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Different Memories, Shared Futures: Why Inclusive Remembrance Matters for Serbia and the Region
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9th April 2018 Vienna, Austria
#ViennaMemories #6: three slow glasses
The three liqueur glasses are sub-standard in every way. Each is slightly different from the other. The thickness and shape of the glass curves are irregular. Two are chipped. I treasure them. The three tiny liqueur glasses I bought second-hand in Vienna in 1986 are another #ViennaMemories item rich with history. I have used them […]
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29th March 2018 Geneva, Switzerland
Unruly Behaviour
Voting days at the Council have always been stressful, and things don’t seem to be getting any easier with age. The drawback of having been around in these parts for longer than most is that I’m expected to know what I’m doing, especially when it comes to the finer points of the UN’s rules of […]
29th March 2018 Gaborone, Botswana
The Giants Club Summit: 5 things you need to know
Ahead of a global conference on the illegal wildlife trade in London in October, Minister for Africa Harriett Baldwin attended the the Giants Club Summit in Kasane in northern Botswana to show the UK’s commitment to protecting Africa’s elephants. Here are 5 things you need to know about the summit, and the elephants that the organisers […]
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29th March 2018 Science and Innovation Network
South African Wheat Scientists tame the ‘Beast from the East’ in the UK
Late in February to early March [26 Feb-2 Mar], I led a group of five (5) South African small grain researchers and enthusiasts on a UK Agritech inward visit. With the support of the UK Science and Innovation Network (https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/uk-science-and-innovation-network) in South Africa, the group set out learn more about the UK research offer in […]
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28th March 2018 Vienna, Austria
Trade and comparative advantage: why Harry Kane doesn’t mow his own lawn
As a British diplomat in Austria (I am Second Secretary for Economic and EU issues), I have found one of the most surprising things about Austrian politics is how people feel about trade. Austria’s export ratio (i.e. goods exports as a ratio of GDP) is high – 52%, compared to the High Income Country average […]
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26th March 2018 Kolkata, India
Baked earth
The pile of bricks was sitting just outside the entrance to the site. The humble brick has been used for the construction of buildings for longer than recorded history. The myth of a ‘mother earth’ or ‘earth goddess’ is as old. Many ancient civilisations worshiped a female deity who represented the fertility of the soil. […]
26th March 2018 Tokyo, Japan
Shall we dance
You may have seen the 1996 Japanese movie Shall We Dance, about a “sarariman”, or office worker, who found meaning in his humdrum life by taking up ballroom dancing classes. It was one of the most popular Japanese films ever to reach an international audience. I was delighted that its star, Tamiyo Kusakari, and its director, […]
23rd March 2018 Vienna, Austria
“The Hare with Amber Eyes” and other Vienna treasures
What are the greatest treasures in Vienna? What can you see? And what is lost? I was privileged recently to attend a press conference at the Jewish Museum in Vienna at which Victor de Waal and museum Director Danielle Spera announced important news which connects the UK to Austria. The de Waal and Ephrussi families […]
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19th March 2018 Geneva, Switzerland
The Chill Factor
Since the number of blog followers clamouring for a Council update has now reached single figures (thanks Nuala) I thought I’d better respond. It’s been busy. And cold. But mostly busy. As the 3rd week of the session came to end, UN staff voted to go on strike over impending allowance cuts, which suspended the […]
19th March 2018 Skopje, North Macedonia
UK pulled Macedonia out of Brussels’ hostage and moved it to New York
Goran Mihajlovski is one of the journalists in Macedonia that has followed closely the relations between the UK and Macedonia since their early days. As part of marking the 25 years of relationship we asked Goran to give us his experience of the early 1990s and the British-Macedonian links. Amb Garrett: How do you remember […]
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