Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

3rd December 2024

Enthronement of the first Serbian Bishop in London

Belgrade, Serbia

RENEWING OLD TIES: THE NEW BISHOP OF LONDON

by Edward Ferguson

British Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia

25th November 2024

Canberra, Australia

The climate crisis and gender-based violence

by Vicki Treadell

British High Commissioner to Australia

8th November 2024

Berlin, Germany

Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?

by Kate Robinson

Science and Innovation Advisor, British Embassy Berlin

1st October 2013 Toronto, Canada

by John Preece

Canadian science news: 23-29 September 2013

[View the story “Canadian science news: 23-29 September 2013” on Storify]

1st October 2013

by Paul Johnston

Ambassador to Ireland

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

Climate change: an economic opportunity

Just over a year ago on a warm August afternoon, I paid a call on the Environment Minister, Lena Ek. She had an idea she wanted to share with the UK about the campaign for action on climate change. Twelve months on, that idea has been launched as a major international effort in New York, […]

1st October 2013

by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

Echuca – paddle steamer capital of the world

Echuca, “paddle steamer capital of the world,” sits on the banks of the Murray River, which divides Victoria and New South Wales. Most other state borders in Australia are arbitrary straight lines. The town flourished in the 1870s, when wool was shipped down the river from outback sheep stations, to be transferred by rail to […]

1st October 2013 Windhoek, Namibia

by Marianne Young

High Commissioner, Windhoek

Visit to Namibia’s latest World Heritage Site in the Namib Desert

Namibia is a country blessed with magnificent scenery, wonderful warm people and a terrific climate. It is also now blessed with two World Heritage sites after the recent UNESCO naming of the Namib Sand Sea as the country’s latest addition to this eminent international grouping and marks its first natural site. Namibia’s other World Heritage […]

30th September 2013 Lima, Peru

by UK in Peru

Creating memories in the oblivion

By Francesca Uccelli. Lead investigator for the Institute of Peruvian Studies. “What position were we in as teachers? Going back to school was a scary experience. Two or three teachers would give class whilst another kept watch so that we could substitute one another if the military or shining path came. It was a big […]

30th September 2013 Brasilia, Brazil

by Chris Brealey

Welcome!

Welcome to the British Embassy’s new Foreign Policy Blog – Speaker’s Corner! I am delighted to be the first of many to contribute to this new initiative.

UNGA 68: an intense week of diplomatic activity

Adoption of the UN resolution 2118 on Syria at the UN in New York, 28 September 2013

We’ve just finished one of the most important meetings of Foreign ministers in New York that I can remember in a long time. So many different subjects in one week of intense diplomatic activity.

30th September 2013 Geneva, Switzerland

by Bob Last

Head, UK Mission Political and Human Rights Team

Sleepwalking, Stress and Civil Society

Council sessions are bad for your health. So bad, in fact, that I’m thinking of inviting colleagues from the World Health Organisation along to the next session to see if they agree with me that all delegates should be issued with a health warning so that they can take suitable precautions at the outset. The […]

30th September 2013 New Delhi, India

by Tom Wells

International Climate Science

Today the IPCC published its 5th Assessment Report on the science of climate change. I’m no climate science expert so, if you’re interested in the report’s findings, there will be much better informed articles on this I’m sure. You could start with this video summary of why it matters, the UK response or this digested […]

30th September 2013 Vientiane, Laos

by Philip Malone

Ambassador to Lao PDR

Laos through my eyes – Tessa Bunney

This article is part of a series of guest blogs contributed by Brits who have lived and worked in Laos, or who have other interesting links to Laos. As a photographer, I have a particular interest in different landscapes and the way they are shaped by human activity. Working closely with communities and individuals, my work explores […]