25th November 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The next round of UN climate negotiations kick off in Paris on 30th November. And while these rounds happen annually, this year is particularly significant because the prize is a new global, legally-binding treaty on climate change. Whether that can be achieved, and how ambitious it is, matters to us all. What is it? The […]
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15th September 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
On 15 September each year the UN and its member countries observe the International Day of Democracy. Following last year’s military coup in Thailand the UK and other members of the international community, including the Secretary-General of the UN, called for the early restoration of democracy. That seems even further away now than it did […]
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12th March 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Today the UK launches its Annual Human Rights Report for 2014, the purpose of which is to increase awareness of the UK’s role in promoting human rights worldwide, as well as to influence countries to take more concrete steps to meet their international human rights obligations. Why does the UK place such a high priority […]
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6th March 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
I am very pleased to see that Thailand is becoming a member of the Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST). In doing so, Thailand commits to implement CoST’s international standards by establishing a disclosure and assurance system to enhance transparency in public construction projects. Such a system will build trust in decision-making, help to ensure value […]
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24th December 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
At the end of the year, most of us take time to look back and remember. This brings a mix of thoughts and emotions. For me, it is particularly appropriate as we reach the end of 2014. This Friday 26th December I will be in Phang Nga Province to take part in the Remembrance Ceremony […]
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12th December 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
This week I was in Khon Kaen, to attend the 7th Annual Isaan Human Rights Festival. The festival was jointly held at Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani Universities on 10 December, in recognition of “International Human Rights Day”, and was attended by a wide range of local community activists, as well as diplomatic colleagues from […]
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9th December 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
9 December is World Anti-Corruption Day. Corruption is a global problem – it hurts a country’s economic, political and social development; it adds unnecessary costs to doing business and it denies smaller, less well resourced companies the chance to compete fairly. It hurts individuals in their daily lives. Corruption impacts the most vulnerable groups in […]
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14th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Political turbulence in Thailand in the first half of 2014 took its toll on the economy. But in the immediate aftermath of the military coup on 22 May, I met many Thai and British business people who were optimistic that business confidence would quickly return to the Thai marketplace and that the economy would start […]
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10th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The UK has been working with Germany, France and the EU to make September 9 a Joint Action Day on Climate Change. At events around the world, we put across a common message: the time for action on climate change is now! In Thailand, the British Embassy, the German Embassy and the EU Delegation hosted […]
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5th September 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Education is the basis of the progress of any society – economically, technologically, politically and culturally. Most governments recognise this and put it at the centre of their policies. But it is not an easy or quick solution. It can literally take a generation for education policies to bear fruit as young people pass through […]
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