3rd December 2024
RENEWING OLD TIES: THE NEW BISHOP OF LONDON
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?
25th March 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Anglo/Australian play about the 7/7 London bombings
“Thursday” is a new play based on Gill Hicks, the Adelaide-born lady who lost both legs in the London tube bombings, and who has been such an inspiration with her bravery and dignity. It was with mixed feelings that I went along to the Canberra theatre to see this fascinating collaboration between the English Touring […]
Read more on Anglo/Australian play about the 7/7 London bombings | Reply
24th March 2013 Tripoli, Libya
فن الحوار
في 19 مارس، رأيت اليمنيين يعبرون عن مواقفهم بثبات ومرح. فقد احيوا ما قدموه وبدا واضحاً ايمانهم بمستقبل أفضل. بدوا متوترين قليلاً الا انه كان جلياً استمتاعهم بوقتهم ايضاً. وكانت الفكرة السائدة كيف يمكن للأفكار ان تغير من حياة الافراد، وتعززت فكرة ان الابتكار والتفكير الإبداعي اقوى من سطوة السلاح لتحقيق التغير. وفي نفس الوقت، […]
23rd March 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Earth Hour
Earth hour will take place tonight at 8.30pm. Hundreds of millions of people will turn off their lights for one hour, on the same night, all across the world in a huge, symbolic show of support. The whole of the UK government, and especially the FCO and its embassies around the world, will also mark […]
22nd March 2013 Washington DC, USA
After YES: Falkland Islanders make sweeping tour of US
In land far, far away, a community of people sent an emphatic message to the rest of the world, definitively declaring their political status for the first time in history. “YES!” screamed from social media feeds on Monday 11 March, where the Falkland Islands announced their wish to retain their status as a British Overseas […]
Read more on After YES: Falkland Islanders make sweeping tour of US | Reply
22nd March 2013 Washington DC, USA
Victoria Cross awarded to a courageous hero
A British soldier who died in southern Afghanistan last year as he protected his platoon from a grenade blast is to be awarded the Victoria Cross. The UK’s top gallantry medal will go to Lance Corporal James Ashworth, 23, of Corby, Northamptonshire, who was serving with 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. The Victoria Cross is the […]
Read more on Victoria Cross awarded to a courageous hero | Reply
22nd March 2013 Washington DC, USA
Trade Partnerships: The simple power of good ideas
Last week, I argued that a successful Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership would put millions of consumers on both sides in touch with millions of businesses on both sides and be a real shot in the arm for business and jobs. In that blog, I argued that a successful TTIP would benefit the US in […]
Read more on Trade Partnerships: The simple power of good ideas | Reply
22nd March 2013 Dushanbe, Tajikistan
The Festival of Navruz – Spring Equinox
The following is a post by HM Ambassador Robin Ord-Smith For a foreigner this is a very special time to be in Tajikistan. Yesterday, the Spring equinox, marked the festival of Navruz, the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in the Iranian calendar. Navruz is a an ancient festival, believed to […]
Read more on The Festival of Navruz – Spring Equinox | Reply (5)
22nd March 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A budget for business and growth
20 March, as well as being the Spring Equinox, was budget day in the UK. As in other European countries, the UK economy has been affected by the chill of the eurozone’s problem and the long winter of the international financial crisis. Against this backdrop, our government has announced several new measures to stimulate recovery. […]
22nd March 2013 New Delhi, India
Joining hands in conserving earth’s plant riches
Extinction is forever – something that happens to several plant species each year. They disappear without any chance of being replaced, many before their potential to help us has been fully assessed. The urgency of plant conservation was brought home to me after my interactions with Hugh Pritchard, who heads the Research, Seed Conservation and Senior Science Group in Royal Botanic […]
Read more on Joining hands in conserving earth’s plant riches | Reply (8)
22nd March 2013 Tripoli, Libya
The Art of Dialogue
On 19 March, I watched Yemenis setting out their positions forcefully and entertainingly. They brought their presentations vividly to life and clearly believed in a better future. They seemed a bit nervous but were clearly enjoying themselves. The dominant theme was how ideas could transform lives. Innovation and creative thinking were better weapons for achieving […]