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
29th January 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Magnificent Murray in Melbourne
A thrilling Australia Day weekend in Melbourne at the Australian Open tennis finals. We watched Andy Murray beat Federer in an epic semi-final. Then on Sunday we held our breath while he put up a magnificent battle against Djokovic in the final. In terms of skill the two players were evenly matched and, since his […]
28th January 2013 London, UK
Challenging human rights abuses through technology
Challenging human rights abuses through technology – my blog on Google Earth and North Korea prison camps: Thanks to Google Earth, North Korea’s labour camps can now be seen from outer space. Human Rights Watch estimates that these remote mountain camps hold up to 200,000 people who are considered… Read more…
Read more on Challenging human rights abuses through technology | Reply
28th January 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Why is everyone investing in the UK? Why aren’t you?
Why is the Turkish company HDM Steel setting up a £7m manufacturing plant in South Wales? Take a look at the world. Think about countries where you might possibly imagine investing your money. Do they have a solid record on stability and democracy? Do they rank highly on ease of doing business, with a predictable […]
Read more on Why is everyone investing in the UK? Why aren’t you? | Reply
25th January 2013 Toronto, Canada
Eight great technologies
Earlier this week, Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts gave a speech at the Policy Exchange on “eight great technologies” which will help the UK grow and prosper over the next decade. You can read the speech here, the BIS press release here and the Policy Exchange pamphlet here. Let’s look at each technology […]
25th January 2013 London, UK
Why Latin America matters to Britain
London 2012 will be remembered as an event that created pride and excitement in the UK, and gave us the chance to show what we do best. Now it is Brazil’s turn, and it is the turn of Latin America. The first Olympic Games on this continent may be overdue, but it is certainly a […]
25th January 2013 Budapest, Hungary
The future of the EU and the UK’s role in it
As you may have seen, on Wednesday morning the British Prime Minister David Cameron delivered a speech in London entitled: ‘The Future of the EU and the UK’s role within it’. In the speech he set out his views as Head of Government of a flexible, adaptable and open European Union. As Conservative Party leader […]
Read more on The future of the EU and the UK’s role in it | Reply (2)
25th January 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
What "The Wire" tells us about Turkish shipping
In the second season of the excellent US series “The Wire”, a trade unionist working on the Baltimore docks says he’s just seen a film about Rotterdam – one of the most automated container ports in the world. He calls it a horror movie. I thought of “The Wire” during the recent “Container Handling Technology […]
Read more on What "The Wire" tells us about Turkish shipping | Reply
25th January 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Five Principles for Europe’s Future
As you will have seen, the British Prime Minister made an important speech on the future of the EU in London on 23 January. The PM’s speech reiterates his commitment to keeping the UK in the EU, at the heart of the Single Market, but also leading EU action on energy, climate change, development, foreign […]
Read more on Five Principles for Europe’s Future | Reply (1)
25th January 2013 London, UK
Managing the Foreign Office's overseas digital presence
As organisations have increased their use of digital media in recent years they have had to find ways to manage those channels, finding the right balance between making best use of digital to communicate and engage…
Read more on Managing the Foreign Office's overseas digital presence | Reply
25th January 2013 Cape Town, South Africa
WWF secondment helping develop new policy area
Guest Blog from Suzanne Carter, Climate Change Officer Many UK staff take a secondment into another government department over the course of their careers as civil servants but is there a way to replicate this exposure (on a smaller scale) for Locally Engaged Staff? My line manger thought it was at least worth a try! […]
Read more on WWF secondment helping develop new policy area | Reply