, Muharram, coincides with Prophet Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina on the first of Muharram in 622AD. To signify this occasion, Awal Muharram, Muslims attend various religious activities, spiritual singing, and religious meetings throughout the country. Eid ul-Adha celebrates Abraham’s willingness to comply with the request of Allah to sacrifice a beloved son. At the last minute of this sacrifice, Allah spares Abraham and allows him to sacrifice a goat (or lamb) instead. Eid ul-Adha celebrates the faith and obedience of Abraham, and the mercy of Allah. Trusting in Allah, even when a request seems impossible, ultimately shows the Muslim how faith leads one down an unexpected path, and asserts the will of Allah as just and merciful. The occasion is celebrated with family and friends and a meal of rice and meat dishes are enjoyed together. Happy Eid!

Netherlands
On December 6th children receive gifts and presents from St. Nicolaas, an old man with a long white beard who sits on a horse. In some countries, St. Nicolaas has been replaced by Santa Claus due to some Dutch colonists who lived in New Amsterdam (now New York). They carried a statue of pipe-smoking St. Nicolaas with them during Christmas celebrations. In 1809 the American writer, Washington Irving, wrote about a laughing, pipe-smoking Santa Claus who sat on a carriage and rode a firmament. This was the basis for the popular poem in 1823, ‘Twas the night before Christmas’, about St. Nick on a sled pulled by eight flying reindeer. Santa Claus was actually “born” in the Netherlands! Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een gelukkig nieuwjaar!

Poland

Christmas in Poland is the most awaited holiday of the year. Every house has a specially-decorated Christmas tree, and when the first star appears in the sky on Christmas Eve, families sit at the table for a traditional Christmas Eve supper. There is always an additional table setting for an unexpected guest. Before supper begins members of the family share the holy wafer, wishing each other all the best. Santa Claus, with his white beard and red suit, visits on Christmas Eve and leaves his presents under the Christmas tree. At midnight many people go to church to attend a special midnight mass. On December 25 most people stay at home with their families and on the next day they pay and receive visits. Wesołych Świąt!

Portugal

Family and food are central to most Christmas celebrations, but in Portugal they really know how to combine the two! Here, custom disctates that an extra place is set at the Christmas dinner table for deceased relatives. In a symbolic gesture of remembrance nd recognition, they’re invited to dine once again with the family. Feliz Natal!

Romania

Christmas (Craciun) in Romania is a fiesta of lights, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, midnight masses, and traditional recipes like the force-meal rolls in vine leaves, sausages and blood pudding. Christmas Carols amplify the yuletide spirit whilst enticing the Romanians to dream of a more colorful future. Throughout the Christmas season, children travel from house to house singing carols and reciting poetry and legends. They make snowballs and snowmen, but mostly they like to wait for Santa Claus (Mos Craciun) to give them presents. The adults decorate their houses, go shopping, bake cookies and cakes, send Christmas cards, and decorate the Christmas tree. Craciun fericit!

Serbia

We begin the New Year holidays with Orthodox Christmas, so Christmas Eve is on January 6th. Families are together on this night for the last day of the “fast”, which means they have a feast but don’t eat food that comes from animals (meat, milk, eggs, etc.). Christmas is a very religious holiday and most people go to mass. Old traditions include the father of the family going to the forest to cut a young oak called the ‘Badnjak’ (Christmas Eve tree) but today people just buy one. Under the table is some straw as a symbol of the manger where Jesus was born. The first house visitor at Christmas, položajnik, is an especially honored guest because he brings luck to the family. For Christmas dinner each family member gets a special kind of bread (česnica). Whoever gets the piece with the coin hidden in it will be fortunate in the next year! Christmas is a unique day for forgiveness, sharing family memories, and new beginnings in our life. Srećan Božić!

Spain

Christmas Eve is the day when families get together and have dinner together - usually seafood and fish. Christmas Day is no more than a day for spiritual reflection for the religious and a holiday for the rest. The Three Kings visit homes on the night of the 5th of January, leaving presents in a shoe for good children and a lump of coal for naughty ones. The Christmas lottery draw known as El Gordo is held on the 22nd of December, and everyone has at least one ticket, hoping their life might change for the better. Feliz Navidad!

