The Commonwealth Conversation

In a closing statement from the Port of Spain Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) yesterday, Commonwealth leaders recognised the work carried out by the Royal Commonwealth Society in the Commonwealth Conversation and called for the creation of an Eminent Persons’ Group to look at options for reform.

Which is best: consensus or voting?

After an intense few weeks, we are delighted to publish the emerging findings of the Commonwealth Conversation. In it we say that the Commonwealth must be bold to halt its declining profile, and to do this must focus on three Ps: Principles, Priorities and People. You can download the report, Common What? here, and see the full press release below.

Few people, it seems, are conscious of the potential asset for Commonwealth co-operation of the 25,000-strong Commonwealth scholarships alumni.

Richard Bourne, founding head of the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, examines the complicated relationship between the Commonwealth and Civil Society.

After a fantastic opening ceremony (I hope you saw my tweets), things seem quieter at CHOGM. The leaders have gone into their ‘retreat’ (which looks just like any other big table with lots of be-suited men around it) and bilateral meetings.

Last week we featured the opportunity to ask Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, any question you wanted. He is now responding.

Established by Royal Charter in 1917, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission pays tribute to the 1,700,000 men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars. In an interview for the Commonwealth Conversation, Sir Ian Garnet, the Vice-Chairman of the CWGC talks about the links between the commissions work and the people of the Commonwealth today.

Mark Dowd is a dedicated environmental activist for the organisation Operation Noah, the first Christian campaign focused exclusively on climate change. The former Roman Catholic priest talks to the RCS about climate change, God and the Commonwealth.

It’s been a long day with lots of things happening.