8th November 2024
Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
17th October 2024
OSLOBOĐENJE BEOGRADA
11th October 2024
Busting the gender myths – women and organised crime
24th March 2015 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Celebrating International Day of Forests
It was a pleasure on Saturday morning to join the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources at an event to celebrate the International Day of Forests. Appropriately enough, the event was held in the beautiful setting of Bukit Shahbandar Forest Recreation Park. After a ceremonial tree planting, the Minister launched a new free visitor guide […]
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23rd March 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
"Corruption stinks!"
Pope Francis is a powerful campaigner against corruption; the exploitation by the powerful of the vulnerable, the poor and the weak. He returned to this theme again on his recent visit to Naples, a city blighted by the corrupting influence of organised crime. “Corruption stinks”, he said, “corrupt society stinks and a Christian who lets […]
23rd March 2015 Geneva, Switzerland
Staying Healthy
By the end of week 3 of any March Council session everyone tends to look pretty frazzled. The combination of lack of time for proper meals, general neglect in the finer aspects of personal grooming and the knowledge that the session still has some time to go tend to take their toll. But this year […]
23rd March 2015 New Delhi, India
Going to Goa on Business!
This is how my boss announced my recent official visit to my team members! Not surprisingly I got some envious looks…all in good fun of course as prompt came the reply that some were off to Kerala the week after – again on business of course! But I’m sure you’ll hear about that separately. I […]
23rd March 2015 Jerusalem, Israel
Palestinian Women; building a Palestinian state and society
Earlier this month, Palestinians joined people around the world celebrating International Women’s Day. Palestinians have much to celebrate on this day. I’ve been struck during my time here by the dedication of Palestinian women: running successful businesses; influencing politics; building communities in spite of the difficult conditions imposed by the Occupation. To celebrate International Women’s […]
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21st March 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
How the life of a Diplomat has Changed -Recognising World Poetry Day….
Here’s one I prepared earlier. (First published in “Time to Kill Sparrows” © 1999, foreword by Lord Hurd of Westwell. Now in its original version, without editorial changes.) THE RISE AND FALL OF THE TABLOID DIPLOMAT I start at the office at ten o’clock sharp, By half past I’m quite peckish for brunch. I return to my […]
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21st March 2015 Budapest, Hungary
Remember Crimea
A year ago this week, the Kremlin helped stage an illegal and illegitimate “referendum” in Crimea that culminated in Russia annexing Crimea from Ukraine, redrawing the map of Europe by force, and deepening the burgeoning crisis in east Ukraine. The so-called referendum, hastily prepared in just two weeks, was a mockery of democracy. There were […]
20th March 2015 Toronto, Canada
How great science comes from children’s books
Articles about science and imagination often open with a quotation from a scientist (Einstein, Feynman) or children’s author (Seuss, Silverstein) – perhaps because when dealing with science (encompassing all human knowledge) and imagination (humanity’s boundless creativity), where do you begin? “Begin at the beginning,” the King said, very gravely, “and go on till you come […]
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20th March 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The SAA: A big step forward
On Monday, the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council agreed to bring into force the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Bosnia and Herzegovina, seven years after it was originally signed. This is a big deal. For seven years, this country has been at a standstill on its European path. But now it is moving forwards again. […]
20th March 2015 London, UK
Love is a human right
Valuing diversity, which includes diversity of sexual preference, brings enormous benefits. Clearly people who are able to bring the whole of themselves to work or to social life, including their sexual identity, are likely to be able to be more productive and constructive. However, research from the UK and elsewhere suggests that it is still […]