Sweden

Christmas is the longest and biggest of the holiday of the year. The height of the celebration is Christmas Eve, December 24^th, followed by Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Christmas festivities involve numerous traditional activities and celebrations, the most important of which are the Christmas tree, the delicious Christmas meal and the visit of the enchanting tomte (the Christmas gnome). God jul!

Turkey

The majority of the population in Turkey is Muslim but we are a secular country and, even if we do not directly celebrate Christmas, we share this custom with our Greek Orthodox and Armenian neighbors who are a minority in Turkey. We have Christmas trees and we exchange gifts for the New Year and most families have turkeys on their table for dinner. Islam as a religion recognizes all prophets of the monotheist religions. Therefore, while we do not celebrate Christmas, we do celebrate New Year’s Eve and recognize Jesus as one of our prophets. The birth place of St. Nicholas is in Turkey, near Antalya (Myra-Demre). Mutlu Yillar, Yeni yiliniz kutlu olsun!

United Kingdom

Many homes, churches and public places will have a crib, a model of the stable where baby Jesus was born. On the night before Christmas people go to Midnight Mass in churches to sing Christmas carols and welcome in the birth of Jesus. Father Christmas, an older jolly man in a red suit with a white beard, comes to visit children on the night of 24^th of December, arriving on a sleigh pulled by reindeer.  He comes down the chimney, puts presents in a stocking (or rather large sock), usually at the end of the bed or under the decorated Christmas tree. Children leave a mince pie and a drink for him and a carrot for his reindeer. Presents are then opened on Christmas morning, which this may start very early for those with young children! Families get to get together for Christmas dinner which usually includes a roasted turkey and a spicy Christmas pudding as well as party hats and some will listen to the annual Christmas message on TV from our Queen. Happy Christmas!

United States

Christmas time has become an increasingly commercial affair, with storefront decorations now going up as early as the beginning of November or even October, and “Black Friday”, the day after Thanksgiving, formally launching the Christmas shopping season. Each family celebrates the holiday differently, but it generally includes a combination of decorated Christmas trees and houses, carolling, celebrating mass, volunteering to help the needy, a big dinner either on Christmas Eve or Day, children writing letters to Santa, and of course opening presents. Hanukkah is also celebrated visibly with decorations and Jewish families light the menorah for 8 nights, celebrating the miracle of lights. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

But perhaps the most fascinating thing for us to study about Mr. Obama’s victory is how extremely well he used new media to motivate his supporters, convince his skeptics, educate, inform, parry criticisms, and raise money.

His official campaign website was universally hailed as being a next-generation model of the genre.

From it, supporters could easily download logos, printable posters, signs, flyers, website buddy icons, computer desktop backgrounds, and more. And much has already been written about his campaign’s record-smashing fundraising: Obama collected donations from some 3.2 million individuals via the Internet.

But beyond providing campaign tools and gathering money, Barack Obama was also incredibly savvy about using social media. His campaign used text messages and e-mails to communicate directly with voters. He had profiles on Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn. He Twittered. He published photos — including personal “behind the scenes” shots of his family on election night — to Flickr . His campaign’s YouTube channel has had more than 19.5 million views. He even placed virtual billboard advertisements in popular X-box Live games.

And it doesn’t seem like Obama intends to stop this sort of Internet-based communication now that he’s been elected. Check out http://change.gov/, which is, in its own words “Your source for the latest news, events, and announcements so that you can follow the setting up of the Obama Administration.”

Smart money is on President Obama having a game-changing, highly interactive website, live and operational on January 20, 2009.

How do you think President 2.0 might change our world and our activities?

But there is a reason for his success. He is left handed. Four out of the last six US presidents were left handed since 1974, that’s 66% against the national average of 10%, that is pretty significant. You can guess who one of the two right handers was but he wont be there much longer!

And surprise, surprise,  John McCain was also left handed, so the US would have had a left handed president either way.  By contrast only two British Prime Ministers have been left handed since 1945 and one of those was Winston Churchill. I am pleased to be in such great left handed company!