3rd December 2024
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
25th November 2024
The climate crisis and gender-based violence
8th November 2024
Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?
17th September 2013 Athens, Greece
Wanderings on Athos, the Holy Mountain
When I was 19 I tried for the first time to gain a permit to enter the Holy Mountain. I am an Anglican and a believer, and have long been interested in monasticism and Orthodox spirituality. In 1987, my application was unsuccessful and I rather lost heart; I have waited over 25 years to fill […]
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16th September 2013 Warsaw, Poland
The Last Night of the Proms – a GREAT Finale to a GREAT Bus Tour of Poland
An action packed day taking us from the main square in Poznan to Wroclaw and on to Katowice and then Krakow. A GREAT Bus Tour led by our two GREAT Minis. 10 000 kms and over 20 GREAT cities – a GREAT Polish welcome in each and so many business discussions. Krakow, historic capital of […]
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16th September 2013 Montreal, Canada
The love and peas revolution
I’ve noticed a fascinating trend in my neighbourhood. The streets are home to more and more sidewalk containers branding the logo – Free Food – (“Nourriture à Partager, Servez-vous!”) where fresh vegetables, fine herbs and small fruits are free for the taking…
16th September 2013 Geneva, Switzerland
No room at the UN
September didn’t used to be like this. It was the session which could be relied upon for a genteel beginning as delegates eased themselves in after the summer, meeting new colleagues and renewing old acquaintances before getting down to some serious Council business. But not any more. This session has got off to a blistering […]
16th September 2013 Warsaw, Poland
GREAT Mini and a GREAT Company
We’ve been on tour all week with the GREAT Mini and Bus Team across the western part of Poland promoting Emerging Europe as a GREAT business destination and for those internationally minded Polish companies pointing out that the UK is a GREAT place to do business. On Thursday GREAT Mini Cooper had the GREATEST of […]
16th September 2013
Începe anul şcolar: mult succes elevilor din Podari
Am răspuns invitaţiei elevilor şi profesorilor din Podari de a deschide anul şcolar împreună. Am dorit să fac acest lucru pentru a marca succesul acestei instituţii în aducerea copiilor la şcoală şi păstrarea lor în programele educaţionale. Deoarece agenda nu îmi permite să merg la Podari, am ales să transmit mesajul meu online. ‘Am fost […]
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14th September 2013 Sana’a, Yemen
اليوم العالمي للديمقراطية – واليمن
تحتفي الجمعية العمومية للأمم المتحدة بيوم الديمقراطية لهذا العام، في (15 سبتمبر) ويتزامن هذا مع نهاية الفترة المحددة للحوار الوطني في اليمن الذي كان نتاج للمبادرة الخليجية وذلك لتوفير إطار عمل عام لليمنيين لحل القضايا التي أدت إلى ثورة الشباب في اليمن منذ عامين. إنه إنجاز رائع أن تمكنت اليمن من تنفيذ الحوار بشكل جيد […]
14th September 2013 Sana’a, Yemen
International Day for Democracy – what does it mean for Yemen?
This year’s UNGA-led International Day for Democracy (15 September) falls close to the scheduled end of Yemen’s National Dialogue, set up under the GCC Initiative to provide a framework for Yemenis to resolve the issues that led to the Youth Revolution in Yemen two years ago. It is a remarkable achievement that Yemen has managed […]
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14th September 2013 Harare, Zimbabwe
My Final Blog as Head of the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team
Eighteen months ago I flew into Helmand Province pondering on what lay ahead for me. I was excited and daunted at the same time. I knew then that it would be a life changing experience and so it has proved to be. It has been challenging, inspiring, fun, and of course frustrating at times – […]
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13th September 2013 Ottawa, Canada
Operation NANOOK – firefighting in the Yukon
So what brings a Royal Navy Commander to the Canadian Yukon in the middle of summer? The answer is Operation NANOOK – an annual cross-government operation which supports Canada’s commitment to ‘The True North Strong and Free’…
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