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25th November 2024
The climate crisis and gender-based violence
8th November 2024
Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?
25th November 2010
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Bolivia and the problem of pirated software
Bolivia is the country in South America with the third highest incidence of pirated software – films, music, computer games. Many regard pirating – the illegal copying of licensed software – as standard practice. Few think about copying a DVD or CD, and in La Paz it is almost impossible to buy a copy of […]
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25th November 2010
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A sport anyone in Ukraine can "Tri"
Sports of all kinds are popular in Ukraine. I’ve blogged before about that fact that at my 1:1 lunches, some of Ukraine’s top decision-makers are ready to have a quick game of table-tennis (a trend which continues – Ed) and about Kyiv’s fishing frenzy. So it’s an honour to have to lunch at the residence […]
24th November 2010 London, UK
Beating the drum for British business
I visited Spain last week. I was there to beat the drum for British business, but I also spoke to Spanish business leaders from companies such as Santander and Ferrovial, who have invested in the UK. Watch my video blog to find out more.
24th November 2010 Ottawa, Canada
Science Policy in Canada
During the recent Canadian Science Policy Conference (October), we took the time to talk to Mehrdad Hariri, Chair of the Canada Science Policy Conference, about the state of science policy in Canada and his organisation’s future plans. Here’s what he had to say:
24th November 2010
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Focus on climate change
This week we have been focusing on Climate Change again. The subject has gone quieter since the Copenhagen Summit, around this time last year. But the problem is as big – and getting bigger. And the issue is about to be addressed again at the Cancun meeting and will feature prominently on the agendas of […]
24th November 2010
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A little help from my friends
Although preparations for the Hungarian EU Presidency are now gathering pace, ordinary life does not stop. And we know how accidents, natural disasters or international events can throw out the best laid plans. When I saw the moving reports of the Hungarian red sludge accident on 4 October, I was shocked by the acute hardship […]
23rd November 2010 New York, USA
Through the Wall
Guest blog: Mike Niles, British Consulate-General, New York Running from Queens to Manhattan over the Queensboro Bridge was silent – no shouting, no music – just the sound of heavy breathing and quickened steps. Turning right onto 1st Avenue in Manhattan is a daunting prospect; a sea of heads ahead, banners and cheers, and an […]
23rd November 2010
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Why school No.92 is brilliant
There’s nothing like meeting lively young people to fuel your optimism about a country. So I’m delighted to accept an invitation from Kyiv School No.92 to meet English language students of the 9th and 10th forms. I come away full of confidence in the intellectual capacity, dynamism and enthusiasm of young people in Ukraine. What […]
23rd November 2010
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Diamonds in the offing, but no regalia for the Lord Mayor
I had an opportunity to see and hear about some of the colossal opportunities and developments outside Mumbai, in the State of Madhya Pradesh. The State, which straddles the centre of India, remains one of the poorest areas of the country, with high figures for incidents of malnutrition among children and low levels of income […]
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19th November 2010 Chevening, UK
The biography of a Chevening scholar
so much dependsupona great curriculumvitae Sorry, I (Shanon Shah, Chevening scholar from Malaysia) just needed to riff off the famous William Carlos Williams poem, The Red Wheelbarrow, which to me at least is as frustrating as it is deceptive. Yet I wonder how many current Chevening scholars out there felt exactly this way when applying […]