Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

23rd August 2013

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by Bruce Bucknell

Former British Deputy High Commissioner Kolkata

Readers’ questions: Constant gardeners

Why is there a huge passion for parks, gardens and lawns in Britain? – Eugene Petrashkevich Dear Eugene:  thank you for your question – I’ve simplified it from your original version. I understood your question as asking why we have gardens and parks for pleasure, rather than for necessity (to grow vegetables and fruit to eat). […]

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23rd August 2013

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by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

End modern slavery

Today, we pay tribute to many women and men who were victims of the Slave Trade. The UNESCO International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is observed annually on 23 August to remind people of the tragedy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. This day is an opportunity to honour and […]

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21st August 2013

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by Sarah Dickson

Ambassador to Guatemala (June 2012 - June 2015)

Bienvenida al Bebé Real

Cuando estas a un largo camino lejos de casa, eventos como el nacimiento de Su Majestad Real el Príncipe Jorge pueden llegar a tener un significado especial. Muchas personas han felicitado a la Embajada por el nacimiento que sentimos que debíamos hacer algo para celebrar esta feliz llegada. De hecho, fue algo más que solo […]

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21st August 2013

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by Sarah Dickson

Ambassador to Guatemala (June 2012 - June 2015)

Asuntos globales, intereses locales

Recientemente tuve el placer de estar en Londres por la visita del Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Fernando Carrera. Su agenda, estuvo compuesta por varios temas, desde la política de drogas hasta el comercio internacional de azúcar. Dentro de ello, quiero resaltar un tema en particular que discutió con el Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores William Hague […]

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21st August 2013 Bangalore, India

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by Sunil Kumar

Senior Science & Innovation Adviser

Startup Showcase Day in London: Be there!

The UK is considered as the digital technology capital of Europe. From the World Wide Web to the micro-computer, UK has been at the forefront of technological innovations, helping  economic growth and promoting social change. The SIN team works closely with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) on digital innovations. Merlin Rory Picardo, who is the lead […]

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21st August 2013 Tashkent, Uzbekistan

A Lost City

On Sunday I set off out of Tashkent to find the ancient city of Kanka, which the UNESCO website describes as “unique as a monument of history and human culture and the town-planning history of Uzbekistan, and included in the list of ten great sites of ancient cities of Central Asia”. It isn’t really a […]

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21st August 2013

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by Peter Millett

Ambassador to Libya, Tripoli

World Humanitarian Day: So What?

Monday 19 August was World Humanitarian Day.  Such days – which mark important international themes – occur regularly.   But few can be as relevant and important this year given the severe refugee crisis caused by the tragic violence in Syria. There are now almost 2 million Syrians – 10% of the population – in neighbouring […]

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20th August 2013 Havana, Cuba

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by Tim Cole

Former British Ambassador to Cuba

My 1st birthday!

It’s exactly a year to the day since I arrived in Havana. When I stepped off the plane 365 days’ ago, it was my first time in Cuba, I knew a little but not a lot about the country and, after a recent posting in Mozambique, my Spanish had a very Portuguese twang. A year later and I […]

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20th August 2013 Windhoek, Namibia

Marianne Young

by Marianne Young

High Commissioner, Windhoek

Guest Blog by 2012/13 Namibian Chevening scholar Jennifer Kandjii

My experience as a Chevening Scholar: From Osire to London   By: Jennifer Kandjii A famous quote by Saint Augustin states that ‘the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.’ This quote among others on travelling, exposure and in general academia has been the driving force in my life. […]

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20th August 2013

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by Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

Why Turkey can be confident

I started work in Turkey in September 2012 as Consul-General responsible for Trade and Investment with Turkey, South Caucasus and Central Asia.  Since then I’ve been regularly impressed by this wonderful, welcoming country. Turks are famed for their hospitality.  But they should be famous too for their hard work; business acumen; passion; cuisine; and unparalleled […]

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